CN112537739A

CN112537739A - Cover removing equipment and cover removing method

Info

Publication number: CN112537739A
Application number: CN201910900515.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 方胜; 祝海淘
Original assignee: Beijing Peking University WBL Biotech Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beijing Peking University WBL Biotech Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-23
Filing date: 2019-09-23
Publication date: 2021-03-23

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover removing device and a cover removing method, wherein the cover removing device comprises a first conveying device (1), a cover removing unit (3), a first removing device (4) and a second conveying device (5), wherein the first conveying device (1) is used for conveying a container (2); the cover removing unit (3) is used for removing a cover of the container (2) conveyed by the first conveying device (1); a first rejecting device (4) is arranged downstream of the decapping unit (3) and is used for rejecting the containers (2) with the container covers detected not being removed from the first conveying device (1); the second conveying device (5) is connected to the initial end of the first conveying device (1) and located at the upstream of the cover removing unit (3) and used for conveying the containers (2) removed by the first removing device (4) to the first conveying device (1). The cap removing equipment and the cap removing method can reprocess the container which is not successfully uncapped, save labor, process in time and avoid influencing the product quality.

Description

Cover removing equipment and cover removing method

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of bottle cap removal, in particular to a cap removing device and a cap removing method.

Background

On the production line of the prior bottled products, the products leave factory and go to the needs to go through a plurality of links. For products with high requirements on environmental conditions, the sealing performance of the intermediate product needs to be ensured in the transition process among various links, so that the intermediate product is placed in a bottle, and the bottle is sealed by using a bottle cap. On entering the next segment, the cap needs to be opened, since further processing or filling of the intermediate product is required.

At present, although there are many automatic devices for opening caps, there is a certain error rate in such devices, i.e. some caps cannot be opened smoothly. Under the circumstance, a removing device is generally arranged to remove bottles with unsmooth bottle cap opening, so that the bottles entering the next link are all removed of the bottle caps, the removed bottles are piled more and more along with the accumulation of time, the existing cap removing equipment generally has no further processing function on the removed bottles, manual cap opening is generally needed to be configured for manually opening the caps of the removed bottles, and the labor cost is high.

Some intermediate products have high requirements on timeliness, and the quality of the intermediate products can be influenced if the intermediate products are left for too long time, so that the requirement on the processing time of uncapped bottles is strict, the labor intensity of uncapping personnel is increased undoubtedly, and if the uncapping is not carried out timely, the product quality can be influenced, and waste is caused.

It is noted that the information disclosed in this background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information constitutes prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a cover removing device and a cover removing method, which aim to solve the problems that in the prior art, the cover removing device is high in labor cost and easy to influence the product quality due to the fact that a manual cover opening person needs to be configured.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a decapping apparatus comprising:

a first conveying device for conveying the container;

the cover removing unit is used for removing the container covers on the containers conveyed by the first conveying device;

a first rejecting device, arranged downstream of the decapping unit, for rejecting containers, from which container caps have not been detected to be removed, from the first conveying device; and

and the second conveying device is connected to the starting end of the first conveying device, is positioned at the upstream of the cover removing unit and is used for conveying the containers removed by the first removing device to the first conveying device.

In some embodiments, the decapping apparatus further comprises a first detection device disposed downstream of the decapping unit and upstream of the first rejecting device, the first detection device for detecting whether the container lid is removed.

In some embodiments, the second conveying device is provided with a first blocking device for blocking the containers from entering the first conveying device.

In some embodiments, the decapping apparatus further comprises a third conveying device connected to the beginning of the first conveying device and used for conveying the containers to the first conveying device, and a second blocking device is arranged on the third conveying device and used for blocking the containers on the third conveying device from entering the first conveying device.

In some embodiments, the decapping apparatus further comprises a second detection device disposed upstream of the first blocking device and in signal communication therewith, the second detection device for sending a signal to the first blocking device and the second blocking device upon detecting the passage of a container on the second conveyor device.

In some embodiments, the decapping apparatus further comprises a second rejecting device disposed downstream of the first rejecting device, the second rejecting device being configured to reject containers on the first conveying device whose container lids have not been removed after at least two decapping units, and a collecting platform in communication with the first conveying device and configured to receive containers rejected by the second rejecting device.

In some embodiments, the decapping unit comprises:

the cover dismounting device is used for dismounting the container cover from the container at the first station;

the receiving device is used for receiving the container cover disassembled by the cover disassembling device at the first station and can move relative to the first station;

the cover shifting device is used for shifting the container cover from the receiving device; and

and the first conveying device is arranged on one side of the cover unloading device and is used for receiving the container cover which is pulled down by the cover pulling device and conveying the container cover.

In some embodiments, the lid removal device is configured to remove the lid from the receiving device by relative movement with the receiving device.

In some embodiments, the flip device is liftable with respect to the receiving device.

In some embodiments, the decapping unit includes a decapping device including a capping ring and a rotation shaft, the rotation shaft being connected to the capping ring, the capping ring being configured to fit around an outer periphery of the container cap and to unscrew the container cap from the container upon rotation of the rotation shaft.

In some embodiments, the cap removing device further comprises a retainer ring, the retainer ring having a diameter greater than a diameter of the screw-on ring, the screw-on ring and the rotatable shaft being movable relative to the retainer ring, the retainer ring being adapted to disengage the container cap from the screw-on ring upon relative movement between the screw-on ring and the rotatable shaft.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention further provides a method for removing a cap, comprising:

conveying the container by using a first conveying device;

removing the container cover on the container by using a cover removing unit;

detecting whether a container cover on the container has been removed;

removing the containers with the detected container covers not removed from the first conveying device by using a first removing device;

the containers rejected by the first rejecting device are returned to the first conveying device by the second conveying device, and the returning position is located upstream of the cap removing unit.

In some embodiments, the second conveying device is provided with a first blocking device, the starting end of the first conveying device is connected with a third conveying device, the third conveying device is provided with a second blocking device, and the operation of returning the containers rejected by the first rejecting device to the first conveying device through the second conveying device comprises:

detecting whether a container is on the first conveying device;

if so, opening the second blocking device, stopping conveying the containers to the first conveying device, and closing the first blocking device arranged on the second conveying device at the same time so as to enable the containers on the first conveying device to enter the first conveying device;

if not, the second blocking device is closed, the container is conveyed to the first conveying device through the third conveying device, and meanwhile, the first blocking device is opened.

In some embodiments, the decapping method further comprises:

if the containers conveyed to the first conveying device by the second conveying device are rejected again by the first rejecting device at least once, the first rejecting device is closed after the containers are conveyed to the first conveying device by the second conveying device again, the second rejecting device positioned at the downstream of the first rejecting device is opened, and the containers with the container covers not removed are rejected to the collecting platform by the second rejecting device.

Based on the technical scheme, the container opening device comprises a first removing device and a second conveying device, when the containers on the first conveying device are not successfully subjected to the cover removing of the container covers by the cover removing unit, the containers are removed by the first removing device from the first conveying device, the removed containers can be conveyed back to the first conveying device through the second conveying device, and the second conveying device is connected to the initial end of the first conveying device and located at the upstream of the cover removing unit, so that the containers conveyed back to the first conveying device through the second conveying device can be subjected to the second opening of the cover removing unit again, the containers which are not successfully opened for the first time can be reprocessed, the configuration of opening personnel is reduced or even omitted, and the labor cost is saved; and the containers which are not successfully uncapped can be timely processed, so that overstocking is avoided, and the product quality is prevented from being influenced.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the invention without limiting the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the decapping apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a decapping unit in an embodiment of the decapping apparatus of the present invention.

In the figure:

1. a first conveying device; 2. a container; 3. a cover removing unit; 4. a first rejecting device; 5. a second conveying device; 6. a first detection device; 7. a first blocking device; 8. a third conveying device; 9. a second blocking device; 10. a second detection device; 11. a second rejecting device; 12. a collection platform; 13. a container cover; 14. a cover dismounting device; 15. a receiving device; 16. a cover-pulling device; 17. a fourth conveying device; 18. a boss; 19. screwing a cover ring; 20. a rotating shaft; 21. and a retainer ring.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments. It is to be understood that the described embodiments are merely a few embodiments of the invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "central," "lateral," "longitudinal," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," and the like are used in the orientation or positional relationship indicated in the drawings for convenience in describing the invention and for simplicity in description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the referenced device or element must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the scope of the invention.

As shown in fig. 1, in one embodiment of the cap removing apparatus provided by the present invention, the cap removing apparatus includes a first conveying device 1, a cap removing unit 3, a first rejecting device 4 and a second conveying device 5, wherein the first conveying device 1 is used for conveying containers 2, the cap removing unit 3 is used for removing container caps 13 on the containers 2 conveyed by the first conveying device 1, the first rejecting device 4 is arranged at the downstream of the cap removing unit 3, the first rejecting device 4 is used for rejecting the containers 2 which are not removed by the detected container caps 13 from the first conveying device 1, the second conveying device 5 is connected to the beginning of the first conveying device 1 and is located at the upstream of the cap removing unit 3, and the second conveying device 5 is used for conveying the containers 2 rejected by the first rejecting device 4 to the first conveying device 1. The second conveyor 5 forms a closed-loop conveyance with the first conveyor 1.

In the above embodiment, the cap removing apparatus includes the first rejecting device 4 and the second conveying device 5, when the containers 2 on the first conveying device 1 are not successfully removed from the cap covers 13 by the cap removing unit 3, the first rejecting device 4 rejects the containers 2 from the first conveying device 1, and the rejected containers 2 can be sent back to the first conveying device 1 through the second conveying device 5, and the second conveying device 5 is connected to the beginning of the first conveying device 1 and located upstream of the cap removing unit 3, so that the containers 2 sent back to the first conveying device 1 through the second conveying device 5 can be opened again through the cap removing unit 3 for the second time, so that the containers 2 which are not successfully opened for the first time can be reprocessed, the configuration of the cap opening personnel is reduced or even omitted, and the labor cost is saved; the container 2 which is not opened successfully can be processed in time, so that overstock is avoided, and product quality is prevented from being influenced.

The de-capping apparatus further comprises first detection means 6, the first detection means 6 being arranged downstream of the de-capping unit 3 and upstream of the first rejecting means 4, the first detection means 6 being adapted to detect whether the container lid 13 has been removed. Through setting up first detection device 6, can realize improving the degree of automation of removing the lid equipment to the automated inspection that container lid 13 was got rid of, reduce the human input.

The second conveying device 5 is provided with a first blocking device 7, and the first blocking device 7 is used for blocking the containers 2 from entering the first conveying device 1. By arranging the first blocking device 7, whether the second conveying device 5 is communicated with the first conveying device 1 or not can be controlled, and the containers 2 conveyed to the first conveying device 1 by the second conveying device 5 are prevented from colliding with the containers 2 conveyed to the first conveying device 1. When the first blocking device 7 is opened, the second conveying device 5 is blocked and not communicated with the first conveying device 1 by the first blocking device 7, and the container 2 on the second conveying device 5 cannot be conveyed to the first conveying device 1. When the first blocking device 7 is closed, the second conveying device 5 is communicated with the first conveying device 1, and the container 2 on the second conveying device 5 can be conveyed to the first conveying device 1.

The cap removing equipment further comprises a third conveying device 8, the third conveying device 8 is connected to the starting end of the first conveying device 1 and used for conveying the containers 2 to the first conveying device 1, the third conveying device 8 is communicated with the first conveying device 1 and used for continuously conveying the containers 2 to the first conveying device 1, and the containers 2 are provided for the first conveying device 1. The third conveyor 8 and the first conveyor 1 may be two independent conveyors or may be connected integrally. When the third conveying device 8 is integrally connected with the first conveying device 1, the connection position of the third conveying device 8 and the first conveying device 1 is the starting end of the first conveying device 1, and the second conveying device 5 is connected at the connection position of the third conveying device 8 and the first conveying device 1.

The third conveying device 8 is provided with a second blocking device 9, and the second blocking device 9 is used for blocking the containers 2 on the third conveying device 8 from entering the first conveying device 1. By arranging the second blocking device 9, whether the third conveying device 8 is communicated with the first conveying device 1 or not can be controlled, and the container 2 conveyed to the first conveying device 1 by the third conveying device 8 is prevented from colliding with the container 2 conveyed to the first conveying device 1 by the second conveying device 5. When the second blocking device 9 is opened, the third conveying device 8 is blocked and not communicated with the first conveying device 1 by the second blocking device 9, and the container 2 on the third conveying device 8 cannot be conveyed to the first conveying device 1. When the second blocking device 9 is closed, the third conveying device 8 is in communication with the first conveying device 1, and the containers 2 on the third conveying device 8 can be conveyed to the first conveying device 1.

The decapping device may further comprise second detection means 10, the second detection means 10 being arranged upstream of the first blocking means 7, and the second detection means 10 being in signal connection with the first blocking means 7 and the second blocking means 9, the second detection means 10 being adapted to send a signal to the first blocking means 7 and the second blocking means 9 upon detection of a passage of a container 2 on the second conveying means 5.

By arranging the second detection device 10, when the containers 2 needing to be conveyed to the first conveying device 1 on the second conveying device 5 are detected, signals can be sent to the first blocking device 7 and the second blocking device 9, so that the first blocking device 7 is closed, the second blocking device 9 is opened, the containers 2 to be conveyed to the first conveying device 1 by the third conveying device 8 can be stopped from entering the first conveying device 1, the containers 2 on the second conveying device 5 can enter the first conveying device 1, and the containers 2 on the whole conveying line can be prevented from colliding; if no containers 2 are to be transferred to the first conveyor 1 on the second conveyor 5, the first blocking device 7 can be opened and the second blocking device 9 closed, so that containers 2 on the third conveyor 8 can be continuously transferred to the first conveyor 1.

The cover removing equipment further comprises a second removing device 11 and a collecting platform 12, the second removing device 11 is arranged at the downstream of the first removing device 4, the second removing device 11 is used for removing the containers 2 which are on the first conveying device 1 and have container covers 13 which are not removed after the cover removing units 3 are removed at least twice, and the collecting platform 12 is communicated with the first conveying device 1 and is used for receiving the containers 2 removed by the second removing device 11.

Generally, after at least two times of the decapping unit 3, most of the container caps 13 on the containers 2 are successfully removed, and if not, the containers 2 belonging to the container caps 13 which are difficult to remove can be determined. In this case, if the container is continuously returned to the first conveying device 1 and repeatedly passes through the cap removing unit 3, not only is the possibility that the container cap 13 is removed low, but also the cap removing efficiency for the normal container is reduced, so after the second removing device 11 and the collecting platform 12 are arranged, the containers 2 which are not removed after being opened at least twice can be conveyed to the collecting platform 12 for uniform collection, after the collection, the containers 2 can be manually opened or directly discarded, because the number of the containers 2 is small, the strength of manual opening is not too large, and more importantly, the cap removing efficiency for the normal container can be improved by collecting the containers 2.

The detailed structure and operation of one embodiment of the decapping apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1:

as shown in fig. 1, the cover removing apparatus includes a first conveying device 1, a cover removing unit 3, a first rejecting device 4 and a second conveying device 5, the first conveying device 1 passes through the cover removing unit 3, the first rejecting device 4 is disposed at one side of the first conveying device 1, the second conveying device 5 is connected at the other side of the first conveying device 1 opposite to the first rejecting device 4, and the first conveying device 1 and the second conveying device 5 are connected to form a rectangular closed loop.

A plurality of containers 2 have been placed on first conveyor 1, and a plurality of containers 2 can get into in groups and remove and cover unit 3, remove and can be equipped with a plurality of and remove and cover the station in covering unit 3, remove simultaneously a plurality of containers 2 and remove and cover the operation.

The decapping apparatus further comprises a third conveyor 8, the third conveyor 8 being in communication with the first conveyor 1. The second conveying device 5 is in direct face communication with the first conveying device 1, the third conveying device 8 is converged from the side face of the first conveying device 1, and one side, far away from the first conveying device 1, of one end, communicated with the first conveying device 1, of the third conveying device 8 is gradually inclined towards the direction close to the first conveying device 1.

The decapping apparatus further comprises a first detection device 6, arranged upstream of the first rejecting device 4, on one side of the first conveying device 1. The decapping apparatus further comprises a second detection device 10 disposed at one side of the second conveyor 5.

The end of the second conveyor 5 is provided with a first blocking device 7 and the end of the third conveyor 8 is provided with a second blocking device 9. A second rejecting device 11 is arranged at the downstream of the first rejecting device 4, the second rejecting device 11 is arranged at one side of the first conveying device 1, and a collecting platform 12 is arranged at the other side opposite to the second rejecting device 11.

In operation, in an initial state, the first blocking device 7 is in an open state, the second blocking device 9 is in a closed state, the first rejecting device 4 is in an open state, and the second rejecting device 11 is in a closed state. After the start of the operation, the container 2 on the third conveyor 8 is conveyed to the first conveyor 1, and the container 2 is removed from the container cover 13 when passing through the cover removing unit 3; the containers 2 of which the container covers 13 are not successfully removed are detected by the first detection device 6, and signals are transmitted to the first rejecting device 4, the first rejecting device 4 rejects the signals received by the first detection device 6, and the rejected containers 2 enter the second conveying device 5; after the second detection device 10 detects the container 2, a signal is sent to the first blocking device 7 and the second blocking device 9, so that the second blocking device 9 is opened, the container 2 on the third conveying device 8 stops entering the first conveying device 1, the first blocking device 7 is closed, the container 2 on the second conveying device 5 enters the first conveying device 1, and therefore the container 2 which is not successfully removed from the container cover 13 after passing through the cover removing unit 3 for the first time can be removed again through the cover removing unit 3.

If the container 2 is not successfully removed by the cover removing unit 3 twice, the container 2 is determined to belong to the container 2 which is difficult to remove the cover 13, the first removing device 4 is closed and the second removing device 11 is opened after the container 2 is conveyed to the first conveying device 1 by the second conveying device 5, and if the container 2 which passes through the cover removing unit 3 again after being detected by the first detecting device 6 is not successfully removed, the container is removed to the collecting platform 12 by the second removing device 11, and manual cover removing or other processing is performed.

If the container 2 is not successfully removed by the third cap removing unit 3, the container 2 is determined to belong to the container 2 which is difficult to remove the container cap 13, the first removing device 4 is closed and the second removing device 11 is opened after the container 2 is conveyed to the first conveying device 1 by the second conveying device 5 for the second time, and the part of the container 2 which passes through the cap removing unit 3 for the third time is not successfully removed after being detected by the first detecting device 6, and then the part of the container 2 is removed to the collecting platform 12 by the second removing device 11 for manual cap removing or other processing.

If the container 2 is not successfully removed by the cap removing unit 3 more than three times, the container 2 is determined to belong to the container 2 which is difficult to remove the container cap 13, the opening time of the second removing device 11 can be correspondingly prolonged, and the container is opened after the number of times of the cap removing unit 3 reaches the limit, which is not described in detail herein.

An embodiment of the decapping unit 3 in the decapping apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 2, the decapping unit 3 includes a decapping device 14, a receiving device 15, a cap-removing device 16, and a fourth conveying device 17, the decapping device 14 is used for detaching the container cap 13 from the container 2 at the first station, the receiving device 15 is used for receiving the container cap 13 detached by the decapping device 14 at the first station, and the receiving device 15 is movable relative to the first station, the cap-removing device 16 is used for removing the container cap 13 from the receiving device 15, the fourth conveying device 17 is arranged at one side of the decapping device 14, and the fourth conveying device 17 is used for receiving the container cap 13 removed by the cap-removing device 16 and conveying the container cap 13.

In this embodiment, the cover 13 is detached from the container 2 at the first station by the cover detaching device 14, the cover 13 detached by the cover detaching device 14 is received by the receiving device 15, then the receiving device 15 carries the cover 13 together with the movement relative to the first station to leave the first station, the cover 13 can be pulled off from the receiving device 15 by the cover pulling device 16, and the pulled-off cover 13 is received and conveyed by the fourth conveying device 17. The cover 13 is detached, conveyed and collected through the cover detaching device 14, the receiving device 15, the cover pulling device 16 and the fourth conveying device 17, and compared with a scheme adopting a mechanical arm, the cover detaching device can greatly save cost.

The cover unloading device 14 receives the cover 13 by the receiving device 15 and carries the cover to move after the cover unloading work is finished at the first station, so that the cover unloading device 14 does not need to leave the first station, the reciprocating time of the cover unloading device can be saved, and the fourth conveying device 17 is positioned at one side of the cover unloading device 14, so that the operation of receiving and conveying the cover 13 by the fourth conveying device 17 is carried out at a position outside the first station, the cover unloading device 14 can be put into the next round of cover unloading work after the receiving device 15 leaves, the interval time is short, and the cover unloading efficiency is improved.

Further, the cover-pulling device 16 is configured to pull the container cover 13 off the receiving device 15 by relative movement with the receiving device 15. Compared with the scheme that the container cover 13 is grabbed, moved and placed again, the transfer mode that the container cover 13 is pulled off from the receiving device 15 by utilizing the relative motion of the cover pulling device 16 and the receiving device 15 is simpler in motion mode, so that the structure is simpler, the number of the container covers 13 pulled off at one time can be more, the operation is more direct, rapid and effective, and the efficiency is higher.

Specifically, when the container cover 13 is pulled down, the receiving device 15 can be kept still, and the cover pulling device 16 moves relative to the receiving device 15; alternatively, the cover-lifting device 16 remains stationary and the receiving device 15 moves relative to the cover-lifting device 16; alternatively, both the receiving means 15 and the decapping means 16 move relative to the ground, but at different speeds or directions, i.e. the receiving means 15 and the decapping means 16 have relative movement.

In this embodiment, the cover shifting device 16 is kept stationary, and the receiving device 15 moves relative to the cover shifting device 16, so that the receiving device 15 can move relative to the first station, the cover shifting device 16 is kept stationary, and a driving part for moving the cover shifting device 16 can be saved, thereby saving the investment cost, and reducing the number of moving parts and the maintenance cost.

Optionally, the cover-shifting device 16 can shift the cover 13 during the process that the receiving device 15 returns to the first station, so that the movement of the receiving device 15 can be fully utilized, and the receiving device 15 can complete the function of shifting the cover while completing the function, thereby saving time, improving work efficiency, saving parts and reducing cost.

The specific structure of the cover pulling device 16 can be selected in many ways, for example, it can be a stop lever or a wire rope. Adopt pin or wire rope can once only dial a plurality of container lid 13 together, can also avoid dialling to fall inefficacy, improve the success rate of dialling and falling.

The cover-lifting means 16 may be arranged to be liftable with respect to the receiving means 15. This has the advantage that when the cover-shifting device 16 is used for shifting the cover, the cover-shifting device 16 can be lowered to a height higher than the receiving device 15 and lower than the cover 13 on the receiving device 15, so that when the receiving device 15 moves relative to the cover-shifting device 16, the cover 13 can be shifted from the receiving device 15 by the blocking effect of the cover 13 by the cover-shifting device 16; when the cover-shifting device 16 is not needed, for example, before the receiving device 15 moves to the cover-shifting position, the cover-shifting device 16 can be lifted to a height higher than the cover 13 on the receiving device 15, so as to avoid the interference of the cover-shifting device 16 on the movement of the receiving device 15, and also be beneficial to moving the receiving device 15 to a proper position and then performing cover-shifting.

By arranging the cover-pulling device 16 to be liftable relative to the receiving device 15, the movement path of the receiving device 15 can be shortened, so that the receiving device 15 does not need to go around to avoid interference with the cover-pulling device 16 before reaching a proper cover-pulling position, the space required by the whole equipment is favorably reduced, and the efficiency can also be improved.

When the receiving device 15 is in the first station, the receiving device 15 is located below (e.g., directly below) the cover removing device 14, so that the cover removing device 14 can directly drop the cover 13 onto the receiving device 15 after releasing the cover 13, and the receiving device 15 can receive the cover. After the receiving device 15 receives the container cover 13, the container cover 13 is carried together to move relative to the first station so as to leave the first station, and the cover unloading device 14 is convenient to continue the next cover unloading operation.

After the receiving device 15 leaves the first station, when the cover is removed by the cover removing device 16, the receiving device 15 is located above the fourth conveying device 17. Specifically, before the start of the cover-flipping, the receiving device 15 is positioned directly above the fourth conveying device 17, and when the cover-flipping is performed, the receiving device 15 moves to one side with respect to the fourth conveying device 17, the receiving device 15 gradually moves away from the position directly above the fourth conveying device 17, and until the receiving device 15 returns to the first station, the receiving device 15 is positioned diagonally above the fourth conveying device 17. Therefore, the cover shifting can be realized by utilizing the process that the receiving device 15 returns to the first station, and the fourth conveying device 17 is convenient to receive the shifted cover 13.

The receiving means 15 comprises a receiving platform from which the container lid 13 is detached from a first side of the receiving platform, at least one side of the receiving platform adjacent or opposite to the first side being provided with a projection 18 for preventing the container lid 13 from falling off. The boss 18 prevents the container cover 13 from falling off from a position other than the first side.

The cap removing device 14 may include a cap screwing ring 19 and a rotating shaft 20, the rotating shaft 20 is connected to the cap screwing ring 19, a through hole is formed in the center of the cap screwing ring 19, and the cap screwing ring 19 is configured to be fitted around the outer periphery of the cap 13 and to screw the cap 13 off the container 2 by the rotation of the rotating shaft 20. The inner wall of the screw-on ring 19 is in contact with the outer periphery of the container lid 13, and when the rotation shaft 20 rotates the screw-on ring 19, the screw-on ring 19 screws the container lid 13 down by means of the friction force between the screw-on ring 19 and the container lid 13.

The inner diameter of the screw-on ring 19 may be set to be gradually reduced from the end surface inward, that is, the inner wall of the screw-on ring 19 is an inclined surface, or the diameter of the through hole is gradually reduced from the end surface inward, so that the container lid 13 can be easily inserted into the inside of the screw-on ring 19, and the container lid 13 can be clamped by the change in the diameter of the through hole.

The cap removing means 14 further comprises disengaging means for disengaging the cap 13 from the screw-on collar 19.

The disengaging means comprise a collar 21, the diameter of the collar 21 being greater than the diameter of the screw-on ring 19, the relative movement between the screw-on ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 being possible with the collar 21, the collar 21 being intended to disengage the container lid 13 from the screw-on ring 19 upon relative movement between the screw-on ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20. The container lid 13 can be easily detached from the screw-on cap 19 by providing the retainer ring 21.

Specifically, when the container lid 13 is detached from the screw-on ring 19, the screw-on ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 can be kept stationary, and the retainer ring 21 moves relative to the screw-on ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20; alternatively, the screw-on ring 19 and the rotary shaft 20 are moved relative to the retainer ring 21, keeping the retainer ring 21 stationary; alternatively, the screw-on ring 19, the rotating shaft 20 and the retainer ring 21 all move relative to the ground, but at different speeds or directions of movement, there is relative movement between the screw-on ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 and retainer ring 21.

The relative movement between the screw-on cap ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 and the retainer ring 21 can be linear movement or curvilinear movement, for example, the linear relative movement can be along the vertical direction, the container cover 13 is provided with a flange, and when the relative movement between the screw-on cap ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 and the retainer ring 21 is generated, the flange can be pushed to move through the retainer ring 21, so that the container cover 13 is pushed away from the screw-on cap ring 19.

The decapping apparatus may comprise a plurality of decapping devices 14 arranged side by side and acting in synchronism, and a receiving device 15 for receiving simultaneously a plurality of container lids 13 that have been decapped by the plurality of decapping devices 14. Therefore, on the premise of not increasing the receiving device 15 and the fourth conveying device 17, a plurality of cap unloading devices 14 can be arranged at the same time, and the cap unloading efficiency is greatly improved.

The specific structure of one embodiment of the decapping apparatus of the present invention is described below with reference to fig. 2:

as shown in fig. 2, the cap removing device comprises a cap removing device 14, a receiving device 15, a cap pulling device 16 and a fourth conveying device 17, wherein the cap removing device 14 comprises a cap screwing ring 19, a rotating shaft 20 and a retainer ring 21. The screw-on ring 19, the rotating shaft 20 and the retainer ring 21 are coaxially arranged, and the outer diameter of the screw-on ring 19 is smaller than the inner diameter of the retainer ring 21. The center of the retainer ring 21 is provided with a through hole, and the screw cap ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 are arranged in the through hole of the retainer ring 21. The retainer ring 21 is fixedly arranged relative to the ground, the cover screwing ring 19 is fixedly connected with the rotating shaft 20, and the rotating shaft 20 is driven by the first driving mechanism so as to enable the rotating shaft 20 to rotate around the axis of the rotating shaft 20 and drive the cover screwing ring 19 to rotate. The cover screwing ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 can move up and down relative to the retainer ring 21, and particularly the rotating shaft 20 can be driven by the second driving mechanism to move up and down so as to drive the cover screwing ring 19 to move up and down together.

The hole wall of the central through hole of the screwing cover ring 19 comprises a reducing section and an equal-diameter section, the lower half section of the hole wall is the reducing section with a gradually reduced opening from bottom to top, and the upper half section is the equal-diameter section with the same diameter.

The diameter of the upper portion of the container cover 13 is gradually increased from top to bottom, and the lower portion of the container cover 13 is a flange having a larger diameter than the upper portion. The diameter of the flange is larger than the outer diameter of the retainer ring 21.

The receiving means 15 may be driven by a third drive mechanism to translate the receiving means 15 relative to the first station.

The cover removing device 14 finishes the work of removing the cover 13 of the container at the first station, when the receiving device 15 moves to the first station, the cover removing device 14 is positioned right above the receiving device 15, and the container 2 with the cover 13 removed is positioned right below the receiving device 15.

The flip device 16 comprises a cross bar arranged in the conveying direction of the fourth conveyor 17. The cross bars are parallel to the line of the plurality of cap removers 14.

The cover-pulling device 16 can move up and down relative to the fourth conveying device 17, and can be driven by a fourth driving mechanism.

The cover pulling device 16 and the fourth conveying device 17 are arranged on the right side of the cover unloading device 14, the fourth conveying device 17 is fixedly arranged relative to the ground, the fourth conveying device 17 can be a belt conveyor or a chain conveyor, and after receiving the cover 13, the fourth conveying device 17 conveys the cover 13 into a storage bin for storing the cover 13 or conveys the cover 13 to the next process line for further operating the cover 13.

The position of the fourth conveying device 17 is referred to as a second station, when the receiving device 15 moves to the second station, the receiving device 15 is positioned right above the fourth conveying device 17, and the cover-pulling device 16 is positioned above the receiving device 15 and on one side of the fourth conveying device 17 close to the cover-removing device 14.

The first station and the second station are two virtual stations parallel to the horizontal plane respectively, and the first station is positioned on the left side of the second station. The distance between the first station and the second station can be shortened as much as possible according to actual conditions, so that the whole arrangement is more compact, and the occupied space is saved.

The first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism, the third driving mechanism and the fourth driving mechanism can be oil cylinders, air cylinders, motors or the like. The first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism, the third driving mechanism and the fourth driving mechanism can be arranged independently or integrated together.

The decapping apparatus may further comprise a controller for controlling the actions of the decapping device 14, the receiving device 15, the cap-flipping device 16, and the fourth conveying device 17.

The operation of the decapping unit 3 in one embodiment of the decapping apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 2:

as shown in fig. 2, first, the receiving device 15 moves from left to right to the upper side of the fourth conveying device 17, the cap screwing ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 are in the retracting state, the cap screwing ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 are retracted into the retainer ring 21, and the cap removing device 16 is in the raising state;

after the receiving device 15 leaves the first station, the cover screwing ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 extend downwards relative to the retainer ring 21 until the cover screwing ring 19 is sleeved on the container cover 13 on the container 2 below the cover unloading device 14, the first driving mechanism drives the rotating shaft 20 to rotate, the rotating shaft 20 drives the cover screwing ring 19 to rotate, and the cover screwing ring 19 unloads the container cover 13 from the container 2 by means of friction force;

after the container cover 13 is detached, the rotating shaft 20 stops rotating, the retainer ring 21 is kept still, the cover screwing ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 retract upwards relative to the retainer ring 21 and drive the container cover 13 to ascend together until the cover screwing ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 drive the container cover 13 to ascend to a position close to the retainer ring 21;

then, the receiving device 15 returns from right to left to the position right below the cap removing device 14;

then, the screwing ring 19 and the rotating shaft 20 continue to move upwards, the retainer ring 21 contacts the lower flange of the container cover 13, and the container cover 13 is separated from the screwing ring 19 under the blocking action of the retainer ring 21 and falls onto the receiving device 15;

after the receiving device 15 receives the container cover 13, the container cover 13 is driven to move rightwards to the position right above the fourth conveying device 17;

then, the cover-pulling device 16 moves down to a height higher than the receiving device 15 and lower than the cover 13 on the receiving device 15;

then, the receiving device 15 moves leftwards to return to the position right below the cover removing device 14, and in the returning process, under the blocking action of the cover shifting device 16, the container cover 13 is shifted off from the receiving device 15, falls on the fourth conveying device 17 and is conveyed to the preset position through the fourth conveying device 17;

after all the container covers 13 on the receiving device 15 fall to the fourth conveying device 17, the cover-pulling device 16 rises, and the processes of cap removing, cap receiving, cap pulling and cap conveying are completed at one time. The receiving device 15 can then continue to move to the right above the fourth conveyor 17, thereby starting the next round of container lid collection.

In the above embodiments, the container 2 may be various bottles, cans, or the like.

The invention also provides a cover removing method, which comprises the following steps:

conveying the container 2 by using the first conveying device 1;

removing the container cover on the container 2 by using the cover removing unit 3;

detecting whether the container cover on the container 2 is removed;

rejecting the container 2 with the detected container lid not removed from the first conveyor 1 by a first rejecting device 4;

the containers 2 rejected by the first rejecting device 4 are returned to the first conveying device 1 by the second conveying device 5 at a position upstream of the decapping unit 3.

In some embodiments, the second conveyor 5 is provided with a first blocking device 7, the beginning of the first conveyor 1 is connected with a third conveyor 8, the third conveyor 8 is provided with a second blocking device 9, and the operation of returning the containers 2 rejected by the first rejecting device 4 to the first conveyor 1 by the second conveyor 5 comprises:

detecting whether a container 2 is on the first conveying device 1;

if yes, opening the second blocking device 9, stopping conveying the container 2 onto the first conveying device 1, and simultaneously closing the first blocking device 7 arranged on the second conveying device 5, so that the container 2 on the first conveying device 1 enters the first conveying device 1;

if not, the second blocking means 9 is closed and the container 2 is transferred to the first conveying means 1 by the third conveying means 8, while the first blocking means 7 is opened.

The decapping method may further include:

if the containers 2 conveyed to the first conveyor 1 by the second conveyor 5 are rejected again by the first rejecting device 4 at least once, the first rejecting device 4 is closed after the containers 2 are conveyed to the first conveyor 1 by the second conveyor 5 again, the second rejecting device 11 located downstream of the first rejecting device 4 is opened, and the containers 2 whose container lids have not been removed are rejected to the collecting platform 12 by the second rejecting device 11.

The positive technical effects of the cover removing equipment in the above embodiments are also applicable to the cover removing method, and are not described herein again.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above examples are only intended to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention and not to limit it; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that: modifications to the specific embodiments of the invention or equivalent substitutions for parts of the technical features may be made without departing from the principles of the invention, and these modifications and equivalents are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A decapping apparatus, comprising:

a first conveying device (1) for conveying the containers (2);

a cover removing unit (3) for removing the cover (13) of the container (2) conveyed by the first conveying device (1);

-first rejecting means (4), arranged downstream of said decapping unit (3), for rejecting from said first conveying means (1) said containers (2) detected as not having been removed from said container caps (13); and

and the second conveying device (5) is connected to the starting end of the first conveying device (1) and is positioned at the upstream of the cover removing unit (3) and used for conveying the containers (2) removed by the first removing device (4) to the first conveying device (1).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises first detection means (6), said first detection means (6) being arranged downstream of said decapping unit (3) and upstream of said first rejecting means (4), said first detection means (6) being adapted to detect whether said container cap (13) has been removed.

3. Decapping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first blocking device (7) is provided on the second conveyor (5), the first blocking device (7) being adapted to block the containers (2) from entering the first conveyor (1).

4. Decapping apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a third conveyor device (8), wherein the third conveyor device (8) is connected to the beginning of the first conveyor device (1) and is configured to convey the containers (2) to the first conveyor device (1), and a second blocking device (9) is disposed on the third conveyor device (8), and the second blocking device (9) is configured to block the containers (2) on the third conveyor device (8) from entering the first conveyor device (1).

5. Decapping apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a second detection device (10), said second detection device (10) being arranged upstream of said first blocking device (7) and being in signal connection with said first blocking device (7) and said second blocking device (9), said second detection device (10) being adapted to send a signal to said first blocking device (7) and said second blocking device (9) upon detection of the passage of said container (2) on said second conveying device (5).

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises second rejecting means (11) arranged downstream of said first rejecting means (4), said second rejecting means (11) being intended to reject said containers (2) on said first conveying means (1) whose caps (13) have not been removed after at least two passes of said decapping unit (3), and a collecting platform (12) communicating with said first conveying means (1) and intended to receive said containers (2) rejected by said second rejecting means (11).

7. The decapping apparatus of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the decapping unit (3) comprises:

-cover removing means (14) for removing the cover (13) from the container (2) at a first station;

receiving means (15) for receiving said container lid (13) detached by said cap removing means (14) at said first station and movable with respect to said first station;

a cover-pulling device (16) for pulling the container cover (13) off the receiving device (15); and

and the fourth conveying device (17) is arranged on one side of the cover unloading device (14) and is used for receiving the container cover (13) which is pulled down by the cover pulling device (16) and conveying the container cover (13).

8. Decapping apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the decapping device (16) is configured to enable unplugging of the container lid (13) from the receiving device (15) by relative movement with the receiving device (15).

9. Decapping apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the decapping device (16) is liftable with respect to the receiving device (15).

10. The decapping apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the decapping unit (3) comprises a decapping device (14), the decapping device (14) comprises a decapping ring (19) and a rotating shaft (20), the rotating shaft (20) is connected with the decapping ring (19), and the decapping ring (19) is used for sleeving the outer periphery of the container lid (13) and unscrewing the container lid (13) from the container (2) under the rotation of the rotating shaft (20).

11. Decapping apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the decapping device (14) further comprises a collar (21), the collar (21) having a larger diameter than the decapping ring (19), the decapping ring (19) and the rotation shaft (20) being movable relative to the collar (21), the collar (21) being configured to disengage the container lid (13) from the decapping ring (19) upon relative movement with the decapping ring (19) and the rotation shaft (20).

12. A method of decapping comprising:

conveying the containers (2) by means of a first conveying device (1);

removing the container cover (13) on the container (2) by using a cover removing unit (3);

detecting whether the container lid (13) on the container (2) has been removed;

removing the containers (2) detected as not removed from the container caps (13) from the first conveyor (1) by means of a first removing device (4);

the containers (2) rejected by the first rejecting device (4) are returned to the first conveying device (1) by a second conveying device (5), and the return position is located upstream of the decapping unit (3).

13. -method according to claim 12, characterized in that a first blocking device (7) is provided on the second conveyor (5), a third conveyor (8) is connected to the beginning of the first conveyor (1), a second blocking device (9) is provided on the third conveyor (8), and the operation of returning the containers (2) rejected by the first rejecting device (4) to the first conveyor (1) by means of the second conveyor (5) comprises:

-detecting the presence of said container (2) on said first conveyor (1);

if yes, opening the second blocking device (9), stopping conveying the containers (2) to the first conveying device (1), and closing a first blocking device (7) arranged on the second conveying device (5) at the same time, so that the containers (2) on the first conveying device (1) enter the first conveying device (1);

if not, the second blocking device (9) is closed, the container (2) is conveyed to the first conveying device (1) by the third conveying device (8), and the first blocking device (7) is opened at the same time.

14. The decapping method of claim 12, further comprising:

if the containers (2) conveyed by the second conveyor (5) to the first conveyor (1) are rejected again by the first rejection device (4) at least once again, the first rejection device (4) is closed after the containers (2) are conveyed again by the second conveyor (5) to the first conveyor (1), a second rejection device (11) located downstream of the first rejection device (4) is opened, and the containers (2) whose container lids (13) have not yet been removed are rejected to a collection platform (12) by means of the second rejection device (11).