JP2000053234A - Can alignment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automate a work for aligning cans as coinciding the position of the bar-code on side face of each can. SOLUTION: A can alignment device is provided with a can feed means 1 which feeds a can 3 in the center line 5 direction of the can, a sensor means 17 which recognizes a sign such as a bar-code 15 stuck to the side face of the can on the can feed means, and a can rotational movement means 23 which rotationally moves the can on the can feed means. The can is rotationally supported by the can feed means and, when the can reaches a prescribed position, its feeding is stopped, at the same time the can is rotationally moved by the can rotational movement means, and when the sensor means recognizes the sign of the bar-code on the side of the can, the rotational movement of the can is stopped, thus aligning the position of the bar-code on the side of the can.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a can arranging apparatus, and more particularly to a can arranging apparatus. More specifically, a plurality of cans are stacked and packaged in series such that the top of each can contacts the bottom of another can. In this case, the present invention relates to a can aligning apparatus for aligning cans so that the positions of bar codes attached to the side surfaces of the cans match.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, cans are often sold in an integrated package with a transparent film. That is, cans are often sold, for example, in a state where three to six cans are arranged in series so that the top surface of each can contacts the bottom surface of the other cans, and is collected and packed by shrink packaging. In the case of canned goods sold in such an integrated packaging state, it is troublesome and inefficient to cause the reading device to read the barcode attached to the side of each can in the integrated packaging at a store. Therefore, the cans are aligned so that the positions of the barcodes of the cans in the stacking package coincide with each other, the transparent stacking packaging film is provided with shielding means for preventing the reading of these birds, and the entire canning in the stacking package is provided. Are displayed (see FIG. 5). In this case, the seller may have the reading device read a single barcode for all cans in the stacking package displayed on the stacking packaging film.

[0003] Further, since the barcode of each can is attached to a predetermined position on the side surface of each can, when the cans are aligned so that the position of the barcode of each can in the stacking package coincides, the can is transparent. The positions of trademarks, graphics, and other indications on the side surfaces of the cans stacked and packaged with a suitable film also match, and the appearance of the stacked packages is improved, which is extremely favorable for the sale of cans.

[0004] However, the operation of aligning the cans so that the position of the bar code on each side of the can coincides with each other is mainly performed manually in the pre-process of shrink packaging. That is, the worker rotates each can in order to match the position of the bar code on the side of each can while watching the cans sent on the conveyor by the side of the conveyor.

[0005]

However, arranging the cans by hand as described above so that the positions of the barcodes on the side surfaces of the cans coincide with each other imposes a heavy burden on the operator, and increases the work efficiency and efficiency. This is not desirable in terms of labor costs. In view of such a situation, the present invention has been made to automate the operation of arranging cans so that the positions of the barcodes on the side surfaces of the cans match.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following canning and aligning apparatus.

(1) Can feeding means for feeding cans in the direction of the center line of the can, sensor means for recognizing a bar code or other mark attached to a predetermined position on the side of the can on the can feeding means, and can feeding Rotating means for rotating the can on the means about the center line of the can, and a can feeding means for rotatably supporting the can about the center line of the can and rotating the can. When the can on the means reaches a predetermined position, the feeding of the can is stopped, and the can on the can feeding means is rotated about the center line of the can by the can rotating means, and the sensor means is rotated. When the bar code or other mark attached to a predetermined position on the side of the can is recognized, the rotation of the can is stopped so that the position of the bar code on each side of the can is matched. apparatus Claim 1).

(2) In the can rotating means, a can rotating roller which is rotated by a motor is disposed so as to be able to freely contact and separate from the can on the can feeding means, and the can rotating roller is provided on the can feeding means by a spring. Press against the side of the can
(Claim 2).

(3) The can rotating means and the sensor means are arranged in correspondence with each can in each stacking package.

(4) The position of the can rotating means can be adjusted in the direction of contacting / separating from the can on the can feeding means (claim 4).

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cans to be stacked and packed are sent by the feeding means in the direction of the center line of the cans. The feeding means rotatably supports the can around a center line of the can. When the can on the can feeding means reaches a predetermined position, the feeding of the can is stopped, and the can on the can feeding means is rotated about the center line of the can by the can rotating means. When the sensor means recognizes a bar code or other sign attached to a predetermined position on the rotating side of the can, the sensor means issues a signal and stops the rotation of the can to stop the rotation of each can. Match the position of the barcode.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the can rotation roller is disposed so as to be able to contact and separate from the can on the can feeding means. The can rotation roller is pressed against the side of the can by a spring. You. Accordingly, the can rotating roller surely rotates the can when rotated by the motor.

[0013] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the can rotation means and the sensor means are arranged in a state corresponding to each can in each of the stacked packages. The barcodes are rotated at once, and the positions of the barcodes attached to the side surfaces of these cans are aligned at once.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the position of the can rotating means can be adjusted so as to come in contact with and separate from the can on the can feeding means, so that even if the diameter of the can fed on the can feeding means changes. By adjusting the position of the can rotating means in the direction of contacting / separating from the can on the can feeding means, the can rotating roller can be reliably brought into contact with the side surface of the can.

[0015]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a can feeding means of the can aligning apparatus. The canning feeding means 1 may be any device as long as it can send the canned food 3 in the direction of the center line 5 of the canned food 3. In the illustrated case, the canning and feeding means 1 comprises:
A large number of cans 3 are placed on a pair of feed rails 7 and 7 and these cans 3 are fed by driving means 9 such as an air cylinder. Reference numeral 11 denotes a can supply means for supplying the can 3 to the can supply means 1.

The canning feeding means 1 rotatably supports the can 3 about a center line 5 of the can 3 when the can 3 is at a position corresponding to the can rotating means described later. I do. That is, as an example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the can 3 is located at a position corresponding to the can rotating means.
Is supported by a plurality of rotatable rollers 13.

A sensor means 17 for recognizing a bar code 15 or other mark attached to a predetermined position on the side surface 3a of the can 3 on the can feeding means 1 is provided near the can feeding means 1. The sensor means 17 may recognize the bar code 15, but may recognize a mark other than the bar code 15 such as a mark attached to a predetermined position on the side surface 3 a of the can 3. You may.
The sensor means 17 shown in FIG. 2 is capable of adjusting the angle in the vertical and horizontal directions, and is also capable of adjusting the position in the vertical and horizontal directions perpendicular to the center line 5 of the can 3. Reference numeral 19 denotes a slit plate provided with a slit 21. The sensor means 17 is a slit 21 of a slit plate 19.
The bar code 15 and other markers attached to predetermined positions on the side surface 3a of the can 3 on the can feeding means 1 are recognized.

A can rotation means 23 is provided near the can feeding means 1 at a position corresponding to the sensor means 17.
The can rotation means 23 rotates the can 3 on the can feeding means 1 about the center line 5 of the can 3 as a rotation center.

In the can aligning apparatus according to the present invention, when the can 3 on the can feeding means 1 reaches a predetermined position near the sensor means 17, the feeding of the can 3 is stopped and the can rotating means 23 turns the can. Canned 3 on means 1 canned 3
Is rotated about the center line of. Canned feeding means 1
As means for stopping the feeding of the can 3, for example, a driving means 2 such as an air cylinder is provided near the can feeding means 1.
5 is provided with a stopper plate 27 which advances and retreats in a direction of coming and coming from the can feeding means 1. That is, when the stopper plate 27 comes close to the can feeding means 1 and comes into contact with the can 3, the can 3 is stopped. When the sensor means 17 recognizes the bar code 15 or other mark attached to a predetermined position on the side surface 3a of the rotating can 3, a signal is issued, and the rotation of the can 3 is stopped so that each can 3 is stopped. The position of the bar code 15 on the side is matched.

The can rotating means 23 is preferably provided with a can rotating roller 31 which is rotated by a motor 29 such as a pulse motor or a servomotor so as to be able to freely contact and separate from the can 3 on the can feeding means 1. The rotating roller 31 is pressed against the side surface 3a of the can 3 on the can feeding means 1 by a spring 33. Canned rotating roller 3
1 is, for example, a rubber roller or a urethane roller. In the illustrated case, the timing pulley 35 is connected to the motor 29, and the support frame 37 is rotatably mounted. The small pulley 39 is rotatably mounted on the support frame 37, and the timing pulley 35 and the small pulley 39 are connected to each other. A timing belt 41 is wound between the support frames 3 and
The can rotation roller 31 is rotatably attached to a tip of the timing roller 41 while being in contact with the timing belt 41 so that the rotation roller 31 can be rotated by the timing belt 41. In this case, the spring 33 is mounted between the support frame 37 and the frame 43 of the can aligner.

The can rotation means 23 and the sensor means 17
Is desirably provided corresponding to each can 3 in each accumulation package. That is, each can 3 in the stacking package
One can rotation means 23 and one sensor means 17 for each
And it is arranged. For example, as shown in FIG.
When one can package forms one can,
Five can rotation means 23 and five sensor means 17 are used in a state corresponding to five cans.

It is desirable that the position of the can rotating means 23 can be adjusted in the direction in which the can rotating means 23 comes into contact with and separates from the can 3 on the can feeding means 1. In order to adjust the position of the can rotating means 23 in a direction in which the can rotating means 23 comes into contact with and separate from the can 3 on the can feeding means 1, for example,
Each can rotating means 23 is supported by a support 45, and the support 45 is mounted on a rotating shaft 47 mounted on a frame 43 of the can aligner, and the support 45 is pressed by a pressing means 49 such as an air cylinder. Thus, the support 45 is rotated about the rotation shaft 47 as a rotation center.

The cans 3 aligned by the can aligning device so that the barcode positions coincide with each other are then sent to the packaging means 51 to be stacked and packaged. See FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the can 3 collected and packaged by the transparent collecting and packaging film 53. Reference numeral 55 denotes a shielding means printed on the stacking and packaging film 53 to prevent reading of the barcode 15 displayed on each can 3 in the stacking and packaging. The reference numeral 57 indicates a single bar code for all the cans 3 in the stacking package, and only the single bar code 57 is read by the reader at the time of sale at a store.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the cans are stacked and packed, the cans are aligned so that the positions of the bar codes on the side surfaces of the cans coincide with each other. The work is automated. Therefore, the burden on the worker is remarkably reduced, the work efficiency is improved, and the labor cost is greatly reduced.

[Claim 2] The can rotation roller is disposed so as to be capable of coming and going with respect to the can on the can feeding means. The can rotation roller is pressed against the side of the can by a spring. You. Accordingly, the can rotating roller surely rotates the can when rotated by the motor. In other respects, the canning device according to the second aspect has the same effect as the canning device according to the first aspect.

[Claim 3] The can rotating means and the sensor means are arranged in a state corresponding to each can in each stack, so that all the cans contained in one stack are packed. The barcodes are rotated at once, and the positions of the barcodes attached to the side surfaces of these cans are aligned at once.
In other respects, the canning device according to the third aspect has the same effect as the canning device according to the first or second aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the position of the can rotating means can be adjusted so as to come in contact with and separate from the can on the can feeding means. Therefore, even if the diameter of the can fed on the can feeding means changes. By adjusting the position of the can rotating means in the direction of contacting / separating from the can on the can feeding means, the can rotating roller can be reliably brought into contact with the side surface of the can. In other respects, the canning and aligning device of the fourth aspect exhibits the same effect as the canning and aligning device of the first to third aspects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a can aligning apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same canning and aligning apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a can rotating means.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a slit plate.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing cans stacked and packaged.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 can feeding means 3 can 3a side face 5 center line 7 feed rail 9 driving means 11 can feeding means 13 roller 13 15 bar code 17 sensor means 19 slit plate 21 slit plate 23 can rotating means 25 driving means 27 stopper plate 29 motor 31 Canned rotating roller 33 Spring 35 Timing pulley 37 Support frame 39 Small pulley 41 Timing belt 43 Frame 45 Supporting body 47 Rotating shaft 49 Pressing means 51 Packaging means 53 Integrated packaging film 55 Shielding means 57 Single barcode

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Canning feeding means for feeding cans in the direction of the center line of the can, sensor means for recognizing a bar code or other mark attached to a predetermined position on the side of the can on the can feeding means, and can feeding means Can rotation means for rotating the upper can about the center line of the can, and can rotation means for rotating the can about the center line of the can. When the upper can reaches a predetermined position, the feeding of the can is stopped, and the can on the can feeding means is rotated about the center line of the can by the can rotating means, and the sensor means is rotated. A can aligning device which stops the rotation of the can when recognizing a bar code or other mark attached to a predetermined position on the side of the can, thereby matching the position of the bar code on each side of the can. . 2. The can rotation means is provided with a can rotation roller which is rotated by a motor so as to be able to freely contact and separate from the can on the can feeding means, and the can rotation roller is canned on the can feeding means by a spring. 2. The canning and aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the device is pressed against a side surface of the can. 3. The can aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the can rotating means and the sensor means are arranged corresponding to each can in each of the stacked packages. 4. The can aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position of the can rotating means is adjustable in a direction in which the can rotating on and off the can on the can feeding means.