JP2000109210A - Screw conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a screw conveyor usable for various kinds of containers without replacing a screw, the screw conveyor positioning the container by means of the screw and delivering it to a container retaining part such as a star wheel. SOLUTION: A plurality of pockets 18 formed of spiral grooves are formed on the outer surface of a screw 8 and containers 2 are stored in the pockets 18 and conveyed. The pockets 18 get smaller in width in the conveying direction from upstream to downstream sides. The screw 8 can move back and forth longitudinally and set each pocket 18 in a container delivery position A for a star wheel 4, etc. To convey the large container 2A, the upstream pocket 18F of large width which corresponds to the size of the container 2A is set in the delivery position A. In the case of the container 2B of small size, the downstream pocket 18H of small width which corresponding to the size of the container 2B is set in the delivery position A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article conveying apparatus using a screw, and for example, when a container conveyed by a conveying conveyor is supplied to a container processing apparatus such as a filling machine, the distance between the containers is constant. The present invention relates to a screw conveying device that adjusts an interval by a screw such that

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when containers continuously conveyed by a conveyor are supplied to a container processing device such as a filling machine, the containers are cut off so as to correspond to the filling nozzles of the filling machine. After a certain interval, it is necessary to carry into the filling machine. Therefore, the containers conveyed by the conveyor are transferred via an inlet star wheel (or gripper wheel) that rotates synchronously with the rotating body of the container processing device. In addition, the star wheel is provided with arc-shaped concave portions (bottle grippers in the case of a gripper wheel) for accommodating containers at equal intervals on the outer periphery, and the containers conveyed by the conveyor are formed in an arc shape of these star wheels. In order to successively hold in a concave portion or the like, the interval is adjusted to an accurate pitch on a conveyor, and the product is delivered in a positioned state.

[0003] As described above, a configuration in which a timing screw is arranged on a side portion of a container transport conveyor has been conventionally known in order to accurately position a container during transfer by a conveyor and deliver the container to a star wheel or the like. This screw has a plurality of container receiving pockets formed of a spiral groove formed on the outer peripheral surface, and at the container transfer position from the screw to the starwheel, the center of the screw pocket and the center of the concave portion of the starwheel. By adjusting the phase so that the positions of the two are matched, reliable delivery can be performed.

[0004]

In the article conveying apparatus using the timing screw as described above, each time the type of an article such as a container changes, the screw currently used is removed and the size of the pocket differs. Screw had to be replaced. In the past, since the screws were changed for each product type in this way, it took a long time to change the model, and it was necessary to prepare a large number of screws with pockets according to the size of the container, resulting in high cost. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a screw conveying device which can be used for articles such as containers of various sizes without replacing screws. is there.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A screw conveying device according to the present invention includes a screw having a plurality of pockets formed of spiral grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface, and an article is accommodated in each pocket of the screw. In particular, the width of the pocket in the article transport direction is gradually reduced from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the screw is moved in the longitudinal direction. It is possible to move forward and backward.

In the screw conveying device, the size of the plurality of pockets formed on the outer peripheral surface of the screw is
The screw is gradually reduced from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the screw is moved to position a pocket having a size corresponding to the size of the article to be conveyed to the delivery position to the rotary transfer means. The upstream pocket has the largest size, the goods are always contained in this pocket, move to the smaller downstream pocket as it advances with the rotation of the screw, and fully positioned in the corresponding pocket of said size At this point, it is delivered to the article holding section of the rotary transfer means.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a simplified configuration of a screw transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1. The container 2 conveyed by the screw conveying device is accurately positioned during conveyance, and is transferred to a rotary transfer means 4 such as a star wheel or a gripper wheel. It is delivered and supplied to a container processing device such as a filling machine (not shown).

The screw conveying device includes a lift link conveyor 6 for conveying the containers 2 at a constant interval, a screw 8 disposed above a side of the container conveying surface of the lift link conveyor 6, and a Direction (Figure 1
(Left-right direction).

The construction of the lift link conveyor 6 is well known in the art and will not be described in detail. However, slats 11 (see FIG. 2) are attached to each link of the endless chain to constitute the conveyor conveying surface. . Of these slats 11, every other slat (referred to as a lift plate) 12 is configured to be able to protrude and retract on the transport surface, and is provided by a lift plate raising cam 14 (see FIG. 2) disposed below. It is raised at a predetermined position. The container 2 transported by the lift link conveyor 6 is placed and transported in a space (carrier zone) 16 between the front and rear lift plates 12. The lift link conveyor 6 is arranged in a tangential direction of the rotary transfer means 4 and sequentially transfers the containers 2 to a container holding portion (not shown) of the rotary transfer means 4 at a container transfer position A.
The lift plate 12 is not limited to the one that can be moved up and down, and may be fixed so as to always protrude above the conveyor.

When the rotary transfer means 4 is a star wheel, a concave portion for receiving the container 2 at equal circumferential intervals is provided on the outer periphery of the rotary wheel. A gripper for gripping the container 2 at equal intervals is provided as a container holding portion, and the container 2 is delivered to the concave portion or the gripper at the container delivery position A.

The screw 8 is provided with a spiral groove on the outer peripheral surface, and the pocket 18 for accommodating the container 2 and the peak portion 20 are alternately formed by the spiral groove. The pocket 18 of the screw 8 is located at the first upstream side.
The pocket 18 on the most downstream side from the pocket 18 (18A)
The width (the length in the transport direction of the opening of the pocket 18 in this specification is referred to as a width) gradually decreases toward (18H). Also, the depth of the pocket 18 for receiving the container 2 (the distance between the outer peripheral surface of the screw 8 and the bottom of the pocket 18) is gradually reduced. In addition, each pocket 18
The position of each crest 20 located in between overlaps the position of the lift plate 12 of the lift link conveyor 6.
Then, as described above, the width of the pocket 18, that is, the interval between the rear end of the downstream mountain portion 20 and the front end of the upstream mountain portion 20 is substantially equal to the interval between the lift plates 12 of the lift link conveyor 6, as described above. Since the width gradually decreases toward the downstream side, the width of the peak 20 gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side.

Since the interval between the peaks 20 coincides with the interval between the lift plates 12 and the pockets 18 are formed in the middle of the respective peaks 20, each pocket 18 has its center (the center of the width of the pocket) at its center. They are arranged so as to have the same pitch. The lift link conveyor 6 and the screw 8 are operated synchronously so that the phase of the lift plate 12 and the phase of the crest 20 coincide. Further, the rotary transfer means 4 is also operated synchronously so that each pocket 18 of the screw 8 coincides with the position of the container holding portion (recess or gripper) of the rotary transfer means 4 at the container transfer position A.

The screw 8 has two end portions 8 in the longitudinal direction.
a, 8b are attached to the base 22. The base 22 is fitted on a rail 24 fixed along the side of the lift link conveyor 6 and is capable of moving forward and backward along the lift link conveyor 6. This base 22
A servomotor 26 for driving the screw 8 is fixed on the upper side, and can move integrally with the screw 8. An elongated hole 22 a is formed in the base 22, and a bolt 28 provided on the rail 24
It can be fixed to the rail 24, and can be moved along the rail 24 by loosening the nut.

Transport guides 30 and 31 are disposed on both sides of the container transport surface on the lift link conveyor 6. The transport guide 30 arranged on the screw 8 side extends from the upstream side to the position of the introduction portion 8 c of the screw 8, and the transport guide 31 arranged on the opposite side of the screw 8 has a delivery position It extends to just before A. The transport guide 31 opposite the screw 8
Corresponds to the lift link conveyor 6 according to the size of the container 2.
In the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1). The transport guide 30 on the screw 8 side can move or expand and contract along the traveling direction of the lift link conveyor 6, and when the screw 8 is moved, its tip follows the introduction portion 8 c of the screw 8. Let me move.

The operation of the screw transport device having the above configuration will be described. The base 22 on which the screw 8 and the servomotor 26 are mounted is connected to the rail 22 such that the pocket 18 having a size corresponding to the diameter of the container 2 conveyed by the conveying device is located at the transfer position A to the rotary transfer means 4. Move along 24. The container 2 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the width and depth of the third pocket 18F from the downstream side of the screw 8, and this pocket 18F is located at the transfer position A.
Then, the screw 8 and the lift link conveyor 6 and the container holding portion (recess or gripper) of the rotary transfer means 4 are operated in synchronization with each other so that the phases thereof match.

When the operation is started in this state, the container 2 placed in the carrier zone 16 between the lift plates 12 of the lift link conveyor 6 and guided on both sides by the transfer guides 30 and 31 is transferred by the screw 2. When the screw 8 reaches the position 8, the screw 8 is accommodated in the first pocket 18 (18A) from the introduction portion 8c at the upstream end. Container 2
As described above, the third pocket 18 (1
8F) and has a diameter substantially matching the width of the first pocket 18 (18A), so that it is securely housed in this pocket 18 (18A), The pocket 18 (18A) is accommodated without being positioned. As the lift link conveyor 6 travels and the screw 8 rotates, the container 2 gradually moves into the downstream pocket 18. As the width of the pocket 18 decreases toward the downstream side, when the pocket 18 enters the third pocket 18 (18F) from the right, the pocket 18 is completely positioned and the container of the rotary transfer means 4 at the container transfer position A Delivered to the holding unit.

The container 2 having a diameter different from that of the container 2 (2A) shown in FIG.
The screw 8 is moved along the rail 24 so that a pocket 18 having a size corresponding to the diameter of the container 2 matches the position of the transfer position A to the rotary transfer means 4. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the container 2 (2B) to be conveyed is small and has a diameter corresponding to the width of the pocket of the smallest size (the most downstream pocket 18H), this eighth container is used. Pocket 18 (18
The screw 8 is moved so that H) is located at the delivery position A, and is fixed by the bolt 28.

In the case of a small container 2 (2B), the screw 8 is moved upstream (to the left in FIG. 3),
The transport guide 31 on the opposite side of the screw 8 is moved closer to the screw 8 according to the diameter of the container 2, and the tip of the transport guide 30 on the screw 8 is moved to just before the introduction portion 8 c of the screw 8. When the screw conveying device is operated in this state, the container 2 accommodated in the first pocket 18 (18A) from the introduction portion 8c of the screw 8
Gradually moves to the pocket 18 on the downstream side, and reaches the last pocket 18 (18H) to be completely positioned.
It is delivered to the container holding part of the rotary transfer means 4.

As described above, the screw 8 is formed with the pocket 18 whose width becomes gradually smaller toward the downstream side, and the pocket 18 conforming to the size of the container 2 to be conveyed.
Is positioned at the container transfer position A to the rotary transfer means 4 without replacing the screw 8.
Any size container 2 can be accurately positioned and delivered reliably.

The container introducing portion 8c formed at the upstream end of the screw 8 cannot separate the container 2 which has been continuously conveyed, so that the container 2 is conveyed at a predetermined interval by the lift link conveyor 6. Although it is designed to be introduced into the screw 8, it is not always necessary to use the lift link conveyor 8, and for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the container 2 continuously conveyed by the ordinary conveyor 40 is The stopper 42 may be separated at a predetermined interval and introduced into the screw 8. In this case, when the screw 8 is moved according to the size of the container 2, the movable base is guided by a rail 44 arranged in parallel with the screw 8 so that the position of the rotor wristper 42 can be adjusted. A rotor wristper 42 is mounted on 46. Alternatively, the container may be cut off at a constant interval and transported by another interval setting means on the upstream side of the transport conveyor.

In each of the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the screw 8 having a semicircular pocket 18 on the outer surface (see FIG. 5A) is used, but the shape of the pocket is limited to a semicircle. Instead, any container may be used as long as it can accommodate and position the container 2 and deliver it to the container holder of the rotary transfer means 4. For example, as shown in FIG.
Screw 5 having trapezoidal pocket 50 formed on the outer surface
2 and the like, the width for holding the front and rear of the conveyed container 2 and the depth for receiving the container 2 are equal to the upstream pocket 50.
Any material that gradually decreases from (50A) toward the pockets 50B to 50H on the downstream side is applicable.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the centers of the pockets 18 (centers of the widths of the pockets) of the screw 8 are arranged at the same pitch, but a normal conveyor as shown in FIG. When the container 2 is transported by 40, the centers of the pockets 18 of the screws 8 do not necessarily have to be at the same pitch. However, by setting the pitch to be the same, when the screw 8 is moved, the synchronous relationship with the rotary transfer means 4 is not lost, and adjustment is easy.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of pockets each formed of a spiral groove are provided with a screw formed on the outer peripheral surface, and articles are accommodated in each pocket, conveyed, and rotated and conveyed. In the screw conveying device for transferring to the article holding portion of the means, the width of the pocket in the article conveying direction is gradually reduced toward the downstream side, and the screw is capable of moving forward and backward in the longitudinal direction, depending on the size of the article to be conveyed. By moving the screw,
The article to be conveyed can be accurately positioned without being replaced with a screw, and can be reliably delivered to the article holding section of the rotary transfer means. Therefore, it is not necessary to replace the screw for a long time, and it is not necessary to prepare various kinds of screws, so that the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view showing an entire screw conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a case where containers of different sizes are transferred by the screw transfer device.

FIG. 4 is a simplified plan view showing the entire screw conveying device according to a second embodiment.

5A is a plan view of a screw having a semicircular pocket, and FIG. 5B is a plan view of a screw having a trapezoidal pocket.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Article (container) 4 Rotary transfer means 8 Screw 18 Pocket

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Tsukino 58 Koshizawa Ozuda Honcho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture Inside Shibuya Corporation (72) Inventor Kazunori Agematsu 2-1-5 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Santori Inside the corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A screw conveying device comprising: a plurality of pockets each formed of a spiral groove provided with a screw formed on an outer peripheral surface, for accommodating and transporting an article in each pocket, and delivering the article to an article holding section of a rotary transfer means. A screw conveying device characterized in that the width of the pocket in the article conveying direction is gradually reduced toward the downstream side, and the screw is made movable in the longitudinal direction. 2. The pocket according to claim 1, wherein the center of each width is arranged at an equal pitch.
3. The screw conveying device according to item 1.