JP2000229718A - Screw conveyer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To convey lightweight containers such as PET bottles at high speed by a screw conveyer. SOLUTION: A screw conveyer 8 has a screw groove formed on the outer circumference, a screw conveying body 10 arranged at an upper side of a conveyer 14, and a conveyer guide 12 arranged oppositely in parallel with the screw conveying body 10. Containers 2 are kept in pockets 10a formed by the screw groove of the screw conveying body 10 and conveyed by rotation of the screw conveying body 10. The screw conveyer 8 is arranged between two container processing equipment and is operated synchronously with these container processing equipment. The screw conveyer 8 has a reduction section A where container intervals are reduced gradually from a large interval in receiving containers from the upper steam container processing equipment to a small interval, a constant interval section B where the reduced interval is maintained, and an expansion section C where conveyer intervals are gradually expanded to match the conveyer interval of the lower stream container processing equipment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a screw transfer device, and more particularly to a screw transfer device disposed between a plurality of container processing devices and transferring a container in synchronization with the operation of each of the container processing devices. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A screw conveyor having a spiral groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical body is disposed on an upper side of a conveyor means such as a belt conveyor. A screw conveying unit including a container conveying path including a screw conveying body and a conveyor guide disposed in parallel with each other, wherein the container accommodated in the spiral groove of the screw conveying unit is conveyed by rotation of the screw conveying unit. The device is conventionally known.

[0003] The screw carrier is disposed between a plurality of container processing devices such as a rinser (bottle washing machine), a filler (filling machine), and a capper, and is used to transport containers in synchronization with these container processing devices. Have been. In the container processing device, each processing is performed while transporting the supplied containers at a constant pitch, and a screw transport device connecting these container processing devices is an upstream container processing device. The container discharged after the treatment is engaged with the spiral groove of the screw carrier, conveyed in synchronization with the operation of each container processing device, and supplied to the downstream container processing device. Therefore, a general screw conveying device conveys the container while keeping the distance between the containers substantially constant.

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional screw conveying device, the container is conveyed while maintaining the container conveying interval in the upstream container processing device as it is, and is supplied to the downstream container processing device. In each of these container processing devices, a container is held and transported by a holder to perform cleaning, or a container placed on a bottle base is held by a gripper to perform a process such as filling or capping. Therefore, even in the screw transfer device connecting these container processing devices, the transfer is performed at a relatively large interval.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional screw transfer device, since the transfer interval of the containers is increased in accordance with the transfer pitch of the container processing device, a lightweight container such as a PET bottle can be moved at a high speed. There was a risk of falling if transported by In particular, in the case of a small container, the distance between the front and rear containers is large, so that the container easily falls over, and in the case of an empty container, the container is extremely lightweight, so that it is easy to fall. In this way, when the container falls over during transportation by the screw carrier,
There has been a problem that a trouble occurs in which the sheet is caught between the lower conveying conveyor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a screw conveying device which does not fall over even when a lightweight container such as a PET bottle is conveyed at a high speed. is there.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a screw conveying apparatus comprising: a screw conveying member having a spiral groove formed on an outer periphery thereof; and a container conveying device comprising a conveyor guide disposed opposite to the screw conveying member. It has a path, is arranged between a plurality of container processing devices, and transports the containers accommodated in the spiral grooves by the rotation of the screw conveyor in synchronization with the operation of these container processing devices. In particular, the screw transport so that the transport interval of the containers has a reduced section that reduces from the container discharge interval of the upstream container processing apparatus and an enlarged section that extends to the container supply interval to the downstream container processing apparatus. It is what constitutes the body.

[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 schematically showing the overall configuration of a screw transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a rinser (first container processing device) not shown on the upstream side (left side in the figure). On the downstream side, a filler (second container processing device) (not shown) is disposed. An outlet starwheel 4 for discharging the container 2 from the rinser and an inlet starwheel 6 for supplying the container 2 to the filler are connected by a screw transfer device (generally indicated by reference numeral 8) according to the present invention. These rinsers and fillers (and their star wheels 4, 6)
And the screw conveying device 8 connecting the two are operated in synchronization.

The screw conveying device 8 includes a screw conveying member 10 having a cylindrical member formed with a helical groove (not shown) on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is parallel to the screw conveying member 10 at a predetermined interval. Conveyor guide 12 arranged at
And The concave portion 10a of the spiral groove of the screw carrier 10 facing the conveyor guide 12 is
Pockets, and each of these pockets 1
The container 2 is accommodated in each of the screw conveyors 10a.
The container 2 is conveyed by rotating. Below the container 2 transported by the screw transporter 10, a transport conveyor 14 (see FIG. 3 described later) such as a belt conveyor or a fixed plate is disposed.

In the screw conveying device 8 according to this embodiment, the interval between the pockets 10a formed by the spiral grooves of the screw conveying body 10 is changed. That is, at the position on the most upstream side of the screw carrier 10 where the container 2 is received from the outlet starwheel 4 of the rinser, the container 2 has the same interval as the container transport interval on the rinser side. This interval is gradually shrinking. A in the figure
The section is a reduced section of the transport interval in which the container transport interval is gradually reduced. Further, a section (intermediate section) B following the reduced section A of the transport interval is an equal interval section in which the reduced container transport interval is maintained. Further, on the downstream side of the equally-spaced section B,
This is an enlarged section in which the transfer interval of the container 2 is gradually increased, and the transfer interval of the reduced container 2 is gradually expanded so as to coincide with the transfer pitch of the inlet starwheel 6 at the time of transfer to the inlet starwheel 6 of the filler. It has become.

The operation of the screw conveying device 8 according to the above configuration will be described. After being washed by the upstream rinser (not shown), the container 2 discharged through the outlet starwheel 4 is accommodated in each pocket 10 a of the screw transport body 10 of the screw transport device 8. The most upstream side of the screw transport body 10 has a large transport interval that matches the container transport pitch of the outlet starwheel 4, and is reliably transferred into each pocket 10a.

In the section A in which the container transport interval of the screw transport 10 is reduced, the interval between the pockets 10a is gradually narrowed, and as the container 2 advances with the rotation of the screw transport 10, the distance between the front and rear containers 2 is increased. Approaches. Further, when the container 2 moves forward and enters the interval B, the containers 2 to be conveyed move in a close state without greatly tilting. Thereafter, in the enlarged section C of the transport interval, the interval between the pockets 10a gradually increases, and the interval between the containers 2 transported in a close state gradually increases.
At the time of delivery to the inlet starwheel 6 of the filler, the interval between the containers 2 is enlarged to a size corresponding to the container transport pitch of the inlet starwheel 6, and the container 2 is smoothly delivered.

When the container conveying interval of the screw conveying body 10 is long as in the conventional screw conveying device, there is a possibility that the container 2 being conveyed may be greatly inclined and jam with the belt conveyor 14 below. (Fig. 2 (b)
2), when the container conveyance interval of the screw conveyance body 10 is reduced as in the present invention, even if the container 2 being conveyed is tilted as shown in FIG. It is possible to be independent and to prevent the occurrence of a trouble of biting without falling down as it is. In addition, the container receiving section from the upstream container processing apparatus and the container delivering section to the downstream container processing apparatus perform the transfer in accordance with the respective container transport pitch, so that the smooth transfer of the container 2 is possible. It is.

In the above configuration, in the vicinity of the position where the container 2 is received from the outlet starwheel 4 of the rinser and in the vicinity of the position where the container 2 is delivered to the filler starwheel 6 of the filler, the container transport interval is set in order to smoothly transfer the container 2. Since it is large, the container 2 may be inclined. Therefore, a neck ring guide 1 as shown in FIG.
6 may be provided. The neck ring guides 16 are arranged on both sides in the traveling direction of the container 2 conveyed by the rotation of the screw conveying body 10 and support the lower surface of the flange-shaped neck ring 2 a formed on the neck of the container 2. The inclination of the container 2 can be regulated.

The screw conveyor 10 constituting the screw conveyor 8 may be constituted by a single screw having a length from the upstream container processing apparatus to the downstream container processing apparatus. The members may be connected to form a single screw carrier. FIG.
Are a plurality of such screw members 10A, 10B, 1
FIG. 1 shows an example of a screw transfer device 8 provided with a screw transfer device 10 formed by connecting 0C, 10D, and 10E. The screw transfer device 10 includes, similarly to the configuration shown in FIG. Star star 4 and filler 3 (container processing device on the downstream side)
And the star wheel 6 at the entrance.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a connecting structure of the screw members 10A and 10B. The structure of the connecting portion is the same as the structure disclosed in FIG. 6 of JP-A-10-109730. Will be described briefly. A connecting shaft 2 rotatably supported by a support member 20 via a bearing 22 between the screw members 10A and 10B on both sides.
4 are provided, and convex members 26 and 28 are provided on both sides of the connecting shaft 24, respectively. On the other hand, concave fitting members 30 and 32 are inserted into the shaft core portions of the screw members 10A and 10B, and are fixed via fixed shaft portions 34 and 36, and these convex members 26 and 28 are concavely fitted. By fitting the mating members 30 and 32, both screw members 1
0A and 10B are connected in a state where torque can be transmitted. In the figure, reference numeral 38 denotes a fastening means, which is a fixing part 42 fitted in a slit part 40 formed in the support member 20.
The support member 20 is configured to be able to be adjusted so as to be position-adjustable therethrough. 43 to 46 are screw holes for set screws (not shown). The connection structure of the screw members is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and the connection can be made by other structures.

In the above-described embodiment, the screw conveyance body includes a reduced section A in which the container conveyance interval gradually narrows, an equal interval section (intermediate section) B in which the interval is maintained narrow, and an expansion section C in which the interval gradually increases. Although provided, it is not always necessary to provide equally spaced transport sections in the middle. In any case, at the time of receiving the container from the upstream container processing device and at the time of transferring the container to the downstream container processing device, the container transport interval matches the transport interval of each container processing device. At the time of transport, the transport interval may be narrow so that the container does not fall. The transport interval at which the container does not fall down is an interval at which the inclined container abuts on the adjacent container and can stand up again, and is set according to the mounting area of the transported container and the height of the container.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, a container conveying path comprising a screw conveying member having a spiral groove formed on the outer periphery and a conveyor guide disposed opposite to the screw conveying member. Having a plurality of container processing devices, a screw transport device that transports the containers accommodated in the spiral grooves by rotation of the screw transport body in synchronization with the operation of these container processing devices, The screw transport body is configured such that the transport interval of the containers has a reduced section that reduces from the container discharge interval of the upstream container processing apparatus and an enlarged section that extends to the container supply interval to the downstream container processing apparatus. Thus, even when a lightweight container such as a PET bottle is transported at high speed, it is possible to prevent the container from falling over during transportation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view showing the overall configuration of a screw conveyance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating the posture of a container conveyed by the screw conveying device, wherein FIG. 2A illustrates a case where the container conveyance interval is narrow, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the screw transfer device where a container transfer interval is wide.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a cross section of a part of a screw transport device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a connection portion of a screw transport body of the screw transport device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Reduction section B Intermediate section C Expansion section 2 Container 10 Screw carrier 12 Conveyor guide

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A container conveying path comprising a screw conveying member having a spiral groove formed on an outer periphery thereof, and a conveyor guide disposed opposite to the screw conveying member, and disposed between a plurality of container processing apparatuses. The screw conveying device that conveys the containers accommodated in the helical grooves by the rotation of the screw conveying member in synchronization with the operation of the container processing device, wherein the container conveyance interval is set to the upstream container processing device. Wherein the screw transport body is configured to have a reduction section that reduces from the container discharge interval and an expansion section that expands to the container supply interval to the downstream container processing apparatus. 2. The screw conveying device according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate section for conveying the container at a reduced interval is provided between the reduced section and the enlarged section of the container conveying interval. 3. The screw transport device according to claim 1, wherein the screw transport body is configured by connecting a plurality of screw members.