JP2000318838A - Rotary valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly set the detaching position of a vessel by providing a rotary port having an opening communicating with the grooves of first and second fixed ports at the ends of the grooves, separating two adjacent rotary ports so as not to communicate with each other by the groove of one fixed port, and connecting the fixed ports to an air pressure source. SOLUTION: First and second fixed ports 15a1, 15a2 circumferentially have grooves 15b1, 15b2 on the respective seal surfaces. A rotary port 14a has a groove-like opening 14b communicating with the groove 15b1 of the first fixed port 15a1 and the groove 15b2 of the second fixed port 15a2 at the ends of the grooves 15b1, 15b2. Two adjacent rotary ports 14a are separated so as not to communicate with each other by the groove 15b1 (or 15b2) of one fixed port 15a1 (or 15a2). The fixed ports 15a1, 15a2 are connected to an air pressure source through a piping and a vacuum header. The rotary port 14a described in a position B shows that the rotary port 14a located in a position A is moved to the position B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary valve, and more particularly to a rotary valve suitable for supplying pneumatic pressure to a vacuum suction means moving on a circumference.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a device for inspecting a container carried in by a conveyor by imaging, the container is taken in from a conveyor to an entrance starwheel to image a mouth portion to judge pass / fail, and then taken into a main rotor to image a body portion. Then, pass / fail is determined, and then taken into the outlet starwheel and discharged for each good and defective product.

Each pocket of the outlet starwheel has a suction cup for vacuum-sucking the body of the container, and the outlet starwheel has a first conveyor on the upstream side and a second conveyor on the downstream side during transfer. . The exit starwheel adsorbs and holds a good product, passes it through the first conveyor, and discharges it to the second conveyor, and removes a defective product from the pocket without suction and discharges it to the first conveyor. The reason why a good product is adsorbed and a defective product is not adsorbed is based on a fail-safe idea that a non-defective product is discharged to a defective product when a container cannot be adsorbed due to a failure. In some cases, three discharge conveyors may be used for defective mouth discharge, defective body discharge, and good product discharge.

The vacuum path includes a rotary valve including a fixed port connected to a vacuum source and a rotary port connected to a suction cup, and further includes a shutoff valve between each suction cup and the rotary port. ing. There is one fixed port and has a groove in the circumferential direction. When the rotation port engages the groove of the fixed port, the rotation port is connected to a vacuum source. When the shutoff valve is open at this position, the suction cup is connected to a vacuum source and the container is sucked. If the product is defective, close the shutoff valve.

The shut-off valve is mechanically operated, and is switched by pushing a spool of the shut-off valve with a piston of an air cylinder provided in a fixed portion. The air cylinder is operated by a solenoid valve. In the event of a power outage, shut off the shut-off valve. In addition,
If it is not preferable to suck the atmosphere into the shutoff valve or the rotary valve, compressed air may be connected to the fixed port and an ejector-type vacuum generator may be provided in the suction cup. A vacuum source or a compressed air source for vacuum suction is called a pneumatic source.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional rotary valve, it is difficult to cope with high-speed operation because the switching valve is provided by pressing the shutoff valve provided on the moving suction cup by the piston provided on the fixed portion. For this reason, it is desired to eliminate the moving shutoff valve. When the suction position is changed, it is necessary to replace the fixed port portion of the rotary valve. Therefore, it is desired that the suction position can be changed without replacing the fixed port portion.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention divided one circumferential groove provided over the suction range into a plurality of grooves, provided fixed ports in each groove, and connected each fixed port to a vacuum source through a shutoff valve. Considered what to connect to. If the shut-off valve is open, the container will be adsorbed if the rotating port hits the groove,
When the rotation port is between the two grooves, the container is not sucked.

Next, a case in which a rotary port straddles two grooves for continuous suction was examined. Even when one shut-off valve is open and the other is closed, two containers are sucked. That is, the independence of each rotation port is lost. Therefore, the present inventor maintains the independence of each moving rotary port and at the same time, makes the suction valve continuous, that is, if the rotary valve is provided with a configuration capable of making the connection with the fixed port continuous, as a result, As a result, it has been found that it is possible to meet the demand for the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a rotary valve capable of maintaining the independence of each moving rotary port and continuing the connection with a fixed port.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention relates to a rotating body provided with a plurality of rotating ports on a circumference of a rotating body, and a first circumference of a fixed body forming a sealing surface with the rotating body. A plurality of first fixed ports provided above, and a second fixed port provided between the first fixed ports on the second circumference.
The fixed port has a groove in the circumferential direction on the sealing surface, and the rotating port has an opening communicating with the groove of the first fixed port and the groove of the second fixed port at the end of the groove. The ports are separated by a groove of one fixed port so as not to communicate with each other, and the fixed port is connected to an air pressure source.

According to the present invention, since the rotating port has an opening communicating with the groove of the first fixed port and the groove of the second fixed port at the end of the groove, the moving rotating port is continuous with the fixed port. Connected. Further, since two adjacent rotation ports are separated from each other by a groove of one fixed port so as not to communicate with each other, the independence of each rotation port is maintained.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a rotary valve according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG.
1 is a plan view of a container inspection device incorporating a rotary valve of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a container 1 such as a bottle to be inspected is supplied from a conveyor 2 to an inlet starwheel 3,
While the container 1 is being conveyed by the entrance starwheel 3, the mouth is imaged and the quality is judged. After the mouth inspection, the container 1 is moved from the inlet starwheel 3 to the main rotor 4.
Passed to. While the container 1 is being conveyed by the main rotor 4, the body is imaged and the quality is determined. Thereafter, the container 1 is moved from the main rotor 4 to the outlet starwheel 5.
The container 1 is discharged by the outlet star wheel 5 for each of good and defective products.

A guide 6 is provided over a predetermined range from the inlet of the outlet starwheel 5, and two conveyors, ie, a first conveyor 7 and a second conveyor 8, are installed adjacent to the outlet starwheel 5. I have. The circle drawn around the exit star wheel 5 has 1-3 on the circumference.
2, the numbers indicate the position of a fixed port (to be described later), that is, the address. Further, on the outer side of the numbered circle, there is a description of suction, desorption, etc. over a predetermined arc range, which is described in the pocket 12 of the starwheel body 12 of the outlet starwheel 5.
3 shows the operation of the suction cup 9 provided corresponding to FIG.

That is, the container 1 is vacuum-adsorbed and conveyed to the suction cup 9 slightly before the end of the guide 6 (address 11). Then, the container 1 determined to be defective in the inspection during transportation by the entrance star wheel 3 and the main rotor 4 is moved from the suction cup 9 to a predetermined position (addresses 13 to 1).
It is separated at 4) and discharged by the first conveyor 7. The container 1 determined to be non-defective is vacuum-sucked by the suction cup 9 and transported to the addresses 11 to 21. Thereafter, the non-defective container 1 is separated from the suction cup 9 and discharged by the second conveyor 8. The suction of the container 1 to the suction cup 9 is performed by connecting the suction cup 9 to a pneumatic source, and the detachment of the container 1 from the suction cup 9 is performed by cutting off the connection between the suction cup 9 and the pneumatic source. Do.

Next, the structure of the outlet star wheel 5 will be described. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the outlet starwheel, and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the outlet starwheel. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outlet starwheel 5 includes a main shaft 11 connected to a motor (not shown), a starwheel body 12 having a plurality of circumferential pockets 12a into which the container 1 fits, The suction cup 9 is provided in each pocket 12a and suctions the side surface of the container 1, and the rotary valve 13 connects each suction cup 9 to a pneumatic source (comprising a vacuum source or a compressed air source).

The rotary valve 13 is composed of an annular rotator 14 connected to the starwheel body 12 by a connecting plate 30 and rotating together with the starwheel body 12, and a fixed body 15 fixed to a substantially cylindrical fixed portion 31. It is configured. As shown in FIG. 3, an annular circumferential surface on which the rotating body 14 and the fixed body 15 are in sliding contact is a sealing surface 16. A bearing 33 is provided between the rotating body 14 and the fixed body 15. Each suction cup 9 is connected to each rotation port 14a of the rotating body 14 by a pipe 17, and the fixed ports (15a1, 15a2) of the fixed body 15 are connected to the pipe 19A or the shutoff valve V1.
(Or V2) with piping 19B and vacuum header 1
8 is connected to a pneumatic source (not shown). That is, each suction cup 9 is connected to the pneumatic source via the rotary valve 13.

A rail 20 is provided in parallel with the guide 6, so that the container 1 can hold the pocket 12a and the guide 6 from the entrance of the outlet starwheel 5 to a predetermined range.
, The side surface is supported, and the bottom surface is supported by the rail 20 for conveyance. As shown in FIG.
A gear 21 is fixed to the lower end of the main shaft 11, and the gear 21 is engaged with a gear 22 fixed to a rotating shaft of a motor (not shown) to drive the main shaft 11 to rotate. The main shaft 11 is a pulley 2
3, 24 and a timing belt 25, which are connected to a pulse encoder 26. The encoder pulse generated by the pulse encoder 26 allows the rotation angle of the main shaft 11, that is, the star wheel body 12 to be recognized.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing details of the rotary valve, FIG. 4A is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotary valve, and FIG. Lap (0-360
FIG. In FIG. 4A, the right half is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4B, and the left half is FIG.
It is a BB sectional view taken on the line of (b). FIG. 4 (a) and FIG.
As shown in (b), the rotating body 14 has a plurality of rotating ports 14a on the circumference. On the other hand, the fixed body 15 is a first circumference (C1) of the fixed body 15 forming a sealing surface with the rotating body 14.
A plurality of first fixed ports 15a1 are provided on the upper side, and a plurality of second fixed ports 15a2 are provided on the second circumference (C2). The second fixed port 15a2 is located between the two adjacent first fixed ports 15a1. The first fixed port 15a1 and the second fixed port 15a2 are connected to a pneumatic source via a pipe 19A or 19B at the lower opening e.

The first and second fixed ports 15a1, 15a1,
15a2 are circumferential grooves 15b1,
15b2. On the other hand, the rotation port 14a is
Groove 15b1 of fixed port 15a1 and second fixed port 15a
It has a groove-like opening 14b communicating with the second groove 15b2 at the ends of the grooves 15b1 and 15b2. And two adjacent
The rotation ports 14a are separated from each other by a groove 15b1 (or 15b2) of one fixed port 15a1 (or 15a2) so as not to communicate with each other. As described above, the fixed port is connected to the pneumatic source via the pipe 19A or 19B and the vacuum header 18. In FIG. 4B, the rotation port 14a described at the B position indicates a state where the rotation port 14a at the A position has moved to the B position.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show another example of the rotary valve. FIG. 5A is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotary valve, and FIG. FIG. 5A, the right half is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5B, and the left half is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 5B. In the example shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the opening of the rotation port 14a is not groove-shaped, but is constituted by openings 14b1 and 14b2 formed of two circular holes. Other configurations are the same as those of the rotary valve shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In FIG. 5B, the rotation port 14a described at the position B indicates a state where the rotation port 14a at the position A has moved to the position B.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views showing still another example of the rotary valve, FIG. 6A is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotary valve, and FIG. 6B is a seal. It is the figure which developed the surface. In FIG. 6A, the right half is A- of FIG. 6B.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line A, and the left half is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. In the example shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the sealing surface 16 between the rotating body 14 and the fixed body 15 is formed of a flat horizontal plane. The rotating body 14 has a plurality of rotating ports 14a and a flat sealing surface 16 having a groove-shaped opening 14b. The fixed body 15 has a plurality of first fixed ports 15a1 on the first circumference (C1) and a plurality of second fixed ports 1 on the second circumference (C2).
5a2. First and second fixed ports 15a
Reference numerals 1 and 15a2 respectively have grooves 15b1 and 15b2 in the circumferential direction with flat sealing surfaces. Other configurations are shown in FIG.
This is the same as the rotary valve shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. In FIG. 6B, the rotation port 14a described at the position B indicates a state where the rotation port 14a at the position A has moved to the position B.

FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (e) are views showing the relative positions of the rotation port and the fixed port, and are a part of a view in which the sealing surface is developed. 7A to 7E will be described in order. B) As shown in FIG. 7A, the rotary port 14a has an opening 14b communicating with the groove 15b1 of the first fixed port 15a1 and the groove 15b2 of the second fixed port 15a2 at the end of the groove. , 2 and 3 are connected to fixed ports 15a1 and 15a2 continuously. B) As shown in FIG.
When two adjacent rotary ports 14a, such as any two of B, C, and D, communicate with each other through the groove 15b2 of one fixed port 15a2, the independence of the two adjacent rotary ports is lost.

C) As shown in FIG. 7C, two adjacent rotation ports 14a are A and E1, A and E2, A and E
It is sufficient if they are separated as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the fixed port side even if the number of rotation ports per rotation changes. This is understood from the fact that the present invention divides one groove in the prior art into a plurality. Therefore, if the fixed port is set based on the largest number of pockets (number of suction cups) handled by a star wheel with a certain pitch circle diameter, even if the number of pockets is small, the fixed port side of the rotary valve (fixed port) You do not need to change your body). D) FIG.
As shown in (d), the groove 15 of the first fixed port 15a1
The length of b1 and the groove 15b2 of the second fixed port 15a2 may be different. E) As shown in FIG. 7 (e), the grooves 15b1 and 15b2 of the fixed port are circumferentially fixed port (hole).
It is not necessary to be symmetric with respect to 15a1 and 15a2.

FIG. 8 is an expanded view of the outlet starwheel shown in FIG. 1 focusing on the rotary valve. As shown in FIG. 8, 16 suction cups 9 are provided in the same number as the number of pockets 12 a of the star wheel body 12. Each suction cup 9 is connected to each rotation port 14 a of the rotating body 14. The groove 15b1 of the first fixed port 15a1 formed in the fixed body 15 is indicated by a deep groove, and the second fixed port 15a2
The groove 15b2 is indicated by a shallow groove and is divided. Numerals 1 to 32 indicate the addresses of the fixed ports. The odd numbers are the first fixed ports 15a1 and the even numbers are the second fixed ports 15a2. Addresses 1 to 32 correspond to the addresses in FIG.

The fixed ports of addresses 1 to 10 and 22 to 32 are not connected to the annular vacuum header 18. Therefore, during this time, the suction cup 9 has no vacuum suction function. Fixed ports at addresses 11 to 21 are connected to the vacuum header 18. Therefore, during this time, the suction cup 9 has a vacuum suction function. Shut-off valves V1 and V2 are installed in a pipe 19B connecting the fixed ports of the addresses 13 and 14 and the vacuum header 18. Therefore, during this time, the vacuum suction of the suction cup 9 can be released.

In the above configuration, each suction cup 9
The suction of the container 1 is started at the position of the address 11, and if the container 1 is a good product, the container 1 continues to be sucked to the position of the address 21. When the container 1 has passed the position of the address 21, the suction by the suction cup 9 is released, and this time, the container 1 is discharged by the second conveyor 8 (see FIG. 1). On the other hand, when the container 1 is defective, the shutoff valves V1 and V2 are closed, so that the container 1 is released from the suction cup 9 at the address 13 position. Then, even at the position of the address 14, the suction release from the suction cup 9 is continued. Therefore, container 1
Is completely separated from the suction cup 9 and is then discharged by the first conveyor 7 (see FIG. 1). In addition, container 1
After the suction cup 9 is removed, the suction cup 9 is connected to the pneumatic source again after passing the address 14 and becomes in a state in which vacuum suction is possible. Continue to that position. When the position of the address 21 is passed, the connection between the suction cup 9 and the pneumatic source is released, and the suction cup 9 loses the function of vacuum suction.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the main part (addresses 13 to 15) of FIG. 8, and an encoder pulse is added to FIG. The count number N1 to N4 of the encoder pulse is the position 1 of the groove 14b of the rotation port 14a.
~ 4. In FIG. 9, when the container 1 is taken into the outlet starwheel 5, if the container 1 is defective, encoder pulses are counted. When the counted number reaches N1, the rotary port 14a of the suction cup 9 that has sucked the defective product comes to the groove 15b1 of the fixed port of the address 13, so the shutoff valve V1 is closed. When the count reaches N2, the shutoff valve V2 is also closed to relay the valve closed state. Since the container 1 may not be completely removed only by closing the shutoff valve V1, the closed state is relayed by the shutoff valves V1 and V2. Shut-off valve V2
Continue until the count number reaches N4.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the structure of the shutoff valves V1 and V2. The shutoff valves V1 and V2 are normally energized, and the port P1 for connecting the fixed port and the port P2 for connecting the vacuum header are connected, and this is called open. When the container 1 is defective, the power supply is stopped, and the fixed port connection port P1 and the atmosphere opening port P3 are connected. Therefore, no vacuum is supplied to the port P1.
This is called closing the shutoff valve. When the shutoff valve is closed, the defective product is separated from the suction cup 9. Reference numeral 35 denotes an electromagnet, and 36 denotes a return spring.

[0028]

As described above, since the moving rotary port is continuously connected to the fixed port, the suction position can be changed by changing the position of the fixed port connected to the pneumatic source. Further, since each rotation port is independently connected to a fixed port, if at least one fixed port is connected to a pneumatic source via a shutoff valve, the container is adsorbed or desorbed at the position of the fixed port. Can be. Therefore, there is no moving shutoff valve, and the detached position of the container can be set appropriately. Further, as an attendant effect, since each of the fixed ports is connected to the vacuum header in the suction range,
There is an advantage that even if there is a suction cup that does not suck the container, the suction force of another suction cup does not decrease.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a container inspection device incorporating a rotary valve of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the outlet star wheel shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the outlet star wheel shown in FIG.

4 (a) and 4 (b) are views showing details of the rotary valve, FIG. 4 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotary valve, and FIG. FIG. 4A, the right half is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 4B, and the left half is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 4B.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are views showing another example of the rotary valve, FIG. 5 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotary valve, and FIG. 5 (b) is a seal. It is the figure which developed the surface.
5A, the right half is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5B, and the left half is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 5B.

6 (a) and 6 (b) are views showing still another example of the rotary valve, FIG. 6 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotary valve, and FIG. 6 (b) is It is the figure which developed the seal surface. 6A, the right half is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 6B, and the left half is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 6B.

FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (e) are views showing a relational position between a rotation port and a fixed port, and are a part of a view in which a sealing surface is developed.

FIG. 8 is a view in which the outlet star wheel shown in FIG. 1 is developed focusing on a rotary valve.

9 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 shows an encoder pulse added.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a structure of a shut-off valve shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Conveyor 3 Inlet starwheel 4 Main rotor 5 Outlet starwheel 6 Guide 7 First conveyor 8 Second conveyor 9 Suction cup 11 Main shaft 12 Starwheel body 12a Pocket 13 Rotary valve 14 Rotating body 14a Rotating port 14b Opening 15 Fixed Body 15a1 First fixed port 15a2 Second fixed port 15b1, 15b2 Groove 16 Seal surface 17, 19A, 19B Piping 18 Vacuum header 20 Rail 21, 22, Gear 23, 24 Pulley 25 Timing belt 26 Pulse encoder 30 Connecting plate 31 Fixed part 33 Bearing 35 Electromagnet 36 Return spring P1, P2, P3 Port V1, V2 Shut-off valve

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Seiji Nakajima 1-17-1 Raw Mugi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa F-term in Kirin Techno System Co., Ltd. 3F072 AA07 GA03 GB07 GB10 GE01 GE09 KA01 KB18 KC01 KC07 KC09

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of rotation ports provided on a circumference of a rotating body, a plurality of first fixed ports provided on a first circumference of a fixed body forming a sealing surface with the rotating body, and a second circumference. A second fixed port provided in the middle of the first fixed ports above, the fixed port having a circumferential groove on the sealing surface, and the rotating port having a groove of the first fixed port and a groove of the second fixed port. And two adjacent rotation ports are separated so as not to communicate with one fixed port groove, and the fixed port is connected to a pneumatic source. Features rotary valve.