JP2003311854A - Mouth plug supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate a mouth plug replenishing operation and ensure the safety of an operator by installing a mouth plug feeder, a mouth plug hopper and the like at a comparatively lower position from a floor, in the step of feeding aligned mouth plugs one by one and supplying them to a position for fitting the mouth plug to a carton container. <P>SOLUTION: This device comprises a mouth plug feeder 6, a horizontal chute 1 which aligns the supported mouth plugs 10 and continuously feeds the plugs 10 in the horizontal direction; a side chute 2 which extends almost at right angles from the tip of the horizontal chute 1, and guides the mouth plug 10 in such a way that its cylindrical axis O is substantially perpendicular; a forwardly/backwardly moving extrusion means 4 which extrudes the mouth plug 10 fed to the side chute 2 from the tip of the horizontal chute 1 from the tip along the side chute 2; and a rotary supply means 3 which receives the mouth plug 10 extruded from the tip of the side chute 2, in such a way that the cylindrical axis O of the plug 10 is substantially perpendicular and maintains the plug 10 as it is, and rotates the plug 10 almost 90° by a horizontally rotary shaft upto a mouth plug supply position where the cylindrical axis O is substantially horizontal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid filling and packaging apparatus, in which a plug is taken out of a plug supplying device one by one and a bottom formed for liquid filling which has been conveyed. The present invention relates to a plug supply device for supplying a plug from the inside to the outside of a carton into a cap mounting hole at an upper opening of a rectangular tubular carton. 2. Description of the Related Art A conventional plug supply device is shown in FIGS.
(B) As shown in FIG.
a and a large number of inserted plugs 10
Are arranged one by one with the mounting flanges 10a supported by guides, and a plug feeder 20 for sequentially feeding the horizontal chute 21 (feeding guide) is arranged. The plug 10 fed from the plug feeder 20 is introduced into a horizontal chute 21 (a flange 10a is a gap between the holding rail 21a and the horizontal chute 21) as shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. And the horizontal chute 21
The horizontal chute 21 is continuously guided through the curved chute 22 (the flange 10a is connected to the holding rail 2
2a and between the curved chute 22), continuously connected to the vertical chute 23 and by a vertical (falling) chute 23 (the flange 10a is introduced between the holding rail 23a and the vertical chute 22). The spout 10 is guided and conveyed in a naturally falling manner, and the stopper 10 reaches a vertical guide 23 (a holding guide 29a that opens and closes by the opening and closing means 29 at the lower end) with the cylinder axis direction being substantially horizontal. At the position where the tip of the vertical chute 23 is horizontally opposed to the plug 10, the plug 10 is moved to the tip of the chute 23 (a holding guide 29 a for opening operation) while the cylinder axis direction of the plug is substantially horizontal. A transfer means 24 having a transfer arm 25 attached to an operating rod of an actuator 26 such as an air cylinder which performs forward / backward movement (or forward / backward movement and up / down movement) for taking out and transporting the same from the transfer arm 25 of the means 24 The plug holding unit 25a (vacuum air suction unit) moves forward to the position indicated by the broken line, and sucks and holds the plug 10 at the tip of the chute 23 by the negative pressure air. Thereafter, the transfer arm 25 moves backward to the position indicated by the solid line, and immediately thereafter, the holding guide 29a closes and the upper plug 10 naturally drops, and the transfer arm 25 moves.
Is moved downward to the position indicated by the broken line, and the plug 10 is held in the upper opening C1 of the bottom-formed rectangular cylindrical carton C for liquid filling which has been conveyed downward by the carton conveying means 28. (Or the lifting / lowering means 27 raises the bottom-filled rectangular cylindrical carton C for liquid filling which has been conveyed downward, so that the transfer arm 25 holds the spout 10 in the upper opening C1. Approach). Subsequently, the transfer arm 25 moves forward to the position indicated by the broken line at the position where the plug 10 is opposed to the plug mounting hole C2, and moves the plug 10 from the inside of the carton C to the outside toward the plug mounting hole C2. The transfer arm 25
Releases the negative pressure air, moves up to the solid line position, and stands by. Subsequently, the carton C is transported horizontally by the transport means 28 to the next plug welding station, and the anvil (welding pressure receiving member; not shown) at the upper part of the carton C is moved by relative movement with the carton. The ultrasonic heating means 30, which enters the upper opening of the carton C and stands by at the outside of the carton C, moves forward in the direction of the plug 10 supplied to the carton, and the anvil, the ultrasonic heating means 30 Then, the mounting flange 10a of the plug 10 is sandwiched between the outer peripheral inner surface of the plug mounting hole C2 of the carton C, pressed and heated while being fused to the outer peripheral inner surface of the hole C2 of the carton C via an adhesive resin. [0008] In the conventional plug supply device, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the plug feeder 20 is used.
The plug 10 is sent out in the horizontal direction with the cylinder axis direction O vertical, and the plug 10 is moved near the upper part of the carton C in the cylinder axis direction O.
In order to feed and supply the spout horizontally, the spout feeder 20 is installed at a very high position, and the spout 10 continuously aligned and conveyed by the horizontal chute 21 is
It was dropped by its own weight on the vertical chute 23 and supplied. Therefore, as shown in the overall side view of FIG. 4, the hopper 20a is also installed at a position higher than the height, and when replenishing the plug 10 to the hopper 20a, the worker needs a large amount of plugs. They had to climb up to the high position of the gantry, and the work was troublesome, and maintenance and inspection had to be performed on the gantry, which was dangerous. Therefore, the present invention introduces a rotation supply mechanism for rotating the plug 90 by 90 degrees while holding the plug 10 at the tip of the horizontal chute in the step of feeding and supplying the plugs one by one in an aligned state. An object of the present invention is to provide a plug feeder and a hopper associated therewith at a relatively low position from the floor, thereby facilitating plug refilling work and ensuring worker safety. According to the present invention, a large number of cylindrical plugs 10 having heat-weldable mounting flanges 10a at their lower ends are housed in the present invention. Stopper 1
The plug feeder 6 which feeds the plugs 10 continuously one by one in a horizontal direction while supporting the guide with the mounting flange 10a of No. 0 facing upward with the cylinder axis direction O substantially vertical and supporting the plug 10 fed therein. A horizontal chute 1 which is aligned in a supported state and continuously fed in a horizontal direction, and a lateral side which extends substantially perpendicularly from the tip of the horizontal chute 1 and guides the plug 10 in a state where the axial direction O is substantially vertical. A chute 2, push-out means 4 capable of moving forward and backward to push the plug 10 sent from the tip of the horizontal chute 1 to the horizontal chute 2 from the tip along the horizontal chute 2, and being pushed out from the tip of the horizontal chute 2 While the received plug 10 is received and held in a state where the cylinder axis direction O is substantially vertical, the horizontal rotation axis reaches approximately 90 degrees (90 degrees) to the plug supply position where the cylinder axis direction O is substantially horizontal. Every) rotate Further comprising a rotary feeding means 3 is a spout supply apparatus according to claim. As described above, the plug supply device of the present invention includes the plug 10 having the heat-weldable mounting flange 10a.
The tube axis direction O of the plug is substantially vertically conveyed continuously to the tip of the horizontal chute 1, and the plug 10 is moved substantially one by one from the position of the tip of the horizontal chute 1 at a time. It is characterized in that a rotation supply means 3 is provided, which can be rotated by about 90 degrees while holding it until it is in a horizontal state. According to the present invention, at the tip of the horizontal chute 1 in the step of transporting and supplying the plug 10, the cylinder axis direction O of the plug 10 is approximately 90 degrees from the vertical state to the horizontal state. By providing the rotation supply means 3 which can be rotated and transported, the installation positions of the hopper 20a and the plug feeder 20 can be lowered, and high workability and efficiency can be obtained. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.
As shown in the partial plan view of (a), the partial side view of FIG. 1 (b), the partial enlarged view of FIG. 2, and the overall side view of FIG. 3, a large number of plugs 10 supplied from the hopper 7 are provided. Contain
A plug feeder 6 for aligning the mounting flange 10a of the plug 10 while being supported by a guide, and a horizontal chute 1 (and flange holding) for aligning and guiding the plugs 10 fed from the plug feeder 6 in a line. Rails 8) and one plug 10 each from the tip of the horizontal chute 1
Chute 2 (and flange holding rail 9) that guides the right angle direction, and plug 10 sent from horizontal chute 2
A rotation supply mechanism 3 that rotates 90 degrees (or at every 90 degrees) while holding the plug, and a plurality of plug housing recesses 3a provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at a portion corresponding to the rotation outer peripheral surface of the rotation supply mechanism 3. Is done. The plugs 10 supplied from the hopper 7 of the plug supply device fall into the plug feeder 6, are aligned one by one by the plug feeder 6, and are successively pushed one after another to the horizontal chute 1 (flange). 10a is fed out between the holding rail 8 and the horizontal chute 1 provided as needed), the plug 10 sent out from the plug feeder 6 is introduced into the horizontal chute 1, and the plug 10 is 1
Along, the direction of the cylinder axis of the plug 10 is continuously guided in a substantially vertical state, and is conveyed in the direction of the tip of the horizontal chute 1 successively for each feed of the plug. 10 are introduced one by one into the horizontal chute 2 outside the tip of the horizontal chute 1. The plug 10 sent out into the horizontal chute 2 outside the tip of the horizontal chute 1 is introduced into the horizontal chute 2 extending in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal chute 1, and the plug is inserted along the horizontal chute 2. The push-out means 4 (consisting of a push-out member 4a, a push-out rod 4b, a forward / backward movement actuator 4c such as an air cylinder, etc.) that moves forward and backward to push it to the outside of the tip of the horizontal chute 2 causes the cylinder shaft along the horizontal chute 2 to move forward. The guide is conveyed horizontally continuously in a substantially vertical state, and is pushed out of the end of the horizontal chute 2. At the tip of the horizontal chute 2, a horizontal chute 2
Drive rotating means 12 parallel to the chute (delivery) direction of
A rotation supply mechanism 3 (having a plurality of plug receiving recesses 3a) that is intermittently driven and rotated in synchronization with the timing of the plug pushing-out operation by the pushing means 4 by being supported by the rotary shaft 11 of FIG.
And a flange holding rail 9 spaced apart and opposed along a half of the upper peripheral surface of the rotating peripheral surface of the mechanism 3. The plugs 10 pushed out one by one to the outside of the tip of the lateral chute 2 by the forward movement of the pushing means 4, one of the plugs of the rotation supply mechanism 3 during rotation stop with the mounting flange 10a facing upward. Concave portion 3a (flange 10a is a flange holding rail 9 and rotation supply mechanism 3
Between the surrounding surface). The mechanism for temporarily holding the plug 10 by the plug accommodating recess 3a of the rotation supply mechanism 3 may not be particularly provided, but if necessary, a vacuum suction mechanism or a cushioning property may be provided on the inner wall surface of the recess 3a. A mechanism to which a sheet member such as felt (elasticity) or a leaf spring member is attached may be used. Subsequently, after the pushing means 4 has retreated and returned to the original position, the rotation supply mechanism 3 is rotated by 90 degrees, and the plug 10 in the plug receiving recess 3a is moved in the axial direction of the cylinder. Becomes substantially horizontal. On the other hand, the plug 10 pushed out of the tip of the lateral chute 2 by the next forward movement of the pushing means 4 is moved to the next position on the upper peripheral surface of the rotation supply mechanism 3 whose rotation is stopped with the mounting flange 10a facing upward. It fits in the recess 3a. The position (flange holding rail 9) facing the plug 10 and its mounting flange 10a in the plug receiving recess 3a in which the cylinder axis direction is substantially horizontal by the rotation of the rotation supply mechanism 3 by 90 degrees. At the missing position)
In a state in which the cylinder axis direction of 0 is substantially horizontal, the operation rod of an actuator 26 such as an air cylinder that performs forward / backward movement (or forward / backward movement and up / down movement) to take out and convey the plug 10 in the accommodation recess 3a. It has a transfer means 24 with a transfer arm 25 attached. 29 is the transfer means 2
4 and the actuator 26 is mounted on a bracket 26a.
And a linear guide shaft that guides the transfer arm 25. The transfer means 24 has a transfer arm 25
Plug holding part 25a (vacuum air suction part)
Moves forward to the position indicated by the broken line, and sucks and holds the plug 10 at the tip of the chute 23 by the negative pressure air. Note that the accommodation recess 3a at the suction holding position is moved from the accommodation recess 3
a, an auxiliary flange holding rail 9a is provided as needed before the lowermost accommodating concave portion 3a, and the plug 10 remaining in the accommodating concave portion 3a without being sucked and held due to any trouble is removed from the lowermost accommodating concave portion 3a. After the holding, the sheet may be forcibly removed by a natural fall or appropriately by a removing means using an actuator. Thereafter, the transfer arm 25 moves backward to the position indicated by the solid line, further moves down to the position indicated by the broken line, and is transported downward by the transfer means 28 (bucket attached to the endless chain to be fed). Of the bottom-formed rectangular tubular carton C while holding the plug 10 in the upper opening C1. Alternatively, the raising / lowering means 27 raises the bottom-filled rectangular cylindrical carton C for liquid filling which has been conveyed downward, so that the transfer arm 25 holds the stopper 10 in the upper opening C1. Enter in a state where it was done. Subsequently, the transfer arm 25 moves forward to the position indicated by the broken line at the position where the plug 10 faces the plug mounting hole C2, and moves the plug 10 from the inside of the carton C to the outside toward the plug mounting hole C2. Into the transfer arm 25
Releases the negative pressure air from the plug holding section 25a, moves up to the solid line position, and waits. Subsequently, the carton C is horizontally conveyed by the conveying means 28 to the next plug welding station, and the anvil (welding pressure receiving member; not shown) on the upper part of the carton C is moved up and down with respect to the carton C. While entering the upper opening of the carton C by the relative movement in the direction, the ultrasonic heating means 30 that stands by facing the outside of the carton C moves forward in the direction of the plug 10 supplied to the carton C, The mounting flange 10a of the plug 10 is sandwiched between the outer periphery of the plug mounting hole C2 on the inner surface of the carton C by the anvil and the ultrasonic heating means 30, heated while being press-fitted, and attached via the adhesive resin on the inner surface of the carton C. It is fused to the outer periphery of C2 via an adhesive resin. When the fusion of the plug 10 to the carton C by the ultrasonic heating means 30 is completed, the plug 10 immediately retreats to the original position and prepares for the fusion of the plug 10 to the next carton C. The rotation supply mechanism 3 includes a plug 1 in the plug receiving recess 3a.
While maintaining 0, it rotates again by 90 degrees and stops,
The plug 10 in the plug receiving recess 3a is in a substantially horizontal state in the cylinder axis direction, and prepares for the fusion operation to the next carton C,
Hereinafter, the plug 10 is sequentially fused to the carton C by repeating the same operation as described above. According to the plug supply device for a rectangular cylindrical carton container of the present invention, in the step of transporting and supplying the plugs one by one to the position of the plug mounting hole of the carton container, in the axial direction of the plug. The position of the plug supply device, such as the position of the hopper and the position of the plug feeder, is reduced by providing rotation supply means that can rotate and transfer the container approximately 90 degrees from the vertical state to the horizontal state. It becomes possible. Therefore, the work of replenishing the plug becomes easy, high workability in the plug supply operation can be obtained, the efficiency of the plug supply operation can be achieved, and higher safety in the maintenance and inspection of the plug supply device can be achieved. There is an effect that the property can be secured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view illustrating an example of a supply operation of a plug supply device of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (b) is a side view thereof. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rotation supply mechanism of the plug supply device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an overall side view of the plug supply device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an overall side view of a conventional plug supply device. FIG. 5 is a partial side view illustrating a supply operation of a conventional plug supply device. [Description of Signs] 1 ... Horizontal chute 2 ... Horizontal chute 3 ... Rotary supply mechanism 4 ... Pushing means 5 ... Transfer arm 6 ... Plug stopper feeder 7 ... Plug stopper hopper 8 ... Flange retaining rail 9 ... Flange retaining rail 10 ... Plug 10a: flange 11: rotating shaft 12
... Driving rotation means 20 ... Plug feeder 20a ... Plug hopper 21 ...
Horizontal chute 22 Curved chute 23 Vertical chute 24 Transfer means 25 Transfer arm 26 Actuator 27 Push-up means 28 Carton container transfer means 29 Linear guide shaft

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A large number of cylindrical plugs each having a heat-weldable mounting flange at a lower end are housed, and the mounting flange of the plug is directed upward, and the cylinder axis direction is substantially vertical. A plug feeder that feeds one by one continuously in the horizontal direction while being supported by a guide in a state, and a horizontal chute that continuously sends the plug in a horizontal direction while aligning the fed plug in a supported state,
A lateral chute that extends substantially perpendicularly from the tip of the horizontal chute and guides the plug with the cylinder axis direction being substantially vertical;
Pushing means capable of moving forward and backward to push out the plug fed from the tip of the horizontal chute to the horizontal chute from the tip along the horizontal chute, and the plug axially extruded from the tip of the horizontal chute. And a rotation supply means for rotating the cylinder axis direction by approximately 90 degrees to a stopper supply position where the cylinder axis direction is substantially horizontal while receiving and holding the stopper in a vertical state. apparatus.