JP2004018264A - Vessel storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vessel storage device capable of improving storage efficiency of a vessel and reducing impact when dropping the vessel from an upper step to a lower step in a storage part. <P>SOLUTION: This vessel storage device is provided with a carry-in part for carrying in the vessel storing contents, the storage part for storing the vessel carried in from the carry-in part over a plurality of upper and lower steps, a carry-out part carrying out the vessels stored in the storage part sequentially, and a conveyor moving to a carry-out part side while loading the vessel carried in from the carry-in part. In a process where the vessel moves from the carry-in part to the carry-out part while stored in the storage part, the vessel is dropped from a terminal of the conveyor positioned at the upper step to the conveyor positioned at its lower step. The device is provided with a drop control means 41 arranged at the terminal of the conveyor positioned at the upper step to drop the vessel onto the conveyor positioned at its lower step while holding the vessel reaching the terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container storage device for storing containers having contents therein in a plurality of stages, and in particular, in a process in which a container is moved from a carry-in portion to a carry-out portion while being housed in a housing portion, a conveyor positioned at an upper stage is provided. The present invention relates to a container storage device for dropping a container from an end of the container to a conveyor located below the container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, bicarbonate-based and acetic acid-based dialysates are used. Among them, the powdered A agent containing no sodium bicarbonate and the powdered B agent made of sodium bicarbonate are used in the bicarbonate-based dialysate. Are dissolved in dilution water, respectively, to obtain a concentrated solution. The concentrated solution is supplied to a separate dialysate adjusting device, and is again diluted with water to a desired concentration and then administered to a patient.
[0003]
The agent A and the agent B are respectively filled in polyethylene containers molded into a substantially cylindrical shape having an opening at one end by blow molding, and the openings are sealed with a film or the like. Then, at the time of dissolution, the film is opened, the obtained solution is drawn out while pouring dilution water from the opening, and circulated and stirred with a separate dissolution tank to produce a concentrated solution having a predetermined concentration. Is done.
[0004]
As an apparatus for accommodating such a container containing the agent A and the agent B, there is a device proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-038827. This container storage device has a storage section formed over a plurality of upper and lower stages in order to store a plurality of containers each containing the A agent and the B agent, and a conveyance unit such as a belt conveyor is provided at each stage. Is provided. Then, the container of the agent A or the agent B is carried in from the uppermost stage in the accommodation part, is accommodated while being sequentially transported to the lower stage, and is sequentially removed from the container that has reached the lowermost stage and transported to the next process.
[0005]
However, in the process in which the container is transported in the storage section, when the container reaches the end of the transport unit located in the upper stage, it is dropped from there and reaches the transport unit located in the lower stage. As described above, by housing the container in a plurality of upper and lower stages, a planar housing space can be reduced, and the housing efficiency can be improved.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional storage device, the container that has reached the end of the transport unit located in the upper stage is configured to freely fall when reaching the transport unit located in the lower stage. There has been a problem that the container may be damaged, or the container may be overrun on the lower conveying means and the accommodation position may be unstable. That is, although the above-described storage device in which the storage unit is configured in the upper and lower stages can improve the storage efficiency, it is necessary to sequentially drop the stored containers from the upper stage to the lower stage, and an impact at the time of drop occurs. is there.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can improve the storage efficiency of a container, and can reduce the impact when the container is dropped from the upper stage to the lower stage in the storage unit. To provide a storage device.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a carry-in unit for carrying a container having contents therein, a housing unit for housing the container carried in from the carry-in unit in a plurality of upper and lower stages, and a container housed in the housing unit An unloading unit that sequentially unloads the containers, and a conveyor that is disposed at each stage of the storage unit and moves toward the unloading unit while placing the containers loaded from the unloading unit. In the process of moving from the carry-in section to the unloading section while being accommodated in the container, the container is a container storage device for dropping containers from the end of the upper-stage conveyor to the lower-stage conveyor, and Dropping control means is provided at the terminal end, and the container has a drop control means for holding the container that has reached the terminal end and dropping the container onto a conveyor located below the container.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the drop control means includes a rotor attached to a drive shaft or a driven shaft at the end of the conveyor located at the upper stage, and a container formed on the rotor and reaching the end of the conveyor. Holding means that can be held in contact with the rotor, and a one-way clutch interposed between the rotor and a drive shaft or a driven shaft of a conveyor, wherein the one-way clutch is configured to move the drive shaft or the driven shaft relative to the rotor. The rotation of the rotor relative to the drive shaft or the driven shaft is not permitted.
[0010]
According to this configuration, when the container is not flowing on the upper conveyor, the one-way clutch allows the relative rotation of the drive shaft or the driven shaft of the conveyor with respect to the rotor, so that the rotor and the holding means do not operate. On the other hand, when the container flowing in the upper stage reaches the end, the container comes into contact with the holding means, and the relative rotation of the drive shaft or the driven shaft with respect to the rotor is not allowed. I do. As a result, the container that has reached the upper end is dropped onto the lower conveyor at the rotation speed of the drive shaft while being held by the holding means.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the holding means is constantly urged to an origin position where the holding means can come into contact with the container which has reached the end of the conveyor located at the upper stage.
[0012]
The invention according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that the apparatus further comprises origin position detecting means for detecting that the holding means is at the origin position.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the fall control means can be controlled to operate or stop.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
The dissolving apparatus according to the present embodiment dissolves powdered A agent not containing sodium bicarbonate and powdered B agent made of sodium bicarbonate with diluting water, respectively, and mixes the dissolving solutions to form a concentrated solution. This is provided in a concentrated liquid producing apparatus for producing a liquid. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the concentrated liquid producing apparatus mainly includes a storage device 1, a transfer device 2, a dissolution device 3, and a volume reduction device 4.
[0015]
Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the container A includes a substantially cylindrical body A3 having a bottom surface A4, and a neck A2 having an opening A1 at one end and having a continuously reduced diameter from the body A3. The opening A1 has a film-like seal Aa for sealing the agent A contained in the body A3 adhered to the opening A1. As shown in FIG. 4, the container B containing the agent B has a neck B2 having an opening B1 at one end and a trunk B3 having a bottom surface B4 (similar to the container A, as shown in FIG. 4). (Small diameter), and a seal Ba is adhered to the opening B1.
[0016]
The storage device 1 has a predetermined configuration so that the supply of the containers A and B to the transfer device 2 and the dissolving device 3 forming the subsequent process is not interrupted even if the work of carrying in the containers A and B by the worker is temporarily stopped. The containers A and B are stored in a quantity, and the containers A and B are transported out at necessary time intervals in a subsequent process.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 5, the storage device 1 includes a plurality of loading units 1a and 1b for loading the containers A and B in a horizontal state, and a plurality of containers A and B loaded from the loading units 1a and 1b. The storage units 1c and 1d which are stored in the stages, the unloading units 1e and 1f which unload the containers A and B in the order of being stored in the storage units 1c and 1d, and the storage units 1c and 1d are respectively allocated to the stages. It is mainly composed of provided belt conveyors 5a to 5d, 6a and 6b and guide means 13 which is also a chain conveyor.
[0018]
The belt conveyors 5a to 5d, 6a and 6b move to the unloading section 1e or 1f side while placing the container A or B loaded from the loading section 1a or 1b, and as shown in FIG. A pair of belts 37 is suspended between the driven shaft 35 and the driven shaft 36. When the drive shaft 35 is rotated by the drive of the motor 38, the transport surface of the belt 37 moves in the transport direction, and transports the container A or B placed on the transport surface. In the figure, the transport direction of the container A or B is from left to right, with the right end forming the start end 39 of the belt conveyor and the left end forming the end 40 of the belt conveyor.
[0019]
The upper belt conveyor and the lower belt conveyor are disposed so as to have opposite conveying directions. Specifically, in FIG. 5, the belt conveyors 5a, 5c and 6a are arranged in the right conveying direction, 5b, 5d, and 6b are left-handed transport directions. Thereby, the container A carried in from the carry-in part 1b was conveyed to the terminal end 40 of the belt conveyor 5a, dropped from there to the lower belt conveyor 5b, and similarly conveyed sequentially over the belt conveyors 5c and 5d. After that, it reaches the unloading section 1f. Of course, similarly, the container B carried in from the carry-in part 1a is also conveyed to the terminal end 40 of the belt conveyor 6a, falls from there to the lower belt conveyor 6b, and reaches the carry-out part 1e by the belt conveyor 6b. Become.
[0020]
Here, a drop control means 41 is provided at the end 40 of the belt conveyor disposed at each stage of the storage device 1. The drop control means 41 is for holding the container A or B that has reached the terminal end 40 and dropping the container A or B onto a belt conveyor positioned below the container A or B. As shown in FIGS. It mainly comprises a guide pin 43 as a holding means, a one-way clutch 44, a micro switch 45 as an origin position detecting means, and a coil spring 46.
[0021]
The rotor 42 is formed of a cylindrical member attached to the drive shaft 35 of the belt conveyor, and is disposed so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 35. The rotor 42 switches between an operation of rotating with the drive shaft 35 and an operation not following the drive shaft 35 (that is, a state where the drive shaft 35 is stopped even when the drive shaft 35 is rotating) by a function of a one-way clutch 44 described later. It is configured.
[0022]
A one-way clutch 44 is interposed between the rotor 42 and the drive shaft 35. More specifically, a sliding ring (not shown) is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 35, and a one-way clutch 44 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the rotor 42. It is in a state of contact. The one-way clutch 44 is arranged so as to allow the relative rotation of the drive shaft 35 with respect to the rotor 42 but not allow the relative rotation of the rotor 42 with respect to the drive shaft 35.
[0023]
That is, in a state where no rotational force is applied to the rotor 42, the relative rotation of the drive shaft 35 with respect to the rotor 42 is allowed, so that the rotor 42 is in a free state and is driven by the motor 38. While only 35 rotates (rotor 42 is stopped), when container A or B comes into contact with guide pin 43, a rotational force is applied to rotor 42, and rotor 42 tries to rotate faster than drive shaft 35. Then, since the relative rotation of the rotor 42 with respect to the drive shaft 35 is not allowed, the rotor 42 is connected to the drive shaft 35 and co-exists with the drive shaft 35 (that is, at the same rotation speed as the drive shaft 35). It will rotate.
[0024]
The guide pin 43 is composed of a pair of left and right pin-shaped members protruding from the rotor 42 and is capable of contacting and holding the container A or B that has reached the end 40 of the belt conveyor. Specifically, when the container A or B flowing on the upper belt conveyor reaches the end 40, the side surface of the container A or B comes into contact with the guide pin 43, but the container A or B It further flows by the driving force of the belt conveyor and applies a pressing force to the guide pin 43.
[0025]
The rotation force is applied to the rotor 42 by the pressing force. In this state, as described above, the rotor 42 is connected to the drive shaft 35 and rotates at the rotation speed of the drive shaft 35. Become. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the container A or B comes into contact with the guide pin 43 of the rotor 42 at the origin position, the rotor 42 is driven by the drive shaft 35 while the container A or B is held by the guide pin 43. Since the container A or B rotates at the rotational speed (see FIG. 9), the container A or B is prevented from falling freely and falls slowly onto the lower belt conveyor with the rotation of the drive shaft 35.
[0026]
In the process of dropping the container A or B onto the lower belt conveyor, as shown in FIG. 10, the container A or B is guided by the guide plate 47 provided at the starting end 39 of the lower belt conveyor. In such a state, the container A or B slides along the guide surface of the guide plate 47. However, since the guide pins 43 support the container A or B, the lower stage is surely prevented from overrunning. (See FIG. 11).
[0027]
Thereafter, when the container A or B is conveyed by the lower belt conveyor, the pressing force applied to the guide pin 43 is lost, and the urging force of the coil spring 46 causes the rotor 42 to reversely rotate and return to the home position. Become. As described above, since the guide pin 43 is constantly urged to the origin position by the coil spring 46, the guide pin 43 that has been dropped to the lower stage while holding the container A or B is returned directly to the origin position. , It can wait to hold the container A or B to be dropped next.
[0028]
Further, the drop control means 41 is provided with a micro switch 45 for detecting a state where the guide pin 43 is at the origin position. On the other hand, a detection pin 42a protrudes from the side surface of the rotor 42, and the detection pin 42a turns on the micro switch 45 when the guide pin 43 is at the origin position (FIG. 8). .
[0029]
Thereby, when the microswitch 45 is turned on, it can be detected that the guide pin 43 is at the origin position, and it is determined whether or not the container A or B is accommodated at a position ranging from the terminal end 40 to the lower stage of the upper belt conveyor. Since the discrimination can be made, the accommodation state of the container A or B in the accommodation section 1c or 1d can be grasped. It should be noted that other general-purpose detection means may be used in place of the microswitch 45. In this case, a non-contact sensor can be used in addition to the contact sensor as in the present embodiment.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, the guide pin 43 is formed to hold the container. However, if the guide pin 43 can be dropped onto the lower belt conveyor while holding the container, another configuration (for example, from the rotor 42). A protruding plate-like or net-like one).
[0031]
The delivery means 7 is provided at the end of the accommodation section 1d in the lowermost belt conveyor 5d (that is, near the boundary with the delivery section 1f), and delivers the containers A to the delivery section 1f one by one. As shown in the drawing, four blades 9a are radially provided, and the blades 9a are rotatable about a shaft 15 so as to alternately protrude onto the mounting surface of the belt conveyor 5d. And a ratchet mechanism 14 that is connected to the blade member 9 and permits or restricts the rotation of the blade member 9.
[0032]
The ratchet mechanism 14 is fixed to the shaft 15 and has a claw 14aa formed at a position corresponding to the blade 9a of the blade member 9 on the outer peripheral surface, and swings to lock or separate from the claw 14aa. The ratchet 14b is engaged with the claw portion 14aa in a state where one of the blades 9a of the blade member 9 protrudes above the mounting surface of the belt conveyor 5a, thereby restricting the rotation of the blade member 9. At the same time, the ratchet 14b swings in a direction away from the claw 14aa to allow the rotation when the container A is sent to the carry-out section 1f.
[0033]
As a result, when the lock is released by the ratchet mechanism 14 in response to a sending-out signal or the like and the blade member 9 rotates a quarter turn, the foremost container A in the housing portion 1d is sent out to the carrying-out portion 1f, while Since the unloading of the container A is regulated by the next protruding blade 9a, the container A can be sent out to the unloading section 1f one by one. In addition, the further movement of the container A sent to the unloading section 1f is regulated by the stopper S, and the container A waits at a predetermined position.
[0034]
The above is a description of the delivery unit 7 for the container A, but the delivery unit 8 for the container B has the same configuration. The distance between the upper belt conveyor and the lower belt conveyor is substantially equal to the outer dimension of the container A or B, and the upper and lower surfaces of the container A or B moved by the lower belt conveyor are sandwiched. It is configured to be.
[0035]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transfer device 2 places the containers A and B which are sent out by the sending means 7 and 8 of the storage device 1 and are waiting at the unloading sections 1 f and 1 e. As shown in FIG. 13, a concave portion 10a for the container A for positioning and placing the container A and a concave portion 10b for the container B for positioning and placing the container B were formed as shown in FIG. Two claws 10 (the other one is arranged on the back side of the paper), a horizontal guide 11 for guiding and moving the claws 10 in a horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper), and And a vertical guide 12 for guiding and moving the claw 10 in the vertical direction (vertical direction in the figure).
[0036]
After the claw 10 is previously positioned at the lowermost end of the vertical guide 12, the containers A and B are sent out to the unloading sections 1f and 1e one by one by the sending out means 7 and 8, respectively. First, the container A is placed on the concave portion 10a for the container A (see FIG. 13). When the claw 10 is lifted as it is, as shown in FIG. 14, the container B waiting at the unloading portion 1e can be placed in the container B concave portion 10b. It will be placed on each end.
[0037]
In this state, the claw 10 is guided by the horizontal guide 11 and moves in the horizontal direction with respect to the floor surface, and places the neck portions A2 and B2 of the containers A and B on the lower holding member 32 of the melting device 3; The trunk portions A3 and B3 are placed on the placing member 34. The dissolving device 3 is for diluting the A agent and the B agent in the containers A and B with pure water or the like to produce a concentrated solution having a predetermined concentration. As shown in FIGS. 32, the upper holding member 33, the placing member 34, the connecting means 16, the shaft 18, and the like.
[0038]
The mounting member 34 and the lower holding member 32 are connected to each other by a frame F1 and are separated by a predetermined distance, and the concave portions formed in the mounting member 34 have bottom surfaces A4 and B4 of the trunk portions A3 and B3 of the containers A and B. The vicinity is supported, and the necks A2 and B2 of the containers A and B are supported by the concave portions 32a and 13b formed in the lower holding member 32.
[0039]
The upper holding member 33 has concave portions 33a and 33b formed at predetermined positions to hold the neck portions A2 and B2 of the containers A and B in conformity with the concave portions 32a and 13b of the lower holding member 32, respectively. The upper holding member 33 is formed at a predetermined position of the frame F2, and the frame F2 is rotatable about the rotation shaft 19 with respect to the frame F1. That is, when the frame F2 rotates about the rotation shaft 19, the upper holding member 33 also moves away from the lower holding member 32 in conjunction with it, so that the containers A and B are placed from the claw 10 in such a separated state. .
[0040]
Further, the frame F2 is connected and fixed to a hollow shaft 18 having a rotating shaft 19 therein, and the shaft 18 is rotated by a motor (not shown), thereby rotating the frame F2 and holding the upper holding member 33. The lower holding member 32 is configured to be brought into contact (the state shown in FIG. 18) or to be separated from the lower holding member 32 (the state shown in FIG. 17). Since the rotational force of the shaft 18 is not directly transmitted to the frame F1, even if the shaft 18 rotates, the mounting member 34 and the lower The holding member 32 does not rotate.
[0041]
The connecting means 16 is liquid-tightly connected to the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B held by the placing member 34 and the lower holding member 32, and is used to dilute the agent A and the agent B ( (The dissolving liquid) and injecting the dissolving liquid in the containers A and B. As shown in FIG. 15, the connecting means 16 is provided on a plate 21 connected to the frame F2, and the base end of the plate 21 is connected to an operating rod 17a extending from the cylinder 17. Therefore, when the length of the operating rod 17a is reduced by driving the cylinder 17, the plate member 21 moves from the state shown in FIG. 3 and the connecting means 16 comes into contact with the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B. Become.
[0042]
Here, a pin 20 that can be inserted into a hole 22a of the stay 22 extending from the lower holding member 32 and a hole 33c formed in the upper holding member 33 is formed at substantially the center of the plate member 21, When the plate member 21 approaches the lower holding member 32 and the upper holding member 33, as shown in FIG. 19, the pin 20 is inserted into the holes 22a and 33c to engage the lower holding member 32 and the upper holding member 33. It is configured to stop.
[0043]
When the shaft 18 is rotated in such a locked state, the rotational force is transmitted from the frame F1 to the frame F2, and the frames F1 and F2 rotate integrally, so that the openings A1, B1 of the containers A and B are rotated. The containers A and B can be rotated in a direction in which the direction is set upward or downward. Thus, in the process of connecting the connecting means 16 to the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B, the lower holding member 32 and the upper holding member 33 are connected, and the frames F1 and F2 of the melting device are integrated. , The configuration of the apparatus can be simplified as compared with the case where the connecting means is separately provided.
[0044]
As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the connection means 16 is provided with an injection port 16 a formed substantially in the center of the housing to inject water into the container A or B, and a solution obtained in the container A or B. It has an outlet 16b for deriving. A spiral groove 16aa is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inlet 16a, so that the injected water generates a swirling flow in the container A or B. Thus, water can be applied to the agent A or the agent B attached to the inner wall of the container A or B, and the solution can be efficiently dissolved with a simple configuration. Note that, instead of the spiral groove 16aa, a helical ridge (projected to the inner peripheral surface of the injection port 16a) may be used, or a plurality of nozzles may be directed in different directions. It may be installed.
[0045]
On the other hand, the outlet 16b communicates with an annular recess 16c formed on the outer periphery of the inlet 16a through a communication hole 16d, and the solution reaching the annular recess 16c flows through the communication hole 16d. And it is comprised so that it may be derived | led-out from the outlet 16b. Further, as shown in FIG. 22, three blades 30 (opening means) are fixed to the outer rib forming the concave portion 16c (fixed so as to surround the three inlets 16a). Alternatively, the seal Aa or Ba attached to the openings A1 and B1 of B can be cut off and opened.
[0046]
Since the blade 30 protrudes from the inlet 16a and the outlet 16b (recess 16c) of the connecting means 16 toward the side where the containers A and B are provided, the seals Aa and Ba are connected when the connecting means 16 is connected. After the opening of, the injection of water and the extraction of the solution are performed, so that the solution is prevented from being injected while the seals Aa and Ba are not opened, and more reliable dissolving operation can be performed. Since the blade 30 surrounds the injection port 16a in three directions, the seals Aa and Ba cut off at the time of opening can be prevented from falling into the containers A and B.
[0047]
Further, an annular packing 31 is formed on the connection surface of the connection means 16 with the container A or B, and water or a solution is brought into close contact with the edges of the openings A1 and B1 in the container A or B. Leakage from the connection with the connection means 16 is prevented. The packing 18 is preferably made of a gel-like material or a soft rubber material. In this case, the elastic deformation of the packing 18 causes the height of the containers A and B to be reduced due to the melting state at the time of molding or sealing the containers A and B. Directional dimensional errors (product variations) can be effectively absorbed.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 23, the inlet 16a is connected to the bottom of a separately provided dissolving tank T1 via a flexible tube (water supply line L1), and the outlet 16b is connected to the top of the dissolving tank T1. And a flexible tube (lead-out line L2). The water supply line L1 is provided with a pump P, which pumps water and a solution in the water supply line L1 and circulates the water or the solution between the dissolution tank T1 and the containers A and B. It is configured to obtain. Reference numeral Y shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 24 indicates an electromagnetic valve for sending air into the dissolving tank T1. The solenoid valve is opened when water is supplied to the dissolving tank T1 and controlled so as to close during circulation described below. Have been.
[0049]
Thus, in order to perform the dissolving operation of the A agent and the B agent, water is supplied from the water supply source W into the dissolution tank T1, and the water is guided to the connection means 16 via the water supply line L1, and the container A or the container A is supplied from the inlet 16a. While being injected into B, the injected water flows through the container A or B, is then drawn out from the outlet 16b, and is guided again to the dissolving tank T1 via the drawing line L2. That is, water (dissolution liquid) is circulated between the dissolution tank T1 and the container A or B, and is dissolved until the concentration reaches a predetermined concentration.
[0050]
The dissolving tank T1 is connected to the compressor C, and is configured to supply air into the container A or B through an air layer in the dissolving tank T1. That is, as shown in FIG. 24, the state in which the containers A and B are inverted and the openings A1 and B1 face downward (at this time, the pump P is stopped and the water or the solution flows through the water supply line L1). By driving the compressor C in this state, air is supplied from the dissolving tank T1 via the outlet line L2, so that air can be sent into the containers A and B from the outlet 16b.
[0051]
By sending the air, the residual solution remaining in the container A or B can be easily drawn out from the injection port 16a, and the residual solution can be quickly and surely taken out of the container (that is, into the storage tank T2). Can be discharged. Here, since the storage tank T2 is installed below the containers A and B, the residual dissolved liquid derived by sending in the air is guided to the storage tank T2 instead of the dissolution tank T1. In the present embodiment, the residual dissolved liquid is derived from the inlet 16a while injecting air from the outlet 16b. However, the residual dissolved liquid is derived from the outlet 16b while injecting air from the inlet 16a. May be configured.
[0052]
The volume reducing device 4 cuts the empty containers A and B after the residual solution has been discharged and reduces the volume thereof to facilitate disposal, and as shown in FIG. 25 and FIG. It mainly comprises long members 23a to 23d for placement, guide plate 24, pusher 25, cutting blade 26 for bottom surface, and cutting blade 27 for side surface.
[0053]
The mounting long members 23a and 23b are formed of columnar members for mounting the container A, and the container A can be mounted on the space between them. The mounting elongate members 23a and 23b are formed with gaps 23aa, 23ab and 23ba and 23bb, respectively, through which the pair of claws 10 (see FIGS. 13 and 14) can pass in the vertical direction. Is configured to place the container A on the mounting long members 23a and 23b by passing through the gaps 23aa, 23ab, 23ba and 23bb while the container A is mounted. Similarly, the mounting long members 23c and 23d can mount the container B in these gaps, and have gaps 23ca and 23cb that can pass through the claw 10. The long member used here may be formed of a hollow pipe or a member of another shape such as a plate material.
[0054]
The guide plate 24 is made of a plate material in which guide holes 24a and 24b having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the container A or the container B are formed. The guide plate 24 is provided upright on the base end side (left end side in FIG. 26) of the mounting long members 23a to 23d, and guide holes 24a and 24b for containers A and B pressed by a pusher 25 described later. It is configured to guide while passing through 24b.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 25, the pusher 25 has a container A push portion 25 a capable of pressing the opening A 1 of the container A and a container B push portion 25 b capable of pressing the opening B 1 of the container B. The container A and the container B are moved toward the guide plate 24 by sliding in the direction of the arrow in FIG. In addition, grooves 28 (see FIG. 26) for avoiding interference with the side cutting blades 27 to be described later are formed in the container A pushing portion 25a and the container B pushing portion 25b, respectively.
[0056]
The bottom-side cutting blade 26 is a bent-shaped cutting tool for cutting the bottom surfaces A4 and B4 sides of the container A on the mounting long members 23a and 23b and the container B on the mounting long members c and 23d. And can swing about a shaft 26a. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 25, when the bottom cutting blade 26 swings around the shaft 26a, the blade portion of the bottom cutting blade 26 cuts the bottom A4 and B4 sides of the containers A and B, and cuts. The bottom surfaces A4 and B4 are configured to be able to fall.
[0057]
The side surface cutting blade 27 is formed of a cutting tool disposed so as to face the guide holes 24a and 24b, and cuts the opposing side surfaces of the containers A and B guided into the guide holes 24a and 24b by the pusher 25, respectively. Is what you do. Behind the side cutting blade 27 (left side in FIG. 26), a partition plate 29 extends in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the floor surface, and the upper plate cut by the side cutting blade 27 is placed thereon. It is configured to be placed. The lower containers A and B cut by the side cutting blade 27 are accommodated below the partition plate 29.
[0058]
According to the volume reducing device 4, after the containers A and B transported from the melting device 3 by the claws 10 are mounted on the mounting long members 23a to 23d, first, the bottom-side cutting blade 26 swings. Then, the bottom surfaces A4 and B4 of the containers A and B are cut off. Thereafter, the pusher 25 slides to slide the containers A and B and pass through the guide holes 24a and 24b, and in the passing process, the opposing side surfaces of the containers A and B are cut by the side cutting blade 27. The upper one is accommodated on the partition plate 29, and the lower one is accommodated below the partition plate 29.
[0059]
Next, the operation of the concentrated liquid producing apparatus having the above configuration will be described.
In advance, the containers A and B are carried in from the carrying-in portions 1a and 1b in a state where they are laid sideways, and the plurality of containers A and B are housed in the housing portions 1c and 1d. More specifically, the portion accommodating the container A (the same applies to the portion accommodating the container B), the container A carried into the carry-in portion 1b in a state of being laid down has the bottom surface A4 by the uppermost guide means 13. While being guided, it is conveyed to the drop control means 41 at the end (right end in FIG. 5) by the belt conveyor 5a.
[0060]
In the drop control means 41, since no rotational force is applied to the guide pin 43 until the container A reaches the end, even if the drive shaft 35 of the belt conveyor 5a rotates, the rotor 42 and the guide pin 43 are not rotated. When the container A reaches the end and the guide pin 43 is pressed, a rotational force is applied to the rotor 42, so that the container A is held by the guide pin 43. The rotor 42 rotates at the same rotation speed as the drive shaft 35. At this time, the rotor 42 rotates against the urging force of the coil spring 46, and the detection pin 42a formed on the side surface is separated from the microswitch 45 and turned off.
[0061]
The container A held by the guide pin 43 falls slowly as the rotation speed of the drive shaft 35, while being guided by the guide plate 47, to the belt conveyor 5b located at the lower stage. Thereby, the impact at the time of falling can be remarkably reduced as compared with the conventional method of naturally falling, and the deformation and damage of the container A can be avoided.
[0062]
When the container A starts flowing on the belt conveyor 5b, the guide pin 43 returns to the origin position by the urging force of the coil spring 46, and turns on the microswitch 45. Thereby, it can be detected that the guide pin 43 is at the origin position, and it is possible to grasp the accommodation state of the container A at that position. That is, if the micro switch 45 is turned off for a predetermined time or more, it is understood that the container A is filled at least to that position (in this case, the position across the belt conveyors 5a to 5b).
[0063]
Hereinafter, the same movement is sequentially performed toward the lower stage, and the container A that has fallen to the starting end (the right end in the same drawing) of the lowermost belt conveyor 5d is further moved by the blade 9a of the blade member 9 formed by the feeding means 7. Movement is regulated. Hereinafter, the same movement is performed for the subsequent container A, and the containers A are accommodated in the accommodating portion 1d in the order of being carried in from the carrying-in portion 1b. Thus, the accommodation operation by the accommodation device 1 is completed.
[0064]
When the blade members 9 of the sending-out means 7 and 8 rotate, the containers A and B sent one by one to the unloading sections 1e and 1f are moved along the vertical guide 12 by the claw 10 waiting at the lower end. As a result, they are placed on the claws 10 respectively. The claw 10 reaches the rising end in a state where the containers A and B are placed, and then moves along the vertical guide 12, so that the container A extends over the placing member 34 and the lower holding member 32 of the melting device 3. , B are placed.
[0065]
In the melting device 3 that has been on standby, the frame F2 is in the state shown in FIG. 17 and the upper part of the frame F1 is open, so that the containers A and B hold the placing member 34 and the lower holding member. It is placed on the member 32 smoothly. After transferring the containers A and B to the melting device 3, the claw 10 waits below the mounting member 34 and the lower holding member 32.
[0066]
Thereafter, the shaft 18 rotates and the frame F2 rotates, and the state shown in FIG. 17 is changed to the state shown in FIG. 18, so that the opening side necks A2 and B2 of the containers A and B are sandwiched. By driving the cylinder 17 to move the plate 21 toward the upper holding member 33 and the lower holding member 32, the connecting means 16 is connected to the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B, and the pin 20 is connected. The frames F1 and F2 are connected by being inserted into the holes 22c and 33c and locking the lower holding member 32 and the upper holding member 33.
[0067]
On the other hand, when the connecting means 16 is connected to the containers A and B, the blades 30 open the seals Aa and Ba of the containers A and B, and then the packing 31 becomes liquid-tight with the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B. Be abutted. Then, by rotating the shaft 18 a quarter turn in a direction opposite to the previous rotation, the frames F1 and F2 are integrally rotated, and the openings A1 and B1 of the held containers A and B are directed upward.
[0068]
In this state, the dilution water is supplied into the dissolution tank T1 from the water supply source W shown in FIG. 23, and the pump P is driven to flow the dilution water in the dissolution tank T1 to the water supply line L1. As a result, the dilution water is injected into the containers A and B from the inlet 16a, and the solution overflowing from the openings A1 and B1 reaches the outlet 16b via the recess 16c and the insertion hole 16d. The solution flows through the outlet line L2 through the outlet 16b, and is again supplied into the dissolving tank T1. In this manner, the solution is circulated between the dissolution tank T1 and the containers A and B, and the concentration of the solution is adjusted to a predetermined concentration.
[0069]
When a separate concentration sensor (not shown) recognizes that the concentration of the solution has reached a predetermined concentration due to such circulation, the pump P is stopped, and the circulation operation of the solution is stopped. By rotating the shaft 18 halfway in this state, the frames F1 and F2 are rotated, and the containers A and B are inverted until the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B face downward (the state of FIG. 24). Thereafter, by driving the compressor C, air is sent into the containers A and B through the dissolving tank T1 and the lead-out line L2.
[0070]
By feeding the air, it is possible to expedite the discharge of the residual solution in the containers A and B to the storage tank T2 via the water supply line L1. That is, since the storage tank T2 is installed below the containers A and B, if the air layer of the dissolution tank T1 is opened, the residual solution in the containers A and B will be stored by gravity even if air is not supplied. The air is sent to T2, but it is preferable to send air to the storage tank T2 since the residual solution can be quickly and reliably discharged to the storage tank T2. Alternatively, air may be sent from the inlet 6a of the connection means 6 by a separate line, and the residual solution may be discharged from the outlet 16b.
[0071]
After recognizing that most of the residual solution in the containers A and B has been drawn out to the storage tank T2, the shaft 18 is rotated a predetermined angle about two or three times, and the frames F1 and F2 holding the containers A and B are rocked. Move. When the frames F1 and F2 are rocked in this manner, the containers A and B are shaken with the openings A1 and B1 facing down, and the residual solution remaining on the inner walls and the like of the containers A and B is also removed. Since it can be collected and discharged to a part of the bottom surfaces A4 and B4, the residual solution can be discharged more reliably.
[0072]
Next, after rotating the shaft 18 to return the frames F1 and F2 to the initial state, the claw 10 waiting under the melting device 3 is raised, and the empty containers A and B are placed again, and The empty containers A and B are moved along the guides 11 and the vertical guides 12, and are transferred onto the mounting long members 23a to 23d of the volume reduction device 4. The subsequent volume reduction operation is as described.
[0073]
Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rotor 42 and the guide pin 43 of the storage device can be controlled to rotate or stop, and the container is moved from the upper conveyor at a desired timing. You may make it fall to a lower stage. In such a case, for example, when the container is dropped from the belt conveyor located at the upper stage to the lower stage, intermittent feeding at a desired interval can be easily performed.
[0074]
In this embodiment, the drive shaft 35 is located at the end 40 of the belt conveyor, and the drive shaft 35 is provided with the drop control means 41. However, the driven shaft 36 is connected to the end 40 of the belt conveyor. If it is located, as shown in FIG. 27, a one-way clutch 44, a rotor 42, and a guide pin 43 constituting the drop control means 41 may be formed on the driven shaft 36. In the figure, the container is transported from the drive shaft 35 side to the driven shaft 36 side by the belt 37, and is sent to the lower belt conveyor while being held by the guide pins 43.
[0075]
Further, instead of the belt conveyor of the storage device, another conveyor (a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor, or the like) may be used, and the container may be held when the container is dropped from the end of various conveyors to the lower stage. The fall control means may be of any other form as long as it can hold the container that has reached the end of the conveyor and drop it onto the conveyor located below.
[0076]
Further, the container to be accommodated is not limited to the one having the agent A and the agent B as in the present embodiment, and may be one having an opening at one end as well as one having other contents therein. Good. The storage device 1, the dissolving device 3, and the volume reduction device 4 may be separate and independent devices, and the storage device 1 may be used alone.
[0077]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the storage section stores the container in a plurality of upper and lower stages, the storage efficiency of the container can be improved, and the drop control means can hold the container that has reached the end. Since the container is dropped on the conveyor located at the lower stage, the impact can be reduced when the container is dropped from the upper stage to the lower stage in the storage section.
[0078]
According to the invention of claim 2, the container that has reached the end of the upper conveyor drops onto the lower conveyor at the rotation speed of the drive shaft or the driven shaft while being held by the holding means, so that with a simple configuration, The impact at the time of dropping the container from the upper stage to the lower stage can be reduced.
[0079]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the holding means is constantly urged to the origin position where it can come into contact with the container that has reached the end of the conveyor located at the upper stage, after the container is dropped to the lower stage while holding the container. The holding means can immediately return to the original position and hold the container to be dropped next.
[0080]
According to the invention of claim 4, since the origin position detecting means for detecting that the holding means is at the origin position is provided, it is determined whether or not the container is accommodated at a position ranging from the end of the upper conveyor to the lower stage. Can be determined, and the storage state of the container in the storage unit can be grasped.
[0081]
According to the invention of claim 5, since the drop control means can be controlled to operate or stop, the container can be dropped from the upper conveyor to the lower stage at a desired timing, and for example, intermittent feeding at a desired interval can be easily performed. Can be done.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a concentrated liquid producing apparatus to which a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a left side view showing a concentrated liquid producing apparatus to which the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a container applied to the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the container storing the agent A;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a container that is applied to the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention and that stores a B agent.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a top view showing a belt conveyor in the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6;
8 is a view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, showing a state in which a guide pin in the drop control device is at an origin position.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a process in which a guide pin is rotating in the drop control device.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a process in which a guide pin is rotating in the drop control device.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a guide pin has reached the end of rotation in the drop control device.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a delivery unit in the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a claw (in a state where the container A is placed) provided in the transfer device in the concentrated liquid preparation device to which the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied;
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing claws (in a state where containers A and B are placed) provided in a transfer device in a concentrated liquid preparation device to which a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 15 is a top view showing a dissolving device in a concentrated liquid preparation device to which the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing an upper holding member and a lower holding member of a dissolving apparatus in a concentrated liquid producing apparatus to which a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied (a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15)
FIG. 17 is a left side view showing a state in which the frame F2 of the dissolving apparatus is opened in the concentrated liquid producing apparatus to which the container according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 18 is a left side view showing a state in which the frame F2 of the dissolving apparatus is closed in the concentrated liquid producing apparatus to which the container according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 19 is an enlarged schematic view showing a state in which frames F1 and F2 of a dissolving apparatus are connected to each other in a concentrated liquid producing apparatus to which a container according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 20 is a bottom view showing the connection means of the dissolving device in the concentrated liquid preparation device to which the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a connecting means of a dissolving apparatus in a concentrated liquid producing apparatus to which a container according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 22 is a schematic view showing a blade (opening means) provided in a connecting means of a dissolving apparatus in a concentrated liquid producing apparatus to which a storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 23 is a schematic view showing a connection state between the dissolving tank and the storage tank in the dissolving apparatus of the concentrated liquid producing apparatus to which the container apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied (when the opening of the container is upward).
FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing a connection state between a dissolving tank and a storage tank in a dissolving apparatus of a concentrated liquid producing apparatus to which a storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied (when the opening of the container is downward);
FIG. 25 is a schematic view showing a volume reduction device provided in a concentrated liquid producing device to which the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 26 is a left side view showing a volume reduction device provided in the concentrated liquid producing device to which the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied;
FIG. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a belt conveyor and a drop control means formed on a driven shaft thereof in a storage device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... accommodation device
1a, 1b ... loading section
1c, 1d ... accommodation section
1e, 1f ... Unloading section
2. Transfer equipment
3 ... melting equipment
4: Volume reduction device
5a to 5d, 6a, 6b ... belt conveyor
7, 8 ... sending-out means
9 ... Blade member
10 ... nails
11 ... horizontal guide
12. Vertical guide
13 Guide means
14. Ratchet mechanism
15 ... Shaft
16 Connection means
16a ... Injection port
16b ... outlet
17 ... cylinder
18 ... Shaft
19 ... Rotary axis
20 ... pin
21 ... plate material
22 ... Stay
23a to 23d: Long member for mounting
24 ... guide plate
25 ... Presser
26 ... Cutting blade for bottom
27 ... Side cutting blade
28 ... groove
29 ... Partition plate
30 ... blade (opening means)
31… Packing
32: Lower holding member
33 ... Upper holding member
34 mounting member
35 ... Drive shaft
36 ... driven shaft
37 ... Belt
38 ... Motor
39 ... the beginning of the belt conveyor
40 ... Terminal (of belt conveyor)
41 ... fall control means
42 ... rotor
43: guide pin (holding means)
44… One-way clutch
45 ... Micro switch (origin position detecting means)
46 ... Coil spring
47… Information board
A, B ... containers
A1, B1 ... opening
Aa, Ba ... seal
C ... Compressor
T1: melting tank
T2: Storage tank
L1: Water supply line
L2 ... derived line
F1, F2 ... frame
S: Stopper

Claims (5)

A carry-in section for carrying a container with contents therein,
An accommodating portion for accommodating the container carried in from the carry-in portion over a plurality of upper and lower stages,
An unloading unit that unloads the containers in the order in which the containers are stored,
A conveyor that is arranged at each stage of the storage unit and moves to the unloading unit side while placing containers loaded from the loading unit,
In the process of moving the container from the loading unit to the unloading unit while being stored in the storage unit, a container storage device for dropping the container from the end of the upper conveyer to the lower conveyer ,
A container storage device, comprising: a drop control means disposed at an end of the upper conveyor and holding the container that has reached the end while dropping the container onto a lower conveyor. The drop control means,
A rotor attached to a drive shaft or a driven shaft at the end of the conveyor located at the upper stage,
Holding means formed on the rotor and capable of holding in contact with a container reaching the end of the conveyor,
A one-way clutch interposed between the rotor and the drive shaft or driven shaft of the conveyor,
And the one-way clutch is arranged so as to allow relative rotation of the drive shaft or the driven shaft with respect to the rotor and not allow relative rotation of the rotor with respect to the drive shaft or the drive shaft. The container accommodating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The container storage device according to claim 2, wherein the holding unit is constantly urged to an origin position where the holding unit can come into contact with the container that has reached the end of the upper conveyor. 4. The container housing device according to claim 3, further comprising an origin position detecting unit that detects that the holding unit is at the origin position. The container accommodation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fall control unit is controllable to operate or stop.

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