JP2004276941A

JP2004276941A - Capping apparatus

Info

Publication number: JP2004276941A
Application number: JP2003069136A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Kenji Ikeda; 賢司池田
Original assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha Ltd
Current assignee: Toyo Seikan Group Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2003-03-14
Filing date: 2003-03-14
Publication date: 2004-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-14
Also published as: JP4432338B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a squeezing device with a simple structure capable of efficiently reducing an inner volume of a bottle without damaging the external surface of the bottle. <P>SOLUTION: A bottle capping apparatus puts a cap on the bottle with the barrel of the bottle 6 reaching a squeeze port 10 squeezed by the squeezing device 3 for raising the liquid level. The squeezing device 3 includes a squeeze-to-push member 25 capable of advancing toward/retreating from one of side faces of the barrel of the bottle 6, a bottle receiving member coming into contact with the other side face opposite to the mentioned side face of the barrel of the bottle 6 at the squeeze port 10 for pinching and squeezing the bottle 6 in cooperation with the squeeze-to-push member 25, and a driving mechanism 26 for driving the operation of the member 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【産業上の利用分野】
この発明はプラスチック容器に内容液を充填してキャッピングする技術、特にキャッピングする際の容器内の内容液の液面の位置である入味線の位置を調整する技術に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
高果汁飲料のような充填時に泡立ちの多い内容液をプラスチック容器に充填する場合は、その泡漏れを防ぐためには容器上部の内容液の液面上には通常３０〜４０ｍｌのヘッドスペースが必要である。開栓時の操作において内容液がこぼれるのを防ぐためにも充分の大きさのヘッドスペースが必要である。しかし、一方で、このヘッドスペースが大きいと、そこに含まれる残存酸素が内容液を劣化させる原因となることがある。そこで、内容液充填時や開栓時にはヘッドスペースを大きくし、キャッピング完了後にはヘッドスペースを小さくする技術が必要である。
【０００３】
内容液の充填方式には内容液の種類に応じて、内容液を９０℃以上の加熱状態で充填する高温充填と、内容液をほぼ常温で充填する常温充填があるが、高温充填の場合は、充填時にヘッドスペースを大きくしても、キャッピング後に内容液の冷却につれて容器内が減圧するので、内容液の液面は上がり、ヘッドスペースは小さくなる。しかるに常温充填の場合はキャッピング後の容器内の減圧がないので、キャッピング時にボトルを外力によって変形させて液面を上げてヘッドスペースを小さくすることが行われている。
【０００４】
ヘッドスペースを小さくするためにボトルを変形させる従来の技術としては次のものがある。
【特許文献１】特開２００１−１０６９８号公報
【特許文献２】特開平３−２８９４３５号公報
【特許文献３】特開平６−３２１２９３号公報
すなわち、容器の底部を押し上げて内部容積を減少させて入味線を上昇させる方法（第１の方法）（特許文献１参照）、ボトル胴部を両側から一対の挟み腕で挟んでボトル内容積を減少させ入味線を上昇させる方法（第２の方法）（特許文献２参照）及び容器胴部を押圧具で押して内方に変形させ入味線を上昇させる方法（第３の方法）（前記特許文献３参照）があるが、第１の方法で、押圧部位であるボトル底部はボトルに自立性を与えるために、延伸量が小さく強度が大きくなるように設計されている部分であるので、この部分を容器中心線方向に変形させるためには大きな押圧力が必要であり、ボトルを座屈させる原因となり得る。
【０００５】
第２の方法はボトル部分を両側から挟圧するので最も効率よくボトル内容積を減少させ得るが、ボトルを挟圧する両方の挟み腕を協調して動作させる必要があるので、装置の構造が複雑である。
【０００６】
第３の方法は容器胴部を容器押圧具で押して変形させ入味線を上昇させるのであるが、ここで使用する容器押圧具はレバーの先端に取り付けられていて、容器を押圧するための動作は回転中心を中心とする垂直平面内における回転変位である。したがって、容器胴部への接触開始点から最大押圧点に達するまでの間に胴部の表面をこする動きをすることになり、胴部の表面を傷つけるおそれがある。
【０００７】
このようなことからボトル内容積を効率よく減少させることができ、ボトルの外表面を損傷させることがなく、かつ構造が簡単なスクイズ装置の開発が望まれている。
【０００８】
この発明は上記の如き事情に鑑みてなされたものであって、ボトル内容積を効率よく減少させることができ、ボトルの外表面を損傷させることがなく、かつ構造が簡単なスクイズ装置を提供することを目的とするものである。
【０００９】
この目的に対応して、この発明のキャッピング装置は、スクイズポートに達したボトルの胴部をスクイズ装置によってスクイズして入味線を上昇させた状態で前記ボトルをキャッピングするボトルキャッピング装置であって、前記スクイズ装置は、前記ボトルの胴部の一方の側面に向かって進出・後退動作が可能なスクイズ押し部材と、前記スクイズポートにおいて前記ボトルの胴部の前記一方の側面に対向する他方の側面に当接して前記スクイズ押し部材と共働して前記ボトルを挟圧してスクイズするボトル受け部材と、及び前記スクイズ押し部材の前記動作を駆動する駆動機構とを備えてなることを特徴としている。
【００１０】
【実施の態様】
以下、この発明の詳細を一実施例を示す図面について説明する。
図１から図３において、１はキャッピング装置である。キャッピング装置１はキャッパー２とスクイズ装置３を備えている。キャッパー２はボトル移動経路内をターレット４で送られてキャッピングポート５に達したボトル６のノズル７にボトルの移動中にキャッピングをする装置である。キャッパー２はチャック８を備え、チャック８がキャップ１１を把持してボトル６のノズル７にかぶせ、押し込みまたは螺合によってキャップ１１をノズル７に打栓または装着する。このようなキャッパー２の構造は従来から公知のものを採用することができる。この発明のキャッピング装置１の特徴はスクイズ装置３にある。
【００１１】
すなわちスクイズ装置３はターレット４を有する。ターレット４は円盤状をなしていて回転軸１３により回転可能である。ターレット４は周辺部に複数のボトル収容部１４を水平面内に等角度間隔に配置していてターレット４が回転することによってボトル収容部１４がボトルの移動経路上を移動する。それぞれのボトル収容部１４はボトル６を立てた状態で１個ずつ収容可能である。それぞれのボトル収容部１４では台板１５が設けられていてボトル６を載置可能であり、また、台板１５上にターレット４の半径方向の外方に向けて開いた開口部１６を有する受け枠１７を備えていて、開口部１６内にボトル６を受け入れてボトル６の側面を支えている。
【００１２】
スクイズ装置３においてはターレット４が回転する場合の回転軸１３を中心とする固定の角度範囲θがスクイズポート１０であり、ターレット４の回転方向の始端部９がスクイズ開始位置１８であり、後端部２１がスクイズ終了位置２２であり、かつスクイズ終了位置２２がキャッピングを行うキャッピングポート５である。
【００１３】
スクイズ装置３は押し装置２３と受け装置２４とからなり、ターレット４のそれぞれのボトル収容部１４に対応して、ターレット４上に押し装置２３を配置し、スクイズポート１０の外縁に沿って受け装置２４を配置している。
【００１４】
押し装置２３はスクイズ押し部材２５とそれを駆動する駆動機構２６とを有する。この実施例ではスクイズ押し部材２５は棒状をなしたスクイズ押し棒２７である。駆動機構２６はこの実施例ではカム機構２８であり、カム機構２８はカム３１、カムフォロワ３２、カム調節ねじ３３とを備えている。カム３１は上下に間隔が開閉可能な一対のカムメンバー３５ａ、３５ｂからなり、カムメンバー３５ａ、３５ｂはそれぞれのカム面３６ａ、３６ｂを上下に対向させて配置されている。カムメンバー３５ａ、３５ｂはカム調節ねじ３３と螺合していて、カム調節ねじ３３がその中心軸に関して回転することによって、カムメンバー３５ａ、３５ｂは接近または離隔し、一対のカム面３６ａ、３６ｂは上下に開閉する。カムメンバー３５ａ、３５ｂのカム面３６ａ、３６ｂは対向する斜面になっていて、一対のカム面３６ａ、３６ｂが開閉することによってカムフォロワ３２との接触位置（カム面の位置）が移動する。
【００１５】
一対のカム面３６ａ、３６ｂにはばね（図示せず）によって弾性的にカムフォロワ３２が押し付けられているので、一対の力ム面３６ａ、３６ｂが開閉することによってカムフォロワ３２が進退する。カムフォロワ３２には軸３７を介してスクイズ押し棒２７が連結していて、カムフォロワ３２の進退によってボトル収容部１４に対して進退する。
【００１６】
前述の通りスクイズポート１０の外縁に沿って、かつボトル収容部１４の外側に受け装置２４が配置されている。受け装置２４はこの実施例ではエンドレスのベルトまたはチェーンからなる受け部材３８に複数の当接突起４１が取り付けられ、かつ受け部材３８をターレット４のボトル収容部１４の移動と同期させて走行させる送り駆動装置４２を備えている。当接突起４１はボトル収容部１４内のボトル６をスクイズポート１０内でスクイズ押し棒２７の反対側から押圧するものであるがボトル収容部１４に対して進出または後退することはない。当接突起４１の走行方向における配置間隔はそれぞれのボトル収容部１４のターレット４の回転方向の間隔に等しく、したがってスクイズポート１０においてスクイズ押し棒２７と当接突起４１は協働してボトル収容部１４内のボトル６をスクイズ押し棒２７の進出・後退方向の延長線上における対向方向から挟圧することができる。
【００１７】
但し当接突起４１を設けずにチェーンまたはベルトからなる受け部材３８がスクイズ押し棒２７によるボトル６の押圧時にボトル６を直接支える構造にしてもよい。この場合には、当接突起４１の高さに相当する距離だけチェーンまたはベルトからなる受け部材３８をボトル収容部１４に接近させた位置で走行させる必要がある。
【００１８】
スクイズ押し棒２７と当接突起４１が協働してボトル６を押圧する場合のボトルの中心線方向の押圧位置はボトルの高さの中間、または中間よりも上、または中間よりも下、若しくはボトルの径方向の変形強度に対するボトル頭部とボトル底部からの影響がほぼ等しくなる位置である。実験によれば、ボトルの上部は強度が大きいボトル肩部やボトルネック部からの強度的な影響が大きいので変形には大きな力を要するが、容器の小さな変形によっても比較的大きなボトル内容積の変化があるので、スクイズ押し棒２７の変位量を大きくとれない場合には、この部分を押圧位置にする。ボトル下部もボトル上部ほどではないが、やはり強度の大きいボトル底部からの強度の影響が大きいのでスクイズ押し棒２７の変位量を大きくとれない場合の押圧位置にする。
【００１９】
ボトル上端及びボトル下端からの強度的影響が小さい中間部はスクイズ押し棒２７の変位量に対するボトル内容積の変化量は小さいが、小さい押圧力でもボトルの変形をさせるがとができるので、大きな押圧力が得られない場合またはボトルが柔軟性の高い材料で構成されていて大きな変形が可能な場合の押圧位置とする。
【００２０】
このように構成されたキャッピング装置１におけるスクイズ動作及びキャッピング動作は次のようにしてなされる。
【００２１】
ターレット４が回転し、受け部材３８が同調して回転している状態において、ボトル６は供給位置４３においてターレット４のボトル収容部１４に供給され、ターレット４の回転によってスクイズポート１０に送られる。その間にカム調節ねじ３３が回転し、カム面３６ａ、３６ｂが閉じていき、カムフォロワ３２を押しスクイズ押し棒２７の先端がカムフォロワ３２に引かれてボトル６に次第に接近する。スクイズポート１０のスクイズ開始位置１８で受け部材３８の当接突起４１（当接突起４１を採用していない場合には受け部材３８自体）がボトル６の後側面に当接し、同時にスクイズ押し棒２７ガボトル６の前側面を押圧し、協働してボトル６のスクイズを開始する。スクイズ終了位置２２でスクイズ量が最大となるとキャッパー２によりボトル６のノズルにキャップが供給されてキャッピングがなされる。その後ボトル６は排出位置に送られて次工程に送り出される。
【００２２】
【実験例】
マイクロメーターヘッドにスクイズ押し棒を取り付け、充填量の異なる３種類の水を詰めたボトル（東洋製罐（株）製、２Ｌ角ボトル）を押圧位置にて押していき、液面が所定の高さ（ノズルからつば状に張り出しているボトル懸吊用のリングであるネックリングの下の７ｍｍ、ネックリングの下０ｍｍ、ノズル上端までの満注）に達した際のマイクロメーターヘッド指示値を３回読み取って平均値を出した。
【００２３】
充填量は、内容液正常充填量２０１３ｇ（入味線・高さ２６２ｍｍ）、内容液充填時に泡、液がこぼれない充填量２０２０ｇ（入味線の高さ２６５．５ｍｍ）、容器開栓時に液がこぼれない限界容量２０３０ｇ（入味線の高さ２７１ｍｍ）である。
押圧条件は
Ａ：スクイズ押し棒はＭＣナイロン（φ１６）、受け部材は壁平面、押圧部位はボトル中央部
Ｂ：スクイズ押し棒はＭＣナイロン（φ１６）、受け部材は壁平面、押圧部位はボトル下部
Ｃ：スクイズ押し棒はＭＣナイロン（φ１６）、受け部材は壁平面、押圧部位はボトル上部
Ｄ：スクイズ押し棒はＭＣナイロン（φ１６）、受け部材はＭＣナイロン（φ１６）、押圧部位はボトル中央部
Ｅ：スクイズ押し棒は矩形平面（５４×１２６ｍｍ）、受け部材は壁平面、押圧部位はボトル下部
Ｆ：スクイズ押し棒は矩形平面（５４×１２６ｍｍ）、受け部材は壁平面、押圧部位はボトル上部
【００２４】
実験結果
【表１】

【００２５】
充填量２０１３ｇ、２０２０ｇ及び２０３０ｇの各場合において、Ａ、Ｄの押圧条件で大きな押圧量を要し、Ｅの押圧条件で最も小さな押圧量を要するが、少なくともＢ、Ｃ、Ｅ、Ｆの条件であればいずれの場合も必要な入味線の位置を実現することが実用上不都合なくできることが分かる。
【００２６】
【発明の効果】
この発明ではスクイズ押し部材とボトル受け部材は共同して対向する方向からボトルを挾圧してスクイズするので、少ない押し圧ストロークでボトル内容積を効率良く減少させるこことができ、こうしてボトルに向って直線運動をするスクイズ押し棒２７によってボトルのスクイズを行いヘッドスペースを減少させた状態でキャッピングをすることができる。
【００２７】
この発明では容器の底部を押し上げてボトルの内容積を減少させるものではなく、胴部を押圧変形させるので、内容積の変化を容易に発生させることができる。
【００２８】
またこの発明ではボトル胴部を一対の挟み腕で挟んでボトル内容積を減少させるものではないので、両腕を同調して回転運動させる必要はなくスクイズ装置の構造が簡単である。
【００２９】
さらにこの発明では上下に回転運動するレバー状の押し部材を使用するのではないから、ボトルの表面と押し部材とが相対運動をすることがなく、ボトル表面をこすることがない。
【００３０】
また、スクイズ押圧部材の駆動をカム機構によって行なうことにより、駆動機構の構造を簡単にし、スクイズ押圧部材の動作を確実にすることができる。
【００３１】
また、ボトル受け部材をスクイズ押し部材の動きの延長線上に配置してボトルを挾圧することによって、スクイズ時におけるボトルの姿勢を安定させ、動力を有効にボトルの押圧に利用することができる。
【００３２】
またスクイズ押し部材とボトル受け部材がボトルを挾圧する位置を、変形強度が大きい頭部及び底部から最も遠い中間部にまたはそれよりも下部若しくは上部設定することによって、小さな押圧力で容器を大きく減容変形することができ、効率のよいスクイズを行なうことができる。
【００３３】
また、容器のスクイズは容器を停止させないで、その容器が移動中に行なうように構成することにより、作業効率を向上させることができると共に、容器の走行、停止時の振動による液漏れを回避することができる。
【００３４】
特に受け部材をボトルを送るチェーンまたはベルト上に設ければ、それらのチェーンまたはベルトが送り部材及び受け部材としての両機能を持つことになり、スクイズの動作が円滑に行なえるとともに、装置の部品数を低減させて、装置の構成を簡単にする。さらにそのチェーンまたはベルト上に設ける当接部材を突起状にすれば、小さな押圧力で、容器を減容変形させることができる。
【００３５】
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】キャッピング装置の平面構成説明図。
【図２】スクイズ装置の正面部分説明図であって、スクイズ押し棒が後退した状態を示す。
【図３】通常運転時のスクイズ押し棒の位置を示す正面部分説明図。
【図４】スクイズ装置のスクイズ押し棒が前進した状態を示す正面部分説明図。
【符号の説明】
１キャッピング装置
２キャッパー
３スクイズ装置
４ターレット
５キャッピングポート
６ボトル
７ノズル
８チャック
９始端部
１０スクイズポート
１１キャップ
１３回転軸
１４ボトル収容部
１５台板
１６開口部
１７受け枠
１８スクイズ開始位置
２１後端部
２２スクイズ終了位置
２３押し装置
２４受け装置
２５スクイズ押し部材
２６駆動機構
２７スクイズ押し棒
２８カム機構
３１カム
３２カムフォロワ
３３カム調節ねじ
３５ａ、ｂカムメンバー
３６ａ、ｂカム面
３７軸
３８受け部材
４１当接突起
４２送り駆動装置
４３供給装置[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a technique for filling a plastic container with a content liquid and capping the same, and more particularly to a technique for adjusting a position of a water line, which is a position of a liquid level of the content liquid in the container at the time of capping.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When filling a plastic container with a foaming content liquid at the time of filling such as a high juice beverage, a head space of usually 30 to 40 ml is required on the liquid level of the content liquid at the top of the container in order to prevent the leakage of the foam. is there. A sufficiently large head space is required to prevent the liquid content from spilling during the opening operation. However, on the other hand, if the head space is large, residual oxygen contained therein may cause deterioration of the content liquid. Therefore, there is a need for a technique for increasing the head space when filling or opening the contents liquid, and reducing the head space after the capping is completed.
[0003]
Depending on the type of the content liquid, the filling method of the content liquid includes a high-temperature filling in which the content liquid is filled in a heating state of 90 ° C. or higher, and a normal-temperature filling in which the content liquid is filled at almost normal temperature. Even if the head space is increased at the time of filling, the pressure in the container is reduced as the content liquid cools after capping, so that the liquid level of the content liquid rises and the head space decreases. However, in the case of filling at room temperature, there is no reduced pressure in the container after capping, so that the bottle is deformed by external force during capping to raise the liquid level and reduce the head space.
[0004]
Conventional techniques for deforming the bottle to reduce the head space include the following.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-10698 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-289435 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-321293 In other words, the inner volume is reduced by pushing up the bottom of the container. A method of raising the taste line (first method) (see Patent Literature 1), a method of sandwiching the bottle body with a pair of pinching arms from both sides to reduce the inside volume of the bottle and raise the taste line (second method) There is a method (see Patent Document 2) and a method in which the container body is pressed in with a pressing tool to be deformed inward to raise the taste line (third method) (see Patent Document 3). The bottom part of the bottle is a part designed to have a small amount of stretching and high strength in order to give the bottle its independence, so a large pressing force is required to deform this part in the direction of the container center line. Is necessary It can cause the buckling of the bottle.
[0005]
The second method is capable of reducing the inner volume of the bottle most efficiently because the bottle portion is pressed from both sides. However, since it is necessary to operate both of the holding arms for pressing the bottle in cooperation, the structure of the device is complicated. is there.
[0006]
The third method is to press the container body with a container pressing tool to deform it and raise the water line, but the container pressing tool used here is attached to the tip of the lever, and the operation for pressing the container is as follows. This is the rotational displacement in a vertical plane about the center of rotation. Therefore, a movement of rubbing the surface of the body from the point where the contact with the container body starts to the point where the maximum pressure is reached may occur, and the surface of the body may be damaged.
[0007]
For this reason, there is a demand for the development of a squeeze device that can reduce the internal volume of the bottle efficiently, does not damage the outer surface of the bottle, and has a simple structure.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a squeeze device that can efficiently reduce the volume in a bottle, does not damage the outer surface of the bottle, and has a simple structure. It is intended for that purpose.
[0009]
In response to this object, the capping device of the present invention is a bottle capping device that caps the bottle in a state where the body portion of the bottle that has reached the squeeze port is squeezed by the squeeze device and the taste line is raised, The squeeze device includes a squeeze pushing member capable of advancing and retreating toward one side of the body of the bottle, and a squeeze port on the other side facing the one side of the body of the bottle in the squeeze port. The squeeze pressing member is provided with a bottle receiving member that squeezes the bottle by pressing the bottle in cooperation with the squeeze pressing member, and a driving mechanism that drives the operation of the squeeze pressing member.
[0010]
Embodiment
Hereinafter, the details of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing one embodiment.
1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a capping device. The capping device 1 includes a capper 2 and a squeeze device 3. The capper 2 is a device that caps the nozzle 7 of the bottle 6 that has been sent by the turret 4 in the bottle moving path and reached the capping port 5 while the bottle is moving. The capper 2 includes a chuck 8, which grips the cap 11 and covers the nozzle 7 of the bottle 6, and pushes or screwes the cap 11 onto or attached to the nozzle 7. As the structure of such a capper 2, a conventionally known structure can be adopted. A feature of the capping device 1 of the present invention resides in the squeeze device 3.
[0011]
That is, the squeeze device 3 has the turret 4. The turret 4 has a disk shape and can be rotated by a rotating shaft 13. The turret 4 has a plurality of bottle accommodating portions 14 arranged at equal angular intervals in a horizontal plane in a peripheral portion, and the turret 4 rotates, so that the bottle accommodating portion 14 moves on the bottle movement path. Each bottle accommodating section 14 can accommodate one by one in a state where the bottles 6 are set up. In each bottle accommodating portion 14, a base plate 15 is provided, on which the bottle 6 can be placed, and a receiving portion having an opening 16 opened on the base plate 15 in a radially outward direction of the turret 4. A frame 17 is provided for receiving the bottle 6 in the opening 16 and supporting the side surface of the bottle 6.
[0012]
In the squeeze device 3, a fixed angle range θ about the rotation axis 13 when the turret 4 rotates is the squeeze port 10, the starting end 9 in the rotating direction of the turret 4 is the squeezing start position 18, and the rear end. The part 21 is a squeeze end position 22 and the squeeze end position 22 is a capping port 5 for performing capping.
[0013]
The squeezing device 3 includes a pushing device 23 and a receiving device 24. The pushing device 23 is arranged on the turret 4 corresponding to each bottle accommodating portion 14 of the turret 4, and the receiving device is arranged along the outer edge of the squeeze port 10. 24 are arranged.
[0014]
The pushing device 23 has a squeezing pushing member 25 and a driving mechanism 26 for driving the squeezing pushing member 25. In this embodiment, the squeeze push member 25 is a squeeze push bar 27 having a bar shape. The drive mechanism 26 is a cam mechanism 28 in this embodiment. The cam mechanism 28 includes a cam 31, a cam follower 32, and a cam adjusting screw 33. The cam 31 is composed of a pair of cam members 35a and 35b that can be opened and closed at intervals in the vertical direction, and the cam members 35a and 35b are arranged with their

respective cam surfaces

36a and 36b facing vertically. The cam members 35a and 35b are screwed with the cam adjusting screw 33, and the cam members 35a and 35b are moved closer to or away from each other by rotating the cam adjusting screw 33 about its central axis, and the pair of

cam surfaces

36a and 36b Open and close up and down. The cam surfaces 36a and 36b of the cam members 35a and 35b are inclined surfaces facing each other, and the contact position (the position of the cam surface) with the cam follower 32 is moved by opening and closing the pair of

cam surfaces

36a and 36b.
[0015]
Since the cam follower 32 is elastically pressed against the pair of

cam surfaces

36a and 36b by a spring (not shown), the cam follower 32 moves forward and backward by opening and closing the pair of

force surfaces

36a and 36b. The squeeze push rod 27 is connected to the cam follower 32 via a shaft 37, and the cam follower 32 advances and retreats with respect to the bottle accommodating section 14 when the cam follower 32 advances and retreats.
[0016]
As described above, the receiving device 24 is arranged along the outer edge of the squeeze port 10 and outside the bottle housing portion 14. In this embodiment, the receiving device 24 has a plurality of abutting projections 41 attached to a receiving member 38 formed of an endless belt or a chain, and feeds the receiving member 38 in synchronization with the movement of the bottle accommodating portion 14 of the turret 4. A driving device 42 is provided. The contact projection 41 presses the bottle 6 in the bottle housing 14 from the side opposite to the squeeze push rod 27 in the squeeze port 10, but does not advance or retreat with respect to the bottle housing 14. The arrangement interval of the contact projections 41 in the running direction is equal to the interval in the rotation direction of the turret 4 of each bottle accommodating portion 14, so that the squeeze push rod 27 and the abutment projection 41 in the squeeze port 10 cooperate with each other. It is possible to squeeze the bottle 6 in the container 14 from the opposing direction on the extension of the advance / retreat direction of the squeeze push rod 27.
[0017]
However, a structure in which the receiving member 38 formed of a chain or a belt directly supports the bottle 6 when the bottle 6 is pressed by the squeeze push rod 27 without providing the contact protrusion 41 may be employed. In this case, it is necessary to run the receiving member 38 formed of a chain or a belt at a position close to the bottle housing portion 14 by a distance corresponding to the height of the contact protrusion 41.
[0018]
When the squeeze push rod 27 and the contact projection 41 cooperate to press the bottle 6, the pressing position in the center line direction of the bottle is at the middle of the height of the bottle, or higher than the middle, or lower than the middle, or This is a position where the influence from the bottle head and the bottle bottom on the deformation strength in the radial direction of the bottle is almost equal. According to the experiment, the upper part of the bottle is strongly affected by the strong shoulder and bottle neck of the bottle, so deformation requires a large amount of force. Due to the change, if the displacement amount of the squeeze push bar 27 cannot be increased, this portion is set to the pressed position. Although the lower part of the bottle is not as large as the upper part of the bottle, the influence of the strength from the bottom part of the bottle, which is still strong, is large.
[0019]
In the middle part where the strength influence from the top and bottom of the bottle is small, the amount of change in the volume of the bottle with respect to the amount of displacement of the squeeze push rod 27 is small, but the bottle can be deformed even with a small pressing force. The pressing position is set when no pressure is obtained or when the bottle is made of a highly flexible material and large deformation is possible.
[0020]
The squeezing operation and the capping operation in the capping device 1 configured as described above are performed as follows.
[0021]
In a state where the turret 4 rotates and the receiving member 38 rotates in synchronization, the bottle 6 is supplied to the bottle accommodating portion 14 of the turret 4 at the supply position 43 and is sent to the squeeze port 10 by the rotation of the turret 4. During this time, the cam adjusting screw 33 rotates, the cam surfaces 36a and 36b close, and the tip of the squeeze push rod 27 is pushed by the cam follower 32 to be gradually approached to the bottle 6 by the cam follower 32. At the squeezing start position 18 of the squeeze port 10, the contact projection 41 of the receiving member 38 (or the receiving member 38 itself when the contact projection 41 is not employed) contacts the rear side surface of the bottle 6, and at the same time, the squeeze push rod 27. The front side of the bottle 6 is pressed, and squeezing of the bottle 6 is started in cooperation. When the squeeze amount reaches the maximum at the squeeze end position 22, the cap is supplied to the nozzle of the bottle 6 by the capper 2 and capping is performed. Thereafter, the bottle 6 is sent to the discharge position and sent to the next process.
[0022]
[Experimental example]
Attach a squeeze push rod to the micrometer head, push a bottle (2L square bottle, manufactured by Toyo Seikan Co., Ltd.) filled with three types of water with different filling amounts at the pressing position, and the liquid level is at a predetermined height. When the micrometer head reaches 3 times (7 mm below the neck ring, which is the ring for hanging the bottle, which protrudes from the nozzle, 7 mm below the neck ring, 0 mm below the neck ring, and full injection to the upper end of the nozzle), the micrometer head indicates three times. We read and gave the average value.
[0023]
The filling amount is the normal filling amount of the content liquid 2013g (filling line / height: 262mm), the filling amount is 2020g (the height of the filling line is 265.5mm) so that bubbles and liquid do not spill when filling the contents liquid, and the liquid spills when the container is opened. The unrestricted capacity is 2030 g (height of the bite line is 271 mm).
The pressing condition is A: squeeze push rod is MC nylon (φ16), receiving member is wall flat surface, pressing part is bottle central part B: squeeze pressing rod is MC nylon (φ16), receiving member is wall flat surface, pressing part is bottle lower part C: Squeeze push rod is MC nylon (φ16), receiving member is a wall surface, pressed part is at the top of the bottle D: Squeeze push rod is MC nylon (φ16), receiving member is MC nylon (φ16), and pressed part is bottle central part E: squeeze push rod is a rectangular flat surface (54 × 126 mm), receiving member is a wall flat surface, pressing portion is at the bottom of the bottle F: squeeze push bar is a rectangular flat surface (54 × 126 mm), receiving member is a wall flat surface, and the pressing portion is at the top of the bottle [0024]
Experimental results [Table 1]

[0025]
In each case of the filling amount of 2013 g, 2020 g and 2030 g, a large pressing amount is required under the pressing conditions of A and D, and a minimum pressing amount is required under the pressing condition of E, but at least under the conditions of B, C, E and F. It can be seen that in any case, it is possible to realize the required position of the crowded line without any practical inconvenience.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, the squeeze pushing member and the bottle receiving member cooperate to squeeze the bottle by pressing the bottle from opposite directions, so that the internal volume of the bottle can be efficiently reduced with a small pushing pressure stroke. The bottle can be squeezed by the squeeze push rod 27 which moves linearly, and capping can be performed with the head space reduced.
[0027]
In the present invention, since the bottom portion of the container is not pushed up to reduce the internal volume of the bottle, but the body portion is pressed and deformed, a change in the internal volume can be easily generated.
[0028]
Further, since the present invention does not reduce the internal volume of the bottle by sandwiching the bottle body with a pair of sandwiching arms, it is not necessary to rotate both arms in synchronization and the structure of the squeezing device is simple.
[0029]
Further, in the present invention, since a lever-shaped push member that rotates up and down is not used, the surface of the bottle and the push member do not move relative to each other, and the surface of the bottle is not rubbed.
[0030]
Further, by driving the squeeze pressing member by the cam mechanism, the structure of the drive mechanism can be simplified, and the operation of the squeeze pressing member can be ensured.
[0031]
Further, by positioning the bottle receiving member on an extension of the movement of the squeeze pushing member and clamping the bottle, the posture of the bottle during squeezing can be stabilized, and power can be effectively used for pressing the bottle.
[0032]
Also, by setting the position where the squeeze pushing member and the bottle receiving member clamp the bottle at the middle part farthest from the head and bottom, where deformation strength is large, or below or above it, the container can be greatly reduced with a small pressing force. The squeeze can be performed efficiently, and efficient squeezing can be performed.
[0033]
In addition, by squeezing the container without stopping the container and performing the squeezing while the container is moving, the working efficiency can be improved, and the liquid leakage due to the vibration at the time of running and stopping the container can be avoided. be able to.
[0034]
In particular, if the receiving member is provided on a chain or a belt for feeding a bottle, the chain or the belt has both functions as a feeding member and a receiving member, so that the squeezing operation can be performed smoothly and the parts of the apparatus can be squeezed. The number is reduced to simplify the configuration of the device. Further, if the contact member provided on the chain or the belt is formed in a projecting shape, the container can be reduced in volume with a small pressing force.
[0035]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view of a capping device.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory front view of the squeeze device, showing a state in which a squeeze push rod is retracted.
FIG. 3 is a partial front view showing the position of a squeeze push rod during normal operation.
FIG. 4 is a partial front view showing a state in which a squeeze push rod of the squeeze device is advanced.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Capping device 2 Capper 3 Squeeze device 4 Turret 5 Capping port 6 Bottle 7 Nozzle 8 Chuck 9 Start end 10 Squeeze port 11 Cap 13 Rotary shaft 14 Bottle storage 15 Base plate 16 Opening 17 Receiving frame 18 Squeeze start position 21 Rear end Part 22 Squeeze end position 23 Push device 24 Receiving device 25 Squeeze push member 26 Drive mechanism 27 Squeeze push rod 28 Cam mechanism 31 Cam 32 Cam follower 33 Cam adjusting screws 35a, b Cam members 36a, b Cam surface 37 Shaft 38 Receiving member 41 Contact protrusion 42 Feed drive device 43 Supply device

Claims

A bottle capping device that caps the bottle in a state where the body of the bottle that has reached the squeeze port is squeezed by a squeeze device to raise the taste line, wherein the squeeze device is provided on one side of the body of the bottle. A squeeze pushing member capable of advancing / retreating toward the squeezing port, and the bottle in cooperation with the squeezing pushing member in contact with the other side of the body of the bottle facing the one side in the squeeze port. A capping device comprising: a bottle receiving member for squeezing by pressing the bottle; and a drive mechanism for driving the operation of the squeeze pushing member.

The capping device according to claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism is a cam mechanism.

The capping device according to claim 1, wherein the bottle receiving member is configured to abut on the other side surface of the body of the bottle on an extension line of the squeeze pushing member in the advance / retreat direction.

The position of the bottle body in the bottle center line direction where the squeeze pushing member and the bottle receiving member abut is a position where the influence from the bottle head and the bottle bottom on the deformation strength in the radial direction of the bottle is substantially equal. The capping device according to claim 1, wherein

2. The capping device according to claim 1, wherein a position in a bottle center line direction of the bottle body where the squeeze pushing member and the bottle receiving member abut is located at a middle of the height of the bottle or above the middle.

2. The capping device according to claim 1, wherein a position of the bottle body in a bottle center line direction where the squeeze pressing member and the bottle receiving member abut is located at a middle of the height of the bottle or below the middle.

The capping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottle is configured to be squeezed while moving in a movement path at the squeeze port.

The bolt receiving member is a chain or a belt or an abutting member provided on the chain or the belt, and the bottle receiving member travels along a movement path of the bottle in synchronization with the movement of the bottle. 8. The capping device according to claim 7, wherein the port is configured to abut on the other side of the body of the bottle.

9. The capping device according to claim 8, wherein the bottle contact member is a protrusion that contacts the other side surface of the body of the bottle at the squeeze port.