JP2007015727A - Capping method and capping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capping method and a capping apparatus which are capable of achieving the same effect as that of double-seaming by thread rollers in a system in which a cap is attached to a mouth part of a container by press-fitting the cap to a thread portion of the container while rotating the thread rollers with respect to the cap capped on the container. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of thread rollers 16 and 18 are divided into a plurality of thread roller groups consisting of at least one thread roller, respectively. A series of operations from the access of the thread rollers to the cap C, the start of the press-fitting of the cap to a thread portion, and the detachment of the thread rollers from the cap C are performed at different timings for each thread roller group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, the cap roller is moved by crimping the cap to the screw portion of the container while the thread roller and / or the skirt roller rotates with respect to the cap covered by the container, or by bending the lower end edge of the cap. The present invention relates to a capping method and a capping device to be attached to the mouth portion of the apparatus.

  Conventionally, as this kind of capping method and apparatus, those described in Patent Document 1 or 2 are known. In these capping devices, there are a thread roller and a skirt roller, the thread roller presses the cap onto the screw part of the container, the skirt roller bends the lower end edge of the cap, and the cap is wound around the container, It can be attached to the mouth of the container. Therefore, the thread roller and the skirt roller approach the cap and perform an operation of separating from the cap after crimping or bending the cap.

  In Patent Document 1, a thread groove and a skirt roller are pressed against a thread portion of a container to form a thread groove so that the cap can securely seal the container, and then the thread roller and the skirt roller are once separated. Then, the second tightening is performed to press the cap into the screw groove of the container again. In order to realize the two-time tightening, an operation cam that controls the winding head having the thread roller and the skirt roller to move up and down twice is provided. A winding tightening release cam portion for once separating the thread roller and the skirt roller is provided in the central portion.

  Further, Patent Document 2 includes a thread roller and a skirt roller (lock roller), and a cam and a cam follower for causing these rollers to contact and separate from the cap, and the cam can move the cam follower of each roller. Of these divided cams, the cam curve is different between the thread roller portion and the skirt roller portion.

Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 61-44756 Japanese Patent No. 3083889

  However, as in Patent Document 1, when a winding tightening release cam portion is provided at a substantially central portion of the tightening action portion of the operating cam for driving the thread roller to perform the winding tightening twice, the operating cam Becomes a special shape. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to use only a capping head for a capping device for mounting other types of caps. Further, in the winding release cam portion, there is a problem that the top load for pressing the top surface of the cap of the capping head is also reduced.

  Further, as in Patent Document 2, when the cam is divided and the cam curves are made different, there is a problem that the number of parts increases and adjustment is difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and its object is to provide a capping method and a capping device that can solve the above-described problems and have the same effect as that obtained by performing twice tightening. To do.

  Another object is to provide a capping device that can be easily adjusted at low cost in the configuration of the cam and the cam follower.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that the cap is attached to the container by pressing the cap against the screw portion of the container while the thread roller rotates relative to the cap covered by the container. In the capping method to be attached to the mouth of
The plurality of thread rollers are divided into a plurality of thread roller groups each composed of at least one thread roller, and a series of processes from when the thread roller approaches the cap, starts to press against the screw portion, and separates from the cap. The operation is performed at a different timing for each thread roller group.

The invention according to claim 2 is the method according to claim 1, wherein the skirt roller further bends the lower end edge of the cap while rotating with respect to the cap.
A plurality of the skirt rollers are divided into a plurality of skirt roller groups each including at least one skirt roller, and a series of operations in which the skirt roller approaches the cap and bends the lower end edge of the cap and separates from the cap Is performed at different timing for each skirt roller group.

The invention according to claim 3 is provided with a plurality of thread rollers, and the cap is pressed against the screw part of the container while the thread roller rotates with respect to the cap covered by the container, whereby the cap is opened to the mouth of the container. In the capping device attached to
The plurality of thread rollers are each composed of a plurality of thread roller groups each composed of at least one thread roller, and a series of operations until the thread rollers approach the cap, start crimping to the screw portion, and move away from the cap. It is characterized in that it is performed at different timing for each thread roller group.

The invention according to claim 4 is the one according to claim 3,
A capping body that moves with the container being conveyed;
A capping head having the thread roller and coupled to the capping body;
A first cam mechanism that causes the capping head to move up and down in conjunction with the movement of the capping body;
A second cam mechanism for causing the thread roller to move toward and away from the cap in conjunction with the vertical movement of the capping head;
With
The first cam mechanism has a continuous cam path for continuously lowering the capping head,
The second cam mechanism causes each thread roller group to perform contact and separation operations at different portions of the continuous cam path.

The invention according to claim 5 is the one according to claim 3,
Further comprising a plurality of skirt rollers, the skirt rollers rotating with respect to the cap while bending the lower end edge of the cap,
The plurality of skirt rollers are divided into a plurality of skirt roller groups each including at least one skirt roller, and a series of operations in which the skirt roller approaches the cap and bends the lower end edge of the cap to separate from the cap Is performed at different timing for each skirt roller group.

The invention according to claim 6 is the one according to claim 5,
A capping body that moves with the container being conveyed;
A capping head having the thread roller and the skirt roller and coupled to the capping body;
A first cam mechanism that causes the capping head to move up and down in conjunction with the movement of the capping body;
A second cam mechanism for causing the thread roller and the skirt roller to move away from the cap in conjunction with the vertical movement of the capping head;
With
The first cam mechanism has a continuous cam path for continuously lowering the capping head,
The second cam mechanism is characterized in that each skirt roller group is made to contact and separate at different portions of the continuous cam path.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the method according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, the contacting / separating operation is performed at different degrees of approach to the cap for each thread roller group or each skirt roller group. It is characterized by.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the second cam mechanism according to the fourth or sixth aspect comprises a cam and a cam follower, and the cam is common to all of the plurality of thread rollers or the plurality of skirt rollers, and the cam follower is provided. It is provided for each roller, and the relative position of the cam follower to the cam is made different for each thread roller group or each skirt roller group.

  According to the present invention, at a different timing for each thread roller group, approaching the cap, starting crimping to the screw portion, and performing a series of operations from separation from the cap, the same as when multiple windings are performed It is possible to have the action and effect. Unlike conventional methods or devices that cause the same thread roller to perform a series of operations multiple times, it does not complicate the mechanism for driving the thread roller, and therefore can be shared with capping devices that mount other types of caps. It becomes possible to use. In addition, it is possible to avoid a reduction in the top load during winding.

  Further, according to the present invention, the thread roller group is operated in order to perform a series of operations of approaching the cap and bending the lower end edge of the cap and moving away from the cap at different timing for each skirt roller group. Fit or interlock, the lower end of the cap can be securely bent into the container.

  According to the fourth and sixth aspects of the present invention, since the cam path of the first cam mechanism is a continuous cam path that continuously lowers the capping head, the cam path can be simplified. Thus, a versatile capping device applicable to other types of capping heads can be obtained.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 7, the pressure on the cap of the roller can be changed by causing the thread roller group or the skirt roller group to perform the contact / separation operation with different degrees of approach to the cap. It becomes possible to adjust the pressure adapted to different timings.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, the cam of the second cam mechanism for performing the contact / separation operation from the cap of the thread roller and the skirt roller is used as a common part, thereby reducing the number of parts and the cam follower. By adjusting the side, the relative position with respect to the cam can be easily adjusted. In particular, when the cam is disposed on the center side and the cam follower is disposed on the outer peripheral side, the adjustment can be easily performed.

  The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall cross-sectional view of a capping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a capping device. The capping device 10 generally includes a capping body 12 that moves with a container to be conveyed, a thread roller 16, 18 and a skirt roller 20, and is connected to the capping body 12. A first cam mechanism 14 that causes the capping head 22 to move up and down in conjunction with the movement of the head 22 and the capping body 12, and a capping head 22 provided within the capping head 22 in conjunction with the up and down movement of the capping body 12 A second cam mechanism 24 for moving the thread rollers 16 and 18 and the skirt roller 20 away from the cap.

  The capping body 12 revolves around the revolution axis by a main drive source (not shown) together with the container, for example. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the capping body 12 includes an outer cylinder 32 that is driven to rotate by a servo motor 30 as a drive source, and an inner shaft 34 that extends in the axial direction in the outer cylinder 32 and does not rotate. ing. However, instead of driving the outer cylinder 32 with the servo motor 30 as in this example, the outer cylinder can be driven to rotate by the rotational force from the main drive unit that drives the capping body 12 to revolve.

  The inner shaft 34 and the outer cylinder 32 of the capping body 12 are moved up and down by the operation of the first cam mechanism 14 according to the revolution angle. The first cam mechanism 14 is a fixed cam block 40. And a cam follower 44 provided in the capping body 12. As shown in the development view of FIG. 2, the cam track 42 is a continuous cam path 42 a that continuously descends in the winding action portion.

  The capping head 22 is connected to the inner shaft 34 of the capping body 12 and the lower end of the outer cylinder 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the capping head 22 includes a pressure rod 50 that is connected to the inner shaft 34 of the capping body 12 in an axial direction so as to be relatively non-rotatable, and an outer cylinder of the capping body 12. The upper block 52 is integrally connected to the bolt 32 by a bolt 51, and is disposed outside the pressure rod 50 so as to be rotatable relative to the pressure rod 50 and immovable in the axial direction. A sleeve 54 that is relatively non-rotatable and axially movable, a top pressure spring 56 that is interposed between the sleeve 54 and the upper block 52, the second cam mechanism 24, and a thread And supporting portions 70 that support the rollers 16 and 18 and the skirt roller 20.

  A pressure block 60 that presses the top surface of the cap during tightening is screwed to the tip of the pressure rod 50.

  The second cam mechanism 24 includes a cam 62 provided on the cam block 61 that is integrally attached to the upper block 52, a cam follower 64 that is attached to each support portion 70 and faces the cam 62, and the cam follower 64 is connected to the cam 62. And a cam spring 66 that presses it toward the end. The cam 62 has a cam shape for controlling the contact / separation operation of the roller. The cam 62 can be provided for each roller, but in this embodiment, the cam 62 is a component common to all the rollers, and the outer peripheral surface has a rotational symmetry of 360 degrees. Can be reduced, and manufacturing can be facilitated.

  However, optionally, a cam follower can be attached to the upper block 52 side and a cam can be attached to the support shaft 70 side.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the support portion 70 supports the thread rollers 16 and 18 and the skirt roller 20. The support body 70 has a cam follower support body 71 that supports the cam follower 64, and a rotation axis that is coaxial with the vertical rotation axis of the cam follower support body 71, and passes through the flange 54a of the sleeve 54 so as to be pivotally supported by the flange 54a. Oscillating lever 72, a cam follower support 71, a buffer compression spring 73 interposed between the upper receiving portion 72 a of the oscillating lever 72, and a penetration formed in the lower receiving portion 72 b of the oscillating lever 72. A bush 74 fitted into the hole and a spring 76 interposed between the upper end of the roller shaft 78 penetrating the bush 74 and the upper end of the bush 74 are provided. Each roller is integrated with a lower portion of each roller shaft 78, and the spring 76 always urges the roller upward.

  Among a plurality of (six in this embodiment) rollers supported by each support portion 70, one roller pair facing each other is the skirt rollers 20 and 20, and other threads facing each other The roller pairs 16 and 16 constitute a first thread roller group, and the remaining opposed thread roller pairs 18 and 18 constitute a second thread roller group. As described later, the relative positional relationship of the cam follower 64 corresponding to each roller with respect to the cam 62 differs depending on the thread roller group.

  The operation of the capping device 10 configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the capping body 12 revolves together with the container B with the cap C covered by the mouth. While revolving, the cam follower 44 follows the cam track 42 by the operation of the first cam mechanism 14, the inner shaft 34 and the outer cylinder 32 move downward, and the capping head 22 is entirely cap C from above. To approach.

  Then, when the cam follower 44 reaches the continuous cam path 42a which is a tightening action portion of the cam track, the pressure block 60 presses the top of the cap C. Thereby, the lowering of the capping head by the continuous cam path 42 a causes a relative vertical movement between the cam 62 and the cam follower 64 in the second cam mechanism 24.

  In the process of passing through the continuous cam path 42a shown in FIG. 2, the beginning to the middle (first half) is a period in which the thread rollers 16 and 16 act on the cap, and the middle to the end (second half) is the thread roller. 18, 18 is a period during which the cap acts on the cap, and thus the cap is moved toward and away from the cap at different timings for each thread roller group.

  Therefore, the relative positional relationship between the cam 62 in the second cam mechanism 24 and the cam follower 64 corresponding to each roller is different depending on the thread roller group. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the cam follower 64 corresponding to the thread roller 16 in sliding contact with the enlarged diameter portion of the cam 62 in the first half of the continuous cam path 42a as shown in FIG. The cam follower 64 corresponding to 18 is in sliding contact with the reduced diameter portion of the cam 62. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, the cam follower 64 corresponding to the thread roller 16 is slidably contacted with the reduced diameter portion of the cam 62 in the later stage of the continuous cam path 42a, while the cam follower 64 corresponding to the thread roller 18 is contacted. Is in sliding contact with the enlarged diameter portion of the cam 62.

  Further, due to the operation of the servo motor 30, the rotational force of the servo motor 30 is transmitted to the second cam mechanism 24 and the support portion 70 via the outer cylinder 32 and the upper block 52 and is supported by each support portion 70. Each roller rotates around the cap C.

  When the cam follower 64 is in sliding contact with the reduced diameter portion of the cam 62, the corresponding roller is separated from the center portion, that is, the cap C. When the cam follower 64 is in sliding contact with the enlarged diameter portion of the cam 62, the swing lever 72 has a vertical rotation axis. Oscillating as a center, the corresponding roller approaches the center, ie cap C. Therefore, the thread roller 16 approaches the cap and presses against the screw part in the first half of the winding action portion, and the thread roller 18 moves away from the cap and starts approaching with a delay. The roller 16 moves away from the cap, and the thread roller 18 approaches the cap C and presses the threaded portion of the container B.

  Further, the skirt roller 20 also approaches the cap C at an arbitrary timing by bending the lower end of the cam follower 64 and the cam 62 by appropriately setting the relative positional relationship between the cam follower 64 and the cam 62. A series of operations can be performed.

  Even if an excessive load is applied to the roller while each roller is acting on the cap, the buffer compression spring 73 inserted between the swing lever 72 and the cam follower support 71 is contracted and absorbed.

  In this way, since the thread roller groups act on the cap C at different timings, the same effect as that obtained by performing a plurality of windings can be obtained. Further, the top load due to the pressure block 60 is not reduced during the tightening action.

  Since the cam follower 64 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the cam 62 and can be easily adjusted in position, it is possible to easily adjust the contact / separation operation timing by changing the relative positional relationship with the cam 62. it can. As a result, the first thread roller group and the second thread roller group can change the degree of closeness (approach distance) of the rollers to the cap to change the winding force. Further, by changing the speed and / or torque of the servo motor 30 between the first period and the second period passing through the continuous cam path 42a, the tightening force is appropriately adjusted between the first thread roller group and the second thread roller group. It can also be controlled.

  Further, in this embodiment, only the thread rollers are grouped. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the skirt roller 20 is configured by a plurality of groups only or about, and the timing of the contact / separation operation and the degree of approach to the cap It is also possible to make the difference depending on the skirt roller group.

  The number of thread roller groups and / or skirt roller groups may be three or more, or the number of rollers constituting one thread roller group and / or skirt roller group may be any number including one. Can do.

1 is an overall longitudinal sectional view of a capping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an expansion explanatory view for showing operation of the 1st cam mechanism of a capping device. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a capping head. It is the perspective view seen from the downward direction of a capping head. It is a perspective view of the support part of a capping head. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lower part of the support part containing a roller. It is an enlarged view showing operation of the 2nd cam mechanism for every thread roller group.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Capping apparatus 12 Capping main body 14 1st cam mechanism 16 Thread roller (1st thread roller group)
18 Thread rollers (second thread roller group)
20 Skirt roller 22 Capping head 24 Second cam mechanism 42a Continuous cam path 62 Cam 64 Cam follower C Cap B Container

Claims (8)

In the capping method of attaching the cap to the mouth portion of the container by pressing the cap to the screw part of the container while the thread roller rotates with respect to the cap covered by the container,
The plurality of thread rollers are divided into a plurality of thread roller groups each composed of at least one thread roller, and a series of processes from when the thread roller approaches the cap, starts to press against the screw portion, and separates from the cap. A capping method characterized in that the operation is performed at different timing for each thread roller group. The bottom edge of the cap is bent while the skirt roller rotates further with respect to the cap,
A plurality of the skirt rollers are divided into a plurality of skirt roller groups each including at least one skirt roller, and a series of operations in which the skirt roller approaches the cap and bends the lower end edge of the cap and separates from the cap The capping method according to claim 1, wherein the capping is performed at different timing for each skirt roller group. In a capping device comprising a plurality of thread rollers, and attaching the cap to the mouth of the container by crimping the cap to the threaded part of the container while the thread roller rotates relative to the cap covered by the container,
The plurality of thread rollers are each composed of a plurality of thread roller groups each composed of at least one thread roller, and a series of operations until the thread rollers approach the cap, start crimping to the screw portion, and move away from the cap. A capping device, wherein the capping device is performed at different timing for each thread roller group. A capping body that moves with the container being conveyed;
A capping head having the thread roller and coupled to the capping body;
A first cam mechanism that causes the capping head to move up and down in conjunction with the movement of the capping body;
A second cam mechanism for causing the thread roller to move toward and away from the cap in conjunction with the vertical movement of the capping head;
With
The first cam mechanism has a continuous cam path for continuously lowering the capping head,
The capping device according to claim 3, wherein the second cam mechanism causes the thread roller groups to perform contact and separation operations at different portions of the continuous cam path. Further comprising a plurality of skirt rollers, the skirt rollers rotating with respect to the cap while bending the lower end edge of the cap,
The plurality of skirt rollers are divided into a plurality of skirt roller groups each including at least one skirt roller, and a series of operations in which the skirt roller approaches the cap and bends the lower end edge of the cap to separate from the cap 4. The capping device according to claim 3, wherein the capping is performed at different timing for each skirt roller group. A capping body that moves with the container being conveyed;
A capping head having the thread roller and the skirt roller and coupled to the capping body;
A first cam mechanism that causes the capping head to move up and down in conjunction with the movement of the capping body;
A second cam mechanism for causing the thread roller and the skirt roller to move away from the cap in conjunction with the vertical movement of the capping head;
With
The first cam mechanism has a continuous cam path for continuously lowering the capping head,
6. The capping device according to claim 5, wherein the second cam mechanism causes each skirt roller group to perform contact and separation operations at different portions of the continuous cam path.   The capping device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the capping device performs the contact / separation operation at different degrees of approach to the cap for each thread roller group or each skirt roller group.   The second cam mechanism includes a cam and a cam follower, and the cams are common to all of the plurality of thread rollers or the plurality of skirt rollers, each cam follower is provided for each roller, and the relative position of the cam follower to the cam is set for each thread roller group. 7. The capping device according to claim 4, wherein the capping device is made different for each skirt roller group.

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