JP2007153378A - Container holding mechanism of filling system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an efficient filling system which performs liquid filling and capping processes during one round by providing a movable holding mechanism on a rotary table for holding a container regardless of its size and shape. <P>SOLUTION: This container holding mechanism is provided with a pair of arms for holding both side faces of a container 1 from the peripheral direction of a rotary table 10, a tip end roller 20a mounted at a tip, a stopper 20c for stopping the side face, a stopper adjusting knob 20d for adjusting a stopper position, a pair of gears provided rotatively in the opposite direction of an arm spindle and a cam lifting cylinder 30 provided fixedly on a base panel frame. In addition, a holding mechanism 15 comprising a movable holder provided with an open/close cam 31 for rotating an L-shaped bracket 20e to rotate the gears 20x and to open the arms 20 and an bias spring 20z for rotating the inside gears 20x to close the arms 20 is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention is a filling system that efficiently and continuously performs a series of operations of grasping an empty container charged from the upstream side, filling a predetermined liquid, then capping and discharging the container to a downstream process. About. Specifically, the outer peripheral part of the rotary table is equally divided, and a gripping mechanism is provided on each of the outer peripheral parts to hold and hold the container in the direction of the rotation axis, and the container is gripped, filled, capped and discharged during one turn of the rotary table. The present invention relates to a container gripping mechanism of a filling system. In particular, the present invention relates to a gripping mechanism including an arm pair that can handle any shape of an empty container.

  Conventionally, in a container gripping mechanism of a filling system equipped with a rotary table, a plurality of N-divided arc-shaped centers are provided in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table, each having a notch corresponding to the vertical cross-sectional profile of the container shaft, An outer guide was provided outside the rotary table so that the container did not fly out. An example is shown in FIG.

  Here, the arrow indicates the insertion port of the container. If the container is inserted at a phase where the notch of the rotary table or wheel appears, the arrow is sandwiched between the rotary table or wheel and the outer guide and rotated. This is a gripping mechanism in which liquid injection and capping processes are performed during this rotation, and the containers are discharged by moving them with an air cylinder discharge lever at the phase where the containers appear on the accumulation table.

  Usually, the rotary table or wheel as described above is intermittently operated, while a station for inserting and discharging the container is provided on the substrate frame of the table, and a filling device and a capping device are provided at the intermediate station. Thus, as described above, a filling device for filling the empty container with a liquid and capping the liquid is configured.

  That is, in order to place a plurality of containers on one apparatus, it is necessary to manufacture a rotary table or wheel and an outer guide that match each container shape. If the shape of the container changes a little, there is a problem that it takes time and cost to manufacture the wheel and the outer guide each time and assembly adjustment time of the mechanism. Further, there is a problem that the outer guide and the container are rubbed and scratched when they come into contact with each other.

  Patent Document 1 is an invention of a highly versatile bottle filling device that is compatible with PET bottles of various sizes and shapes, and a container is transferred from a PET bottle transfer mechanism to a bottle capping device, and further from the bottle capping device to the transfer device. Next, the bottle is transferred to the bin capping device main body through the bin holding body, and the bin is paid out. However, this mechanism requires 5 rotating shafts and is a very complicated filling device.

JP 2002-104587 A (2nd and 3rd pages, FIG. 1)

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a movable gripping mechanism capable of gripping a container regardless of the shape and size of the container by placing a plurality of containers on a single rotating table. It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient filling system that is provided and performs liquid injection and capping work steps in one round of the table.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the container gripping mechanism of the filling system of the present invention sequentially fills an empty container to be charged with a predetermined liquid, capping and discharging it to a downstream work process. The outer periphery is divided into a plurality of equally spaced N sections, and in each section, a gripping mechanism is provided for gripping the container upright in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotary table. The rotary table is intermittently rotated. A container insertion device, a liquid supply and filling device, a capper device, and a discharge device are arranged at predetermined positions on the lower peripheral substrate frame. In a filling system that grips, fills, capping, and discharges containers at each position,
The gripping mechanism includes an arm pair that sandwiches both sides of the container from the circumferential direction of the rotary table, and a tip roller attached to the tip of the arm pair,
When the container is inserted from the front end side of the arm pair to the center of the rotary table between the arm pair, a stopper that stops the container radial direction center side surface, a stopper adjustment knob that adjusts the stopper position,
A pair of support shafts provided at one end of the arm pair in the center direction of the table, and a pair of gears provided on the support shafts to rotate in directions opposite to each other;
An L-shaped bracket provided to be connected to one gear side of the gear pair, and a bearing for receiving a cam provided on the other end of the L-shaped bracket;
An elevating cylinder fixedly disposed on the substrate frame, and an arm connected to the elevating cylinder and contacting the bearing and moving the bearing as the cylinder is raised to rotate the L-shaped bracket to rotate the gear pair. An opening and closing cam to open the pair,
A movable holder having at least an urging spring between the arm pair and rotating the gear pair inwardly so as to close the arm pair when the elevating cylinder is in an initial state of cylinder lowering; Features.

The predetermined positions on the substrate frame on the lower periphery of the turntable include positions (A) where the empty container insertion device inserts between the arm pair by the empty container gripping control hand, and the liquid The position where the piston-type filling device injects into the empty container with the nozzle via the nozzle lifting and lowering device (B), the position where the capping device capping the filling container mouth (C), and the container is discharged onto the accumulation table by the discharge lever Arranged in the order of the work process at the position (D)
Each gripping mechanism that rotates on the rotary table receives the container at position (A), performs operations at positions (B) and (C), and automatically discharges the container at position (D) at the end of one rotation. The opening / closing cam of the elevating cylinder is disposed so as to be in a position for opening the arm pair at the position (D),
Each rotating gripping mechanism is characterized in that the arm pair is automatically opened by the opening / closing cam at the position (D), the container is pushed out by the discharge lever, the arm pair is automatically closed by returning to the position (A).

  The container gripping mechanism of the filling system according to the present invention is a movable holder, and a plurality of sets are provided along the outer periphery of the rotary table, and each container holds the upright container by an arm pair. Even if the size and shape of the cross-section in the vertical direction change, if it can be inserted between the arm pair, it can be gripped, and a versatile filling system corresponding to the container can be obtained.

  Furthermore, if the stopper adjustment knob is used, the gripping position by the pair of container arms can be adjusted so that the mouth of the container is positioned at the center of the filling device and the gripping can be ensured. Further, the container is not rubbed or scratched.

  The rotary table is operated intermittently, and the plurality of sets of container gripping mechanisms can efficiently operate the process of container insertion, filling, capping, and discharging in one rotation while changing the phase.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a container gripping mechanism of the filling system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a filling system provided with a container gripping mechanism of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of a filling system provided with the container gripping mechanism of the present invention.

  In the figure, 1 is a container, 10 is a rotary table, 11 is a central axis, and 15 is a gripping mechanism (movable holder). In this embodiment, the gripping mechanisms 15 are arranged on the rotary table 10 at regular intervals of 8 sets every 45 degrees on the circumference.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes an arm pair of the gripping mechanism 15. Reference numeral 20a denotes a tip roller at the tip of the arm pair.

  Details of the gripping mechanism 15 are shown in FIGS. Reference numeral 20b denotes a pin that holds the tip roller 20a. Reference numeral 20c denotes a tip roller 20a that holds the container 1 when the container 1 is inserted between the arm pair 20, and holds the container 1 so that the mouth of the container 1 is at the center of the filling nozzle. It is a stopper that matches the position required for this.

  The position of the stopper 20c can be adjusted every time the container shape changes. 20d is the stopper adjustment knob. The stopper 20c is provided with an elongated hole, and the stopper 20c is fixed to the rotary table 10 with a stopper adjusting knob 20d at a position according to the size of the container.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an adjustment state of the stopper adjustment knob 20d. That is, FIG. 5 shows a movable holder gripping mechanism 15 corresponding to changes in the shape and size of the container 1.

  5A shows a case where the container 1 is square, FIG. 5B shows a case where the container 1 is flat, and FIG. 5C shows a case where the container 1 is round.

  The position of the tip roller 20a of the arm pair 20 with respect to the container 1 is outside the center axis, and the stopper 20c is adjusted by the stopper adjustment knob 20d so that the mouth of the container 1 is positioned at the center of the nozzle of the center filling device. Indicates that

Reference numeral 20x denotes a gear pair connected to the arm support shaft 20y of the arm pair 20. The gear pair 20x engages with the gears and rotates in opposite directions. When one of the gear pair 20x is rotated, the arm pair 20 can be opened and closed depending on the rotation direction.

  The arm pair 20 is provided with a biasing spring 20z between the arm pair 20 so that the arm pair 20 is closed in a natural state.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a cam raising / lowering cylinder connected to an opening / closing cam 31 used for opening / closing the arm pair 20. The cam elevating cylinder 30 is fixedly disposed on the substrate frame 90 on the lower side of the rotary table 10.

  On the other hand, in order to receive the opening / closing cam 31 and rotate the gear pair 20x, an L-shaped bracket 20e is further connected to the arm support shaft 20y on one side of the arm pair 20, and the opening / closing of the L-shaped bracket 20e A bearing 20f is provided for receiving the force of the cam 31 and rotating it around the arm support shaft 20y of the L-shaped bracket 20e. The cam mechanism is illustrated in detail in FIG.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 40 denotes a nozzle lifting device, 41 denotes a nozzle, and 50 denotes a piston-type filling device. The nozzle lifting device 40 is fixed on the substrate frame 90, and the piston filling device 50 is fixed on the side surface of the substrate frame 90. In the present embodiment, two sets of the nozzle lifting device 40 and the piston-type filling device 50 are provided.

  (A), (B), (C), and (D) in the figure indicate positions where the rotating gripping mechanism 15 on the rotary table 10 operates with the apparatus fixed on each substrate frame 90. .

  Position (A) indicates the empty container insertion position. The empty container 1 is inserted with the arm pair 20 closed, and the outer surface of the container is gripped by the gripping mechanism 15 that has just rotated at that position.

  That is, the position (A) is a position where the container insertion device 35 is inserted between the arm pair 20 by the grip control band of the empty container 1.

  Next, the position (B) is a position where the piston filling device 50 injects the liquid to be injected into the empty container with the nozzle 41 via the nozzle lifting device 40.

  The position (C) is a position where a cap is supplied from the cap chute 61 by the capper device 60 to the mouth of the filled container.

  The position (D) is a position where the air cylinder 72 is driven to move the discharge lever 71 and the capped containers are discharged to the accumulation table 70. Each container 1 is slid on the traveling table 80 while moving between the positions (A) to (D).

  Next, the work flow will be described. Each gripping mechanism 15 that intermittently operates on the rotary table 10 receives and grips a container from the empty container insertion device controlled by the control unit 100 of the filling system at the position (A) during the intermittent operation. When that time ends, the 45-degree turntable 10 rotates.

  In the intermittent time, at the position (A), the next gripping mechanism 15 performs an operation of receiving the container.

  There are two positions (B). At each position (B), the controller 100 of the filling system operates the piston-type filling device 50 at the two positions (B) simultaneously every second intermittent time to raise and lower the nozzle. In the apparatus 40, the nozzle 41 is inserted into the empty container 1 at the position (B) and injected.

  Since filling can be performed at two filling positions (B), the container filling time can be ½ of one place. When the filling speed is not required, different liquids are set in the two piston filling devices 50, and filling is performed by selecting which liquid is filled by the control unit 100 of the filling system. Can be switched by small lot units.

  At the position (C), the capper device 60 is controlled by the control unit 100 of the filling system, and the closing operation is performed with the cap supplied from the cap chute 61 to the mouth of the filling container gripped by the gripping mechanism 15.

  At the position (D), the capped filling container is operated by the command from the control unit 100 of the filling system, the air cylinder 72 is operated, the discharge lever 71 is moved, and the container 1 is pushed out to the accumulation table 70.

  Immediately before the push-out, the open / close cam 31 connected to the cam elevating cylinder 30 near the position (D) and disposed on the substrate frame 90 ascends, and below the arm support shaft 20 y penetrating the rotary table 10. The gear pair 20x is rotated by contacting the bearing 20f at the lower end of the L-shaped bracket 20e connected to the side gear pair 20x. (See Fig. 4 (b))

  Therefore, the arm pair 20 is in an open state, and an operation for smoothly discharging the container 1 is performed. In the embodiment of the present invention, the open / close cam 31 is moved up and down by the cam elevating cylinder 30. However, the open / close cam 31 is erected from the substrate frame 90 and contacts the bearing 20f at the position (D). Then, the opening and closing of the arm pair 20 may be controlled as a fixed cam having a height for rotating the gear pair 20x. (Not shown)

  The gripping mechanism 15 corresponding to the capping position (C) in the eight gripping mechanisms 15 in FIG. 1 is not shown for illustrating the rotary table 10 and the gripping mechanism 15 to show the cam elevating cylinder 30. Further, the stopper adjustment knob 20d of the gripping mechanism 15 at the position (B) is not shown in order to show the adjustment knob mechanism below it. Furthermore, the gripping mechanism 15 at the positions (B) to (C) grips the container 1, but the container 1 is not shown.

  The left side of the rotary table 10 in FIG. 1 is not shown to show the L-shaped bracket 20e on the lower side thereof.

  FIG. 2 and FIG. 6 are schematic views of a drive system unit of one embodiment that is located under the substrate frame 90 of the filling system and intermittently rotates the central axis 11 of the turntable 10. Here, 91 is a safety clutch, 92 is an index unit, 93 is a chain, 94 is a geared motor, 95 is a camshaft, 96 is a valve cam, 97 is an air valve, and 99 is a manual handle.

It is a top view of the filling system which has arrange | positioned the container holding | grip mechanism of this invention. It is a front view of a filling system provided with a container gripping mechanism of the present invention. It is a top view of the holding | grip mechanism of a filling system. The holding | grip mechanism of a filling system is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. The top view of the holding mechanism 15 of the movable holder corresponding to the change of the shape and size of the container 1 is shown. (A) is a case where the container 1 is a square shape, (b) is a case where the container 1 is flat (c ) Shows the case where the container 1 is round. It is a side view which shows the structure of the drive system part of a filling system. It is a top view which shows the container holding mechanism of the conventional filling system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 10 Turning table 11 Center axis 15 Grasp mechanism (movable holder)
20 Arm pair 20a End roller 20b Pin 20c Stopper 20d Stopper adjustment knob 20e L bracket 20f Bearing 20x Gear pair (gear)
20y arm spindle (bush case)
20z Energizing spring 30 Cam elevating cylinder 31 Opening / closing cam 35 Container insertion device 40 Nozzle elevating device 50 Piston type filling device 60 Capper device 70 Accumulation table 71 Discharge lever 72 Air cylinder 80 Traveling table 90 Substrate frame 91 Safety clutch 92 Index unit 93 Chain 94 Geared motor 95 Cam shaft 96 Valve cam 97 Air valve 99 Manual handle 100 Filling system control unit

Claims (2)

In order to sequentially fill the empty containers to be charged with predetermined liquid, capping and discharging them to the downstream work process, the outer peripheral portion with the rotary table is divided into a plurality of N intervals at equal intervals, A gripping mechanism for gripping the container upright in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotary table is provided, and the rotary table is intermittently rotated. On the other hand, the container insertion device and liquid supply are provided at predetermined positions on the substrate frame on the lower periphery of the rotary table In a filling system in which a filling device, a capper device, and a discharging device are arranged, and the N sets of gripping mechanisms are rotated so that the container is gripped, filled, capped, and discharged at each predetermined position during one round. ,
The gripping mechanism includes an arm pair that sandwiches both sides of the container from the circumferential direction of the rotary table, and a tip roller attached to the tip of the arm pair,
When the container is inserted from the front end side of the arm pair to the center of the rotary table between the arm pair, a stopper that stops the container radial direction center side surface, a stopper adjustment knob that adjusts the stopper position,
A pair of support shafts provided at one end of the arm pair in the center direction of the table, and a pair of gears provided on the support shafts to rotate in directions opposite to each other;
An L-shaped bracket provided to be connected to one gear side of the gear pair, and a bearing for receiving a cam provided on the other end of the L-shaped bracket;
An elevating cylinder fixedly disposed on the substrate frame, and an arm connected to the elevating cylinder and contacting the bearing and moving the bearing as the cylinder is raised to rotate the L-shaped bracket to rotate the gear pair. An opening and closing cam that opens the pair,
A movable holder having at least an urging spring between the arm pair and rotating the gear pair inwardly so as to close the arm pair when the elevating cylinder is in an initial state of cylinder lowering; A container gripping mechanism of the filling system characterized. The predetermined positions on the substrate frame on the lower peripheral side of the rotary table are a position (A) where an empty container insertion device inserts between the arm pair by a gripping control hand of the empty container, and the liquid is pistoned. Position (B) where the liquid filling device injects into the empty container with the nozzle via the nozzle lifting device, position (C) where the capping device caps the filling container mouth, and position where the container is discharged onto the accumulation table by the discharge lever (D) is arranged in order of work process,
Each gripping mechanism that rotates on the rotary table receives the container at position (A), performs operations at positions (B) and (C), and automatically discharges the container at position (D) at the end of one rotation. The opening / closing cam of the elevating cylinder is disposed so as to be in a position for opening the arm pair at the position (D),
Each rotating gripping mechanism automatically opens an arm pair by an opening / closing cam at a position (D), pushes out a container by a discharge lever, returns to the position (A), and automatically closes the arm pair. The container gripping mechanism of the filling system according to claim 1.

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