JP2007276850A - Cup supply method and cup supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cup supply method and cup supply system capable of effectively supplying cups to a conveyor or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The supply method, which enables the separation of each cup c from a cup unit S piling up a plurality of cups c in a vertical multistage layer, comprises the repetition of the step of retaining the cup c located at a second position from the lowest end so that an opening side of the cup c in the cup unit S faces below, the step of supplying the cup c retained at the lowest end in the cup unit S to the below by separating the cup from the other cups, the step of releasing the cup c retained at the lowest end in the cup unit S after retaining the cup c located at the second position from the lowest end in the cup unit S while the cup c is separated, and the step of supplying the cup c located at the lowest end in the cup unit S to the below by vertically descending and separating the cup. Thus, the cup c can be effectively supplied to the conveyor V or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cup supply method and a cup supply device, which are containers for manufacturing instant noodles in a cup.

Generally, in the automatic manufacturing process of instant noodles with cups, the noodles that have been fried in oil or heated by an indirect method and then cooled are sent to the cup supply process side by a conveyor, where the cups are sequentially supplied from the cup supply device. Then, it is sent to the cup reversing process, and is reversed together with the covered cup so as to be sequentially accommodated in the cup.
In such a conventional cup supply process, for example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a cup unit S in which a plurality of cups c are stacked in upper and lower stages is set on a conveyor V, and a dedicated cup supply device is provided from the lower end thereof. The cups c are separated one by one by R and are sequentially supplied to the conveyor V side.

  In other words, the cup supply device R has a structure in which a suction cup b and a suction mechanism (not shown) are provided at the tip of an arm a that is rotatable and expandable about a rotation axis p. 6 (1), the suction cup b at the tip of the arm a is positioned at the lower end of the cup unit S, and then the arm a is extended to connect the suction cup b to the cup as shown in FIG. The unit S is pressed against the bottom surface of the lowermost cup c, and at the same time, the suction mechanism (not shown) makes the inside of the negative pressure state to adsorb the lowermost cup c. Only the lowermost cup c is separated from the cup unit S as shown in FIG. Thereafter, with only the lowermost cup c separated and adsorbed, the arm a is swung downward by 180 ° around the rotation axis p as shown in FIGS. After stopping the cup c at the tip of the arm a just above the noodle M on the conveyor V, the arm a is extended again and the noodle M is covered with the cup c as shown in FIG. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7 (7), the suction cup b at the tip of the arm a is opened by the suction mechanism (not shown) to separate the cup c, and then the arm a is contracted and turned to return to the original position. After returning to, the cup c of the cup unit S is sequentially supplied to the conveyor V by repeating the same operation.

And the cup c in which the noodles M are housed in this way is then automatically filled with soup, kaki, etc. for each cup c, and then sent to the sealing process, etc. After the lid is put on the opening of the cup c and sealed by an automatic lid mounting apparatus or the like as shown, the whole is packaged and shipped with a heat shrink film or the like.
JP-A-6-312708

By the way, in the cup supply device R having such a mechanism, as described above, every time one cup is supplied, the arm a is extended → suctioned by the suction cup b → the arm a is extended → the arm a is turned → the arm a is extended. There is a problem in that work efficiency (cup supply efficiency) is poor because operations such as removal of the suction cup b, expansion and contraction of the arm a, and turning of the arm a must be sequentially repeated.
Moreover, since it is necessary to combine the suction mechanism of the suction cup b, the expansion / contraction mechanism of the arm a, the turning mechanism and the like in order to realize these series of operations, the apparatus R itself becomes complicated and its maintenance is not easy.
Therefore, the present invention has been devised to effectively solve such problems, and its main purpose is a novel cup supply method and cup supply device that can efficiently supply cups to a conveyor or the like. Is to provide.

In order to solve the problem, the cup supply method according to claim 1,
A method of separating and supplying the cups one by one from a cup unit in which a plurality of cups are stacked in upper and lower stages,
A first holding step A for holding the cup located second from the lowermost end of the cup unit with a first holding member so that the opening side of the cup unit of the cup unit faces downward; The first cup supply step B in which the cup located at the lowermost end of the held cup unit is vertically lowered by the separating member as it is, separated from the cup unit and supplied below, and the cup is supplied in the cup supply step B. A second holding step C for releasing the holding of the lowermost cup by the first holding member after holding the cup located second from the lowermost end of the separated cup unit by the second holding member; Then, the cup located at the lowermost end of the cup unit held in the second holding step C is lowered vertically by the separating member as it is, and the cup unit is And a second cup supply step D supplied thereunder separately from, and is characterized in sequentially repeating the steps of the to D.

Moreover, the cup supply method according to claim 2 comprises:
2. The cup supply method according to claim 1, wherein a flange is provided at an opening of each cup, the cup unit is held using the flange, and each cup is separated from the cup unit and below the cup unit. It is characterized by supplying to.
On the other hand, the cup supply device according to claim 3 is:
A device that separates and supplies the cups one by one from a cup unit in which a plurality of cups are stacked in upper and lower stages,
Cup holding means for alternately holding the cup located second from the lowermost end of the cup unit so that the opening side of the cup of the cup unit faces downward, and the lowermost end of the cup unit held by the cup holding means And a cup separating means for vertically lowering the cup positioned at the position, separating the cup from the cup unit, and supplying the cup unit below the cup unit.

Moreover, the cup supply device according to claim 4,
The cup supply device according to claim 3, wherein a flange is provided at the opening of each cup,
The cup holding means holds the cup unit using the flange, and the cup separating means separates each cup from the cup unit using the flange and supplies the cup below the cup unit. It is characterized by being.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the cup positioned second from the lowermost end of the cup unit is held by the first holding member so that the opening side of the cup of the cup unit faces downward, and then the lowermost end Since the cup located is lowered vertically by the separating member, separated from the cup unit and supplied below, the cup is supplied to the conveyor etc. more efficiently than the conventional method as described above. can do.

In addition, after the cup located second from the lowermost end of the cup unit in a state where the lowermost cup is separated in this way is held by the second holding member, the lowermost cup by the first holding member After releasing the holding, the cup located at the lowermost end of the cup unit held in the second holding step C is vertically lowered by the separating member as it is to be separated from the cup unit and supplied below the cup unit. Therefore, the subsequent cups can be efficiently supplied one after another in the same manner.
Moreover, since it is not necessary to use the suction mechanism of the suction cup b, the expansion / contraction mechanism of the arm a, the turning mechanism and the like as in the conventional system in order to realize these series of operations, the configuration can be simplified.

According to the invention of claim 2, a flange is provided in the opening of each cup, and the cup unit is held using the flange, or separated from the cup unit and supplied below the cup unit. These operations can be easily and reliably realized.
According to the invention of claim 3, as in the invention of claim 1, the cup can be supplied very efficiently as compared with the conventional supply device as described above.
According to the invention of claim 4, as in the invention of claim 2, the holding of the cup unit and the separating / supplying operation of the cup from the cup unit can be realized easily and reliably.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 to 5 show an embodiment of a cup supply device 100 according to the present invention.
1 and FIG. 2 are side views of the cup supply device 100 as seen from the front and back of the traveling direction of the conveyor V, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are views of the cup supply device 100 as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the conveyor V. A side view and FIG. 5 are schematic plan views of the cup supply device 100.

  As shown in the figure, the cup supply device 100 separates the cup c from the cup unit S one by one while holding the cup unit S in which a plurality of bottomed cylindrical cups c are stacked in multiple stages. A cup holding means 10 for holding the cup unit S so that the opening side of the cup c of the cup unit S faces downward, and the cup unit S held by the cup holding means 10. The cup separating means 20 is mainly composed of cup separating means 20 that lowers the cup c located at the lower end as it is, vertically separates it from the cup unit S and supplies it onto the conveyor V below the cup unit S.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the cup holding means 10 is further composed of a first holding member 12 and a second holding member 14, and these two holding members 12, 14. The cup units S are held alternately.
That is, first, the first holding member 12 has a pair of claw members 12a, 12a formed in an L-shaped cross section so as to face each other across the cup unit S, and cams provided on the claw members 12a, 12a, respectively. It consists of members 12b and 12b and connecting members 12c and 12c for connecting them, and the claw members 12a and 12a move simultaneously in the radial direction of the cup unit S as the cam members 12b and 12b rotate. It is like that.

  Similarly, the second holding member 14 has a pair of claw members 14a and 14a formed in an L-shaped cross section so as to face each other with the cup unit S therebetween, and cams provided on the claw members 14a and 14a, respectively. It consists of members 14b and 14b and connecting members 14c and 14c that connect them, and the claw members 14a and 14a move simultaneously in the radial direction of the cup unit S as the cam members 14b and 14b rotate. It is like that.

  And the distance when these claw members 12a, 12a, 14a, 14a are separated from each other is longer than at least the outer diameter of the flange portion cf provided in the opening of the cup c, On the contrary, the distance when these claw members 12a, 12a, 14a, 14a are closest to each other is set to be shorter than at least the outer diameter of the flange portion cf provided in the opening of the cup c.

  Further, the cam members 12b, 12b on the first holding member 12 side and the cam members 14b, 14b on the second holding member 14 side are connected up and down by the connecting belts 13 and 13, respectively, and interlock with each other. However, as shown in the figure, the cam members 12b, 12b and the cam members 14b, 14b are attached in opposite directions by 180 °, so that the claw members 12a, 12a on the first holding member 12 side and the second holding member The claw members 14a and 14a on the 14 side operate so as to alternately approach and separate from each other.

That is, when one claw member 12a, 12a moves in the proximity direction, the other claw member 14a, 14a moves in the separation direction, and when the claw member 12a, 12a moves in the separation direction, the other claw member 14a and 14a move in the proximity direction.
In addition, the black dot in the drawing indicates the connection (engagement) position of the connection members 12c, 12c, 14c, 14c and the members 12a, 12a, 14a, 14a, 12b, 12b, 14b, 14b. .
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the cup separating means 20 lowers the cup c located at the lowermost end of the cup unit S held by the cup holding means 10 downward and perpendicularly. It is separated from S and supplied onto the conveyor V below it.

  That is, the cup separating means 20 includes a pair of claw members 20a, 20a formed in an L-shaped cross section so as to face each other across the cup unit S so as not to interfere with the cup holding means 10 described above, and the claw members Cam members 20b and 20b provided on 20a and 20a, connecting members 20c and 20c for connecting these members, crank members 20d, and connecting members for connecting the crank members 20d and the claw members 20a and 20a, respectively. As the cam members 20b and 20b rotate, the claw members 12a and 12a move freely close to each other in the radial direction of the cup unit S, and as the crank member 20d rotates, The claw members 20a and 20a are moved up and down simultaneously.

  And the distance when these claw members 20a, 20a are farthest from each other is longer than at least the outer diameter of the flange portion cf provided in the opening of the cup c. The distance when the claw members 20a and 20a are closest to each other is at least shorter than the outer diameter of the flange portion cf provided in the opening of the cup c.

  That is, even if the claw members 20a and 20a are moved up and down in the state where they are farthest from each other, the tips of the claw members 20a and 20a do not touch the cup unit S, but the claw members 20a and 20a are When this is moved up and down in a separated state, the tips of the claw members 20a and 20a are hooked on the cup unit S by the flange portion cf of the cup c.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, etc., the crank member 20d and the cam members 20b and 20b are connected by connecting belts 20f and 20f, respectively, and interlock with each other at a predetermined cycle. Moreover, the black dot in the figure indicates the connection (engagement) position of the connection members 20c, 20c, 20e and the members 20a, 20a, 20b, 20b, 20d.

Next, a cup supply method using the cup supply device 100 having such a configuration will be described.
First, as shown in FIGS. 1 (1) to (3), the claw members 12a and 12a of the first holding member 12 start from the lowermost end of the cup unit S so that the opening side of the cup c of the cup unit S faces downward. The flange portion cf of the cup c positioned second is held (first holding step A).
Next, with respect to the cup unit S in the state where the cup c positioned second from the lowermost end is held in this way, the cup separating means 20 of the cup separating means 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 (1) to 4 (4). The claw member 20a lowers the cup c positioned at the lowermost end as it is, separates it from the cup unit S, and supplies it onto the conveyor V below (first cup supply step B).

  Next, when the first cup c is separated in this way, the claw members 14a, 14a of the second holding member 14 are moved to the cup unit S side as shown in FIG. Is positioned below the cup unit S, and then the claw members 12a, 12a of the first holding member 12 are moved away from the cup unit S side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2 (4), the holding of the cup unit S by the claw members 12a, 12a of the first holding member 12 is released, and the cup unit S falls vertically as it is and the lowermost end thereof. The cup c is held by the claw members 14 a and 14 a of the second holding member 14. Then, as shown in FIG. 5 (5), the claw members 12a, 12a of the first holding member 12 are moved to the cup unit S side, and the tip of the cup c is located second from the lowest end of the cup unit S. Then, the claw members 14a and 14a of the second holding member 14 are moved away from the cup unit S side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6 (6), after holding the cup c positioned second from the lowermost end of the cup unit S in a state where the first cup c is separated, the holding of the lowermost cup c is released. (Second holding step C).

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 (5) and (6), simultaneously with the operation of the second holding step C, the claw member 20a of the cup separating means 20 moves upward while moving away from it, and FIG. ), The tip of the claw member 20a is next positioned on the flange cf of the cup c positioned at the lowermost end, and the cup c positioned at the lowermost end of the cup unit S is then vertically moved by the same operation. The cup unit S is separated from the cup unit S and supplied to the lower side (second cup supply step D). Thereafter, the cups C of the cup unit S are successively transferred to the conveyor V by sequentially repeating these steps AD. Will be supplied to the side.

  As described above, the method of the present invention holds the cup c positioned second from the lowermost end of the cup unit S with the first holding member so that the opening side of the cup c of the cup unit S faces downward. Since the cup located at the lowest end is lowered as it is, separated from the cup unit S and supplied below, the cup can be supplied very efficiently as compared with the conventional method as described above. .

In addition, after holding the cup c positioned second from the lowermost end of the cup unit S in a state where the lowermost cup c is separated in this way, the holding of the lowermost cup c is released and then held. Since the cup c positioned at the lowermost end of the cup unit S is lowered as it is, separated from the cup unit and supplied below, the subsequent cups c are also supplied efficiently one after another. can do.
Further, since it is not necessary to use the suction mechanism of the suction cup b, the expansion / contraction mechanism of the arm a, the turning mechanism, etc., as in the conventional system in order to realize these series of operations, the apparatus and operation can be simplified. .

  In the present embodiment, the cup separating means 20 is composed of a pair of claw members 20a, 20a, which are separated from each other by sandwiching the cup unit S therebetween, thereby separating the lowermost cup c from the cup unit S. However, the cup separating means 20 is not limited to such a configuration, and as another configuration, for example, a planar U-shaped member is provided with respect to the cup unit S in the radial direction (horizontal direction). The cup-shaped member is provided so as to be able to protrude and retract on the cup unit S side, and the U-shaped member is lowered as it is while being hooked on the flange cf of the cup c so as to be separated from the cup unit S and supplied.

It is the side view which looked at the cup supply apparatus which concerns on this invention from the advancing direction before and behind the conveyor V, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows the cup holding operation by a cup holding means. It is the side view which looked at the cup supply apparatus which concerns on this invention from the advancing direction before and behind the conveyor V, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows the cup holding operation by a cup holding means. It is the side view which looked at the cup supply apparatus which concerns on this invention from the direction orthogonal to the advancing direction of the conveyor V, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows cup separation operation | movement by a cup separation means. It is the side view which looked at the cup supply apparatus which concerns on this invention from the direction orthogonal to the advancing direction of the conveyor V, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows cup separation operation | movement by a cup separation means. It is a plane schematic diagram of the cup supply device concerning the present invention, and is an explanatory view showing cup holding and separation operation by cup holding means and cup separation means. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conventional cup supply method and apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conventional cup supply method and apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Cup supply apparatus 10 ... Cup holding means 12 ... 1st holding member 12a ... Claw member 12b ... Cam member 12c ... Connection member 14 ... 2nd holding member 14a ... Claw member 14b ... Cam member 14c ... Connection member 20 ... Cup separation Means 20a ... Claw member 20b ... Cam member 20c ... Connecting member 20d ... Crank member 20e ... Connecting member 20f ... Connecting belt V ... Conveyor S ... Cup unit c ... Cup cf ... Flange

Claims (4)

A method of separating and supplying the cups one by one from a cup unit in which a plurality of cups are stacked in upper and lower stages,
A first holding step A for holding the cup positioned second from the lowermost end of the cup unit with the first holding member so that the opening side of the cup of the cup unit faces downward;
A first cup supply step B in which the cup positioned at the lowermost end of the cup unit held in the first holding step A is vertically lowered by the separating member as it is to be separated from the cup unit and supplied below the cup unit;
After holding the cup located second from the lowermost end of the cup unit in the state where the cup is separated in the cup supply step B, the lowermost cup is held by the first holding member. A second holding step C to be released;
A second cup supply step D in which the cup located at the lowermost end of the cup unit held in the second holding step C is vertically lowered by the separating member as it is to be separated from the cup unit and supplied below the cup unit; Have
A cup supply method, wherein the steps A to D are sequentially repeated. The cup supply method according to claim 1,
A cup supply method characterized in that a flange is provided at the opening of each cup, the cup unit is held using the flange, and each cup is separated from the cup unit and supplied below the cup unit. . A device that separates and supplies the cups one by one from a cup unit in which a plurality of cups are stacked in upper and lower stages,
Cup holding means for alternately holding a cup located second from the lowermost end of the cup unit so that the opening side of the cup of the cup unit faces downward;
A cup separating means for vertically lowering the cup located at the lowermost end of the cup unit held by the cup holding means and separating it from the cup unit and supplying it below the cup unit;
A cup supply device comprising: The cup supply device according to claim 3, wherein
A flange is provided at the opening of each cup,
The cup holding means holds the cup unit using the flange,
The cup separating device is configured to separate each cup from the cup unit using the flange and to supply the cup downward.

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