JP2007326676A - Container controller and facility related to manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely stop a container under conveyance while preventing breakage of the container. <P>SOLUTION: This container controller is provided with a first container control part 100 and a second container control part 200 for controlling conveyance of the container 10 by a conveyor 6 and shutting-off of conveyance of the container 10 and a control device 30 for controlling the first and second container control parts. The second container control part 200 is arranged on the upstream side on a conveyance path of the conveyor 6 of the first container control part 100, which includes a first control member 11 having a spiral channel engaging with the container in a part of a side face and arranged so as to be driven centered on an axis being substantially parallel with the conveyance path. When allowing conveyance of the container by the conveyor 6, a part without the spiral channel on the side face of the first control member 11 is directed to a side part of the conveyance path. When shutting off conveyance of the container by the conveyor 6, the first control member 11 is turned to engage the container with the spiral channel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a container control device and manufacturing related equipment, and more particularly, to a container control device that controls conveyance of a container and manufacturing related equipment including the container control device.

  There is a filling device (filler) for filling a container with a liquid such as beer. A container is supplied to a filling device along a conveyance path by a conveyor (conveyance device). The supply of the container to the filling device and the supply stop are performed by a container control device provided on the transport path.

Patent Document 1 discloses a container control device that controls conveyance and stopping of a container. This container control device has a spiral groove that engages with a container in a part of a side surface thereof, and a control member that is arranged to be rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the container conveyance path, and the control And a drive unit that controls conveyance and stoppage of the container by driving the member. When the drive unit allows the conveyance of the container by the conveyor, the control member is rotated so that the portion of the side surface of the control member where the spiral groove is not provided faces the side of the conveyance path, When the conveyance of the container by the conveyor is interrupted, the container is stopped by rotating the control member so that the spiral groove is engaged with the container and stopping the control member in that state.
JP 2004-26434 A

  According to the container control apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the container can be reliably stopped by engaging the spiral groove with the container when the conveyance of the container by the conveyor is interrupted.

  However, on the other hand, when the conveyance speed of the container by the conveyor is increased, when the container is stopped by the spiral groove, a large pressing pressure is applied to the container engaged with the spiral groove by the subsequent container. Can join. With this pressing force, the teeth between the spiral grooves may bite into the container body and damage the container.

  The present invention has been made with the above problem recognition as an opportunity, and for example, an object of the present invention is to reliably stop a container being transported while preventing the container from being damaged.

  The 1st side surface of this invention is related with the container control apparatus which controls the container currently conveyed along the conveyance path | route by the conveyor. The container control device includes a first and a second container control unit that are arranged in the conveyance path and controls conveyance and blocking of the containers by the conveyor, and a controller that controls the first and second container control units. Prepare. The second container control unit is disposed upstream of the first container control unit on the transport path. The first container control unit includes a control member that has a spiral groove that engages with a container in a part of a side surface and is arranged to be driven around an axis substantially parallel to the transport path, When allowing the conveyance of the container by the conveyor, when the portion of the side surface of the control member where the spiral groove is not provided is directed to the side of the conveyance path, and the conveyance of the container by the conveyor is interrupted, The control member is rotated so that the spiral groove engages with the container. The controller, when blocking the conveyance of the container by the conveyor, blocks the conveyance of the container by the first container control unit after blocking the conveyance of the container by the second container control unit.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the controller allows the container to be transported by the conveyor, after the container is shut off by the first container controller, the controller controls the container by the second container controller. It is preferable to release the blocking.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the second container control unit includes a second control member that blocks conveyance of the container by the conveyor by sandwiching the container.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second control member has a surface that contacts the container, and the surface may be a flat surface or a smooth curved surface.

  The 2nd side surface of this invention is related with the manufacturing related facility which handles a container. The manufacturing-related equipment includes a conveyor that conveys containers along a conveyance path, a processing device that takes in and processes containers conveyed by the conveyor with a timing screw, and the conveyor continuously along the conveyance path. First and second container control units arranged in the conveyance path so as to control the containers being conveyed, and a controller for controlling the first and second container control units. The second container control unit is disposed upstream of the first container control unit on the transport path. The first container control unit includes a control member that has a spiral groove that engages with the container in a part of the side surface, and is arranged to be driven around an axis substantially parallel to the transport path, When the container is allowed to be transported by the conveyor, when a portion of the side surface of the control member that is not provided with the spiral groove is directed to the side of the transport path, and the transport of the container by the conveyor is blocked. The control member is rotated so that the spiral groove engages with the container. When the controller interrupts container transport by the conveyor, the controller blocks the container transport by the first container controller after the second container controller interrupts the container transport.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the controller allows the container to be transported by the conveyor, after the container is shut off by the first container controller, the controller controls the container by the second container controller. It is preferable to release the blocking.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the processing device preferably includes a filling device for filling a container with a liquid.

  According to the present invention, for example, a container being transported can be reliably stopped while preventing damage to the container.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the following, an example in which the container control device of the present invention is applied to a device that controls conveyance and stoppage of a can will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to conveyance of containers other than cans (for example, bottles, plastic bottles, etc.) The present invention can also be applied to a device that controls stopping. Moreover, although the example which has arrange | positioned the container control apparatus to the conveyance path | route for supplying a can with respect to the filling apparatus which fills cans with liquids, such as beer below, this invention is processing apparatuses other than a filling apparatus. (For example, a labeling device that attaches a label to a container such as a bottle, an inspection device that inspects a container such as a can or a bottle, etc.) can be used by being disposed in a conveyance path for supplying the container.

  1 and 2 are views showing a container control device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and an application example thereof (manufacturing-related equipment for filling a can with a liquid such as beer). FIG. 1 shows a state where the can is supplied to the filling device, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the supply of the can to the filling device is stopped by the container control device.

  The container control device of this embodiment includes a first container control unit 100 and a second container control unit 200. The 1st container control part 100 and the 2nd container control part 200 are arranged in the conveyance path for conveying a can to the filling device which fills can 10 with liquids, such as beer. The 2nd container control part 200 is arrange | positioned rather than the 1st container control part 100 in the upstream of a conveyance path | route. The filling device includes, for example, a filling unit 1, a star wheel 2, a timing screw 3, and the like. The first container control unit 100 and the second container control unit 200 are controlled by the controller 30.

  The can 10 is continuously transported along the transport path (portion indicated by “6”) by the conveyor 6 while being guided by the guide members 4a and 4b. The timing screw 3 and the star wheel 2 rotate in synchronization with the filling unit 1 for filling the can 10 with liquid. The timing screw 3 that is rotationally driven by the motor 16 has a helical engagement portion (represented from another viewpoint) that engages the side surface (body portion) of the cylindrical can 10 in order to take in and move the can 10. Then, the tooth | gear part or convex part between an engaging part and an engaging part) is provided over the perimeter. When the can 10 reaches the vicinity of the upstream end (inlet) of the timing screw 3, the can 10 engages with the helical engagement portion and is conveyed in the direction of the star wheel 2 in accordance with the rotation of the timing screw 3. . Here, the timing screw 3 and the star wheel 2 are synchronized so that the can 10 is passed to the engaging portion of the star wheel 2 that is recessed in a semicylindrical shape.

  When supplying the can 10 to the timing screw 3 (filling unit 1) along the conveyance path, the second container control unit 200 is released after the can restraint (stopped state) by the first container control unit 100 is released. The can's restraint by is released.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the half-screw type first control member 11 of the first container control unit 100 does not hinder the conveyance of the can 10 by the conveyor 6, that is, a helical engagement. The surface (portion guide surface) 11p on which the portion 11r is not formed is rotated by a drive unit (for example, a stepping motor) 13 so that the surface is directed toward the conveyance path (or the body of the can 10). State is maintained. In this state, the control member 11 can function as a guide member that guides the conveyance of the can 10. The rotation of the control member 11 here means the release of the restraint of the can by the control member 11.

  The second container control unit 200 includes a pair of control members 202a and 202b. The pair of control members 202a and 202b are driven by a drive unit (for example, an air cylinder) 204 so that a sufficient interval is provided between the pair of control members 202a and 202b so as not to hinder the conveyance of the can 10 by the conveyor 6. That state is maintained. The driving of the control members 202a and 202b here means the release of can restraint by the control members 202a and 202b.

  As described above, when the can 10 is supplied to the timing screw 3 (filling unit 1) along the conveyance path (when supply is started), after the can restraint by the first container control unit 100 is released, The restriction of the can by the second container control unit 200 is released. As a result, the subsequent can released from the restraint by the second container control unit 200 collides with the can in a state restrained by the first container control unit 100, that is, restrained by the first container control unit 100. Since an excessive pressing pressure is not applied to the can in the state in which it is applied, the phenomenon that the tooth portion of the first control member 11 bites into the body portion of the can is prevented.

  When it is necessary to stop the supply of the can 10 to the timing screw 3 (filling unit 1), the can is restrained (stopped) by the second container control unit 200, and then the can is restrained by the first container control unit 100 ( Stop. Thereby, since the can is stopped by the first container control unit 100 in a state where it is not pushed by the succeeding can, the phenomenon that the tooth portion of the first control member 11 bites into the body portion of the can is prevented.

  Specifically, first, the pair of second control members 202a and 202b of the second container control unit 200 is configured to stop the conveyance of the can 10 by the conveyor 6 by narrowing the interval between the pair of control members 202a and 202b. Driven by the drive unit (for example, air cylinder) 204, the state is maintained. Here, it is preferable that the surface where the pair of second control members 202a and 202b contact the can is configured as a flat surface or a smooth curved surface.

  Next, the half screw type control member 11 of the first container control unit 100 is typically 180 degrees so that the helical engagement portion 11r is engaged with the cylindrical surface of the can 10 by the drive unit 13. It is rotated. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the control member 11 is rotated 180 degrees from the state shown in FIG.

  The rotation operation of the first control member 11 by the drive unit 13 is performed between the can 10 being transported and the can 10 between the helical engaging portion 11r and the engaging portion 11r of the control member 11 or a convex portion. It is controlled so that the part is inserted, i.e., the surface of the engaging part matches the cylindrical surface of the can. At this time, since the can 10 to be stopped is restricted from moving in the transport direction by the helical teeth provided on the control member 11, the drive unit 13 resumes (starts) transport of the can 10 from the controller 30. ), The control member 11 is not moved back to the downstream side unless the control member 11 is returned to the transportable state.

  In addition, the can 10 moves along the spiral engaging portion 11r (or the tooth portion) of the control member 11 and moves from the transport state (transport speed) to the stop state along with the rotation operation. Is slowly stopped. In order to further enhance such an effect, when the can 10 is stopped, the drive unit 13 is controlled at a rotation speed such that the can 10 moves at a speed approximately equal to the conveyance speed by the conveyor 6 in the initial stage of the rotation operation. It is preferable to rotate the member 11 and then stop the rotation operation (which also stops the can 10) while gradually decreasing the rotation speed of the control member 11.

  The timing at which the drive unit 13 rotates the first control member 11 in order to stop the can 10 by the first control member 11 is controlled by the controller 30 according to the state of the timing screw 3. The sensor 35 can be configured to detect the rotation angle of the timing screw 3, for example. The information on the rotation angle of the timing screw 3 is, for example, a sensor indicating that a detected portion (for example, a mark or a protrusion) 3m provided on the shaft 3s rotating together with the timing screw 3 rotates to a detection area of the sensor 35. It can be obtained by detecting at 35. The rotation angle of the timing screw 3 indicates, for example, which direction around the rotation axis the detected portion 3s as the reference position is directed to. Here, the rotation angle of the timing screw 3 is information for specifying the position of the can 10 as a result because the position of the engaging portion or the tooth portion of the timing screw 3 is determined by the rotation angle. That is, the rotation angle of the timing screw 3 has a correlation with the position of the can 10 engaged with the timing screw 3, and further, the can 10 that engages with the engaging portion on the most upstream side (inlet side) of the timing screw 3. It has a correlation with the position of all subsequent cans 10 that are continuously arranged without gaps.

  Therefore, by detecting the rotation angle of the timing screw 3, the positions of all the cans 10 passing in front of the first control member 11 can be recognized. Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotation angle of the timing screw 3 is detected by the sensor 35, and based on the detection result, the first control member 11 is placed between the cans that are continuously conveyed along the conveyance path. The controller 30 operates the drive unit 13 to rotate the first control member 11 at the timing when the tooth portion (the portion between the engaging portions of the engaging portion) is inserted. Here, the controller 30 includes a delay unit 31 that delays the detection signal of the detected portion 3m by the sensor 35 and generates a drive signal to be provided to the drive unit 13, and the delay unit 31 can adjust the delay time. It is configured. By adjusting the delay time, it is possible to adjust the time delay from the detection of the detected portion 3m by the sensor 35 until the first control member 11 is rotated. By providing such an adjustable delay device 31, the timing for driving the first control member 11 can be easily adjusted, and the timing can be appropriately adjusted. Such adjustment can be performed, for example, while transporting a test can.

  The information indicating the state of the timing screw 3 can be obtained by, for example, detecting the position of the engaging portion and the tooth portion provided in the timing screw 3 with a sensor in addition to the method of detecting the rotation angle as described above. Can also be obtained.

  For example, the controller 30 may feedback-control the drive unit 13 based on the output of a detector (for example, a rotary encoder) 12 that detects the rotation angle of the first control member 11.

  As described above, when the supply of the container is started or restarted, the container control unit is released by releasing the container restriction by the second container control unit 200 after releasing the container restriction by the first container control unit 100. Since the subsequent container released from the restraint by the second container control unit 200 does not collide with the container restrained by 100, the tooth part of the control member 11 bites into the body of the container. Is prevented.

  When it is necessary to stop the supply of the container, the container is restrained (stopped) by the second container control unit 200, and then the container is restrained (stopped) by the first container control unit 100. Thereby, since the container can be stopped by the container control unit 100 in a state where it is not pushed by the subsequent container, a phenomenon in which the teeth of the first control member 11 bite into the body of the container is prevented.

  Moreover, according to the structure which rotates the 1st control member 11 according to states, such as a rotation angle of the timing screw 3, and stops the can 10, the can 10 can be stopped reliably. Further, the control member 11 is provided with a helical engagement portion 11r, and the engagement portion 11r is engaged with the can 10 to control the stop of the can 10, thereby preventing the can from being removed from the first control member 11. 10 can be stopped more reliably. And the 1st control member 11 according to states, such as a rotation angle of the timing screw 3, so that the tooth | gear part between the helical engaging part 11r and the engaging part 11r may be inserted between the can 10 and the can 10. FIG. The can 10 can be prevented from being damaged due to the tooth portion biting into the body of the can 10 by rotating the.

  In the vicinity of the first control member 11, a biting detection sensor (for example, the fact that the can has approached a predetermined area) is detected in order to detect when the tooth portion of the control member 11 has bitten into the can 10 due to malfunction or the like. (Proximity sensor to detect) 38 may be arranged. When biting is detected, the controller 30 issues an alarm or the like. If biting occurs, the supply of the can 10 to the timing screw 3 in that state is blocked by the first control member 11, so that the can 10 related to biting is supplied to the timing screw 3. , None or very rare.

  Regarding the resumption (start) timing of the supply of the can 10 that has been stopped, the rotational angle of the rotating timing screw 3 or the position of the helical engagement portion formed over the entire circumference of the timing screw 3 is taken into consideration. Should. More specifically, when the first control member 11 resumes (starts) the conveyance of the can 10 and the stopped top can 10 reaches the timing screw 3 through the conveyance path, The first control member 11 should be driven so that the formed helical tooth portion does not bite into the can 10.

  In this embodiment, a detector (for example, a rotary encoder) 15 that detects the rotation angle of the timing screw 3 as information on the position of the tooth portion of the timing screw 3 is provided, and based on the detection result by the detector 15, The controller 30 controls the drive unit 13 so that the can 10 is supplied to the timing screw 3 at an appropriate timing. That is, the first control member 11 has an angle that does not hinder the conveyance of the can 10 by the conveyor 6 so that the can 10 is supplied to the timing screw 3 at an appropriate timing based on the detection result by the detector 15 ( That is, it is rotated to the state shown in FIG. Such control includes, for example, the distance between the timing screw 3 and the first control member 11, the conveyance speed by the conveyor 6, the rotation speed of the timing screw 3, the rotation speed of the first control member 11, and the can 10 as the control member 11. This can be done in consideration of parameters such as the rotation angle of the first control member 11 (and the time required to rotate to such a rotation angle) when the restraint due to is released, and the delay of the control system.

  Next, an example of the preferable shape of the 1st control member 11 for controlling conveyance and a stop of a can is demonstrated, referring FIG. FIGS. 3A and 3B are a side view and a plan view of the first control member 11 in a state where the conveyance of the can 10 is stopped, respectively. The first control member 11 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is supported so as to be rotatable about a shaft 11 a arranged in parallel to the conveyance path of the can 10. The first control member 11 has a helical engagement portion 11r (and a tooth portion 11t between the engagement portions 11r) recessed in a semicircular shape in cross section in a part of the side surface (that is, a part of the entire circumference). A substantially cylindrical surface or linear guide surface 11p for conveyance is formed on the other part of the side surface.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a preferable shape of the first control member 11 from another viewpoint. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the first control member 11 viewed from the infinity in the axial direction. The first control member 11 of this embodiment is, for example, a cylindrical member having a radius r1 centered on the center line C1 and an engagement portion (preferably, a plane passing through the center line C1). (Engagement portion recessed in a semicircular shape in the cut cross-sectional view) is formed in a spiral shape, and then centered on a center line C2 shifted from the center line C1 from the columnar member on which the engagement portion is formed. It has a shape obtained by cutting out a portion in a cylindrical surface having a radius r3 (that is, a shape obtained by scraping a hatched portion from a columnar member in which a groove is formed). In this case, a substantially cylindrical or linear conveying guide surface 11p is formed on the right side in the drawing, and an engaging portion having a depth (r1-r2) is formed on the left side in the drawing. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the distance between the center line C1 and the center line C2 is (r3-r2), and the circle with the radius r1 and the circle with the radius r3 are in contact with each other on the left side in the drawing.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for example, the drive unit 13 rotates or rotates the center line C1 (a line decentered from the center line C2 of the first control member 11) as the rotation center 11a.

It is a figure which shows the manufacturing related equipment (at the time of supply of a can) of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing related equipment (at the time of a can stop) of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control member for controlling conveyance and a stop of a can. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control member for controlling conveyance and a stop of a can.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Filling part 2 Star wheel 3 Timing screw 3m Detected part 3s Rotating shaft 3s
4a, 4b Guide member 5a, 5b Stopper member 6 Conveyor (conveyance path)
10, 10a, 10b Can 10g Gap between can and can 11 First control member 11a Shaft 11p Transport guide surface 11r Groove 11t Teeth (convex part)
12 Detector (eg, rotary encoder)
13 Driver (eg, stepping motor)
15 Detector (eg rotary encoder)
16 motor 30 controller 31 delay device 35 sensor 38 biting detection sensor 41a, 41b stopper member 41c, 41d slip-off prevention portion 42a, 42b drive portion (for example, air cylinder, linear motor)
51 Stopper member 52 Drive part (for example, air cylinder, linear motor)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 1st container control part 200 2nd container control part 202a, 202b 2nd control member 204a, 204b Drive part (for example, air cylinder)

Claims (7)

A container control device that controls containers being conveyed along a conveyance path by a conveyor,
First and second container control units arranged in the conveyance path and controlling container conveyance and blocking by the conveyor;
A controller for controlling the first and second container controllers,
The second container control unit is disposed on the upstream side of the transport path from the first container control unit,
The first container control unit includes a control member that has a spiral groove that engages with a container in a part of a side surface and is arranged to be driven around an axis substantially parallel to the transport path, When allowing the conveyance of the container by the conveyor, when the portion of the side surface of the control member where the spiral groove is not provided is directed to the side of the conveyance path, and the conveyance of the container by the conveyor is interrupted, Rotating the control member so that the spiral groove engages with the container;
The controller, when blocking the conveyance of the container by the conveyor, blocks the conveyance of the container by the first container control unit after blocking the conveyance of the container by the second container control unit,
A container control device.   The controller, when allowing the container to be transported by the conveyor, releases the blocking of the container by the second container control unit after releasing the blocking of the container by the first container control unit. The container control device according to 1.   3. The container control device according to claim 1, wherein the second container control unit includes a second control member that interrupts conveyance of the containers by the conveyor by sandwiching the containers.   The container control device according to claim 3, wherein the second control member has a surface that contacts the container, and the surface is a flat surface or a smooth curved surface. Manufacturing related equipment that handles containers,
A conveyor for transporting containers along the transport path;
A processing device that takes in and processes containers conveyed by the conveyor with a timing screw;
First and second container control units arranged in the transport path so as to control containers that are continuously transported along the transport path by the conveyor;
A controller for controlling the first and second container controllers,
The second container control unit is disposed on the upstream side of the transport path from the first container control unit,
The first container control unit includes a control member that has a spiral groove that engages with the container in a part of the side surface, and is arranged to be driven around an axis substantially parallel to the transport path, When the container is allowed to be transported by the conveyor, when a portion of the side surface of the control member that is not provided with the spiral groove is directed to the side of the transport path, and the transport of the container by the conveyor is blocked. , Rotating the control member so that the spiral groove engages the container,
The controller, when blocking the conveyance of the container by the conveyor, blocks the conveyance of the container by the first container control unit after blocking the conveyance of the container by the second container control unit,
Manufacturing-related equipment characterized by that.   The controller, when allowing the container to be transported by the conveyor, releases the blocking of the container by the second container control unit after releasing the blocking of the container by the first container control unit. 5. Manufacturing related equipment according to 5.   The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the processing device includes a filling device for filling a container with a liquid.

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