JP2008007123A - Cap removing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cap removing apparatus capable of smoothly discharging a cap 2 detached from a container 4 by an opening/closing cap removing member 12 without being hooked to a holding member 10 or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The cap removing device includes the cap removing member 12 which is opened/closed around the cap 2 attached to the container 4, and engaged with a lower end of the cap 2 to remove the cap 2 from the container 4, and a container holding member 10 which abuts on a shoulder part 4b of the container 4 for preventing the container 4 from being raised together with the cap 2 when removing the cap 2 by the cap removing member 12. A through-hole 10a having the diameter larger than that of the mouth part 4a of the container 4 and smaller than that of a barrel portion 4c thereof is formed in the holding member 10, and a notch 10b having the size for allowing to be opened/closed while inserting the cap removing member 12 therein is formed outside the hole 10a. An inner surface of the through-hole 10a forms a guide face to smoothly drop the cap 2 to be discharged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cap removing device that removes a cap fitted to the mouth of a container such as a milk bottle, and more particularly to a cap removing device that removes a plurality of opening and closing claws by hooking them to the lower end of the cap. is there.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cap removing device that removes a cap from a container fitted with a resin cap is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The cap removing device according to the invention described in Patent Document 1 (referred to as a decapper in this Patent Document) is configured as follows.

  The container with the resin cap attached is accommodated in a predetermined arrangement in the case, and is introduced into the decapper by the case conveying conveyor. Below the decapper is provided a case lifter that lifts and lowers the case transported by the case transporting conveyor. Above the case lifter, an opening head provided with a plurality of opening members provided corresponding to the arrangement of the containers in the case is provided, and is moved up and down by the lifting means. The plurality of opening members provided on the opening head have a pointed tip.

  Above the case lifter and below the opening head, a container pressing member for preventing the container from floating when the cap is removed, and the cap removed from the container by the opening member are removed from the opening member. A stripper is provided for the purpose. Furthermore, a tray that moves forward and backward toward the middle between the container pressing member and the stripper is disposed on the side of the portion of the decapper where the case lifter, the container pressing member, and the like are provided.

  In the decapper configured as described above, when the case lifter raises the case, the opening head descends from above, and the tip of the opening member attached to the lower surface of the opening moves through the opening of the stripper and the container holding member. pierce. Thereafter, the opening head rises, and the opening member is pulled out above the container pressing member while passing through the cap, and stops in a state where the cap is positioned below the stripper.

While the cap opening head is stopped while the cap is positioned below the stripper, the tray advances and enters between the stripper and the container pressing member. Thereafter, when the stopper head is raised, the cap is removed from the stopper member by the stripper. The removed cap passes through the pressing member and falls onto the tray that is moving forward below the stripper.
JP 2000-203691 A (page 2-4, FIG. 1)

  In the decapper having the above-described configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the hook-shaped opening member with a sharp tip is exposed in the apparatus, there is a problem that there is a danger to the operator during maintenance or the like. there were. In view of this, a method of removing a plurality of openable / closable claws by hooking them on the lower surface side of the cap and raising them can be considered. However, in such a configuration that the plurality of opening and closing claws are hooked on the lower end of the cap and the cap is removed, and then the opening and closing claws are opened and the cap is discharged, the dropped cap protrudes from the container pressing member or the like. There was a problem that it may be caught in the part and not discharged properly.

  The present invention provides a cap removing device that removes a cap fitted to a container, and a removal member that opens and closes around the cap and engages with a lower end of the cap to remove the cap, and a hole penetrating vertically is formed. A pressing member that prevents the container from rising by bringing the bottom of the hole into contact with the shoulder of the container, and the inner surface of the hole of the pressing member constitutes a guide surface for discharging the removed cap, and This guide surface is characterized in that a notch for accommodating the opened removal member is formed.

  When removing the cap from the container by the removing member, the holding member is provided to contact the shoulder of the container to prevent the container from rising, and the inner surface of the through hole of the holding member is used as a guide surface. When the cap removed from the container is dropped, it can be smoothly discharged by passing through the guide surface.

  A guide for guiding a cap to be discharged through the inner surface of the container holding member in which a through hole having a diameter larger than the mouth of the container and smaller than the trunk is formed so as to contact the shoulder of the container. A cap is provided on the outside of the guide surface, and a notch large enough to open and close the removal member that engages with the lower end of the cap to remove the cap, and is removed by the removal member while holding the container with the holding member. The object of allowing the removed cap to be discharged without being caught anywhere is achieved by the configuration in which the discharged cap is discharged through the guide surface.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a cap removing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part thereof. The container 4 from which the cap 2 is removed by the cap removing apparatus according to this embodiment is a wide-mouthed container 4 such as a milk bottle, and the resin cap 2 is elastically fitted to the large-diameter mouth 4a. .

  The container 4 in a state in which the cap 2 is fitted is accommodated in the case 6 and conveyed by the case conveying conveyor 8. In this embodiment, the case transporting conveyor 8 travels from the front side to the back side in FIG. 1 and is driven intermittently to stop the case 6 containing the container 4 at the cap removal position P. In each case 6, four containers 4 are arranged in 5 rows and 20 containers 4 are accommodated. Note that the arrangement of the containers 4 along the conveying direction of the case conveying conveyor 8 is referred to as a row, and the arrangement of the containers 4 in the direction crossing the conveying direction is referred to as a row.

  Above the cap removal position P, a container pressing member 10 that prevents the container 4 housed in the case 6 from being lifted when the cap 2 is removed, and a cap fitted to the container 4 A removal member 12 having a plurality of opening / closing claws 12a that engage with and remove from the lower end of 2 and a cap pressing member 14 that moves up and down integrally with the cap removal member 12 are provided. The cap removing member 12 and the cap pressing member 14 basically move up and down integrally, but can be moved relatively slightly as will be described later.

  Above the container pressing member 10, a lifting head 16 to which a cap removing member 12 and a cap pressing member 14 are attached is disposed. A horizontal mounting plate 20 is fixed to a piston rod 18a of a head elevating air cylinder 18 fixed in a vertical direction to an upper machine frame (not shown). The lifting head 16 is attached to the lower surface side of the mounting plate 20 via a plurality of connecting rods 22. The connecting rod 22 includes an outer cylinder 22a fixed to the upper mounting plate 20, a rod 22b whose upper portion is inserted into the outer cylinder 22a and relatively movable up and down, and an outer cylinder on the outer peripheral side of the rod 22b. A buffer spring 22c interposed between the lower surface of 22a and the upper surface of the lifting head 16 is provided. The buffer spring 22c constantly urges the lifting head 16 downward and from the lower surface side of the lifting head 16 It is designed to absorb the acting load.

  A plurality (20 in this embodiment) of cap removing members 12 are attached to the lower surface side of the elevating head 16 so as to correspond to the containers 4 in the case 6. Each cap removing member 12 has four open / close claws 12a arranged at equal angular intervals, and these open / close claws 12a are attached to an attachment portion 16a on the lower surface side of the lift head 16 via a fulcrum pin 12b. The lower end side of the container 4 can swing in the radial direction of the container 4. Each of the opening / closing claws 12a is always urged by the spring 12c in a direction in which the lower side is opened, and usually the lower end portion is fitted to the mouth portion of the container 4 as shown on the right side of FIG. The cap 2 is opened so as to have a larger interval than the outer diameter of the cap 2. An inward engagement portion 12aa is formed at the lower end of each of the opening / closing claws 12a. The cap 2 is removed by engaging the engagement portions 12aa with the lower end of the cap 2.

  A horizontal intermediate plate 24 is disposed above the elevating head 16 to which the cap removing member 12 is attached. An air cylinder 26 is fixed on the intermediate plate 24 to open and close the opening / closing claw 12a of the cap removing member 12. The piston rod 26 a of the open / close air cylinder 26 is connected to the upper surface of the elevating head 16 through a through hole 24 a formed in the center of the lower intermediate plate 24. Therefore, when the piston rod 26a of the open / close air cylinder 26 is contracted, the intermediate plate 24 is lowered with respect to the lifting head 16 (see the right side in FIG. 2), and when the piston rod 26a is extended, the intermediate plate 24 is moved to the lifting head 16. (See the left side of FIG. 2).

  The same number of cam bodies 28 and cap pressing members 14 are attached to the lower surface side of the intermediate plate 24 so as to correspond to the arrangement of the containers 4 in the case 6. The cam body 28 passes through a through hole 16b formed in the elevating head 16 with a gap therebetween, and can be moved up and down freely. Each cam body 28 is positioned at the center of the four opening / closing claws 12a of the cap removing member 12, and is cams that can be engaged with the inward projections 12ab formed at the upper ends of the opening / closing claws 12a. It has a surface 28a. When the intermediate plate 24 is lowered, the cam surface 28a of the cam body 28 is positioned below the protrusion 12ab of the opening / closing claw 12a so as not to engage. In this state, the lower end of the opening / closing claw 12a Is open (see right side of FIG. 2). When the intermediate plate 24 is raised, the cam body 28 rises, and the cam surface 28a engages with the protrusion 12ab of the opening / closing claw 12a to push open the upper portion of the opening / closing claw 12a and close the engaging portion 12aa at the lower end. The opening / closing claw 12a is swung in the direction (see the state on the left side of FIG. 2).

  A cap pressing member 14 is attached to the lower end portion of each cam body 28. The cap pressing member 14 is a horizontal circular plate having a smaller diameter than the top surface of the cap 2 and is fixed to the tip of the small diameter pin 14a. The upper portion of the small-diameter pin 14 a is inserted into the cam body 28 and can move up and down with respect to the cam body 28. A buffer spring 14b is interposed between the lower surface of the cam body 28 around the small-diameter pin 14a and the upper surface of the cap pressing member 14, and always biases the cap pressing member 14 downward with respect to the cam body 28. The load from below can be absorbed. However, the spring force of the buffer spring 14b is set to be very weak. When the cam body 28 is lowered and the cap pressing member 14 is in a poorly fitted state, that is, in a state of pressing the obliquely-covered cap 2, the small-diameter pin 14a. The upper end of the cam contacts the inside of the cam body 28 and directly presses without passing through the buffer spring 14b. Further, when the cam body 28 reaches the descending end and the upper end of the small diameter pin 14b is in contact with the inside of the cam body 28, it is set so as not to touch the top surface of the cap 2 that is correctly fitted. Yes, the cap pressing member 14 does not press the correctly fitted cap 2, and only the weight of the cap pressing member 14 and the weak repulsive force of the buffer spring 14b act on the cap 2.

  The container holding member 10 has a size slightly smaller than the inner space of the case 6 as a whole so that it can be inserted into the case 6, and each container accommodated in the case 6 as shown in FIG. 3. Corresponding to 4, circular holes 10a of 5 columns × 4 rows are formed. The container pressing member 10 is in direct contact with the shoulder portion 4b of each container 4 (the inclined portion connecting the upper end mouth portion 4a and the large diameter body portion 4c), and the container 4 is removed when the cap 2 is removed. Are prevented from being lifted upward together with the cap 2, and the inner diameter of each circular hole 10a is larger than the outer diameter of the mouth portion 4a of the container 4 and smaller than the outer diameter of the trunk portion 4c. It has become. The inner surface of the circular hole 10a serves as a guide surface when the cap 2 removed from the container 4 is discharged, as will be described later.

  The container pressing member 10 is attached to support members 32 disposed on both sides of the upper portion thereof via attachment plates 34. The mounting plate 34 is located between each row of the circular holes 10a (alignment in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the container 4), and the container is supported by a plurality of vertical support rods 36 connected to the mounting plates 34. The holding member 10 is supported by being suspended.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the support member 32 that supports the container pressing member 10 is supported on a horizontal support plate 40 by four support rods 38. These support rods 38 include a cylinder 38 a fixed on the support plate 40, a rod 38 b that can move forward and backward in the cylinder 38 a, a lower surface of the cylinder 38 a around the rod 38 b, and an upper surface of the support member 32. A buffer spring 38c interposed between the container holding member 10 and the container holding member 10 is normally urged downward with respect to the support plate 40, and the container holding member 10 abuts against the container 4. It is designed to absorb the shock. The horizontal support plate 40 supporting the container pressing member 10 is connected to the piston rods 42a of a plurality of pressing member elevating air cylinders 42 arranged in the vertical direction, and the cap on the case conveying conveyor 8 is removed. It is possible to move up and down between an ascending position (state shown in FIG. 1) separated from the case 6 stopped at the position P and a descending position (see FIG. 4) inserted into the case 6 and holding the containers 4. It is like that.

  Four groove-shaped notches 10b are formed at intervals of 90 degrees on the outer side of the upper part of each circular hole 10a of the container pressing member 10. The cap removing member 12 is arranged corresponding to the position of each circular hole 10a, and each notch 10b has the tip end portions (lower end engaging portions 12aa) of the four opening / closing claws 12a of the cap removing member 12. It has enough depth and length to be inserted and stored in an open state. The inner peripheral surface below the notch 10b of each circular hole 10a is a smooth guide surface up to the lower end that contacts the shoulder 4b of the container 4. The container pressing member 10 is a resin block as a whole, and the circular hole 10a and the notch 10b are formed by cutting, and there is a seam or the like on which the falling cap 2 is caught. do not do.

  A discharge tray 44 that receives and discharges the cap 2 removed by the cap removing member 12 is disposed on the side of the case transporting conveyor 8. The discharge tray 44 is positioned at an intermediate height between the case 6 on the case transport conveyor 8 and the state in which the container pressing member 10 and the cap removing member 12 and the like above are raised. The discharge tray 44 is moved by a discharge tray advancing / retracting mechanism 46 between the position on the outside of the case transport conveyor 8 (the position shown in vinegar 1), the case 6 on the case transport conveyor 8, and the container holding member 10 in the raised state. Moved back and forth between positions. As will be described later, the cap 2 removed by the cap removing member 12 passes through the circular hole 10a of the container pressing member 10 and is discharged, and the discharge tray 44 has all the circular shapes of the pressing member 10. It has a size that can receive the cap 2 falling from the hole 10a. The discharge tray advancing / retracting mechanism 46 includes a rack 46a supported so as to be movable back and forth in a machine frame (not shown), and a pinion 46b meshing with the rack 46a. The rack 46a moves forward and backward according to the rotation of the pinion 46b. As a result, the discharge tray 44 attached to the rack 46a moves forward and backward.

  A cap hopper 48 for loading the cap 2 discharged by the discharge tray 44 is installed below the retreat position of the discharge tray 44 (a position outside the case conveying conveyor 8). In addition, the payout member 50 is disposed above the transporting conveyor 8 at the retreat position of the discharge tray 44. The payout member 50 is connected to the piston rod 52a of the air cylinder 52 installed in the vertical direction, and is lowered when the discharge tray 44 advances in the direction of the transport conveyor 8 to scrape the cap 2 on the discharge tray 44. When the discharge tray 44 is retracted from the conveying conveyor 8 side, it is raised so as not to interfere with the discharge tray 44. The rear end 44a of the discharge tray 44 is open so that the cap 2 engaged with the payout member 50 can be dropped.

  A reject pusher 52 that moves forward and backward in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the transport conveyor 8 is arranged at the same height as the case 6 placed on the transport conveyor 8 at the side of the case transport conveyor 8. The reject pusher 52 is activated when it is detected that the container 4 in the case 6 stopped at the cap removal position P is in an abnormal state (for example, when the container 4 is upside down in the case 6). Then, the case 6 in which the container 4 is accommodated is pushed out from the transport conveyor 8 and discharged to a reject unit (not shown).

  The operation of the cap removing apparatus according to the above configuration will be described. The containers 4 such as milk bottles collected with the resin cap 2 attached are arranged in a predetermined arrangement in the case 6 (20 in this embodiment, four in each row and four in each row). And is transported by the case transport conveyor 8. The case conveying conveyor 8 runs intermittently, and the case 6 is stopped at the cap removal position P where the cap removal device is disposed.

  When the case 6 stops at the cap removal position P, the air cylinder 42 for raising and lowering the pressing member is operated to lower the container pressing member 10. The container pressing member 10 is inserted into the case 6, and each circular hole 10 a is fitted into the container 4. Since the inner diameter of the circular hole 10a is larger than the outer diameter of the mouth part 4a of the container 4 and smaller than the outer diameter of the trunk part 10c, the lower end outer periphery of the circular hole 10a is in contact with the shoulder part 4b of the container 4, or Stop at a slightly distant position. When the container 4 is accommodated in the case 6 in an inverted state, the container 4 does not enter the circular hole 10a but collides with the bottom surface of the container pressing member 10. When this is detected, the container pressing member 10 is raised, and then the reject pusher 52 is operated so that the case 6 on the case transport conveyor 8 is rejected (not shown) provided on the side of the case transport conveyor 8. Ex). The support member 32 on which the container pressing member 10 is supported is supported by a horizontal support plate 40 by a plurality of support rods 38, and these support rods 38 are provided with buffer springs 38c. The shock that the holding member 10 collides with the inverted container 4 can be absorbed by the buffer spring 38c.

  After the container pressing member 10 is lowered and placed on each container 4, the head lifting air cylinder 18 is operated to lower the lifting head 16 including the cap removing member 12. A cap removing member 12 and a cap pressing member 14 are provided on the lower surface side of the elevating head 16 corresponding to the arrangement of the containers 4 in the case 6. When the elevating head 16 is lowered, the open / close air cylinder 26 fixed on the intermediate plate 24 supported above the elevating head 16 contracts the piston rod 26 a to move the intermediate plate 24 relative to the elevating head 16. The cam body 28 attached to the intermediate plate 24 is also lowered with respect to the opening / closing claw 12a of the cap removing member 12. Therefore, the opening / closing claw 12a is open as shown on the right side of FIG. When the elevating head 16 is lowered in this state, the respective opening / closing claws 12a do not interfere with the cap 2 of the container 4, and are inserted into the four notches 10b formed around the circular hole 10a of the container pressing member 10, respectively. Is done. Thus, the opening / closing claw 12a is inserted into the notch 10b, and the cap pressing member 14 disposed at the center of the four opening / closing claws 12a is pressed against the top surface of the cap 2. When the cap 2 is completely fitted into the mouth 4 a of the container 4, the horizontal cap pressing member 14 is pressed against the top surface of the horizontal cap 2. Further, when the cap 2 is in a poorly fitted state, that is, when the cap 2 is not completely fitted into the mouth portion 4a of the container 4 and is in an oblique covering state, the horizontal cap pressing member 14 Presses the cap 2 from above and fits it into the mouth 4 a of the container 4.

  After the caps 2 of all the containers 4 accommodated in the case 6 are normally attached to the mouth portions 4a of the containers 4, the open / close air cylinder 26 is operated to extend the piston rod 26a. Then, the intermediate plate 24 slightly rises with respect to the lifting head 16, and the cam body 28 also rises integrally. When the cam body 28 is raised, the cam surface 28a presses the protrusion 12ab on the upper part of each opening / closing claw 12a, and closes the lower end of the opening / closing claw 12a. An inward engagement portion 12aa formed at the lower end of each open claw 12a is located slightly below the lower end of the cap 2, and the engagement portion 12aa is closed by closing the opening / closing claw 12a. Enters inside the outer periphery of the lower end of the cap 2 (see the left side of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). When the cam body 28 is raised, the force that presses the cap 2 by the buffer spring 14b of the cap pressing member 14 is relaxed.

  Thereafter, the head elevating air cylinder 18 is operated to raise the elevating head 16 to which the cap removing member 12 and the cap pressing member 14 are attached and the intermediate plate 24 to which the cam body 28 is attached. When the opening / closing claw 12a of the cap removing member 12 is raised, the engaging portion 12aa at the lower end engages with the lower end side of the cap 2 and pulls it up. Since the container 4 to which the cap 2 is attached is pressed against the shoulder 4b by the container pressing member 10, it does not rise together with the cap 2, and the cap 2 is removed from the mouth 4a of the container 4. .

  The lift head 16 is raised while the opening / closing claw 12a is closed and the cap 2 is held, and then the holding member raising / lowering air cylinder 42 is operated to raise the container holding member 10 (to the position shown in FIG. 1). Return). Next, the pinion 46b of the discharge tray advancing / retracting mechanism 46 is rotated to advance the rack 46a, and the discharge tray 44 attached to the rack 46a is moved between the upper container pressing member 10 and the lower case 6. After the discharge tray 44 stops at a position where it overlaps with all the circular holes 10a of the container pressing member 10, the open / close air cylinder 26 is operated to contract the piston rod 26a. When the piston rod 26a contracts, the intermediate plate 24 descends with respect to the elevating head 16, and the cam body 28 descends with respect to the opening / closing claw 12a of the cap removing member 12. When the cam body 28 descends, the cam surface 28a and the projection 12ab at the upper end of the opening / closing claw 12a are disengaged to release the closed opening / closing claw 12a, and the held cap 2 is released. At this time, the cap pressing member 14 is slightly moved downward by the buffer spring 14b, so that the cap 2 can be smoothly dropped without being caught. The cap 2 located in the upper part of the circular hole 10a of the container pressing member 10 moves away from the opening / closing claw 12a and falls in the circular hole 10a. The opening / closing claw 12a is released by opening it in a notch 10b formed outside the circular hole 10a of the container pressing member 10 that has risen with a delay, and retreating outside the circular hole 10a that is a guide surface. The cap 2 falls smoothly onto the discharge tray 44 without being caught anywhere.

  The discharge tray 44 that has received the cap 2 separated by the cap removing member 12 is moved from the position above the case transfer conveyor 8 to the outside of the case transfer conveyor 8 by rotating the pinion 46b of the discharge tray advance / retreat mechanism 46 in the reverse direction. Retreat to. At this time, the payout member 50 is moved upward so as not to interfere with the discharge tray 44 by the operation of the air cylinder 52. The case conveyor 8 that has been stopped while performing the operation of removing the cap 2 at the cap removal position P travels again to carry out the case 6 containing the container 4 from which the cap 2 has been removed from the position P. The next case 6 containing the container 4 with the cap 2 is introduced into the cap removal position P. The same process as described above is repeated to raise the cap removing member 12 holding the cap 2 removed from the container 4 and the container pressing member 10, and then the discharge tray 44 is again placed between the container pressing member 10 and the case 6. To enter. At this time, the discharge member 50 is lowered by the air cylinder 52. Then, as the discharge tray 44 moves in the direction of the case conveyor 8, the previously removed cap 2 placed on the discharge tray 44 hits the payout member 50 and is pushed to the rear side of the discharge tray 44. 44 falls into the cap hopper 48 from the rear end.

  In the cap removing apparatus according to this embodiment, when the inner surface of the circular through hole 10a formed in the container pressing member 10 for preventing the container 4 from floating when the cap 2 is removed, the cap 2 is discharged. Therefore, the cap 2 can be smoothly dropped without irregularities such as protrusions.

It is a front view which shows the whole structure of a cap removal apparatus. (Example 1) It is a figure which shows the principal part of a cap removal apparatus. It is a top view of the container pressing member provided in the said cap removal apparatus. It is a front view which shows the state at the time of the action | operation of the cap removal apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 Cap 4 Container 4b Container shoulder 10 Holding member 10a Through hole 10b Notch 12 Removal member 14 Pressing member 26 Lifting means (air cylinder)

Claims (1)

In a cap removal device that removes a cap fitted to a container,
A removal member that opens and closes around the cap, engages with the lower end of the cap and removes the cap, and a hole penetrating vertically is formed, and the bottom of the hole is brought into contact with the shoulder of the container to raise the container A holding member for preventing
A cap removing device, wherein the inner surface of the hole of the pressing member constitutes a guide surface for discharging the removed cap, and a notch for accommodating the opened removing member is formed on the guide surface.

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