JP2012030812A - Processor for bag-shaped container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a flapper 242 which is inserted into the opening part 8a of a bag-shaped container 8 to expand the opening part 8a also for a bag-shaped container 8 for the opening part 8a at a different position.SOLUTION: A plurality of grippers 4 are provided close to the outer circumference of a turntable 2, and the turntable 2 is intermittently turned to successively be stopped at each of processing positions A-H for executing the processing. A processor for a bag-shaped container 8 includes suction pads 216, 218 for sucking the bag-shaped container 8 stopped at an opening station C from both surface sides, a flapper 242 elevated/lowered and opened/closed, and inserted from the opening part 8a of the bag-shaped container 8 to open the bag-shaped container 8, and a turning servo motor 266 turning the flapper 242 following the turntable 2. The phases of the flapper 242 and the turntable 2 are adjusted according to the position of the opening part 8a of the bag-shaped container 8 to be processed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a bag-shaped container processing apparatus, for example, a bag-shaped container processing apparatus in which an opening flapper is inserted into an opening portion of a bag-shaped container in which an opening is formed at a part of an upper end thereof to be opened. Is.

  When filling a bag-like container having an opening at a part of the upper end, it is necessary to open the opening in advance in order to insert a filling nozzle into the bag-like container. As a means for opening the opening of the bag-like container, a suction pad that is sucked by vacuum has been widely used. The suction pads are arranged on both sides of the bag-like container that has been gripped and conveyed by grippers at both ends. After adsorbing both sides of the bag-like container, the suction pad is retracted to widen the opening. I try to open it. In addition to the suction pad on the upper side in order to surely open to the bottom side of the bag-like container, it is widely practiced to provide a suction pad near the bottom and also open the bottom side.

  However, with the suction pad alone, there is a problem that it is difficult to reliably open the bottom side even if it is provided on both the opening side and the bottom side of the bag-like container. In view of this, an apparatus has been proposed in which an opening flapper is inserted into an opening of a bag-like container opened by a suction pad to reliably open the bag-like container (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the configuration of the cited document 1, a driving arm is provided in a horizontal direction on the rotating shaft, and a pair of opening and closing arms are pivotally supported via pins at the distal ends thereof. An opening claw (corresponding to the opening flapper of the present application) is attached. Then, the rotating shaft is lowered by a predetermined distance at the bag opening process position, and the opening claw is inserted into the bag (corresponding to the bag-like container of the present application). Next, the driving arm is rotated following the rotation of the rotating body to open the opening claw, and the bag mouth is completely opened. Furthermore, the opening claw is moved to the filling process position to maintain the open state of the bag.

Japanese Patent No. 2981952

  The bag-shaped container described in Patent Document 1 has an opening formed in the entire upper end, but there is also a bag-shaped container in which an opening is formed only in a part of the upper end. There are various bag-shaped containers such as the size and position of the opening, such as a bag-shaped container formed in the center of the bag or a bag-shaped container formed so as to be shifted to the left or right. In the case of the configuration in which the opening flapper is inserted and opened as in the invention described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, and the follow-up rotational movement is performed, the bag-shaped container has different opening positions. When trying to apply, it was necessary to replace the opening flapper according to the position of the opening.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has an object to provide a bag-shaped container processing apparatus that can be reliably opened from the opening to the bottom side of the bag-shaped container, and is formed at the upper end. A processing device for a bag-like container that handles a plurality of bag-like containers with different positions of the openings, a rotating body provided with a plurality of grippers in the circumferential direction for gripping the bag-like container, and the rotating body intermittently Drive means for rotating, filling means for filling the contents of the bag-like container held by the gripper and transferred, and a bag-like container which is provided so as to be movable forward and backward and is held by the gripper from both sides. A suction pad for suction, a flapper that can be moved up and down and opened and closed, is inserted through the opening of the bag-like container to open the bag-like container, and a servo motor that reciprocates the flapper following the rotating body. Process Is characterized in that depending on the position of the opening of the bag-like container to allow adjusting the phase of said rotary member and said flapper.

The second invention is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the position of the suction pad can be adjusted in the width direction of the bag-like container held by the gripper. .

  According to the bag-like container processing apparatus of the present invention, a flapper inserted from the opening of the bag-like container to open the bag-like container can be reciprocated following the rotation of the rotating body, and a servo motor is used as its drive source. Therefore, when the position of the opening of the bag-like container is different, there is an advantage that the phase of the rotating body and the flapper can be adjusted, and the bag-like container of various shapes can be handled.

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view showing the overall configuration of a bag-shaped container processing apparatus. Example 1 FIG. 2 is a side view of the bag-like container supply device. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the drive unit installed in the positioning unit. FIG. 4 is a side view of the positioning portion. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the positioning portion. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a driving portion of the centering member arranged in the positioning portion. FIG. 7 is a side view of the delivery unit. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the delivery portion. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the transfer section. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view through the axis of the turntable of the bag-shaped container processing apparatus. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the gripper and its driving. FIG. 12 is a side view showing a mechanism for approaching and separating both grip members of the gripper. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gripper. FIG. 14 is a developed view of the center cam that moves the grip member closer and away, and FIG. 14A shows the time when the turntable is stopped, and FIG. 14B shows the time when the center cam moves thereafter. FIG. 15 is a plan view for explaining a mechanism for moving the upper suction pad back and forth. FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a drive unit that moves up and down the opening flapper. FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure of the opening flapper and the mechanism for moving the flapper up and down and rotating. FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a state in which the opening flapper is rotated following the turntable. FIG. 19 is a front view of the opening flapper. FIG. 20 is a front view of the bag-like container.

  The rotating body is provided with a plurality of grippers at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The gripper holds the bag-shaped container, and the rotating body is intermittently rotated by the driving means to sequentially stop the bag-shaped container at a predetermined position. Process. Of the position where the rotating body stops, the filling station is provided with a filling means for filling the bag-like container held by the gripper and transferred with contents such as liquid. An upstream side of the filling station is provided so as to be movable back and forth, and a suction pad for sucking the bag-like container gripped by the gripper from both sides, and an opening and closing and opening and closing of the bag-like container. And a servo motor for reciprocating the flapper following the rotating body, and depending on the position of the opening of the bag-like container to be processed, By making it possible to adjust the phase between the flapper and the rotating body, the object of being able to be used for various bag-like containers having different positions and sizes of the openings is achieved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a simplified configuration of a bag-shaped container processing apparatus (indicated by reference numeral 1 as a whole), and a plurality of grippers 4 ( (See FIGS. 10 and 11 to be described later). A bag-like container 8 is supplied to the turntable 2 provided with the gripper 4 by a bag-like container supply device (indicated by reference numeral 6 as a whole), and the turntable 2 rotates intermittently to sequentially turn the processing stations. Each process is performed after being stopped. In this embodiment, eight processing stations A to H are provided, and two bag-like containers 8 are processed at each of the stations A to H. Accordingly, the turntable 2 is provided with 16 sets of grippers 4 in total of eight sets at equal intervals in the circumferential direction as a set of two, and the turntable 2 is intermittently operated every 1/8 rotation.

  Briefly explaining the eight processing stations A to H provided around the turntable 2, the first position where the bag-like container 8 is supplied by the bag-like container supply device 6 is the bag supply station A, The next second position is the printing station B where the printing device 9 performs printing on the bag-like container 8, and the third position is gripped on both sides by the gripper 4 with the closed opening side facing up. Opening station C for opening the bag-like container 8, the fourth position is a filling station D for inserting the filling nozzle 10 into the opened bag-like container 8 and filling the contents such as liquid, and the fifth position is: A bag closing station E that closes the opening located above the bag-like container 8, the sixth position is a first sealing station F that seals the opening of the bag-like container 8 filled with liquid, and the seventh position is The same second sea Station is G, bag-like container 8 according to the shape of one of either sealing station F, is sealed with a G are performed. The final eighth position is a cooling station H that performs cooling in order to stabilize the portion sealed at the first sealing station F or the second sealing station G, and the cooling process has been completed at this cooling station H. The bag-like container 8 is released from the gripper 4, discharged by the discharge conveyor 12, and sent to the next process.

  Next, the configuration of the bag-like container supply device 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, as shown in FIG. 20, the bag-like container 8 handled in this embodiment has an opening 8a formed at a part of the upper end and at the center, and seal parts 8b formed on both sides of the opening 8a. . The bag-like container supply device 6 has the opening 8a side of the bag-like container 8 facing the front side (downstream side) in the transport direction, and the rear side of the front bag-like container 8 is the front part of the rear bag-like container 8. A supply conveyor 14 that continuously feeds in a state of being sequentially stacked on the side, and a bag-like container take-out unit that lifts the top bag-like container 8 on the supply conveyor 14 one by one and sends it to the next positioning unit 18 16, a positioning unit 18 for positioning the front, rear, left and right of the bag-like container 8 sent from the bag-like container take-out unit 16, and the bag supply of the processing device 1 for the bag-like container by picking up the positioned bag-like container 8 And a delivery means 20 for delivering to the gripper 4 stopped at the station A.

  At the downstream end of the supply conveyor 14, the top sheet of the bag-like container 8 that has been conveyed superimposed on the supply conveyor 14 is lifted, separated from the subsequent bag-like container 8, and sent to the next positioning unit 18. A container take-out unit 16 is provided. The bag-like container take-out part 16 is a suction cup (bottom side lifting means) for adsorbing the rear side (bottom side) of the bag-like container 8 in the state where the opening 8a is lying forward on the supply conveyor 14. A bottom lifting suction cup) 22, a lifting means 24 for raising and lowering the suction cup 22, a lifting bar 26 as an opening side lifting means for lifting the front side of the bag-like container 8 where only the rear side is lifted, A chuck 28 as a transfer means for gripping the opening 8a side of the bag-like container 8 that is lifted and floated above the supply conveyor 14 and sending it to the positioning part 18, and this chuck 28 is connected to the bag-like container 8 And a chuck reciprocating means 30 for reciprocating between a position for gripping and a position for delivering to the positioning portion 18.

  The sucker 22 for lifting the bottom is supported by a guide member 32 disposed horizontally in the conveying direction of the supply conveyor 14 (see the arrow in FIG. 2) with the bracket 34 facing in the vertical direction. Advancing and retreating along the horizontal guide member 32. The horizontal guide member 32 is fixed to a slide member 40 which is guided by being engaged with a vertical guide rail 38 attached to a frame 36, and the suction cup 22 moves up and down as the slide member 40 moves up and down. A sucker lifting / lowering motor 42 is disposed directly below the vertical guide rail 38 and the slide member 40. One end (lower end) of the connecting rod 46 is connected to an eccentric position of the rotating disk 44 that is rotated by driving the suction cup lifting / lowering motor 42. Further, the other end (upper end) of the connecting rod 46 is connected to the slide member 40, and when the rotating disk 44 is rotated by driving the suction cup lifting / lowering motor 42, the lower end of the connecting rod 46 is moved by the rotating disk 44. By rotating eccentrically, the slide member 40 connected to the upper end of the connecting rod 46 and the bottom lifting sucker 22 supported by the slide member 40 via the horizontal guide member 32 are moved up and down.

  The bag-like container lifting bar 26 is attached to a pair of chains 50 that are hung around the sprockets 48 that are arranged at four locations on the top and bottom of the horizontal guide member 32 and on the front and rear sides (the front side and the rear side in the transport direction). The lift bar drive motor 52 is driven to circulate around the four sprockets 48. The lifting bar 26 moves from the front side to the rear side in the transport direction in the upper movement path (moves from left to right in FIG. 2), descends at the rear end in the transport direction, and then moves in the transport direction on the lower movement path. It moves from the rear side to the front side, and then rises at the front end in the transport direction and returns to the original position. The moving path on the lower side of the lifting bar 26 passes slightly below the bottom lifting suction cup 22 in the raised state. Therefore, first, when the suction cup 22 is lowered and adsorbs and raises the rear side (bottom side) of the bag-like container 8, only the bottom side of the bag-like container 8 is lifted, and the front opening 8 a side is on the supply conveyor 14. It will be in the state of hanging down. In this state, the entire bag-like container 8 can be lifted by the suction cup 22 and the lifting bar 26 by moving the lifting bar 26 from the rear side in the transport direction toward the front side. .

  A positioning portion 18 is provided on the downstream side (left side in FIG. 2) of the position where the bottom lifting suction cup 22 and the lifting bar 26 constituting the bag-like container take-out portion 16 are installed. A chuck driving belt 54 of a chuck reciprocating means 30 for reciprocating the chuck 28 of the bag-like container take-out portion 16 is disposed (see FIG. 3). Between the pair of left and right drive pulleys 58 fixed to the drive shaft 56 disposed at the downstream end of the positioning portion 18 and the pair of left and right driven pulleys 62 fixed to the driven shaft 60 disposed at the upstream end. A book endless belt 54 is wound around. Driving is performed via a transmission belt 70 wound around a pulley 66 connected to the rotation shaft of the chuck drive motor 64 and an intermediate pulley 68 fixed to the drive shaft 56 to which the both drive pulleys 58 are attached. The shaft 56 and drive pulley 58 are rotated. The chuck 28 is attached to the endless belt 54 via an attachment member 55 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and the endless belt 54 is reciprocated to lift the chuck 28 with the bottom lifting sucker 22. The bag 26 is reciprocated between the position of the tip of the bag-like container 8 lifted by the bar 26 and the position where the bag-like container 8 is moved to the positioning part 18. The chuck 28 is attached to an open / close air cylinder 72 and is opened and closed by the operation of the air cylinder 72.

  In the positioning portion 18, a placement plate 74 for placing the bag-like container 8 moved by the chuck 28 of the bag-like container take-out portion 16 is disposed (see FIGS. 2, 4, and 5). The positioning unit 18 is moved by the chuck 28 of the bag-like container take-out unit 16 to position the bag-like container 8 placed on the mounting plate 74 in the front-rear and left-right directions (the conveyance direction described later). A front stopper, a rear finger, and centering members on both sides are disposed.

  A stopper 76 that engages and positions the tip of the bag-like container 8 (the end on the opening 8a side in this embodiment) is disposed at the downstream end (the front side in the transport direction) of the positioning portion 18 (see FIG. 3). In this embodiment, since the bag-like containers 8 are transported in two rows and supplied to the bag-like container processing apparatus 1, the stopper 76 and the fingers, centering members and the like described later are shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, two sets of the same one are provided.

  Finger moving means 80 is provided slightly inside the chuck driving belts 54 on both sides for reciprocating the chuck 28. The finger moving means 80 is provided with a pair of finger driving belts 82 to which fingers 81 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) for pressing the bag-like container 8 placed on the placing plate 74 are attached from the rear. Yes. The two finger driving belts 82 include a pair of driving pulleys 86 attached to both ends of a driving shaft 84 disposed on the upstream side, and a driven pulley 90 attached to a driven shaft 88 disposed on the downstream side. It is hung around each. The drive shaft 84 includes a pulley 94 attached to a rotating shaft of a finger drive motor 92, a pulley 96 fixed to the drive shaft 84, and a belt 98 wound around both the pulleys 94, 96. The drive of the drive motor 92 is transmitted. Both of the finger driving belts 82 are configured such that the upper sides of the pulleys 86 and 90 run from the upstream side to the downstream side (from the right to the left in FIGS. 3 and 4), By engaging and pressing the bottom end of the bag-like container 8 placed on the mounting plate 74 and pressing the front end surface against the stopper 76, the bag-like container 8 is positioned before and after the conveying direction. To do.

  Centering members 100 and 102 for positioning in the left-right direction are arranged on both sides of the bag-like container 8 placed on the mounting plate 74 described above. One guide rail 106 is installed on a base 104 (see FIG. 4) below the positioning portion 18 so as to face a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the bag-like container 8. Four sliders 108 and 110 are fitted on the guide rail 106 and can move along the guide rail 106. Centering members 100 and 102 are attached to the sliders 108 and 110, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the centering members 100 and 102 have a plate shape in which the lower portions 100a and 102a have substantially the same width as the sliders 108 and 110, and contact the upper bag-like container 8 for centering. The portions 100b and 102b to be performed are wide, and the upper end portions 100c and 102c protrude above the mounting plate 74 described above. The upper end portions 100c and 102c that come into contact with the bag-like container 8 move to the inner side of the mounting plate 74, and thus have a comb shape. On the other hand, the mounting plate 74 is formed with a notch through which the comb-like upper end portions 100c and 102c can pass.

  Two ball screws 112 and 114 are arranged in parallel on both sides of the guide rail 106. Nuts 116 and 118 that are screwed into the ball screws 112 and 114 are fixed to the centering members 100 and 102, respectively. In this embodiment, the bag-like containers 8 are transported in two rows, and the two centering members 100 and 102 perform the centering of the single bag-like container 8 as a set. Nuts (the top and third nuts 116 in FIG. 3) are connected to one ball screw (the ball screw 114 on the left side in FIG. 3), and the other nuts (the second and fourth nuts 118 in FIG. 3). The other ball screw (the right ball screw 112 in FIG. 3) is screwed. Both the ball screws 112 and 114 have belts 127 wound around pulleys 120 and 122 attached to respective ends (upper end in FIG. 3) and a pulley 126 connected to a rotation shaft of a centering motor 124. It is supposed to be rotated through. When the ball screws 112 and 114 are rotated in either direction, the pair of centering members 100 and 102 attached to the ball nuts 116 and 118 approach each other, and when the ball screws 112 and 114 are rotated in the opposite direction, the centering members 100 and 102 are moved. Separate.

  Above the positioning portion 18, a bag-like container delivery means 20 that takes up the positioned bag-like container 8 and delivers it to the gripper 4 stopped at the bag feeding station A of the bag-like container processing apparatus 1 is arranged. The delivery means 20 lowers the suction cup (delivery suction cup 128) while facing the vertical direction (see the suction cup shown by the phantom line in FIG. 7), and the bag-like container 8 positioned by the positioning portion 18 After sucking the side of the opening 8a, the suction cup 128 is rotated while being moved upward to be in a horizontal state (see the suction cup shown by a solid line in FIG. 7) and delivered to the gripper 4 of the turntable 2. Yes.

  A configuration for moving the suction cup 128 for delivery as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. A fulcrum shaft 132 is supported between the frames 130 on both sides of the bag-like container supply device 6. One end of the link 134 is connected to both ends of the fulcrum shaft 132. The other end of the link 134 is rotatably connected to the horizontal shaft 136. Further, one end of a rod 140 having a round bar shape is coupled to both ends of the horizontal shaft 136 via a connecting member 138 having a quadrangular side surface. Therefore, when the link 134 and the round rod 140 are rotated, the horizontal shaft 136 rotates integrally with the round rod 140, and the link 134 rotates relative to the horizontal shaft 136.

  One end of an intermediate link 142 is connected to a substantially central portion of the link 134 so as to be relatively rotatable. The other end of the intermediate link 142 is connected to a short fulcrum pin 144 parallel to the fulcrum shaft 132 and the horizontal shaft 136. A fulcrum block 146 is rotatably supported by the fulcrum pin 144 and a slider 148 is rotatably supported. The slider 148 can slide by engaging with a rail 150 fixed to the upper transverse frame 149 at an angle. In addition, the other end of the round rod 140 whose one end is coupled to the horizontal shaft 136 passes through a through hole 146 a formed in the fulcrum block 146. Since the fulcrum block 146 is rotatably supported by the fulcrum pin 144, when the round rod 140 rotates integrally with the horizontal shaft 140 in accordance with the rotation of the link 134 and moves while changing the angle, The end side can freely move forward and backward with respect to the fulcrum block 146. The fulcrum pin 144 on which one end of the intermediate link 142 and the fulcrum block 146 are supported is rotatably supported by the slider 148. When the link 134 and the round rod-shaped rod 140 rotate relative to each other, the slider 148 It moves along the rail 150.

  The delivery suction cup 128 is fixed to a horizontal shaft 136 that is coupled to the round rod 140 and rotates integrally with the round rod 140 via an attachment member 151. Therefore, when the round rod-shaped rod 140 that is in a substantially horizontal state in FIG. 7 is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise to face in the vertical direction, the suction cup for delivery that has turned to the left in FIG. 7 in the horizontal state. 128 is in the same vertical direction as the round rod 140.

  One end of a short operation lever 152 is fixed to a fulcrum shaft 132 that penetrates the frame 130. When the operation lever 152 is rotated, the link 134 is rotated via the fulcrum shaft 132. One end (upper end) of the connecting rod 154 is connected to the other end (rotating end) of the operating lever 152, and the other end (lower end) of the connecting rod 154 is a bag-shaped container delivery motor disposed below. It is eccentrically connected to a rotating disk 158 attached to a rotating shaft 156. Therefore, when the rotating disk 158 is rotated by driving the motor 156 and the upper end portion of the connecting rod 154 is lowered from the position shown in FIG. 7, the operating lever 152 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. The link 134 similarly rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG.

  The link 134 is connected to the horizontal shaft 136 connected to the round rod 140 so as to be rotatable relative to the horizontal rod 136, and the round rod 140 can freely move forward and backward in the fulcrum block 146. The link 134 rotates in the clockwise direction, and the round rod-shaped rod 140 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. When the link 134 and the round rod-shaped rod 140 rotate in opposite directions and pass through a straight line connecting the fulcrum shaft 132 and the fulcrum block 146, the connecting portion of the both 134 and 140 is bent in the opposite direction. 134 gradually shifts to a horizontal state, and the round rod-shaped rod 140 gradually shifts to an upright state. Finally, the transfer sucker 128 stops in a state of facing downward at a position where the bag-like container 8 placed on the placement plate 74 of the positioning portion 18 is sucked. After the suction cup 128 adsorbs the bag-like container 8 at this position, when the connecting rod 154 is raised by the rotation of the motor 156, the operating lever 152, the link 134, the round rod-like rod 140, etc. rotate in the opposite direction to the aforementioned lowering. Finally, as shown in FIG. 7, the suction cup 128 becomes horizontal and stops. The bag-shaped container processing apparatus 1 is disposed in front of the suction cup 128 (left side in FIG. 7), and the bag-shaped container 8 held by the suction cup 128 is provided in the bag-shaped container processing apparatus 1. The gripper 4 is handed over.

  Next, the bag-like container 8 supplied by the bag-like container supply device 6 is received according to FIGS. 1 and 10 to 19, and processing such as opening of the bag-like container 8, filling of the contents, and sealing are performed. The bag-shaped container processing apparatus 1 that performs the above will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the bag-shaped container processing apparatus 1 includes eight processing stations A to H around a turntable 2 including a plurality of grippers 4 (see FIG. 11) for holding a bag-shaped container 8. Is installed, the turntable 2 is rotated intermittently, and the grippers 4 are sequentially stopped at the processing stations A to H to perform the respective processes. In this embodiment, two bag-like containers 8 are processed at each of the processing stations A to H. On the outer peripheral portion of the turntable 2, two sets of eight sets total 16 sets. A number of grippers 4 are provided.

  A circular through hole 160a is formed in the center of the base plate 160 (see FIG. 10), and a large-diameter holding cylinder 162 is fixed to the inner periphery of the through hole 160a with the upper side facing upward. A cylindrical body 166 is rotatably held on the inner peripheral side of the large-diameter holding cylinder 162 via upper and lower bearings 164. Furthermore, an upright rotating shaft 170 is rotatably held on the inner peripheral side of the rotating cylinder 166 via upper and lower bearings 168. The horizontal turntable 2 is fixed to the upper end of the upright rotating shaft 170 and rotates integrally. On the lower surface side of the turntable 2 near the outer periphery, a pair of grippers 4 are attached at eight locations at equal intervals. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken at the position of the third opening station C among the eight processing stations A to H provided around the turntable 2.

  Each gripper 4 includes a pair of grip members 4A and 4B (see FIG. 11), and the bag-like container supply device 6 is provided by a grip portion 172 provided at the tip of each of the grip members 4A and 4B. The both ends of the bag-like container 8 supplied from the above are gripped. The grip members 4A and 4B are rotatably supported by vertical shafts 174A and 174B extending to the lower surface side of the outer peripheral portion of the turntable 2. In this embodiment, two grippers 4 each consisting of two grip members 4A and 4B form one set, and the grip members on the outer side of each set (of the six grip members shown in FIG. 11). The second grip member 4A, 4B from the top and the second grip member from the bottom is the same vertical as the outer grip member of another adjacent pair (the top and bottom grip members 4B, 4A in FIG. 11). The shafts 174A and 174B are supported.

  The grip members 4A and 4B of each gripper 4 are provided with a grip portion 172 for sandwiching the bag-like container 8 on the mutually facing surface side of the tip portion (end portion on the radially outer side of the turntable 2). Yes. Each gripping part 172 includes a pair of gripping bodies 172A and 172B. One gripping body (the gripping body 172A located on the radially inner side of the turntable 2) is fixed, and the other gripping body (radial direction) The outer gripping body 172B) rotates between a position contacting the fixed gripping body 172A and a position rotated outward, so that the gripping portion 172 can be opened and closed.

  The radially outer gripping body 172B is connected to a rotating plate 176 that can rotate around a fulcrum 176a. One end of an elongated pressing plate 178 is connected to one corner of the rotating plate 176, and the other end of the pressing plate 178 is connected to an intermediate portion of an L-shaped lever 180 supported horizontally by both grip members 4A and 4B. It is connected. One end of the L-shaped lever 180 is supported by a fulcrum pin 182 so as to be rotatable toward the base of the grip members 4A and 4B. Further, one end of a spring 184 is connected to the other end of the L-shaped lever 180. The other end of the spring 184 is fixed to the turntable 2, and the outer gripping body 172B is in contact with the inner fixed gripping body 172A via the L-shaped lever 180 and the pressing plate 178. Always energized. Therefore, by pressing the side of the L-shaped lever 180 on which the spring 184 is attached from the radially inner side to the outer side of the turntable 2, the grip portion 172 including the pair of grip bodies 172A and 172B is opened. can do.

  A cam follower 186 is attached to the lower side of the tip of the L-shaped lever 180 to which the spring 184 is connected. The cam follower 186 is pressed by a cam and is provided at the tip of the grip members 4A and 4B. The grip 172 is opened. In this embodiment, an opening cam (not shown) that can be moved back and forth by an air cylinder is arranged at the bag feeding station A. When the gripper 4 stops at this position, the opening cam is advanced by the air cylinder. Then, the horizontal L-shaped lever 180 is rotated to open the grip 172. When the gripping part 172 is open, the bag-like container 8 is supplied from the bag-like container supply device 6. Thereafter, when the release cam is retracted, the L-shaped lever 180 rotates reversely by the spring force, the gripping portion 172 is closed, and the end portions on both sides of the bag-like container 8 are clamped. Further, in the bag-shaped container processing apparatus 1, the bag-shaped container 8 that has been processed at each of the stations A to H is discharged at the eighth cooling station H. The cam (not shown) is installed so that the gripping portion 172 is opened.

  The pair of grip members 4A, 4B constituting the gripper 4 includes a distance adjusting means that can approach and separate from each other. The bag-like container 8 needs to open the opening 8a in order to fill the liquid inside, and to close the opening 8a to seal the opening 8a after filling. The grip members 4A and 4B holding the grip are moved closer to and away from each other in accordance with the timing when the opening 8a is opened or closed, and the distance between the grip portions 172 provided on the grip members 4A and 4B is increased. It is supposed to change. A configuration for approaching and separating the grip members 4A and 4B of the gripper 4 will be described. Of the pair of grippers 4 shown in FIG. 11, the upper gripper 4 is called a first gripper, and the lower gripper 4 is called a second gripper. A horizontal fulcrum pin 190 is supported on a support plate 188 fixed vertically to the lower surface of the turntable 2, and an intermediate part of an L-shaped lever (L-shaped lever 192 for opening and closing the gripper) can be rotated on the fulcrum pin 190. It is supported by. One end of a connecting rod 194 is connected to one end of the L-shaped lever 192 (see FIGS. 11 to 13). The other end of the connecting rod 194 is a horizontal connecting plate fixed to the inner side in the radial direction of the vertical shaft 174A of one grip member of the first gripper 4 (the upper grip member 4A in FIG. 11). It is connected to 196 so as to be relatively rotatable. By rotating the L-shaped lever 192 around a horizontal fulcrum pin 190, the connecting rod 194 can be moved to rotate one grip member 4A of the first gripper 4.

  As described above, the connecting plate 196 is fixed to one grip member 4A of the first gripper 4, and the second gripper (the lower gripper 4 of the pair of grippers in FIG. 11) is also connected to the grip member ( A connecting plate 198 facing the same direction is fixed to the upper grip member 4A) in FIG. 11, and the connecting plates 196 and 198 of both the grip members 4A and 4A are connected by a connecting rod 200. Since the grip members 4A and 4A on the same side of the first gripper 4 and the second gripper 4 are connected by the connecting rod 200 at positions equidistant from the vertical shafts 174A and 174A, they are connected to the L-shaped lever 192. When the grip member 4A of the first gripper 4 is rotated by the connected rod 194, the grip member 4A of the second gripper 4 is also rotated by the same angle.

  One grip member 4A, 4A of each gripper 4 is connected to each other by connecting rods 196, 198 fixed to the inner side in the radial direction with respect to the vertical shafts 174A, 174A, and rotates in the same direction. The grip members 4A and 4A (the upper grip members in FIG. 11 of the first gripper and the second gripper) and the other constituting the gripper 4 opposite to the grip members 4A and 4A. The grip members 4B and 4B (the grip members below the first gripper and the second gripper in FIG. 11) are connected by connecting bars 202 and 204, respectively, and rotate in opposite directions. The connecting bars 202 and 204 are provided on the grip member 4A to which the connecting rod 200 is connected, on the radially inner side with respect to the vertical shaft 174A and on the radially outer side with respect to the vertical shaft 174B of the other grip member 4B. If the former grip member 4A is rotated in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 11, the latter grip member 4B is rotated in the clockwise direction and separated from each other, and conversely, the former grip member 4A. Are rotated in the clockwise direction, the latter grip member 4B is rotated in the counterclockwise direction and approaches each other.

  A cam follower 206 is attached to the end of the L-shaped lever 192 for opening and closing the gripper opposite to the end to which the connecting rod 194 is connected. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, an annular center cam 212 is arranged on the outer periphery of the rotating cylinder 166 that is rotatably arranged on the inner peripheral side of the fixed cylinder 162 via discs 208 and 210. The cam follower 206 is engaged with the cam surface of the center cam. The center cam 212 can be reciprocally rotated within a predetermined range. By rotating the center cam 212, the cam follower 206 is moved up and down to bring the grip members 4A and 4B of the grippers 4 closer to each other. Or keep them apart. A connecting rod 214 to be connected to a drive motor (not shown) is attached to a portion of the rotary cylinder 166 shown in FIG. 10 that extends downward from the base plate 160, and the rotation cylinder is transmitted by transmitting the rotation of the drive motor. The position of the center cam 212 can be changed by reciprocally rotating 166 by a predetermined angle.

  14 (a) and 14 (b) are views in which the center cam 212 is developed. Only the length corresponding to two stations of the annular cam is at a low position 212A, and the other six stations are used. The corresponding part is at the high position 212B. When the cam follower 206 of the L-shaped lever 192 for opening and closing the gripper is engaged with the high position 212B of the center cam 212, the L-shaped lever 192 is connected to the connecting rod 194 as shown in FIGS. The grip members 4A and 4B of each gripper 4 are opened. Further, when the cam follower 206 is engaged with the lower position 212A of the center cam 212, the L-shaped lever 192 pushes the connecting rod 194, and both the grip members 4A and 4B approach.

  FIG. 14 (a) shows the moment when the intermittently rotating turntable 2 is rotated by 1 pitch (1/8 rotation of the entire circumference) and stopped. Eight sets of two grippers 4 are taken as one set. The cam follower 206 of the gripper 4 is engaged with the high position 212B at the bag feeding station A at the first position, the next printing station B, and the opening station C at the third position, and is filled at the fourth position and the fifth position. Station D and bag closing station E are engaged in the lower position 212A. The cam follower 206 is engaged with the high position 212B in the first sealing station F, the second sealing station G, and the cooling station H in the sixth to eighth positions thereafter.

  Thereafter, when the center cam 212 is rotated while the turntable 2 is stopped, the state shown in FIG. Even when the center cam 212 is switched in this way, at the bag feeding station A and the printing station B, the cam follower 206 is engaged with the high position 212B of the center cam 212 as before the switching, and both the grip members 4A and 4B are engaged. Since the both side ends of the bag-like container 8 are pulled at a distant position, the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 is maintained in a closed state. At the next opening station C, the cam follower 206 is switched from the high position 212B of the center cam 212 to the low position 212A. Then, the L-shaped lever 192 rotates and the two grip members 4A and 4B approach each other from a separated position. In this opening station C, as will be described later, the suction part adsorbs and separates both sides of the bag-like container 8 to open the opening part 8a, and the gripping part is synchronized with the timing of opening both sides. The both ends which 172 is holding are made to approach. In the filling station D at the fourth position, the filling nozzle 10 is inserted through the opened opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 to fill the contents such as liquid, and before the center cam 212 is switched (see FIG. 14 (a)) and after switching (see FIG. 14 (b)), since the cam follower 206 is engaged with the lower position 212A of the center cam 212, both grip members 4A and 4B come close to each other and form a bag shape. The opening 8a of the container 8 is maintained in an open state.

  At the next bag closing station E at the fifth position, when the gripper 4 rotates and stops, it is immediately after the filling, and the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 is opened, and both grip members 4A, 4B are Close position. When the center cam 212 is switched from this state, the cam follower 206 is pushed up from the low position 212A of the center cam 212 to the high position 212B, and the grip members 4A and 4B move to a separated position, and the grip portion 172 grips. The opening 8a that has been opened is closed by pulling both side ends of the bag-like container 8. Thereafter, in the first-seal station F, the second seal station G, and the cooling discharge station H in the sixth to eighth positions, the grip members 4A of the gripper 4 are always separated regardless of the switching of the center cam 12. It is in.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the opening station C is provided with suction pads 216 and 218 as opening means for opening the opening 8 a of the bag-like container 8 held and conveyed by the gripper 4. The bag-like container 8 conveyed to the opening station C has the opening 8a facing upward, and the upper side ends close to the opening 8a are gripped on the pair of grip members 4A and 4B of the gripper 4, respectively. It is gripped by the portions 172 and 172, and is conveyed in a state of hanging substantially vertically. The bag-like container 8 is held in a state in which both surfaces thereof are in close contact, with one surface facing the radially outer side of the turntable 2 and the other surface facing the radially inner side. 216 and 218 are arranged inside and outside the moving path of the bag-like container 8 held and transported by the gripper 4 so that both surfaces can be sucked (the suction pad inside the moving path is denoted by reference numeral 216A). 218A, the outer suction pads are indicated by 216B and 218B). Further, the suction pads 216 and 218 are arranged so as to suck the upper and lower ends of the bag-like container 8 so that the bottom of the bag-like container 8 can be reliably opened (the upper suction pad is 216, lower suction pad 218).

  FIG. 15 is a view showing a mechanism for opening and closing the upper-side suction pad 216 (moving forward and backward between a position where the bag-like container 8 is sucked close and a position where the bag-like container 8 is retracted backward). Since the suction pad 218 moves forward and backward with substantially the same configuration, only the upper side will be described. Two suction pads 216A arranged inside the movement path of the bag-like container 8 and two suction pads 216B arranged outside are provided on the support plates 222A and 222B fixed to the upper frame 220 (see FIG. 10), respectively. Are attached to leading end surfaces of the advance / retreat members 228A and 228B connected via the parallel rotation links 224A, 224B, 226A and 226B.

  A suction pad advancing / retreating motor 230 is disposed adjacent to a link mechanism for moving the suction pads 216A, 216B back and forth. One end of a long connecting rod 234 is connected to an eccentric position of a disk 232 that is rotated by driving of the motor 230. The other end of the connecting rod 234 is a fulcrum of the link farthest from the suction pad 216A (the leftmost link 226A in FIG. 15) of the two parallel links 224A and 226A that move the inner suction pad 216A forward and backward. It is connected to the outside of 226Aa (the side opposite to the forward / backward moving member 228A with respect to the fulcrum 226Aa). Further, one end of a short connecting rod 236 is connected to the side opposite to the side where the long connecting rod 234 is eccentrically connected to the disk 232 rotated by the motor 230 (the side opposite to the rotation axis of the motor 230). Has been. The other end of the short connecting rod 236 is a link farther from the suction pad 216B (the rightmost link 226B in FIG. 15) of the two parallel links 224B and 226B for moving the outer suction pad 216B forward and backward. It is connected to the outside of the fulcrum (on the opposite side to the advance / retreat member 228B with respect to the fulcrum 226Ba). The connecting rods 234 and 236 for transmitting the drive of the motor 230 to the parallelogram link for moving the inner suction pad 216A forward and backward and the parallelogram link for moving the outer suction pad 216B forward and backward are as described above. Since they are connected, for example, when the long connecting rod 234 moves forward (moves to the left in FIG. 15), the short connecting rod 236 moves backward (moves to the right), and the two suction pads 216A and 216B approach each other. On the other hand, when the long connecting rod 234 moves backward (moves to the right in FIG. 15), the short connecting rod 236 moves forward (moves to the left), and the two suction pads 216A and 216B move away from each other.

  Further, in this embodiment, the grippers 4 provided on the turntable 2 are made into a set to process two bag-like containers 8 at a time, and the bag-like containers 8 are opened. Two sets of suction pads are provided to perform the same operation at the same time. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated to the mechanism which advances / retracts two sets of suction pad 216A, 216B and suction pad 216A, 216B. In order to interlock with each other, the links 226A and 226A are connected by the transmission rod 238 to simultaneously move the inner suction pad 216A forward and backward, and the links 226B and 226B are simultaneously moved to move the outer suction pad 216B forward and backward simultaneously. Are connected by a transmission rod 240. As a result, two sets of suction pads (the two suction pads 216A and 216B on the right side in FIG. 15 and the two suction pads 216A and 216B on the left side in FIG. 15) move forward and backward at the same timing. Are opened, and then the opening 8a is opened when separated. The suction pads 218 (218A, 218B) that open the lower side of the bag-like container 8 also operate in the same manner as the upper side suction pads 216A, 216B described above, so that the description thereof is omitted. To do. Further, in this embodiment, the entire mechanism shown in FIG. 15 is turned so that it can be applied not only to the case where the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 is located in the center but also to any side. The position can be adjusted by moving in the rotational direction of the table 2. Further, the lower unit as a whole (the suction pad 218, the lower suction pad link mechanism 219 and the right motor 221 described in the lower right of FIG. And the suction height by the suction pad 218 on the lower side can be changed.

  The opening station C is inserted into the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 and is opened inside to forcibly open the bag-like container 8, and air is blown into the bag-like container 8. An opening flapper 242 for completely opening the bag-like container 8 to the bottom side is provided. The configuration of the flapper 242 will be described with reference to FIGS. A mechanism for supporting the flapper 242 and rotating it up and down is installed above the turntable 2. The rotation center shaft 244 is arranged upright with the rotation shaft 170 at the center of the turntable 2 aligned with the axis. A support frame 248 is supported on the outer periphery of the upper end 170a of the rotating shaft 170 of the turntable 2 via a ball bearing 246 so as to be relatively rotatable. The support frame 248 has an upright column portion 248a, and a rotation raising / lowering mechanism for the flapper 242 is provided on the column portion 248a. Further, a horizontal fixed frame 250 is connected to a support frame 248 that is fitted to the rotary shaft 170 of the turntable 2 so as to be relatively rotatable (see FIG. 18). The fixed frame 250 extends to the outside of the turntable 2 and is fixed to the outside.

  The central axis 244 of the rotation raising / lowering mechanism of the flapper 242 is rotatably supported via the upper and lower bearings 254 in the raising / lowering frame body 252 that moves up and down along the support column 248a. A vertical guide rail 256 is attached to the support column 248 a, and a slider 258 fixed to the elevating frame body 252 is fitted to the guide rail 256 and moves up and down along the guide rail 256. ing. A lifting motor 260 is fixed to the upper end of the support column 248a, and one end of the connecting rod 264 is connected to an eccentric position of the rotating disk 262 connected to the rotating shaft thereof. The other end of the connecting rod 264 is connected to the upper surface of the elevating frame body 252. When the rotary disk 262 is rotated by driving the lifting / lowering motor 260, the connecting rod 264 is lifted / lowered to lift / lower the entire lifting / lowering frame body 252.

  A square cylindrical revolving arm 264 is fixed to a portion of the central shaft 244 located inside the elevating frame body 252. A servo motor 266 for turning is installed above the center shaft 244. By driving the servo motor 266, the center shaft 244 is rotated and the turning arm 264 is turned. An opening flapper 242 is attached below the tip of the swivel arm 264. In this embodiment, the swivel arm 264 swivels to reciprocate the flapper 242 between the opening station C at the third position of the turntable 2 and the filling station D at the fourth position. The swivel arm 264 has substantially the same length as the radius of the turntable 2 so that the center of the flapper 242 is positioned above the movement path of the bag-like container 8 that is gripped and conveyed by the gripper 4. It has become. If the position of the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 is not at the center of the upper end but at a position biased to the left or right of the upper end, the phase of the swivel arm 264 is adjusted with respect to the turntable 2 To respond. If the position of the opening 8a is shifted from the center by 5 mm to the left (in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the turntable 2), the phase of the turning arm 264 is shifted by 5 mm in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the turntable 2. Thus, the position of the flapper 242 can be positioned above the opening 8a.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the flapper 242 includes a pair of members 268A and 268B that are bent into a square shape at the top, and the upper side (hereinafter referred to as the upper side) of both the square members 268A and 268B. The end portions are arranged facing each other, the other side (hereinafter referred to as a leg portion) is oriented in the vertical direction, and the intermediate portions of the leg portions are rotatably supported by fulcrum pins. Flapper members 242A and 242B that constitute the flapper 242 are attached to the lower ends of the leg portions of the two cross-shaped members 268A and 268B, respectively, facing downward. These flapper members 242A and 242B have their lower portions bent outward. In a state where these flapper members 242A and 242B are brought closest to each other, the upper side connected to the leg portions of the letter-shaped members 268A and 268B is separated, and gradually approaches the lower side to become an inverted triangle and bent. The lower part contacts and faces the vertical direction. A spring 270 is mounted above the fulcrum of the two cross-shaped members 268A and 268B to attract the upper side at all times, and in a free state, the flapper members 242A and 242B attached to the lower side are separated. (The state indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. 17).

  Each flapper member 242A, 242B bent at the lower side is provided with an air passage 242a therein, and air supplied to the air passage 242a from the outside via the air supply pipes 272A, 272B is supplied from the air injection port 242b. It can be jetted. Further, the outer diameters of the flapper members 242A and 242B are thinner than the opening 8a formed in the bag-like container 8. In this embodiment, both flapper members 242A and 242B of the flapper 242 are inserted into the bag-like container 8 through the opening 8a in a state where the flapper members 242A and 242B are closed (the lower part is in contact with the vertical direction). The opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 is opened by expanding 242B.

  A long connecting rod 278 is connected to one end of an L-shaped lever 276 (see FIG. 17) whose intermediate portion is rotatably supported by a fulcrum 274. A roller 280 is attached to the other end portion of the L-shaped lever 276, and this roller 280 is positioned below a portion where the tip portions of the upper sides of the character-shaped members 268A and 268B face each other. As will be described later, the connecting rod 278 can move back and forth in the axial direction. When the connecting rod 278 moves backward (moves to the left in FIG. 17), the L-shaped lever 276 rotates counterclockwise. Rotating in the direction, the roller 280 is raised, and the lower flapper members 242A, 242B are closed by pushing up the portion where the top ends of the two letter-shaped members 268A, 268B overlap. Further, when the connecting rod 278 moves forward (moves to the right in FIG. 17), the L-shaped lever 276 rotates in the clockwise direction and the roller 280 is lowered, so that the fulcrums of the two character-shaped members 268A and 268B Also, the upper side is attracted by the force of the spring 270, and the flapper members 268A and 268B attached below are opened.

  The other end side of the connecting rod 278 extends in the direction of the central portion of the turntable 2 along a horizontally-arranged rectangular tube-shaped turning arm 264. A vertical lever 284 that is rotatable about a fulcrum 282 is disposed below the end of the turning arm 264 on the center side of the turntable 2, and the connecting rod 278 is disposed at the upper end of the vertical lever 284. The ends of are connected. A spring 286 is attached slightly below the fulcrum 282 of the vertical lever 284 and presses the lower side of the vertical lever 284 to apply a force in the direction to retract the connecting rod 278 (left direction in FIG. 17). It is acting.

  The flapper 242 attached to the square cylindrical swivel arm 264 and the mechanism for opening and closing the flapper members 242A and 242B of the flapper 242 are reciprocated between the opening station C and the filling station D by the swiveling servo motor 266. Although the pivoting arm 264 supporting the flapper 242 is stopped at the opening station C on the support frame 248 below the rotating portion, the longitudinal lever 284 An engagement roller 288 is provided at a position where the vertical lever 284 is engaged with the lower end portion to maintain the vertical lever 284 in a substantially vertical state, and the engagement with the vertical lever 284 is released when the turning arm 264 starts rotating. ing. When the swivel arm 264 is positioned at the opening station C, the engagement roller 288 is engaged with the lower end of the vertical lever 284 to keep the vertical lever 284 upright, and the connecting rod 278 and The flapper 242 is closed via the L-shaped lever 276.

  When the flapper 242 is lifted in the closed state, when the bag-like container 4 that is gripped by the gripper 4 and closed in the opening portion 8a moves to the opening station C, first, the suction pads 216, 218 are moved. Thus, the opening 8a and the bottom side of the bag-like container 8 are adsorbed and opened. Thereafter, the flapper 242 is lowered by the drive of the lift motor 260 and inserted into the bag-like container 8 from the opened opening 8a, and the air-injection port 242b formed inside the flapper 242 enters the bag-like container 8. Air is blown in to reliably open the bag-like container 8 to the bottom side. Subsequently, when the turning arm 264 is rotated by the turning servo motor 266 following the rotation of the turntable 2, the vertical lever 284 is immediately disengaged from the engaging roller 288, and the flapper 242 of the connecting rod 278 is removed. The flapper members 242A and 242B of the flapper 242 are opened by the forward movement in the direction and the rotation of the L-shaped lever 276 in the clockwise direction, and the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 is further expanded.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the swing arm 264 to which the flapper 242 is attached is moved up and down between a position indicated by a solid line and a position indicated by an imaginary line above the lift motor 260. Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the turning servo motor 266 makes a reciprocating turn between the position of the opening station C indicated by the solid line and the filling station D which is the next fourth position. In this embodiment, it descends from above at the opening station C, swivels from the opening station C to the filling station D at the lowered position, rises at the filling station D, and swivels from the filling station D to the opening station C at the raised position. Performs a circular motion.

  The fourth position next to the opening station C is a filling station D. Although not shown in detail, the two bag-like containers 8 held and conveyed by the gripper 4 are filled with contents such as liquid. Two filling nozzles 10 to be performed are arranged. These filling nozzles 10 are moved up and down. At the opening station C, the bag-like container 8 opened from the opening 8 a to the lower part by the suction pads 216 and 218 and the flapper 242 is moved by the flapper 242. It is transported while maintaining the open state.

  The operation of the bag-shaped container processing apparatus 1 and the bag-shaped container supply apparatus 6 according to the above configuration will be described. The bag-like container 8 is conveyed by the supply conveyor 14 with the opening 8a side directed to the front side in the conveying direction and the rear part of the front bag-like container 8 being sequentially stacked on the front part of the rear bag-like container 8. A bag-like container take-out portion 16 is arranged above the downstream end of the supply conveyor 14, and the suction cup lifting motor 22 is lowered from the raised position by driving the suction cup raising / lowering motor 42. The bottom side of the bag-like container 8 is adsorbed. Thereafter, the suction cup 22 adsorbing the bag-like container 8 is raised at that position by driving the suction cup lifting / lowering motor 42. The bag-like container 8 is lifted on the bottom side at the rear in the conveying direction, and the front opening 8a side hangs down on the supply conveyor 14.

  Next, the lifting bar 26 is moved by the lifting bar drive motor 52. In the movement path on the lower side of the suction cup 22, the lifting bar 26 moves a little lower than the rising suction cup 22 from the upstream side to the downstream side (from right to left in FIG. 2) in the transport direction. . When the lifting bar 26 enters the lower side of the bag-like container 8 from the bottom side of the bag-like container 8 and moves to the vicinity of the opening 8a, the entire bag-like container 8 is lifted by the suction cup 22 and the lifting bar 26. Become.

  A reciprocating means 30 for a chuck 28 for feeding the bag-like container 8 from a position where it is lifted from the conveying surface of the supply conveyor 14 to the positioning part 18 is provided below the positioning part 18 provided on the downstream side of the bag-like container take-out part 16. Then, the chuck 28 is moved to the bag-like container take-out means 16 side to grip the opening 8a side of the bag-like container 8 being lifted. After that, the bag-like container 8 that has been lifted above the supply conveyor 14 by the suction cup 22 and the lifting bar 26 is sent to the positioning unit 18.

  A placement plate 74 on which the bag-like container 8 is placed is disposed in the positioning unit 18, and the bag-like container 8 pulled by the chuck 28 is placed on the placement plate 74. The positioning unit 18 includes a stopper 76 (see FIG. 3) for positioning the tip of the bag-like container 8 on the opening 8a side, and a finger that presses the bag-like container 8 placed on the placement plate 74 from the rear. 81, and the finger 81 presses the rear end portion (bottom portion) of the bag-like container 8 on the mounting plate 74 and puts the front end surface against the stopper 76, so that the bag-like container 8 is moved forward and backward. Perform positioning.

  A pair of centering members 100 and 102 are arranged on the left and right sides of the bag-like container 8 that has been positioned forward and backward on the placement plate 74, and the bag-like container 8 is sent onto the placement plate 74. At the time, the centering members 100 and 102 on both sides are separated. After the front-and-rear positioning of the bag-like container 8 is completed, the centering motor 124 is driven to rotate the two screw shafts 112 and 114 to bring the centering members 100 and 102 closer to each other. By positioning the pair of centering members 100 and 102 close to each other, the bag-like container 8 is sandwiched from both sides to perform left and right positioning. In this way, the front-rear and left-right positioning of the bag-like container 8 is performed on the placement plate 74 of the positioning unit 18.

  A transfer means 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 7) is provided above the positioning portion 18. While the bag-like container 8 is transferred to the positioning portion 18 and positioned, the delivery suction cup 128 is positioned upward as shown by a solid line in FIG. In accordance with the timing when positioning is completed, the motor 156 of the delivery means 20 is driven to rotate the operating lever 152 in the clockwise direction of FIG. The link 134 rotates together with the fulcrum shaft 132 in the clockwise direction by the rotation of the operating lever 152, and the round rod 140 connected to the other end of the link 134 via the horizontal shaft 136 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. At the downward moving end of the round rod 140, the state is substantially in the vertical direction, and the transfer suction cup 128 attached to the horizontal shaft 136 is also in the state directly below. The suction cup 128 sucks the vicinity of the opening 8 a at the front end of the bag-like container 8 positioned by the positioning unit 18. Subsequently, the link 134 and the round rod 140 are rotated in the direction opposite to the above operation by the bag-shaped container delivery motor 156. At the upward moving end of the link 134 and the round rod-shaped rod 140, the link 134 is almost upright and the round rod-shaped rod 140 is in a substantially horizontal state, and as shown in FIG. It becomes a horizontal state facing the direction of the processing apparatus.

  The bag-like container supply device 6 is provided in front of the bag feeding station A, which is the first position of the bag-like container processing device 1, and the delivery suction cup 128 of the bag-like container supply device 6 The bag-like container 8 is handed over to the gripper 4 stopped at the bag feeding station A by intermittent rotation of the turntable 2. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the gripper 4 is provided at a position slightly lower than the suction cup 128 moved to the upper delivery position, and the gripper 4 has an upper portion close to the opening 8 a of the bag-like container 8. Grab. Since the bag-like container supply device 6 positions the bag-like container in the front-rear and left-right directions with the positioning unit 18 and then delivers the bag-like container to the bag-like container processing device 1, accurate supply without deviation is possible. Further, when lifting the bag-like container 8 from the supply conveyor 14, the suction side sucks the bottom side of the bag-like container 8, so there is no adsorption mistake, and without changing the direction of the bag-like container 8, It is possible to supply the opening 8a side upward.

  In the bag feeding station A, the cam follower 206 of the L-shaped lever 192 is engaged with a high position of the center cam 212 for approaching and separating the grip members 4A and 4B of the gripper 4, and the grip members 4A and 4B are separated from each other. It is in the state. An opening cam (not shown) for opening the gripping portion 172 provided at the tip of each grip member 4A, 4B is provided on the radially inner side of the position where the gripper 4 of the bag feeding station A stops. The release cam is moved by an air cylinder or the like, thereby turning the horizontal L-shaped lever 180 to open the grip body 172B on the radially outward side to open the grip 172. I have to. The end portion of the bag-like container 8 adsorbed by the delivery suction cup 128 is inserted into the opened gripping portion 172. Thereafter, when the release cam is retracted, the gripping body 172B on the radially outer side is returned by the force of the spring 184, and is pressed against the gripping body 172A on the fixed side to grip both side ends of the bag-like container 8.

  The bag-like container 8 held by the gripper 4 at the bag feeding station A stops at the next printing station B by one pitch rotation (1/8 rotation) of the turntable 2 that rotates intermittently. Also in this printing station B, the center cam 212 for approaching and separating the grip members 4A and 4B of the gripper 4 always pushes up the cam follower 206 at a high position, and the grip member 4A and 4B are separated from each other. Both ends are attracted to the outside. Therefore, both surfaces of the bag-like container 8 are in close contact with each other. A printing device 9 is provided at the printing station B, and predetermined printing is performed on the bag-like container 8.

  The bag-like container 8 on which printing has been performed at the printing station B by the rotation of the next one pitch of the turntable 2 is sent to the next opening station C. In the opening station C, suction pads 216 and 218 for opening the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 are provided. At the time when the bag-like container 8 is sent to the opening station C, the upper suction pad 216 and the lower suction pad 218 are both in the radial direction with the suction pads 216A and 218A located on the radially inner side of the turntable 2. The suction pads 216B and 218B on the outer side are in a retracted state. When the bag-like container 8 gripped and conveyed by the gripper 4 between the inner suction pads 216A and 218A and the outer suction pads 216B and 218B is stopped, the upper suction pads 216 ( 216A, 216B) and the lower suction pads (218A, 218B) approach each other to suck the bag-like container 8 from both sides.

  When the bag-like container 8 is sent to the opening station C by the rotation of the turntable 2, the cam follower 206 of the L-shaped lever 192 that opens and closes both grip members 4 </ b> A and 4 </ b> B of the gripper 4 is connected to the center cam 212. It is in a high position, and both grip members 4A and 4B are expanded. Thereafter, the center cam 212 is rotated by the suction pads 216 and 218 at the timing when the bag-like container 8 is opened. The cam follower 206 moves to a lower position of the center cam 212 and the grip members 4A and 4B approach each other. Thus, the opening operation by the suction pads 216 and 218 of the bag-like container 8 is assisted by bringing the grip members 4A and 4B close to each other.

  The opening process of the bag-like container 8 by the upper and lower suction pads 216 and 218 and the flapper 242 will be described. First, the upper and lower suction pads 216 and 218 are advanced to suck the upper side and the lower side of the bag-like container 8. At this time, the flapper 242 is stopped at the raised position, and the lower end portion of the longitudinal lever 284 on the proximal end side of the connecting rod 278 that opens and closes the flapper 242 is attached to the support frame 248 on the fixed side. The lower end portions of both flapper members 242A and 242B are closed. Next, while the lower suction pad 218 is stopped at the advanced position, the upper suction pad 216 is moved backward, and the center cam 212 is rotated to move the cam follower 206 to a lower position of the center cam 212 to hold both grips. The members 4A and 4B are brought close to each other to open the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8. In this state, the flapper 242 is lowered through the lifting frame 252 and the rectangular tube-shaped arm 264 by driving the lifting motor 260 and is inserted into the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 whose lower end is opened. Thereafter, the upper suction pad 216 that has once retracted is moved forward again, the center cam 212 is rotated to the original position, the cam follower 206 is moved to a higher position of the center cam 212, and both grip members 4A and 4B are expanded again. The gap formed between the opening 8a and the flapper 242 is closed while the flapper 242 is inserted. After closing the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8, the air sent from the air supply source via the air supply pipe 272A is supplied to the bag-like container 8 from the air passage 242a formed inside the flapper members 242A and 242B. And the lower suction pad 218 is moved backward. Subsequently, the suction pad 216 on the upper side is retracted, the center cam 212 is rotated, the cam follower 206 is moved to a lower position of the center cam 212, and the grip members 4A and 4B are brought closer to each other, thereby opening the bag-like container 8 The part 8a is opened, and the entire bag-like container 8 is opened.

  After opening the entire bag-like container 8, the vacuum of the upper and lower suction pads 216, 218 is released and the bag-like container 8 is released. Subsequently, following the rotation of the turntable 2, the rectangular cylindrical arm 264 is turned through the central shaft 244 by driving the turning servo motor 266. As soon as these rotating parts start turning, the engagement with the engaging roller 288 on the fixed side of the longitudinal lever 284 is released, and the lower portions of the flapper members 242A and 242B are opened by the spring 270 on the upper side of the flapper 242 (see FIG. (Refer to the flapper member shown by an imaginary line in 17). The lower portions of both flapper members 242A and 242B are opened, and the state in which the opening 8a of the bag-like container 8 is expanded from the inner surface side is maintained, and the flapper 242 rotates together with the bag-like container 8.

  When the bag-like container 8 rotated and conveyed with the flapper 242 inserted by the rotation of the turntable 2 reaches the filling station D and stops, the lifting frame 252 is raised by the driving of the lifting motor 260 and the flapper 242 It is extracted from the bag-like container 8. A filling nozzle 10 that can be moved up and down is disposed in the filling station D, and the filling nozzle 10 that has been lowered is inserted into the opened bag-like container 8 to perform filling. Thereafter, the bag is moved from the filling station D to the bag closing station E. When the center cam 212 rotates after stopping at the bag closing station E, the cam follower 206 engaged with the low position 212A of the center cam 212 is pushed up to the high position 212B, and the both grip members 4A and 4B are separated (see FIG. 4 (see bag closing station E in (a) and (b)). When both grip members 4A and 4B are separated from each other, the opening 8a which is opened by pulling the both side ends of the bag-like container 8 is closed. Further, the flapper 242 is returned to the opening station C from the filling station D at the raised position by the drive of the turning servo motor 266 and inserted into the next bag-like container 8.

  Thereafter, the turntable 2 is sequentially stopped at the first sealing station F and the second sealing station G by the rotation of one pitch. In these sealing stations F and G, sealing is performed at any one of stations determined in advance according to the shape and size of each bag-like container 8. Subsequently, after being transported to the cooling station H and cooled, the gripping portions 172 of both grip members 4A and 4B that have gripped the bag-like container 8 are opened and the bag-like container 8 is released. An opening cam (not shown) for opening and closing the radially outer gripping body 172B of the gripping portion 172 is also disposed in the cooling discharge station H, and the gripping on the outer side is performed by the operation of the opening cam. The both ends of the bag-like container 8 that has been gripped by rotating the body 172B outward are released. The bag-like container 8 held by the gripper 4 provided on the turntable 2 is placed on the discharge conveyor 12, discharged from the bag-like container processing apparatus 1, and sent to the next step.

2 Rotating body (turntable)
4 Gripper 8 Bag-like container 10 Filling means (filling nozzle)
216 Suction pad 218 Suction pad 242 Flapper 266 Moving means (servo motor for turning)

Claims (2)

A processing apparatus for a bag-like container that handles a plurality of bag-like containers having different opening positions formed at the upper end, and a rotating body provided with a plurality of grippers in the circumferential direction for gripping the bag-like container, and this rotation A driving means for intermittently rotating the body, a filling means for filling the bag-like container held by the gripper and transferred, and a bag-like container which is provided so as to be movable forward and backward and is held by the gripper. A suction pad that sucks from both sides, a flapper that can be moved up and down and opened and opened from the opening of the bag-like container to open the bag-like container, and a servo motor that reciprocates this flapper following the rotating body And
An apparatus for processing a bag-like container, wherein the phase between the flapper and the rotating body can be adjusted according to the position of the opening of the bag-like container to be processed.   The bag-shaped container processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position of the suction pad can be adjusted in the width direction of the bag-shaped container gripped by the gripper.

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