JP2018079951A - Capping device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exhibit sufficient tightening torque and durability and suppress the height dimension of a device while adopting a chuck having plural fingers which can reciprocate in the direction of the radius of a cap.SOLUTION: A capping device for attaching and detaching a cap of a container by rotating it comprises: a rotating unit coaxial with a rotation shaft of the cap and rotates relatively to the container; a chuck unit which includes plural fingers which can reciprocate in the direction of the radius of the cap and rotates with the rotating unit coaxially with the rotation shaft; plural arms connected to the fingers for gripping or releasing the cap by moving to the direction of the radius of the cap; and a guide unit for regulating the motion of the arm in the rotating direction of the rotating unit and the motion of the arm in the twisting direction of the rotation shaft.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a capping device that rotates and removes a cap screwed into the mouths of various containers.

  Conventionally, as a device for rotating and removing a cap of a container, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-300592 discloses that a cap of a container is directly gripped by an air chuck, and the container underneath is rotated to attach and detach the cap. A container cap attachment / detachment device is disclosed.

  Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-69795 discloses a shaft provided in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cap by lowering the piston moving in the vertical direction and pushing the cam roller radially outward by the downward movement of the piston. An apparatus for mounting a cap on a tube container is disclosed in which the chuck arm pivotally supported by is closed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-300592 Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-69795

  However, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the cap is directly gripped by the air chuck. In general, a part having a mechanism that operates in the radial direction, such as an air chuck, Although it has high strength and durability, it tends to have poor strength in the direction of rotation. Therefore, if a general part such as an air chuck is used for the mechanism operating in the radial direction, there is a fear that a sufficient tightening torque cannot be applied or the life of the part is shortened.

  In addition, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the mechanism for moving the chuck arm in the radial direction of the cap and the mechanism for rotating the chuck arm are independent of each other, the problems caused by rotating as described above are not caused. It is thought that it does not occur. However, since parts such as a piston that moves in the vertical direction are provided, there has been a problem that the height dimension of the apparatus becomes large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and can employ a chuck including a plurality of fingers that can reciprocate in the radial direction of the cap, while being able to obtain sufficient tightening torque and durability, and An object of the present invention is to provide a capping device capable of suppressing the height dimension.

1) The capping apparatus of the present invention
In the capping device that rotates and removes the cap of the container,
A rotation unit that is coaxial with the rotation axis of the cap and rotates relative to the container;
A chuck portion comprising a plurality of fingers reciprocally movable in the radial direction of the cap, and being rotated coaxially with the rotating shaft together with the rotating portion;
A plurality of arms connected to the fingers and moving in a radial direction of the cap to grip or release the cap;
A guide part that regulates movement of the rotating part in the rotational direction and movement of the arm in the direction of twisting with respect to the rotational axis;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the capping device of the present invention, the cap is gripped by the movement of the arm cap in the radial direction, and the guide portion is twisted with respect to the movement of the rotation portion of the arm and the rotation shaft. Since the movement in the direction is restricted, the torque at the time of tightening the cap or the torque at the time of loosening the cap can be absorbed by the guide portion. For this reason, these torques are not transmitted to the chuck portion, and it is possible to employ a component that takes into account only the radial movement of the cap. As a result, general parts can be employed for the chuck portion, and the life of the parts can be extended.

  In addition, as a mechanism for opening and closing the arm, a chuck part equipped with a plurality of fingers that can reciprocate in the radial direction of the cap is adopted, so parts such as a piston that operates vertically to open and close the arm are unnecessary. Thus, the overall height of the apparatus can be suppressed. In addition, the rotation part should just rotate relatively with respect to a container, a container may be fixed and a rotation part may be rotated, conversely, a rotation part is fixed and a container is rotated. You may let them.

2) A preferred example of the capping device of the present invention is:
The guide portion pivotally supports the finger and the end of the arm with a shaft in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis, and the rotation portion and the central portion of the arm. A second fulcrum pivotally supported by an axis in a direction perpendicular to the dynamic axis;
At least one of the rotating unit, the chuck unit, and the arm is provided with a buffer unit that absorbs the movement of the first fulcrum or the second fulcrum in the direction along the rotating axis generated by the operation of the arm. It is characterized by providing.

3) A preferred example of the capping device of the present invention is:
The buffer portion is a long hole provided in at least one of the rotating portion, the finger, and the arm of a portion pivotally supported by the first fulcrum or the second fulcrum.

4) Preferred examples of the capping device of the present invention are:
The said buffer part is provided with the 3rd fulcrum which is an axis | shaft of the direction orthogonal to the said rotating shaft between the said 1st fulcrum and the said 2nd fulcrum among the said arms. .

  According to these preferred examples of the capping device of the present invention, since the guide portion and the buffer portion are axes in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the cap, the structure of the device can be simplified. .

5) A preferred example of the capping device of the present invention is:
The buffer portion supports the chuck portion on the first fulcrum and moves the chuck portion in a direction along the rotation axis.

  According to a preferred example of the capping device of the present invention, the buffer portion supports the chuck portion on the first fulcrum and floats, so that the structure of the device can be simplified.

6) A preferred example of the capping device of the present invention is:
The rotating part is composed of a cylindrical material whose upper end is closed,
The chuck part is provided on the upper side of the rotating part, a part of the arm and the guide part are provided on the outer side of the rotating part, and the cap is attached and detached inside the cylindrical member. To do.

  According to a preferred example of the capping device of the present invention, the upper end of the rotating part is composed of a closed cylindrical material, most of the operating parts are arranged outside the rotating part, and the mouth portion of the container is further rotated. Inside the part. For this reason, the dust generated during the operation of the components is present outside the rotating portion away from the mouth portion of the container, and it is difficult for the dust to enter the container.

  As described above, according to the capping device of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a sufficient tightening torque and durability while adopting a chuck including a plurality of fingers that can reciprocate in the radial direction of the cap. The height dimension can be suppressed.

It is a figure explaining the capping apparatus concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the state which closed the arm in the capping apparatus of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the 1st fulcrum of FIG. 2, and is a figure explaining a buffer part. It is a figure explaining the other example of a buffer part. It is a figure explaining the other example of a buffer part. It is a figure explaining the capping apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of a capping device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a diagram illustrating a capping device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an arm is closed in the capping device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a first diagram surrounded by a circle in FIG. It is an enlarged view of a fulcrum, and is a figure explaining a buffer part. 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining another example of the buffer portion, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a capping device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the capping device 10 of the present embodiment is for attaching and detaching the cap 12 of the container 11, and includes a rotating part 20, a rotary joint 40, a chuck part 50, an arm 60, and the like. And a guide part.

  The rotation unit 20 rotates coaxially with the rotation axis C of the cap 12, and includes a disk 21 and a lower bracket 22. The circular plate 21 has a circular shape in plan view, and the upper portion of the chuck portion 50 is attached to the lower surface and the central portion thereof. A plurality of lower brackets 22 are attached to the lower surface of the disc 21 and in the vicinity of the periphery. Further, the secondary side of the rotary joint 40 is attached to the center of the upper surface of the disc 21 and rotates together with the rotating unit 20. Note that a rotation device (not shown) is connected to the rotation unit 20 to rotate the rotation unit 20.

  The lower bracket 22 is provided at three positions on the periphery of the disk 21 and at positions shifted from the center of the disk 21 by 120 degrees. The lower bracket 22 is fixed to the disc 21 and rotates together with the disc 21. Further, in the present embodiment, the lower bracket 22 is constituted by three parts of the drooping plate 23, the rib 24, and the L-shaped tool 25. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various forms can be adopted.

  The rotary joint 40 is generally called a rotary joint, a rotary manifold, a rotary connector, or the like, and supplies a power source such as compressed air or electric power to the chuck portion 50. As described above, the rotary joint 40 is attached to the upper surface of the disk 21 on the secondary side and rotates simultaneously with the rotating unit 20. In addition, an output unit (not shown) for outputting a power source such as compressed air or electric power to the chuck unit 50 is provided, and compressed air or electric power is supplied to the chuck unit 50 from the output unit. The rotary joint 40 is fixed by attaching a primary side (not shown) to a frame or the like (not shown). Moreover, in this embodiment, since the rotation part 20 is rotated, the rotation joint 40 becomes an essential structure. However, in the structure in which the rotation part 20 is fixed and the container 11 is rotated, the rotation joint 40 is It becomes unnecessary.

  The chuck portion 50 generates power for gripping or releasing the cap 12, and includes a plurality of fingers 51 that can reciprocate in the radial direction of the cap 12. Further, the chuck unit 50 rotates together with the rotating unit 20 as the rotating unit 20 and the arm 60 rotate. In this embodiment, a 3-jaw type air chuck is employed, but a 2-jaw type, a 4-jaw type, or the like can also be employed.

  One end 61 of the arm 60 is connected to the finger 51 by a first fulcrum 70 described later. The substantially central portion of the arm 60 is pivotally supported on the lower bracket 22 by a second fulcrum 71 described later. Accordingly, the arm 60 moves by swinging in the radial direction of the cap 12 in accordance with the reciprocating motion of the finger 51. The other end 62 of the arm 60 is attached with a member made of rubber, hard synthetic resin, or the like that does not damage the cap 12 when gripping the cap 60 and exhibits sufficient frictional force against the cap 12. It is done.

  As shown in FIG. 3, which is an enlarged view of the circled portion of FIG. 2, one end 61 of the arm 60 that occurs when the finger 51 and the arm 60 move in the radial direction of the cap 12. A long hole 73 is provided in the finger 51 as a buffering part for absorbing the vertical movement, that is, the movement in the direction along the rotation axis C.

  Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide portion regulates the movement of the rotation unit 20 in the rotation direction and the movement in the direction of twisting with respect to the rotation axis C of the operation of the arm 60, and The first fulcrum 70 and the second fulcrum 71 are provided. The first fulcrum 70 is provided at a connection portion between the finger 51 and one end 61 of the arm 60, and pivotally supports the finger 51 and the arm 60 with an axis in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis C. . The second fulcrum 71 is provided at the connecting portion between the L-shaped tool 25 of the lower bracket 22 and the central portion of the arm 60, and the lower bracket 22 and the arm 60 are pivoted in an axis perpendicular to the rotation axis C. I support.

  As described above, since the arm 60 can perform only the radial operation of the cap 12 by the guide portion, the torque in the rotational direction due to the rotation when the cap 12 is loosened or tightened can be absorbed by the guide portion. No force other than the radial direction of the cap 12 is applied to the finger 51. The stroke amount of the arm 60 and the gripping of the cap 12 are changed by changing the ratio of the distance between the first fulcrum 70 and the second fulcrum 71 and the distance between the second fulcrum 71 and the other end 62 of the arm 60. The power can be changed.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the buffer part is made into the long hole 73 provided in the finger 51 as mentioned above, this long hole 73 is made into the arm side of the 1st fulcrum 70, the L shape tool side of the 2nd fulcrum 71, and 2nd. You may provide in any of the arm side of the fulcrum 71.

  Further, as in the capping device 110 shown in FIG. 4, the buffer portion is an axis in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis C between the first fulcrum 170 and the second fulcrum 171 of the arm 160. A configuration including three fulcrums 172 may be employed. In this buffer portion, when the finger 51 reciprocates, the arm 163 between the first fulcrum 170 and the third fulcrum 172 swings, so that the third fulcrum 172 moves in the direction along the rotation axis C. Movement is absorbed. In FIG. 4, the operation on the right side of the capping device 110 is illustrated, and the operation can be understood. Therefore, the description on the right side is omitted. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted (the same applies to the following embodiments).

  Further, as in the capping device 210 shown in FIG. 5, the buffer portion may be configured such that the chuck portion 50 is supported by the first fulcrum 70 and the chuck portion 50 is moved in the direction along the rotation axis C. . This is because the chuck portion 50 is not attached to the disc 21 by providing a gap S between the disc 21 and is supported and floated only on the first fulcrum 70, so that the finger 51 and the arm 60 have the radius of the cap 12. The vertical movement of the first fulcrum 70 of the arm 60 that occurs when the arm 60 moves in the direction is transmitted to the chuck unit 50 as it is, and is absorbed by the chuck unit 50 moving up and down. The chuck portion 50 and the disc 21 are not completely separated, but they are elastic bodies such as springs and rubber, or linear motion bearings that can move only in the linear motion direction, and linear motion guides such as cylinders and pistons. You may connect with equipment.

  Next, another embodiment of the capping apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the capping device 310 of the present embodiment, the rotation unit 320 is configured by a cylindrical material with the upper end closed. The chuck unit 50 and the rotary joint 40 are provided on the upper side of the rotating unit 320. Further, a part of the arm 360, and the first fulcrum 370 and the second fulcrum 371 as a guide part are provided outside the rotating part 320. In the present embodiment, a part of the arm 360 other than the other end 362 that holds the cap 12 is provided outside the rotating part 320. A side bracket 326 is provided on the side surface of the cylindrical member of the rotation unit 320, and the side bracket 326 and the arm 360 are connected by a second fulcrum 371. Further, the arm 360 is configured to include a third fulcrum 372 as a buffer portion between the first fulcrum 370 and the second fulcrum 371.

  In addition, a groove-shaped notch 327 is provided in a portion of the side surface of the cylindrical member where the vicinity of the other end 362 of the arm 360 interferes to a position where it does not interfere with the arm 360 upward from the lower end of the cylindrical material. It is done. The vicinity of the other end 362 of the arm 360 is inserted from the notch 327 into the inside of the tubular material. The cap 12 is attached / detached inside the cylindrical member. Even if dust is generated from the chuck portion 50, the first fulcrum 370, the second fulcrum 371, and the third fulcrum 372 during operation, It is blocked by the rotation part 320 made of a cylindrical material so as not to enter the container 11.

  Next, with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, operation | movement of the capping apparatus 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated. First, as shown in FIG. 1, when the finger 51 moves inward in the radial direction of the cap 12, the first fulcrum 70 moves inward according to the movement of the finger 51. Then, the arm 60 swings about the second fulcrum 71 and the other end 62 located below the second fulcrum 71 moves outward in the radial direction of the cap 12. This is a state where the cap 12 is opened. In FIG. 1, only the arm 60 on the left side of the drawing is operated.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, when the finger 51 moves outward in the radial direction of the cap 12, the first fulcrum 70 moves outward according to the movement of the finger 51. Then, the arm 60 swings about the second fulcrum 71, and the other end 62 below the second fulcrum 71 moves inward in the radial direction of the cap 12 to grip the cap 12. If the rotation part 20 is rotated in this state, the cap 12 can be attached and detached. In addition, about operation | movement of other embodiment, the operation | movement that the arm 60 rock | fluctuates is the same, and since it can understand by said description, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As described above, according to the capping device of the present embodiment, the torque caused by the rotation when the cap is attached / detached is absorbed by the guide portion instead of the chuck portion, so that the chuck portion reciprocates in the general radial direction. Parts such as an air chuck provided with a finger to be used can be employed, and the cost for manufacturing can be reduced. In addition, since such an air chuck or the like has a mechanism that moves in the horizontal direction, the height dimension can be reduced, for example, in a place where there is a height restriction such as in a clean bench. Can be installed.

  In addition, in a configuration in which the rotating part is a cylindrical member and most of the chuck part and the arm are arranged outside the cylindrical member, even if dust is generated, the rotating part is blocked and the dust does not enter the container. can do.

  The above-described capping device is an exemplification of the present invention, and the configuration thereof can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

10, 110, 210, 310 ... capping device, 11 ... container, 12 ... cap,
20, 120, 320,... Rotating part, 21, 121, disc, 22, lower bracket, 23, drooping plate, 24, rib, 25, L shape, 326, side bracket, 327 ..Notches,
40. ・ Rotary joint (secondary side),
50 ・ ・ Chuck part, 51 ・ ・ Finger,
60, 160, 163, 360 .. arm, 61, 361 .. one end, 62, 162, 362 .. the other end,
70, 170, 370, first fulcrum, 71, 171, 371, second fulcrum, 172, 372, third fulcrum, 73, long hole,
C. ・ Rotating shaft,

Claims (6)

In the capping device that rotates and removes the cap of the container,
A rotation unit that is coaxial with the rotation axis of the cap and rotates relative to the container;
A chuck portion comprising a plurality of fingers reciprocally movable in the radial direction of the cap, and being rotated coaxially with the rotating shaft together with the rotating portion;
A plurality of arms connected to the fingers and moving in a radial direction of the cap to grip or release the cap;
A guide part that regulates movement of the rotating part in the rotational direction and movement of the arm in the direction of twisting with respect to the rotational axis;
A capping device comprising: The guide portion pivotally supports the finger and the end of the arm with a shaft in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis, and the rotation portion and the central portion of the arm. A second fulcrum pivotally supported by an axis in a direction perpendicular to the dynamic axis;
At least one of the rotating unit, the chuck unit, and the arm is provided with a buffer unit that absorbs the movement of the first fulcrum or the second fulcrum in the direction along the rotating axis generated by the operation of the arm. The capping apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The buffer portion is a long hole provided in at least one of the rotating portion, the finger, and the arm of a portion pivotally supported by the first fulcrum or the second fulcrum. 2. The capping device according to 2.   The said buffer part is provided with the 3rd fulcrum which is an axis | shaft of the direction orthogonal to the said rotating shaft between the said 1st fulcrum and the said 2nd fulcrum among the said arms. The capping device according to claim 2.   The capping device according to claim 2, wherein the buffer portion supports the chuck portion on the first fulcrum and moves the chuck portion in a direction along the rotation shaft. The rotating part is composed of a cylindrical material whose upper end is closed,
The chuck part is provided on the upper side of the rotating part, a part of the arm and the guide part are provided on the outer side of the rotating part, and the cap is attached and detached inside the cylindrical member. The capping device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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