JP2018199494A - Container processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a container processing device capable of making the lifting/lowering operation of a container follow the movement of a retainer by a simple structure.SOLUTION: A retainer 11 has holding holes 12 for holding a container C. The retainer and a conveyor chain 10 move the retainer 11 along a transfer direction. First and second lifting/lowering plates 21 and 22 are arranged below the retainer 11 and are lifted or lowered by engaging with the container C held in the holding hole 12. A gripping member 13 is arranged above the retainer 11 and grips the container C lifted by the lifting/lowering plates 21 and 22. The first and second lifting/lowering plates 21 and 22 are reciprocatable along the transfer direction. After the first lifting/lowering plate 21 lifts the container C while following the movement of the retainer 11 and delivers the container C to the gripping member 13, the second lifting/lowering plate 22 receives the containers C from the gripping member 13 and brings it back to the holding hole 12 by lowering it while following the movement of the retainer 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a container processing apparatus that performs a process such as once lifting a container held by a retainer and transporting the container from the retainer and sealing a lid to an opening of the container.

  Conventionally, what was disclosed by patent document 1, 2 as a container processing apparatus is known. In the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, while the retainer is stopped, the push-up body raises the container and delivers it to the holding body, and after temporarily sealing the lid to the opening of the container by the temporary sealing device, The raising body lowers the container from the holding body and returns it to the retainer. On the other hand, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, the operation of transferring the container from the retainer to the holding body, temporarily sealing the lid on the opening of the container and returning it to the retainer is performed while the retainer is moving.

Japanese Patent No. 4370141 Japanese Patent No. 4370155

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, a series of temporary sealing operations such as raising of a container, temporary sealing, and lowering of a container are performed while an intermittently conveyed retainer is stopped. In this configuration, in order to shorten the stop time of the retainer in order to increase the processing capacity, it is necessary to increase the ascending / descending speed of the container. However, when the raising / lowering speed of the container is increased, there is a possibility that the ingredients accommodated in the container jump out of the container during the raising / lowering operation. On the other hand, in the configuration of Patent Literature 2, since the temporary sealing operation can be performed following the retainer that is continuously conveyed, the processing capability of the device can be increased compared to the device of Patent Literature 1, A mechanism that allows the holding body, temporary sealing device, and push-up body to follow the carrying operation of the retainer is necessary, and a mechanism that causes the holding body and temporary sealing device to follow and a mechanism that causes the push-up body to follow up and down are large and complex. There was a problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a container processing apparatus capable of following up and down movement of a container with movement of a retainer with a simple structure as compared with a conventional structure.

  A container processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a retainer having a holding hole for holding a container, a conveying means for moving the retainer along the conveying direction, and a container provided below the retainer and held in the holding hole. A container lifting / lowering means for engaging and lifting; a gripping means provided above the retainer for gripping the container lifted by the container lifting / lowering means; and a processing means for performing a predetermined process on the container gripped by the gripping means. The container elevating means has a first elevating plate disposed upstream in the conveying direction and a second elevating plate disposed downstream in the conveying direction, and the first and second elevating plates are arranged in the conveying direction. The first elevating plate follows the movement of the retainer, lifts the container and delivers it to the holding means, and then the second elevating plate receives the container from the holding means. It is characterized by lowered while following the movement of the retainer back to the holding hole.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the container processing apparatus which can make the raising / lowering operation | movement of a container follow a movement of a retainer by simple structure can be obtained.

It is a side view which shows the container processing apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows a retainer and a pair of holding member. It is a top view which shows the drive mechanism of the 1st and 2nd raising / lowering plate. It is a front view which shows the drive mechanism of the 1st and 2nd raising / lowering plate. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement which a 1st raising / lowering plate delivers a container from a retainer to a holding member. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement which a 2nd raising / lowering member returns a container from a holding member to a retainer.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a container processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a plurality of retainers 11 are attached to a conveyor chain (conveying means) 10 extending in the horizontal direction at regular intervals, and the retainers 11 move along the conveying direction (arrow A direction). The retainer 11 is a plate-like member, and a plurality of holding holes 12 for holding the container C are formed along a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. In the present embodiment, four retaining holes 12 are formed in one retainer 11 (see FIG. 3).

  A pair of gripping members (gripping means) 13 and a temporary sealing device (processing means) 14 are provided above the retainer 11. The gripping member 13 can expand and contract along the transport direction and can grip the container C. As will be described later, the temporary sealing device 14 temporarily seals the lid L on the opening of the container C gripped by the gripping member 13. A suction head 15 and a magazine 16 are provided above the retainer 11. The magazine 16 holds a large number of sheet-like lids L in a stacked state, and an extraction opening 17 for taking out the lid L is formed at the bottom. The suction head 15 is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the paper surface, sucks and takes out one lid L from the take-out opening 17, transfers it to the gripping member 13, and holds the container C gripped by the gripping member 13. It is comprised so that it may supply to an opening part. On the upper surface of the gripping member 13, a guide pin 18 for positioning the lid L is provided.

  Below the retainer 11, first and second elevating plates 21 and 22 are provided. The first and second elevating plates 21 and 22 are container elevating means that engages and elevates the container C held by the retainer 11. The first elevating plate 21 is disposed on the upstream side in the conveying direction (left side in FIG. 1), and the second elevating plate 22 is disposed on the downstream side in the conveying direction chain (right side in FIG. 1). The conveying operation of the conveyor chain 10 is intermittent, and when one retainer 11 is positioned near the center of the pair of gripping members 13, it is driven so as to temporarily stop. The first and second elevating plates 21 and 22 can reciprocate along the conveying direction of the retainer 11, and hold the container C from the retainer 11 in conjunction with the intermittent conveying operation of the retainer 11 as will be described later. Delivered to the member 13 or received from the gripping member 13 and returned to the retainer 11.

  FIG. 2 shows the retainer 11 and a pair of gripping members 13. In the retainer 11, the holding holes 12 are formed at regular intervals along a direction perpendicular to the transport direction (arrow A direction), and have a circular shape that matches the horizontal cross section of the container C. The grip member 13 is formed with an arc-shaped notch 19 at a position corresponding to the holding hole 12 of the retainer 11. The pair of gripping members 13 can be opened and closed in the transport direction, and the container C can be gripped by the notches 19 in the closed state. In addition, when the horizontal cross section of a container is not circular, the holding hole 12 and the notch 19 are shape | molded by the shape corresponding to the horizontal cross section.

  Two guide pins 18 are provided on the upper surface of the gripping member 13 and in the vicinity of each notch 19. That is, one lid L is centered by the four guide pins 18 and positioned with respect to the opening of the container C when the pair of gripping members 13 are in the closed state. In this positioning state, the temporary sealing device 14 temporarily seals the lid L at one location of the opening of the container C. The temporary seal is a process of heating a part of the lid L to the container C by heating from the surface of the lid L, for example.

  A configuration for driving the first and second elevating plates 21 and 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. The first elevating plate 21 has a disk corresponding to the bottom shape of the container C, and is supported by a support member 23 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the retainer 11 (arrow A direction). A slider 24 is attached to one end of the support member 23, and the slider 24 is slidably fitted to a guide rod 26 fixed to the first moving member 25 and extending in the vertical direction. A slider 27 is provided on the lower surface of the first moving member 25, and the slider 27 is slidably engaged with a rail 28 extending along the conveying direction of the retainer 11.

  A nut 30 is attached to the other end of the support member 23, and the nut 30 is screwed into a ball screw 32 that is fixed to the second moving member 31 and extends in the vertical direction. The ball screw 32 is rotationally driven by a servo motor 33 attached to the second moving member 31. A nut 35 is attached to the connecting member 34 provided at the lower end of the second moving member 31, and the nut 35 is screwed into a ball screw 37 that is fixed to the output shaft of the servo motor 36 and extends in the conveying direction.

  Accordingly, when the servo motor 36 is driven, the first elevating plate 21 moves along the rail 28. In addition, the first elevating plate 21 moves up and down along the guide rod 26 by driving the servo motor 33. That is, the first elevating plate 21 can be moved up and down following the movement of the retainer 11 by controlling the rotation speeds of the servo motors 33 and 36.

  The second lifting plate 22 has the same configuration as the first lifting plate 21. That is, the second elevating plate 22 is supported by the support member 40 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the retainer 11. A slider 41 is attached to one end of the support member 40, and the slider 41 is slidably fitted to a guide rod 43 provided on the third moving member 42. A slider 43 is provided on the lower surface of the third moving member 42, and the slider 43 is slidably engaged with a rail 44 extending along the conveying direction of the retainer 11.

  A nut 45 is attached to the other end of the support member 40, and the nut 45 is screwed into a ball screw 47 provided on the fourth moving member 46. The ball screw 47 is rotationally driven by a servo motor 48 attached to the fourth moving member 46. A nut 50 is attached to a connecting member 49 provided at the lower end of the fourth moving member 46, and the nut 50 is screwed into a ball screw 52 that is fixed to the output shaft of the servo motor 51 and extends in the conveying direction.

  Accordingly, when the servo motor 51 is driven, the second elevating plate 22 moves along the rail 44, and when the servo motor 48 is driven, the second elevating plate 22 moves up and down along the guide rod 43. . That is, the second elevating plate 22 can be moved up and down following the movement of the retainer 11 by controlling the rotation speeds of the servo motors 48 and 51.

The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, the arrows indicate the moving directions of the members.
FIG. 5A shows that the first elevating plate 21 rises from the lowest position (see FIG. 6D) while moving in the horizontal direction at the same speed as the retainer 11 and comes into contact with the bottom surface of the container C. The state immediately after is shown. In this state, the second elevating plate 22 descends while moving in the horizontal direction at the same speed as the retainer 11, and transfers the container C to the retainer 11 positioned directly below the gripping member 13 on the downstream side. On the other hand, the suction head 15 is sucked by the lid L at the lowest position of the magazine 16, and the pair of gripping members 13 are opened.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5B, the first elevating plate 21 moves obliquely upward so as to lift the container C while following the movement of the retainer 11, whereby the container C is held in the holding hole of the retainer 11. 12 is released. On the other hand, the second elevating plate 22 moves in the horizontal direction together with the retainer 11 while being separated from the bottom surface of the container C. Further, the suction head 15 is rotated to transfer the lid L taken out from the magazine 16 downward. That is, when the first elevating plate 21 moves to the downstream side in the conveying direction while lifting the container C, the second elevating plate 22 moves horizontally to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

  When the first elevating plate 21 rises and the upper end of the container C reaches the height position of the gripping member 13, the first elevating plate 21 is positioned in the holding hole of the retainer 11, as shown in FIG. doing. In this state, the conveying operation of the retainer 11 is stopped, and the movement of the first and second elevating plates 21 and 22 in the horizontal direction is also stopped. At this time, the pair of gripping members 13 are closed, and the container C lifted by the first lifting plate 21 is gripped. Further, the suction head 15 is lowered to supply the lid L to the opening of the container C.

  When the lid L is placed on the opening of the container C, the lid L is positioned by the guide pins 18, and the temporary seal device 14 is lowered and comes into contact with the lid L as shown in FIG. At the same time, the first elevating plate 21 moves obliquely downward toward the upstream side in the conveying direction, and the second elevating plate 22 moves in the horizontal direction toward the upstream side in the conveying direction. That is, when the first elevating plate 21 moves down and moves upstream in the conveying direction, the second elevating plate 22 moves horizontally upstream in the conveying direction.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), when the first elevating plate 21 is lowered slightly below the bottom surface of the container C held by the retainer 11, the moving direction is changed to the horizontal direction, and the second elevating plate 21 is also moved. The plate 22 changes the moving direction diagonally upward. On the other hand, the suction head 15 is lifted and separated from the lid L on the container C, and the temporary sealing device 14 is kept in contact with the lid L. That is, when the second elevating plate 22 moves up and moves upstream in the conveying direction, the first elevating plate 21 moves horizontally toward the upstream side in the conveying direction.

  When the second elevating plate 22 reaches just below the container C gripped by the gripping member 13, the second lift plate 22 changes the moving direction vertically upward as shown in FIG. At this time, the first elevating plate 21 is stopped, the suction head 15 is turning upward, and the temporary sealing device 14 is kept in contact with the lid L.

  When the second elevating plate 22 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the container C, the second elevating plate 22 is positioned in the holding hole of the retainer 11 as shown in FIG. At this time, the temporary sealing device 14 is raised and separated from the lid L, and the pair of gripping members 13 are opened and separated from the container C. Further, the suction head 15 continues to rotate and is approaching the magazine 16.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6D, the retainer 11 starts moving in the transport direction, and at the same time, the first elevating plate 21 also moves in the horizontal direction together with the retainer 11. The second elevating plate 22 moves obliquely downward toward the downstream side in the transport direction. That is, when the second elevating plate 22 moves to the downstream side in the conveying direction while lowering the container C, the first elevating plate 21 moves horizontally to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

  After the state of FIG. 6D, as shown in FIG. 5A, the second elevating plate 22 delivers the container C to the retainer 11, and the first elevating plate 21 moves obliquely upward, The lift plate 22 abuts on the bottom surface of the container C positioned on the rear side of the container C with which the lift plate 22 is engaged. Thereafter, the above-described operation is repeated, and the temporary sealing operation of the lid L to the opening of the container C is continuously performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the first and second elevating plates 21 and 22 both move in the same direction along the conveying direction of the retainer 11, while the first elevating plate 21 follows the movement of the retainer 11. After the container C is lifted and delivered to the gripping member 13, the second elevating plate 22 receives the container C from the gripping member 13, descends while following the movement of the retainer 11, and delivers it to the holding hole 12 of the retainer 11. .

  According to this embodiment, since the raising / lowering operation of the container C is performed during the movement of the retainer 11 that is intermittently conveyed, the time for raising / lowering the container C while the retainer 11 is stopped can be eliminated, and most of the stopping time is reached. Can be assigned to processing such as temporary sealing, and the stop time itself can be shortened. Further, the two lifting plates 21 and 22 are made to follow the conveying operation of the retainer 11, the container C is lifted by the first lifting plate 21 and transferred to the gripping member 13, and then the container C is moved from the gripping member 13 by the second lifting plate 22. Therefore, the moving distance of each lifting plate 21, 22 can be shortened and the drive mechanism can be simplified compared to a configuration in which lifting / lowering tracking is performed by one lifting plate as in Patent Document 2. be able to.

  The driving mechanism for moving the first elevating plate 21 and the second elevating plate 22 up and down is not limited to the present embodiment, and the first elevating plate 21 and the second elevating plate 21 are driven by one driving source using a cam plate and a link mechanism. Various configurations such as driving the elevating plate 22 are conceivable.

  In addition, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus that continuously processes containers that are continuously conveyed as in Patent Document 2.

10 Conveyor chain (conveying means)
11 Retainer 13 Gripping member (gripping means)
14 Temporary sealing device (processing means)
21 First elevating plate (container elevating means)
22 Second elevating plate (container elevating means)

Claims (1)

A retainer having a holding hole for holding the container;
Conveying means for moving the retainer along a conveying direction;
A container elevating means provided below the retainer and engaging and elevating the container held in the holding hole;
Gripping means provided above the retainer and gripping the container lifted by the container lifting means;
Processing means for performing a predetermined process on the container gripped by the gripping means,
The container elevating means has a first elevating plate disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction and a second elevating plate disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction,
The first and second elevating plates can reciprocate along the transport direction;
After the first lifting plate lifts the container while following the movement of the retainer and delivers it to the gripping means, the second lifting plate receives the container from the gripping means and lowers it while following the movement of the retainer. And returning to the holding hole.

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