JP2018203426A - Container conveying wheel device - Google Patents

Abstract

To smoothly receive a container even though conveying the container into a holding recess in an abnormal posture, and to prevent damage of parts and peripheral devices due to biting of the container and a bitten container to reduce the number of emergency stops.SOLUTION: At an outer peripheral part of a rotation table 20, provided are: a movable piece 21 provided with three holding recesses 22; guide pins 32F and 32R and long holes 33F and 33R that freely retract the movable piece 21 in a radial direction from a reference position at an outer peripheral end, and swingably guide the movable piece within a horizontal plane; and coil springs 34F and 34R for biasing the movable piece 21 onto an outer peripheral side. A tilted container B is received by the holding recess 22 so as to have an upright posture, and the container B is smoothly conveyed by returning to the reference position thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device that connects processing devices such as a sterilization device, a molding device, a filling device, and a capping device, and relates to a container transport wheel device that transports a container along a circular path. The container includes a preform body (precursor of a resin bottle), a resin bottle, a glass bottle, and the like.

  The processing speed of the processing line for sterilizing, forming, filling, and capping the container has increased from 500 bpm (lines / minute) to 800 bpm and further to 1000 bpm. For this reason, when the container is delivered from the transport apparatus to the processing apparatus via the star wheel, an accident in which the container is inclined or falls due to an external factor such as vibration or periodic fluctuation is likely to occur. As a result, the container is not carried into the holding recess of the star wheel, but the container is caught between the star wheel and the peripheral device or the guide member, causing an accident that the peripheral device or its parts are damaged.

  By the way, in Patent Document 1, for the purpose of protecting the star wheel and peripheral devices, an overload protection mechanism that cuts off the connection between the article receiving member and the support table when the radial pressing force of the star wheel is overloaded. A technique provided with a (torque limiter) has been proposed. That is, when an overload occurs, the plunger comes off the recessed portion of the bush against the biasing force of the compression coil spring, the article receiving member is separated from the support table, and the slide plate is retracted in the radial direction of the star wheel body. It is. (End of paragraph 0023)

JP 2003-192126 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, when the container is carried in an abnormal posture and the article receiving member is pushed in with a large load, the torque limiter works, the article receiving member is separated from the support table and escapes in the circumferential direction. At this time, the star wheel and the processing line connected to the star wheel are temporarily stopped.

  The present invention solves the above problems, and even if the container may be sent in an abnormal posture, it can be smoothly received, thereby preventing damage to peripheral devices and parts due to the biting of the container, It is an object of the present invention to provide a container transport wheel device that can significantly reduce the number of emergency stops in a processing line.

  The present invention is a container transport wheel device comprising a revolving body that is rotated around a vertical axis, and a holding recess that is formed on the outer periphery of the revolving body at regular intervals and holds the container. A plurality of movable members arranged along the outer periphery of the swing body and having one or more holding recesses formed in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery, and the radius of the swing body from the reference position of the outer peripheral end A guide member that guides reversibly in a direction and swingably in a horizontal plane, and a biasing member that biases the movable member toward the radially outer periphery of the swivel body. To do.

  According to the above configuration, when a container with an abnormal posture inclined in various directions and angles is sent, the movable member is moved backward from the reference position and swung by the load from the container. As a result, the holding recess is displaced, and the container that has been in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the movable member is received by the holding recess. Then, the container is returned to the upright posture side. Furthermore, the load on the movable member by the container is reduced, and the movable member is pushed back from the outer peripheral side toward the reference position by the biasing member, whereby the container is erect and held in the holding recess in a normal posture. Therefore, it is possible to prevent peripheral devices and parts from being damaged by the bitten container, and the number of times of emergency stop of the processing line including the swivel body can be greatly reduced.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the guide member regulates the movement of the movable member in the circumferential direction at the reference position. Thereby, the storage recess of the movable member at the reference position can be accurately positioned, and the container can be carried in and out smoothly.

  Further, in the above configuration, the guide member is provided on one of the revolving body and the movable member and is a pair of guide pins serving as a swing fulcrum, and the other of the revolving body and the movable member is substantially parallel to the radial axis of the revolving body. An elongated hole provided to relatively move the guide pin, and the elongated hole has a restricting portion for restricting the relative movement of the guide pin in the circumferential direction when the movable member is at a reference position. Is preferred. According to the above configuration, the storage recess of the movable member at the reference position can be accurately positioned by the combination of the long hole having the restricting portion and the guide pin that moves backward in the long hole, and the container can be carried in and out. It can be done smoothly.

  Furthermore, in the above configuration, the guide member has a pair of swing support points on both sides of the radial axis connecting the center of the movable member at the reference position and the turning center, and the movable member swings about at least one of the swing support points. It is preferable that the urging member is movably supported and a pair of urging members are disposed at least on both sides of the radial axis. As a result, even if a load is generated by the container in an abnormal posture and is applied to the movable member, the movable member is smoothly retracted and swung to displace the holding recess in a wide range, and the container is smoothly received in the holding recess and the container The movable member can be smoothly returned to the reference position by the urging member, and the upright container in a normal posture can be stably held in the holding recess.

  Furthermore, in the above configuration, the guide member has a pair of swing fulcrums on both sides of a radial axis connecting the movable member center at the reference position and the swing center of the swing body, and the movable member is at least one of the swing support points. It is preferable that the urging member is supported so as to be swingable about one side, and a pair of urging members are disposed at least on both sides of the radial axis. In the above configuration, by swinging the movable member around one swinging fulcrum, the holding recess can be moved in a wide range and the container in an abnormal posture can be easily received.

  The guide member is provided on one of the revolving body and the movable member and serves as a swing fulcrum, and on the other of the revolving body and the movable member, the guide member is provided substantially parallel to the radial axis of the revolving body. A long hole through which the guide pin is relatively moved, and the long hole has an extension portion that allows relative movement in the circumferential direction of the guide pin when the movable member is located at a position other than the reference position. By combining the elongated hole with the restricting part and the extended part and the guide pin that moves relative to the elongated hole, the movable member is swung around one of the guide pins to displace the holding recess over a wide range. The container can be easily received in the holding recess.

  In the above configuration, the outer peripheral edge of the movable member at the reference position is preferably set on the inner peripheral side from the circular path through which the container is conveyed. By forming the outer peripheral edge of the movable member on the inner peripheral side from the circumferential path, the container can be smoothly guided and received in the holding recess.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the holding member is displaced and the container can be smoothly received in the holding recess when the movable member is retracted and swung by the load caused by the container in the abnormal posture. At the same time, the inclination of the container is reduced, the load on the movable member by the container is reduced, and the movable member is returned toward the reference position by the biasing member. Thereby, the container which inclines can be set upright and a container can be hold | maintained with a normal attitude | position in a holding | maintenance recessed part at a reference position.

It is a top view which shows Example 1 of the star wheel apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is an enlarged bottom view in a container carrying-in position. It is an enlarged side view of the front view in a container carrying-in position. It is a schematic diagram of the bottom view explaining a guide apparatus. It is a schematic diagram explaining the movement of a movable piece. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view illustrating a guide device according to a second embodiment of the star wheel device according to the present invention.

[Example 1]
Hereinafter, Example 1 of the star wheel which is a wheel device for container conveyance concerning the present invention is described based on Drawings 1-5.

  1-3, 11 is a star wheel apparatus which conveys the preform body which is arrange | positioned at a process line and is the container B. In FIG. The star wheel device 11 sequentially receives the containers B sent from the grippers 13 of the inlet side transfer devices 12 arranged adjacent to each other at the container carry-in position Bi, and holds the containers B (neck portions Bn) to form a circular path. And is sent out to the outlet side transport device 14 at the container unloading position Bo. Further, an arcuate guide 15 for guiding the container B is provided on the outer periphery of the circular path from the container carry-in position Bi to the container carry-out position Bo.

  Although not described in detail, the inlet-side transfer device 12 adjusts the delivery transfer pitch of the container B by moving the gripper 13 in the circumferential direction and the radial direction in accordance with the transfer pitch of the container B of the star wheel device 11. A pitch adjusting device (not shown) is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a collar part Bt is formed in the neck part Bn of the preform body which is the container B. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the star wheel device 11 holds the lower part of the collar part Bt, The entrance-side transport device 12 and the exit-side transport device 14 grip the upper part of the flange Bt.

(Star wheel device)
The star wheel device 11 includes a rotary table (swivel body) 20 that is driven to rotate counterclockwise around a vertical axis via a rotary shaft 16, and a plurality of star wheel devices 11 that are arranged at regular intervals on the outer periphery of the rotary table 20. For example, the 15 movable pieces (movable members) 21 and the movable piece 21 are moved back and forth within a predetermined range as indicated by a solid position in the outer periphery as shown by a solid line in FIG. 4 and as indicated by a broken line in FIG. A guide device 31 that guides between the receiving position and a movable piece detecting device 41 (FIGS. 1 and 3) that detects the movable piece 21 at the receiving position. A substantially semicircular single or plural (three in the figure) holding recesses 22 for holding the container B via the neck portion Bn are formed at regular intervals on the outer peripheral edge 21a of each movable piece 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the movable piece 21 is formed in an arc shape centered on the rotation shaft 16 in a state where the movable piece 21 is at the reference position, and has a substantially trapezoidal (fan-shaped base) shape in plan view. Is formed. Three holding recesses 22 are formed along the outer peripheral edge 21a. The outer peripheral edge 21a of the movable piece 21 is formed in a small-diameter arc shape that is retracted from the pitch circle C of the circular path by a receding distance Δb. The outer peripheral edge 21a is retracted from the pitch circle C of the circular path toward the inner peripheral side, so that the outer peripheral edge 21a is formed along the pitch circle C of the circular path. Smooth reception into the holding recess 22 is possible.

(Guide device)
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the guide device 31 includes a pair of guide pins (guide members) 32 </ b> F and 32 </ b> R that are provided on the rotary table 20 and serve as swing fulcrums, and a guide pin 32 </ b> F that is provided on the movable piece 21. , 32R are movably fitted with a pair of elongated holes (guide members) 33F, 33R, and coil springs (biasing members) 34F, 34R for urging the movable piece 21 toward the outer peripheral side.

  A pair of guide pins 32 </ b> F and 32 </ b> R protrude downward from the lower surface of the turntable 20 with a certain distance L in the tangential direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide pins 32F and 32R are arranged in parallel to each other at an equal interval L / 2 with respect to the radial axis CL connecting the center of the movable piece 21 at the reference position and the vertical axis. Arranged on the axes CF and CR. The long holes 33F and 33R are formed along the respective axes CF and CR. The long holes 33F and 33R are formed at the inner peripheral end and the guide pins 32F and 32R restrict the movement of the movable piece 21 in the circumferential direction, and the guide pins 32F are formed on the outer peripheral side from the restricting portion 33n. , 32R, and an expansion portion 33w in which the movement of the movable piece 21 in the circumferential direction is permitted, and is formed symmetrically with respect to the radial axis CL. In the above configuration, when the guide pins 32F and 32R are arranged in the restricting portion 33n and the movable piece 21 is at the reference position, the movable piece 21 is allowed to move only in the backward direction (inward in the radial direction) from the reference position. Circumferential movement is restricted. Further, when the movable piece 21 is moved in the backward direction from the reference position and the guide pins 32F and 32R are present in the extension portion 33w, the movable piece 21 is allowed to move in the circumferential direction within the range of the swing width Δm. The movable piece 21 is allowed to swing around one of the guide pins 32F and 32R, and the movable piece 21 is swung according to the magnitude and direction of the load.

  The coil springs 34F and 34R are arranged in parallel with each other along the substantially axial lines CF and CR at symmetrical positions of the radial axis CL. The coil springs 34F and 34R allow the movable piece 21 to be uniformly outer peripherally from both sides of the radial axis CL. Energize to the side. That is, the inner peripheral ends of the coil springs 34 </ b> F and 34 </ b> R are respectively fitted in the hole portions of the receiving member 35, and these receiving members 35 are fixed to the lower surface of the turntable 20. The outer peripheral ends of the coil springs 34F and 34R are fitted into the pressure receiving holes 21b and 21b, respectively, and these pressure receiving holes 21b and 21b are formed on the inner peripheral side of the movable piece 21. Thereby, the movable piece 21 can be urged to the outer peripheral side with an equal pressing force, the swing of the movable piece 21 can be controlled, and the movable piece 21 can be returned to the reference position. 2 and 3, reference numeral 32c denotes a guide cover attached to the lower end portions of the guide pins 32F and 32R via an adjustment screw to prevent the movable piece 21 from coming off and guide it. The frictional resistance of the guide cover 32c and the movable piece 21 and the guide pins 32F and 32R and the long holes 33F and 33R is adjusted by the adjusting screw via shims provided on the guide pins 32F and 32R. Can be adjusted. It is also possible to adjust the spring force of the coil springs 34F and 34R so that the movable piece 21 is stopped at the receiving position and detected by the movable piece detecting device 41.

(Movable piece detector)
The movable piece detection device 41 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of each movable piece 21 and a pair of detection rods 42F and 42R protruding downward at a symmetrical position of the radial axis CL, and downstream of the container loading position Bi in the transport direction. The detection sensor 43 is provided. The detection sensor 43 includes a sensor main body 43a supported at a predetermined position via a bearing on the rotary shaft 16, and a detector 43b extending from the sensor main body 43a to the movable piece 21 via a rod-shaped elastic member (coil spring). have. Therefore, the movable piece 21 that has been stopped at the receiving position but has not been returned to the reference position is detected by the detection sensor 43 when the detector 43b contacts the detection rods 42F and 42R. Thereby, it is judged that the container B of the star wheel device 11 is received abnormally, and the processing line including the star wheel device 11 can be stopped.

(Operation of guide device)
In a normal state, the movable piece 21 is biased by the coil springs 34F and 34R, the guide pins 32F and 32R are fitted into the restricting portion 33n, and the movable piece 21 is held at the reference position. When the movable piece 21 reaches the container carry-in position Bi, the container B is sequentially fed into the holding recess 22 and held by the gripper 13 of the inlet side transfer device 12. Then, the container B is conveyed to the container unloading position Bo along the circular path while being guided by the arcuate guide 15.

  When the container B sent to the holding recess 22 by the gripper 13 is sent to the holding recess 22 in an inclined abnormal posture, the container B comes into contact with the holding recess 22 or the outer peripheral edge 21a of the movable piece 21 to move the movable piece 21. Is generated, and the movable piece 21 is retracted from the reference position to the receiving position on the inner peripheral side against the coil springs 34F and 34R. Further, the movable piece 21 swings around one guide pin 32F or 32R, whereby the holding recess 22 is displaced in a wide range, and the container B that has been in contact with the outer peripheral edge 21a of the movable piece 21 is received by the holding recess 22. It is done. Thereby, the inclined container B is returned to the upright side, and the gripper 13 is opened to reduce the load on the movable piece 21. When the movable piece 21 swings, if there is a displaceable gap around the guide pin 32F or 32R serving as a swing fulcrum, the guide pin 32R or 32F is displaced and the swing fulcrum is also displaced. Then, the movable piece 21 is pushed back to the outer peripheral side by the coil springs 34F and 34R and returned to the reference position, so that the container B is reliably returned to the normal posture in which the container B is upright.

  Here, the operation range of the movable piece 21 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the allowable displacement area ME indicates the range of fluctuation of the center of the container B in the plane including the holding recess 22. And can be held in a normal posture in the holding recess 22 at the reference position. The wider the displacement allowable area ME, the higher the capacity for accommodating the container B in the abnormal posture in the holding recess 22. Further, the allowable displacement area ME depends on the shapes of the long holes 33F and 33R.

  When the container B is bitten and the movable piece 21 remains in the receiving position, the movable piece 21 is detected by the detection sensor 43 via the detection rods 42F and 42R. Accordingly, the processing line including the star wheel device 11 is stopped assuming that the star wheel device 11 receives the container B abnormally.

(Effect of Example 1)
According to the first embodiment, the movable piece 21 having the holding recess 22 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the turntable 20 by the guide device 31 so as to be able to move backward and swing from the reference position of the outer peripheral end. By energizing the outer peripheral side, the movable piece 21 is retracted and swung to displace the holding recess 22 to receive the container B in an abnormal posture into the holding recess 22 and to reduce the inclination of the container B. Is released, the load on the movable piece 21 by the container B is reduced. Further, the movable piece 21 can be returned to the reference position by the coil springs 34F and 34R, and the container B can be held in the holding recess 22 in a normal posture in an upright state. As a result, even if the container B is inclined and has an abnormal posture due to external factors such as vibration and periodic fluctuation, it can be smoothly received in the holding recess 22 and held in a normal posture. Therefore, accidents that damage peripheral devices and members can be prevented in advance by the container B bitten by the star wheel device 11 and its peripheral members, and the number of times that the processing line including the star wheel device 11 is emergency stopped. Can be greatly reduced.

  Further, the guide pins 32F and 32R are fitted into the restriction portions 33n of the long holes 33F and 33R at the reference position, thereby restricting the movement of the movable piece 21 in the circumferential direction and positioning the holding recess 22 with high accuracy. Thus, the container B can be delivered smoothly.

  Further, the movable piece 21 is movable because the guide pins 32F and 32R are supported so as to be retractable inward along the elongated holes 33F and 33R and swingable around at least one of the guide pins 32F and 32R. The piece 21 is smoothly retracted, and the movable piece 21 is swung in a balanced manner corresponding to the fed container B by the coil springs 34F and 34R arranged at symmetrical positions of the radial axis CL, and the holding recess 22 is widened. Can be displaced in a range. Thereby, the container B of many abnormal postures can be received in the holding recess 22. Further, the movable piece 21 is evenly biased to the outer peripheral side by the pair of coil springs 34F and 34R, the container B that remains inclined in the holding recess 22 is erected and returned to the normal posture, and the movable piece 21 is brought to the reference position. Can be restored.

  Furthermore, since the outer peripheral edge 21a of the movable piece 21 is set on the inner peripheral side with respect to the pitch circle C of the circular path, the container B having an inclined abnormal posture is smoothly guided from the outer peripheral edge 21a to the holding concave portion 22 to hold the concave portion. 22 can be sent.

(Deformation of long hole)
Here, the shape of the long holes 33F and 33R is expanded to both sides in the circumferential direction at the receiving position, but is not particularly limited, and is the shape of the long holes 33F and 33R expanded to one side in the circumferential direction. The width may be asymmetric with respect to the front and rear axes CF and CR. Further, the restriction portions 33n of the long holes 33F and 33R may have a certain distance in the radial direction from the end portions. As described above, the shapes of the long holes 33F and 33R can be appropriately changed according to the desired displacement allowable range ME.

[Example 2]
In the guide device 31 of the first embodiment, the guide pins 32F and 32R are provided in the rotary table 20, and the long holes 33F and 33R are provided in the movable piece 21, but in the guide device 51 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 52F and 52R are provided in the movable piece 21, and long holes 53F and 53R are provided in the turntable 20. In the second embodiment, the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the guide device 51 of the second embodiment, a pair of long holes 53F and 53R are formed in the rotary table 20 along the front and rear axes CF and CR, and the pair of guides fitted into the long holes (guide members) 53F and 53R. Pins (guide members) 52 </ b> F and 52 </ b> R protrude from the upper surface of the movable piece 21. These elongated holes 53F and 53R are provided with a restricting portion 53n at the outer peripheral end for allowing only a backward movement in the radial direction and restricting a movement in the circumferential direction, and an extending portion 53w allowing the movement and swinging in the circumferential direction. The shape is reversed on the inner and outer peripheral sides. The operation of the guide pins 52F and 52R in the long holes 53F and 53R is also opposite between the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, the elongated holes 53F and 53R are formed in the rotary table 20. However, the elongated holes 53F and 53R are formed in the guide cover 32c fixed to the rotary table 20 and the member fixed to the rotary table 20. Also good.

  According to the said Example 2, there can exist an effect similar to Example 1. FIG.

(Other forms)
In the first and second embodiments, the guide device 31 is a mechanical displacement mechanism including the guide pins 32F, 32R, 52F, and 52L and the long holes 33F, 33R, 53F, and 53R. However, the guide device 31 includes a cam groove and a cam follower. The movable piece 21 can be supported on the rotary table 20 so as to be retractable and swingable by the guide device. Further, instead of the coil springs 34F and 34R which are urging members, a leaf spring, an air damper or the like may be provided.

C Pitch circle CL of circular path Radius axis B Container Δb Retreat distance Δm Oscillation width Bi Container loading position 11 Star wheel device 15 Arc guide 16 Rotating shaft 20 Rotating table (swivel body)
21 Movable piece (movable member)
21a Outer peripheral edge 22 Holding recess 31 Guide device 32F, 32R Guide pin (guide member)
33F, 33R Slotted hole (guide member)
33n restriction part 33w expansion part 34F, 34R coil spring (biasing member)
41 Movable piece detector

Claims (6)

A container for transporting the container along a circumferential path, comprising: a revolving body that is rotated around a vertical axis; and a holding recess that is formed on the outer periphery of the revolving body at regular intervals and holds the container. A wheel device,
A plurality of movable members arranged along the outer periphery of the revolving body and having one or more holding recesses formed in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery;
A guide member that guides the movable member so as to be retractable in a radial direction of the swivel body from a reference position of an outer peripheral end, and swingably guides in a horizontal plane;
A container conveying wheel device comprising: an urging member that urges the movable member toward a radially outer peripheral side of the revolving structure. The container transport wheel device according to claim 1,
The guide member restricts movement of the movable member in the circumferential direction at a reference position. The container transport wheel device according to claim 2,
The guide member is provided on one of the swivel body and the movable member and serves as a swing fulcrum, and on the other of the swivel body and the movable member, the guide member is provided substantially parallel to the radial axis of the swivel body. An elongated hole in which the pin is relatively moved,
The long hole has a restricting portion for restricting relative movement of the guide pin in the circumferential direction when the movable member is at a reference position. The container transport wheel device according to claim 1,
The guide member has a pair of swing support points on both sides of a radial axis connecting the center of the movable member at the reference position and the swing center of the swing body, and the movable member can swing around at least one of the swing support points. Supported by
A pair of urging members are disposed at least on both sides of the radial axis. The container transport wheel device according to claim 4,
The guide member is provided on one of the swivel body and the movable member and serves as a swing fulcrum, and on the other of the swivel body and the movable member, the guide member is provided substantially parallel to the radial axis of the swivel body. An elongated hole in which the pin is relatively moved,
The long hole has an expansion portion that allows relative movement in the circumferential direction of the guide pin when the movable member is located at a position other than a reference position. The container transport wheel device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The outer peripheral edge of the movable member at the reference position is set on the inner peripheral side from the pitch circle of the circular path through which the container is transported.

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