JP2022061171A - Container conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a container conveying device, which can suppress contents from jumping out to the outside.SOLUTION: A container conveying device comprises: a first rotating body that can be rotated by a first rotating shaft disposed along a vertical direction; a first gripper device whose one end part in a longitudinal direction is supported on an outer periphery part of the first rotating body and whose other end part can grip a neck part of a container; a second rotating body that can be rotated by a second rotating shaft disposed along the vertical direction; a second gripper device whose one end part in the longitudinal direction is supported on an outer periphery part of the second rotating body and whose other end part can grip a neck part of the container which is delivered from the first gripper device; and a gas jetting device that can jet a gas into a mouth part of the container delivered from the first gripper device and then gripped by the second gripper device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present disclosure relates to a container transport device that grips and transports a container filled with food and beverages and the like.

A filling device for filling a container with a beverage product fills a container (for example, a PET bottle) conveyed by the transfer device with a beverage, and attaches a cap (cover) to the mouth of the container to make a container product. At this time, the container is conveyed in various steps while being held by the gripper device. For example, the beverage filling machine has a rotary table, and the rotary table is provided with gripper devices at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion. The rotary table rotates with each gripper device holding the container, and the rotating container is filled with a beverage. The beverage-filled container is transported to the capper device via the transfer wheel. The capper device attaches a cap to the mouth of a container filled with a beverage.

The capper device has a capper wheel. The transfer wheel and the capper wheel have a similar configuration. The transfer wheel and the capper wheel are each provided with gripper devices at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion thereof. The transfer wheel grips and transports the container received by the gripper device from the beverage filling machine, and the capper wheel receives and transports the container gripped by the gripper device of the transfer wheel by the gripper device. As such a technique, for example, there is one described in the following patent documents.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-100906

In the transfer wheel and capper wheel described above, the gripper device grips and rotates the upper part of the container filled with the beverage, so that the container to be transported is subjected to centrifugal force and the lower part moves to the outside of each wheel. It becomes a tilted state. The transfer wheel and the capper wheel are arranged so that the outer peripheral portions thereof are adjacent to each other. Therefore, when the container is passed from the gripper device of the transfer wheel to the gripper device of the capper wheel, the direction of the centrifugal force acting on the container is reversed, so that the tilting direction of the container is opposite. Further, at this time, since the container moves so as to form an S shape when viewed from above, the direction of the stress acting in the horizontal direction with respect to the container fluctuates. Then, the liquid level swings (hereinafter referred to as sloshing) due to the fluctuation of the container and the direction of the stress acting on the container occurs, and the phenomenon that the beverage bounces to the outside occurs. Conventionally, in order to prevent the phenomenon of the beverage from splashing to the outside, there is no choice but to reduce the rotation speed of the transfer wheel and the capper wheel, which causes a problem that the work efficiency is lowered.

The present disclosure is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a container transport device for suppressing splashing of contents to the outside.

The container transport device of the present disclosure for achieving the above object has a first rotating body that can be rotated by a first rotating shaft along the vertical direction, and one end portion in the longitudinal direction is supported by an outer peripheral portion of the first rotating body. The other end of the gripper device is capable of gripping the neck of the container, the second rotating body is rotatable by the second rotating shaft along the vertical direction, and one end in the longitudinal direction is the outer circumference of the second rotating body. A second gripper device supported by a portion and having the other end capable of gripping the neck portion of the container delivered from the first gripper device, and a second gripper device delivered from the first gripper device and gripped by the second gripper device. A gas ejection device capable of ejecting gas into the mouth of the container is provided.

According to the container transport device of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress the splashing of the contents to the outside.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the container filling device of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part showing the arrangement of the transfer wheel and the capper wheel. FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part showing the arrangement of the transfer wheel and the capper wheel. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the gas ejection device in the container transport device of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a gas ejection device. FIG. 6 is a front view (VI arrow view of FIG. 5) showing the gas ejection device. FIG. 7 is a side view (viewing arrow VII in FIG. 5) showing the gas ejection device. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the behavior of a beverage in a container when the container is delivered in a conventional container transport device. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the behavior of the beverage in the container at the time of delivery of the container in the container transport device of the present embodiment.

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited by this embodiment, and when there are a plurality of embodiments, the present embodiment also includes a combination of the respective embodiments. Further, the components in the embodiment include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, that are, those in a so-called equal range.

<Structure of container filling device>
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the container filling device of the present embodiment.

The container filling device of the present invention fills a food container with a food beverage. Here, the food container is a container filled with a fluid containing a slurry, particles, powder, etc. used as foods such as beverages and seasonings. Beverages include soft drinks, water, tea, coffee, tea, cocoa, fruit juice drinks, milk, healthy drinks, alcoholic beverages, etc., and cooking ingredients include soy sauce, vinegar, cooking liquor, mirin, oil, and various sauces. , Salt, sugar, etc. Examples of food containers include plastic bottles (PET bottles), glass bottles, metal cans, and paper containers.

As shown in FIG. 1, the container filling device 10 of the first embodiment includes a container inspection machine 11, a container washing machine 12, a container sterilizing device 13, a container rinsing device 14, a beverage filling machine 15, and a capper device. A 16 and a cap sterilizer 17 are provided.

The container inspection machine 11 inspects the damage of the container (food container). The container washer 12 cleans the inside of the container. The container sterilizer 13 sterilizes the inside of the container. The container rinsing device 14 rinses the inside of the container. The beverage filling machine 15 fills the inside of the container with a beverage. The capper device 16 attaches a cap to a container filled with a beverage. The cap sterilizer 17 sterilizes the cap attached to the container.

The beverage filling machine 15 has a rotary table 21 and a gripper device 22. The rotary table 21 is provided with gripper devices 22 at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion. The rotary table 21 can rotate at a predetermined speed. The gripper device 22 can grip the container supplied from the container rinsing device 14. A transfer wheel 23 is arranged between the beverage filling machine 15 and the capper device 16. The transfer wheel 23 is provided with gripper devices 24 at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion. The transfer wheel 23 can rotate at a predetermined speed. The gripper device 24 can grip the container supplied from the beverage filling machine 15. The capper device 16 has a capper wheel 25 and a gripper device 26. The gripper device 26 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the capper wheel 25 at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. The capper wheel 25 can rotate at a predetermined speed. The gripper device 26 can grip the container supplied from the transfer wheel 23.

<Transfer wheel and capper wheel>
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part showing the arrangement of the transfer wheel and the capper wheel, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the main part showing the arrangement of the transfer wheel and the capper wheel.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the container 30 has a container body 31, a mouth portion 32, and a neck portion 33. The container body 31 has a cylindrical shape and is provided with a bottom portion (not shown) in which the lower portion in the longitudinal direction is closed. The outer diameter of the upper end of the container body 31 is reduced, and the neck 33 is provided. The container body 31 is provided with a mouth portion 32 at the upper end. The mouth portion 32 is an opening and can be filled with a beverage. Further, the container body 31 is provided with a screw portion 34 and a neck ring 35 on the neck portion 33. The screw portion 34 is a male screw, and a female screw of a cap (not shown) is screwed. The neck ring 35 has a ring shape protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface of the neck portion 33.

The transfer wheel 23 has a disk shape and is rotatably supported by a rotation axis along a vertical direction (in FIG. 2, a direction orthogonal to the paper surface). The transfer wheel 23 can be driven and rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 by a driving device (not shown). The transfer wheel 23 is provided with a gripper device 24 on the outer peripheral portion thereof. The gripper device 24 can grip the neck portion 33 of the container 30. The capper wheel 25 has a disk shape and is rotatably supported by a rotation axis along a vertical direction (in FIG. 2, a direction orthogonal to the paper surface). The capper wheel 25 can be driven and rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 by a driving device (not shown). The gripper device 26 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the capper wheel 25. The gripper device 26 can grip the neck portion 33 of the container 30.

The transfer wheel 23 and the capper wheel 25 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction. The transfer wheel 23 and the capper wheel 25 rotate synchronously at the same speed (peripheral speed). The gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23 and the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25 have substantially the same configuration. The transfer wheel 23 rotates the gripper device 24 while gripping the container 30, so that the container 30 is conveyed along the circumferential direction. When the gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23 and the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25 face each other, that is, when the container delivery position is reached, the container 30 held by the gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23 is held by the capper wheel 25. Hand over to the gripper device 26.

The gripper device 24 is arranged along the radial direction of the transfer wheel 23 (left-right direction in FIGS. 2 and 3). The gripper device 24 has a pair of gripper members 41 and 42. The gripper members 41 and 42 are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the transfer wheel 23, and their intermediate portions in the longitudinal direction are rotatably supported by the support members 45 by the support shafts 43 and 44 along the vertical direction, respectively. The support member 45 is fixed to the lower surface portion of the transfer wheel 23.

The gripper members 41 and 42 are provided with grip portions 41a and 42a at one end in the longitudinal direction, respectively. The grip portions 41a and 42a have an arc shape and can grip the neck portion 33 of the container 30. Therefore, the grip portions 41a and 42a have an arc shape that can be in close contact with the outer peripheral portion of the neck portion 33 of the container 30. At this time, the gripping portions 41a and 42a grip the position above the neck ring 35 on the neck portion 33 of the container 30. The gripper members 41 and 42 are provided with spring receiving portions 41b and 42b at the other ends in the longitudinal direction, respectively. A compression coil spring 46 is mounted between the spring receiving portions 41b and 42b. The compression coil spring 46 applies an urging force to the gripper members 41 and 42 in a direction in which the spring receiving portions 41b and 42b are separated from each other.

Therefore, in FIG. 2, one gripper member 41 is urged and supported in the clockwise direction about the support shaft 43 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 46. The other gripper member 42 is urged and supported in the counterclockwise direction about the support shaft 44 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 46. Then, the gripper members 41 and 42 are urged and supported in the direction in which the grip portions 41a and 42a approach by the urging force of the compression coil spring 46. The gripper members 41 and 42 can be gripped by the urging force of the compression coil spring 46 so that the grip portions 41a and 42a sandwich the neck portion 33 of the container 30.

One end of the lever 47 is connected to the gripper member 42. The lever 47 extends from the other end side of the gripper member 42 to the gripper member 41 side. A cam roller 48 is rotatably mounted on the other end of the lever 47. A cam 49 is arranged below the transfer wheel 23. The cam 49 is fixed in the vicinity of the container delivery position. The cam roller 48 and the cam 49 are arranged at substantially the same position in the vertical direction, and the cam roller 48 can come into contact with the cam 49. The gripper member 41 and the gripper member 42 can be interlocked by an interlocking mechanism (for example, a gear mechanism) (not shown).

Therefore, when the cam roller 48 is not in contact with the cam 49, the gripper members 41 and 42 can grip the neck portion 33 of the container 30 by the gripping portions 41a and 42a by the urging force of the compression coil spring 46. On the other hand, when the transfer wheel 23 rotates and the cam roller 48 comes into contact with the cam 49, the gripper member 42 rotates clockwise around the support shaft 44 against the urging force of the compression coil spring 46. .. At this time, the rotational movement of the gripper member 42 is transmitted to the gripper member 41 via the interlocking mechanism. The gripper member 41 rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 2 around the support shaft 43 against the urging force of the compression coil spring 46. Then, in the gripper members 41, 42, the grip portions 41a, 42a are separated from the neck portion 33 of the container 30, and the grip of the container 30 is released.

On the other hand, the gripper device 26 has substantially the same configuration as the gripper device 24. The gripper device 26 is arranged along the radial direction of the capper wheel 25 (left-right direction in FIGS. 2 and 3). The gripper device 26 has a pair of gripper members 51 and 52. The gripper members 51 and 52 are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the transfer wheel 23, and the intermediate portions in the longitudinal direction are rotatably supported by the support members 55 by the support shafts 53 and 54 along the vertical direction, respectively. The support member 55 is fixed to the lower surface portion of the capper wheel 25.

The gripper members 51 and 52 are provided with grip portions 51a and 52a at one end in the longitudinal direction, respectively. The grip portions 51a and 52a have an arc shape and can grip the neck portion 33 of the container 30. Therefore, the grip portions 51a and 52a have an arc shape that can be in close contact with the outer peripheral portion of the neck portion 33 of the container 30. At this time, the gripping portions 51a and 52a grip the position above the neck ring 35 on the neck portion 33 of the container 30. The gripper members 51 and 52 are provided with spring receiving portions 51b and 52b at the other ends in the longitudinal direction, respectively. A compression coil spring 56 is mounted between the spring receiving portions 51b and 52b. The compression coil spring 56 applies an urging force to the gripper members 51 and 52 in a direction in which the spring receiving portions 51b and 52b are separated from each other.

Therefore, in FIG. 2, one gripper member 51 is urged and supported in the counterclockwise direction about the support shaft 53 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 56. The other gripper member 52 is urged and supported in the clockwise direction about the support shaft 54 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 56. Then, the gripper members 51 and 52 are urged and supported in the direction in which the grip portions 51a and 52a approach by the urging force of the compression coil spring 56. The gripper members 51 and 52 can be gripped by the urging force of the compression coil spring 56 so that the grip portions 51a and 52a sandwich the neck portion 33 of the container 30.

One end of the lever 57 is connected to the gripper member 51. The lever 57 extends from the other end side of the gripper member 51 to the gripper member 52 side. A cam roller 58 is rotatably mounted on the other end of the lever 57. A cam 59 is arranged below the capper wheel 25. The cam 59 is fixed in the vicinity of the container delivery position. The cam roller 58 and the cam 59 are arranged at substantially the same position in the vertical direction, and the cam roller 58 can come into contact with the cam 59. The gripper member 51 and the gripper member 52 can be interlocked by an interlocking mechanism (for example, a gear mechanism) (not shown).

Therefore, when the cam roller 58 is not in contact with the cam 59, the gripper members 51 and 52 can grip the neck portion 33 of the container 30 by the gripping portions 51a and 52a by the urging force of the compression coil spring 56. On the other hand, when the capper wheel 25 rotates and the cam roller 58 comes into contact with the cam 59, the gripper member 51 rotates clockwise around the support shaft 53 against the urging force of the compression coil spring 56. do. At this time, the rotational movement of the gripper member 51 is transmitted to the gripper member 52 via the interlocking mechanism. The gripper member 52 rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 2 around the support shaft 54 against the urging force of the compression coil spring 56. Then, in the gripper members 51 and 52, the gripping portions 51a and 52a are separated from the neck portion 33 of the container 30, and the gripping of the container 30 is released.

<Container transfer device>
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the gas ejection device in the container transport device of the present embodiment, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the gas ejection device, and FIG. 6 is a front view showing the gas ejection device (VI arrow in FIG. 5). (View), FIG. 7 is a side view (VII arrow view of FIG. 5) showing a gas ejection device. In the following description, the horizontal direction connecting the rotation center O1 of the transfer wheel 23 and the rotation center O2 of the capper wheel 25 is orthogonal to the X direction, and the horizontal direction orthogonal to the X direction is orthogonal to the Y direction, the X direction, and the Y direction. The vertical direction will be described as the Z direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the container transport device of the present embodiment includes a transfer wheel (first rotating body) 23, a gripper device (first gripper device) 24, a capper wheel (second rotating body) 25, and the like. A gripper device (second gripper device) 26 and a gas ejection device 60 are provided.

The gas ejection device 60 can eject the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 that is delivered from the gripper device 24 and gripped by the gripper device 26. The gas ejection device 60 can eject the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 in a direction facing the swirling flow of the beverage generated inside the container 30.

The gas ejection device 60 includes an ejection nozzle 61, a gas supply line 62, an on-off valve (or a flow rate adjusting valve) 63, and a gas supply source 64. The ejection nozzle 61 is connected to the gas supply source 64 via the gas supply line 62. The on-off valve 63 is provided in the gas supply line 62 and is opened when necessary to supply the gas A of the gas supply source 64 from the gas supply line 62 to the ejection nozzle 61. The ejection nozzle 61 ejects the gas A toward the mouth portion 32 of the container 30. The gas A is, for example, air and is sterilized.

The gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23 grips and conveys the container 30. When the container 30 gripped by the gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23 reaches the container delivery position 30A, the container 30 is delivered to the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25. After that, the gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23 releases the grip of the container 30, and the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25 grips and conveys the container 30. The gas ejection device 60 can eject gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 in a region between the container delivery position 30A and the container delivery position 30A to a predetermined rotation angle set in advance in the rotation direction of the capper wheel 25. Is.

The container first rotation position 30B is a position where the container 30 gripped by the gripper device 26 is rotated by the first rotation angle R1 from the container delivery position 30A. The container second rotation position 30C is a position where the container 30 gripped by the gripper device 26 is rotated from the container delivery position 30A by a second rotation angle R2 larger than the first rotation angle R1. The gas ejection device 60 can eject the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 when the container 30 is conveyed in the region between the container first rotation position 30B and the container second rotation position 30C. Here, the first rotation angle R1 from the container delivery position 30A to the container first rotation position 30B is preferably 14 degrees, and the second rotation angle R2 from the container delivery position 30A to the container second rotation position 30C is 22 degrees. Is preferable. That is, when the container delivery position 30A is set to 0 degree, the gas ejection device 60 injects the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 in the region (angle) R3 of 14 degrees to 22 degrees in the rotation direction of the capper wheel 25. It is preferable to configure it so as to eject. However, the first rotation angle R1 of 14 degrees and the second rotation angle R2 of 22 degrees are not limited to these angles. For example, the region (angle) R3 may be a region of 10 to 25 degrees. ..

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the ejection nozzle 61 of the gas ejection device 60 has a gas A in the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 displaced from the center position O3 of the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 toward the transfer wheel 23 side. Can be ejected. That is, the ejection nozzle 61 can eject the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 displaced to the side away from the rotation center O2 of the capper wheel 25 with respect to the center position O3 of the mouth portion 32 of the container 30. be. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the ejection nozzle 61 of the gas ejection device 60 ejects the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 at the container first rotation position 30B. It is assumed that the container 30 (mouth portion 32) center position O3 is located at the position where the center line L1 along the X direction and the center line L2 along the Y direction intersect. At this time, since the moving direction of the center position O3 of the container 30 is a direction orthogonal to the radial direction of the capper wheel 25, the rotation of the capper wheel 25 with respect to the center line L2 at the first rotation position 30B of the container. It is along the center line L3 inclined by the angle α toward the center O2 side. Here, the center line L3 is an arc centered on the rotation center O2 of the capper wheel 25. Further, the angle α is the same angle as the first rotation angle R1. The ejection port of the ejection nozzle 61 is located on a straight line L4 deviated from the center line L3 toward the transfer wheel 23 by a distance m. Although the ejection port of the ejection nozzle 61 is set in a direction parallel to the center line L3, it is sufficient that the gas A ejection direction ejected from the ejection port of the ejection nozzle 61 has a component in the direction parallel to the center line L3. The direction of the ejection port of the nozzle 61 is not limited.

Then, the ejection nozzle 61 of the gas ejection device 60 can eject the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the capper wheel 25. That is, the ejection nozzle 61 is arranged along the straight line L4 in a plan view, and the ejection port of the ejection nozzle 61 faces the downstream side in the rotation direction of the capper wheel 25. Then, the ejection nozzle 61 of the gas ejection device 60 is inside the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 at a predetermined inclination angle β set in advance with respect to the center line (center position O3) along the longitudinal direction (Z direction) of the container 30. Gas A can be ejected to the water. That is, when the container 30 and the ejection nozzle 61 are viewed from the horizontal direction (center line L5) orthogonal to the center line L3 (straight line L4) (FIG. 7), the ejection nozzle 61 is the center line (center position O3) of the container 30. It is arranged to be tilted by the tilt angle β with respect to the tilt angle β.

<Operation of container transport device>
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the container 30 is gripped and conveyed by the gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23. At this time, since the transfer wheel 23 rotates, centrifugal force acts on the container 30. In this state, when the transfer wheel 23 continues to rotate, the gripper device 24 holding the container 30 reaches the container delivery position 30A facing the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25. In the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25, when the cam roller 58 contacts the cam 59 and the pair of gripper members 51 and 52 open in front of the container delivery position 30A and reaches the container delivery position 30A, the pair of gripper members 51 , 52 is closed to grip the neck 33 of the container 30. On the other hand, when the gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23 passes the container delivery position 30A, the cam roller 48 comes into contact with the cam 49 to open the pair of gripper members 41 and 42, and the grip of the neck portion 33 of the container 30 is released. Therefore, the container 30 is delivered from the gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23 to the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25 at the container delivery position 30A.

At this time, the container 30 moves so as to form an S-shape when viewed from above, and the direction of the acting centrifugal force is reversed. Therefore, when the container 30 passes the container delivery position 30A, it enters the inside of the container 30. A swirling flow is generated in the filled beverage. However, in the present embodiment, in the region from the container first rotation position 30B to the container second rotation position 30C where the container 30 has passed the container delivery position 30A, the gas ejection device 60 is the mouth portion of the container 30 from the ejection nozzle 61. Gas A is ejected into 32. The region where the gas A is ejected from the ejection nozzle 61 into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 may be a part of the region from the container first rotation position 30B to the container second rotation position 30C. It may be an area beyond the area. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the gas A ejected from the ejection nozzle 61 into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 faces the swirling flow W of the beverage generated inside the container 30. Therefore, the swirling flow W of the beverage generated inside the container 30 generated at the container delivery position 30A is canceled by the gas A ejected from the ejection nozzle 61, and the phenomenon of the beverage splashing to the outside of the container 30 is suppressed. Will be done.

In the gas ejection device 60, the gas A is ejected from the ejection nozzle 61 into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 in the region where the container 30 is from the container first rotation position 30B to the container second rotation position 30C. In this case, the ejection nozzle 61 may eject the gas A only at a position where the gas A can be ejected into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30, or the gas A may be ejected at all times.

Here, the effect of suppressing the swirling flow W of the beverage by the gas A ejected from the gas ejection device 60 will be described. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the behavior of the beverage in the container at the time of delivery of the container in the conventional container transfer device, and FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the behavior of the beverage in the container at the time of delivery of the container in the container transfer device of the present embodiment. It is a figure.

In the conventional container transport device, as shown in FIG. 8, when the gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23 is handed over to the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25, the container 30 moves so as to form an S-shape and acts. Since the direction of the centrifugal force is reversed, when the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25 receives and conveys the container 30, a swirling flow W is generated in the beverage filled in the container 30. The swirling flow W of the beverage generated inside the container 30 gradually increases, and the beverage bounces to the outside of the container 30.

On the other hand, in the container transport device of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, when the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25 receives and transports the container 30, it faces the swirling flow W of the beverage generated inside the container 30. As such, the gas ejection device 60 ejects the gas A from the ejection nozzle 61 into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30. The gas A ejected into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 faces the swirling flow W of the beverage generated inside the container 30 and cancels it. Therefore, the swirling flow W of the beverage generated inside the container 30 does not gradually increase, and the splash of the beverage to the outside of the container 30 is suppressed.

<Action and effect of this embodiment>
The container transport device according to the first aspect has a transfer wheel (first rotating body) 23 that can be rotated by a rotation center (first rotation axis) O1 along the vertical direction, and one end in the longitudinal direction is the outer periphery of the transfer wheel 23. A gripper device (first gripper device) 24 that is supported by a portion and can grip the neck portion 33 of the container 30 at the other end, and a capper wheel that can be rotated by a rotation center (second rotation axis) O2 along the vertical direction (second rotation axis). The gripper device (second rotating body) 25 and the gripper device (second) capable of gripping the neck 33 of the container 30 whose one end in the longitudinal direction is supported by the outer peripheral portion of the capper wheel 25 and the other end is delivered from the gripper device 24. The gripper device) 26 and a gas ejection device 60 capable of ejecting the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 delivered from the gripper device 24 and gripped by the gripper device 26 are provided.

In the container transport device according to the first aspect, when the container 30 is gripped by the gripper device 24 and the transfer wheel 23 is rotated and transported, the lower portion of the container 30 is moved outward by the action of centrifugal force. Tilt like. When the tilted container 30 is passed from the gripper device 24 of the transfer wheel 23 to the gripper device 26 of the capper wheel 25, the container 30 swirls into the beverage inside by reversing the direction of the acting centrifugal force. Flow W is generated. The gas ejection device 60 cancels the swirling flow W of the beverage by ejecting the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 gripped by the gripper device 26. As a result, the occurrence of sloshing due to the fluctuation of the container 30 is suppressed, and the splash of the beverage to the outside of the container 30 can be suppressed.

In the container transport device according to the second aspect, the gas ejection device 60 has a container delivery position 30A for delivering the container 30 from the gripper device 24 to the gripper device 26, and a container delivery position 30A in advance in the rotation direction of the capper wheel 25. Gas A can be ejected into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 in the region between the set predetermined rotation angle (second rotation angle R2). As a result, the container 30 is handed over from the gripper device 24 to the gripper device 26 to generate a swirling flow W of the beverage, and the gas A is ejected from the gas ejecting device 60 with respect to the swirling flow W of the beverage immediately after the generation. Therefore, the swirling flow W of the beverage can be efficiently canceled.

In the container transport device according to the third aspect, the gas ejection device 60 is a region of at least a part of a region where the rotation angle of the capper wheel 25 in the rotation direction from the container delivery position 30A is 14 to 22 degrees. Gas A can be ejected into the mouth portion 32. As a result, the gas ejection device 60 ejects the gas A at an appropriate time, so that the swirling flow W of the beverage can be efficiently canceled.

In the container transport device according to the fourth aspect, the gas ejection device 60 can eject gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 displaced from the center position O3 of the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 toward the transfer wheel 23 side. .. As a result, the swirling flow W of the beverage flowing along the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 32 can be efficiently canceled.

In the container transport device according to the fifth aspect, the gas ejection device 60 can eject gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the capper wheel 25. As a result, the swirling flow W of the beverage generated in the mouth portion 32 can be efficiently canceled.

In the container transport device according to the sixth aspect, the gas ejection device 60 blows the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 at a predetermined inclination angle β set in advance with respect to the center line along the longitudinal direction of the container 30. It can be ejected. As a result, the swirling flow W of the beverage generated in the mouth portion 32 can be efficiently canceled.

In the container transport device according to the seventh aspect, the gas ejection device 60 can eject the gas A into the mouth portion 32 of the container 30 in a direction facing the swirling flow W of the beverage generated inside the container 30. As a result, the gas A is ejected from the gas ejection device 60 in opposition to the generated swirling flow W of the beverage, so that the swirling flow W of the beverage can be efficiently canceled.

In the above-described embodiment, the rotating body of the present invention is applied to the transfer wheel 23 and the capper wheel 25, but the rotary table 21 and the capper wheel 25 may be applied.

10 Container filling device 11 Container inspection machine 12 Container cleaning machine 13 Container sterilizer 14 Container rinse device 15 Beverage filling machine 16 Capper device 17 Cap sterilizer 21 Rotating table 22 Gripper device 23 Transfer wheel (first rotating body)
24 Gripper device (1st gripper device)
25 capper wheel (second rotating body)
26 Gripper device (second gripper device)
30 Container 30A Container delivery position 30B Container 1st rotation position 30C Container 2nd rotation position 31 Container body 32 Mouth 33 Neck 34 Thread 35 Neck ring 41, 42, 51, 52 Gripper member 41a, 42a, 51a, 52a Grip 41b, 42b, 51b, 52b Spring receiving part 43,44,53,54 Support shaft 45,55 Support member 46,56 Compression coil spring 47,57 Lever 48,58 Cam roller 49,59 Cam 60 Gas ejection device 61 Ejection nozzle 62 Gas supply line 63 On-off valve 64 Gas supply source O1 Rotation center (1st rotation axis)
O2 center of rotation (second axis of rotation)
O3 Center position R1 First rotation angle R2 Second rotation angle R3 Region (angle)
α angle β tilt angle m distance A gas W swirling flow

Claims (7)

A first rotating body that can be rotated by the first axis of rotation along the vertical direction,
A first gripper device in which one end in the longitudinal direction is supported by the outer peripheral portion of the first rotating body and the other end can grip the neck portion of the container.
A second rotating body that can be rotated by the second axis of rotation along the vertical direction,
A second gripper device having one end in the longitudinal direction supported by the outer peripheral portion of the second rotating body and the other end capable of gripping the neck of the container delivered from the first gripper device.
A gas ejection device that is delivered from the first gripper device and is capable of ejecting gas into the mouth of the container held by the second gripper device.
A container transport device equipped with. The gas ejection device has a container delivery position for delivering the container from the first gripper device to the second gripper device, and a predetermined rotation angle preset in the rotation direction of the second rotating body from the container delivery position. Gas can be ejected into the mouth of the container in the area between.
The container transport device according to claim 1. The gas ejection device is capable of ejecting gas into the mouth of the container in at least a part of a region where the rotation angle of the second rotating body in the rotation direction from the container delivery position is 14 to 22 degrees.
The container transport device according to claim 2. The gas ejection device is capable of ejecting gas into the mouth of the container displaced from the center position of the mouth of the container toward the first rotating body.
The container transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The gas ejection device can eject gas into the mouth of the container from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the second rotating body.
The container transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The gas ejection device can eject gas into the mouth of the container at a predetermined inclination angle set in advance with respect to the center line along the longitudinal direction of the container.
The container transport device according to claim 5. The gas ejection device can eject gas into the mouth of the container in a direction facing the swirling flow of the beverage generated inside the container.
The container transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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