JP2692493B2 - Article processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article processing apparatus, and more particularly to an article processing apparatus for delivering a holder containing a container.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a rotary table that is rotatably provided and guide members that are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the rotary table to support a container are provided in the container supported by these guide members. A rotary filling device adapted to fill a filling liquid into a container is known. In such a conventional rotary filling device, a supply star wheel and a discharge star wheel are arranged at positions adjacent to the rotary table, and the container is supplied into each guide member on the rotary table by the supply star wheel. On the other hand, the container supported by each guide member is discharged from the rotary table by the discharge star wheel.

However, since the conventional guide member is fixed on the rotary table with the engaging concave portion for engaging with the container being directed outward in the radial direction, each guide member is inevitably inevitable. The container is supplied to and discharged from the guide member from the outside in the radial direction of the guide member and discharged toward the outside in the radial direction of the guide member. Therefore, conventionally, when designing the guide member, the frontage of the engaging recess that engages with the container is made large so that the container can be smoothly fed into and discharged from the engaging recess. Thus, in the conventional guide member, it is necessary to increase the frontage of the engaging recess of the container engaging, positioning of the container becomes inaccurate when supported by engaging the container engaging recess There was a drawback. Moreover, as described above, the conventional guide member has a drawback of low versatility because it receives the container from the outside in the radial direction and discharges it in the radial direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention accommodates a first rotating body which is rotatably provided, and containers which are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the first rotating body. A plurality of conveying means for holding and conveying the holder, a second rotating body which is provided at a position adjacent to the first rotating body and is rotated in synchronization with the first rotating body, and a circle of the second rotating body. A plurality of guide members which are provided at circumferentially equidistant positions and which engage with the holder to guide the radial movement of the holder, and are arranged at positions below the movement loci of the guide members. A magnet that attracts a holder engaged with the guide member and positions the holder at a predetermined position in the radial direction of the second rotating body, and each of the conveying means includes an arm swingably provided on the first rotating body;
A swing mechanism that swings the arm in synchronization with the rotation of the first rotating body, a holding member that is rotatably provided on the arm and holds a holder, and the holding member is synchronized with the rotation of the first rotating body. And a rotating mechanism for rotating the
The guide members are provided in parallel with the radial direction of the second rotating body.
And a pair of plate-shaped members.
The holding member is held by the swinging motion of the arm and the rotation of the holding member.
Hold the holder in a pair of plate-shaped
An article processing device configured to be inserted between members and delivered.

According to this structure, the holder transferred to the guide member of the second rotating body engages with the guide member to position the second rotating body in the circumferential direction. By being attracted to the magnet, positioning in the radial direction is also performed. Therefore, the positioning of the holder transferred to the second rotating body side becomes accurate. Moreover, even when the holder is engaged with the guide member and positioned as described above, the holder can be discharged toward the inner side along the guide member. Therefore, it is possible to accurately perform the positioning of the holder transferred to the second rotating body and to provide a highly versatile article processing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. In FIG. 1, an empty container 2 housed in a holder 1 is conveyed by a conveyor 3 from an upstream side to a position of a delivery device 4. The holders 1 conveyed on the conveyor 3 are engaged with the timing screw 5 to be separated from each other at a predetermined interval. Each holder 1 separated by the timing screw 5
After being taken out from the conveyor 3 by the delivery device 4, the product is sequentially delivered to the rotary table 7 of the rotary filling device 6 at the delivery position A of the holder 1. Each holder 1
A filling nozzle (not shown) that rotates integrally with the rotary table 7 is provided above the rotary table 7 on which the table is mounted. While the rotary table 7 is rotated once clockwise, The container 2 in each holder 1 is filled with the filling liquid. A rotary capper 8 for attaching a cap to the upper end of the container 2 is disposed on the inner side of the rotary filling device 6, and the container 2 which has been filled with the filling liquid by the rotary filling device 6 is placed at a delivery position. By the first transfer mechanism 9 provided on the inner side of A, from the rotary table 7 of the rotary filling device 6 to the rotary table 1 of the rotary capper 8.
Delivered on 0. The rotary capper 8 is provided with a plurality of capping heads (not shown) above the rotary table 10, and the cap is attached to the upper end of the container 2 by the capping head while the rotary table 10 is rotated counterclockwise. I have to. Then, the container 2 in the holder 1 to which the cap has been attached by the rotary capper 8 is discharged onto the discharge conveyor 12 via the second transfer mechanism 11 provided at the position adjacent to the rotary capper 8. ing. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
The holder 1 for accommodating the container 2 of the present embodiment is formed in a bottomed tubular shape, and its outer peripheral portion is formed in a quadrangular prism shape. As shown in FIG. 3, plate-like magnets 15 are embedded in the respective flat surfaces 1a at the four outer peripheral portions and at the bottom. The magnets 15 have the same polarity on the surface of the holder 1. I am using. By embedding the magnet 15 in the holder 1 in this way, it is possible to facilitate the transportation of the holder 1 and the delivery of the holder 1 by the delivery device 4. Further, all four corners of the outer peripheral portion of the holder 1 are chamfered to facilitate the delivery of the holder 1 at the delivery position A. Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotary table 7 of the rotary filling device 6 is composed of an annular plate-shaped member, and the rotary table 7 has circumferentially equidistant positions on the upper surface thereof. A guide member 16 for guiding the holder 1 in the radial direction is provided. Further, filling nozzles (not shown) are provided above the respective guide members 16. Each guide member 16 is composed of two plate-shaped members 16a and 16b which are parallel to each other, and these are fixed to the upper surface of the rotary table 7 in the radial direction. Then, while each guide member 16 provided on the rotary table 7 moves clockwise at the delivery position A, the holder 1 is inserted into each guide member 16 by the delivery device 4 from the outside in the radial direction. I am trying to hand it over. In this way, the holder 1 transferred to each guide member 16 at the transfer position A has two plate-shaped members 16a on both front and rear surfaces of its outer peripheral portion.
Since the holder 1 is sandwiched by 16b, each holder 1 is accurately positioned at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the rotary table 7, and is movable in the radial direction along both plate-shaped members 16a and 16b. ing. As shown in FIG. 1, a band-shaped magnet M1 is fixedly provided at a position below and adjacent to the rotary table 7 in the rotary filling device 6 along the movement trajectory of each guide member 16, and the tip of the magnet M1 is provided. The portion M1a and the end portion M1b are circumferentially overlapped at the delivery position A. Then, each guide member 16 provided on the turntable 7 has the magnet M
1 becomes substantially orthogonal to each other, and therefore each holder 1 delivered to each guide member 16 at the delivery position A is
The magnet M1 is conveyed while being attracted to it. In addition, the holder 1 in each guide member 16 is attracted to the magnet M1, so that each guide member 16 on the rotary table 7 is held.
It is possible to position each holder 1 engaged with the rotary table 7 at a predetermined radial position on the rotary table 7. As described above, each holder 1 includes the two plate-shaped members 16 that constitute the guide member 16.
Since the front and rear surfaces in the transport direction are sandwiched by a and 16b, and each holder 1 is attracted to the magnet M1, the container 2 in each holder 1 transferred onto the rotary table 7 is a circle on the rotary table 7. Accurate positioning is achieved in the circumferential and radial directions. The end portion M1b of the magnet M1
Is connected to an arcuate magnet M2 provided below the rotary table 17 of the first delivery mechanism 9, and this magnet M2 has an arcuate shape provided below the rotary table 10 of the rotary capper 8. Connected to the magnet M3, and further to the magnet M3
Is connected to an arcuate magnet M4 provided below the rotary table 18 of the second delivery mechanism 11. The end of the magnet M4 of the second delivery mechanism 11 is the discharge conveyor 1
It is made to overlap with the end of 2. In addition,
The magnets M1 to M4 have different polarities from the magnet 15 embedded in the holder 1. As described above, in this embodiment, the magnets M1 to M4 are continuously provided from the delivery position A in the rotary filling device 6 to the discharge conveyor 12 via the rotary capper 8, and therefore the delivery position A is set. Each holder 1 transferred to the
While being adsorbed by the No. 4, they are conveyed along them. As a result, the holder 1 in the carrying process moves the rotary table 7,
It is possible to prevent falling off from the top of 17, 10, and 18, and to accurately perform radial positioning on each rotary table during conveyance. Further, in the present embodiment, the discharge conveyor 12 itself also uses the magnet conveyor, so that the holder 1 does not fall off from the discharge conveyor 12. Next, the configuration of the delivery device 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The delivery device 4 includes a support frame 19, and the rotating body 20 is rotatably provided on the support frame 19. The rotary body 20 is rotated in synchronization with the rotary table 7 of the rotary filling device 6, and is connected to a vertical shaft 21 rotatably provided on the support frame 19 and an upper end of the vertical shaft 21. Up and down 2
It is provided with the discs 20a and 20b. These two discs 2
The rotary shafts 22 are rotatably attached to the positions 0a and 20b at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and both upper and lower ends of each rotary shaft 22 penetrate the circular plates 20a and 20b. Then, the rotary shafts 22 located between the discs 20a and 20b.
The base of the arm 23 is rotatably attached to the outer periphery of the arm. A rotary shaft 24 oriented in the vertical direction is rotatably provided at the tip of each arm 23, and a plate-shaped holding member 25 is provided at the lower end of each rotary shaft 24 through which the arm 23 penetrates via a bracket. Are connected. As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional shape of the holding member 25 is formed so as to match the shapes of the one flat surface 1a on the holder 1 side and the corners on both sides thereof.
As shown in FIG. 3, a magnet 15 ′ having a different polarity from the magnet 15 embedded in the holder 1 is fixed to the lower back surface of the holding member 25 that engages with the flat surface 1 a of the holder 1. Therefore, by engaging the holding member 25 with the outer peripheral portion of the holder 1 on the transport conveyor 3, the magnet 1 provided on the holding member 25 is
The holder 1 can be suction-held by 5 '. The holding member 25 is a rotating mechanism 28 that works in conjunction with the rotating body 20.
Is rotatable about the rotary shaft 24, and the arm 23 itself provided with the holding member 25 is also the rotary body 2.
A swinging mechanism 29 interlocking with 0 allows swinging in the forward and reverse directions. Then, by operating the rotating mechanism 28 and the swinging mechanism 29 in conjunction with the rotating body 20, the arm 23 is swung in each rotation section of the rotating body 20 so that the holding member 25 is rotated at the same time. The carrier conveyor 3 by each holding member 25
Taking out the holder 1 from above and the holder 1 to the delivery position A
I am trying to supply. As shown in FIG. 3, an annular mounting table 26 is fixedly provided below the movement path of each holding member 25.
Supports the bottom surface of the holder 1 held by. Rotation mechanism 2
8 is equipped with each belt wheel 30 attached to the upper ends of both rotary shafts 22 and 24, and an endless timing belt 31 hung over them, and on the upper surface of an arm 23 located in the middle of both belt wheels 30. Is provided with a belt wheel 30 'that engages with the timing belt 31 and maintains its tension constant. A gear 32 is attached to the lower end of the rotary shaft 22,
The gear 32 is meshed with a gear 34 on the side of another rotating shaft 33 provided rotatably on the rotating body 20. This gear 34
A cam follower 35 is attached to the lower end of the via a bracket directed in the radial direction. The cam follower 35 is engaged with a circumferentially continuous cam groove 19a formed on the upper surface of the support frame 19. . Therefore, as the rotating body 20 is rotated counterclockwise, the cam follower 35 moves along the cam curve of the cam groove 19 a, so that the holding member 25 is provided via both the gears 32 and 34 and the timing belt 31. Are rotated about the rotation shaft 24 in the forward and reverse directions. On the other hand, the swinging mechanism 29 includes a cam follower 36 attached to a bracket fixed to the center of the lower surface of the arm 23. The cam follower 36 is formed on the upper surface of the support frame 19 and has a second cam groove continuous in the circumferential direction. It is engaged with 19b. As a result, the cam follower 36 moves along the cam curve of the cam groove 19b as the rotating body 20 rotates, so that the arm 23 swings forward and backward about the rotating shaft 22. ing. In the present embodiment, the cam curves of the cam grooves 19a and 19b are adjusted so that the swinging of the arm 23 and the rotation of the holding member 25 as described below can be obtained in each rotation section of the rotating body 20. There is. That is, at the engagement position B where the holding member 25 engages the holder 1 on the transport conveyor 3, the arm 23 is oriented in the radial direction of the rotating body 20 and is orthogonal to the transport conveyor 3, while The holding member 25 is the arm 23 in that state.
It becomes a state orthogonal to. At this time, the rotary shaft 24 to which the holding member 25 is connected is located directly above the center of the holder 1 on the transfer conveyor 3 (center of the container), and at this engagement position B, the rotary shaft 24 is held by the holder 1 on the transfer conveyor 3. The member 25 engages from the side surface to suck and hold the holder 1. The holding member 25 holding the holder 1 at the engagement position B is
As the rotating body 20 rotates counterclockwise, the conveyor 3
The holder 1 is taken out from above and gradually moved toward the delivery position A. During the process in which the holding member 25 moves from the engagement position B toward the delivery position A, the arm 23 slightly swings clockwise around the rotation shaft 22, while holding the holder 1 while holding it. The member 25 is rotated about the rotary shaft 24 in the counterclockwise direction so as to coincide with the radial direction of the rotary filling device 6. Then, when the holding member 25 moves to the beginning position of the delivery position A, a part of the holder 1 held by the holding member 25 is radially outward in the guide member 16 of the rotating table 7 rotating clockwise. Inserted from. After that, when the holding member 25 moves to the central position at the delivery position A with the rotation of the rotary table 7 and the rotary body 20, the holder 1 held by the holding member 25 causes the plate-shaped members constituting the guide member 16 to move. 1
It is pushed inward in the radial direction along 6a and 16b to be delivered to the guide member 16. Thus, at the central position of the delivery position A, the arm 23 is parallel to the plate-shaped members 16a and 16b forming the guide member 16, while the holding member 25 holding the new holder 1 has the arm 2
It becomes orthogonal to 3. Further, the new holder 1 inserted in the guide member 16 at the delivery position A is moved in the delivery position A in the clockwise direction while being attracted to the magnet M1 described above. Since the magnetic force of the magnet M1 is stronger than the magnetic force of the holding member 25 holding the holder 1, when the guide member 16 and the engaging member 25 have completely passed the delivery position A, the holder 1 in the guide member 16 is The holder 1 is separated from the holding member 25, whereby the delivery of the holder 1 at the delivery position A is completed. In this embodiment, the holding members 25 moving in the delivery position A are moved in synchronization with the respective guide members 16 moving in the delivery position A, and the holding members 25 are orthogonal to the guide members 16. The delivery position A is set so as to move in a state in which the holder 1 is delivered at the delivery position A smoothly. In this way, in this embodiment, the holder 1 is delivered to the guide members 16 of the turntable 7 at the delivery position A by the holding member 25 in sequence. Then, the arm 23 and the holding member 25, which have passed the delivery position A along with the rotation of the rotating body 20, undergo an operation opposite to the above-described operation from the engagement position B to the delivery position A. Returns to the engagement position B. According to the configuration of this embodiment, the holder 1 delivered to each guide member 16 of the rotary table 7 engages with the guide member 16 to position the rotary table 7 in the circumferential direction. At the same time, the holder 1 is attracted to the magnet M1, so that the holder 1 can be positioned on the rotary table 7 in the radial direction. As a result, the container 1 housed in the holder 1 delivered to the rotary table 7 can be accurately positioned. Moreover, the holder 1 can move toward the inner side of the rotary table 7 along the guide member 16 even when the holder 1 is engaged with the guide member 16 on the rotary table 7. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to the case where the rotary capper 8 is arranged on the inner side of the rotary filling device 6 as in the present embodiment, so that the holder is directed radially inward from the guide member 16. 1
The general versatility of the entire apparatus can be improved as compared with the conventional case in which the gas cannot be discharged.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately position the holder transferred to the second rotating body and to provide a highly versatile article processing apparatus. The effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed enlarged view showing a configuration of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 holder 2 container 7 rotary table (second rotary body) 16 guide member 20 rotary body (first rotary body)
23 Arm 25 Holding Member 28 Rotation Mechanism 29 Swing Mechanism M1 Magnet

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rotatably provided first rotating body, and a plurality of carrying means for holding and carrying holders, which are provided at equidistant positions in a circumferential direction of the first rotating body, and which house containers. A second rotating body that is provided adjacent to the first rotating body and rotates in synchronization with the first rotating body; A plurality of guide members that collectively guide the radial movement of the holder, and a holder that is arranged at a position below the movement locus of each of the guide members and that engages with each of the guide members to attract the second member.
A magnet is provided at a predetermined position in the radial direction of the rotating body, and each of the above-mentioned transporting means includes an arm swingably provided on the first rotating body, and this arm swings in synchronization with the rotation of the first rotating body. a swing mechanism for moving, is composed of a holding member for holding the holder rotatably provided above the arm, a rotating mechanism for rotating in synchronization with the holding member to the rotation of the first rotating body, also, the Each guide member is parallel to the radial direction of the second rotating body
Consisting of a pair of plate-shaped members provided in
The holding portion is formed by swinging the arm and rotating the holding member.
The holder held by the material is used to configure each of the above guide members.
An article processing apparatus, which is inserted between a pair of plate-shaped members and delivered. 2. A magnet is provided on a bottom surface and an outer peripheral portion of the holder.
Is embedded in the holding member, and
A magnet is embedded in the area that faces the
The member attracts and holds the holder with the magnet provided on it.
It is configured to have a second holder
Magnetic force of a magnet positioned at a predetermined position in the radial direction of the rotating body
Is set larger than the magnetic force of the magnet provided on the holding member.
The article processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
Place.