JP2713156B2 - Article processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

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 performing a required process on a container in a holder while circulating the holder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an article processing apparatus, a conveying means for conveying a holder accommodating a container from an upstream side to a downstream side, and a conveying path of the conveying means are sequentially arranged, and a container in the holder is provided. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an apparatus including a main machine for performing required processing, a plurality of slave machines, and a control device for causing the main machine and the plurality of slave machines to perform speed following operation. In such a conventional apparatus, the operating speed of a plurality of slave units is made to follow the operating speed of the main unit. For example, when the main unit is arranged at the most downstream side of the holder transfer path, the main unit In accordance with the operating speed of each slave machine, each slave machine on the upstream side is operated. Further, when the main unit is disposed in the middle of the transfer path of the holder, the operation speed of the slave unit located upstream of the main unit is adjusted to the operation speed of the main unit.

[0003]

By the way, as an article processing apparatus, a main machine and a slave machine are provided at a plurality of locations on a circulation conveyance path, a holder is circulated and conveyed between the main machine and the slave machine, and a container in the holder is provided. In some cases, there is a demand for an apparatus that performs required processing by using a main unit and a slave unit. In this case,
Since a certain number of holders are circulated and conveyed, the distribution state of the holders conveyed along the circulating conveyance path is not achieved simply by following the operation speed of the main machine and simply following the operation speed of the machine, as in the conventional case described above. Skew and unevenness occur. In particular, such deviation of the distribution state of the holders is likely to occur when the operation speed of the main engine is changed. If the distribution of the holders in the circulating conveyance path is shifted or varied, the master unit and the slave units must be stopped. In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an article processing apparatus that can convey articles in a uniform distribution state in a circulating conveyance path.

[0004]

That is, the present invention provides a main unit for performing a required process on a container in a holder, a first conveying unit for conveying a holder after the container has been processed by the main unit to a downstream side, The container is taken out of the holder by receiving the holder from the first transporting means, and a container discharging mechanism as a first slave machine using a servomotor as a drive source, and the holder from which the container is taken out by the container discharging mechanism is moved to the downstream side. A second transport unit for transporting, a container supply mechanism as a second slave machine that receives a holder from the second transport unit, supplies a container into the holder, and uses a servomotor as a drive source, and a container supply mechanism. Third transfer means for transferring the holder to which the container has been supplied to the position of the main unit located on the downstream side, and driving sources for the main unit, the container discharge mechanism, and the container supply mechanism A control device for controlling the operation, wherein the main machine, the first transport means, the container discharge mechanism, the second transport means, the container supply mechanism, and the third transport means constitute an endlessly continuous circulation transport path, A pulse oscillator for oscillating a pulse corresponding to the operation speed of the main engine and inputting the pulse to the control device is provided. The control device includes a pulse number, a container discharge mechanism, and a container supply mechanism required for the main engine to process one holder. Provided a ratio setting unit for setting a ratio to the number of pulses required to process one holder, respectively, and the control device operates the main engine.
In addition, the operation of each servomotor serving as a drive source of the container discharge mechanism and the container supply mechanism is controlled by the number of pulses of the ratio set by the ratio setting unit based on the number of pulses of the main engine input from the pulse oscillator. Accordingly, the present invention provides an article processing apparatus in which the main unit, the container discharge mechanism, and the container supply mechanism are operated synchronously. In addition,
Assuming a product processing unit, it is only a predetermined distance from the main engine.
The transport path of the third transport means on the upstream side, the container supply mechanism
Transport path of the second transport means that is a predetermined distance upstream from
Road, or a predetermined distance upstream from the container discharge mechanism.
At least any two of the transport paths of the first transport means
And the holders that are adjacent to each other
A plurality of reservoirs that detect that the
In addition to providing a flow rate detector,
A ratio changing unit is provided to change the ratio set by the ratio setting unit.
Te, the control device, the main machine, container unloading mechanism you Yobiyo
In the state where the heater supply mechanism is operating synchronously,
The holder is in contact with the remaining amount detector
Is entered, the ratio is set by the ratio change unit.
Change the ratio set by the section to the upstream side of the pool amount detector.
The operation speed of the slave unit that is
It is controlled to be slower than the operating speed.
is there.

[0005]

According to such a configuration, for example, while the main engine processes one holder, the container discharge mechanism and the container supply mechanism respectively process one holder. Therefore, the holder can be circulated and transported in a uniform and non-distributed distribution state over the entire area of the circulating transport path.
Therefore, even in the circulating conveyance path, the holder can be smoothly circulated and conveyed, and required processing can be performed on the containers in the holder.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to an illustrated embodiment. In FIG. 1, an article processing apparatus 1 includes a filler / capper 2 as a main engine. The filler / capper 2 is a holder 4 containing a flat plastic container 3.
The container 3 in the holder 4 is filled with a predetermined amount of the filling liquid in the first half of the rotation area, and then the upper end of the container 3 is rotated in the second half of the rotation area. A cap (not shown) is attached to the portion. When the holder 4 holding the container 3 in which the filling of the filling liquid and the attachment of the cap are completed by the filler / capper 2 is discharged onto the first transport means 5 composed of a conveyor, the holder 4 is indicated by an arrow by the first transport means 5. After being sequentially conveyed to the downstream side as described above, it is supplied to the container discharge mechanism 6 as the first slave machine. When receiving the holder 4 from the first transporting means 5, the container discharging mechanism 6 takes out the container 3 from the holder 4 in the process of holding the holder 4 and rotating and transferring it clockwise, and discharges the container 3 from the discharging conveyor. 7, the empty holder 4 is discharged onto a second conveyor 8 composed of a conveyor. Thereafter, the empty holders 4 on the second conveying means 8 are sequentially conveyed toward the downstream side and supplied to a container supply mechanism 11 as a second slave. In the process of rotating the container supply mechanism 11 in the counterclockwise direction, first, the supply conveyor 1
2, the empty container 3 is received from above, and then the container 3 is stored in the empty holder 4 received from the second conveying means 8, and thereafter, the third conveying means 1 comprising a conveyor
The holder 4 containing the container 3 on the top 3 is discharged. The third transport means 13 sequentially transports the holders 4 containing the empty containers 3 to the downstream side, and thereafter supplies the holders 4 to the filler / capper 2 as the above-described main engine. In this embodiment, the filler / capper 2 as the main engine and the first
The circulating transport path 14 which is endlessly continuous by the transport means 5, the container discharge mechanism mechanism 6 as the first slave, the second transport means 8, the container supply mechanism 11 as the second slave, and the third transport means 13 is formed. A predetermined number of holders 4 are circulated and conveyed in the circulating conveyance path 14 in the direction of the arrow. As shown in FIG.
The operation of the motor 15 serving as a driving source for is controlled by the control device 16. In addition, the first transport unit 5, the container discharge mechanism 6, the second transport unit 8, the container supply mechanism 1
The first and third transport means 13 each use a servomotor 17 as a drive source.
The operation of 7 is also controlled by the control device 16. Further, a pulse oscillator 18 is linked to the filler / capper 2 as the main engine, and the pulse oscillator 18 is adapted to operate according to the operating speed of the filler / capper 2 when the filler / capper 2 is operated. A pulse having a frequency is oscillated, and the oscillated pulse is input to the control device 16. Control device 16 of the present embodiment
Is provided with a ratio setting unit 16A.
6A sets the ratio between the number of pulses required for the filler / capper 2 to process one holder 4 and the number of pulses required for the container discharge mechanism 6 and the container supply mechanism 11 to process one holder 4 respectively. It has become. Similarly, the ratio setting unit 16A determines whether each of the transport units 5, 8,
Thirteen pulse ratios are set. Then, when a required operating speed command is transmitted from the control device 16 to the drive circuit 15 'of the motor 15 of the filler / capper 2, the filler / capper 2 is first activated to operate at the required operating speed. At that time, a pulse having a frequency corresponding to the operation speed of the filler / capper 2 is input from the pulse oscillator 18 to the control device 16. Incidentally, if the operating speed of the filler / capper 2 is not based on the frequency of the pulse input from the pulse oscillator 18, the operating speed does not correspond to the operating speed command initially transmitted to the drive circuit 15 ′. If found, the control device 16
Is transmitted to the drive circuit 15 'of the motor 15 again so that the operation speed corresponds to the initially transmitted operation speed command. Next, based on the number of pulses of the filler / capper 2 input from the pulse oscillator 18, the ratio setting unit 16 A of the control device 16 determines the number of pulses required for the filler / capper 2 to process one holder 4. The number of pulses required for each of the container discharge mechanism 6 and the container supply mechanism 11 to process one holder 4 is set. Similarly, the ratio setting unit 16A sets the number of pulses of each of the transport units 5, 8, and 13 with respect to the number of pulses of the activated filler / capper 2. Thereafter, the control device 16 transmits the number of pulses set by the ratio setting unit 16A to the container discharge mechanism 6, the container supply mechanism 11, and the drive circuit 17 'of each servo motor 17 of each of the transport means 5, 8, and 13. . Thereby, the operation speed of the container discharge mechanism 6, the container supply mechanism 11, and the transport means 5, 8, and 13 can be synchronized with the operation speed of the filler / capper 2. In this embodiment, since the structure is configured as described above, the filler / capper 2 which is the main engine is provided with one holder 4.
During the processing, each of the container discharge mechanism 6 and the container supply mechanism 11 as the slave machines can also process one holder 4, so that the holders 4 can be uniformly distributed over the entire area within the circulating transport path 14. It can be circulated. further,
In this embodiment, the control device 16
Is provided with a ratio changing unit 16B, and the ratio of the number of pulses set by the ratio setting unit 16A is changed according to the amount of pool of the holder 4. That is, the first pool amount detector 21 is provided on the transport path of the third transport unit 13 that is upstream from the position of the filler / capper 2 by a predetermined distance, and the predetermined distance from the position of the container supply mechanism 11 is provided. A second pool amount detector 22 is provided on the transport path of the second transport means 8 which is located only upstream. The first pool amount detector 21 and the second pool amount detector 22 detect when the holders 4 that are adjacent to each other in the transport path provided with them come into contact with each other, and notify the control device 16 of the fact. To be entered. In other words, when the contact state of the holder 4 is detected by the first pool amount detector 21 or the second pool amount detector 22, the filler / capper 2 (container supply mechanism 11) is moved from the position where the holder 4 is provided. This means that the holder 4 is offset in the contact state on the transport path up to this point. In this embodiment, when the filler / capper 2 as the main engine is operated at a predetermined operation speed, the control device 16 is informed that the holder 4 is in a contact state from the first pool amount detector 21. When the input is performed, that is, when the holder 4 on the third transport unit 13 immediately upstream of the filler / capper 2 abuts and is offset, the ratio changing unit 16B of the control device 16 sets the ratio setting The operation speed of the container supply mechanism 11 on the upstream side of the filler / capper 2 is changed by changing the ratio of the number of pulses set by the section 16A.
Is controlled to be slower than the operation speed of. As a result, the bias of the holder 4 on the third transport means 13 immediately upstream of the filler / capper 2 is eliminated, and the holder 4 that has been in contact with the third transport means 13 is separated. The holder 4 can be transported in a uniform distribution over the entire area of the holder 14. On the other hand, when the filler / capper 2 as the main engine is operating at a predetermined operation speed, the second
When it is input from the accumulation amount detector 22 that the holder 4 is in the contact state, that is, the holder 4 on the second transporting means 8 immediately upstream of the container supply mechanism 11 is biased and is in the contact state. In the case of, the ratio changing unit 16B of the control device 16 changes the ratio of the number of pulses set by the ratio setting unit 16A and operates the operating speed of the container discharging mechanism 6 on the upstream side of the container supplying mechanism 11. Is controlled to be lower than the operation speed of the container supply mechanism 11. As a result, the holder 4 on the second transport unit 8 that is on the upstream side of the container supply mechanism 11
And the holder 4 can be transported in a uniform distribution state over the entire area of the circulating transport path 14. As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the holder 4 can be transported in a uniform distribution state over the entire area of the circulation transport path 14, the filler / capper 2 as the main engine, the container discharge mechanism 6 as the slave machine, and the container It is possible to prevent the operation of the filler / capper 2, the container discharge mechanism 6, and the container supply mechanism 11 from being stopped because the supply of the holder 4 to the supply mechanism 11 is biased. Therefore, Te circulation transport path 14 smell
Required processing into a container 3 in the holder 4 and smoothly circulated and conveyed the Holder 4 may be subjected. Further, since it is possible to transport the holder 4 in a uniform distribution over the entire area of the circulation transport path 14 in this manner, in the middle of the conveying path of the conveying means 5,8,13, the offset and variation of the holder 4 There is no need to provide an accumulation section for absorption, and therefore, the total length of the circulating transport path 14 can be shortened accordingly. Further, in this embodiment, by controlling the operation of each servomotor 17 of each device as a slave device based on a pulse input from the pulse oscillator 18 to the control device 16, a filler / capper as a master device is controlled. Since the operation speeds of the respective devices that are slaves to the operation speed 2 are synchronized, when the operation speed of the filler / capper 2 is changed, the slaves become slaves almost simultaneously with the change of the operation speed of the filler / capper 2. The operating speed of each device can be changed. The operation speed of each device serving as a slave to the filler / capper 2 is smoothly followed. Note that the controller 16 may be constituted by a single main control device, In addition, the sub-controller to filler and capper 2, container unloading mechanism 6 and the container supply mechanism 11 as well as a single main control device And the control device 16 may be configured by the main control device and a plurality of sub- control devices . Also, the second
Instead of providing the pool amount detector 22 on the transport path of the second transport unit 8, the second pool amount detector 22 is connected to the container discharging mechanism 6.
May be provided on the transport path of the first transport means 5 which is slightly upstream of the first transport means. Further, the motor 15 serving as a drive source of the filler / capper 2 may be either an inverter motor or a servomotor. As shown in FIG. 3, the first transport means 5 is provided with a plurality of conveyors 5A, 5B, 5C, 5C.
D, a servomotor may be used as a drive source only for the conveyors 5A and 5D adjacent to the filler / capper 2 as the main engine and the container discharge mechanism 6 as the slave, and the conveyor at the intermediate position may be used. 5B and 5C may use an inverter motor as a drive source.

[0007]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the effect that articles can be smoothly circulated and conveyed and the required processing can be performed even in the circulating conveyance path.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control system in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Article processing apparatus 2 ... Filler / capper (main machine) 4 ... Holder (article) 5 ... 1st conveyance means 6 ... Container discharge mechanism (1st slave) 8 ... 2nd conveyance means 11 ... Container supply mechanism (2nd) 13) Third transport means 14 ... Circulating transport path 16 ... Control device 16A ... Ratio setting unit 16B ... Ratio changing unit 17 ... Servo motor 18 ... Pulse oscillator 21 ... First pool detector 22 ... Second pool Detector

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Omori 1-25-5 Nakashitsu, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Honma 4-17-21 Uchida, Sugito-cho, Kita-Katsushika-gun, Saitama Prefecture

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A main unit for performing a required process on a container in a holder, a first conveying unit for conveying a holder after the main unit has processed the container to a downstream side, and receiving the holder from the first conveying unit to receive the holder. A container discharging mechanism as a first slave machine that takes out the container from the holder and uses a servomotor as a driving source, a second conveying unit that conveys the holder from which the container has been taken out by the container discharging mechanism to a downstream side, (2) Receiving the holder from the transport means, supplying the container into the holder, and supplying the container supplied by the container supply mechanism to the downstream side with the container supplied by the container supply mechanism as the second slave using a servomotor as a drive source. A third transport unit configured to transport the main unit to a position of the main unit, and a control unit configured to control an operation of a driving source of the main unit, a container discharge mechanism and a container supply mechanism, The main machine, the first conveying means, the container discharging mechanism, the second conveying means, the container supplying mechanism and the third conveying means constitute an endlessly continuous circulating conveying path, and oscillate a pulse corresponding to the operation speed of the main machine. And a pulse oscillator for inputting to the control device is provided. In the control device, the number of pulses required for the main unit to process one holder and the container discharge mechanism and the container supply mechanism process one holder each. Providing a ratio setting unit for setting a ratio with the required number of pulses, the control device operates the main unit and sets the ratio set by the ratio setting unit based on the number of pulses of the main unit input from the pulse oscillator. The number of pulses controls the operation of each servomotor serving as a drive source of the container discharge mechanism and the container supply mechanism, and the main unit, the container discharge mechanism, and the volume Article processing apparatus characterized by synchronizing the operation of the feed mechanism. 2. A transfer path of a third transfer means upstream from the main machine by a predetermined distance, a transfer path of the second transfer means upstream from the container supply mechanism by a predetermined distance, or a predetermined path from the container discharge mechanism. A plurality of pools which are arranged on at least any two of the transport paths of the first transport means which are upstream by the distance and which detect that the holders which are respectively adjacent to each other have come into contact with each other and input to the control device. Along with providing an amount detector, the control device is provided with a ratio changing unit that changes the ratio set by the ratio setting unit, and the control device causes the main unit, the container discharge mechanism, and the container supply mechanism to operate synchronously. In a state where the holder is in the abutting state by any one of the pool amount detectors, the ratio set by the ratio changing unit is changed by the ratio changing unit. 2. The article processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation speed of a slave machine located upstream of the accumulation amount detector is controlled to be lower than an operation speed of a master machine or a slave machine located downstream.