JP2717176B2 - Method and apparatus for supplying lid to can-like container - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to separating lids one by one from below a lid block in a state where the lids are stacked and supplying the lids to an upper end opening of a can-like container. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for supplying a lid to a can-like container which can be smoothly carried out even if the lid is made of plastic or is soft and may be slightly deformed.

[Conventional technology]

In the production of cans and the like, after filling the contents in a can-like container (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a container), a lid is supplied to an upper end opening thereof, and a sealing portion formed in the container and the lid is formed. Close and seal. This close contact is generally performed by tightening if the container and the cover are made of metal, and by heat sealing if the container and the cover are made of plastic. FIG. 4 (a) is a side sectional view showing an example of a can-like container, and FIG.
It is a side sectional view showing an example. The container 1 usually has a circular horizontal cross section, and many metal containers have a cylindrical shape, while many plastic containers have an inverted trapezoidal shape which spreads slightly upward as shown in FIG. In this case, an annular seal portion 1a is formed on the periphery of the upper end opening. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the lid 2 for sealing the upper end opening of the container 1 has a substantially horizontal annular sealing portion 2ca via a rising portion 2b on the peripheral edge of a circular top plate portion 2a. 2c is formed. When the container 1 and the lid 2 are made of plastic, the sealing is performed by heat sealing. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the sealing portions 1a and 2ca of the container 1 and the lid 2 The width of the portion 2c) is relatively narrow, but when it is made of metal, it is wider than in the illustrated example, so that the rising portion 2b is shallower. On the peripheral edge 2c of the plastic lid 2, a lip 2cb may be provided at the tip of the seal 2ca as shown in the figure.

Normally, in the distribution from the manufacturer of the container 1 and the lid 2 to the manufacturer of the canned food, the container 1 and the lid 2 are separated from each other, and the lid 2 is stacked as shown in FIG. In the canned food manufacturing process, the lids 2 are separated one by one from below the lid block 2 'and supplied to the opening of the container 1 filled with the contents.

Conventionally, the supply of the lid 2 to the container 1 has been performed as follows. First, a separate knife having an arcuate blunt blade (blade for separating the overlapping upper and lower lids 2) formed on the periphery of the horizontal rotating body is prepared. Only on one side of the lower end of the lid block 2 'held in such a state that such separate knives are stacked in the vertical direction, the cutting edge is between the lower edge of the lid block 2' and the peripheral edge 2c of the lid 2 at the upper stage. When it is installed and rotated at a position where it passes through, the blade edge is displaced slightly downward and pushes down the peripheral portion 2c of the lowermost lid 2, and at that time, the lid stopper is temporarily advanced forward from the side. Since the lower surface of the peripheral portion 2c of the upper lid 2 is supported, the lowermost lid 2 is separated from the lid block 2 '. Then, the lid 2 was guided to the opening at the upper end of the container 1 sequentially positioned below the lid block 2 'by a guiding means such as a guide in accordance with such a separation cycle to temporarily cover the lid.

As described above, even in the conventional method in which the separate knife is installed on only one side, when the lid 2 is made of metal, its properties are hard, there is no deformation during transportation and storage, and the shape is maintained as it is during the above separating operation. It was relatively easy. However, when using the plastic lid 2 which has been increasing in recent years, even if the lid 2 is molded into a fixed shape, there are not a few that are slightly deformed by the time of use thereafter, and Therefore, the conventional method cannot smoothly separate the lid 2 from the lid block 2 ', and it is extremely difficult to supply the lid 2 to the container 1 and temporarily cover it. Had the disadvantage of damaging the inner coating.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages, and enables the lowermost lid 2 to be separated from the lid block 2 'and to be smoothly supplied to the upper opening of the container 1 even when the lid 2 is made of plastic. That is the task.

[Means for solving the problem]

As a result of various studies, the inventors of the present invention have found that using a separation guide rotating body having a spiral groove on the peripheral wall as a means for guiding the separated lid, the upper and lower parts are combined vertically with a separate knife and installed below both sides of the lid block. By rotating the lid in the same direction and at the same speed to separate the lid while rotating it, and simultaneously guiding both ends of the diameter of the lid with the grooves in the peripheral wall of the separation guide rotating body and rotating the lid downward to guide the lid downward. The present invention has been made by finding that the problem can be solved.

Hereinafter, the method and apparatus for supplying a lid to a can-like container according to the present invention will be described in detail.

In the method of the present invention, a combination of a separate knife and a separating and guiding rotating body below the separating knife is installed on both lower sides of the lid block, and the peripheral wall from the upper end to the lower end of the separating and guiding rotating body is substantially spiral. A lid guiding groove is formed in the shape. By rotating them at the same speed in the same direction on both lower sides of the lid block, the lowermost lid of the lid block is separated while rotating, and at the same time, is moved between the separation guide rotating bodies, and the diameter of the lid is reduced. While rotating at both ends while holding the both ends in the above-mentioned groove, it is lowered and guided to the upper end opening of the can-like container.

Next, an apparatus of the present invention suitable for carrying out the method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a partially cutaway front view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a reduced size, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of a main part.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a hopper, a separation guide rotating body, a lid stopper, a conveyor, and a can feed turret.

In the drawing, reference numeral 3 denotes a hopper for guiding a lid block 2 'formed by stacking lids 2 to a predetermined position so that the lid block 2' can be moved vertically by gravity. The hopper 3 may have a peripheral wall structure surrounding the lid block 2 ', for example, but in the illustrated example, the lid 2 at a predetermined position where the supply of the lid 2 is started as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, four guide pillars 3a are placed on the hopper bottom 3b so as to be close to the outer periphery of each lid 2 of the lid block 2 'in a state where the lids 2 are stacked vertically along the vertical line. The lower end is fixed, and the hopper bottom 3b has a through hole enough to pass through the lid 2 and is fixed to a frame (not shown). As shown in FIG. 4 (b), when the rising portion 2b is tapered upward as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the vertically adjacent lid 2 in the lid block 2 'has the rising portion 2b.
Since the outer contour of the lid block 2 'has a cylindrical shape as a result of being fitted to each other and restricting the mutual position, a hopper 3 using a linear guide column 3a as shown in the figure is suitable. If the lid 2 is free to move laterally in the lid block 2 'due to its shape, the hopper 3 closes the lid 2 at the bottom and preferably at the top of the lid block 2'. It may be one that is merely located at a predetermined position.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a separation guide rotating body, which is installed at the lower end of the hopper 3 below the hopper 3 as shown in FIG. It is a rotating body on the vertical axis having such a structure. The diameter of the separation guide rotating body 4 does not decrease downward, and at least the upper portion forms a vertical cylindrical portion 4a. That is, the separation guide rotating body 4 may be entirely cylindrical, but in the illustrated example, the lower half forms a frusto-conical enlarged diameter portion 4b as shown in FIG. The peripheral wall 4aa of the cylindrical portion 4a on the upper part of the separation guide rotating body 4 intersects both ends of the diameter of the lid 2 located at the lower end of the hopper 3 on the horizontal projection plane as shown in FIG. The crossing width is substantially the same as the width of the peripheral portion 2c of the lid 2. A substantially spiral lid guiding groove 4c descending in the reverse rotation direction is provided on the peripheral wall of the enlarged diameter portion 4b of the separation guiding rotating body 4. The lid guide groove 4c has an upper end surface opening 4ca which is open at each of the upper and lower end surfaces of the separation guide rotating body 4.
And the lower end face opening 4cb. This lid guide groove 4
The depth of c from the peripheral wall surface is substantially the same as the above-mentioned intersection width in the cylindrical portion 4a, but the depth in the enlarged diameter portion 4b becomes deeper according to the degree of diameter enlargement, and the separation guide on both sides is formed. The holding of the lid 2 between the rotating bodies 4 and the passage of the lid 2 are enabled.
Accordingly, the lower end face opening 4cb is also larger than the upper end face opening 4ca. As shown in FIG. 1, a groove wall between a portion following the upper end face opening 4ca and the upper end face of the separation guide rotating body 4 in the lid guide groove 4c forms a cutting edge 4d of a separate knife. The edge 4d of the separate knife points from the starting point of the groove wall to a portion near the shoulder opening which has become thicker as the lid guiding groove 4c descends through a portion having a substantially constant thickness. When the enlarged diameter portion 4b is provided in the separation guide rotating body 4, all of the following may be used as the enlarged diameter portion 4b beyond the edge 4d of the separate knife. The respective parts of the separation guide rotating body 4 on both sides are configured to be point-symmetric with respect to the center point of both on the same horizontal section. Horizontal rotation of the separation guide rotating members 4 on both sides of the above-described configuration in the same direction and at the same speed can be performed by various methods known in the art, but in the illustrated example, as shown in FIG. The respective rotating shafts 4e are rotated by rotating force transmitting means (not shown) such as a gear train.

Numeral 6 denotes a lid stopper, which is located at the boundary between the lower end of the hopper 3 and the upper end face of the separating and guiding rotator 4 as shown in FIG. The lower end lid 2 is advanced and retracted between the lower and upper peripheral edges 2c of the lid 2 so that the lowermost lid 2 is separated from the upper end face of the lid guide groove 4c of the separation guide rotating body 4 by the weight of the upper lid 2. Aperture
When it falls to 4ca, the edge 2 of the upper lid 2 is temporarily
It supports c. This operation is performed by a known technique (not shown) such as a cam and a link mechanism.
The timing with the rotation of is performed.

Numeral 7 denotes a conveyor for transporting the container 1 passing below the space between the separation guide rotating bodies 4 on both sides as shown in FIG.
Guides 7a are provided on both sides to prevent the container 1 from deviating.

Numeral 8 denotes a can feed turret, as shown in FIG. 2, which is a can pocket for fitting and holding the body of the container 1 on a circular periphery.
8a are formed adjacent to each other. And the rotation axis in the center of the circle
8b, a can pocket 8a is provided along the circumference with the conveyor 7 as a tangent, in the same direction as the conveyor 8 at the contact point, and in synchronization with the lid supply cycle of the separation induction rotor 4, Rotate horizontally so as to sequentially move underneath.

[Action]

In such a configuration, first, the lid block 2 'is positioned in the hopper 3, and the conveyor 7 is driven to sequentially transport the containers 1 and rotate the can feed turret 8 while rotating the separation guide rotating body 4 and the lid stopper 6 on both sides. Activate When each separation guide rotating body 4 rotates and the upper end face openings 4ca on both sides face each other, both ends of the diameter of the lowermost lid 2 supported by the edge of the upper end face of the separation guide rotation body 4 until then. Is
Due to the weight of the upper lid block 2 ', the upper end opening 4ca
Fall into At this time, the lid stopper 6 moves forward to support the lower edge of the lid block 2 'under the peripheral portion 2c of the upper lid 2 so that the lower lid 2 and the upper lid 2 are overlapped with each other so that the upper end face is overlapped. Prevents invading opening 4ca. At the same time, the cutting edge 4d of the separate knife enters between the lower edge of the lid block 2 'and the peripheral edge 2c of the upper lid 2c, and the peripheral edge 2c of the lowermost lid 2 completely enters the lid guiding groove 4c. By further descending, it is separated from the upper lid 2. Lid Stopper 6
Recedes after the edge 4d of the separate knife has entered between the lower edge of the lid block 2 'and the upper edge of the peripheral edge 2c of the lid 2, and the lid 2 becomes the lowermost edge and the peripheral edge 2c is separated and guided. It is supported on the edge of the upper end face of the rotating body 4. As the rotation of the separating and guiding rotator 4 proceeds, the lid 2 changes its position only in the vertical direction and descends the lid guiding groove 4c, finally reaching the lower end face opening.
Reaches 4cb. Meanwhile, the lid 2 keeps rotating in the arrow Y direction by the separation guide rotating body 4 holding both ends of the diameter rotating in the same direction on both sides in the same direction, for example, the arrow X direction shown in FIG. In this way, the lid 2 is provided with the rotational force that rotates on both sides and rotates, so that there is no protrusion to the side as in the case where the lid 2 receives the rotational force only on one side, and the lid 2 is somewhat soft, such as made of plastic. Even if it has a distortion, it can be rotated horizontally with good posture by holding both ends of the diameter, and the lid guiding groove 4c of the separation guiding rotating body 4 can be obtained.
The decline is smooth.

The lid 2 that has reached the lower end face opening 4cb in this way is
The upper end opening of the container 1 located immediately below the lower end opening 4cb of the lid 2 in synchronism with the arrival at the lower end opening 4cb of the lid 2 by the can feed turret 2 rotating in the direction of arrow Z from the conveyor 7 conveyed in the direction of arrow W. Then, the temporary lid is made and transported to the next step. When the enlarged diameter portion 4b is formed at the lower portion of the separation guide rotating body 4, the temporary lid can be further stabilized by pushing the lid 2 into the container 1 by the lower surface thereof. In this way, the lid 2 is separated from the lid block 2 'and is supplied to the sequentially conveyed containers 1.

The container 1 and the lid 2 in the provisionally covered state are subjected to heat sealing, winding and the like under the environmental conditions required in the next step, and the sealing of the container 1 is completed.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described in detail above, the method and apparatus for supplying a lid to a can-like container according to the present invention provide a separation guide having a separation knife edge and a lid guide groove for separating the lid from the lid block and guiding the lid to the container. By rotating the rotating body horizontally in the same direction and at the same speed on both sides of the lid block, and applying and holding a rotating force on both sides of the diameter of the lid,
Even a somewhat soft or warped lid such as made of plastic can be carried out smoothly and without damaging the inner coating of the lid, and its industrial value is very large.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the apparatus of FIG.
The figure is an enlarged explanatory view of the main part of part A in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 (a) is a side sectional view showing an example of a can-like container, and FIG. 4 (b) is an example of a lid. It is a side sectional view. In the drawings: 1: can-like container 1a: seal portion 2: lid 2a: top plate portion 2b: rising portion 2c: peripheral portion 2ca: seal portion 2cb: lip portion 2 ': lid cover 3 … Hopper 3a …… Guide pillar 3b …… Hopper bottom 4 …… Separation guide rotating body 4a …… Cylinder 4aa …… Peripheral wall 4b …… Diameter part 4c …… Lid guide groove 4ca …… Top end face opening 4cb… … Opening of lower end face 4d… Cutting edge of separate knife 4e …… Rotating axis 5 …… Frame 6 …… Lid stop 7 …… Conveyor 7a …… Guide 8 …… Can feed turret 8a …… Can pocket 8b …… Rotation axis W: Conveyor conveyance direction X: Rotation direction of separation guide rotating body Y: Rotation direction of lid Z: Rotation direction of can feed turret

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A lid block in which a lid having a peripheral portion having a substantially horizontal annular seal portion formed on a peripheral edge of a circular top plate portion via a rising portion is stacked and positioned at a predetermined position. A separate knife having an arcuate blunt blade formed on the peripheral edge is rotated at a position where the cutting edge passes between the lower edge of the lid block and the upper edge of the lid block, and the lid is moved from the lower end of the lid block to one. When separating the sheets one by one and guiding them to the upper end opening of the can-like container to be positioned sequentially below, and temporarily closing the lid, a separate knife and a separation guide rotating body following below are combined and installed on both lower sides of the lid block. By rotating horizontally at the same speed in the same direction with the lid sandwiched between them, the lowermost lid of the lid block is separated while rotating, and at the same time, it is moved between the above-mentioned separation guide rotating bodies, and each separation guide is rotated. rotation It is guided downward into a can-like container by rotating it while rotating both ends of the diameter of the lid in a lid guiding groove formed substantially spirally on the peripheral wall from the upper end to the lower end of the can. To supply lids to can-like containers. 2. The can-like container according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the separation guide rotating body is enlarged in diameter, and the lid guided into the upper end opening of the can-like container by the lower surface of the enlarged diameter portion is pushed in. Lid supply method. 3. A lid (2) in which a peripheral portion (2c) having a substantially horizontal annular seal portion (2ca) is formed on a peripheral portion of a circular top plate portion (2a) via a rising portion (2b). Is a device for separating the lids (2) one by one from the lower part of the lid block (2 ') stacked thereon and supplying the separated lids to the upper end opening of the can-like container (1), comprising the following parts. A lid supply device to the can-like container (1). (A) a hopper (3) for guiding the lid block (2 ') to a predetermined position so that it can move vertically by gravity; (b) a hopper in the same direction below both sides following the lower end of the hopper (3). A vertical rotating body which does not decrease in diameter downwardly and rotates horizontally at a high speed, and at least an upper part thereof forms a vertical cylindrical portion (4a), and a peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion (4a) 4a
a) is approximately the same width as the peripheral edge (2c) of the lid (2) on the horizontal projection plane and intersects both ends of the diameter of the lid (2) located at the lower end of the hopper (3). A substantially spiral lid guiding groove (4c) descending in the reverse rotation direction communicating the upper end opening (4ca) of the upper end surface and the lower end opening (4cb) of the lower end surface in the cylindrical portion (4a). Is formed at substantially the same depth as the width of the intersection, and a groove wall between a portion following the upper end face opening (4ca) of the lid guiding groove (4c) and the upper end face is formed by a cutting edge of a separate knife. (4d), a separation guide rotating body (4) in which the respective parts of the rotating bodies on both sides are formed point-symmetric with respect to the center of both, and (c) a lower end of the hopper (3) and the separation guide. At the boundary with the upper end surface of the rotator (4), the hopper (3) is rotated according to the rotation of the separation guide rotator (4). Lid block (2 ')
Between the lower edge and the upper edge of the lid (2) between the periphery (2c) and the lower edge of the lid (2) so that the lowermost lid (2) is the upper lid (2)
Upper end opening (4ca) of lid guide groove (4c) depending on the weight of
(6) a lid stopper (6) for temporarily supporting the peripheral portion (2c) of the upper lid (2) when it is pushed into the container (1). Guides (7a) that convey the paper through the lower part between
(E) A can pocket (8a) for fitting and holding the body of the can-like container (1) is formed adjacent to the circular periphery, and the can pocket (8a) is Along the circumference with the conveyor (7) as a tangent, in the same direction as the conveyor (7) at the contact point and in synchronization with the lid supply cycle of the separation induction rotor (4), between the separation induction rotors (4) on both sides. A can feed turret (8) that moves sequentially downward. 4. A separation induction rotating body (4) comprising an upper cylindrical body (4).
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, comprising a) and a lower enlarged part (4b).