JP2800597B2 - Canned sampling method and sampling system in canned production line - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sampling apparatus for taking out a sampling can from a line for checking the tightness of a can lid and a can body in a can manufacturing line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a canned production line, in order to check the tightness of a seamer for winding a canned lid around a can body, a certain number of each seaming head is extracted from the manufactured canned and inspected. doing. In the past, the seamer's seaming head number was manually extracted and extracted, the tightening state of each corresponding seaming head was inspected and adjusted, but in the manual inspection, the line must be stopped once. However, since the operating efficiency of the line is reduced, the following automatic extracting device has been proposed.

That is, Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-30287 discloses that a flow of empty can supply to a filler is divided without stopping a line, and a group of sampling cans having a space separated before and after is formed. A method has been proposed in which the above-mentioned one group of sampling cans is divided and taken out to a bypass conveyor (hereinafter referred to as a first conventional example).

Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-53213 discloses that
Similarly, without stopping the line, the empty can stopper at the filler entrance is operated once to separate the flow of the can to the seamer, and after the specific seaming head of the seamer is detected by the detection sensor, it is separated and flows again. By measuring the time difference until the can detection sensor detects the leading can, and calculating from the time difference and the line speed, it is possible to specify the number of the seaming head in which the first can was wound. Then, a method of sampling using the can as a reference has been proposed (hereinafter referred to as a second conventional example).

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-4625 discloses that when a sensor detects passage of a specific seaming head to which an object to be detected is attached, a detection signal is issued, and a can positioned at the specific seaming head is detected. Sampling for extracting a row of cans arranged in the order of the seaming head starting with the can wound by a specific seaming head by activating the can extracting means such as an air cylinder after a lapse of time to reach the extracting position. An inspection system has been proposed (hereinafter referred to as a third conventional example).

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-71940, the seamer pocket discriminating means discriminates the number of the seaming pocket into which the can passing the position of the seama can sensor enters, and the collating means designates sampling. A sampling device has been proposed in which when it is determined that the number matches a specific seamer pocket number, the cylinder solenoid is operated to take out the sample to a sampling can stock conveyor (hereinafter referred to as a fourth conventional example).

[0007] Similarly, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-118918, the head number information of the filler filled with contents and the seamer with the lid wound is stored for all cans passing through the seamer outlet. At the same time, a sampling system has been proposed in which it is determined whether or not the can is a sampling target, and based on the result, the sample can collecting means is operated to automatically transfer the can to a sampling conveyor (hereinafter referred to as a sampling system). Five conventional examples).

[0008]

In the sampling methods of the first and second conventional examples, the can does not flow by temporarily blocking the flow of the empty can supply to the filler or the seamer without stopping the line. Since the portion is provided, the switching gate provided on the conveyor for transporting the cans can be switched while the cans are not flowing, so that the sampling cans can be taken out without fail. In the fifth conventional example, the stopper provided immediately before the sampling conveyor is actuated to stop the flow of the can, so that the same effects as those of the first conventional example and the second conventional example can be obtained. On the other hand, in the third conventional example and the fourth conventional example, as described above, the flow of the can is once blocked and the can is taken out without providing a portion where the can does not flow. Becomes faster,
In effect, the sampling cans cannot be removed.

Further, in order to determine the seaming head which needs adjustment, it is necessary to specify which seaming head the sampled can has been wound around. In this case, since this identification is not performed, all the seaming heads must be inspected. Furthermore, in the second conventional example and the third conventional example, the seaming head can be specified for the first can in the row of cans to be sampled, but the subsequent cans are regarded as being arranged in the order of the seaming head number. I have.

However, in order to reliably take out the row of cans to be sampled, as described above, the stopper or the like provided upstream of the filler or the seamer is operated to block the flow of the can and provide a portion where the can does not flow. However, when the supply of the can is resumed, the flow of the can is disturbed, and there is a possibility that a so-called missing can occurs in which the can is not supplied to the plurality of seaming heads. In such a case,
In the second and third conventional examples, it is not guaranteed that the sampled cans are in the order of the seaming head. Even if the sampling fails as described above, the row of cans to be sampled is taken out to the sampling path, so that unnecessary sampling cans need to be separately treated manually.

On the other hand, in the fifth conventional example, when sampling cans continuously, the stopper provided immediately before the sampling conveyor is actuated to temporarily stop the flow of the cans, during which the divider is turned off. Since the discharge conveyor is switched to the sampling conveyor, there is no problem in taking out the sampling can.
Further, for all the cans arriving at the position of the first can detection sensor provided at the seamer outlet, the head number information of each of the filler filled with the contents of the can and the seamer with the lid wound thereon is specified and stored. In addition, since it is determined whether or not the can is a sampling target can and the result is that the sample can collecting means is operated and the can is automatically transferred to the sampling conveyor, the above-mentioned missing can is described. Sampling can be reliably performed even if the error occurs. On the other hand, the fifth conventional example requires a large number of sensors, signal generators, setting devices, determination means, storage means, and the like, and is a complicated and expensive sampling device.

However, in a recent can manufacturing line, not only the manufacture of cans but also the inspection apparatus is fully automatic. For example, in order to extract cans sampled for X-ray inspection from the inspection line, A sampling robot is used. In this case, it is specified to which seaming head the head can of the group of sampled cans corresponds, and the sampling cans following the head can are arranged in order of the number of the seaming head. If this is assured, the desired can to be inspected can be easily extracted using the extraction robot. Therefore, in a line that is completely automatic from manufacturing to inspection, assuming the use of a robot for sampling inspection,
As a sampling device, while specifying which seaming head corresponds to the first can of the group of sampled cans, the sampling cans continuous with the first can are arranged in order of the number of the seaming head. It can be said that it suffices to have a function that can guarantee that the cans are sampled and that the row of cans to be sampled is reliably taken out to the sampling path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and specifies which seaming head corresponds to the first can in a row of a group of sampled cans. While ensuring that consecutive cans are arranged in the order of the number of seaming heads, sampling cans can be reliably taken out even if the line speed is high, and sampling cans can be taken out to the sampling path only when sampling is successful. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sampling system in a can manufacturing line which does not require unnecessary treatment of a sampling can, can be operated completely automatically, and has a simple structure and is inexpensive.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for sampling cans in a canned production line, wherein a lid is placed on a first can of a group of cans to be sampled. Identifying the number of the seamed head of the seamer that has been tightened, and confirming that the cans that are continuous with the top can are wound in the order of the seaming head number that is continuous with the specified seaming head number. When it is confirmed, the row of cans to be sampled is taken out to a sampling path.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sampling method for a can according to the first aspect, wherein a stopper provided on an upstream side of the seamer is operated to block the flow of the can. By providing an interval between the caught can and the can immediately before it, the interval reaches a gate provided downstream of the seamer, and by switching the gate when the confirmation is made, the It is characterized in that a row of cans to be sampled is taken out to a sampling path.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a canned sampling system in a canned production line, comprising: a sampling control device; a rotation angle detection sensor for detecting a rotation angle of a seamer for tightening the can lid and the can body; A can detection sensor that detects a can discharged from the seamer and issues a can presence signal, wherein the sampling control device is configured to control the angle at which the seamer corresponds to an arrangement pitch of a seaming head provided on the seamer. A pocket timing signal is issued each time the rotation angle detection sensor detects that the rotation has been completed, and a sampling success signal is generated when the pocket timing signal and the can-present signal are obtained as a pair and a predetermined number of them are continuously obtained. It is characterized by emitting.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the canned sampling system in the canned production line according to the third aspect, a stopper provided on the upstream side of the seamer and a downstream side of the seamer are provided. And a switching gate provided, wherein the sampling control device dams the flow of the can by activating a stopper provided on the upstream side of the seamer, and between the clogged can and the can immediately before the clogged can. By providing an interval, the interval reaches the switching gate provided on the downstream side of the seamer, and when the success signal is obtained, the switching gate is switched so that the row of cans to be sampled is placed on the sampling path. It is characterized by taking out.

[0018]

According to the sampling method for a canned production line according to the first aspect of the present invention and the sampling system according to the third aspect, which embodies the method, the first can in the row of the group of sampled cans is provided. It is possible to specify which seaming head corresponds, and it is possible to guarantee that the sampling cans following the first can are arranged in the order of the number of the seaming head.

According to the sampling method in the canned production line according to the second aspect of the present invention and the sampling system according to the fourth embodiment which embodies this method, sampling is successfully performed even when the speed of the canned production line is high. In this case, the sampling can can be reliably taken out to the sampling path.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sampling method and a sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall layout of a canned production line including the sampling system of the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1. This canned production line was kept in a clean atmosphere to fill cans with contents. A filling area 60;
It comprises a can lid supply area 40 provided with a facility for supplying a can lid, and an inspection area 50 for inspecting a completed can.
In the can lid supply area 40, the bag-lid can lid is conveyed by the conveyor 41,
2 removes from the bag. The removed can lid is supplied to the seamer 4 by the conveyor 43. In the filling area 60, the can body is supplied from the depalletizer 1, washed with the rinser 2, and then filled with the filler 3 into the can body. Further, the can lid is wound around the can body filled with the contents by the seamer 4. The can thus completed is conveyed from the conveyor 15 to the packing area 70 through the conveyor 17 and the conveyor 61. The cans sampled for inspection are conveyed to the inspection area 50 via the sampling path 18. In the inspection area 50, only the cans to be inspected are extracted by the robot 52 from the row of sampling cans taken out to the sampling path 18 and attached to the X-ray inspection apparatus 51. After the inspection, the cans are returned to the conveyor 53 by the robot 52, applied to the weight measuring device 54, and then conveyed to the packing area 70 via the conveyors 55 and 61.

Next, details of the filler 3 and the seamer 4 of the canning production line in which the sampling method and the sampling system of the present invention are implemented will be described below.

First, as schematically shown in FIG. 2, the can supplied from the conveyor 7 is supplied to the filler 3 by the feed turret 5, and the filler 3 and the seamer 4 8 are connected. Further, by operating the filler inlet side stopper 16 provided in the middle of the conveyor 7, the flow of the cans is damped, and the gap between the group of dammed cans and the can immediately before and immediately after the can is prevented. It can be provided.

The cans supplied from the conveyor 8 to the seamer 4 are coaxially provided in twelve pockets 11 formed at equal intervals on the periphery of the seaming turret 12, as shown in FIG. By a seaming head (not shown), it is wound around the can lid supplied by the conveyor 43 shown in FIG. And the tightly wound can
It is discharged by a discharge turret 14 rotated in synchronization with the seaming turret 12.

In the seaming head, a specific seaming head is No. 1 head, and thereafter, No. 2 to No. 12 heads are sequentially clockwise. (Since the seaming head is not shown in FIG. The same number is given to the coaxial pocket.) In this embodiment, the pocket number of the discharge turret 14, which is rotated in synchronization with the seaming turret 12, is detected in order to specify which seaming head the sampled can has been wound. In FIG. 3, a pocket number of the seaming turret 12 corresponding to this pocket is written in each of the pockets of the discharge turret 14.) Therefore, a rotation angle detection sensor 24 for detecting the rotation angle is provided on the rotation axis of the discharge turret 14, and a can detection sensor 22 is provided near the outer periphery of the discharge turret 14. As the can detection sensor 22, for example, an eddy current type proximity sensor, a reflection optical sensor, or the like can be employed.

The discharge turret 14 includes:
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a discharge conveyor 15 for transporting the completed cans to be discharged is connected. The discharge conveyor 15 is branched into a normal transport path 17 and a sampling path 18 on the way. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, a branching device 39 comprising a gate 19 for opening and closing and a seamer outlet side gate actuator 36 for opening and closing the gate 19 is provided in this branching portion, and a control device 25 shown in FIG. , The completed cans are distributed to the normal transport path 17 or the sampling path 18. In addition,
The sampling path 18 may be a conveyor or a chute.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, a control device 25 including a cam positioner 26, an autosampler main body 27, a sequencer 28, and the like is connected to the seamer 4 of this embodiment.

The cam positioner 26 is connected to a rotation angle detection sensor 24 provided on the rotation shaft of the discharge turret 14, so that a rotation angle detection sensor signal is input. Based on the rotation angle detection sensor signal, the cam positioner 26
When the pocket of the discharge turret 14 corresponding to the seaming head reaches the position of the can detection sensor 22, a No. 1 pocket signal is output to the autosampler main body 27. In addition, the cam positioner 26
The pocket 1 in which the rotation angle of the discharge turret 14 indicated by the rotation angle detection sensor signal is arranged at an equal pitch in the circumferential direction of the discharge turret 14.
Every time it becomes equal to the rotation angle corresponding to the arrangement pitch of 3,
A pocket timing signal, which is one pulse signal, is output to the autosampler main body 27.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a can detection sensor 22 provided near the outer periphery of the discharge turret 14 is connected to the autosampler main body 27, and every time the can detection sensor 22 detects a can. A can-present signal, which is a pulse signal, is input.

The sequencer 28 issues a measurement request signal to the autosampler body 27 to start sampling measurement based on a sampling program, and outputs a signal during sampling measurement after the sampling is started. The autosampler body 2
7 to the sequencer 28, a failure signal indicating that the sampling measurement has failed, a success signal indicating that the sampling measurement has succeeded, and a sequence in which the first can of the row of cans to be sampled when the sampling measurement has succeeded has been tightened. And a BCD value for associating with the recording head.

The rotation speed of the feed turret 9 of the seamer 4, the seaming turret 12, and the discharge turret 14 is set to HI · LOW.
A HI / LOW relay 31 for switching to a BCD display, a BCD display 32 for displaying the BCD value, and a failure lamp 33 for displaying when a failure signal is input.
When a success signal is input, a success lamp 34 that indicates that the signal has been input, an in-sampling display lamp 35 that indicates that sampling is being performed in the autosampler main body 27, and the seamer provided at the end of the discharge conveyor. A seamer outlet-side gate actuator 36 for driving the outlet-side gate 19, and a discharge actuator 3 for discharging a can in the seamer 4 when a failure signal is input.
7 and a filler entrance side stopper actuator 38 for switching the filler entrance side stopper 16 provided on the entrance side of the filler 3 when the sampling start signal is issued.

Next, the flow of processing in the control device 25 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the time chart shown in FIG.

First, the sequencer 28 issues a measurement request signal to the autosampler main body 27 based on the sampling program to enable the start of measurement by the can detection sensor 22 and the rotation angle detection sensor 24. Emits a signal. Further, by sending a signal to the filler inlet side stopper actuator 38 to operate the filler inlet side stopper 16, the flow of the can is dammed before and after the row of cans to be sampled, and the can immediately before and immediately after the group of cans to be sampled. Leave space between cans.

The cam positioner 26 outputs a No. 1 pocket signal to the auto sampler main body 27 in response to the pocket of the discharge turret 14 corresponding to the No. 1 seaming head reaching the position of the can detection sensor 22. Emit. Similarly, every time the rotation angle of the discharge turret 14 indicated by the rotation angle detection sensor signal becomes equal to the angle corresponding to the arrangement pitch of the pockets 13 arranged at equal pitches in the circumferential direction of the discharge turret 14, one It outputs a pocket timing signal which is a pulse signal. Further, the can detection sensor 22 outputs a can presence signal to the autosampler main body 27 as the can passes through the position of the can detection sensor 22.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the No1 pocket signal is turned on, the pocket timing signal is changed from 1 to 12
, And when a new No. 1 pocket signal is detected, the count is reset and counted from 1 to 12 again. In this embodiment, this count value matches the pocket number of the discharge turret passing through the position of the can detection sensor 22, that is, the seaming head number. Then, after the No1 pocket signal is issued, the count value of the pocket timing signal (8 in part A in the figure) at the time when the first can-present signal which is once again issued after the can-present signal is interrupted is obtained. Store in memory. Thereby, it is possible to detect which seaming head the first can of the row of cans to be sampled enters.

5, the pulse of the can-present signal is sequentially counted as a pair with the pocket timing signal, and when the count value becomes 23, the autosampler main body is turned on. 27 issues a success signal to the sequencer 28. Accordingly, the preceding lamp 34 is turned on, the count value of the pocket timing signal stored in the memory is called out, and the number of the seaming head containing the first can of the sampled cans in the BCD display 32 is displayed. Will be displayed as Also, this BCD value is obtained by the extraction robot 5
2, and is used as data when the robot 52 selects cans to be extracted as cans to be inspected.

On the other hand, as shown by a portion C in FIG. 6, after counting the pair of pulses of the can-present signal and the pocket timing signal, the pocket timing signal is input. When the presence signal is not input, that is, when a pocket containing no can comes, the failure signal is turned on and the failure lamp 33 is turned on. This is because if there is a pocket in which a can does not exist, the correspondence between the sampled can and the seaming head is lost, and the sampling measurement is invalidated to prevent this. This ensures that the rows of sampled cans are arranged in numerical order of the seaming heads.

On the other hand, as shown by B in FIG. 6, when the count value of the can-present signal is 23 or less, the failure signal is set to O.
N is set, and the failure lamp 33 is turned on. The reason why the failure signal is turned ON when the count value is 23 or less is that in the present embodiment, the number of the seaming heads is 12, and at least the sampling cans wound by the same seaming head are used. This is for removing two pieces, and it is sufficient that the number is at least larger than the number of seaming heads. Although the count value of the can-present signal may be 23 or more, a success signal is issued when the count value reaches 23.

When the success signal is obtained, the sequencer 28 operates the gate switch 36 on the outlet side of the seamer to switch the gate 19, and guides the row of cans that have been successfully sampled to the sampling path 18. As a result, cans for which sampling failed have been conveyed as completed cans, so that the need for manually treating cans for which sampling has failed can be eliminated. At this time,
The sequencer 28 detects a portion of the can flow provided before and after the row of cans sampled based on the can presence signal output by the can detection sensor 22, and detects an interval between the can flows, and when a predetermined delay time has elapsed. Then, the seamer outlet side gate actuator 36 is operated. This allows the gate 19 to be switched while the cans are not flowing, so that a sampled row of cans can be reliably taken out even if the line speed is high. Thus, it is possible to obtain a group of sampling cans arranged in order of the number of the seaming head from the first can wound by the seaming head of the given number.

When the canned production line is stopped during the sampling measurement by the controller 25, the input of the pocket timing signal and the can-present signal is stopped, and when the canned production line is restarted, the input immediately after the stoppage is continued. Since the counting is started from the value, the correspondence between the seaming head and the can does not deviate even when the canned production line is stopped.

If the measurement request signal is turned off before the count value of the can signal becomes 23, the failure signal is set to O.
N, the failure lamp 33 is turned on, and the control device 25 is reset. This is to stop sampling measurement in response to some circumstances.

The measurement request signal is turned off after a failure signal or a success signal is issued, as shown by E in FIG. This is to prevent the sampling measurement from being further continued when the success or failure of the sampling measurement is determined. And when the failure signal is input,
The sequencer 28 issues a measurement request signal to the autosampler body 27 again.

As shown by F in FIG. 5, when the measurement request signal is turned off and the measurement request signal is turned off before the can presence signal is detected, the failure signal is turned on and the failure signal is turned on. The lamp 33 is turned on. This is because such a case is an abnormal state in which the can is clogged during transportation for some reason.

In this embodiment, a rotation angle detection sensor 24, which is a rotation angle detection sensor, is connected to the rotation shaft of the discharge turret 14 to form the seaming turret 1.
Although the second rotation angle is indirectly detected, a rotation angle detection sensor may be connected to the rotation axis of the seaming turret 12 to directly detect the rotation angle of the seaming turret 12.

[0045]

As described above, according to the sampling method in the canned production line according to the first aspect of the present invention and the sampling system according to the third aspect which embodies the method, a group of sampled samples is obtained. It is possible to specify to which seaming head the first can of the row of cans corresponds, and to ensure that the sampling cans following this first can are arranged in numerical order of the seaming head. As a result, cans to be inspected can be reliably extracted using the extraction robot provided in the inspection area. It can be.

Further, according to the sampling method in the canned production line according to the second aspect of the present invention and the sampling system according to the fourth aspect which embodies this method, the stopper provided on the upstream side of the seamer is operated. By blocking the flow of the cans, a gap is provided between the dammed can and the can immediately before and after the row of cans to be sampled, and a portion of the can flow that is spaced apart is the seamer. When reaching the switching gate provided on the downstream side, this gate is switched and the row of cans to be sampled is taken out to the sampling path, so that even when the speed of the canning production line is fast, the sampling can is reliably placed in the sampling path. Can be taken out.

Only when the sampling is successful, the switching gate provided on the downstream side of the seamer is switched to take out a row of cans to be sampled to the sampling path. Since the cans are conveyed, it is not necessary to manually treat cans for which sampling has failed. This makes it possible to configure a fully automatic unmanned line from can manufacturing to sampling and inspection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a canned production line including a sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an enlarged main part of a sampling system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a seamer in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control device used in a sampling method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a time chart illustrating a process in the control device.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view showing a branching device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 filler 4 seamer 14 discharge turret 16 filler inlet side stopper 19 seamer outlet side gate 22 can detection sensor 24 rotation angle detection sensor 25 controller 26 cam positioner 27 autosampler body 28 sequencer

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for sampling cans in a canned production line, comprising: identifying a number of a seamer head of a seamer in which a lid is wound around a first can of a group of cans to be sampled; When it can be confirmed that the cans that are continuous in the order have been wound in the order of the number of the seaming head in succession to the number of the specified seaming head, the row of cans to be sampled is taken out to a sampling path. Characterized sampling method for cans. 2. A stopper provided on an upstream side of the seamer is actuated to block the flow of the can, and a gap is provided between the dammed can and the can immediately before the can, and the gap is set downstream of the seamer. 2. The method for sampling cans according to claim 1, wherein the row of cans to be sampled is taken out to a sampling path by arriving at a gate provided on the side and switching the gate when the confirmation is made. . 3. A can sampling system in a can manufacturing line, the sampling system comprising: a sampling control device; a rotation angle detection sensor for detecting a rotation angle of a seamer for winding the can lid and the can body; And a can detection sensor for detecting a can discharged from the can and generating a can presence signal, wherein the sampling control device rotates the seamer by an angle corresponding to an arrangement pitch of a seaming head provided on the seamer. A pocket timing signal is generated each time the rotation angle detection sensor detects that the rotation angle has been detected, and a sampling success signal is generated when the pocket timing signal and the can-present signal are obtained as a pair in a predetermined number. A canned sampling system in a canned production line characterized by the following. 4. A stopper provided on an upstream side of the seamer, and a switching gate provided on a downstream side of the seamer, wherein the sampling control device operates a stopper provided on an upstream side of the seamer. By damping the flow of the can, a gap is provided between the dammed can and the can immediately before it, the gap reaches a switching gate provided downstream of the seamer, and the success signal is obtained. The canned sampling system in the canned production line according to claim 3, wherein the switching of the switching gate causes the row of the cans to be sampled to be taken out to a sampling path.