JP2856230B2 - Cap transfer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cap transfer device for transferring a cap from a sorter or a chute to a capping head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a conventional cap conveying device is generally provided with a rotatable rotatable body and a plurality of cap holding means provided at equal intervals on an outer peripheral portion of the rotatable body and holding cap inner peripheral surfaces. A cap supplied from a cap supply device such as a sorter or a chute is received by each of the cap holding means, and the cap received by each cap holding means is delivered to a capping head which caps the cap on a container. Has become. The cap holding means is generally manufactured from a pin-shaped cap holding member that engages with and transports the inner peripheral surface of the cap (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-172691).

[0003]

In this type of cap transfer device, when the diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the cap is changed, the center position of the cap with respect to the pin-shaped cap holding member shifts accordingly. Since the capping head operates in synchronization with the cap holding member, if the center position of the cap with respect to the cap holding member shifts, the center position of the cap with respect to the capping head also shifts. If the diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the cap is largely changed for enlargement, there is a risk that the smooth transfer of the cap from the cap holding member to the capping head becomes impossible. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a cap transfer device that can always maintain the center of the cap at a fixed position even when the diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the cap is changed.

[0004]

That is, the present invention comprises a cap holding means for holding an inner peripheral surface of a cap, and a conveying means for conveying each cap holding means. In a cap transfer device configured to receive a cap received by each cap holding unit, and transfer the cap received by each cap holding unit to a capping head that caps the cap on a container, the cap holding unit is positioned at a reduced position. The outer diameter of the cap holding means is reduced to be smaller than the inner peripheral surface of the cap, and the outer diameter of the cap holding means is located at the expanded position and the outer diameter of the cap retaining means is larger than the inner peripheral surface of the cap. includes a movable member to further upper Symbol movable member, any of the above condensation low position and expanded position while not subject to the magnetic force of the magnet Held in a square position, where they will be held in the other position in a state of receiving a magnetic force of the magnet
You.

[0005]

According to the above construction, at the position where the cap holding means receives the cap from the cap supply device, the outer diameter of the cap holding means can be reduced to a smaller state than the inner peripheral surface of the cap. Thereby, the cap holding means can smoothly receive the cap from the cap supply device. Then, when the cap holding means receives the cap, if the outer diameter of the cap holding means is set to the expanded state larger than the inner peripheral surface of the cap, even if the inner diameter of the cap is different, the cap holding means always moves the cap to its center. Since the position can be centered, the cap can be smoothly transferred from the cap holding means to the capping head. At this time, by arranging the magnet at an appropriate position, the movable member is set to the reduced position at the position where the cap holding unit receives the cap from the cap supply device, and the movable member is expanded when the cap holding unit receives the cap. Positioning can be easily performed.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, a rotary capper 1 for capping a container has an inlet starwheel 2 and an outlet starwheel 3, and the container is not shown. It is conveyed in the direction of arrow A by the conveyor, and is conveyed into the capper 1 via the entrance starwheel 2. Then, the container capped by the capper 1 is carried out from the outlet starwheel 3 to the outside. The cap is supplied from a chute 4 serving as a cap supply device to a cap transfer device 5 provided above the entrance star wheel 2, transferred by the cap transfer device 5 in the direction of arrow B, and supplied to the capping head of the capper 1. It has become so. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Is formed in a columnar shape as a whole, and a screw for screwing the cap to the container is screwed inside the columnar portion. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cap transfer device 5 includes a drive shaft 11 disposed in a vertical direction, and a rotating body 12 fixed to the drive shaft 11 and rotating integrally with the drive shaft 11. A plurality of cap holding means 13 are provided at equal intervals on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 12.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show details of the cap holding means 13. The cap holding means 13 divides a columnar member having a flange-shaped slide portion 14a at its lower part into four equal parts in the circumferential direction. The movable member 14 is provided with a slide portion 14a of each movable member 14 slidably mounted on a fixed plate 15 provided in a step portion of a stepped hole 12a formed in the rotating body 12. It is location. At this time, a ring-shaped guide plate 16 is placed on the upper surface of the fixed plate 15 and projects inward at four equally spaced positions on the inner peripheral surface of the guide plate 16 as shown in FIG. Thus, a triangular guide portion 16a is formed. By bringing the corners of the slide portions 14a of the movable members 14 into contact with the guide portions 16a, the guide portions 16a
Thus, each movable member 14 is guided so as to be able to advance and retreat in the radial direction. The fixed plate 15 and the guide plate 16 are, as shown in FIG.
The rotating body 1 is fixed by a ring-shaped lid 17 fixed to the upper surface of the
2 and the upper surface of the sliding portion 14a of each movable member 14 is slidably covered by the lid 17 so that each movable member 14 does not come off from the rotating body 12 upward. I have to.

A ring-shaped spring 18 is wound around a lower portion of the shaft 14b of each of the movable members 14 in common, and the shafts 14b of each of the movable members 14 are gathered by the elastic force of the spring 18. In this state, the outer diameter of each of the shaft portions 14b is reduced to be smaller than the inner peripheral surface of the cap C. On the other hand, when each movable member 14 is pushed outward in the radial direction against the spring 18, the outer diameter of each shaft portion 14b can be made larger than the inner peripheral surface of the cap. (The state of Fig. 4)
A conical cam member 19 is fitted into the stepped hole 12a formed in the rotating body 12 through the guide hole 15a of the fixed plate 15 so as to be vertically movable. A cam surface 14c formed on the lower inner surface of the movable member 14 is elastically contacted. A disc-shaped stopper plate 25 which is fitted into the stepped hole 12a so as to be able to move up and down and keeps the center of the cam member 19 at a constant position is integrally attached to a lower portion of the cam member 19, By mounting a spring 26 having a greater elasticity than the spring 18 between the stopper plate 25 and the rotating body 12,
Normally, the cam member 19 is biased and held at the rising end position against the resilience of the spring 18, whereby the movable member 14
Of the cap C is larger than the inner peripheral surface of the cap C.

Further, an iron columnar suction member 27 is integrally attached to the lower surface of the stopper plate 25, and this suction member 27 is normally held at an upper position by the spring 26. When the cap 12 is rotated and the cap holding means 13 moves above the magnet 28 provided at a required position, the spring 2 is moved by the magnetic force of the magnet 28.
6 is sucked down to a lower position against the resilience of the elastic member. As a result, the cam member 19 is also lowered integrally with the suction member 27, so that the movable members 14
The outer diameter of the shaft portion 14b of each movable member 14 becomes smaller than the inner peripheral surface of the cap C. On the other hand, when the cap holding means 13 passes through the magnet 28, the magnet 2
8, the suction member 27 and the cam member 19 are returned to the upper position by the spring 26, and each movable member 14 is expanded.
Has an outer diameter larger than the inner peripheral surface of the cap C. The magnet 28 is attached to a fixed fixing plate 29,
As shown in FIG. 3, the magnet 28 is moved from the cap receiving position D from the chute 4 to the cap holding unit 13 to the cap transfer position from the cap holding unit 13 to the capping head 31 on the rear side in the rotation direction of the rotating body 12. It is provided over a section F up to a position on the near side of E, and in this section F, the outer diameter of the cap holding means 13 can be maintained in a reduced state.

In the above arrangement, each cap holding means 13 is conveyed by the rotation of the rotating body 12, and when the cap holding means 13 enters the section F of FIG. 3, the attracting member 27 and the cam member 19 are lowered by the magnet 28. Therefore, the cap holding means 13 is in a reduced state. When the cap holding means 13 reaches the cap receiving position D in this state,
The cap holding means 13 takes out the cap C from the chute 4. At this time, since the cap holding unit 13 is in the contracted state, the cap holding unit 13 can easily enter the inner peripheral surface of the cap C and hold the cap C. When the cap holding means 13 is inserted into the cap C, the cap holding means 13 passes through the cap receiving position D, so that the influence of the magnet 28 is eliminated, whereby the suction member 27 and the cam member 19 are raised to hold the cap. When the means 13 is in the expanded state, the cap C is centered at the center position by the cap holding means 13. This is the same even when the type of the cap is changed and the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface is changed. Even if the inner diameter of the cap C is different, the cap C is always centered at the center position of the cap holding means 13. can do. Next, the cap holding means 13 is moved to the cap transfer position E in a state where the cap C is centered.
1 is lowered and the cap C is relatively inserted into the capping head 31 and gripped. Then, the cap C held by the capping head 31 is fitted next to the outer periphery of the mouth of the container. On the other hand, the cap holding means 13 which has been emptied by delivering the cap C to the capping head 31
Is transported into the section F and becomes a reduced state again, and the above-described operation is repeated.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the cap holding means. The cap holding means 113 of this embodiment is shown in FIGS.
Is manufactured by dividing an inverted conical magnet into four equal parts in the circumferential direction.
The movable member 114 is fitted in the inverted conical cam hole 112 a formed in the rotating body 112 so as to be able to move up and down. The magnets constituting each movable member 114 have the same polarity, are separated from each other by the repulsive force, and rise along the inclined surface of the cam hole 112a and are located at the rising end. A ring-shaped stopper member 132 is attached to the opening of the cam hole 112a, and a stopper portion 132a formed by projecting inward in the radial direction at the upper end of the stopper member 132 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the movable member 114. By engaging with the engaging groove 114a formed at the position, the movable member 114 can be moved up and down within the range of the engaging groove 114a. When each of the movable members 114 is located at the rising end, the outer diameter of the movable member 114 is larger than the inner peripheral surface of the cap. In contrast,
The movable members 114 are attracted by magnets 128 of different polarity provided at the same position as in the above-described embodiment, and each movable member 114 is attracted.
When is moved against the repulsive force between them, the movable members 114 are brought close to each other along the cam hole 112a,
As a result, the outer diameter of each movable member 114 is reduced so as to be smaller than the inner peripheral surface of the cap. Further, in this embodiment, when each movable member 114 is in the contracted state, each movable member 114 is displaced below the movable member in the expanded state, so that each movable member 114 is at the same height position. The cap can be easily detached from the movable member 114 as compared with the case of expanding and contracting with.

FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment of the cap holding means. The cap holding means 213 of this embodiment is shown.
Is a column 234 erected at the center of the stepped hole 212a of the rotating body 212, a bag-shaped movable member 214 made of an elastic body wound around the column, and further, the movable member 214
And a magnetic fluid 235 sealed therein. The middle part of the movable member 214 is supported by the inner peripheral surface of the stepped hole 212a so as not to bulge outward in the radial direction, but the upper and lower ends can bulge radially outward. In addition, the lower end is fastened by a band 236 made of an elastic body, and the upper end is normally bulged radially outward. In this state, the outer diameter of the upper end of the movable member 214 is larger than the inner peripheral surface of the cap. On the other hand, the magnetic fluid 235 sealed in the movable member 214
When the magnetic fluid 235 is sucked, the magnetic fluid 235 is moved to the lower part of the movable member 214 against the tightening force of the band 236, whereby the outer diameter of the upper end of the movable member 214 is moved from the inner peripheral surface of the cap. It is also possible to make a small reduced state.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of the cap holding means. The cap holding means 313 of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
Is a spherical movable member 3 made of an elastic body that covers and seals the upper end opening of the cylinder 338, which is attached to the upper end opening of the stepped hole 312a of the rotating body 312.
14 and a silicone oil 339 sealed in the movable member 314. An iron piston 340 is fitted in the cylinder 338 from below under the cylinder 338 so as to be able to move up and down, and the piston 340 is normally held at a rising end position by a spring 341. In the normal state where the piston 340 is held at the rising end position, the movable member 314 is swelled radially outward by the internal silicone oil 339, and is in an expanded state larger than the inner peripheral surface of the cap. I have. On the other hand, when the piston 340 is lowered by the magnet 328 against the spring 341, the outer diameter of the movable member 314 is reduced because the silicone oil 339 is sucked into the cylinder 338, thereby reducing the movable member 314. 314
Of the cap can be made smaller than the inner peripheral surface of the cap.

In the above embodiment, the cap holding means is provided directly on the rotating body. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 61-31996, a swinging type cap transfer device in which a swinging arm is swingably provided on a rotating body, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-138997.
It is apparent that the present invention can also be applied to a line-type cap transfer device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260, as well as a cap transfer device using an endless chain as a transfer means.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the outer diameter of the cap holding means can be enlarged or reduced, when the cap holding means is at the position for receiving the cap from the cap supply device, the cap holding means can be closed. By setting the holding means in the reduced state, the cap can be smoothly received from the cap supply device. When the cap holding unit receives the cap, the cap holding unit is expanded so that the cap can always be centered at the center position by the cap holding unit even if the inner diameter of the cap is different. The effect of being able to smoothly deliver from the cap holding means to the capping head is obtained. And since use Iteiru magnets in order to scaled operate the cap holding means, simply placing the magnet in the proper position, the effect is obtained that the cap holding means can be scaled operated at easily required position .

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap transfer device 5 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a right portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 4 from which a lid 17 is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Rotary-type capper 4 ... Chute (cap supply apparatus) 5 ... Cap conveyance apparatus 31 ... Capping head
C: cap 12, 112, 212, 312: rotating body (conveying means) 13, 113, 213, 313: cap holding means 14, 114, 214, 314: movable member 28, 128, 228, 328: magnet D: cap Receiving position E: Cap delivery position

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-162290 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B67B 3/06-3/064

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Cap-holding means for holding an inner peripheral surface of a cap, and transport means for transporting each cap-holding means, wherein a cap supplied from a cap supply device is received by each of said cap-holding means, and In a cap transfer device configured to deliver a cap received by a cap holding unit to a capping head that caps a cap on a container, the cap holding unit is located at a reduced position and the outer diameter of the cap holding unit is set to a cap. A movable member that is in a reduced state that is smaller than the inner peripheral surface of the cap and that is located at the expanded position and that has an outer diameter of the cap holding means that is larger than the inner peripheral surface of the cap . Further movable
The member is moved to the above-mentioned contracted position and expanded without receiving the magnetic force of the magnet.
Held in one of the open positions and the magnetic force of the magnet
A cap transfer device that is held at the other position in a state where the cap transfer device receives the cap.