JP3016429B1 - Covering device for containers with lids - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: [Object] To provide a versatile device for automatically fitting a lid to a container. [Structure] Support arm 31 for supporting stacked lids 27
And a separating arm 32 for separating the lowermost lid 27 between the lowermost lid 27 and the next lid 27 ′, means for separating the lid, a lid receiver for temporarily supporting the lowermost lid 27. Lid dropping / pressurizing means having members 41, 42 and lid pressing members 35, 36 for pressing the lowermost lid 27 to the container 10; The lowering means 53 moves the support arm 31 downward to move the support arm 31 to a position where the separation arm 32 is supported and the cover 27 is supported.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lid for a container with a lid for separating a stack of lids one by one, supplying the lid to a container conveyed to a work position, and further pressurizing the lid with the container. It concerns the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Molded products made of resin sheets, called trays with lids, are widely used as containers for foods and the like. In this type of container with a lid, food is first placed in a container that is moved and supplied by a conveyor or the like, and then the container containing the food is closed by a lid that is separately supplied. Since there are so many kinds of foods, very many kinds are supplied according to the kinds and forms of foods, so that there is no example of an apparatus including a capping device included in the automation process.

[0003] There is no device that puts contents in a container and covers it, and it is common in the industrial field, but it exists as a single-purpose machine with no versatility on a production line that mass-produces a very large amount of products. It does nothing more. However, there is no known device that packs 100 shrimp fries, packs 200 potato salads, and puts a lid corresponding to a container that changes one after another. It should be noted that, although the above-described work relies on manual labor, it has been pointed out that tendonitis is likely to occur at a site such as the base of a worker's finger by repeating the work of pressing a large number of lids against a container by hand. .

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above point, and an object of the present invention is to enable a lid to be automatically fitted to a container. Another object of the present invention is to provide a versatile device, such as changing the combination in accordance with the form of the lid.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a plurality of support arms capable of selecting a position for supporting a stacked lid and a position for disengaging from the support, and a position for disengaging the support arm from the support. When displaced, the lid is inserted between the lowermost lid and the next lid, separates the lowermost lid, and has a plurality of separation arms supporting the next lid. Position to temporarily support the lowermost lid
A plurality of lid receiving members capable of selecting a position to be released from the support for dropping the lid onto the container in the working position, and a plurality of pressurizing the lid to the container while the next lid is supported by the separation arm. Dropping of a lid having a lid pressing member and pressing means,
Dropping the lid and moving the pressing means downward, processing means for pressing the lid against the container by the lid pressing member, and moving the plurality of separation arms supporting the next lid downward with the descending means. At the same time as returning to the position to remove from the support
A means for providing a cover device for a container with a cover provided with interlocking means for displacing the support arm to a position for supporting the next lid is provided.

The present invention also provides a cover provided with the above-mentioned cover supporting / separating means, a lid dropping / pressing means, a lid dropping / pressing means lowering means, and an interlocking means of these means. The unit unit and the conveyor unit for transporting the container constitute a cover device for a container with a cover, and a means is provided in which the cover unit unit prepared according to the form of the lid to be applied is replaceable. It is a thing.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A lid covering device for a container with a lid according to the present invention separates the lids in a stacked state one by one, supplies the lids to a container transported to a work position, and presses the lids. This is a device for fitting into a container. The target container with a lid refers to a pair of a lid and a container (tray). This is sometimes called a tray with a lid.

[0008] The structure of the present apparatus can be roughly divided into a part for transporting the container and a part for supplying and covering the lid.
The transfer part of the container can attain a certain purpose if it has a transfer and stop function. In other words, the transport portion of the container does not need to be a dedicated device, and if necessary, an existing device can be used.

On the other hand, the cover supply and cover portion includes a fixed side for supporting the cover so that the cover can be supplied, and an operation side for pressing one lid separated from the fixed side onto the container. The operating side moves up and down relative to the fixed side.

On the fixed side, there are provided means for supporting and separating the lids for separating the lids one by one, and means for dropping and pressing for controlling the separation of the separated lids. On the operation side, the lid is dropped to press the lid dropped on the container against the container, the lowering means for moving the pressurizing means downward, and the next lid supported by the separation arm is replaced by the support arm. For this purpose, an interlocking mechanism for interlocking the operation of the supporting and separating means of the lid with the operation of the lowering means is provided.

The means for supporting and separating the lid belonging to the fixed side has a plurality of support arms capable of selecting a position for supporting the stacked lid and a position for releasing from the support, and the lid removed from the support can be freely dropped. State. Therefore, when the support arm is displaced to a position where it comes off the support, a plurality of separation arms are provided between the lowermost lid and the next lid to separate the lowermost lid and support the next lid. . Therefore, the support arm is located lower than the separation arm. The support arm and the separation arm are included in the lid support and separation means.

The separated lowermost lid is temporarily supported by a plurality of lid receiving members. The lid receiving member is therefore selectable between a position for temporarily supporting the lid and a position for removing the lid for dropping the lid onto the container in the working position. The next lid supported by the separation arm and the group of lids stacked on it are ultimately replaced by the support arm. A plurality of lid pressure members are provided to press the lowermost lid against the container while the next lid is supported by the separation arm. Therefore, the lid pressing member is disposed at a lower position than the separation arm. The lid receiving member and the lid pressing member are included in the means for dropping and pressing the lid.

The lid is dropped and the pressurizing means is moved downward by the descending means. By the dropping of the lid and the downward movement of the pressurizing means, a pressing force in the direction of the container acts on the lowermost one of the lids falling on the container, and the lid is fitted into the container.
Pressing the lid is an alternative to conventional finger pressing.

The next lid is temporarily separated from the separation arm by being separated from the supporting and dropping means of the lid moving downward. At this time, interlocking means is provided for returning the plurality of separation arms supporting the next lid from the support by the descending means moved downward and displacing the support arm to the position for supporting the next lid. The interlocking means returns the support arm and the separation arm to their original positions.

[0015] The means for supporting and separating the lid,
The pressurizing means, the lowering means, and the interlocking means can constitute a cover unit for attaching the cover as a whole. This unit is independent and can be operated independently of container transport. However, it is of course possible to construct a covering device associated with the transport part of the container.
In that case, it is desirable to provide a conveyor section having an adjusting means corresponding to the container as a transport portion of the container. The term “corresponding to a container” refers to, for example, an alignment mechanism that moves the container in an orderly manner, a mechanism that can be adjusted according to the size of the container, and the like. Needless to say, the means and configuration for stopping the transfer of the container to the fixed position are basically provided as necessary items.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show the entirety of the lidding apparatus for a container with a lid according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the container 10 moves from right to left in the figure while being placed on a conveyor section 11 for conveyance.

The conveyor section 11 has a frame 12, a plurality of rotating wheels 13 and 14 attached thereto, and a transport band 15 looped around them. Either of the rotating wheels 13 and 14 is driven by a driving device (not shown), and operates to transport and stop the container 10. The container 10 can be moved in a predetermined position by the guide members 16 and 17 on the left and right sides of the conveyor. Each of the guide members 16 and 17 is moved to a position corresponding to the size of the container 10 by adjusting means 18 and 19 shown by a cylinder device. A stopper is provided on the conveyor to stop the container 10 in the working position 20. The illustrated stopper comprises a stop member 21 which can abut the front surface of the moving container 10 and its drive means 22 represented by a cylinder arrangement. In the figure, 23
Is a control panel, which controls the operation of the entire apparatus of the present invention including the conveyor section 11.

On the conveyor section, an installation base 25 is installed via a support post 24. The base 25 by the support 24
Is detachable from the conveyor unit as a cover unit, and can be replaced according to changes in the cover 27 or the container 10.

The base 25 is provided with a lid supply section 28 for supplying the lid 27 as a fixed side structure section (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). The illustrated lid supply unit 28 includes the stacked lid 2
The upper and lower lids which can supply gravity by gravity, and which can detect the remaining amount of the lid by the sensor 29 and can come and go to regulate the maximum load so that a load of a certain amount or more is not applied to the support arm 31 or the like. Overlap control members 30a, 30b
It has.

The cover supply unit 28 includes a plurality of support arms 31 and a plurality of support arms 3 provided so as to be reciprocally rotatable between a position where the stacked covers 27 are supported and a position where the cover 27 is released from the support.
1 is displaced to the position where it is released from the support, a plurality of separation members are inserted between the lowermost lid 27 and the next lid 27 'to separate the lowermost lid 27 and support the next lid 27'. Arm 3
And 2. See FIGS. The support arm 31 and the separation arm 32 constitute support and separation means for the lid.

The exemplary support arm 31 and the separation arm 32 are integrated and formed as a substantially U-shaped rotator,
At a corner, the lower end of the lid supply unit 28 is rotatably supported around a vertical axis. When the rectangular lid 27 is housed in the rectangular lid supply unit 28, the above-mentioned rotating body is pivotally supported at the corner of the lid supply unit 28, and either the support arm 31 or the separation arm 32 is located inside the lid supply unit 28. To be able to protrude. Then, the support arm 31 is urged by the spring means 33 in a direction protruding into the lid supply section.

The support arm 31 is used alone to provide the required amount of lid 2.
7, and the separation arm 32 has a shaped end that facilitates separation of the lowermost lid 27. Although the separation arm 32 is disposed slightly higher than the support arm 31, it is naturally necessary that the separation arm 32 be provided at a position and in a form that can enter the gap 34 between the overlapping lids.

With the separation arm 32 supporting the next lid 27 ', lid pressing members 35 and 36 for pressing the lowermost lid 27 against the container 10 are provided on the movable side described later. As a movable-side structure, a movable plate 37 is provided below the base 25 so as to be able to descend and ascend with respect to the base 25. The movable platen 37 has a guide member 38 composed of a plurality of rods erected upward. The movable member 37 is vertically movable by passing the guide member 38 through a base-side guide hole, and is urged upward by a spring member 39. . The movable platen 37 has several lids capable of selecting a position for temporarily supporting the separated lowermost lid 27 and a position where the lowermost lid 27 is separated from the support for dropping the lid 27 onto the container 10 in the working position. Lid receiving member 4
1, 42 are provided.

The illustrated lid receiving members 41 and 42 are L-shaped members disposed on the left and right sides of the lid 27, and are provided at the distal end portions of the reciprocating shafts 43 and 44 of the left and right reciprocating mechanisms 43 and 44 attached to the movable plate 37. Provided. The L-shaped members 41 and 42 receive a spring biasing force upward from the spring member 39, similarly to the lid pressing members 35 and 36, and contact the (fixed side member) of the fixed side member at the upper part thereof, and (Height) is stopped at the upper limit. The lid receiving members 41 and 42 have a surface 40 for temporarily receiving the separated lowermost lid 27.

In the movable side structure, there are members 35 and 36 for pressing the lowermost lid 27 while the next lid 27 'is supported by the separation arm 32. 4
5, 46 are provided. The lid pressing members 35 and 36 are located above the lid receiving members 41 and 42,
When the containers 1 and 42 are retracted to both sides of the container 10, they can protrude more inward than the lid receiving members 41 and 42, and the lid 27 can be pressed against the container 10 on the lower surface by lowering.

The lid pressing members 35 and 36 are provided at the distal end portions of the left and right reciprocating mechanisms 48 and 49, respectively. The reciprocating mechanisms 48 and 49 are represented by cylinder devices, similarly to the reciprocating mechanisms 43 and 44 of the lid receiving members 41 and 42. The lid receiving members 41 and 42 and the lid pressing members 35 and 36 constitute a lid dropping and pressing means.

In the illustrated configuration, the lid receiving members 41, 42 are located below and more outward than the lid pressing members 35, 36.
The lid receiving members 41 and 42 support the lid by moving forward,
The interlocking means 51 and 52 with the separating means can be pressed, and the pressing causes the separating arm 32 to project to a position for supporting the next lid 27 '.

A lowering means 53 represented by a cylinder device is provided on the base 25 for lowering the movable platen 37. When the lowering means 53 is activated, the movable plate 37 is
Is pressed down against the elasticity of the spring means 39, and when the pressing down by the piston is stopped, the spring means 39 returns to the original position. The reciprocating mechanisms 48 and 49 of the lid pressing member and the double-acting mechanism of the lowering means 53 can be operated by one solenoid valve, so that the mechanism can be rationalized and the cost can be reduced.

FIG. 5 shows a state immediately before the operation of the thus constructed apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention in which a large number of lids are stacked. In this state, the support arm 31
Supports the lowermost lid 27 at the four corners, and both the support of the lid, the separating means, and the dropping and pressing means of the lid are in the retracted position. In this state, the container 10 enters the working position 20 of the conveyor 11, and when it is detected by the sensor, the stopper operates,
The container 10 stops at a fixed position.

When the container 10 stops at a fixed position, the reciprocating mechanisms 43 and 44 operate according to a predetermined sequence, and the lid receiving members 41 and 42 push the interlocking means 51 and 52, so that the separation arm 32 moves the lid gap. 34, the lowermost lid 27 can be dropped. FIG.
See (b). However, since there are many things which are hard to be detached by being inserted by stacking, the separation claws 55 and 56
To move into the upper and lower reciprocating mechanism 48,
49 moves forward by the last step to attach the next lid 27 'to the separation arm 3.
2 to support.

The lowermost lid 27 is once provided with lid receiving members 41, 4
2 (FIG. 7 (b)), when the next lid 27 'is supported by the separation arm, the movable platen 37 can be lowered and the reciprocating mechanisms 43 and 44 operate to operate the lid receiving member 41,
42 retracts and the lowermost lid 27 falls onto the container. This is the situation from FIG. 7 to FIG.

The lowering of the movable platen 37 causes the interlocking means 51,
The support arms 31, 31 that have come out of engagement with 52 return to their original positions by spring force and support the next lid 27 ′. Further, the lowering means 53 is operated, and the lid pressing members 35 and 36 are moved downward, and the lowermost lid 27 is pressed against the container 10 located at the working position 20, and the lid 27 is fitted to the container 10. See FIG. This completes the covering operation.

Thereafter, as a result of the release by the lowering means 53 being released, the movable plate 37 is raised by the spring means 39,
Return to the original position. At the same time, the cylinders 48 and 49 operate, and the pressing members 35 and 36 return to their original positions. This is the stage of FIG. When the lid is fitted with the container, the stopper is released, and the container with the lid is carried out of the working position 20. Thereafter, the stopper operates to allow the next container 10 to be introduced into the working position 20 (FIG. 5). Here, the next lid 27 'becomes the lowermost lid 27.

In this manner, the cover operation for covering the container is automatically performed, and the four corners of the cover can be simultaneously press-fitted, so that the cover can be completely closed without leaving any gap. Also the lid 27
Is a system that presses downward, so that dust and dirt do not accumulate during storage. Also, lids of different sizes can be dealt with by replacing the entire lid unit, and changes in container size can be dealt with by adjusting the conveyor. Therefore, it has versatility. In addition, when the lid is not provided, it can be used as a simple conveyor.

[0035]

Since the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, the operation of closing the lid on the container can be performed automatically, and the lid is fitted to the container while separating the lowermost lid that has been stacked. There is an effect that two different operations of combining can be performed by one descent unit. Further, since the device of the present invention has versatility, it is suitable as a cover device for an article container of a relatively small amount and a large variety of foods.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of a lidding apparatus for a container with a lid according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the one of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory sectional view showing a lid supply unit and a lid supply system.

FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a state where a container has entered a working position. (B) Front view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a state in which a support arm is detached from a lowermost lid, and a separation arm enters a gap with a next lid. (B) Front view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a state in which a lowermost lid is temporarily supported by a lid receiving member. (B) Front view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 8A is a plan view showing a state where the lowermost lid is pressed against the container. (B) Front view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 9A is a plan view showing a state in which a cover operation is completed. (B) Front view corresponding to FIG.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device for separating stacked lids one by one, supplying the separated lids to a container conveyed to a working position, and further pressurizing and fitting the lids to the container, the position for supporting the stacked lids. And a plurality of support arms capable of selecting a position off the support, and when the support arm is displaced to a position off the support, the lowermost cover is inserted between the lowermost lid and the next lid. Supporting and separating means having a plurality of separation arms for separating and supporting the next lid, separating means, a position for temporarily supporting the separated lowermost lid, and dropping the lid onto a container in a working position A lid having a plurality of lid receiving members capable of selecting a position to be separated from the support, and a plurality of lid pressing members for pressing the lid against the container while the next lid is supported by the separation arm. Dropping, pressing means, dropping the lid, moving the pressing means downward From the lowering means for pressing the lid against the container by the lid pressing member, the plurality of separation arms supporting the next lid are returned to the position where they are released from the support by the downward movement of the lowering means, and An interlocking means for displacing a support arm at a position where the lid is supported, and a lid covering device for a container with a lid. 2. A device for separating the stacked lids one by one, supplying the separated lids to a container conveyed to a work position, and further pressurizing the lid with the container, the position for supporting the stacked lids. And a plurality of support arms capable of selecting a position off the support, and when the support arm is displaced to a position off the support, the lowermost lid is inserted between the lowermost lid and the next lid. Supporting and separating means having a plurality of separation arms for separating and supporting the next lid, separating means, a position for temporarily supporting the separated lowermost lid, and dropping the lid onto a container in a working position A lid having a plurality of lid receiving members capable of selecting a position where the lid is removed from the support, and a plurality of lid pressing members for pressing the lid against the container while the next lid is supported by the separation arm. Dropping, pressing means, dropping the lid, moving the pressing means downward From the lowering means for pressing the lid against the container by the lid pressing member, the plurality of separation arms supporting the next lid are returned to the position where they are released from the support by the downward movement of the lowering means, and A plurality of interlocking means for displacing the support arm at a position where the lid is supported, and a plurality of cover unit units each including an adjusting means corresponding to the container, and a conveyor unit for transporting the container. A lid covering device for a container with a lid, characterized in that the lid unit prepared according to the form of the lid to be applied can be replaced and used. 3. The lid pressing member is located above the lid receiving member, and when the lid receiving member retreats to both sides of the container, can be protruded inward from the lid receiving member. The lid covering device for a container with a lid according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a pressurizing portion on a lower surface of the container for pressurizing the container.