JP3562199B2 - Capping equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to an improvement in a capping device for attaching a cap to an upper end of a container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a capping device, a rotatable rotatable member, and a capping head provided at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the rotatable member and screwing a cap to an upper end portion of the container, the capping head includes: 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an apparatus including a holding unit that detachably holds a cap, a spindle connected to the holding unit and rotatably provided in a housing, and a drive source that rotates the spindle.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional capping device, the capping head is arranged above the container, and a mechanical sun gear or motor is used as a driving source. For this reason, it has been pointed out that in the related art, fine wear powder is generated from a rotating portion of a mechanical sun gear or a motor located above a container, and the environment of a work area provided with a capping device is contaminated. It is a thing.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In view of such circumstances, the present invention includes a capping head rotatably provided, and a rotation imparting member for rotating the capping head, the rotation applying member having a plurality of magnets M1 arranged so that magnetic poles are alternately different. ,
The capping head is provided with a holding portion for detachably holding the cap, a spindle connected to the holding portion and rotatably provided, and provided integrally with the spindle along the circumferential direction of the spindle, and the magnetic poles are alternately different. And a plurality of magnets M2 arranged as follows.
Further, before the spindle is rotated by the magnets M1 and M2, positioning means for positioning the magnet M2 provided on the spindle is provided.
An object of the present invention is to provide a capping device in which the capping head and a rotation imparting member are relatively moved to rotate the spindle by the magnets M1 and M2 to screw the cap into the container.
[0005]
[Action]
According to such a configuration, the magnet M1 and the magnet M2 can constitute a drive source for rotating the spindle. Since the magnet M1 and the magnet M2 do not slide with each other, abrasion powder does not naturally occur from them.
Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the working area provided with the capping device from being contaminated due to the driving source.
[0006]
【Example】
The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiment. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a rotary capping device, and the capping device 1 includes a rotating body 2 that is continuously rotated clockwise. .
Capping heads 3 are arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 2 at circumferentially equal intervals, and a mounting table 6 on which the container 4 is mounted is provided below the capping heads 3. I have. Further, below the capping heads 3 in the rotating body 2, clamp means 5 for gripping the body of the container 4 are provided.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventionally known supply starwheel 7 and a discharge starwheel 8 are disposed adjacent to the rotating body 2, and a conventionally known supply starwheel 7 and a discharge starwheel 8 are disposed between the two wheels 7, 8. A rotary cap supply mechanism 11 is provided.
Before describing the configuration of each part of the capping device 1, a schematic operation by the capping device 1 will be described. That is, first, the cap 12 is sequentially supplied to the lower side of each capping head 3 by the cap supply mechanism 11 at the cap supply position A as the rotating body 2 rotates clockwise (see FIG. 2). At the cap supply position A, each capping head 3 sequentially holds the caps 12 supplied by the cap supply mechanism 11.
Next, when each capping head 3 holding the cap 12 moves to the container supply position B with the rotation of the rotating body 2, the capping head 3 is supplied onto the mounting table 6 below the capping head 3 holding the cap 12. The container 5 is supplied by a star wheel 7. The filling liquid is filled in the container 5 in the upstream process. The container 5 on the mounting table 6 has its neck and body engaged with both stopper members 21 and 22 to be described later, and the body is gripped by the clamping means 5. Thereby, the container 5 is positioned at a position directly below the cap 12 held by the capping head 3.
Next, with the rotation of the rotating body 2, when the capping head 3 holding the cap 12 and the container 5 on the mounting table 6 is moved into the screwing zone C, the capping heads 3 are lowered. Since the capping head 3 holding the cap 12 itself is rotated clockwise, the cap 12 held by the holding portion 3A is screwed into the upper end opening of the container 5.
When the container 4 in which the cap 12 has been attached in the screwing zone C with the rotation of the rotating body 2 passes through the screwing zone C, the capping head 3 is raised and returns to an upper side higher than the upper end of the container 4. I do.
When the container 4 with the cap 12 attached thereto is transferred downstream and moves to the discharge position D with the rotation of the rotating body 2, the holding state of the container 4 by the clamp means 5 is released, and the container 4 is released. The discharged container 4 is discharged from the mounting table 6 to the outside of the rotating body 2 by a discharge star wheel 8.
Next, the configuration of each part of the capping device 1 will be described. In FIG. 2, the capping device 1 includes a cylindrical member 13, and the cylindrical member 13 is vertically fixed to a lower fixed frame (not shown). . The cylindrical member 13 includes disk-shaped support portions 13A and 13B at predetermined height positions on the outer peripheral portion.
On the other hand, the rotator 2 includes a cylindrical portion 2A on the rotation center side, a disk-shaped support portion 2B connected to an upper outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 2A, and a support portion 2B of the cylindrical portion 2A. And a disc-shaped support portion 2C connected to the lower side. The cylindrical portion 2A of the rotating body 2 is rotatably supported by the cylindrical member 13 via a pair of upper and lower bearings 15 (only the upper side is shown).
The upper surface on the outer peripheral side of the support portion 2C of the rotating body 2 is the mounting table 6, and the upper end of the cylindrical cover 14 is connected to the outer peripheral edge of the support portion 2C. This surrounds each component located below the support 2C.
Cylindrical guides 16 are attached in the vertical direction at circumferentially equal positions on the support portion 2C, and the upper outer peripheral portion of these cylindrical guides 16 is engaged with the notch portion 2B 'formed on the support portion 2B. Have been combined. A pipe 17 on the capping head 3 side described later is slidably penetrated through each of the cylindrical guides 16.
A first stopper member 21 is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical guide 16 at a position slightly lower than the support portion 2B so as to face outward, and a second stopper member 22 is attached below the first stopper member 21. ing. Recesses corresponding to the shape of the container are formed at the outer end portions of the stopper members 21 and 22, respectively. Thereby, when the container 4 is supplied to the mounting table 6, the distal end concave portion of the first stopper member 21 engages with the neck of the container 4, and the distal end concave portion of the second stopper member 22 engages with the body of the container 4. It is designed to engage. Thus, the container 4 is positioned at a predetermined position on the mounting table 6. The body of the container 4 is gripped by the clamping means 5 so that the positioned container 4 does not shift.
The clamping means 5 includes a pair of clamp members 23 for gripping the container 4 and a pair of left and right rotation shafts 18 connected to the clamp members 23 at the upper end. In FIG. 2, only one side of each pair of clamp members 23 is shown.
Each rotating shaft 18 is penetrated by the second stopper member 22 and the supporting portion 2C, and is rotatable by being supported at a predetermined height position thereof. Small-diameter gears 24 are attached to the left and right rotation shafts 18, respectively, and these adjacent gears 24 mesh with each other. Thereby, the clamp members 23 connected to the respective rotating shafts 18 are opened and closed in synchronization.
A circular annular member 25 is disposed below the fixed side support portion 13A, and the lower side of each of the rotary shafts 18 penetrates a portion of the annular member 25 on the outer peripheral side.
Each rotary shaft 18 is rotatable by a cylindrical bearing or the like provided on the annular member 25 side, and the distance between the annular member 25 and the fixed-side support portion 13A is maintained at a predetermined size. As described above, the annular member 25 is connected to the support portion 2C of the rotating body 2 by each rotating shaft 18, and is rotated together with the rotating body 2. At this time, a bearing 26 is interposed between the inner peripheral portion of the annular member 25 and the cylindrical member 13 on the fixed side so that the annular member 25 is smoothly rotated.
A cam follower 27 is rotatably attached to the lower end of one of the pair of left and right rotation shafts 18 via a bracket. An annular cam member 28 is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the fixed support portion 13B, and the cam follower 27 is rotatably engaged with the cam surface of the cam member 28.
As described above, each of the clamping means 5 of the present embodiment includes the pair of right and left clamp members 23, the pair of rotating shafts 18, 18 connecting them, the cam follower 27, and the cam member 28.
When the rotating body 2 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the cam member 28 rotates the pair of clamps 5 of each clamp means 5 in a rotation range from a position slightly past the container supply position B to a position slightly before the discharge position D. The member 23 is closed, and the body of the container 4 on the mounting table 6 is gripped by the pair of clamp members 23 (see FIG. 2). On the other hand, when the rotating body 2 is rotated, in the rotation region from the discharge position D to the container supply position B, each of the clamp members 23 is opened by the cam member 28. Thereby, at the discharge position D, the container 4 can be discharged from the mounting table 6 to the outside of the rotating body, and the body of the container 4 supplied onto the mounting table 6 at the container supply position B It is inserted between each pair of clamp members 23 in the open state.
In this embodiment, a magnetic force is used as a driving source for rotating each capping head 3, so that the driving source of the capping head 3 does not generate abrasion powder or the like.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the capping head 3 includes a stepped cylindrical housing 31, a pipe 17 having one end 17 a extending in a horizontal direction connected to the housing 31, and a housing 31. A spindle 32 rotatably supported is provided. A holding portion 3A for detachably holding the cap 12 is connected to a lower end portion of the spindle 32.
A cam follower 33 is rotatably attached to a lower end portion 17b of the pipe 17, and the cam follower 33 is mounted on a cam surface of an annular cam member 34 attached to the fixed supporting portion 13A. .
When the rotating body 2 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the entire capping head 3 is moved to the lower end position by the cam member 34 in the cap supply position A in the rotation area of the rotating body 2, the area slightly downstream thereof, and the screwing zone C. It is lowered so as to maintain its height position. On the other hand, in the rotation region of the other rotating body 2, the cam member 34 maintains the entire capping head 3 at the rising end position. Then, the holding portion 3A holds the cap 12 at the cap supply position A where the capping head 3 is at the lower end position, and the cap 12 held by the holding portion 3A of the capping head 3 in the screwing zone C is placed at the upper end of the container 4. It can be screwed to the part. On the other hand, when the capping head 3 is at the rising end position, the holding portion 3A of the capping head 3 is supported by a predetermined amount above the upper end opening of the container 4 on the mounting table 6. Note that a buffer spring 35 is provided over the outer peripheral portion on the upper side of the pipe 17 and the upper end of the cylindrical guide 16.
As shown in FIG. 3, a radial through hole 31a is formed in the axial center portion of the housing 31, and one end 17a of the pipe 17 is kept airtight by surrounding the through hole 31a. To the housing 31. Thereby, the pipe 17 and the internal space of the housing 31 communicate with each other.
On the other hand, a through hole 25a is formed at each position of the annular member 25 below the lower end 17b of the pipe 17, and a lower end of a small-diameter connection pipe 36 is fitted to an upper end of the through hole 25a. I'm wearing Further, the outer peripheral portion on the upper side of the connection pipe 36 is slidably fitted to the inner peripheral portion of the lower end portion 17b of the pipe 17 while maintaining airtightness.
Each through hole 25a is formed at a position on a concentric circle in the annular member 25, and a duct member 37 having a U-shaped cross section is disposed below the concentric circle. The bottom of the duct member 37 is connected to the fixed-side support portion 13B via a bracket. Thereby, the inner and outer upper edges of the duct member 37 are brought into close contact with the bottom surfaces of the annular members 25 located inside and outside the through holes 25a, and in this state, the annular member 25 is airtight with the upper edge of the duct member 37. Is held in sliding contact.
The duct member 37 is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) via another pipe 38.
Thus, in the present embodiment, the housing 31 is connected to the pipe 17, the connection pipe 36, the through holes 25a of the annular member 25, the annular space surrounded by the duct member 37 and the bottom surface of the annular member 25, and the pipe 38. The internal space communicates with a negative pressure source (not shown), and a negative pressure is constantly introduced from the negative pressure source into the internal space of the housing 31. With such a configuration, even if minute wear powder or the like is generated from the rotating portion in the housing 31, the suction is performed by the negative pressure so that the minute wear powder or the like does not scatter to the outside of the housing 31. are doing.
Next, the spindle 32 has a hollow interior, and a pair of upper and lower ball bearings 41 is attached between the upper and lower positions of the outer periphery of the spindle 32 located in the housing 31 and the inner periphery of the housing 31. ing. The spindle 32 is rotatable with respect to the housing 31 by the ball bearings 41, 41, and the spindle 32 is supported at a predetermined height with respect to the housing 31. At a predetermined position of the spindle 32 located in the housing 31, a through hole in the radial direction is formed, so that the internal space of the spindle 32 and the internal space of the housing 31 communicate with each other.
The lower end of the housing 31 is made smaller in diameter than the upper side, and the lower part of the spindle 32 passes through the lower end of the reduced diameter housing 31. An annular gap 42 is maintained between the inner peripheral surface of the lower end of the housing 31 and the outer peripheral surface of the spindle 32 inside the lower end. As described above, since a negative pressure is constantly introduced into the housing 31, the atmosphere is sucked into the housing 31 through the gap 42.
Next, the holding portion 3A provided at the lower end portion of the spindle 32 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the holding portion 3A includes a housing 43 having a substantially cup-like shape, and is provided inside the housing 43. A set of engaging members 44 is provided. The upper part of the set of three engaging members 44 is penetrated by a support shaft 45 on the housing 43 side, and can swing about the support shaft 45. An arc-shaped spring 46 is attached to each engagement member 44 so as to surround the lower part thereof. Due to the urging force of the spring 46, the lower portion of each engagement member 44 is constantly urged inward.
With this configuration, when the holding portion 3A in a state where the cap 12 is not held is lowered, the cap 12 located below the holding portion 3A is expanded by the spring 46 so that each of the caps 12 is opened. It is held by the joining member 44. On the other hand, when the holding section 3A is rotated from this state and the cap 12 is attached to the upper end of the container 4 and then the holding section 3A is raised again, the frictional force between each of the engaging members 44 and the cap 12 is increased. , The holding state of the cap 12 by each engagement member 44 is released.
As shown in FIG. 3, the inside of the housing 43 of the holding portion 3A is also communicated with the internal space of the spindle 32, so that a negative pressure is introduced into the housing 31 of the capping head 3. Thus, the air is sucked from the lower end opening of the housing 43 of the holding portion 3A, and the air is sucked into the pipe 17 via the internal space of the spindle 32 and the internal space of the housing 31.
Next, the upper end of the spindle 32 is protruded upward through the housing 31, and a substantially cup-shaped support member 47 is connected to the upper end of the spindle 32. An inner cylindrical portion 47a and an outer cylindrical portion 47b projecting downward are formed at a lower portion of the support member 47, and the inner cylindrical portion 47a is fitted to an outer peripheral portion of an upper end of the spindle 32. At the same time, it is inserted into the housing 31. An outer peripheral portion 31b of the upper end of the housing 31 is slightly bulged outward in the radial direction and is formed in a flange shape. It is surrounded by the shape part 47b, the inner cylindrical part 47a, and their boundary part. With such a configuration, the upper end portion of the housing 31 and the inner peripheral portion on the lower side adjacent thereto, the inner cylindrical portion 47a and the outer cylindrical portion 47b of the support member 47 facing these portions, and the boundary thereof An annular gap 48 is formed with the portion. As described above, since the upper end outer peripheral portion 31b of the housing 31 has a flange shape, the gap 48 has a substantially labyrinth shape. With the introduction of the negative pressure into the housing 31, the atmosphere can be sucked into the housing 31 through the gap 48.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a plurality of (eight) arc-shaped permanent magnets 51 are embedded in the entire outer peripheral portion on the upper side of the support member 47. As shown in FIG. 5, the permanent magnets 51 are arranged such that the permanent magnets at positions adjacent to each other have different magnetic poles.
Further, a positioning permanent magnet 52 is supported on the upper end of a bracket connected to the housing 31 at a position close to and outside the support member 47 provided with the permanent magnet 51. The magnetic poles of the permanent magnet 52 are, for example, N poles.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, an arc-shaped rotation applying member 53 is arranged over the entire area of the screwing zone C described above. As shown in FIG. 1, a support shaft 54 erected on a fixed frame (not shown) is penetrated through the cylindrical portion 2A of the rotating body 2. 53 are connected. The rotation applying member 53 is horizontally supported, and is located at a position closer to the inside of the movement trajectory of the support member 47 provided with the permanent magnet 51.
A large number of permanent magnets 55 are arranged adjacent to each other on the outer edge of the rotation applying member 53 along the movement trajectory of the support member 47 in a row.
These permanent magnets 55 are also arranged such that the permanent magnets at positions adjacent to each other have different magnetic poles.
In the present embodiment, as described above, when the capping head 3 moves in the screwing zone C, the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 51 provided on the capping head 3 is fixed to the fixed side, as shown in FIG. And the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 55 to interact with each other, whereby the capping head 3 in the screwing zone C is rotated clockwise.
Since the positioning permanent magnet 52 is provided at a position adjacent to the capping head 3, when the capping head 3 is located on the upstream side of the screwing zone C, the positioning permanent magnet 52 and the support member 47 are separated from each other. One of the permanent magnets 51 is attracted to each other to determine the previous rotational position when the capping head 3 rotates. Thus, when the capping head 3 moves in the screwing zone C, the capping head 3 is always rotated clockwise as described above.
In this embodiment described above, the drive source for rotating the spindle 32 is constituted by the permanent magnets 55 on the fixed side and the permanent magnets 51 on the spindle 32 side of the capping head 3.
With the above-described configuration, the capping head 3 holding the cap 12 in the holding portion 3A moves in the screwing zone C, whereby the spindle 32 is rotated clockwise as described above, and Since the capping head 3 itself is lowered by the member 33, the cap 12 held by the holding portion 3 </ b> A is screwed into the upper end opening of the container 4.
In the present embodiment, the drive source for rotating the spindle 32 does not have any parts that are mutually rotated and worn. Therefore, no fine wear powder or the like is generated from the driving source of the capping head 3. Therefore, the working area around the capping device 1 is not contaminated by such wear powder.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a negative pressure is always introduced into the housing 31, and the air is released from the gaps 48 and 42 formed at the upper and lower positions of the housing 31 and the lower opening of the holding portion 3 </ b> A. It is designed to be sucked into the housing 31. The air sucked into the housing 31 is discharged to the outside of the housing 31 through the above-described pipe 17 or the like. As described above, even if minute wear powder is generated from the frictional portion in the holding portion 3A and the housing 31 by sucking the atmosphere in the holding portion 3A and the housing 31 by the negative pressure, the wear powder is removed. It does not fly outward from the lower opening of the holding portion 3A or the upper and lower openings of the housing 31. Therefore, even if minute abrasion powder or the like is generated in the capping head 3, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the work environment surrounding the capping device 1 from being contaminated by the abrasion powder or the like.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the use of the magnet as the driving source of the capping head 3 prevents the generation of wear powder and the like from the driving source. The provided surrounding work environment can be maintained in a good state.
Further, when minute wear powder or the like is generated in the capping head 3, it is possible to introduce a negative pressure into the housing 31 to suck the same as described above, thereby providing a better working environment.
(Second embodiment)
Next, FIGS. 7 to 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the rotary capping device 1 in which the capping head 3 rotates together with the rotating body 2 has been described. In the second embodiment, the present invention is applied to a so-called line type capping device 1. Is applied.
That is, in the second embodiment, the screw shafts 71, 72 are provided on the frame 70 at predetermined intervals so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. Five capping heads 3 are attached at equal intervals at positions on the plate-shaped elevating member 73 on a straight line in the longitudinal direction. The screw shafts 71 and 72 are screwed to a pair of nut members 74 and 74 connected to the elevating member 73. The screw shafts 71 and 72 are interlocked with a motor 75 provided on the frame 70. When the motor 75 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the elevating member 73 and the capping head 3 attached thereto can be raised and lowered by a predetermined amount. it can.
Since the configuration of the capping head 3 is the same as the capping head 3 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the detailed configuration of the capping head 3 is omitted. However, each capping head 3 faces its holding portion 3A downward. It is rotatably attached to the elevating member 73. 7 to 9, each capping head 3 is shown in a simplified manner, but, similarly to the first embodiment, a permanent magnet in which the magnetic poles are alternately different on the upper outer peripheral portion of the spindle of each capping head 3. 51 is provided, and a permanent magnet 52 for positioning is provided at a position adjacent thereto.
Further, a pair of belt wheels are attached to the upper surface of the elevating member 73, and an endless belt 76 is stretched over them. The endless belt 76 is provided along the direction in which the capping heads 3 are arranged, and runs in the direction of the arrow in conjunction with a driving motor 77. A plurality of permanent magnets 55 having different magnetic poles are embedded over a predetermined area of the belt 76.
Note that a conveyor 78 and a gripper (not shown) for placing the container 4 and intermittently transporting the container 4 in the direction of the arrow are disposed below each capping head 3.
In the second embodiment configured as described above, by driving the belt 76 in the direction of the arrow by the driving motor 77, the permanent magnet 55 provided on the belt 76 side and the permanent magnet 51 on the capping head 3 side are separated. The magnetic force interacts with each other, and the spindle of each capping head 3 can be rotated in a predetermined direction. Thereby, the cap supplied from the cap supply device (not shown) and held in the holding portion 3A of the capping head 3 can be screwed into the upper end opening of the container.
Even in the second embodiment having such a configuration, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.
In the above-described first embodiment, the rotation imparting member 53 having the permanent magnet 55 disposed therein is provided on the inner side with respect to the movement locus of the capping head 3, but rotates the rotating body 2 counterclockwise. In this case, it goes without saying that the rotation imparting member 53 on which the permanent magnet 55 is arranged is arranged on the outer side of the movement trajectory of the capping head 3.
[0007]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the working area provided with the capping device from being contaminated due to the drive source.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an arrangement relationship in a circumferential direction of a main part shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a front view showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a right side view of FIG. 7;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 capping device 2 rotating body
3 Capping head 4 Container
12 caps 32 spindles
51 permanent magnet (M2) 53 rotation imparting member
55 permanent magnet (M1)

Claims (4)

A rotatable capping head, and a rotation imparting member having a plurality of magnets M1 arranged so that magnetic poles are alternately different for rotating the capping head;
The capping head is provided with a holding portion for detachably holding the cap, a spindle connected to the holding portion and rotatably provided, and provided integrally with the spindle along the circumferential direction of the spindle, and the magnetic poles are alternately different. And a plurality of magnets M2 arranged as follows.
Further, before the spindle is rotated by the magnets M1 and M2, positioning means for positioning the magnet M2 provided on the spindle is provided.
A capping device characterized in that the capping head and the rotation imparting member are relatively moved to rotate the spindle by the magnets M1 and M2 to screw the cap into the container. The capping head is provided at a plurality of circumferential positions on a rotatable rotator, and the rotation applying member is fixed along a movement trajectory of the capping head when the rotator is rotated. The capping device according to claim 1, wherein the capping device is disposed in a manner to be disposed. The capping head is rotatably provided at a predetermined position, and the rotation imparting member is configured to be movable along a tangential direction with respect to the capping head. A capping device according to claim 1. The capping device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means comprises a magnet M3 provided at a predetermined position.

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