JP3703220B2 - Combined star wheel - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a star wheel used for transferring various containers. More specifically, when the shape of the cross section changes with the type of container, such as between a circular or substantially regular polygonal container and a rectangular or elliptical flat container. The present invention relates to a suitable dual-purpose star wheel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional dual-purpose star wheel, the star wheel plates are placed one above the other, and the relative phase between them is changed to form a guide claw portion formed on those star wheel plates. Technical means for transferring containers having different diameters by changing the shape of the pockets to be used is disclosed (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-36909). Moreover, when changing the shape of the pocket by changing the polymerization state between the guide claws, a technical means is disclosed that simultaneously adjusts the transfer radius (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-20834). By the way, these conventional techniques have been devised so as to be compatible with circular containers having different diameters, and were not assumed until the shape of the container changes greatly. It has been difficult to cope with a case where the regular polygon shape greatly changes to a flat shape such as a rectangle or an ellipse.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of such conventional technical circumstances, and the container to be transferred is a flat shape having a cross-sectional shape such as a rectangle or an ellipse from a circular or substantially regular polygonal cross-sectional shape. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dual-purpose star wheel that can easily cope with a case where the shape of the container changes greatly, such as when the container changes to a shaped container.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a rear edge portion of a guide claw portion formed on the outer peripheral portion of any one of a plurality of star wheel plates arranged one above the other at the front portion of the pocket. It is used as a common introduction guide part that constitutes, and the front edge part of the guide claw part formed on the outer peripheral part of each star wheel plate is used as a delivery guide part that constitutes the rear part of the pocket, and each of these star wheels The front edge of the guide claw portion formed on the plate is formed into a shape that adapts to the change in the shape of the container, and the feeding guide portion of the pocket is formed by changing the relative phase between the star wheel plates By combining the front edge of each guide claw portion with the rear edge of the guide claw portion that selectively forms a common introduction guide portion, it is suitable for changes in the shape of the container. Characterized in that to constitute a pocket shape so as to form. Further, a guide member can be arranged between the guide claws so as to be able to advance and retract in the radial direction, and the transfer radius can be adjusted on a predetermined locus according to the shape of the container. is there.
[0005]
Further, more specifically, a star wheel plate in which the front edge portion of the guide claw portion using the rear edge portion as a common introduction guide portion is formed in a shape suitable for a flat container, and the front edge portion of the guide claw portion. The other star wheel plates formed in a shape suitable for a circular or substantially regular polygonal container are arranged one above the other so as to superimpose the guide claw portions formed on each star wheel plate, and the guide member The transfer form of transferring the flat container through the pocket formed between the guide claws of the former star wheel and the guide claws formed on the respective star wheel plates are relatively moved. The common introduction guide part formed by the rear edge of the guide claw part of the former star wheel and the other star wheel of the latter by moving the guide member backward while shifting If a transfer form for transferring a circular or substantially regular polygonal container through a pocket formed by a delivery guide part formed by the front edge part of the guide claw part of the guide claw part is selectable, the circular or substantially regular It is very easy and accurate to cope with a large change from a polygonal container to a flat container.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In carrying out the present invention, the number of star wheel plates used is set according to the type related to the shape of the container to be transferred. That is, the front edge of the guide claw portion that forms a delivery guide portion that constitutes the rear portion of each pocket in order to accurately push and rotate a container of each shape accommodated in each pocket to rotate a predetermined angle and send it downstream. The required number of parts formed in a shape adapted to the shape of the container is prepared. In this case, it goes without saying that the front edge portion of the guide claw portion whose rear edge portion is used as a common introduction guide portion may be used as the delivery guide portion. That is, with respect to one star wheel plate, a space formed between the guide claws can be used as a transfer pocket. Moreover, the same front edge part may be shared depending on the aspect of the change in the shape of the container. That is, for example, a circular container and a polygonal container approximate to the circular shape can share the same front edge. Therefore, the number of types of containers and the number of star wheel plates used do not always match. In addition, as an example of the polygonal container, it is needless to say that a rectangular or hexagonal container, and further, a corner of which is chamfered or rounded are included. Whether to share it may be determined according to circumstances.
[0007]
Even if the above-mentioned guide member for adjusting the transfer radius of the container is not installed, it has a feature that it can easily and accurately cope with the case where the shape of the container changes greatly, but if the guide member is installed, Further, it is possible to adjust the transfer state even better. In particular, as in the invention described in claim 3, when a circular or polygonal container is transferred, the guide member is retracted and retracted, and when the other flat container is transferred, the guide member is advanced. If the depth of the pocket is configured to be shallow, it is possible to make the transfer radius coincide with a predetermined transfer line in transferring both containers having a large change in shape. The guide member is automatically advanced and retracted in accordance with the change in the relative phase between the star wheel plates performed in accordance with the change in the container type, and the transfer radius is automatically adjusted. Is also possible.
[0008]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 exemplify a dual-purpose star wheel configured to be applicable to a flat container and a circular or substantially regular polygonal container as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the combined star wheel, and shows the AA section indicated in FIG. 2 and 3 show the states before and after the change of the pocket shape, and show the BB cross section indicated in FIG. FIG. 4 shows an installation portion of the phase adjusting means, and shows an enlarged view of the CC section indicated in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a dual-purpose star wheel that is mounted on the upper portion of the rotating shaft 2. A rotating plate 3 is attached to the top of the rotating shaft portion 2, with a guide ring plate 4 fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate 3 sandwiched therebetween, a first star wheel plate 5 on the lower side and a second star wheel on the upper side. The plates 6 are slidably mounted so as to change the pocket shape by changing the phase between them. In the present embodiment, a neck support plate 8 for storing and supporting the neck of each container 7 is further disposed above the first and second star wheel plates 5 and 6. The star wheel 1 is constituted by the second star wheel plates 5 and 6 and the neck support plate 8. The neck support plate 8 is supported at a predetermined height with respect to the first and second star wheel plates 5 and 6 via the support column 9. The lower part of the support column 9 is also used as a means for fixing the guide ring plate 4 to the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the rotating plate 3 is configured so that the mounting angle of the star wheel 1 with respect to the rotating shaft portion 2 can be adjusted via a long hole 10 and a tightening bolt 11. In the figure, 12 is a conveyance surface of the container 7.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 4, phase adjusting means 13 is installed at an appropriate position on the upper surface of the second star wheel plate 6. In this embodiment, the insertion pin 14 configured to be vertically movable is connected to the guide ring plate 4 and the second The relative phase of the first and second star wheel plates 5 and 6 with respect to the guide ring plate 4 can be adjusted by being inserted into and removed from the insertion holes 15 and 16 provided in the one star wheel 5. Then, by positioning with respect to the guide ring plate 4, the angular positions of the first and second star wheel plates 5 and 6 with respect to the rotary shaft portion 2 are set via the rotary plate 3, and at the same time, the first and second The relative phase between the two star wheel plates 5, 6 is determined. Accordingly, the shape of each pocket formed by the first and second star wheel plates 5 and 6 and the rotation angle of each pocket with respect to the rotation shaft portion 2 are determined. In addition, the number of installation of the phase adjusting means 13 can be increased or decreased as necessary. Further, a predetermined number of the insertion holes 15 and 16 are formed at positions adapted according to the mold change. Reference numerals 16a and 16b in FIG. 5 are specific examples of the insertion holes 16 formed in the first star wheel 5 corresponding to the state of FIG. 2 and the state of FIG.
[0010]
Next, features of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the shape of the first star wheel plate 5, and FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the shape of the second star wheel plate 6. As shown in FIG. 5, guide claw portions 17 are formed at an equal pitch on the outer periphery of the first star wheel plate 5, and the front edge portion 17 a of the guide claw portion 17, that is, the guide claw portion 17 A transfer pocket 18 is formed between the front edge with respect to the rotational direction and the rear edge 17 b of the front guide claw 17. In this embodiment, the rear edge 17b of the guide claw 17 of the first star wheel plate 5 is used as a common introduction guide for guiding introduction into the pocket 18 of the container 7, and the front edge 17a is used. The flat container 7 accommodated in the pocket 18 is used as a delivery guide portion for a flat container for pushing the flat container 7 by a predetermined angle and delivering it to the downstream side.
[0011]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, a guide claw portion 19 is formed on the outer periphery of the second star wheel plate 6 at the same pitch as the guide claw portion 17, and in this case, the front edge portion thereof is formed. 19a is used as a delivery guide for a circular or regular polygon container. However, the rear edge portion of the guide claw portion 19 formed on the second star wheel plate 6 is not used, and the rear edge portion 17b of the guide claw portion 17 formed on the first star wheel plate 5 is shared. This is used as an introduction guide portion, and a transfer pocket is formed between the rear edge portion 17b and the front edge portion 19a. As described above, the rear edge portion of the guide claw portion formed on one of the star wheel plates is a common introduction guide portion, and the front edge portion of the guide claw portion formed on the other star wheel plate is the delivery guide. The feature of the present invention resides in that the shape of the pocket is changed by combining it as a part.
[0012]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a guide member 20 is disposed between the first star wheel plate 5 and the second star wheel plate 6 so as to be able to advance and retract. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide member 20 is disposed between the guide claw portions 17 and between the guide claw portions 17 and the guide claw portions 19 so as to advance and retreat in the radial direction. The container is configured such that the transfer radius of the container can be adjusted. For example, in this embodiment, when the flat container 7 shown in FIG. 2 is transferred, the side of the container 7 is regulated by advancing the guide member 20 to adjust the transfer radius on a predetermined locus. It is configured as follows. As a result, the neck of the container 17 can also be accommodated in the recess 21 of the neck support plate 8 as shown in the figure. In addition, when the circular or regular polygonal container 22 shown in FIG. 3 is transferred, the transfer radius of the container 22 can be adjusted on the same locus by retracting the guide member 20 and retracting it. ing. As a result, the neck of the container 17 can be accommodated in the recess 21 of the neck support plate 8 in the same manner.
[0013]
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view partially enlarged for explaining the mounting state of the guide member 20. As shown in the figure, the guide member 20 is configured to be able to advance and retract while engaging with a radial guide groove 23 formed in the guide ring plate 4. In addition, an engagement pin 24 is provided on the upper surface of the guide member 20, and the second star wheel plate 6 slidably disposed on the upper portion of the guide ring plate 4 is shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, an oblique hole 25 is formed. The engaging pins 24 of the guide members 20 are engaged with the corresponding oblique holes 25, and the guide members 20 automatically advance and retract in the radial direction depending on the relative rotational position of the second star wheel plate 6. To automatically adjust the transfer radius of the container. That is, in the present embodiment, when the flat container 7 is transferred as shown in FIG. 2, the second star wheel plate 6 is in a state of being rotated clockwise relative to the guide ring plate 4. As a result of the engagement pin 24 being guided to the outer end side of the oblique hole 25, the guide member 20 is set in the advanced state. As a result, the container 7 has a flat shape and thus has a small thickness in the rotational radius direction. However, the tip of the guide member 20 advances and contacts the side surface of the container 7 to adjust the transfer radius on a predetermined locus. It will be. On the other hand, when the circular or substantially regular polygonal container 22 is transferred as shown in FIG. 3, the second star wheel plate 6 is in a state of being rotated counterclockwise with respect to the guide ring plate 4. As a result of the guide pin 24 being guided to the inner end side of the oblique hole 25, the guide member 20 is set in the retracted state and retracted to a position where it does not contact the container 22. Therefore, the transfer radius of the container 22 passes on the same locus as set by the shape of the pocket 26 formed by the first and second star wheel plates 5 and 6.
[0014]
In use of the present embodiment, the insertion pin 14 of the phase adjusting means 13 is pulled up to make the first and second star wheel plates 5 and 6 free, depending on the type of container to be transferred. After the first and second star wheel plates 5 and 6 are rotated to the state shown in FIG. 2 or 3, the insertion pin 14 is pushed down to insert the insertion holes 15 in the guide ring plate 4 and the first star wheel plate 5. 16 is inserted and set. That is, when the flat container 17 is transferred, the guide claw portion 17 of the first star wheel plate 5 and the guide claw portion 19 of the second star wheel plate 6 are superposed as shown in FIG. The insertion pin 14 is pushed down by rotating the first and second star wheel plates 5 and 6 so that 20 comes to a position matching a pocket 18 formed between the guide claws 17. In this case, the insertion pin 14 is inserted into one insertion hole 16 a of the first star wheel plate 5. The insertion hole 15 formed in the guide ring plate 4 is also formed with two insertion holes (not shown) for adjusting the rotation angle of the pockets 18 and 26 with respect to the rotation shaft portion 2, and the insertion pin 14 is formed on one of them. It is inserted. Thus, in the above set state, the guide member 20 is in the forward state as described above, and the flat container 17 is formed by the pocket 18 formed between this and the guide claw portion 17 of the first star wheel plate 5. Will be transferred.
[0015]
On the other hand, when transferring the circular or regular polygonal container 22, the guide claw portion 17 of the first star wheel plate 5 and the guide claw portion 19 of the second star wheel plate 6 are shifted as shown in FIG. The insertion pin 14 is rotated by rotating the first and second star wheel plates 5 and 6 so that the guide member 20 comes to a position that fits a pocket 26 formed between the guide claw portion 17 and the guide claw portion 19. Press down. In this case, the insertion pin 14 is inserted into the other insertion hole 16 b of the first star wheel plate 5 and at the same time is inserted into the other insertion hole 15 formed in the guide ring plate 4. Thus, in the above set state, the guide member 20 is in the retracted state as described above, and is defined by the rear edge portion of the guide claw portion 17 of the first star wheel plate 5 and the front edge portion of the second star wheel plate 2. A circular or regular polygonal container 22 is transferred by the formed pocket 26.
[0016]
In the above description of the embodiment, the case where two star wheel plates are used has been described. However, it is possible to increase the number of star wheel plates according to the number of types of containers to be transferred. Further, the star wheel plate that forms the common introduction guide portion and the star wheel plate that forms the individual delivery guide portion may be functionally separated. In short, if it is a combined type star wheel consisting of a plurality of star wheel plates that can form pockets adapted to each container having different shapes by selective combination of a common introduction guide part and individual delivery guide part Good.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
According to the dual-purpose star wheel of the present invention, a configuration suitable for each container can be formed by a selective combination of a common introduction guide portion and individual delivery guide portions. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the change of the container whose shape is greatly changed very easily and accurately. In particular, since the introduction guide portion constituting the front portion of each pocket is formed by using the rear edge portion of one guide claw portion in common, the configuration is greatly simplified. Further, if a guide member capable of moving back and forth in the radial direction is provided, the transfer radius of the container can be adjusted, so that a better transfer state can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2 showing an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1 showing the same embodiment.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1 showing the same embodiment.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 2 showing an installation portion of the phase adjusting means.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the shape of a first star wheel plate.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the shape of a second star wheel plate.
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a mounted state of the guide member.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Combined type star wheel, 2 ... Rotating shaft part, 3 ... Rotating plate, 4 ... Guide ring plate, 5 ... 1st star wheel plate, 6 ... 2nd star wheel plate, 7 ... Container, 8 ... Neck support plate, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Column, 10 ... Long hole, 11 ... Clamping bolt, 12 ... Conveying surface, 13 ... Phase adjustment means, 14 ... Insertion pin, 15, 16 ... Insertion hole, 17 ... Guide claw part, 17a ... Front edge part, 17b ... rear edge, 18 ... pocket, 19 ... guide claw, 19a ... front edge, 20 ... guide member, 21 ... recess, 22 ... container, 23 ... guide groove, 24 ... engagement pin, 25 ... oblique hole , 26 ... Pocket

Claims (3)

It is configured so that a plurality of star wheel plates arranged vertically can be rotated together, and the shape of the pocket can be changed by changing the relative phase between the star wheel plates. In the configured star wheel, the rear edge portion of the guide claw portion formed on the outer peripheral portion of any star wheel plate is used as a common introduction guide portion constituting the front portion of the pocket, and the outer periphery of each star wheel plate The front edge portion of the guide claw portion formed in the portion is used as a delivery guide portion constituting the rear portion of the pocket, and the front edge portion of the guide claw portion formed in each star wheel plate is changed in the shape of the container. Each of the guides forming the delivery guide portion of the pocket is formed by changing the relative phase between the star wheel plates. By combining the front edge of the claw portion with the rear edge of the guide claw portion that selectively forms a common introduction guide portion, a pocket having a shape adapted to the change in the shape of the container can be formed Combined type star wheel characterized by comprising. 2. The dual-purpose star wheel according to claim 1, wherein a guide member for adjusting a transport radius of the container is disposed between the guide claws so as to be movable back and forth in the radial direction. A star wheel plate in which the front edge portion of the guide claw portion using a rear edge portion as a common introduction guide portion is formed in a shape suitable for a flat container, and the front edge portion of the guide claw portion is circular or substantially regular polygonal shape Other star wheel plates formed in a shape suitable for the container of the above are arranged one above the other to superimpose the guide claw portions formed on each star wheel plate, and advance the guide member to A transfer form for transferring a flat container through a pocket formed between the guide claw portions of the star wheel plate, and the guide claw portions formed on each star wheel plate are relatively shifted, and the guide By retracting the member, the common introduction guide portion formed by the rear edge of the guide claw portion of the former star wheel plate and the guide claw portion of the other star wheel plate of the latter The combined use according to claim 2, wherein a transfer form for transferring a circular or substantially regular polygonal container through a pocket formed by a delivery guide part formed by the edge part is selectable. Expression star wheel.

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