JP3716939B2 - Positioning device for container holding member of dual-purpose container holder - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a container holder for holding a container in a container processing apparatus such as a filling machine or a capper, and in particular, specifies a container holding member of a dual-purpose container holder that can be used for various types of containers. The present invention relates to a positioning device for a container holding member of a combined-type container holder that performs positioning so as to fit the container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a container processing apparatus such as a filling machine or a capper is used for a deformed container having a cross-sectional shape such as an elliptical shape, the container is positioned and centered when processing such as liquid filling and capping is performed. In addition, a container is accommodated and held in a container holder (or called a container carrier) generally called “hama” and placed on the container processing line.
[0003]
However, a conventional container holder generally has a container housing hole that matches a specific container shape formed in a resin body, and the container is accommodated and transported in this hole. It was impossible to share the same container. Therefore, the applicant of the present invention has a dual-purpose container holder provided with a plurality of (for example, four) container holding members capable of moving forward and backward in the center of the holder body, and holding the container in the holder body. Proposed a dual-purpose container holder switching (replacement) device that allows a single container holder to be used as a container of various shapes by moving a member and positioning it at a predetermined position (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 3- 244740).
[0004]
The conventional dual-purpose container holder switching device has a retracting means (origin return device) that moves all the container holding members (finger) in the holder body to the outermost side of the holder body (this is the origin in this device). A container model having a shape slightly larger than the outer shape of the container, inserted into the center of the retracted container holding member, and the container holding member by advancing the container holding member into contact with the outer surface of the container model. Advancing means (pusher) for stopping the holding member at a predetermined position.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the container holder switching device, the container holding member is pressed by a pusher from the outer side of the container holder, and positioning is performed at a position where the container holding member cannot move forward by hitting the outer surface of the container model. For this reason, even if the container holding member cannot move due to some trouble before it comes into contact with the container model, the forward movement operation is completed, and the container holding member is positioned at the stopped position. As a result, there has been a problem that large play occurs between the space formed by the plurality of container holding members and the container. In particular, depending on the type of liquid (eg, shampoo) filled in the container, the container holding member may become difficult to slide due to the liquid spilled in the container holder. The risk of occurring was particularly great.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and it is possible to confirm a positioning operation of the container holding member by the advance means and to detect a container holder that is insufficiently changed in advance. A positioning device for a container holding member is provided.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A positioning device for a container holding member of a combined-type container holder according to the present invention is a combined-type container holder provided with a holder main body that accommodates a container and a plurality of container holding members that are disposed so as to be capable of moving forward and backward in the holder main body. An apparatus for positioning the container holding member in the holder main body, wherein the container holding member is retracted outwardly of the holder main body, and the container model is inserted inside the retracted container holding member. A forward moving means for moving the container holding member toward the center of the container holder; and a position detecting means provided in the container model for detecting the position of the container holding member moved by the forward moving means. The position of the container holding member is detected by detecting that the container holding member approaches or contacts the outer surface of the container model by the position detecting means.
[0008]
[Action]
In the container holding member positioning device of the dual-purpose container holder, when the container model is inserted into the container holder and the container holding member is moved toward the center by the advancing means, the container holding member approaches or closes the container model. The contact is detected by the position detection means, and the forward movement of the container holding member is terminated, thereby positioning the container.
[0009]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. First, a dual-purpose container holder that is switched so as to be adapted to containers of various shapes by the container holding member positioning device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view of the dual-purpose container holder, FIG. 2 is a plan view with a part thereof in cross section, FIG. 3 is a front view with part in cross section, and FIG. 4 is a side view with part in cross section. . The container holder 2 includes a bottomed square cylindrical case (holder body) 4 and four blocks (container holding members) 6 disposed in the case 4 so as to be movable back and forth. The case 4 has a substantially octagonal shape in which the four corners of the rectangular shape are cut in an arc shape, while the blocks 6 are respectively provided inside the four side walls of the case 4 and guided by the grooves 4a on the bottom surface. Move forward and backward. Each of these blocks 6 has a surface 6a that is in contact with the container C (see FIG. 2) on the inner side thereof recessed in a V shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the four blocks 6 are arranged to face each other on lines X ₁ and Y ₁ orthogonal to each other through the center O ₁ of the holder body 4, and each of the blocks 6 is centered on O _1. It can be moved forward and backward toward and away from each other.
[0010]
A large number of teeth 6 b are formed on one side surface of each block 6. A ratchet 8 that meshes with the teeth 6b is disposed on the side of the teeth 6b of the block 6. Each ratchet 8 is rotatable about a fulcrum pin 10, and the block 6 positioned at a predetermined position moves by being pushed by the spring 12 from the back surface and meshing with the teeth 6b of the block 6. Is regulated. These ratchets 8 can be disengaged from the teeth 6 b of the block 6 by pressing the side surface 8 a facing the inner side of the container holder 2. Thus, when the meshing with the ratchet 8 is released and released, each block 6 can be freely advanced and retracted. The ratchet 8 has three upper and lower stages as shown in FIG. 4, but this is provided with a slight dimensional difference so that any one of the ratchets 8 can reliably engage with the teeth 6 b of the block 6. It is not necessarily limited to three stages.
[0011]
Small circular holes 4 b are formed at positions adjacent to the ratchets 8 on the bottom surface of the holder body 4. In each of these circular holes 4b, the tips of eccentric pins described later are inserted. By inserting the four eccentric pins into the respective circular holes 4b from above and rotating them, the tips thereof are inserted. The inner surface 8a of the ratchet 8 is pressed by the eccentric portion provided above the portion, and the ratchet 8 is rotated about the fulcrum pin 10 so that the ratchet 8 and the tooth 6b of the block 6 are engaged. It comes to remove.
[0012]
The container holder 2 having the above-described shape is remodeled according to the container C accommodated and held therein (that is, the block 6 is moved and positioned so as to conform to the shape of the container C accommodated). It is. This type change is usually performed in a part of a series of container processing lines in which a container C is filled with a liquid and capped, labeled, etc., while the container C is accommodated in a large number of container holders 2 and transported. It is carried out on a separate type change line provided in connection. The remodeling line is not necessarily limited to the one provided connected to the container processing line, and may be an independent dedicated line for remodeling, or provided in the container processing line for normal processing. It may be set not to operate during the process.
[0013]
The configuration of this type change line will be described with reference to FIGS. On the conveyor 18 that conveys the container holders 2 of the remodeling line, a block opening station K that performs an operation of retracting the four blocks 6 in each container holder 2 to the outermost side of the case 4 and the blocks 6 are disposed in the case. 4 is provided with a positioning station P which is moved forward toward the center of the positioning position 4 and positioned at a predetermined position. As shown in FIG. 5, a block opening mechanism 20 is provided on the block opening station K, and a positioning station is provided. On P, a block positioning device 70 is provided. The block positioning device 70 includes an extrusion mechanism 50 that advances the block 6 toward the center O _{1 of the} holder 4 in accordance with the outer shape of the container C to be applied, and a central portion of the container holder 2 when the block 6 is advanced. And a container model (mold changing jig) 80 for positioning the block 6. In FIG. 5, only the arrangement of the block opening mechanism 20 and the block positioning device 70 is simply shown, and detailed illustration is omitted.
[0014]
The block opening mechanism 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. The block opening mechanism 20 includes a frame 24 that is moved up and down by a cylinder 22 fixed to the upper part of the machine frame 14, and four blocks that are fixed to the frame 24 and disengage the teeth 6 b of the block 6 from the ratchet 8. An eccentric pin 56 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) and a pressing plate 28 for retreating each block 6 to the outermost side of the holder body 4 are provided. The eccentric pin 56 having the same configuration is also provided integrally with the push-out mechanism 50 and the remodeling jig 80 described with reference to FIGS. Omitted.
[0015]
A rail 32 is fixed on the bottom plate 24 a of the frame 24 via an attachment member 30. Four rails 32 are provided corresponding to the four blocks of the container holder 2, and parallel to the lines X ₂ and Y ₂ perpendicular to each other through the center O ₂ of the block opening mechanism 20. Moreover, they are arranged at positions slightly shifted from these lines X ₂ and Y ₂ . A slider 34 is slidably fitted and supported on each rail 32. At the tip of the center O ₂ side of the respective sliders 34, pressing plate 28 extending vertically downward than the bottom plate 24a of the frame 24 is fixed. A cam follower 36 is attached to the upper surface of the slider 34.
[0016]
On the other hand, the top plate 24b of the frame 24, to match the axis to the center O ₂ of the block opening mechanism 20, the vertical shaft 38 is rotatably supported. A circular cam plate 40 is fixed at a position slightly above the plane of the slider 34 at the lower end of the vertical rotation shaft 38. The circular cam plate 40 is formed with four spiral long holes 40a extending approximately 90 degrees at equal intervals, and a cam follower 36 attached to the slider 34 is fitted in each long hole 40a. ing. A lever 42 is fixed slightly above the cam plate 40 of the vertical rotating shaft 38. By rotating the lever 42, the vertical rotating shaft 38 and the cam plate 40 are rotated integrally. It has become. An operating rod 44 a of an air cylinder 44 is connected to the end of the lever 42 via a knuckle joint 46, and the cam plate 40 is rotated by the operation of the air cylinder 44. When the cam plate 40 is rotated, the cam follower 36 moves in the spiral long hole 40a of the cam plate 40, whereby the slider 34 is guided by the rail 32 and moves forward and backward. As a result, the vertical pressing plate 28 fixed to the slider 34 moves on the lines X ₂ and Y ₂ outward from a position near the center O ₂ of the block opening mechanism 20.
[0017]
The positioning station P disposed on the downstream side of the block opening station K on the remodeling line is provided with a block positioning device 70 for advancing the positioning of the block 6. The block positioning device 70 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIGS. Similar to the block opening mechanism 20, the block positioning device 70 is moved up and down by a cylinder 52 fixed to the upper part of the machine frame 14, and fixed to the frame 54, and the teeth 6 b of the block 6 and the ratchet 8 Are provided with four eccentric pins 56, a block push-out mechanism 50 that pushes each block 6 toward the center O ₁ of the container holder 2, and a container model 80.
[0018]
First, the eccentric pin 56 will be described. The eccentric pin 56 is rotatably supported on the bottom plate 54 a of the frame 54. In this eccentric pin 56, the axis of the portion 56a supported by the bottom plate 54a of the frame 54, the upper portion 56b thereof, and the lower end portion 56d excluding the intermediate portion 56c coincide with each other, and the lower surface side of the bottom plate 54a. Only the intermediate portion 56c extending to the center is eccentric. Four eccentric pins 56 are provided at positions corresponding to the arrangement of the four circular holes 4b of the holder body 4, and the frame 54 descends toward the container holder 2 stopped at the positioning station P on the conveyor. Then, the lower end portion 56d of each eccentric pin 56 is inserted into the circular hole 4b.
[0019]
Pinions 60 are fixed to portions 56b extending upward from the bottom plate 54a of the eccentric pins 56, respectively. Each of these four pinions 60 is in pairs and meshes with one rack 62. As described above, the eccentric pins 56 are disposed so as to correspond to the four circular holes 4 b formed so as to be positioned on the side surfaces of the ratchets 8 in order to rotate the ratchet 8 of the container holder 2. Accordingly, the positions of the pinions 60 are slightly shifted in the traveling direction (left and right direction in FIGS. 8 and 9) and the width direction (up and down direction in FIG. 9) of the conveyor 18 corresponding to the arrangement of the circular holes 4b. The two racks 62 are shifted in tooth positions according to the positions of the two pinions 60 that mesh with each other. Each rack 62 is moved forward and backward in the direction of travel of the conveyor 18 by the air cylinder 64, and the pinion 60 is rotated by the movement of the rack 62 and the eccentric pin 56 is rotated.
[0020]
A container model (replacement jig) 80 is provided at the center of the four eccentric pins 56. The container model 80 includes a support column 82 fixed to the lower surface of the bottom plate 54 a of the frame 54, and positioning pads 84 attached to four sides of the outer surface of the support column 82. These positioning pads 84 are detachable so that they can be exchanged according to the size and shape of the container accommodated in the container holder 2. A vertical air passage 82a and a radial passage hole 82b extending in the direction of each positioning pad 84 are formed in the support column 82, and each positioning pad 84 also passes through the inside and the outside thereof. An air passage 84 a is formed and communicates with the passage hole 82 b of the support column 82. A passage member 86 having an air passage 86a formed therein is fixed above the support pillar 82. The air passage 84a of the positioning pad 84 includes an air passage 82a and a passage hole 82b of the support pillar 82, and this passage. The member 86 is connected to an air supply source (not shown) via an air passage 86 a and an air pipe 88. Further, a gap sensor 90 is provided in the middle of the air pipe 88 for detecting that the opening of the air passage 84a provided in the positioning pad 84 is closed.
[0021]
The four eccentric pins 56 and the container model 80 at the center thereof are located at the center portion of the positioning station P, that is, at a position inserted into the container holder 2 that is transported by the conveyor 18 and stopped on the positioning station P. A block push-out mechanism 50 is provided on the four sides of the container holder 2 that is stopped at the positioning station P and pushes the block 6 of the container holder 2 from the outside to advance toward the center of the holder 2. Is arranged. These block push-out mechanisms 50 include four pushers 92 that press the block 6 and four cylinders 96 that move the pushers 92 forward and backward. These cylinders 96 are respectively attached to vertical mounting plates 94 fixed to the frame 54. When the pusher 92 is advanced by the operation of the cylinder 96, the block 6 is directed toward the center O ₁ of the container holder 2. Press.
[0022]
The operation of the positioning device for the container holding member of the dual-purpose container holder according to the above configuration will be described. The container holder 2 conveyed on the conveyor 18 of the mold change line is stopped at the block opening station K. Then, the frame 24 is lowered by the cylinder 22 on the machine casing 14. The bottom plate 24a of the frame 24 is provided with a pressing plate 28 of the block opening mechanism 20 and an eccentric pin 56 (the eccentric pin has the same configuration as that of the eccentric pin in the block positioning device 70, and will be described using the reference numerals thereof). The four pressing plates 28 are inserted into the central portions of the four blocks 6 of the container holder 2. At the same time, the lower end portions 56 d of the four eccentric pins 56 are inserted into the circular holes 4 b formed at the four corners of the case 4. Next, the eccentric pin cylinder 64 is operated to move the rack 62. Then, the pinion 60 meshed with the rack 62 and the eccentric pin 56 fixed to the pinion 60 rotate. A portion (intermediate portion) 56c that is eccentric with respect to the axis of the lower end portion 56d that is fitted into the circular hole 4b is provided in a portion of the eccentric pin 56 that is inserted into the container holder 2. The ratchet 8 in the container holder 2 is swung by the rotation of the portion 56c, and the meshing with the teeth 6b of the block 6 is released. After the block 6 can be freely moved in this way, the cam plate rotating cylinder 44 is operated to rotate the circular cam plate 40 by about 90 degrees. When the cam plate 40 rotates, the cam follower 36 engaged in the spiral elongated hole 40a moves relative to the elongated hole 40a. Since the cam follower 36 is fixed to the slider 34 that is fitted to the rail 32 and is allowed to move only in the linear direction, the slider 34 and the vertical pressing plate 28 fixed to the lower surface of the slider 34 include: The container holder 2 is moved outward on the X ₁ and Y ₁ lines from a position near the center O ₁ of the container holder 2. As a result, the four blocks 6 are retracted to the outermost side of the case 4.
[0023]
As described above, the container holder 2 in which all the blocks 6 are opened in the block opening station K is conveyed again by the conveyor 18 and sent to the next positioning station P and stopped. In the positioning station P, first, the frame 54 of the positioning device 70 is lowered by the cylinder 52 on the machine casing 14. Four eccentric pins 56 are also provided on the lower surface of the frame 54, and the ratchet 8 is swung in the same manner as the block opening mechanism 20 to disengage the ratchet 8 from the teeth 6 b of the block 6. The block 6 can move freely in the case 4.
[0024]
As the frame 54 is lowered, the container model 80 is inserted into the central portion of the container holder 2. In the container model 80, four positioning pads 84 are attached according to the size of the container C adapted by the current mold change. Air is supplied into the air passages 84a of the positioning pads 84 through the passage holes 82b of the support columns 82, the air passages 82a, the air passages 86a of the passage members 86, the air pipes 88, and the like. When it is inserted into the container holder 2, air is blown out from the opening on the outer surface side of the air passage 84 a of the positioning pad 84. Subsequently, each cylinder 96 of the pushing mechanism 50 is operated to advance the pusher 92, and the block 6 is pushed toward the center of the case 4. Each block 6 advances and the concave portion 6a on the front surface thereof comes into contact with the outer surface of the positioning pad 84. Then, the opening of the air passage 84a is blocked and the air is shut off. The gap sensor 90 detects this air blockage and stops the cylinder 96. As described above, since the block 6 is detected to be in close contact with the container model (replacement jig) 80 and the positioning operation is completed, it is possible to confirm and eliminate the container holder 2 with remodeling failure.
[0025]
FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the container model (replacement jig). The container model 180 has an air passage 182a and a radial passage hole 182b formed in the same manner as in the above embodiment. The support pillar 182 and four positioning pads 184 attached to the outer surface of the support pillar 182 are provided. Each positioning pad 184 includes two members 183 and 185, and a switching valve 200 is disposed inside each positioning pad 184. The switching valve 200 is slidably accommodated in a valve hole 183a formed in the inner member 183 of the positioning pad 184, and a spool 202 whose tip 202a can protrude outward from the through hole 185a of the outer member 185. When the spool 202 protrudes from the through hole 185a, the passages 182a and 182b of the support column 182 communicate with the outside, and when the spool 202 is pushed into the inside, the communication passage 183b is cut off. It has. In addition, the air passages 182a of the support pillars 182 are independent of each other, and are connected to an air supply source via separate air pipes 188, and gap sensors 190 are individually provided.
[0026]
When positioning the block 6 using the container model 180, when the container model 180 is inserted into the container holder 2 in which the block 6 is retracted, as shown on the left side of FIG. The spool 202 is pushed from the back by the air that has been pushed, and its tip 202a protrudes from the outer surface of the positioning pad 184. The communication path 183b formed in the inner member 183 and the paths 182a and 182b of the support column 182 communicate with each other. Thus, the air supplied into the container model 180 is leaked to the outside.
[0027]
Next, when the blocks 6 are pushed toward the container model 180 by the pushing mechanism 50, the inner surface of each block 6 comes into contact with the tip 202a of the spool 202, and the spool 202 is pushed into the valve hole 183a. When the spool 202 is pushed more than a predetermined amount, the spool 202 blocks communication between the passages 182a and 182b of the support column 182 and the communication passage 183b of the positioning pad 194. Thus, the gap sensor 190 detects that the air supply has been shut off, and the operation of the push-out mechanism 50 is stopped. In this embodiment, when the switching valve 200 using the spool 202 detects that the block 6 has approached a predetermined distance from the container model 180, it is confirmed that the positioning of the block 6 has been completed. As in the embodiment, the position of the block 6 can have an allowable range, rather than the positioning being completed only when the block 6 is in close contact with the container model 80. If only the block 6 that is in close contact with the container model 80 is handled as completion of remodeling as in the above embodiment, there is a risk that remodeling failure may occur even if there is no close contact but there is a fine gap but there is no functional problem. However, it is possible to prevent frequent occurrence of remodeling failure by recognizing that the block 6 has approached the predetermined range as completion of remodeling. This allowable range can be appropriately set by changing the shape of the spool 202 constituting the switching valve 200, the position of the communication passage 183b opened in the valve hole 183a, and the like. Further, the air passage 182a of the support column 182 is made independent, and the gap sensor 190 is provided in the air pipe 188 that supplies air to each of them. However, this is provided to increase the detection sensitivity, as in the above embodiment. You may make it detect with one gap sensor.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect and eliminate a container holder that is defective in remodeling in advance.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a dual-purpose container holder that is positioned by a container holding member positioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view with a cross section of a part of the container holder.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a section of a part of the container holder.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a cross section of a part of the container holder.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing an outline of a positioning device for the container holding member.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a block opening device provided in the container holding member positioning device.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a block opening device provided in the container holding member positioning device;
8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a block positioning device provided in the container holding member positioning device, in which the left side of the drawing is a cross section taken along the line AA of FIG. 9, and the right side of the drawing is a BB of FIG. A cross section along the line is shown.
FIG. 9 is a plan view with a cross section of a part of a block positioning device provided in the container holding member positioning device;
FIG. 10 is a side view showing a cross section of a part of a block positioning device provided in the positioning device for the container holding member.
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another example of a container model.
[Explanation of symbols]
C Container 4 Holder body (case)
6 Container holding member (block)
20 Retraction means (block opening mechanism)
50 Advancing means (extrusion mechanism)
80 Container model 82a Air passage 82b Air passage 84a Air passage 90 Sensor

Claims (3)

An apparatus for positioning a container holding member of a dual-purpose container holder having a holder main body for containing a container and a plurality of container holding members arranged in the holder main body so as to be movable back and forth in the holder main body. Retracting means for retracting the member to the outer side of the holder body, container model inserted inside the retracted container holding member, advancing means for moving the container holding member toward the center of the container holder, and the container model And a position detecting means for detecting the position of the container holding member moved by the advance means. The position detecting means detects that the container holding member has approached or contacted the outer surface of the container model. A positioning device for a container holding member of a combined-type container holder, wherein the holding member is positioned. The position detection means includes an air passage formed inside the container model and having an opening on an outer surface thereof, an air supply means for supplying air to the air passage, and a sensor for detecting that the air passage is blocked. 2. The container holding member is positioned by detecting that the air passage is blocked by contacting the outer surface of the container model with the container holding member closing the opening of the air passage. The positioning device of the container holding member of the combined-type container holder described in 1. The position detection means is disposed in an air passage formed inside the container model, an air supply means for supplying air to the air passage, and is capable of moving forward and backward in the container model. A spool on which air in the passage acts, and the tip of the spool projects from the outer surface of the container model, and when the spool projects from the outer surface of the container model, the air passage communicates with the outside. Forming a communication path that blocks communication between the air path and the outside when pushed in, and positioning the container holding member by detecting that the container holding member has approached a predetermined distance from the container model The positioning device for a container holding member of the dual-purpose container holder according to claim 1.

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