JP3879797B2 - Container processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a container processing apparatus, and more particularly to improvement of a container transport conveyor in a container cleaning apparatus that cleans while transporting containers, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a container processing apparatus having the following configuration is known. That is, a container transport conveyor that transports containers, a pair of left and right supply conveyors that are provided adjacent to both sides on the upstream side of the container transport conveyor and supply containers to the container transport conveyor, and a container that the container transport conveyor transports The container transport conveyor includes a pair of rotating shafts that are rotatably provided at a predetermined interval, and a plurality of sprockets fitted to the rotating shafts. A container processing apparatus is known which is made of resin and is provided with a belt that is placed over the sprockets of the two rotary shafts and places and conveys the container (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-1119016).
Further, in the above-described conventional apparatus, the two sets of adjacent sprockets, which are the central part in the width direction of the container transport conveyor, cannot move in the axial direction with respect to both rotating shafts. The sprocket can move in the axial direction with respect to both rotating shafts. As a result, the belt of the container transport conveyor can expand and contract from the center in the width direction toward both sides.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the process by the said process means is washing | cleaning of the container by warm water, the belt of a container conveyance conveyor expands / contracts in the width direction of a container conveyance conveyor with a heat | fever. Therefore, the gap between the pair of left and right supply conveyors and both side portions of the belt at their adjacent positions varies. Therefore, when the container is transferred from the supply conveyor onto the belt, there is a drawback that the container easily falls down due to the gap. Moreover, such a fault was pointed out also when discharging | emitting a container to the discharge conveyor provided in the both sides from the belt of a container conveyance conveyor.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a container conveyor that conveys containers and a pair of left and right supply conveyors that are provided adjacent to both sides on the upstream side of the container conveyor to supply containers to the container conveyor. And a processing means for performing a required heat treatment on the containers transported by the container transporting conveyor, the container transporting conveyor being fitted to each of the rotating shafts and a pair of rotating shafts that are rotatably provided at a predetermined interval. In a container processing apparatus comprising a plurality of combined sprockets and a belt made of synthetic resin, spanned over the sprockets of both rotating shafts, and placing and transporting the containers,
The belt is divided into two on the left side and the right side while maintaining a gap in the center in the width direction, and among the sprockets of the two rotating shafts, the adjacent position of each supply conveyor or its position At least two sets of sprockets located in the vicinity are fixed so as not to move in the axial direction of the two rotary shafts, and the sprockets other than the fixed sprockets are configured to be movable in the axial direction of the two rotary shafts. When the container is heat-treated by the means, the belt divided into the left and right parts is configured to thermally expand toward the center side in the width direction of the container transport conveyor.
In addition, the second invention includes a container transport conveyor for transporting containers, a pair of left and right discharge conveyors disposed adjacent to both sides on the downstream side of the container transport conveyor, and discharging containers from the container transport conveyor, Processing means for performing a required heat treatment on the containers conveyed by the conveyor, and the container conveyor is fitted to a pair of rotating shafts that are rotatably provided at a predetermined interval and the rotating shafts. In a container processing apparatus comprising a plurality of sprockets and a belt made of a synthetic resin, spanned over the sprockets of both rotating shafts, and placing and transporting the containers,
The belt is divided into two on the left side and the right side while maintaining a gap in the center in the width direction, and among the sprockets of both rotary shafts, the adjacent position of each discharge conveyor or its At least two sets of sprockets located in the vicinity are fixed so as not to move in the axial direction of the two rotary shafts, and the sprockets other than the fixed sprockets are configured to be movable in the axial direction of the two rotary shafts. When the container is heat-treated by the means, the belt divided into the left and right parts is configured to thermally expand toward the center side in the width direction of the container transport conveyor.
[0005]
[Action]
According to the first aspect of the invention, when the belts on the left and right sides expand in the width direction of the container transport conveyor due to heat, heat is applied from the side portion on the supply conveyor side toward the center side serving as the boundary between the belts. Will expand. As a result, the gap between the side portions of the left and right belts and the two adjacent supply conveyors does not fluctuate. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the containers transferred from the supply conveyor to the container conveyance conveyor from falling due to the gap.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the belts on the left and right sides expand in the width direction of the container transport conveyor due to heat, the side portions on both discharge conveyor sides are directed toward the center side that is the boundary between the belts. Will thermally expand. Thus, the gap between the side portions of the left and right belts and the adjacent discharge conveyors does not change. Therefore, when a container is discharged from the container transfer conveyor to the discharge conveyor, the container can be prevented from falling down due to the gap.
[0006]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a container cleaning device, which can clean a large number of containers 2 with a cleaning liquid while transporting them.
The container cleaning device 1 includes a container transport conveyor 3 that circulates and transports containers in the direction of the arrow, a pair of supply conveyors 4 and 4 ′ that are provided adjacent to both sides on the upstream side of the container transport conveyor 3, A pair of discharge conveyors 5, 5 ′ provided adjacent to both sides on the downstream side of the transport conveyor 3, and a conventionally known cleaning means 6 for injecting a cleaning liquid onto the containers 2 transported by the container transport conveyor 3 are provided. Yes.
The pair of supply conveyors 4 and 4 ′ sequentially supply the upright containers 2 onto the container transfer conveyor 3. Further, the container 2 cleaned by being sprayed with the cleaning liquid by the cleaning means 6 while being transported downstream by the container transport conveyor 3 is discharged from the container transport conveyor 3 by the discharge conveyors 5 and 5 ′. .
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, a V-shaped guide for guiding the containers 2 from the container conveyor 3 to the discharge conveyors 5 and 5 'is provided at a position above the substantial downstream end of the container conveyor 3. The guide member 7 is provided.
[0007]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the container transport conveyor 3 includes a drive shaft 11 and a driven shaft 12 that are rotatably supported while maintaining a predetermined interval, and are fitted to these and positioned at opposing positions. 20 sets of sprockets S1 to S20 and a belt-like belt 13 stretched over a plurality of sets of sprockets S1 to S20 at the opposed positions. More specifically, the belt 13 is composed of a plurality of chains spanning each set of sprockets at opposite positions, and the chains at adjacent positions are swingably connected by a common component member. A belt formed in a band shape by connecting chains at adjacent positions to each other in this manner is conventionally known. The chains constituting the sprockets S1 to S20 and the belt 13 are all made of synthetic resin.
When the drive shaft 11 is rotated by a drive source (not shown), the belt 13 is circulated in a predetermined direction so that the container 2 placed on the belt 13 is conveyed downstream. ing.
Of the sprockets S1 to S20, the two sets of sprockets S1 and S20 that are adjacent to the supply conveyors 4 and 4 ′ (discharge conveyors 5 and 5 ′) are the outer peripheral portions of the drive shaft 11 and the driven shaft 12. It is fixed so that it does not move in the axial direction. On the other hand, the sprockets S2 to S19 located on the center side of the sprockets S1 and S20 are configured to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the drive shaft 11 and the driven shaft 12.
Further, in this embodiment, the belt 13 is divided into two belts, the left side belt 13A and the right side belt 13B, with the central portion in the width direction (left and right direction) of the container conveyor 2 shown in FIG. It is divided. That is, the left side belt 13A extends from the sprockets S1 to S10, and the right side belt 13B extends from the sprockets S11 to S20.
A slight gap 10 is formed at the boundary between the belts 13A and 13B, and a plate-like guide member 14 is fixedly provided along the longitudinal direction of the chains C1 to C20 at a position close to the belt 10A. ing.
The plate-like guide member 14 closes the gap 10 formed between the belts 13A and 13B substantially completely.
[0008]
Since the container conveyor 3 of this embodiment is configured as described above, both the supply conveyors 4 and 4 ′ (both discharge conveyors 5 and 5 ′) and the side of both belts 13A and 13B that are adjacent to each other. The gap between the parts does not fluctuate.
Therefore, in the case where the warm water is sprayed from the cleaning means 6 and the container 2 is cleaned, when the belts 13A and 13B are expanded in the width direction by the hot water, both the belts 13A and 13B are connected to the both supply conveyors 4 and 4 ′. It expands from the side portion (both discharge conveyors 5, 5 ') to the center side (gap 10 side). Therefore, the gap between the side portions of the belts 13A and 13B and the supply conveyors 4 and 4 ′ (both discharge conveyors 5 and 5 ′) at the adjacent positions does not vary.
Accordingly, the containers 2 supplied onto the container transport conveyor 3 by the supply conveyors 4 and 4 ′ do not fall down due to the gap, and the container transport conveyor 3 (belts 13A and 13B) from the supply conveyors 4 and 4 ′ smoothly. ) Supplied on. Further, the containers 2 that have been transported by the container transport conveyor 3 and have been washed with warm water are smoothly discharged from the container transport conveyor 3 (belts 13A and 13B) onto the discharge conveyors 5 and 5 'without falling down.
The belts 13A and 13B thermally expand in the width direction toward the gap 10. Since a guide member 14 is provided above the gap 10, the container 2 is placed in the gap 10. The bottom does not get stuck, and therefore the gap 2 does not cause the container 2 to fall.
[0009]
In contrast to the present embodiment, the conventional container conveyor 3 shown in FIGS. 4 to 5 includes two sets of sprockets S10 and S11 at adjacent positions as the central portion in the width direction. 12 is configured so as not to move in the axial direction with respect to 12. On the other hand, the other sets of sprockets S1 to S9 and S12 to S20 can move in the axial direction with respect to the drive shaft 11 and the driven shaft 12. Then, a single belt 13 is stretched over the sprockets S1 to S20 of the drive shaft 11 and the driven shaft 12.
In the conventional container conveyor 3 having such a configuration, when the belt 13 expands and contracts in the width direction due to heat, the supply conveyors 4, 4 ′ (or the discharge conveyors 5, 5 ′) and both sides of the belt 13 adjacent to them. The gap between and was fluctuating. Thus, when the gap fluctuates, it has been pointed out that the bottom portion of the container 2 gets into the gap and easily falls.
In contrast to such a conventional apparatus, as described above, in this embodiment, the gap between the supply conveyors 4 and 4 '(or the discharge conveyors 5 and 5') and the side portions of both belts 13A and 13B adjacent to them. Since it does not fluctuate, it is possible to prevent the container 2 from falling over as compared with the prior art.
[0010]
In this embodiment, the gap between the supply conveyors 4 and 4 '(or the discharge conveyors 5 and 5') and the side portions of the belts 13A and 13B adjacent to the supply conveyors 4 and 4 'is not changed. The temperature of the hot water sprayed from 6 to the container 2 can be freely set.
Further, when the hot water is jetted from the cleaning means 6 to the container 2 for cleaning, even if both belts 13A and 13B are thermally expanded in the width direction, the container transport conveyor 3 can be run. Both belts 13A and 13B themselves composed of a plurality of chains can be washed with warm water, and can be maintained in a clean state.
In the above-described embodiment, the supply conveyors 4 and 4 ′ and the discharge conveyors 5 and 5 ′ are arranged on both the upstream and downstream sides of the container transfer conveyor 3, but the supply conveyors 4 and 4 ′ or the discharge conveyors are discharged. Instead of the conveyors 5 and 5 ', other conventionally known supply means or discharge means can be employed instead of the conveyors.
If the gap formed at the boundary between the left and right belts is set to about 10 mm, for example, the guide member 14 can be omitted if the container to be processed is a large one such as a beer bottle.
Furthermore, although the said Example demonstrated the case where this invention was applied to the container washing | cleaning apparatus 1, this invention is applied also to the warmer which warms the container 2 with warm water, the pasteurizer which sterilizes a container with hot water, etc. can do.
Moreover, in the said Example, although the 20 sprockets were provided in the drive shaft 11 and the driven shaft 12, respectively, and each set of sprockets was made to oppose, the following structures may be sufficient. That is, 20 sprockets are fitted to the drive shaft 11, while the driven shaft 12 is provided with 15 sprockets having a larger pitch than those located on the center side in the axial direction. Then, as in the above-described embodiment, the two sets of sprockets positioned on both ends of the drive shaft 11 and the driven shaft 12 are arranged to face each other and fixed to the drive shaft 11 and the driven shaft 12. . The sprockets other than the two fixed sets of sprockets are configured to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the drive shaft 11 and the driven shaft 12. Even if it is such a structure, the effect similar to the said Example can be acquired.
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent the container from falling over.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the main part in FIG. Sectional view of the part [Fig. 5] Enlarged view of the main part of Fig. 4 [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container cleaning apparatus 2 Container 3 Container conveyance conveyor 4 Supply conveyor 4 'Supply conveyor 5 Discharge conveyor 5' Discharge conveyor 6 Cleaning means 11 Drive shaft 12 Drive shaft 13 Belt 13A One belt 13B The other belt S1-S20 Sprocket

Claims (3)

Necessary for a container transport conveyor that transports containers, a pair of left and right supply conveyors that are provided adjacent to both sides on the upstream side of the container transport conveyor, and that feeds containers to the container transport conveyor, and a container transported by the container transport conveyor Processing means for performing the heat treatment of,
The container conveyor is composed of a pair of rotary shafts that are rotatably provided at a predetermined interval, a plurality of sprockets fitted to the rotary shafts, and a synthetic resin, and is hung over the sprockets of both rotary shafts. In the container processing apparatus provided with a belt that is passed and places and conveys the container,
The belt is divided into two on the left side and the right side while maintaining a gap in the center in the width direction,
Further, among the sprockets of the two rotating shafts, at least two sets of sprockets positioned adjacent to or near the supply conveyors are fixed so as not to move in the axial direction of the two rotating shafts, and the fixed sprockets A sprocket other than is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the two rotating shafts,
A container processing apparatus characterized in that when the container is subjected to heat treatment by the processing means, the belt divided into the left and right parts is thermally expanded toward the center in the width direction of the container transport conveyor. Necessary for a container transport conveyor that transports containers, a pair of left and right discharge conveyors that discharge containers from the container transport conveyor, and a container transported by the container transport conveyor. Processing means for performing the heat treatment of,
The container conveyor is composed of a pair of rotary shafts that are rotatably provided at a predetermined interval, a plurality of sprockets fitted to the rotary shafts, and a synthetic resin, and is hung over the sprockets of both rotary shafts. In the container processing apparatus provided with a belt that is passed and places and conveys the container,
The belt is divided into two on the left side and the right side while maintaining a gap in the center in the width direction,
Further, among the sprockets of the two rotating shafts, at least two sets of sprockets positioned adjacent to or near the discharge conveyors are fixed so as not to move in the axial direction of the two rotating shafts, and these fixed sprockets A sprocket other than is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the two rotating shafts,
A container processing apparatus characterized in that when the container is subjected to heat treatment by the processing means, the belt divided into the left and right parts is thermally expanded toward the center in the width direction of the container transport conveyor. The container processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a guide member for guiding the container along a container transport direction is provided at a position that becomes a boundary with the belt divided into the left and right two parts. .

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