JP3896816B2 - Cap feeder - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a capper having a capping head for holding a cap and capping a container, and more particularly to a cap supply device that takes out caps sequentially fed from a cap chute one by one and delivers them to the capping head. It is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 7 shows an example of a cap supply device provided in a conventional capper. A cap chute 4 for sequentially supplying a large number of caps 2 and a cap chute 4 which holds the caps 2 and descends toward a lower container C for capping. The picker 10 is provided between the capping head 6 and the picker 10 which takes out the caps 2 sent from the cap chute 4 one by one and delivers them to the capping head 6.
[0003]
The cap chute 4 supplies the cap 2 in an aligned state so that the opening portion faces downward by a cap sorter (not shown). The picker 10 reciprocally rotates an arm 10b having a pin 10a attached to the tip, and the pin 10a is inserted into the inner surface side of the cap 2 at the takeout position A from the cap chute 4. Then, it is rotated to the delivery position B to the capping head 6. The capping head 6 is lowered and then lifted after holding the cap 2, and after the picker 10 is retracted from the delivery position B, it is lowered toward the container C supplied downward to perform capping. .
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional cap supply device, the inner surface side of the cap 2 is hooked and taken out from the chute 4 by the pin 10a provided at the tip of the picker 10, so that the inner surface of the cap 2 may be damaged. . When the inner surface of the cap 2 is scratched in this way, there arises a problem that a sealing failure may occur during capping.
[0005]
In addition, a recess (pocket) for receiving the cap is formed on the outer periphery of the rotary wheel so as not to damage the inner surface of the cap, and the cap is accommodated in the pocket at the position where the cap chute is taken out. Conventionally, a cap supply device that rotates and conveys to a delivery position is also known. When such a pocket type picker is used, it is necessary to install a guide on the outside of the opening of the pocket so that the cap being transported is not displaced in the pocket or protrudes from the pocket. However, since the capping head moves up and down at a fixed position, the outer guide can be installed only to a position where it does not interfere with the capping head. Therefore, there is a possibility that the cap protrudes from the pocket or jumps out before being delivered to the capping head. In this case, there is a problem that a chucking error is caused by the capping head.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and there is no risk of scratching the inner surface of the cap, and it is possible to guide the outside of the pocket until the cap is delivered to the capping head. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cap supply device that can prevent a chucking error caused by a capping head by preventing the device from jumping out of the pocket or being displaced.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The cap supply device according to the present invention transfers the cap taken out from the cap chute that sequentially feeds the cap to a capping head that descends at a position where the cap is held and performs capping on the lower container. The accommodating portion includes a moving member that accommodates and transfers the cap, and the cap accommodating portion of the moving member leaves the placing portion on which the cap is placed and the opening portion that receives the cap fed from the chute. A sidewall that surrounds the periphery of the container, and a retaining member that is provided at a lower height than the sidewall on both sides on the bottom side of the opening of the sidewall, and prevents the contained container from slipping out. The height at which the capping head holds the cap does not interfere, and the height at which the cap chute feeds the cap is adjusted to the side wall. Lower than the height, and is set more than the height of the retaining member, when the cap is out of the cap chute, fall to the side walls and retaining an enclosed space member, it is supported on the mounting section It is what I did .
[0008]
In the cap supply device, the cap that is fed from the cap chute and accommodated in the cap accommodating portion of the moving member passes over the retaining member formed in the opening and falls into the accommodating portion, and is surrounded by the side wall. At the same time, since the opening side is pressed by a retaining member, it can be held in a stable posture until it is taken out by the capping head, and can be prevented from jumping out of the accommodating portion or being displaced, and an error in delivery to the capping head occurs. There is nothing.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the cap supply device according to the first aspect, the cap accommodated in the cap accommodating portion protrudes from between the retaining members on both sides. , the cap accommodating portion of the moving member, is provided with the engageable locking member with the engaging portion formed in the cap, into the moving path of the moving member, and the outer circumferential surface of the cap accommodated in the cap housing unit Rotating means for contacting and rotating the cap is provided, and the direction of the cap is regulated by rotating the cap during transfer and locking the engaging portion with the locking member.
[0010]
In the second aspect of the present invention, during the movement of the moving member, the cap accommodated in the cap accommodating portion rotates in contact with the rotating means, and the direction of the cap is aligned in a certain direction. Caps that need to be capped always in a certain direction relative to the container can be reliably aligned.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cap supply device (indicated by reference numeral 1 as a whole) of a capper according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cap supply device 1 includes a cap chute 4 for sequentially feeding caps 2 and a cap 2. And a capping head 6 that lowers toward a lower container (not shown) and performs capping. The cap 2 taken out at the take-out position A of the cap chute 4 is attached to the capping head 6. It moves to the lower delivery position B.
[0012]
The cap supply device 1 includes a moving member (pocket picker) 10 that reciprocates by a predetermined angle around a central shaft 8 and a cap housing portion (pocket) 12 formed on the outer periphery of the pocket picker 10. The outer peripheral guide member 14 that guides the cap 2 so as not to come out of the pocket 12 while the cap 2 is being transferred from the take-out position A of the cap chute 4 to the cap delivery position B of the capping head 6, and the take-out position A as well. After the cap 2 picks up one cap 2 from the cap chute 4 and the top surface guide member 15 for guiding the top surface of the cap 2 so that the cap 2 does not jump out of the pocket 12 during the transfer from to the delivery position B. A key consisting of an air cylinder that keeps the subsequent cap 2 stopped at the outlet of the cap chute 4. And a Ppusutoppa 16.
[0013]
The outer peripheral guide member 14 is provided from a position adjacent to the cap chute 4 to a position before the position where the capping head 6 is disposed (the delivery position B). The guide member 14 is not installed at a position where the capping head 6 is provided in order to avoid interference when the capping head 6 grips the cap 2. Similarly, the top surface guide member 15 is provided from a position adjacent to the cap chute 4 to a position before the position where the capping head 6 is disposed (the delivery position B).
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pocket picker 10 includes a fan-shaped plate 18 and an upper plate 20 that is overlaid on the upper surface of the outer periphery of the fan-shaped plate 18. The cap accommodating portion (pocket) 12 is formed on the outer peripheral side of both the plates 18 and 20. A substantially U-shaped notch 20a having an arc-shaped portion having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the cap 2 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the upper plate 20, and the peripheral surface of the U-shaped notch 20a is formed. The side wall 12a holding the accommodated cap 2 is configured. The height of the side wall 12a is set so as not to interfere when the capping head 6 grips the cap 2.
[0015]
The opening 12d of the U-shaped notch 20a is larger than the diameter of the cap 2 so that the cap 2 can be received from the opening 12d into the pocket 12, while the opening 12d. On the bottom side, a retaining member 12b for preventing the cap 2 accommodated in the pocket 12 from coming out is provided on both sides. Further, a bottom surface (upper surface of the fan-shaped plate 18) 12c surrounded by the side wall 12a and the retaining members 12b on both sides serves as a mounting portion on which the cap 2 is placed. Therefore, the cap 2 can enter the pocket 12 from above the retaining member 12b of the opening 12d of the U-shaped notch 20a, and falls into the pocket 12 and falls on the mounting portion 12c. Thereafter, the stopper member 12b prevents the stopper from coming out in the horizontal direction.
[0016]
The base of the fan-shaped plate 18 is fixed to the central shaft 8 via an attachment member 22, and the pocket picker 10 is arranged so that the cap pick-up position A on the front surface of the cap chute 4 and the cap delivery position B below the capping head 6 are arranged. It can be reciprocated between. Various mechanisms can be used as the drive mechanism for reciprocatingly rotating the pocket picker 10. For example, it can be reciprocatingly rotated by the configuration shown in FIG. 3 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-231843.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the cap chute 4 includes a bottom plate 4a that supports the lower surface of the cap 2, side plates 4b, 4c, and a top plate 4d that surround both the left and right sides and the upper surface. The cap 2 placed and sent out moves to the outlet of the chute 4 and is put into the pocket 12 of the pocket picker 10 stopped at the take-out position A. The upper surface of the bottom plate 4a of the cap chute 4 is at the same height as or slightly higher than the upper surface of the retaining member 12b provided on both lower sides of the opening 12d of the pocket 12, and the side wall of the pocket 12 It arrange | positions so that it may become a position lower than the height of 12a (namely, the height of the upper surface of the upper plate 20).
[0018]
Therefore, the cap 1 sent out by the cap chute 4 enters the pocket 12 from above the bottom plate 4a of the cap chute 4 and above the retaining member 12b provided in the pocket 12 (at the top of FIG. 3). Then, when the cap 2A is removed from the bottom plate 4a of the cap chute 4, the cap 2A falls into a space surrounded by the side wall 12a of the pocket 12 and the retaining member 12b and is supported on the mounting portion 12c (see FIG. (See FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the cap 2 accommodated in the pocket 12 of the pocket picker 10 has a front surface slightly protruding from between the retaining members 12a on both sides, and the pocket picker 10 is When the movement is started, the side plate 4c is slightly shortened so that the cap 2 accommodated in the pocket 12 does not interfere with the side plate 4c on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the cap chute 4 (right side plate in FIG. 1). It has become.
[0019]
The operation of the cap supply device 1 according to the above configuration will be described. The cap 2 that continuously falls in the cap chute 4 is stopped in the cap chute 4 by a cap stopper 16 provided at the outlet of the cap chute 4. When the pocket picker 10 rotates and reaches the position where the opening 12d of the pocket 12 faces the cap chute 4 (cap removal position A), the cap stopper 16 moves backward, and the top cap 2 is in the pocket 12. Sent out. Immediately after the top cap 2 is delivered, the cap stopper 16 protrudes to stop the subsequent cap 2 in the cap chute 4.
[0020]
The cap 2 fed into the pocket 12 of the pocket picker 10 from the cap chute 4 passes above the retaining member 12b and enters a position where it contacts the side wall 12a of the pocket 12, and then falls onto the placement portion 12c. In this manner, the cap 2 surrounded by the side wall 12a and the retaining member 12b and housed in the pocket 12 in a state of being placed on the mounting portion 12c is the front side (outward in the rotational direction of the pocket picker 10). Since the lower part is pressed by the retaining member 12b, the lower part is held in a state where it cannot move.
[0021]
The pocket picker 10 holding the cap 2 in the pocket 12 rotates to the cap delivery position B below the capping head 6. When it moves to the cap delivery position B and stops, the upper capping head 6 descends and holds the cap 2 accommodated in the pocket 12. The capping head 6 holding the cap 2 is raised, and then the pocket picker 10 is retracted from below the capping head 6 and then lowered again to perform capping on the container supplied below.
[0022]
As described above, while the pocket picker 10 transfers the cap 2 taken out from the cap chute 4 to the position where it is transferred to the capping head 6, the cap 2 accommodated in the pocket 12 does not fall off by the retaining member 12b. It has become. Therefore, the guide member 14 is not present at the position where the capping head 6 is disposed, but the cap 2 is not dropped or displaced at this location.
[0023]
In this cap supply device 1, since the pocket picker 10 does not engage with the inner surface of the cap 2, the inner surface of the cap 2 is not damaged, and a sealing failure does not occur after capping. The cap 2 housed in the pocket 12 of the pocket picker 10 is pressed by the retaining member 12b until the cap 2 is taken out from the chute 4 at the take-out position A and then delivered to the capping head 6 at the transfer position B. As a result, the cap 2 does not jump out of the pocket 12 or shift from the pocket 12 even when transporting a section near the capping head 6 where the guide member 14 is not provided. Can do.
[0024]
5 and 6 show a cap supply device 101 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pocket picker (moving member) 110. Similarly to the first embodiment, the cap supply device 101 takes out the cap 2 sent out from the cap chute 4 and transfers it to the capping head 6. The difference is that the caps 2 can be aligned in a certain direction. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part same as the said 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0025]
In this embodiment, the cap 2 that is sequentially sent out by the cap chute 4 is provided with a positioning engaging portion 2a on the outer peripheral portion, and the engaging portion 2a faces in a random direction and is in the chute 4 inside. It slides down continuously in close contact with the back and forth. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, you may make it align and supply so that the engaging part 2a of the cap 2 may face the same direction.
[0026]
In the pocket picker 110, a pocket 12 for accommodating the cap 2 is formed in the outer peripheral portion (the end portion on the side far from the central shaft 8). Similar to the first embodiment, the pocket 12 holds the periphery of the cap 2 placed on the placement portion 12c by the side wall 12a and the retaining member 12b. Further, on the inner side of the pocket 12, there are provided two rollers 12e, 12f and a locking member 12g with which the engaging portion 2a of the cap 2 is engaged. The rollers 12e and 12f and the locking member 12g are provided at a height that does not interfere when the capping head 6 holds the cap 2 in the pocket 12.
[0027]
A plurality (four in this embodiment) of rotating means 30 are arranged on the front side of the movement path of the pocket 12 of the pocket picker 110. Each rotating means 30 includes two free rollers 30a, 30b, 30c on the pocket picker 110 side, and one free roller 30a, 30b, 30c on the rear side thereof, and a friction belt wound around these three free rollers 30a, 30b, 30c. 30d. The portions of the friction belt 30d facing the pocket picker 110 are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cap 2 accommodated in the pocket 12 of the pocket picker 110. Accordingly, the cap 2 housed in the pocket 12 of the pocket picker 110 and rotated and conveyed by the rotation of the pocket picker 110 contacts the friction belt 30d and is rotated in the pocket 12 by the friction force. The cap 2 accommodated in the pocket 12 is supported so as to be freely rotatable by two rollers 12e and 12f provided on the rear side.
[0028]
The operation of the cap supply device 101 according to the above configuration will be described. The top cap 2 that has slid down the cap chute 4 is stopped by being pressed by the cap stopper 16 at the outlet of the cap chute 4. When the pocket picker 10 rotates in the direction of the cap chute 4 and the pocket 12 provided on the front surface stops at the front (extraction position A) of the outlet of the cap chute 4, the top cap 2 is moved to the cap chute 4. And is stored in the pocket 12 of the pocket picker 110. An air nozzle (not shown) that blows air toward the opening is provided on the side near the outlet of the cap chute 4, and the cap 2 blows air from the air nozzle onto the side surface in addition to its own weight. And is reliably discharged from the cap chute 4 and accommodated in the pocket 12.
[0029]
Similar to the first embodiment, the cap 2 accommodated in the pocket 12 passes over the retaining member 12b provided at the lower portion of the opening 12d and enters the pocket 12 to be loaded. It falls on the mounting portion 12c and is held around by the side wall 12a and the retaining members 12b on both sides. The pocket picker 110 in which the cap 2 is accommodated in the pocket 12 is rotated by a driving mechanism (not shown) and moves toward the delivery position B where the capping head 6 is provided.
[0030]
The cap 2 accommodated in the pocket 12 of the pocket picker 110 that rotates is a friction belt 30d of the rotating means 30 disposed on the opening 12d side of the pocket 12, and two rollers provided behind the pocket 12. 12e and 12f are rotated, and when the engaging portion 2a provided on the outer periphery thereof contacts the locking member 12g of the pocket 12, the subsequent rotation is restricted. Thus, during the movement by the pocket picker 110, the cap 2 is positioned in the rotational direction by being rotated by the frictional force of the friction belt 30d of the rotating means 30.
[0031]
When the pocket picker 110 further rotates, the pocket picker 110 moves to the delivery position B past the position facing the rotation means 30. After the position where the rotating means 30 is provided, there is no guide member that supports the front surface of the cap 2, but the front side is pressed by the retaining member 12 b provided in the opening of the pocket 12. 2 does not fall out of the pocket 12 or shift. In this embodiment as well, a top surface guide member 15 is provided to guide the top surface of the cap 2 so that the cap 2 does not jump out of the pocket 12 during the transfer from the take-out position A to the delivery position B of the cap 2. Yes. In particular, in this embodiment, since the cap 2 is forcibly rotated during transfer, the top surface guide member 15 is necessary.
[0032]
When the pocket picker 110 stops at the delivery position B, the capping head 6 is lowered, and the cap 2 is grasped and raised. After handing over the cap 2 to the capping head 6, the pocket picker 110 returns to the cap chute 4 again, stops at the take-out position A on the front surface of the cap chute 4, and takes out the next cap 2 from the chute 4. By repeating the above operation, the caps 2 sequentially fed out from the cap chute 4 are taken out and supplied to the capping head 6.
[0033]
Also in this cap supply apparatus 101, since the pocket picker 110 does not engage with the inner surface of the cap 2, the inner surface of the cap 2 is not damaged, and a sealing failure does not occur after capping. Further, the cap 2 housed in the pocket 12 of the pocket picker 110 is pressed by the retaining member 12b until the cap 2 is removed from the chute 4 at the take-out position A and then delivered to the capping head 8 at the transfer position B. Therefore, the cap 2 does not jump out of the pocket 12 or is not displaced, and a chuck error can be eliminated. Note that the present invention is not limited to the structure described in the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that the shape, structure, and the like of each part can be appropriately modified and changed.
[0034]
In each of the above embodiments, the retaining member 12b formed in the opening 12d of the pocket 12 provided in the pocket picker 10 has a flat shape with the same height from the opening 12d to the inside. However, the cap 2 can be accommodated in the pocket 12 more smoothly by appropriately changing the shape of the retaining member 12b. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, which is a cross section taken along line AA in FIG. 8C, the height H on the opening 12d side of the retaining member 12b is increased and gradually decreased toward the inside ( If a slope is provided so as to be the height h) on the inner side, the cap 2 introduced from the cap chute 4 can enter the pocket 12 more smoothly. Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, which is a cross section taken along the line B-B of FIG. 8C, the upper edge portion on the inner peripheral side of the retaining member 12 is cut away to give an angle θ. The cap 2 introduced into the pocket 12 from the part 12d side can be dropped smoothly. Further, the configuration of FIG. 8A and the configuration of FIG. 8B can be combined. In this case, the cap 2 can be accommodated in the pocket 12 more smoothly.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the cap supply device according to the present invention transfers the cap taken out from the cap chute that sequentially sends out the cap to the capping head that lowers the cap at the position where the cap is held and performs capping on the lower container. The cap housing portion is provided with a moving member that houses and transfers the cap, and the cap housing portion of the moving member leaves a placement portion for placing the cap and an opening portion for receiving the cap fed from the chute. A side wall that surrounds the periphery of the mounting portion, and a retaining member that is provided at a lower height than the side wall on both sides of the bottom side of the opening of the side wall, and prevents the contained container from slipping out, The height of the side wall is set so as not to interfere when the capping head holds the cap, and the cap chute is The height for feeding a, lower than the height of the side wall, and is set more than the height of the retaining member, when the cap is out of the cap chute, fall within the surrounded by the side walls and the retaining member space, before By being supported on the mounting section , the inner surface of the cap will not be damaged, and the cap will be prevented from popping out or slipping out of the picker pocket, thereby eliminating chucking errors caused by the capping head. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a cap supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a moving member of the cap supply device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a cap take-out unit of the cap supply device.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the moving member of the cap supply device takes out and holds the cap.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a configuration of a cap supply device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a moving member of a cap supply device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified configuration of a conventional cap supply device.
8A and 8B are views showing another configuration of the retaining member formed in the pocket, where FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 8C, and FIG. ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B, and FIG. 5C is a plan view of the main part of the pocket picker.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101 Cap supply apparatus 2 Cap 2a Engagement part 4 Cap chute 6 Capping head 10, 110 Moving member (pocket picker)
12 Cap housing (pocket)
12a Side wall 12b Retaining member 12c Mounting portion 12d Opening portion 12g Locking member 30 Rotating means

Claims (2)

In the cap supply device that delivers the cap taken out from the cap chute that sequentially feeds the cap down to the capping head that lowers the cap at the position holding the cap and capping the lower container,
The cap housing portion is provided with a moving member that accommodates and transports the cap, and the cap housing portion of the moving member is placed leaving a placement portion for placing the cap and an opening for receiving the cap fed from the chute. A side wall that surrounds the periphery of the part, and a retaining member that is provided at a lower height than the side wall on both sides on the bottom side of the opening of the side wall, and prevents the contained container from slipping out,
The height of the side wall is set so as not to interfere when the capping head holds the cap, and the height at which the cap chute sends out the cap is lower than the height of the side wall and not less than the height of the retaining member. When the cap is removed from the cap chute, the cap supply device falls into a space surrounded by the side wall and the retaining member and is supported on the mounting portion . In the cap supply device according to claim 1, the cap accommodated in the cap accommodating portion protrudes to the outside from between the retaining members on both sides,
The cap housing portion of the moving member is provided with a locking member that can be engaged with the engaging portion formed on the cap, and in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cap housed in the cap housing portion in the moving path of the moving member. The cap supply device is characterized in that a rotation means for rotating the cap is provided, and the direction of the cap is regulated by rotating the cap during transfer and locking the engaging portion with the locking member.

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