JP3954283B2 - Article holding device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an article holding apparatus, and more particularly to an article holding apparatus suitable for holding an article during conveyance or saving of the article.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a filling and packaging line for liquids and powders, when a carton or bottle is filled with liquids or powders, the carton or bottle is held in an article holding device that circulates in the line. The bottle was transferred to a filling machine and capping equipment. A conveyor having an excellent transport capability is used for transferring the article holding device holding a carton or a bottle.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Thus, in the article holding device that holds the carton or the bottle, the filling container is held on the outer peripheral surface of the container main body. In order to facilitate setting of the container to the article holding device, a certain gap is provided between the support member of the article holding device and the container. Therefore, the position of the filling port of the filling container is displaced due to the difference between the set state of the container and the inner dimension of the support member and the outer dimension of the container. In particular, in the case of a vertically long container, the filling port is likely to be misaligned. To prevent this misalignment, the gap between the container and the support member can be reduced, but the setability of the container to the support member may be reduced. For this reason, the positional deviation could not be resolved. Further, although there is a means for enlarging the container holding portion of the support member, there is a problem that the transportability is lowered and the cost of the apparatus is increased due to the increase in the weight of the entire article holding apparatus. In addition, the support member could not be used in an irregularly shaped container such as a pouch bag or a flexible container that cannot be held on the outer peripheral surface. Further, in the conventional article holding device, the bottom of the support member is in contact with the surface of the transfer conveyor, and it is necessary to temporarily stop or adjust the speed at the processing position such as the filling unit and the capping unit. As a result, a difference occurs in the moving speed of the two parts, causing a phenomenon of sliding while abutting between the bottom of the support member and the conveyor. This phenomenon is caused by the continuous and high-speed supply of containers with the increase in the weight of articles to be held, the weight of the article holding device, and the automation and speeding up of filling machines, etc. Wear, etc., resulting in lower equipment durability due to conveyor deterioration, equipment contamination due to abrasion dust, increased equipment costs due to increased load on conveyor drive motors, and increased costs due to increased frequency of maintenance and maintenance, etc. Various problems have occurred.
[0004]
The present invention is for solving these problems, and even if the processing machine is automated or speeded up regardless of the shape and weight of the article to be held, the article can be held smoothly and smoothly. An object is to provide an article holding apparatus capable of reliably performing various processes, improving the durability of the article holding apparatus and the conveyor, reducing the load on the conveyor drive motor, and suppressing an increase in cost. And
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, in an article holding apparatus having a base and a holding body that is provided on the base and holds an article, the holding body holds the article and fixes the article in a predetermined position. have a means, the substrate, in particular is characterized with a roller provided in a position perpendicular to the transfer direction at the bottom of the base, and a brake means for suppressing rotation of the roller. I it, can reduce the friction generated between the conveyor for transporting the article holding device, can suppress the cost because it can reduce the load on the conveyor drive motor with can improve the durability of the article holding device and the conveyor. Further, since the generation of frictional dust can be suppressed, a hygienic and highly maintainable article holding device can be provided. Further, when the article holding device is transferred in a stationary state and is stopped by an external force, the article holding device is maintained in a relative stop state, and friction between the article holding device and the conveyor can be reduced.
[0006]
In addition, it is preferable to provide a pressure applying member formed of an elastic member or a ball plunger that applies pressure to and holds the article in the clamping means. Further , the holding body can be moved back and forth by having lifting / lowering means for raising and lowering the holding body according to the height of the article, or by having raising / lowering means for raising and lowering the base, or according to the shape of the article. By having the sliding means that slides in the direction or the left-right direction, it is possible to smoothly and reliably hold an article of any shape, and to perform various processes with certainty.
[0007]
Furthermore, by providing a plurality of rollers, it is possible to cope with changes in the shape of the conveyor and the transfer path, and to reduce friction.
[0009]
Furthermore, by providing the base with connecting means for connecting to the rotating means so that the entire article holding apparatus can be rotated, the processing mode of the processing machine, for example, the washing process of the article holding apparatus itself performed by rotating the article holding apparatus Can respond flexibly.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Article holding device of the present invention comprises a substrate, provided on said substrate, and a holder for holding an article, the carrier have a clamping means for securing the article by holding the article in position The base body has a roller provided at a position perpendicular to the transfer direction at the bottom of the base body, and brake means for suppressing the rotation of the roller .
[0011]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an article holding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) of the figure is a plan view, (b) of the figure is a front view, (c) of the figure is a right side view, and (d) of the figure is a perspective view. In the figure, the article holding apparatus of the present embodiment includes a base 11, a side plate 12 that supports a holding body 13 to be described later, and a holding body 13 having an article holding means 14 for holding an article such as a carton or a bottle. It consists of A guide groove for positioning the article is provided at the upper end of the article holding means 14 of the holding body 13 around the opening where the article is inserted to contact the bottom surface of the article mouthpiece to guide the article set. 15 is provided. Further, a part of the article clamping means 14 is provided with a ball plunger 16 that fixes the set article in a predetermined position and can be easily pulled out when the article is removed. The ball plunger 16 is temporarily restored by a retracting spring force when an article is set. Not only the ball plunger 16 but also an elastic member such as a leaf spring may be used, or the article clamping means 14 itself may have a function of applying pressure to the article. Further, the height of the holding body 13 from the base body 11 is set so that the bottom of the article does not contact the base body 11 when the article is set on the article clamping means 14, so that the article is suspended. Further, the inner diameter of the opening of the article clamping means 14 is set to a size that allows the base of various articles to be inserted, and the inner diameter of the opening in the article clamping means 14 in a state where the ball plunger 16 is restored. The position of the restored state of the ball plunger 16 is set so that is smaller than the base of various articles.
[0012]
Thus, in the article holding device of the present embodiment, the article such as a container can be held near the filling port and the filling port can be fixed at a predetermined position. Therefore, when the article holding device is transported and filled in the filling unit, the positioning of the filling nozzle (not shown) and the filling port of the container is stopped by a stopper (not shown). Done in Further, since the container is held in the vicinity of the filling port, for example, a pouch bag can be filled in a suspended state in an unshaped container when not filled.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the article holding device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. (A) of the figure is a plan view, (b) of the figure is a front view, and (c) of the figure is a right side view. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same components. As different components, rollers 23 and 24 that are freely rotated by roller shafts 21 and 22 are attached to the bottom of the base 11. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the roller shaft 22 is provided with stoppers 25 and 26 that hold the center position of the roller 24 so as to sandwich the roller 24 therebetween. Although not shown, the roller 23 is similarly provided with a stopper. According to the article holding apparatus of the second embodiment having the configuration as in the present embodiment, the rollers 23 and 24 provided on the bottom of the base 11 are, for example, a roller fixing portion such as a recess provided on the transfer surface of the conveyor. At the time of temporarily stopping the conveyor or adjusting the speed, the friction generated at least by the rotation of the rollers 23 and 24 can be reduced. Or the rollers 23 and 24 provided in the bottom part do not rotate by the brake effect | action by the weight of an article holding device. Further, when the article holding device moves and is stopped by a stopper provided in the transfer path by a processing device such as a filling machine, the processing position can be held by rotating the roller that contacts the conveyor surface. Thereafter, when the necessary processing is completed and the stopper is released, the rotating roller stops and the article holding device moves according to the moving speed of the conveyor.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the configuration of the article holding apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 denote the same components. As a different component, a roller group 31 composed of a plurality of narrow rollers that are freely rotated by a roller shaft 22 is attached to the bottom of the base 11. According to the third embodiment having such a configuration, for example, when the temporary stopping place is a curved portion of the conveyor, the roller group 31 even if a difference between the rotation of the roller near the center of the curve and the rotation of the roller toward the outside occurs. The plurality of rollers can cope with each other, so that friction can be reduced and unnecessary vibration and overturning of the article holding device can be prevented. Further, by providing a gap between the plurality of rollers of the roller group 31, the installation area with the transfer surface of the conveyor can be reduced to reduce friction. 3B is inserted into the roller shaft 22 instead of the stopper 26 shown in FIG. 3A, and the ends of the outermost rollers of the base 11 and the roller group 31 are inserted. An elastic member 32 such as a spring coil-shaped spring is provided so as to abut against the portion. Therefore, when the apparatus is installed on the conveyor and transferred according to the transfer speed of the conveyor, the roller group 31 provided at the bottom of the apparatus does not rotate due to the braking action caused by tightening by the elastic member 32. Then, when the article holding device of the present embodiment is transferred and dammed by a stopper arm (not shown) provided outside at a processing position of a filling machine or the like, a roller that is in contact with the transfer surface of the conveyor The group 31 rotates when the force received from the transfer surface of the conveyor overcomes the braking action force of the elastic member 32. Therefore, the article holding device of the present embodiment apparently stops at the processing position without falling down due to the rotation of only the roller group 31. At this time, since the roller group 31 is rotating, the friction between each roller of the roller group 31 and the transfer surface of the conveyor is extremely small. Thereafter, when processing such as predetermined filling is completed and the stopper arm is released, rotation of each roller of the roller group 31 is suppressed by the braking action by tightening of the elastic member 32, and the article holding device follows the transfer speed of the conveyor. Will be transferred. Note that an elastic member 32 such as a spring coil spring is used to apply a braking action to the roller group 31. However, as shown in FIG. You may use the brake means 33 which consists of members, such as rubber | gum and an elastic resin, which presses a side surface.
[0015]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the article holding device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. (A) of the figure is a top view which shows the base | substrate of the article | item holding apparatus in a present Example, (b) of the figure is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the mode of operation | movement of the article | item holding apparatus in a present Example. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 denote the same components. As a different component, in FIG. 4 (a), the substrate 11 is fitted with article holding device rotating means 36 provided in each processing step area, which is a break of the conveyor 35 shown in FIG. 4 (b). A boss hole 34 is provided. The plane shape of the boss hole 34 may be circular or polygonal according to the cross-sectional shape of the inserted article holding device rotating means 36, or a connecting means for connecting to the article holding device rotating means 36 is provided. You may provide in the bottom part of a base | substrate. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the article holding device of this embodiment is transferred to each processing step area at the break of the conveyor 35, the article holding device provided in the area rotates. The rotating shaft portion of the means 36 is fitted into a boss hole 34 provided in the base 11, and the entire article holding device is lifted and rotated in a predetermined rotation direction. Therefore, when processing is necessary while rotating an article such as a container, the article holding apparatus is rotated in a cleaning process for cleaning the entire article holding apparatus when, for example, the article holding apparatus itself is soiled with the filler scattered during the filling process. When the necessity arises, predetermined processing can be performed by rotating the entire article holding device.
[0016]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an article holding apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. (A) of the figure is a front view, (b) of the figure is a right side view. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 denote the same components. As a different component, a proximity sensor metal plate 37 for detecting the position and installation direction of the article holding device is provided at a predetermined position of the side plate 12. Further, the side plate 12 is colored in order to easily confirm the installation direction and the like of the article holding device visually.
[0017]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the article holding device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same components. 6A, in the article holding device of this embodiment, the base 11 and the side plate 12 are connected so that the height of the holding body 13 from the base 11 can be adjusted, and the side plate 12 is moved up and down. Sliding means 38 for sliding is provided. Therefore, it can be easily adjusted according to the height of an article such as a container, and articles of various shapes and sizes can be held. Further, in FIG. 6B, the article holding apparatus of the present embodiment has a lifting / lowering made up of a base that can be moved up and down on the base 11 so that the height from the base 11 to the holding body 13 can be adjusted. Means 39 are provided. Therefore, it can be easily adjusted according to the height of an article such as a container, and articles of various shapes and sizes can be held.
[0018]
For example, for a container having a shape that is difficult to hold in the vicinity of the filling port, the holding body 13 is pressed from the upper part of the shoulder portion of the container toward the base 11 using the sliding means 38 and / or the lifting means 39. Since the container can be held by, the displacement of the filling port does not occur.
[0019]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the article holding device according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same components. 7A, in the article holding device of this embodiment, the side plate 12 can be adjusted so that the position of the holding body 13, that is, the front and rear positions of the side plate 12 supporting the holding body can be adjusted. There is provided a sliding means 40 for sliding back and forth. Therefore, it can be adjusted easily according to the depth of the article such as a container, and various shapes and sizes of articles can be held and the filling port position can be finely adjusted. Further, in FIG. 7B, in the article holding device of the present embodiment, in order to be able to adjust the position of the holding body 13, that is, the left and right positions when viewed from the front of the side plate 12 supporting the holding body, Sliding means 41 for sliding the side plate 12 to the left and right is provided. Therefore, it can be easily adjusted according to the width of the article such as a container, and various shapes and sizes of articles can be held and the filling port position can be finely adjusted.
[0020]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It cannot be overemphasized that various deformation | transformation and substitution are possible if it is description in a claim.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in an article holding apparatus having a base and a holding body that is provided on the base and holds an article, the holding body has a holding means for holding the article and fixing the article in a predetermined position. The base body is characterized by having a roller provided at a position perpendicular to the transfer direction at the bottom of the base body and a brake means for suppressing the rotation of the roller . I it, can reduce the friction generated between the conveyor for transporting the article holding device, can suppress the cost because it can reduce the load on the conveyor drive motor with can improve the durability of the article holding device and the conveyor. Further, since the generation of frictional dust can be suppressed, a hygienic and highly maintainable article holding device can be provided. Further, when the article holding device is transferred in a stationary state and is stopped by an external force, the article holding device is maintained in a relative stop state, and friction between the article holding device and the conveyor can be reduced.
[0022]
In addition, it is preferable to provide a pressure applying member formed of an elastic member or a ball plunger that applies pressure to and holds the article in the clamping means. Further , the holding body can be moved back and forth by having lifting / lowering means for raising and lowering the holding body according to the height of the article, or by having raising / lowering means for raising and lowering the base, or according to the shape of the article. By having the sliding means that slides in the direction or the left-right direction, it is possible to smoothly and reliably hold an article of any shape, and to perform various processes with certainty.
[0023]
Furthermore, by providing a plurality of rollers, it is possible to cope with changes in the shape of the conveyor and the transfer path, and to reduce friction.
[0025]
Furthermore, by providing the base with a connecting means for connecting to the rotating means in order to make the entire article holding apparatus rotatable, it is possible to provide an article holding apparatus that can flexibly cope with the processing mode of the processing machine.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an article holding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an article holding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an article holding device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an article holding device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an article holding device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an article holding device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an article holding device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11; Substrate, 12; Side plate, 13; Holding body, 14; Article clamping means,
15; guide groove, 16; ball plunger, 21, 22; roller shaft,
23, 24; roller, 25, 26; stopper, 31; roller group,
32; elastic member, 33; brake means, 34; boss hole, 35;
36; article holding device rotating means; 37; proximity sensor metal plate;
38, 40, 41; sliding means, 39; elevating means.

Claims (10)

In an article holding apparatus having a base and a holding body that is provided on the base and holds the article,
The retaining body have a clamping means for securing the article by holding the article in place,
The article holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a roller provided at a position perpendicular to a transfer direction at a bottom of the base and a brake unit that suppresses rotation of the roller .   The article holding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamping means includes a pressure applying member that applies pressure to the article and holds the article.   The article holding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pressure applying member is an elastic member.   The article holding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pressure applying member is a ball plunger.   2. The article holding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising lifting means for raising and lowering the holding body according to the height of the article.   2. The article holding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising lifting means for raising and lowering the base in accordance with the height of the article.   The article holding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding means for sliding the holding body in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction according to the shape of the article. The article holding device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the rollers are provided. It said brake means is an elastic member, the article holding device according to claim 1, wherein for suppressing the rotation of the rollers in the compressed elastic force of the elastic body. The article holding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a connecting means for connecting to a rotating means is provided on the base body so that the entire article holding apparatus can be rotated .

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