JP4158247B2 - Rotary wheel - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotary wheel, and more particularly, to a rotary wheel that conveys a container with a conveyor or the like while conveying the neck of the container in a suspended state.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a container transport processing system is known in which containers are sequentially transferred to a rotary container processing machine such as a rotary filler or a rotary capper to fill and capping a liquid. In such a conveyance processing system, an intermediate conveyance wheel is disposed between rotary container processing machines to transfer containers. Further, an inlet-side transport wheel is disposed upstream of the container processing machine to receive containers from the supply conveyor, and an outlet-side transport wheel is disposed downstream of the container processing machine so that the processed containers can be used as the transport conveyor. I try to hand it over.
[0003]
Various sizes can be obtained by carrying out each processing while carrying the neck conveyance, that is, holding the neck portion of the container while being hung by the rotary type container processing machine, the inlet side, the outlet side and the intermediate conveying wheel. There is already known a container transfer processing system which can be used as a container. In this way, it is possible to use a container of a different size between the rotary type container processing machine and the transfer wheel by the neck transfer, but a container of a different size can be transferred from the neck transfer to the normal conveyor transfer or from the conveyor transfer. In order to deliver to the neck transport, the filler or capper must be raised or lowered, or the transport conveyor must be raised or lowered to accommodate the changed container height.
[0004]
However, in order to raise and lower the filler and the capper, all of these devices, the intermediate delivery wheel, and the like require an elevating mechanism, and the structure is complicated and the cost is high. Further, since it is impossible to raise and lower the entire transfer conveyor, in this case, it is necessary to make a structure that raises and lowers only the vicinity of the container receiving position of the conveyor. If only a part of the conveyor is moved up and down, it becomes an inclined conveyor, which makes the container transportation unstable and is not preferable.
[0005]
Therefore, each gripper of the transfer wheel that transfers from the neck transfer state to the conveyor transfer can be raised and lowered to absorb the difference in height between the container receiving position of the transfer wheel and the container transfer position to the conveyor. Such a configuration has already been proposed (DE19512515A1). In the configuration described in this publication, the inclination cam absorbs the difference in height between the container receiving position and the container delivery position.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional configuration, since the inclined cam is used, the angle between the container receiving position and the delivery position is limited to 180 degrees. Since the container is delivered two times at the lowest position, there is a drawback in that a layout is limited. Further, since the inclined cam as a whole is inclined, the container receiving position, that is, the highest point of the cam, and the container delivery position, that is, the lowest point of the cam are each one point, so that the handling of the container becomes unstable. . Furthermore, since the cam for opening and closing the gripper cannot be arranged, the container must be gripped by a mechanism using a spring such as a ball plunger.
[0007]
In addition, for example, it is conceivable that each gripper of the rotary wheel can be moved up and down individually, and the lifting shaft on which each gripper is supported is moved up and down by a servo motor. However, in such a configuration, the control is complicated. There was a problem that it was extremely expensive.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and arbitrarily adjusts the height of the container holding means at the container receiving position and the container delivery position without providing an elevating mechanism in the container processing apparatus or the conveyor. In addition, since the relative position between the container receiving position and the container delivery position is not limited, an object of the present invention is to provide a rotary wheel that can be freely laid out.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A rotary wheel according to the present invention includes a rotating body, a driving unit that rotationally drives the rotating body, and a container holding unit that is provided on the rotating body at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and holds the container in a suspended state. The container received from the previous step is suspended and conveyed and delivered onto the conveyor, and in particular, the container holding means has a holding part for holding the container and a cam follower connected to the holding part. In addition, an annular cam with which the cam follower is engaged is provided, and the annular cam is disposed at the container receiving position and the container delivery position side, and can be moved up and down in a horizontal state. It is composed of a cam portion and an intermediate cam portion connecting them, and the height of the holding portion can be changed by raising and lowering the horizontal elevating cam portion.
[0010]
Further, the rotary wheel according to the second invention suspends and conveys the container received from the supply conveyor and delivers it to the container processing device. In particular, the container holding means holds the container. And a cam follower coupled to the holding portion, and an annular cam to be engaged with the cam follower is provided, and the annular cam is disposed on the container delivery position side. It is composed of a horizontal elevating cam part that is arranged and can be raised and lowered in a horizontal state, and an intermediate cam part that connects these parts, and the height of the holding part can be changed by raising and lowering the horizontal elevating cam part. is there.
[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 schematically showing an entire filling system including a rotary wheel 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and containers such as PET bottles conveyed by an air conveying conveyor (feeding conveyor) 4. (Refer to FIG. 2) 6 is supplied into the filler (filling machine) 10 via the inlet side wheel 8, and after being filled with the liquid, it is sent to the capper 14 via the intermediate delivery wheel 12 to the mouth. Capping is performed. Then, it is placed on the transport surface of the discharge conveyor 16 by the exit side wheel (rotary wheel according to the present invention) 2.
[0012]
In this filling system, in order to be used for various containers 6, the supply conveyor 4 and the exit side wheel 2 are transported while holding the neck of the container 6 while being suspended, and the discharge conveyor 16 is filled with liquid. Then, the container 6 that has been capped is placed on the transport surface and transported.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the outlet side wheel (rotary wheel according to the present invention) 2. The rotary wheel 2 has a horizontal rotary table 20 rotatably supported on the outer periphery of a central fixed cylinder 18. A plurality of container holding means 22 are provided on the outer periphery of the rotary table 20 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Each of these container holding means 22 conveys the container 6 while holding the neck portion 6a of the container 6 in a suspended state. The rotary body 24 including the rotary table 20 and the container holding means 22 is rotated by a driving force of a rotary drive means (not shown) being transmitted through a gear 20 a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary table 20. .
[0014]
Each container holding means 22 is attached to the upper end of an elevating rod 28 that is slidably inserted into a support cylinder 26 that passes through the rotary table 20 and is fixed vertically. A cam follower 30 is attached to the lower side of the lifting rod 28 from the rotary table 20 through a longitudinal slot 26a formed in the support cylinder 26. The elevating rod 28 is always urged upward by a spring 31. The cam follower 30 is in elastic contact with the cam surface of an annular cam 32 disposed above, which will be described later.
[0015]
The structure of the annular cam 32 will be described with reference to FIGS. The annular cam 32 is disposed on the container receiving position A side where the container 6 is received from the capper 14 and on the container delivery position B side where the container 6 is delivered onto the discharge conveyor 16. It is composed of a substantially semicircular horizontal elevating cam portion 38 and an intermediate cam portion 36 connecting the fixed cam portion 34 and the horizontal elevating cam portion 38.
[0016]
Although the fixed cam portion 34 is not shown in FIG. 3, the fixed cam portion 34 is horizontally provided over a section (see C in FIG. 3) necessary for stably delivering the container 6. Further, the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 has an arc shape that extends almost half a circumference, and is supported by a plurality of mounting bars 42 that are radially provided on nuts 40 that can be raised and lowered at the center of the rotating body 24. Ascend and descend in a horizontal state.
[0017]
A female screw 40a is formed on the inner surface of the nut 40 disposed at the center of the rotating body 24, and is screwed into a male screw 44a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the screw shaft 44 upright at the center. The nut 40 is fitted in the lower part 18 a of the fixed cylinder 18 so as to be movable up and down, and the mounting bar 42 passes through a longitudinal long hole 18 c formed in the fixed cylinder 18. Accordingly, when the screw shaft 44 is rotated, the nut 40 is restricted from rotating and moved up and down, and the horizontal lifting cam portion 38 connected to the nut 40 via the mounting bar 42 is moved up and down integrally.
[0018]
The intermediate cam portion 36 that connects the section between the fixed cam portion 34 and the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 is composed of two arc-shaped members having a length that extends substantially ¼ circumference. The intermediate cam portions 36 are respectively connected at their end portions 36a on the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 side to both end portions 38a of the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 via pins 46 so as to be relatively rotatable. Further, the end portions 36 b on the fixed cam portion 34 side of both the intermediate cam portions 36 are connected via a fixed connecting member 48. The fixed connecting member 48 has long grooves 48a formed on both side surfaces, and connecting pins 50 respectively attached to the end portions 36b of the intermediate cam portions 36 are fitted in the long grooves 48a.
[0019]
Therefore, when the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 is in the most elevated state, both the intermediate cam portions 36 are also in the horizontal state, and the connecting pin 50 is located on the outermost side in the radial direction (see the solid line in FIG. 4). . Further, when the horizontal elevating cam part 38 is lowered, the horizontal elevating cam part 38 side end 36a of the intermediate cam part 36 is connected by the pin 46, so that it is lowered to the same height as the horizontal elevating cam part 38.
[0020]
On the other hand, the end portion 36b on the fixed cam portion 34 side of the intermediate cam portion 36 is connected to the fixed connecting member 48 by the connecting pin 50, and thus is positioned at the same height as in the horizontal state. Accordingly, the intermediate cam portion 36 is inclined, and the connecting pin 50 is moved radially inward (rightward in FIG. 4) in the long groove 48a of the fixed connecting member 48. Thus, the fixed cam portion 34 side end portion 36b of the intermediate cam portion 36 can move in the radial direction, so that the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 moves up and down at exactly the same position without moving in the radial direction. To do.
[0021]
The holding part 52 of the container holding means 22 is provided with a gripper 54 (see FIGS. 2 and 5) that opens and closes and holds the neck 6a of the container 6. The gripper 54 includes a pair of arms 58 and 59 that rotate about shafts 56 and 57, a spring 60 that pulls the arms 58 and 59 toward each other, and meshes with each other so that the arms 58 and 59 are reversed. Small gears 62 and 63 to be rotated, a lever 64 fixed to one central shaft 56 and rotating integrally, and a cam follower 66 attached to the swinging end of the lever 64 are provided.
[0022]
A container receiving opening / closing cam 68 is fixed in the vicinity of the container receiving position A where the rotary wheel 2 receives the container 6 from the capper 14, and the cam follower 66 is moved along with the rotation of the rotating body 24. To be engaged. By this cam 68, the gripper 54 is once opened slightly before the container receiving position A, and thereafter, when the container 6 is received, it is closed again and the container 6 is gripped.
[0023]
On the other hand, a cylindrical member 70 is fixed to the upper portion of the nut 40 and is fitted in the upper portion 18b of the fixed cylinder 18 so as to be movable up and down. A container delivery opening / closing cam 72 is attached to the upper end of the cylindrical member 70 so as to face the container delivery position B. Since the container delivery opening / closing cam 72 is fixed to the nut 40 that moves up and down integrally with the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 as described above, it moves up and down integrally with the horizontal elevating cam portion 38. Needless to say, the container receiving opening / closing cam 68 and the container delivery opening / closing cam 72 may be provided only in a section necessary for delivering the container 6.
[0024]
The operation of the filling system including the rotary wheel (exit side wheel) 2 having the above-described configuration will be described. The container 6 is transported in a state where the neck 6 a is held and suspended by the supply conveyor (air transport conveyor) 4, and is delivered to the entrance-side wheel 8. The container 6 is also transported in a state where it is suspended while holding the neck portion 6 a on the inlet side wheel 8, and is supplied into the filler 10. In the filler 10, similarly, the container 6 is filled with a liquid while being transported in a suspended state. After the container 6 is filled with the liquid, the container 6 is introduced into the capper 14 through the intermediate delivery wheel 12 while being suspended and conveyed, and then delivered to the outlet wheel 2.
[0025]
At the container receiving position A of the exit side wheel (rotary wheel) 2, the height of the holding part 52 of the container holding means 22 set by the fixed cam part 34 of the annular cam 32 is the container holding part (not shown) of the capper 14. )). The height of the holding part 52 corresponds to the size of the largest container 6 that can be processed by the filling system.
[0026]
Further, the height of the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 that sets the height of the holding portion 52 at the container delivery position B is changed according to the size of the container 6. In the case of the largest container 6 that can be processed by this filling system, the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 is raised to the same height as the fixed cam portion 34. In this state, the bottom surface of the container 6 held by the gripper 54 at the container delivery position B substantially coincides with the height of the transport surface of the discharge conveyor 16. In this embodiment, the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 can be lowered from the same height as the fixed cam portion 34, but the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 is raised above the fixed cam portion 34. It can also be configured to be able to.
[0027]
The holding part 52 of the container holding means 22 of the outlet side wheel 2 receives the container 6 from the container holding part of the capper 14 at the container receiving position A. At this time, before the container receiving position A, the gripper 54 is opened once by the action of the container receiving opening / closing cam 68, and after the container 6 is inserted between the container holding portion of the capper 14 and the gripper 54, the action of this cam 68. As a result, the gripper 54 is closed again and the neck 6a of the container 6 is gripped. The holding part 52 rotates and conveys the container 6 in a suspended state, and when it reaches the container delivery position B, the gripper 54 is opened by the action of the container delivery opening / closing cam 72 and the container 6 is delivered to the discharge conveyor 16. . The container 6 held by the holding unit 52 has a bottom surface height corresponding to the height of the conveyance surface of the discharge conveyor 16, and the container 6 from the holding unit 52 of the container holding unit 22 onto the conveyance surface of the discharge conveyor 16. Handed over in a stable posture.
[0028]
In the case of a container 6 smaller than the container 6, the height of the holding portion 52 is lowered so that the height of the bottom surface of the container 6 coincides with the height of the conveying surface when the container 6 is delivered to the discharge conveyor 16. In this case, the center upright screw shaft 44 is rotated, and the nut 40 screwed on the screw shaft 44 is lowered. The horizontal elevating cam portion 38 of the annular cam 32 is fixed to the nut 40 via the support rod 42 and descends while maintaining the horizontal state. When the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 is lowered, the end portion 36a of the intermediate cam portion 36 connected to both ends 38a of the cam portion 38 via the pins 46 is lowered, while the other end portion of the intermediate cam portion 36 is lowered. Since 36b is movably connected to the fixed connecting member 48 via the connecting pin 50, it is inclined as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
[0029]
When the holding part 52 receives the container 6 conveyed by the capper 14 with the annular cam 32 in such a shape at the container receiving position A, the fixed cam part 34 is at the highest position. The part 52 receives the container 6 at the same height as the large container 6 as shown in FIG. Needless to say, this height coincides with the height of the container holding portion of the capper 16, and the container 6 is stably delivered.
[0030]
The holding unit 52 that has received the container 6 rotates as the rotating body 24 rotates. The lifting rod 28 to which the holding portion 52 is attached gradually descends as the cam follower 30 fixed to the lower portion thereof moves from the fixed cam portion 34 to the intermediate cam portion 36. When the cam follower 30 is further moved by rotating and moving to the horizontal elevating cam portion 38, the elevating rod 28 and the holding portion 52 are moved at a certain height below the container receiving portion A to move the container. The container 6 is delivered to the discharge conveyor 16 at the delivery position B.
[0031]
In the said embodiment, since the height of the holding part 52 of the container holding means 22 can be freely adjusted in the rotary wheel (exit side wheel) 2, the state in which the containers 6 of various sizes are suspended and conveyed. To the transfer surface of the transfer conveyor 16. Further, since the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 has an arc shape extending almost half a circle and is at the same height within the range, the container delivery position B can be freely set within the range of the horizontal elevating cam portion 38. Can do. Further, since there are horizontal transfer sections at the container receiving position A and the container delivery position B, stable handling is possible.
[0032]
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the container 6 is transferred from the rotary wheel 2 that suspends and conveys the container 6 to the discharge conveyor 16 is described. The present invention can also be applied when handing over. Further, the lengths of the fixed cam portion 34, the intermediate cam portion 36 and the horizontal elevating cam portion 38 constituting the annular cam 32 are not limited to those shown in FIG. The length of the cam part 38 can be set to any length as long as it has a length that allows the container 6 to be received from the capper 14 and delivered to the discharge conveyor 16 stably. . Furthermore, the number of the intermediate cam portions 36 is not limited to a pair on both sides, and it is possible to combine short divided portions.
[0033]
FIG. 6 is a side view of the annular cam 132 used in the rotary wheel according to another embodiment, and the configuration of the other parts is the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, the description is omitted. The annular cam 132 includes a fixed cam portion 134 disposed at the container receiving position A, an intermediate cam portion 136 connected to both sides of the fixed cam portion 134 via a fulcrum pin 150 so as to be relatively rotatable, A horizontal elevating cam portion 138 connected to the other end of the intermediate cam portion 136 via a pin 146 is provided. In this embodiment, long grooves 138a are formed at both ends of the horizontal elevating cam portion 138, and the pins 146 of the intermediate cam portion 136 are engaged with the long grooves 138a. Even in this configuration, when the horizontal elevating cam portion 138 is lowered, the intermediate cam portion 136 is inclined, but the pin 146 attached to the end portion thereof can move within the long groove 138a, so that the horizontal elevating cam portion 138 is at the same position. Go up and down.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the rotating body, the driving means for rotating the rotating body, and the container holding unit that is provided on the rotating body at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and holds the container in a suspended state. A rotary wheel that suspends and conveys the container received from the previous process and delivers it onto the conveyor, wherein the container holding means includes a holding part that holds the container and a cam follower connected to the holding part. And an annular cam with which the cam follower is engaged, and the annular cam is disposed at the container receiving position and the container delivery position side, and can be moved up and down in a horizontal state. It is composed of an elevating cam part and an intermediate cam part connecting them, and the height of the holding part can be changed by raising and lowering the horizontal elevating cam part. Since the receiving position and the container delivery position are not limited to positions separated from each other by 180 degrees, the width of the layout of the apparatus is widened. In addition, since the height of the holding unit can be arbitrarily adjusted between the container receiving position and the container delivery position without providing an elevating mechanism in the container processing apparatus or the transport conveyor, the structure is simple and the cost is low. Further, since there is a section for horizontally transporting the container between the container receiving position and the container delivery position, the container can be handled stably.
[0035]
Moreover, the same effect can be produced by suspending the container received from the supply conveyor, carrying the same, and providing the same configuration to the rotary wheel delivered to the container processing apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a simplified overall configuration of a container processing system including a rotary wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotary wheel.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an annular cam for raising and lowering the container holding means of the rotary wheel.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the annular cam.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a gripper provided in a container holding means of the rotary wheel.
FIG. 6 is a side view of an annular cam according to another configuration.
[Explanation of symbols]
A container receiving position B container delivery position 6 container 16 discharge conveyor 22 container holding means 24 rotating body 30 cam follower 32 annular cam 34 fixed cam portion 36 intermediate cam portion 38 horizontal elevating cam portion 52 holding portion 54 gripper 68 container receiving opening / closing cam 72 Opening and closing cam for container delivery

Claims (3)

A rotating body, drive means for driving the rotating body, and container holding means for holding the container in a suspended state provided on the rotating body at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. In the rotary wheel that hangs and conveys and delivers it on the conveyor,
The container holding means has a holding portion for holding the container and a cam follower connected to the holding portion, and an annular cam with which the cam follower is engaged is provided, and the annular cam is disposed at the container receiving position. The fixed cam part, the horizontal raising and lowering cam part that is arranged on the container delivery position side and can be raised and lowered in a horizontal state, and an intermediate cam part that connects these parts, and by raising and lowering the horizontal raising and lowering cam part, A rotary wheel characterized in that the height of the holding part can be changed. A container received from a supply conveyor, comprising: a rotating body; drive means for rotationally driving the rotating body; and container holding means for holding the container in a suspended state provided on the rotating body at equal circumferential intervals. In the rotary wheel that hangs and conveys it and delivers it to the container processing device,
The container holding means has a holding portion for holding the container and a cam follower connected to the holding portion, and an annular cam with which the cam follower is engaged is provided, and the annular cam is disposed at the container receiving position. The fixed cam portion, the horizontal lifting cam portion that is disposed on the container delivery position side and can be lifted and lowered in a horizontal state, and an intermediate cam portion that couples them, and by raising and lowering the horizontal lifting cam portion, A rotary wheel characterized in that the height of the holding part can be changed. The holding part of the container holding means has an openable / closable gripper, and is opened and closed by a container receiving opening / closing cam arranged at the container receiving position and a container delivery opening / closing cam arranged at the container delivery position. The rotary wheel according to claim 1, wherein the delivery opening / closing cam is lifted and lowered integrally with a horizontal lifting cam portion.

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