JP4251242B2 - PET bottle conveyor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a plastic bottle conveying device suitable for incorporating a plastic bottle into a star wheel pocket.
[0002]
[Prior art]
PET bottles (empty containers) are supplied with a bottom supported by a chain conveyor having a number of hinges connected thereto, synchronized by a timing screw, taken into a star wheel pocket, and transferred to a subsequent process. That is, the bottom surface of the plastic bottle is supported and enters the pocket. The star wheel is installed in two upper and lower stages in order to make the PET bottle stand upright during transfer. Moreover, the guide is installed in the outer periphery so that it may not remove from a pocket.
[0003]
As a method of transporting PET bottles, the bottom surface of the neck of a PET bottle (called a neck ring) is supported by a guide rail, and air is blown onto the neck and slid on the guide rail (called an airflow conveyor). ) When using an airflow conveyor, it is placed on the chain conveyor just before the timing screw.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional method of supporting the bottom surface of the PET bottle and taking it into the pocket, the PET bottle may jump and be caught between the outer peripheral guide without entering the star wheel pocket. This situation becomes significant when driving at high speed.
An object of this invention is to provide the PET bottle conveyance apparatus which can take in a PET bottle reliably in the pocket of a star wheel.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the PET bottle transport device of the present invention is a PET bottle transport device that takes in empty PET bottles supplied by an airflow conveyor into a star wheel pocket using a timing screw, and the timing screw is moved up and down in two stages. The guide rail that supports the lower surface of the neck ring of the plastic bottle is installed before and after the position where the plastic bottle is taken in , and when the plastic bottle is taken into the star wheel, the plastic bottle is supported without supporting the bottom surface of the plastic bottle. The lower surface of the neck ring is supported by the guide rail, and the plastic bottle is transferred by the timing screw .
Another aspect of the PET bottle conveying device of the present invention is a PET bottle conveying device that takes in an empty PET bottle supplied with a bottom supported by a chain conveyor into a star wheel pocket using a timing screw. When the PET bottle is installed in the star wheel pocket, the transport surface of the chain conveyor and the bottom surface of the PET bottle are inclined when the PET conveyor is installed in the star wheel pocket. A guide rail that supports the lower surface of the neck ring of the plastic bottle is installed before and after the position where the plastic bottle is taken in, and when the plastic bottle is taken into the star wheel, the bottom of the plastic bottle Pet bot without supporting The lower surface of the neck ring is supported by the guide rail, it is characterized in that so as to transfer the bottles by the timing screw.
According to the present invention, when a plastic bottle is taken into the star wheel pocket, the neck ring of the plastic bottle is supported by the guide rail to make the bottom surface of the plastic bottle free. Thereby, a plastic bottle can be reliably taken in the pocket of a star wheel.
[0006]
【Example】
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a plastic bottle conveying apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the PET bottle conveying device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a star wheel device 10 having a plurality of pockets on the outer periphery is disposed. Two parallel upper and lower timing screws 2 are arranged on the inlet side of the star wheel device 10, and an inspection station 4 is arranged on the outlet side of the star wheel device 10. An airflow conveyor 5 is disposed on the inlet side of the timing screw 2. The airflow conveyor 5 has receiving rails 6A and 6B and two rows of air outlets 6C. The bottom surface of the neck ring 1a of the PET bottle 1 is supported by the receiving rails 6A and 6B, and the neck (air) The plastic bottle 1 is conveyed by spraying.
[0007]
Between the airflow conveyor 5 and the star wheel device 10, parallel guide rails 7A and 7B that support the lower surface of the neck ring 1a of the plastic bottle 1 are disposed. The upper surfaces of the receiving rails 6A and 6B and the upper surfaces of the guide rails 7A and 7B are substantially in the same plane. Reference numeral 8 denotes a side guide that guides the plastic bottle 1 in contact with the plastic bottle body.
[0008]
On the outer peripheral side of the star wheel device 10, an outer peripheral guide 9 that contacts the plastic bottle body and guides the plastic bottle 1 is disposed. The outer peripheral guide 9 extends from a slightly inner portion of the timing screw 2 to a portion slightly past the contact point between the star wheel device 10 and the inspection station 4.
[0009]
Next, the operation of the plastic bottle transport apparatus configured as described above will be described.
The PET bottle 1 is conveyed to the position of the timing screw 2 by the airflow conveyor 5. In the airflow conveyor 5, the plastic bottle 1 is conveyed by spraying air on the neck while the lower surface of the neck ring 1a is supported by the receiving rails 6A and 6B. Therefore, on the airflow conveyor 5, the PET bottle 1 is transferred in a forward leaning posture. When exiting the airflow conveyor 5, there is no blowout of air (air). Therefore, the PET bottle 1 is transported substantially upright by the upper and lower two-stage timing screws 2 with the lower surface of the neck ring 1a supported by the guide rails 7A and 7B (see FIG. 2).
[0010]
3 and 4 are diagrams showing a transfer process of transferring the plastic bottle 1 with the star wheel device 10, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line OB of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line O-C of FIG. FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the star wheel device 10 includes a main shaft 11 connected to a drive source, and star wheels 12 and 13 fixed to upper and lower portions of the main shaft 11. The upper star wheel 12 has a plurality of pockets 12a in which the plastic bottle neck is fitted on the outer peripheral portion, and the lower star wheel 13 has a plurality of pockets 13a in which the plastic bottle body is fitted on the outer peripheral portion.
[0011]
In the state shown in FIG. 3, the PET bottle 1 is transported with the neck supported by the star wheel 12, the lower body supported by the star wheel 13, and the neck ring 1a supported by the guide rail 7A. The plastic bottle body is also in contact with the side guide 8. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the PET bottle 1 is transported with the neck supported by the star wheel 12 and the lower trunk supported by the star wheel 13. The plastic bottle body is in contact with the outer peripheral guide 9.
[0012]
According to the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, when the PET bottle 1 is taken into the pockets 12 a and 13 a of the star wheels 12 and 13, the PET bottle 1 does not jump because there is no support on the bottom surface. Moreover, since the plastic bottle 1 is sent almost upright by the two upper and lower timing screws 2, the plastic bottle 1 is surely taken into the pockets 12a and 13a of the star wheels 12 and 13.
[0013]
Next, a second embodiment of the plastic bottle conveying apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the PET bottle conveying device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line DD ′ of FIG. In this embodiment, a chain conveyor is used instead of the air flow conveyor, and the PET bottles are supplied to the timing screw 2 by the chain conveyor. That is, a chain conveyor 20 is disposed below the timing screw 2, and the PET bottle 1 is conveyed to the timing screw 2 by the chain conveyor 20.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 6, the transport surface 20a of the chain conveyor 20 is inclined downward from before the PET bottle 1 is taken into the star wheel pocket, and when the PET bottle 1 is taken into the star wheel pocket, A gap G is formed between the transport surface 20a of the chain conveyor 20 and the bottom of the plastic bottle. The guide rails 7A and 7B extend from an intermediate portion of the timing screw 2 to a portion of the star wheel device 30. The structure of the timing screw 2 and the outer periphery guide 9 is the same as that of the first embodiment.
[0015]
7 and 8 are diagrams showing a transfer process in which the PET bottle 1 is transferred by the star wheel device 30. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line OE of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF of FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the star wheel device 30 includes a main shaft 31 connected to a drive source, and star wheels 32 and 33 fixed to the upper and lower portions of the main shaft 31. The star wheels 32 and 33 have a plurality of pockets 32a and 33a on the outer periphery of which the plastic bottle body is fitted.
[0016]
In the state shown in FIG. 7, the body portion of the plastic bottle 1 is supported by the star wheels 32 and 33, and the neck ring 1a is supported by the guide rails 7A and 7B and transferred. The plastic bottle body is also in contact with the side guide 8. In the state shown in FIG. 8, the plastic bottle 1 is transported with the trunk portion supported by the star wheels 32 and 33 and the bottom portion supported by the bottom guide 34. The plastic bottle body is also in contact with the outer peripheral guide 9. Also in the present embodiment, when the plastic bottle is taken into the pocket of the star wheel, since the bottom surface is not supported, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the plastic bottle is taken into the star wheel pocket, there is no support on the bottom surface, so the plastic bottle does not jump. Moreover, according to 1 aspect of this invention, a PET bottle is sent substantially upright by the upper and lower two-stage screws. Therefore, the plastic bottle is surely taken into the pocket.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a plastic bottle transport device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line OB in FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line O-C in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a plastic bottle transport device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD ′ of FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line OE of FIG.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line O-F in FIG. 5;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 PET bottle 1a Neck ring 2 Timing screw 4 Inspection station 5 Air flow conveyor 6A, 6B Receipt rail 6C Air blower outlet 7A, 7B Guide rail 8 Side guide 9 Peripheral guide 10, 30 Starwheel device 11 Main shaft 12, 13, 32, 33 Star wheels 12a, 13a, 32a, 33a Pocket 20 Chain conveyor 20a Transport surface 34 Bottom guide G Gap

Claims (2)

In a plastic bottle transport device that takes empty plastic bottles supplied by an airflow conveyor into a star wheel pocket with a timing screw,
The timing screw is installed in two upper and lower stages, a guide rail that supports the lower surface of the neck ring of the plastic bottle is installed before and after the position where the plastic bottle is taken in , and when the plastic bottle is taken into the star wheel, the bottom of the plastic bottle is A plastic bottle transporting apparatus , wherein the lower surface of the neck ring of the plastic bottle is supported by the guide rail without being supported, and the plastic bottle is transferred by the timing screw . In a plastic bottle transport device that takes in empty plastic bottles that are supplied with a bottom supported by a chain conveyor into a star wheel pocket using a timing screw,
When the timing screw is installed in two upper and lower stages, the transport surface of the chain conveyor is inclined downward from before it is taken into the star wheel pocket, and when the plastic bottle is taken into the star wheel pocket, the chain conveyor is transported. Install a guide rail that supports the lower surface of the neck ring of the plastic bottle, before and after the position where the plastic bottle is taken in, so that a gap is formed between the surface and the bottom of the plastic bottle. when, without supporting the bottom of the pET bottle, the lower surface of the neck ring of the bottles is supported by the guide rail, characterized and to Lupe Ttobotoru transport device that has been adapted to transfer the bottles by the timing screw.

Images