JP4303941B2 - Cap chute device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention provides a cap chute device that supplies a cap in a correct posture to a capper that automatically attaches the cap to the mouth of a bottle container such as a plastic bottle.In placeRelated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a cap that is screwed into the mouth of a bottle container or automatically installed by pushing in is supplied with a container transport path for continuously transporting the bottle container and a cap supply for transporting a cap applied to the mouth of the bottle container. Mechanism.
[0003]
And in a cap supply mechanism, many caps are accommodated in the cap accommodating part at random. When the cap is supplied from the cap housing portion to the capper via the cap supply mechanism, an operation of aligning the posture of the cap in a certain direction is performed.
[0004]
Here, the cap is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape in which one end side of the cylindrical body is opened and the other end is closed. To attach the cap to the mouth of the container by screwing or pushing in, the cap's opening is oriented toward the mouth of the container, that is, the reference orientation of the face up with the cap's closing surface facing up and the opening facing down It is necessary to supply in a state of being aligned. Similarly, when assembling the container-like part to a machine or apparatus, it is necessary to supply the cap in a state in which the cap is aligned in the face-up orientation.
[0005]
In general, when the caps are aligned in a fixed direction, it is relatively easy to align the caps face-down. For example, since the cap has a center of gravity on the side opposite to the opening of the cap (on the closed surface side), when the cap is dropped from above to below, the cap supplied from above faces the opening upward. The probability of landing in the state (backward posture) increases. Then, when using the center of gravity to align the caps in a certain direction, the cap with the higher probability (backward orientation with the opening facing upward) is handed over to the subsequent and the lower probability (opening) In this case, the center of gravity is again used for bottoming by means such as returning to the upstream side as a defect, blowing it away, or kicking it out. In this case, it is efficient to set the cap in the back-facing posture with the opening portion facing upward as the direction in which the cap is subsequently passed.
[0006]
Further, as a direction selection mechanism for aligning caps in a certain direction, there is an apparatus configured to perform selection using air as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. When sorting using air with this device, the cap is blown away when air is blown on the opening side of the cap, but when the air is blown on the opposite side to the opening side, the cap is adsorbed around the air outlet. It is like that. Here, the blown off cap is re-bottomed, sorted by air, and adsorbed or blown off. In this case as well, it is efficient to set the cap in the back-facing posture with the opening facing upward to the subsequent direction.
[0007]
Then, when supplying the cap in the face-up position as in the case of supplying the cap to the capper, a cap direction conversion unit that reverses the face-down cap conveyed in the face-down position is required. Thus, as a method of reversing the cap facing backward, a twist chute that twists the cap transport path in the direction around the axis is provided in the middle of the cap transport chute that conventionally transports the cap, and the cap facing backward by this twist chute is provided. There is a work to reverse the face up.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
No. 7-24325
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the shape and size of the cap are often different for each type of cap. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the size of the cap conveyance path in the cap chute device in accordance with the change in the shape of the cap when changing the cap type.
[0010]
Here, in the cap direction changing portion of the cap supply mechanism in the cap chute device having the above-described conventional configuration, a dedicated twist chute having a size different according to the type of each cap is provided on the cap transport chute. Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration device, it is necessary to replace the twist chute in the cap supply mechanism with a dedicated product that matches the type of cap when changing the type of container and cap used in the capper. It is necessary to adjust the entire cap supply mechanism. As a result, there is a problem that the type changing operation of the entire cap supply mechanism becomes large and the cost is increased.
[0011]
In view of this, it is desired that the cap direction changing portion be shared in order to cope with the cap variable amount when changing the type of the container and cap used in the capper.
[0012]
However, since the layout and angle of the cap conveyance chute varies depending on the type of cap when the cap supply mechanism is manufactured, the conventional device has a cap direction changing unit regardless of the type change of the cap type. There is a problem that it is difficult to put into practical use a cap supply mechanism that can be used in combination, and automatic mold change is difficult.
[0013]
  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and its purpose is to make it possible to share the cap direction changing portion when changing the cap type, and to easily change the cap supply mechanism. Cap chute canPlaceIt is to provide.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cap accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of caps to be applied to the mouth of the bottle container, and a cap inverted state in which the opening of the cap in the cap accommodating portion faces upward. A cap feeding section that feeds the caps one by one, a first cap direction changing section that changes the direction of the cap fed from the cap feeding section in the vertical direction, and the cap fed out from the first cap direction changing section A longitudinal chute part that is dropped in an orientation state, and by transporting the cap in a direction opposite to the cap feeding direction from the cap feeding part at the lower end of the vertical chute part, A second cap direction changing portion for changing the direction to a cap-facing state facing downward, and the cap fed out from the second cap direction changing portion A chute tip portion fed to a subsequent capper, and a passage adjusting mechanism for adjusting a passage width and a height of a transport passage of the cap between the cap housing portion and the chute tip portion according to the size of the cap. EquippedThe vertical chute has an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering a chute tip portion supplied to the capper according to a change in the height of the bottle container.This is a cap chute device.
[0015]
  According to the first aspect of the present invention, at the time of supplying the cap, the plurality of caps in the cap housing portion are fed out one by one in a cap inverted state with the cap opening portion facing upward from the cap feeding portion, and then the cap feeding is performed. The cap fed out from the section is changed in the vertical direction by the first cap direction changing section. Subsequently, the cap fed out from the first cap direction changing portion is dropped in the vertical direction by the vertical chute portion, and the second cap direction changing portion at the lower end portion of the vertical chute portion from the cap feeding portion. By transporting the cap in the direction opposite to the cap feeding direction, the cap is changed to the cap-positioned state with the cap opening facing downward, and the cap fed from the second cap direction changing portion is chuteed. It is fed to the following capper by the tip. Furthermore, the passage width and height of the conveyance path of the cap between the cap housing portion and the chute tip are adjusted by the passage adjustment mechanism of the main body of the cap chute device according to the size of the cap. Thus, the cap direction changing portion is also used when changing the cap type, so that the cap supply mechanism can be easily changed.Furthermore, the tip portion of the chute supplied to the capper is raised and lowered according to the height change of the bottle container by the raising and lowering mechanism of the vertical chute.
[0016]
  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the longitudinal chute isHeight change absorbing mechanism that absorbs height change by the lifting mechanismThe cap chute device according to claim 1, comprising:
  In the invention of claim 2, the longitudinal chute portion isAbsorbs height change due to lifting mechanism by height change absorption mechanismIt is what you do.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an entire cap chute device 3 disposed in a cap supply mechanism that conveys a cap 1 applied to the mouth of a bottle container 11 to a capper 2. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a cap aligning device (cap feeding portion) arranged on the upstream side of the cap chute device 3. The cap aligning device 4 aligns the posture of the cap 1 that is randomly accommodated in a cap accommodating portion (not shown) in a certain direction, that is, the cap inverted state with the opening 1a of the cap 1 facing upward (backward orientation). One by one is extended in a substantially horizontal direction.
[0023]
The cap chute device 3 includes a first cap direction changing unit 5 that changes the direction of the cap 1 drawn out from the cap aligning device 4 in the vertical direction, and a cap 1 drawn out from the first cap direction changing unit 5. The cap 1 is transported in the direction opposite to the direction of feeding the cap from the cap aligning device 4 at the lower end portion of the longitudinal chute 6 and the longitudinal chute 6 that causes the cap 1 to fall in the vertical orientation. A second cap direction converting unit 7 that changes the direction of the cap 1 in a cap-positioned state (front-facing posture) with the opening 1a facing down, and the cap 1 fed out from the second cap direction converting unit 7 A chute tip 8 that is fed to the capper 2 is provided.
[0024]
Further, the capper 2 has a scratch piece 9 for receiving the cap 1 in a face-up posture supplied from the chute tip 8, a chuck device 10 for holding the cap 1 on the scratch piece 9, and the chuck device 10. A capping head 12 for cap mounting work for tightening the cap on the mouth portion 11a of the bottle container 11 is provided.
[0025]
2, the cap chute device 3 is disposed on the upstream side of the longitudinal chute 6 in the conveying path of the cap 1 and on the downstream of the vertical chute 6. A downstream section 14 is provided. Here, in the upstream section 13, a horizontal transport section 15 that transports the cap 1 fed from the cap aligning device 4 in the horizontal direction, and a substantially J-shaped upper section curved downward from the horizontal transport section 15. A curved section 16 is provided. And the 1st cap direction conversion part 5 is formed of the horizontal direction conveyance area 15 and the upper side curved shape area 16. FIG.
[0026]
Further, the downstream section 14 has a longitudinal transport section 17 extending in a substantially vertical direction, and an obliquely downward inclined transport that transports the cap 1 in a direction opposite to the cap feeding direction from the cap aligning device 4. A section 18 and a substantially curved lower curved section 19 interposed between a lower end portion of the longitudinal conveyance section 17 and an upper end portion of the inclined direction conveyance section 18 are provided. A vertical chute 6 is formed by the vertical conveyance section 17, a second cap direction conversion section 7 is formed by the lower curved section 19, and a chute tip 8 is formed by the tip of the inclined conveyance section 18.
[0027]
Further, the horizontal conveyance section 15 of the upstream section 13 includes a pair of upper and lower guides 15a and 15b for restricting the vertical position of the cap 1 traveling on the conveyance path of the cap 1, as shown in FIG. A pair of left and right guides 15c and 15d for restricting the left and right positions of the left and right are respectively provided.
[0028]
Further, the cap chute device 3 of the present embodiment has a first cap height adjustment mechanism 100A that adjusts the distance between the upper guide 15a and the lower guide 15b of the upstream section 13 of the longitudinal chute 6 ( 2) and a first cap width adjusting mechanism 100B (see FIG. 10) that adjusts the distance between the left guide 15c and the right guide 15d of the upstream section 13 is provided.
[0029]
Here, the starting end portion of the lower guide 15b that regulates the downward position of the cap 1 is fixed to the first fixed frame 20a shown in FIG. Further, the lower guide 15b extends through the upper curved section 16 to the substantially upper end position of the longitudinal chute 6 as shown in FIG. The extended end portion of the lower guide 15b is fixed to a second fixed frame 20b disposed at a substantially upper end position of the longitudinal chute portion 6 as shown in FIG. As a result, the lower guide 15b is set as a fixed conveyance reference plane on which the cap 1 is placed to guide conveyance of the cap 1.
[0030]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the first cap height adjustment mechanism 100A in the upstream section 13. The first cap height adjusting mechanism 100A is provided with three upper guide moving mechanisms 21A, 21B, and 21C shown in FIGS. Here, FIG. 4 shows the first upper guide moving mechanism 21A arranged in the horizontal conveyance section 15, and FIG. 5 shows the second upper guide moving section 21A arranged in the substantially central portion of the upper curved section 16, as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a third upper guide moving mechanism portion 21 </ b> C disposed at the connecting portion between the upper curved section 16 and the longitudinal conveyance section 17.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 4, the first upper guide moving mechanism 21 </ b> A is provided with a substantially L-shaped movable frame 22 that holds an upper guide 15 a that regulates the upper position of the cap 1. The movable frame 22 is provided with an upper guide support plate 22a disposed in a substantially horizontal direction and a guide plate 22b bent substantially at a right angle with respect to the upper guide support plate 22a.
[0032]
A linear guide 23 is fixed to one side of the fixed frame 20a to support the guide plate 22b so as to be movable in the vertical direction in FIG. Further, a screw type driving mechanism 24 for driving the guide plate 22b in the vertical direction in FIG. 4 is provided on the other side of the fixed frame 20a.
[0033]
The screw-type drive mechanism 24 is provided with a screw 24a protruding upward in FIG. 4 and a gear box 24b incorporating a gear mechanism for rotationally driving the screw 24a. Further, a nut member 22c that is screwed with the screw 24a is fixed to an end portion of the upper guide support plate 22a opposite to the connecting end portion with the guide plate 22b. A screw 24a is screwed into the nut member 22c. Then, the upper guide support plate 22a is moved in the vertical direction in FIG. 4 via the screwed portion between the screw 24a and the nut member 22c in accordance with the operation of rotating the screw 24a. At this time, the guide plate 22b of the upper guide support plate 22a slides while being guided along the linear guide 23. As a result, the upper guide 15a is supported so as to be movable in a direction in which the upper guide 15a is in contact with or separated from the lower guide 15b. And the movable guide surface which adjusts the space | interval with the conveyance reference plane of the lower guide 15b according to the height of the cap 1 by this upper guide 15a is formed.
[0034]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper curved section 16 is provided with an upper curved guide 25 having a substantially arc shape connected to the upper guide 15a of the horizontal conveyance section 15. An upper end portion of the upper curved guide 25 is disposed at an end position of the upper guide 15 a, and a lower end portion is disposed at an upper end position of the longitudinal chute portion 6.
[0035]
Further, elongated holes 26 a and 26 b extending along the conveying direction of the cap 1 are formed at both ends of the upper curved guide 25, respectively. Here, at the terminal position of the upper guide 15a, a connecting pin 27 is provided so as to be inserted into the long hole portion 26a on the upper end side of the upper curved guide 25. The upper end of the upper curved guide 25 is swingably connected to the end position of the upper guide 15a in a state where the connecting pin 27 is movable along the elongated hole portion 26a.
[0036]
The lower end of the upper curved guide 25 is connected to the upper end of a front guide 30a, which will be described later, via a moving plate 28 that translates in the front-rear direction and a flap-like swing plate 29a. The front guide 30a is fixed to a fixed frame 20c arranged at the front end position of the cap chute device 3 as shown in FIG.
[0037]
In addition, the lower end of the swing plate 29a and the front guide 30a are rotatably connected via a rotation shaft 32a. A lower end portion of the moving plate 28 is rotatably connected to an upper end portion of the swing plate 29a via a rotation shaft 33a. Further, a connecting pin 34 to be inserted into the elongated hole portion 26 b of the upper curved guide 25 is attached to the upper end portion of the moving plate 28. And the lower end side of the upper curve guide 25 is connected with the upper end part of the movement plate 28 in the state which the connection pin 34 can move along the long hole part 26b.
[0038]
Further, the upper curved guide 25 can be moved in a direction in which the upper curved guide 25 comes in contact with and separates from the lower guide 15b by the second upper guide moving mechanism 21B shown in FIG. 5 and the third upper guide moving mechanism 21C shown in FIG. It is supported. Since these second and third upper guide moving mechanism portions 21B and 21C are configured substantially the same as the first upper guide moving mechanism portion 21A in FIG. 4, they are the same as the first upper guide moving mechanism portion 21A. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Only different portions will be described here.
[0039]
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in the second upper guide moving mechanism portion 21B, the substantially central portion of the upper curved guide 25 is attached to the upper guide support plate 22a of the movable frame 22. Then, the upper guide curved support plate 22a is moved in the vertical direction in FIG. 5 via the screwed portion of the screw 24a and the nut member 22c in accordance with the operation of rotationally driving the screw 24a by the screw-type drive mechanism 24. The curved guide 25 is supported so as to be movable in a direction in which the curved guide 25 is in contact with or separated from the lower guide 15b.
[0040]
Further, in the third upper guide moving mechanism portion 21C shown in FIG. 6, a connecting portion between the moving plate 28 and the upper curved guide 25 is attached to the upper guide support plate 22a of the movable frame 22. Then, the upper guide bending support plate 22a is moved in the vertical direction in FIG. 6 through the screwed portion of the screw 24a and the nut member 22c in accordance with the operation of rotationally driving the screw 24a by the screw type driving mechanism 24, The curved guide 25 is supported so as to be movable in a direction in which the curved guide 25 is in contact with or separated from the lower guide 15b. The upper curved guide 25 forms a movable guide surface that adjusts the distance between the lower guide 15 b and the conveyance reference surface according to the height of the cap 1.
[0041]
Further, when the upper bending guide 25 is moved, the connecting pin 27 moves along the elongated hole portion 26a on the upper end side of the upper bending guide 25 as shown in FIG. 7 in conjunction with the movement of the upper bending guide 25. At this time, on the lower end side of the upper curved guide 25, the swing plate 29a swings about the rotation shaft 32a with respect to the front guide 30a, and in conjunction with the swing operation of the swing plate 29a, the movable plate 28 is moved. Moves in the front-rear direction. As the moving plate 28 moves in parallel, the connecting pin 34 moves along the long hole portion 26b on the lower end side of the upper bending guide 25. Thereby, when the position of the cap transfer part of the first cap direction changing part 5 is moved according to the height of the cap 1, it is a division element of the curved part in the cap transfer part of the first cap direction changing part 5. The connecting pin 27 is moved along the elongated hole portion 26a between the upper curved guide 25 and the adjacent upper guide 15a, and the connecting pin 34 is elongated between the upper curved guide 25 and the moving plate 28. By moving along the portion 26b, a cap height adjusting mechanism 35 is formed that absorbs the difference in the circumferential length of the curved portion at the cap transfer portion by the respective long hole portions 26a and 26b.
[0042]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a mechanical power transmission mechanism 36 having a universal joint is provided between the gear boxes 24b of the three upper guide moving mechanism portions 21A, 21B, and 21C of the first cap height adjusting mechanism portion 100A. It is connected through. For example, a manual rotation operation handle 37 is connected to one end of the power transmission mechanism 36. The rotational operation handle 37 rotates the drive gears of the gear boxes 24b of the three upper guide moving mechanisms 21A, 21B, and 21C through the power transmission mechanism 36 at the same time. As a result, the upper guide 15a and the upper curved guide 25 of the upstream section 13 of the cap chute device 3 are simultaneously moved in the direction of coming into contact with and separated from the lower guide 15b.
[0043]
FIG. 8 shows how the left guide 15c and the right guide 15d are attached to the upstream section 13 of the cap chute device 3. The front ends of these left and right guides 15 c and 15 d are arranged in the vicinity of the cap feeding opening of the cap aligning device 4. Further, the base ends of the left and right guides 15c and 15d pass through the upper curved section 16, respectively, and extend to a substantially intermediate position of the longitudinal chute 6 as shown in FIG.
[0044]
FIG. 10 shows the first cap width adjusting mechanism 100B that adjusts the distance between the left guide 15c and the right guide 15d in the upstream section 13. The first cap width adjusting mechanism 100B is provided with a pair of front and rear support brackets 39a and 39b. As shown in FIG. 8, one operation shaft 40 and two guide shafts 41a and 41b are provided between the support brackets 39a and 39b. Here, the two guide shafts 41a and 41b are disposed at both ends of the support brackets 39a and 39b, respectively. Further, the operation shaft 40 is disposed at a substantially central position of each support bracket 39a, 39b.
[0045]
The left guide 15c and the right guide 15d are provided with substantially L-shaped guide plates 42a and 42b, respectively. Here, the first nut member 43 is fixed to the guide plate 42b of the right guide 15d. A second nut member (not shown) having a reverse screw to the first nut member 43 is fixed to the guide plate 42a of the left guide 15c.
[0046]
Further, the operating shaft 40 is provided with a first male screw portion 44 that is screwed with the first nut member 43 and a second male screw portion (not shown) that is screwed with the second nut member. Further, for example, a manual rotation operation handle 45 is connected to the outer end portion of the operation shaft 40. Then, the guide plate 42b of the right guide 15d is shown in FIG. 10 through the threaded portion between the first nut member 43 and the first male threaded portion 44 as the operation shaft 40 is rotationally driven by the rotational operation handle 45. It is designed to move left and right. At the same time, the guide plate 42a of the left guide 15c is moved in the opposite direction to the guide plate 42b of the right guide 15d via the screwed portion of the second nut member and the second male screw portion. . Thereby, the space | interval between the left-right guides 15c and 15d is adjusted arbitrarily.
[0047]
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a pair of front and rear guides 30 a and 30 b that restrict the position of the cap 1 that travels on the conveyance path of the cap 1 and the left and right positions of the cap 1 are regulated in the longitudinal chute 6. A pair of left and right guides 15c and 15d extending from the upstream section 13 are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the upper end portions of the pair of left and right second left and right guides 30c and 30d connected to the left and right guides 15c and 15d of the upstream section 13 are arranged at a substantially intermediate position of the longitudinal chute portion 6, respectively. It is installed.
[0048]
The lower ends of the second left guide 30c and the second right guide 30d extend to the lower curved section 19 of the longitudinal chute 6. Below the second left guide 30c and the second right guide 30d, a third left guide 46c and a third right guide 46d disposed in the inclined conveyance section 18 in the downstream section 14 are respectively provided. It is connected.
[0049]
Further, the cap chute device 3 of the present embodiment has a second cap height adjusting mechanism 101A that adjusts the distance between the longitudinal guide portion 6 and the front guide 30a and the rear guide 30b in the downstream section 14. (See FIG. 2) and a second cap that adjusts the distance between the second left guide 30c and the second right guide 30d between the lower portion of the longitudinal chute 6 and the lower curved section 19 A third cap width adjustment that adjusts the distance between the width adjusting mechanism 101B (see FIG. 11) and the third left guide 46c and the third right guide 46d in the inclined conveyance section 18 in the downstream section 14. A mechanism 102 (see FIG. 16) is further provided.
[0050]
Here, the start end portion of the front guide 30a that regulates the front position (right side in FIG. 9) of the cap 1 is fixed to the fixed frame 20d shown in FIG. Further, the front guide 30a passes through the lower curved section 19 as shown in FIG. 12, and extends to a substantially lower end position of the chute tip 8 of the inclined direction transport section 18. The front guide 30 a is fixed to the fixed frame of the cap chute device 3. Thus, the front guide 30a is set as a fixed conveyance reference surface on which the cap 1 is placed to guide the conveyance of the cap 1.
[0051]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the second cap height adjusting mechanism 101A is provided with a plurality of guide moving mechanisms 47A to 47F in the present embodiment. Here, the uppermost first guide moving mechanism 47A and the second second guide moving mechanism 47B from the top are arranged in the longitudinal chute 6. Further, the third guide moving mechanism 47C third from the top is disposed in the lower curved section 19, and the fourth to sixth fourth to sixth guide moving mechanisms 47D to 47F are inclined obliquely downward. Each is disposed in the direction conveyance section 18.
[0052]
Since each of these first to sixth guide moving mechanism portions 47A to 47F is configured substantially the same as the first upper guide moving mechanism portion 21A of FIG. 4, the same parts as the first upper guide moving mechanism portion 21A. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Only different portions will be described here.
[0053]
That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the rear guide 30b is attached to the upper guide support plate 22a of the movable frame 22 in the first guide moving mechanism 47A. Then, the upper guide curved support plate 22a is moved in the vertical direction in FIG. 10 through the screwed portion of the screw 24a and the nut member 22c in accordance with the operation of rotationally driving the screw 24a by the screw type driving mechanism 24, and the rear The side guide 30b is supported so as to be movable in a direction in which the side guide 30b contacts and separates from the front guide 30a. Further, the second guide moving mechanism 47B shown in FIG. 11 is configured in the same manner as the first guide moving mechanism 47A shown in FIG.
[0054]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper end portion of the rear guide 30b is connected to the lower end portion of the lower guide 15b via a flap-like swing plate 29b. The swing plate 29b is disposed substantially parallel to the swing plate 29a of the front guide 30a. The lower end of the swing plate 29b and the rear guide 30b are rotatably connected via a rotation shaft 32b. A lower end portion of the lower guide 15b is rotatably connected to an upper end portion of the swing plate 29b via a rotation shaft 33b.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 12, the lower curved section 19 is provided with a substantially arc-shaped lower curved guide 48 connected to the rear guide 30 b of the longitudinal conveyance section 17. The upper end portion of the lower curved guide 48 is disposed at the lower end position of the rear guide 30b, and the lower end portion thereof is disposed at the upper end position of the upper guide 49a disposed in the inclined conveyance section 18 obliquely downward.
[0056]
Further, elongated holes 50a and 50b extending along the conveying direction of the cap 1 are formed at both ends of the lower curved guide 48, respectively. Here, a connecting pin 51 to be inserted into the long hole portion 50a on the upper end side of the lower curved guide 48 projects from the lower end portion of the rear guide 30b. The upper end side of the lower curved guide 48 is swingably connected to the lower end portion of the rear guide 30b in a state in which the connecting pin 51 is movable along the long hole portion 50a.
[0057]
Further, the lower end portion of the lower curved guide 48 is connected to the upper end portion of the upper guide 49a. Here, a connecting pin 52 to be inserted into the long hole portion 50b on the lower end side of the lower curved guide 48 projects from the upper end portion of the upper guide 49a. Further, the lower end side of the lower curved guide 48 is swingably connected to the upper end portion of the upper guide 49a in a state where the connecting pin 52 is movable along the elongated hole portion 50b. The lower curved guide 48 is supported by a third guide moving mechanism 47C shown in FIG. 13 so as to be movable in a direction in which the lower curved guide 48 comes in contact with and separates from the front guide 30a.
[0058]
FIG. 14 shows the conveyance path of the cap 1 in the oblique conveyance section 18 that is inclined downward. As shown in FIG. 15, the inclined conveyance section 18 includes an upper guide 49 a that regulates the upper position of the cap 1, a lower guide 49 b that regulates the lower position of the cap 1, and a third guide that regulates the left position of the cap 1. Left guide 46c and a third right guide 46d for restricting the right position of the cap 1 are provided. Here, the lower guide 49b is also used by the front guide 30a of the inclined conveyance section 18 that is inclined downward. The lower guide 49b is fixed to a fixed frame 20e arranged at the front end position of the cap chute device 3 as shown in FIG.
[0059]
FIG. 15 shows the fourth to sixth guide moving mechanism portions 47D to 47F of the inclined conveyance section 18 that is inclined downward. An upper guide 49a is attached to the upper guide support plate 22a of the movable frame 22 in each of the guide moving mechanism portions 47D to 47F. As the screw 24a is rotationally driven by the screw-type drive mechanism 24, the upper guide curved support plate 22a is moved in the vertical direction via the screwed portion between the screw 24a and the nut member 22c, and the upper guide 49a is moved to the front side. The guide 30a is supported so as to be movable toward and away from the guide 30a.
[0060]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a space between each gear box 24b of the six guide moving mechanism portions 47A to 47F of the second cap height adjusting mechanism portion 101A is via a mechanical power transmission mechanism 53 having a universal joint. It is connected. For example, a manual rotation operation handle 54 is connected to one end of the power transmission mechanism 53. The drive gears of the gear boxes 24b of the six guide moving mechanism portions 47A to 47F are simultaneously driven through the power transmission mechanism 53 by the rotation operation of the rotation operation handle 54. As a result, the rear guide 30b, the lower curved guide 48, and the upper guide 49a of the downstream section 14 of the cap chute device 3 are simultaneously moved in the direction of contacting and separating from the front guide 30a and the lower guide 49b. It has become.
[0061]
At this time, when the rear guide 30b moves in the direction of moving toward and away from the front guide 30a, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower end of the swinging plate 29b is linked with the operation of the rear guide 30b. The upper end of the swing plate 29b swings about the rotation shaft 33b with respect to the lower guide 15b while swinging about the rotation shaft 32b with respect to 30b. As a result, the swing plate 29b between the lower guide 15b and the rear guide 30b tilts, so that the lower guide 15b and the rear guide 30b can be smoothly connected via the swing plate 29b. .
[0062]
Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the second cap width adjusting mechanism 101B is configured in substantially the same manner as the first cap width adjusting mechanism 100B shown in FIG. In other words, the second cap width adjustment mechanism 101B is provided with a pair of front and rear support brackets 55a and 55b. As shown in FIG. 12, one operation shaft 56 and two guide shafts 57a and 57b are provided between the support brackets 55a and 55b. Here, the two guide shafts 57a and 57b are disposed at both ends of the support brackets 55a and 55b, respectively. Further, the operation shaft 56 is disposed at a substantially central position of each support bracket 55a, 55b.
[0063]
The second left guide 30c and the second right guide 30d are provided with substantially L-shaped guide plates 58a and 58b, respectively. Here, a first nut member 59 is fixed to the guide plate 58b of the second right guide 30d. A second nut member 60 having a reverse thread to the first nut member 59 is fixed to the guide plate 58a of the second left guide 30c.
[0064]
Further, the operating shaft 56 is provided with a first male screw portion 61 that is screwed with the first nut member 59 and a second male screw portion (not shown) that is screwed with the second nut member 60. Further, for example, a manual rotation operation handle 62 is connected to the outer end portion of the operation shaft 56. Then, the guide plate 58b of the second right guide 30d is shown through the threaded portion between the first nut member 59 and the first male screw portion 61 in accordance with the operation of rotationally driving the operation shaft 56 by the rotation operation handle 62. 11 is moved in the left-right direction. At the same time, the guide plate 58a of the second left guide 30c moves in the opposite direction to the guide plate 58b of the second right guide 30d through the screwed portion of the second nut member 60 and the second male screw portion. It has come to be. Thereby, the space | interval between the 2nd left-right guides 30c and 30d is adjusted arbitrarily.
[0065]
FIGS. 16 and 17 show the third cap width adjusting mechanism 102. The third cap width adjusting mechanism portion 102 has a screw-type lateral guide shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B in which the third left guide 46c and the third right guide 46d are moved in the width direction. A drive mechanism 63 is provided. The lateral guide drive mechanism 63 is provided with an operation shaft 64 extending along the conveyance path of the cap 1. A first screw 65a is provided at one end of the operation shaft 64, and a second screw 65b is provided at the other end which is reverse to the first screw 65a. Further, a first nut member 66a is screwed to the first screw 65a, and a second nut member 66b is screwed to the second screw 65b.
[0066]
In addition, the frame 67 of the cap chute device 3 is provided with two fixed plates 68a and 68b extending in a direction orthogonal to the transport path of the cap 1 in the inclined transport section 18 in the downstream section 14. . These fixing plates 68a and 68b are disposed at positions corresponding to the first nut member 66a and the second nut member 66b, respectively.
[0067]
Furthermore, long hole-shaped guide holes 69 extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance path of the cap 1 are provided at both ends of each of the fixed plates 68a and 68b. A connecting shaft 70 is inserted into these guide holes 69. Here, one end of the connecting shaft 70 inserted into the guide hole 69 on one end side of each of the fixed plates 68a, 68b is at the third left guide 46c, and one end of the connecting shaft 70 inserted into the guide hole 69 on the other end side. The third right guide 46d is connected to each.
[0068]
One end of a swing lever 71 is connected to the other end of each connecting shaft 70. The other end of the swing lever 71 is connected to the first nut member 66a or the second nut member 66b.
[0069]
Further, a rotation operation handle 73 is connected to a central portion of the operation shaft 64 of the lateral guide drive mechanism 63 via a gear box 72. When the operation shaft 64 is rotationally driven by the rotation operation of the rotation operation handle 73, the first nut member 66a and the second nut member 66b are simultaneously moved in the opposite directions in conjunction with the rotation of the operation shaft 64. It is supposed to be. At this time, the third left guide 46c and the third right guide 46d are moved in opposite directions via the swing lever 71 in conjunction with the operations of the first nut member 66a and the second nut member 66b, The distance between the third left guide 46c and the third right guide 46d in the inclined conveyance section 18 in the downstream section 14 is adjusted. 18A shows an adjustment state when the cap width is wide, and FIG. 18B shows an adjustment state when the cap width is narrow.
[0070]
In addition, the vertical chute 6 of the cap chute device 3 according to the present embodiment is provided with an elevating mechanism 74 that adjusts the height of the chute tip 8 according to the height change of the bottle container 11. As shown in FIG. 19, the elevating mechanism 74 is divided into a pair of front and rear guides 30a and 30b and a pair of left and right second left and right guides 30c and 30d arranged in the vertical chute 6, respectively. The upper elements 30a1, 30b1, 30c1, 30d1 of the front / rear guides 30a, 30b and the second left / right guides 30c, 30d arranged on the upper side, and the front / rear guides 30a, 30b, second arranged on the lower side. The left and right guides 30c, 30d are provided with lower elements 30a2, 30b2, 30c2, 30d2, respectively.
[0071]
Further, the upper elements 30a1, 30b1, 30c1, and 30d1 are slidable along the engaging grooves 75, and the lower elements 30a2, 30b2, 30c2, and 30d2 are slidable along the engaging grooves 75. Each of the engaging shaft portions 76 to be inserted is provided. FIG. 19 shows an engagement portion between the engagement groove 75 of the upper element 30a1 and the engagement shaft portion 76 of the lower element 30a2 in the front guide 30a. When adjusting the height of the chute tip 8, the engaging shafts 76 of the lower elements 30a2, 30b2, 30c2, 30d2 are vertically moved along the engaging grooves 75 of the upper elements 30a1, 30b1, 30c1, 30d1. It slides and absorbs the height change of the chute tip 8.
[0072]
The power transmission mechanism 53 of the second cap height adjustment mechanism 101A includes an upper connection element 77 connected to the first guide movement mechanism 47A and a lower connection connected to the second guide movement mechanism 47B. A side coupling element 78 is provided. Here, for example, a spline fitting hole 78a is formed in the lower connecting element 78. Further, the upper connecting element 77 is formed with a spline shaft portion 77 a that is spline-fitted into the hole 78 a of the lower connecting element 78. When the height of the chute tip 8 is adjusted, the spline fitting portion between the spline shaft 77a of the upper connecting element 77 and the hole 78a of the lower connecting element 78 slides in the vertical direction, and the chute tip 8 It is designed to absorb height changes. At this time, torque can be transmitted between the spline shaft portion 77a of the upper connecting element 77 and the spline fitting portion between the hole 78a of the lower connecting element 78. A key coupling portion may be provided instead of the spline fitting portion.
[0073]
The vertical chute 6 is provided with an air cylinder 79 for reducing the mounting weight when the height is adjusted by the lifting mechanism 74. The cylinder body 79a of the air cylinder 79 is fixed to the support frame of each upper element 30a1, 30b1, 30c1, 30d1. Further, the piston rod 79b of the air cylinder 79 is fixed to the support frames of the lower elements 30a2, 30b2, 30c2, and 30d2.
[0074]
The air cylinder 79 incorporates a safety mechanism (not shown) that locks the shaft of the air cylinder 79 when the air supply is stopped. As a result, when air is not supplied to the air cylinder 79, the weight reduction effect is lost, and the weight of the movable part is prevented from acting directly. Instead of the air cylinder 79, a constant pressure spring that maintains a constant force even when the distance changes may be attached.
[0075]
Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the cap chute device 3 according to the present embodiment is used, first, the posture of the cap 1 from the cap aligning device 4 is set in a certain direction, that is, the cap is placed in the inverted state (backward posture) with the opening 1a of the cap 1 facing upward. They are aligned and fed one by one in a substantially horizontal direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the cap 1 is regulated in the vertical and horizontal positions between a pair of upper and lower guides 15a and 15b and a pair of left and right guides 15c and 15d in the horizontal conveyance section 15 of the conveyance path. In this state, it is conveyed to the upper curved section 16 of the first cap direction changing section 5.
[0076]
In the upper curved section 16, as shown in FIG. 5, the vertical chute is controlled in a state where the upper and lower left and right positions are regulated between the upper curved guide 25, the lower guide 15b, and the pair of left and right guides 15c and 15d. It is conveyed to the part 6. At this time, the cap 1 is guided by the upper curve guide 25 and the lower guide 15b of the upper curve-shaped section 16 and changed in the vertical direction.
[0077]
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the cap 1 is dropped at the upper part of the longitudinal chute 6 in a vertically oriented state in which the front / rear and left / right positions are regulated by the front / rear guides 30 a and 30 b and the left and right guides 15 c and 15 d. Further, at the lower part of the longitudinal chute portion 6, as shown in FIG. 11, it is dropped in a vertically oriented state in which the front and rear guides 30a and 30b and the second left and right guides 30c and 30d are restricted in the front and rear and right and left positions. 2 to the cap direction changing unit 7.
[0078]
The cap 1 passing through the second cap direction changing portion 7 is transported in the direction opposite to the cap feeding direction from the cap aligning device 4, so that the opening 1 a of the cap 1 faces downward. The direction is changed to the cap in-placed state (front-facing posture). At this time, as shown in FIG. 13, the cap 1 passing through the second cap direction changing portion 7 is front and rear, left and right by a lower curved guide 48, a front guide 30a (lower guide 49b), and second left and right guides 30c and 30d. In a state where the position is restricted, the sheet is conveyed to the inclined conveyance section 18 side obliquely downward.
[0079]
As shown in FIG. 16, the cap 1 passing through the inclined conveyance section 18 is in a cap-positioned state, and includes an upper guide 49a, a lower guide 49b, a third left guide 46c, and a third right guide 46d. It is conveyed to the chute tip 8 in a state where the front / rear / right / left positions are regulated.
[0080]
Thereafter, the cap 1 in the face-up posture supplied from the chute tip 8 is received by the scratch piece 9. Subsequently, the cap 1 on the scratch piece 9 is held by the chuck device 10 of the capping head 12 for cap mounting work. Then, the cap 1 held by the chuck device 10 by the capping head 12 is wound around the mouth portion 11 a of the bottle container 11.
[0081]
Further, at the time of changing the type of the cap 1, the size of the cap conveyance path in the cap chute device 3 is also adjusted in accordance with the shape change of the cap 1. During the adjustment of the cap conveyance path, the height of the cap 1 and the width of the cap 1 are adjusted.
[0082]
When the height of the cap 1 is adjusted, the rotation operation handle 37 of the first cap height adjustment mechanism 100A and the rotation operation handle 54 of the second cap height adjustment mechanism 101A are rotated. At this time, the drive gears of the gear boxes 24b of the three upper guide moving mechanism portions 21A, 21B, and 21C are simultaneously driven through the power transmission mechanism 36 by the rotation operation of the rotation operation handle 37. As a result, the upper guide 15a and the upper curved guide 25 of the upstream section 13 of the cap chute device 3 are simultaneously moved in the direction of contacting and separating from the lower guide 15b, and the cap 1 of the upstream section 13 of the cap chute device 3 is moved. The height is adjusted.
[0083]
Further, when the upper curved guide 25 is moved, the cap height adjusting mechanism 35 causes the upper curved guide 25 that is a dividing element of the curved portion in the cap transfer portion of the first cap direction changing portion 5 and the upper guide 15a that is an adjacent member. In the meantime, the connecting pin 27 is moved along the long hole portion 26a, and the connecting pin 34 is moved between the upper curved guide 25 and the moving plate 28 along the long hole portion 26b. Thereby, the difference in the circumferential length of the curved portion in the cap transfer portion is absorbed by each of the long hole portions 26a and 26b.
[0084]
Furthermore, the drive gears of the gear boxes 24b of the six guide moving mechanism portions 47A to 47F are simultaneously driven by the rotation operation of the rotation operation handle 54 via the power transmission mechanism 53. As a result, the rear guide 30b, the lower curved guide 48, and the upper guide 49a of the downstream section 14 of the cap chute device 3 are simultaneously moved in the direction of contacting and separating from the front guide 30a and the lower guide 49b. The height of the cap 1 in the downstream section 14 of the chute device 3 is adjusted.
[0085]
Further, when adjusting the width of the cap 1, the rotation operation handle 45 of the first cap width adjustment mechanism unit 100B, the rotation operation handle 62 of the second cap width adjustment mechanism unit 101B, and the third cap width adjustment mechanism unit 102 The rotation operation handle 73 is rotated. At this time, the operation shaft 40 is driven to rotate by the rotation operation of the rotation operation handle 45, and the guide plate 42b of the right guide 15d is connected to the guide plate 42b of the right guide 15d via the screwed portion of the first nut member 43 and the first male screw portion 44 as shown in FIG. It is moved left and right. At the same time, the guide plate 42a of the left guide 15c is moved in the opposite direction to the guide plate 42b of the right guide 15d via the screwed portion of the second nut member and the second male screw portion. Thereby, the space | interval between the left-right guides 15c and 15d is adjusted arbitrarily.
[0086]
Furthermore, the guide of the second right guide 30d is connected via the screwed portion between the first nut member 59 and the first male screw portion 61 as the operation shaft 56 is rotationally driven by the rotation operation of the rotation operation handle 62. The plate 58b is moved in the left-right direction in FIG. At the same time, the guide plate 58a of the second left guide 30c moves in the opposite direction to the guide plate 58b of the second right guide 30d through the screwed portion of the second nut member 60 and the second male screw portion. Is done. Thereby, the space | interval between the 2nd left-right guides 30c and 30d is adjusted arbitrarily.
[0087]
When the operation shaft 64 is rotationally driven by the rotation operation of the rotation operation handle 73, the first nut member 66a and the second nut member 66b are simultaneously moved in the opposite directions in conjunction with the rotation of the operation shaft 64. To do. At this time, the third left guide 46c and the third right guide 46d are moved in opposite directions via the swing lever 71 in conjunction with the operations of the first nut member 66a and the second nut member 66b, The interval between the third left guide 46c and the third right guide 46d in the inclined conveyance section 18 in the downstream section 14 is arbitrarily adjusted.
[0088]
When the height of the bottle container 11 set in the capper 2 changes, the height of the chute tip 8 is adjusted by the lifting mechanism 74 in accordance with the height of the bottle container 11 set in the capper 2. . When adjusting the height of the chute tip 8, the front and rear guides 30a and 30b of the longitudinal chute 6 and the lower sides along the engagement grooves 75 of the upper elements 30a1, 30b1, 30c1 and 30d1 of the left and right guides 15c and 15d. The engagement shaft portions 76 of the elements 30a2, 30b2, 30c2, and 30d2 are slid up and down. Thereby, the change in the height of the chute tip 8 when the height of the chute tip 8 is adjusted is absorbed.
[0089]
Further, when adjusting the height of the chute tip 8, the spline between the spline shaft 77a of the upper connecting element 77 and the hole 78a of the lower connecting element 78 in the power transmission mechanism 53 of the second cap height adjusting mechanism 101A. The height of the chute tip portion 8 is absorbed by sliding movement between the fitting portions in the vertical direction. At this time, torque transmission between the spline shaft portion 77a of the upper connecting element 77 and the spline fitting portion between the hole 78a of the lower connecting element 78 becomes possible.
[0090]
Therefore, the above configuration has the following effects. That is, in the cap chute device 3 of the present embodiment, the plurality of caps 1 are fed out from the cap aligning device 4 in the horizontal direction one by one in the inverted state with the opening of the cap 1 facing upward. The direction of the cap 1 is changed in the vertical direction by the first cap direction changing unit 5. Subsequently, the cap 1 is dropped in the vertical direction by the vertical chute 6, and the cap 1 is conveyed at the lower end of the vertical chute 6 in the direction opposite to the cap feeding direction by the second cap direction conversion unit 7. By doing so, the direction of the opening of the cap 1 is changed to a normal position facing downward, and the cap 1 is fed out to the subsequent capper 2. Therefore, since the direction changing part of the cap 1 in the cap chute device 3 can be shared when changing the type of cap 1, the cap supply mechanism can be easily changed.
[0091]
Further, in the present embodiment, the cap chute device 3 can be easily changed in a short time by the rotation operation handles 37, 45, 54, 62, 73. Therefore, there is an effect that the part replacement work in the cap chute device 3 due to the change of the cap 1 is eliminated regardless of the layout of the equipment (the chute is behind the ceiling or at a high place close to the ceiling).
[0092]
Moreover, in the cap chute apparatus 3 of this Embodiment, the chute | shoot front-end | tip part 8 supplied to the capper 2 can be raised / lowered by the raising / lowering mechanism 74 of the vertical direction chute part 6 according to the height change of a bottle container.
[0093]
Further, in the cap chute device 3 of the present embodiment, the cap height adjustment mechanism 35 determines the difference in the circumferential length of the curved portion in the cap transfer portion of the first cap direction changing portion 5 according to the height of the cap 1. It can be absorbed by the holes 26a and 26b.
[0094]
Further, in the cap chute device 3 of the present embodiment, the upper curve that is a curved cap transfer portion between the linear chute 6 in front of and behind each of the first or second cap direction changing portions 5 and 7. By transferring the cap 1 via the shape section 16 and the lower curved shape section 19, the transfer (conveying operation) of the cap 1 can be smoothed.
[0095]
Further, when the positions of the upper curved shape section 16 and the lower curved shape section 19 which are cap transfer portions of the first and second cap direction changing sections 5 and 7 are moved according to the cap height, the upper curved guide When moving 25, the cap height adjusting mechanism 35 connects the connecting pin 27 between the upper curved guide 25, which is a dividing element of the curved portion in the cap transfer portion of the first cap direction changing portion 5, and the upper guide 15a, which is an adjacent member. Is moved along the long hole portion 26a, and the connecting pin 34 is moved along the long hole portion 26b between the upper curved guide 25 and the moving plate 28. Thereby, the difference in the circumference of the curve part in a cap transfer part can be absorbed by each slot 26a, 26b.
[0096]
Furthermore, by adopting the above-described method in the cap chute device 3 of the present embodiment, the dimensions of the curved portion and the link portion are slightly different, but strictly the same size. In addition, when the combined range of the direction change part of the cap 1 in the cap chute apparatus 3 increases, the same effect can be obtained by increasing the division of the curved part and the link part.
[0097]
Further, in the cap chute device 3 of the present embodiment, a portion where the reference plane of the conveyance path of the cap 1 changes, that is, between the upper curved guide 25 of the upper curved section 16 and the upper end of the front guide 30a, and the rear side. By swinging the swing plates 29a and 29b between the upper end portion of the guide 30b and the lower end portion of the lower guide 15b, the dimensional difference due to the change of the reference plane of the transport path of the cap 1 is absorbed, and the cap The transfer of 1 can be made smooth.
[0098]
Further, the longitudinal chute 6 of the cap chute device 3 of the present embodiment is provided with an air cylinder 79 for reducing the mounting weight when the height is adjusted by the elevating mechanism 74. Therefore, when the weight of the movable part increases with the increase of the combined range with the change of the layout of the cap chute device 3, the mounting weight can be reduced even when the member supporting the movable part is strengthened. This can prevent the slide mechanism from moving.
[0099]
Furthermore, the air cylinder 79 incorporates a safety mechanism (not shown) that locks the shaft of the air cylinder 79 when the air supply is stopped. It is possible to prevent the weight of the material from acting directly.
[0100]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, the first cap height adjustment mechanism 100A, the first cap width adjustment mechanism 100B, the second cap height adjustment mechanism 101A, the second cap width adjustment mechanism 101B, Although the manual handle mechanism is shown as an adjustment method in the cap width adjustment mechanism section 3 of FIG. 3, a motor-driven power unit is provided instead of the handle, and the adjustment and positioning are performed by this power unit so as to be automated. Good. In this case, full automation can be achieved by electrical control.
[0101]
The power transmission mechanism 36 of the first cap height adjustment mechanism 100A and the power transmission mechanism 53 of the second cap height adjustment mechanism 101A may be connected via a gear mechanism or the like. . In this case, all the height adjustments of the cap chute device 3 can be performed by operating one rotation operation handle 54.
[0102]
Further, in the present embodiment, the feeding of the cap 1 from the cap aligning device 4 is carried out in a substantially horizontal direction, but the same effect can be obtained by the same configuration in the case of feeding in a downward direction toward the traveling direction. Is obtained.
[0103]
Furthermore, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0104]
【The invention's effect】
  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of caps are fed one by one from the cap feeding portion in the inverted state with the cap opening facing upward, and the fed caps are then fed to the first cap direction changing portion. Then, the cap is dropped in the vertical direction by the vertical chute, and the second cap direction conversion unit is moved in the direction opposite to the feeding direction of the cap at the lower end of the vertical chute. When the cap is conveyed toward the cap, the direction of the cap is changed to a normal position with the opening of the cap facing downward, and the cap fed from the second cap direction changing portion is fed to the subsequent cap by the chute tip. . Furthermore, the passage width and height of the conveyance path of the cap between the cap housing portion and the chute tip are adjusted by the passage adjustment mechanism of the main body of the cap chute device according to the size of the cap. Thereby, the cap direction changing part can be used in combination when changing the type of cap, and the cap supply mechanism can be easily changed.Further, the tip portion of the chute supplied to the capper can be raised and lowered according to the height change of the bottle container by the raising and lowering mechanism of the vertical chute portion.
[0105]
  According to the invention of claim 2, the longitudinal chute partAbsorbs the height change by the lifting mechanism by the height change absorption mechanismbe able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire cap chute device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an overall schematic configuration diagram for explaining a drive portion of a cap height adjustment mechanism in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part showing a first cap direction changing unit in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment;
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part showing an operation state of a dimension difference absorbing mechanism in a cap transfer portion of the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part showing a mounting state of left and right guides in an upstream section of the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part showing a longitudinal chute portion in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a first cap height adjusting mechanism in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a second cap height adjusting mechanism in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part showing a second cap direction changing unit in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part showing a third guide moving mechanism part of a second cap height adjusting mechanism part in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a cap conveyance path in an inclined downward conveyance section in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV in FIG.
FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a third cap width adjusting mechanism in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a side view showing a third cap width adjusting mechanism in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 18 shows a handle mechanism of a third cap width adjustment mechanism in the cap chute device of the first embodiment, and FIG. 18 (A) is a schematic configuration of a main part showing an adjustment state when the cap width is wide. FIG. 4B is a schematic configuration diagram of the main part showing an adjustment state when the cap width is narrow.
FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing an elevation mechanism for height adjustment in the cap chute device according to the first embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 cap
2 Capper
3 Cap chute device
4 Cap alignment device (cap feeding part)
5 1st cap direction change part
6 Longitudinal chute
7 Second cap direction changing section
8 Chute tip
13 Upstream section
14 Downstream section
15 Horizontal conveyance section
16 Upper curved section
17 Longitudinal conveyance section
18 Inclination direction conveyance section
19 Lower curved section
100A 1st cap height adjustment mechanism part
100B 1st cap width adjustment mechanism part

Claims (2)

A cap housing portion for housing a plurality of caps to be applied to the mouth of the bottle container;
A cap feeding part that feeds one by one in a cap inverted state with the cap opening in the cap housing part facing upward,
A first cap direction changing unit that changes the direction of the cap that is fed from the cap feeding unit in a vertical direction;
A longitudinal chute part for dropping the cap fed out from the first cap direction changing part in a vertically oriented state;
By transferring the cap in the direction opposite to the cap feeding direction from the cap feeding portion at the lower end portion of the longitudinal chute portion, the direction is changed to the cap in-placed state in which the opening of the cap faces downward. A second cap direction changing unit,
A chute tip portion for feeding the cap drawn from the second cap direction changing portion to a subsequent cap;
A passage adjusting mechanism that adjusts a passage width and a height of a transport passage of the cap between the cap housing portion and the chute tip portion according to the size of the cap , and
The cap chute device, wherein the vertical chute has an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering a chute tip portion supplied to the capper according to a change in the height of the bottle container . The cap chute device according to claim 1, wherein the vertical chute unit includes a height change absorption mechanism that absorbs a height change by the elevating mechanism .

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