JP4821172B2 - Container supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a container supply apparatus for supplying the cup-shaped container to a cup filling apparatus that fills and seals the contents of the cup-shaped container.

  2. Description of the Related Art A cup-shaped container supply device that supplies a container group formed by stacking a large number of cup-shaped containers to a cup filling device has been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2).

  A supply device for a stacked container described in Patent Document 1 includes a storage device 2 that stores a large number of stacked containers, a shutter mechanism that cuts out a stacked container from the storage device 2, and a stacked container that is cut out by the shutter mechanism. And a transfer mechanism for feeding the hopper. The storage device 2 includes a movable table 20 whose upper surface is inclined, a belt-type conveyor attached obliquely to the movable table 20, and a plurality of rows of container guides 30 provided on the upper part of the movable table 20. ing. The conveyor 25 is inclined so that the front side is lowered.

  In the supply device having the above-described configuration, a large number of stacked containers are placed between the container guides and stored on the conveyor 25 of the storage device. Next, when the belt of the conveyor 25 is moved, all the containers move toward the tip of the movable table 20, and the most advanced stacked container between the container guides is sent to the shutter mechanism. Then, the stacked container cut out by the shutter mechanism is pushed up by the transfer mechanism 6 and placed in a bucket waiting on the top.

  Further, the cup-shaped container supply device described in Patent Document 2 includes a stocker 33 that supports a plurality of container groups C that are supported by the support frame 32 and arranged in six rows in the front and rear, and a stocker 33. A take-out means 34 for taking out the container group C sequentially from the front row, a lifter 35 for lifting the container group C taken out by the take-out means, and a transport means 36 for carrying the container group C lifted by the lifter 35; It is composed of

The support frame 32 includes an inclined bottom plate 41 that is forwardly lowered, and the stocker 33 is inclined forward and downward along the bottom plate 41, and six parallel container passages 53 are formed on the bottom plate 41. Are formed at the lower ends of the six parallel container passages 53 and intermittently driven endless belts 55 that receive and convey the bottom of the container group C.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-25372 (page 2-3, FIG. 1) Utility Model Registration No. 2550527 (page 3-4, FIG. 1)

  In each of the container supply devices described in each of the above patent documents, the entire stocker (accommodating device) is inclined so that the front side is lowered, and a group of containers in which cup-shaped containers are stacked in a substantially columnar shape The container is moved forward in close contact, and the container group in the front row is taken out by pushing it up with a lifter. In such a transport method, when the cross-section of the cup-shaped container is circular or square, the direction of the container may be changed so that it can be supplied without problems, but in the case of a deformed container such as a non-circular shape In some cases, the direction of the container is changed, so that it cannot be supplied to the filling device in the same direction, or the containers are not aligned in a straight line between the guides on both sides.

The present invention relates to a supply conveyor for supplying a container group in which cup-shaped containers are stacked to a cup filling device for filling the cup- shaped container with contents, and intermittently conveying the container group in an upright state. A guide member that is disposed on the downstream end side of the supply conveyor and supports the container group pushed out from the downstream end of the supply conveyor in a forward tilted posture, a pusher that pushes up the container group along the guide member, and a pusher. Holding means for holding the pushed-up container group and transferring it to the supply position of the cup filling device, and the supply conveyor is provided with a holding member for holding the container group, and the holding member holds the container group. Each direction is determined and held, and transported in a positioned state.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided swinging means for swinging the guide member between the upright state and the inclined state, and the guide member is swung from the upright state to the inclined state in accordance with the pushing operation of the supply conveyor. It is characterized by this.

  The container supply device of the present invention can supply a deformed container and a directional container in a state where they are aligned in a certain direction.

  A supply conveyor equipped with a holding member for holding a container group positions the container group individually by the holding member, intermittently conveys the container group in an upright state, and arranges a guide member at the downstream end of the supply conveyor for supply. The container group pushed out from the downstream end of the conveyor is supported by the guide member in a forward inclined posture, pushed up along the guide member by the pusher, delivered to the transfer means, and then transferred to the supply position of the cup filling device. As a result, a container group in which deformed containers whose cross-sections are not circular or square can be transported and stably supplied while maintaining a state in which they are aligned in a certain direction.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a simplified overall configuration of a cup filling device provided with a container supply device (indicated by reference numeral 1 as a whole) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a side view which expands and shows a part. In this cup filling device, after a container (cup-shaped container) 2 having a large diameter at the upper part and gradually decreasing toward the lower part is supplied to the container conveying conveyor 4 at the supply position A, the container conveying conveyor 4 performs intermittent operation. Each processing is performed by sequentially stopping the container processing positions such as a filling position B, a sealing position C, and a trimming position D. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 to be described later, the container 2 having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape formed by combining three large-diameter arcs is supplied. The apparatus of the present embodiment can be applied not only to the container 2 having the triangular cross section but also to a circular container or a container having a square cross section. However, in the conventional apparatus, it has been difficult to keep the container direction constant. This is particularly effective for circular containers.

  The container transport conveyor 4 has a pair of chains (not shown) on both sides of sprockets 6 and 8 disposed on both sides in the transport direction of the upstream part (left side in FIG. 1) and the downstream part. A number of holder plates 12 are attached between them. Each holder plate 12 has a plurality of (for example, six) container holding holes formed at equal intervals, and holds and conveys the cup-shaped container 2 in each container holding hole. The cup-shaped container 2 has a flange 2a (see FIG. 3) formed at the periphery of the opening, and the flange 2a is engaged with and held by the periphery of the container holding hole of the holder plate 12. The

  A container supply device 1 that supplies the cup-shaped container 2 to the holder plate 12 is provided on the upstream end side of the container transport conveyor 4. The cup-like containers 2 accommodated in the supply hopper 10 of the container supply apparatus 1 are taken out one by one by take-out means (not shown) and supplied to the holder plate 12 of the container transport conveyor 4. The position where the container 2 is supplied from the container supply device 1 of the container conveyor 4 is the supply position A.

  The filling position B is located downstream of the supply position A, and the filling position B is provided with a filling device 16 for filling the transported cup-shaped container 2 with contents such as liquid.

  On the further downstream side of the filling position B, a sealing position C and a trimming position D are arranged in order, a sealing device 18 is provided at the sealing position C, and a trimming device 20 is provided at the trimming position D, respectively.

  It is a cover material between the upper part of the opening of the cup-shaped container 2 being conveyed by the container conveying conveyor 4 and the lower surface of the sealing head 18a of the sealing device 18 and the lower surface of the trimming head 20a of the trimming device 20. Film 22 is supplied. The lid material film 22 is drawn out from a roll-shaped film installed outside the cup filling device according to this embodiment, and is introduced into the cup filling device via an introduction roller (not shown). After the lid material film 22 introduced into the cup filling device is directed by the direction changing roller 24 in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the first container conveying conveyor 4 (see arrow E in FIG. 1), the driving roller 26 and After being pulled down onto the conveying surface of the container conveying conveyor 4 via the idle roller 28 and the like, the sheet is supplied below the sealing device 18 and the trimming device 20. The lid film 2 is intermittently conveyed in synchronization with the container conveying conveyor 4.

  The sealing device 18 provided at the sealing position C moves the seal head 18a up and down by the operation of an air cylinder (not shown), and the container 2 conveyed intermittently by the container conveying conveyor 4 When the air cylinder is stopped below the seal head 18a, the air cylinder is operated to lower the seal head 18a, the cover material film 22 is pressed onto the opening of the cup-shaped container 2, and the film 22 is moved to the cup-shaped container 2. It welds to the upper surface of the flange part 2a. The trimming device 20 also moves the trimming head 20a up and down by the operation of an air cylinder (not shown), and the cup-shaped container 2 conveyed by the container conveying conveyor 4 is located below the trimming head 20a. When the air cylinder is stopped, the air cylinder is operated to lower the trimming head 20a, and the periphery of the film 22 welded to the flange portion 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 is cut and separated from the main body portion of the sheet-like film 22. . The remaining portion 22a from which the lid portion of the sheet-like film 22 is cut is wound around a roll 32 via a discharge roller 30 and the like.

  Next, the configuration of the container supply device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIG. 3 which is a plan view of the supply conveyor 34. A supply conveyor 34 is provided on a base 36 disposed on the upstream side of the container conveying conveyor 4 of the cup filling device. The supply conveyor 34 conveys a group of containers 2 </ b> A in which a large number of the cup-shaped containers 2 are stacked into a substantially columnar shape in an upright state. In this embodiment, six container holding holes are formed in each holder plate 12 of the container transport conveyor 4 as described above, and the processing is performed while transporting the cup-shaped containers 2 in six rows. The supply conveyor 34 also transports the container group 2A in six rows (see FIG. 3).

  The supply conveyor 34 includes endless chains 46 wound around sprockets 42 and 44 attached to both ends of front and rear rotating shafts 38 and 40. In this embodiment, two sprockets 42 and 44 are attached to both ends of the front and rear rotating shafts 38 and 40, respectively, and endless chains 46 are wound around the sprockets 42 and 44, respectively. That is, four endless chains 46 (46A, 46A, 46B, 46B) are provided on each side. A pair of outer chains 46A (see FIG. 3) is a front chain, and a front holding member 48 that individually holds the front side of the container group 2A to be conveyed to the front chain 46A via a mounting plate 48a. Is attached. The pair of inner chains 46B is a rear chain, and a rear holding member 50 for individually holding the rear side of the container group 2A to be conveyed is attached to the rear chain 46B via an attachment plate 50a. ing. In this embodiment, the front holding member 48 holds one side of the cup-shaped container 2 having a substantially triangular cross section, and the rear holding member 50 has a vertex located on the opposite side to the one side held by the front holding member 48. It comes to hold. Accordingly, the front holding member 48 is formed with a recess having a width slightly larger than one side of the cup-shaped container 2, and the rear holding member 50 is formed with a substantially triangular recess that receives the apex of the cup-shaped container 2. Has been.

  The distance between the front holding member 48 and the rear holding member 50 can be adjusted by shifting the phases of the front chain 46A and the rear chain 46B, depending on the size and shape of the cup-shaped container 2 and the like. Adjust the distance between the front and back. Further, by replacing one or both of the front holding member 48 and the rear holding member 50, it is possible to hold the containers 2 having different shapes.

  A horizontal bottom plate 52 is disposed slightly below the height at which the front holding member 48 and the rear holding member 50 attached to the chains 46A and 46B travel while holding the container group 2A. The bottom surface of the container group 2 </ b> A conveyed by 34 is supported. The front end 52a of the horizontal bottom plate 52 extends to the upper side of the downstream sprocket 44, and the front end 52a is slightly inclined downward.

  A first sensor 54 is provided near the downstream end of the supply conveyor 34, and a detection member 56A provided on the end side (left end side in FIG. 3) of the mounting plate 50a to which the rear holding member 50 is attached is detected. To do. Further, a second sensor 58 is provided slightly downstream from the first sensor 54, on the opposite end side (right end side in FIG. 3) of the mounting plate 50a to which the rear holding member 50 is attached. The attached detection member 56B is detected. The supply conveyor 34 is operated intermittently. When the first sensor 54 detects the detection member 56A, the supply conveyor 34 stops for a predetermined time, and then restarts, and then the second sensor 58 detects the detection member 56B. Then, it stops again for a predetermined time.

  A transfer mechanism 60 is provided above the container transport conveyor 4 of the cup filling device and the supply conveyor 34 of the container supply device 1, and receives the container group 2A transported by the supply conveyor 34. Then, the container is conveyed to a supply hopper 10 provided above the supply position A of the container conveyor 4. A delivery mechanism 62 is provided on the front side of the supply conveyor 34 to deliver the container group 2A conveyed by the supply conveyor 34 to the transfer mechanism 60. The delivery mechanism 62 includes a guide member (guide plate) 64 that supports the front side of the container group 2A, and a pusher 66 that pushes up the container group 2A supported by the guide plate 64.

  The pushers 66 of the delivery mechanism 62 are provided for each row of the container group 2A, and move up and down along guide rods 68 that are inclined. Guide rods 68 are respectively attached to both sides (both sides in the conveying direction) of the frame 70 which is disposed with its upper portion inclined toward the cup filling device side (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2). A mounting plate 74 extending in the width direction is fixed between a pair of rodless cylinders 72 that move up and down along the two sides, and the six pushers 66 are mounted on the mounting plate 74 at equal intervals. A slide rail 76 having the same inclination is arranged in parallel between the guide rods 68 on both sides, and a slide member 78 attached to an intermediate portion of the attachment plate 74 is engaged. When the pusher 66 attached to the attachment plate 74 moves up and down by the operation of the rodless cylinders 72 on both sides, the intermediate slide member 78 is guided by the slide rail 76 and moves up and down.

  The guide plate 64 of the delivery mechanism 62 is attached to a swinging member 84 connected to a rotating shaft 82 whose both ends are rotatably supported by the machine frame 80 of the container supply device 1. As the moving member 84 swings, it swings in the direction of the supply conveyor 34. The swing member 84 is attached to both end portions of the rotating shaft 82, the lower end portion thereof is connected to the rotating shaft 82, and a mounting plate 86 extending in the width direction is fixed between the upper end portions. Yes. A vertical guide plate 64 is mounted on the mounting plate 86 via a bracket 88. The bracket 88 and the guide plate 64 are provided corresponding to each row of the six rows of container groups 2 </ b> A conveyed by the supply conveyor 34. A recess 64a for stably supporting the container group 2A is formed on the front surface (surface on the supply conveyor 34 side) of each guide frame 64 (see FIG. 3).

  An upper end portion of a lever 92 is connected below one end portion of the rotating shaft 82 to which the swing member 84 is connected, and the lower end portion of the lever 92 is arranged with the supply conveyor 34 side facing. A piston rod 90a of a substantially horizontal air cylinder (hereinafter referred to as a swinging air cylinder) 90 is connected. The operation of the swinging air cylinder 90 causes the guide plate 64 to swing. As shown in FIG. 2, when the piston rod 90a of the air cylinder 90 extends, the guide plate 64 tilts the pusher 66. When the piston rod 90a contracts to a state where it has substantially the same inclination as that shown in FIG. 2 and the piston rod 90a contracts, the upper end of the guide plate 64 swings toward the supply conveyor 34 and becomes almost upright. (Position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2). In this state, the container group 2A conveyed by the supply conveyor 34 and reaching the downstream end can be supported in an almost upright state.

  The transfer mechanism 60 includes two sets of cylindrical supply guides 94 each having six sets. These cylindrical supply guides 94 are attached to both ends of a horizontal attachment member 100 fixed to the lower end of a vertical rotating shaft 98 that is rotated by a motor 96, and rotate 180 degrees by driving of the motor 96. One of the sets of supply guides 94 is alternately positioned above the position where the guide plate 64 and the pusher 66 are provided, and the other is positioned above the supply hopper 10. These cylindrical supply guides 94 can be inclined with respect to the horizontal mounting member 100, and when positioned on the guide plate 64 side, have a substantially same inclination as the inclined guide plate 64. When inclined and positioned on the supply hopper 10, it is positioned in an upright state directly above the upright supply hopper 10.

  A shutter 102 for holding the container group 2 </ b> A pushed up and inserted by the pusher 66 is provided in the opening 94 a at the lower end of the cylindrical supply guide 94. The shutter 102 is opened / closed by an open / close air cylinder 104 fixed downward on a mounting wall 94b disposed on the side surface of the supply guide 94. One end of a small link 106 is connected to the piston rod 104a of the open / close air cylinder 104, and the other end of the small link 106 is connected to a fulcrum pin 108 rotatably supported on the mounting wall 94b of the supply guide 94, and The fulcrum pin 108 is connected to one end of the arm 110 to which the shutter 102 is fixed. In this configuration, when the piston rod 104a of the open / close air cylinder 104 is extended, the arm 110 and the shutter 102 are rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 via the small link 106 and the fulcrum pin 108, and the lower end opening of the supply guide 94 is opened. The part 94a is closed. When the piston rod 104a contracts, as shown in FIG. 2, the shutter 102 rotates counterclockwise to open the opening 94a of the supply guide 94.

  The operation of the container supply device 1 according to the above configuration will be described. The supply conveyor 34 runs intermittently, and when it is stopped, the front holding member 48 attached to the front chain 46A via the attachment plate 48a and the attachment plate to the rear chain 46B. Between the rear holding member 50 attached through 50a, the direction of the container group 2A is determined and inserted and held. In this embodiment, one side of the substantially triangular container 2 is directed forward in the transport direction, the opposite vertex is directed rearward in the transport direction, and inserted into the recesses of the front holding member 48 and the rear holding member 50. Thus, according to the shape of the container 2, each container group 2 </ b> A can be reliably positioned and transported by being inserted and held in the recesses formed in the front and rear holding members 48 and 50.

  While the supply conveyor 34 moves intermittently, the container group 2A is sequentially inserted between the subsequent front holding member 48 and the rear holding member 50, and the container group 2A is moved to the bottom plate 52 by the running of the supply conveyor 34. Transport while sliding. The supply conveyor 34 stops for a predetermined time when the first sensor 54 detects the detection member 56A. When the second sensor 58 detects the detection member 56B after starting the re-operation, it stops for a predetermined time. When the first sensor 54 detects the detection member 56 </ b> A and stops, the guide plate 64 of the delivery mechanism 62 disposed on the front side of the downstream end of the supply conveyor 34 is upright by the operation of the swinging air cylinder 90. The leading container group 2A being conveyed by the supply conveyor 34 is supported by a guide plate 64 whose front side is upright (see FIG. 4A). At this time, the front holding member 48 holding the front side of the container group 2A starts to rotate around the sprocket 44 and comes off the front side, but the container group 2A is held on the surface of the guide plate 64 on the supply conveyor 34 side. A concave portion 64a is formed, and the container group 2A is held in a stable posture. Further, the bottom surface of the container group 2 </ b> A moves to a position substantially deviating from the horizontal portion of the lower bottom plate 52.

  The supply conveyor 34 restarts when a predetermined time has elapsed after the first sensor 54 detects the detection member 56 </ b> A, and simultaneously with the restart of the supply conveyor 34, the guide plate 64 moves the air cylinder 90 for swinging. Tilt by actuation. The re-operating supply conveyor 34 stops again when the second sensor 58 detects the detection member 56B. At this time, the guide plate 64 is tilted to the same tilt position as the frame 70, and supports the leading container group 2A that has slightly advanced from the upright position in a tilted state. At this time, the bottom surface of the container group 2A is slightly caught by the inclined tip 52a of the bottom plate 52, and is supported in a posture in which the front side leans against the guide plate 64 (see FIG. 4B). When the first sensor 54 detects and stops the detection member 56A as described above, the leading container group 2A is almost pushed out from the downstream end of the supply conveyor 34 and supported by the guide plate 64 in the upright state. Can be temporarily stopped while maintaining Further, by tilting the guide plate 64 from this state, the supply conveyor 34 is slightly moved forward and pushed by the rear holding member 50, so that the container group 2A can be stably placed in the forward tilt posture.

  The pusher 66 is activated while the supply conveyor 34 is stopped due to the detection of the detection member 56B by the second sensor 58. The pusher 66 rises in an oblique direction along the guide rod 68 by the operation of the rodless cylinder 72. Above the delivery mechanism 62, the supply guide 94 of the transfer mechanism 60 is stopped at substantially the same inclination as the inclination of the guide plate 64, and the shutter 102 provided at the lower end thereof is an open / close air cylinder. It is opened by the operation of 104. When the pusher 66 is raised, the container group 2A is pushed up against the bottom surface of the leading container group 2A supported by the guide plate 64 in an inclined state as shown in FIG. 4B. The container group 2A is held in the recessed portion 64a of the inclined guide plate 64 and ascends in a stable posture. As shown by a broken line in FIG. 2, the position where the pusher 66 is raised most reaches the opening 94 a at the lower end of the supply guide 94, and the entire container group 2 </ b> A is inserted into the supply guide 94. Then, the shutter 102 is closed by the operation of the open / close air cylinder 104 to hold the container group 2 </ b> A in the supply guide 94.

  The supply guide 94 can swing between an inclined state and an upright state. After the container group 2A is inserted by the pusher 66 in the inclined state, the supply guide 94 is in an upright state and rotated 180 degrees. The supply guide 94 holding the container group 2A moves above the supply hopper 10 in an upright state. When the shutter 102 is opened at this position, the container group 2 </ b> A falls and is put into the supply hopper 10. When one supply guide 94 holding the container group 2 </ b> A moves above the supply hopper 10, the other supply guide 94 moves above the delivery mechanism 62 so that the inclination is substantially the same as the inclination of the guide plate 64. Tilt and wait to accept next container group 2A.

  Further, when the second sensor 58 detects the detection member 56B, the supply conveyor 34 is stopped for a predetermined time and restarted, and after the container group 2A is pushed up by the operation of the pusher 66 during the stoppage. Then, after the pusher 66 is lowered, the pusher 66 moves forward again and conveys the subsequent container group 2A. When the supply conveyor 34 is stopped by the detection of the first sensor 54, the guide plate 64 is in an upright state by swinging in the direction of the supply conveyor 34 from the inclined state, and the container group 2A is in an upright state. Is supported by the guide plate 64. Thereafter, the same operation as described above is repeated to supply the container to the cup filling device.

It is a side view which simplifies and shows the whole structure of the cup filling apparatus provided with the container supply apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. Example 1 It is a side view which expands and shows the principal part of the said container supply apparatus. It is a top view of the supply conveyor of the said container supply apparatus. FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views sequentially showing the delivery operation of the containers conveyed by the supply conveyor.

Explanation of symbols

2 container 2A container group 34 supply conveyor 48 holding member (front holding member)
50 Holding member (rear holding member)
60 Transfer means (transfer mechanism)
64 Guide member (guide plate)
66 Pusher 90 Swing means (Air cylinder)

Claims (2)

In a container supply device that supplies a container group in which cup-shaped containers are stacked to a cup filling device that fills the contents of the cup-shaped container ,
A supply conveyor that intermittently conveys the container group in an upright state, a guide member that is disposed on the downstream end side of the supply conveyor and supports the container group that is pushed out from the downstream end of the supply conveyor in a forward inclined posture, and the guide A pusher that pushes up the container group along the member; and a transfer means that holds the container group pushed up by the pusher and transfers the container group to a supply position of the cup filling device,
The supply conveyor is provided with a holding member for holding a container group, and the container group is individually held in a specified direction by the holding member and transported in a positioned state.   The swinging means for swinging the guide member between an upright state and an inclined state is provided, and the guide member is swung from an upright state to an inclined state in accordance with the pushing-out operation of the supply conveyor. Container supply device.

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