JP5061766B2 - Guide device for air conveyor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conveyance conveyor that conveys a resin bottle such as a PET bottle in a suspended state, and in particular, adjusts the distance and height of a guide member that guides the body of a bottle to be conveyed from both sides. The present invention relates to a guide device capable of making changes.

  In general, an air conveyor supports the lower surface side of a flange formed on a neck portion of a resin bottle such as a PET bottle by two neck guides arranged in parallel, and is above the flange of the neck portion. The portion is transported by blowing pressurized air from the rear side in the transport direction. Bottles that are transported while supporting the flange of the neck part cannot be stably transported if the lower body part shakes greatly, and problems such as biting may occur. Two parallel guide members (guide bars) extending in the transport direction are installed at intervals slightly larger than the diameter of the part to regulate the lateral shake of the bottle being transported.

  In the air conveying conveyor, the distance between the guide bars on both sides and the height can be adjusted so that they can be used for bottles of various sizes. When such adjustment is performed manually, there is a problem that it takes a lot of manpower and a long time. In view of this, there has already been proposed an air transport conveyor that can automatically adjust the distance between the guide bars on both sides (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the air conveyance conveyor described in Patent Document 1, a mechanism for adjusting the interval between the guide bars is as follows: “The air guide box is provided with saddle-direction struts extending downward at regular intervals on both sides in the transfer direction. The guide bar extending parallel to the transfer direction is supported so that it can be adjusted in the lateral direction by the adjusting drive device. In another embodiment, a configuration in which the height adjustment of the guide bar is automated by an adjustment driving device provided in the heel direction is also disclosed.
JP-T-2006-525926 (page 5-6, FIG. 1)

  The configuration of the air conveyance conveyor according to the invention described in Patent Document 1 is provided with an adjustment driving device (air cylinder) for each predetermined position along a long conveyance path, and a large number of air cylinders as a whole of the air conveyance conveyor. There was a problem that it was necessary to set up and the cost was high. There is also a problem that the adjustable range is limited to a preset position.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a guide device for an air transport conveyor that does not require a large number of drive means. It is another object of the present invention to provide a guide device for an air conveying conveyor that can be adjusted steplessly and can be finely set according to the shape of the container.

  The present invention supports the lower surface of the flange formed on the neck portion of the bottle and is disposed on both sides of the bottle conveyance path of the air conveyance conveyor that conveys the bottle in a suspended state. In the guide device provided with the guide member for guiding the guide member, the guide member is provided at a plurality of positions on both sides of the bottle transport path, and guides the vertical movement of the guide member, and a plurality of positions below the bottle transport path. A plurality of lateral guide members arranged in a conveying direction for guiding the movement of both guide members in a direction approaching and separating from each other, and moving the vertical guide members on both sides in a direction approaching and separating from each other A lateral direction in which a moving means, a plurality of lifting / lowering movement means arranged in the conveying direction for raising / lowering the lateral guide member, and a lateral moving means adjacent to the conveying direction are interlocked. A moving rod, a lifting / lowering interlocking rod that interlocks the lifting / lowering moving means adjacent in the transport direction, a lateral driving means that moves a plurality of vertical guide members close to and away from each other via the lateral interlocking rod, and a lifting / lowering interlocking rod Elevating and lowering driving means for elevating and lowering a plurality of lateral guide members is provided.

  The guide device of the air conveyance conveyor according to the present invention includes a vertical guide member that guides the guide member when the guide member is moved in the vertical direction, in addition to the lateral guide member that guides the movement of the guide member when the guide member approaches and separates. In addition, since the means for moving the lateral direction guide member and the vertical direction guide member provided at a plurality of locations along the bottle conveyance path are respectively interlocked by the interlocking rod, a large number of bottles are provided along the bottle conveyance path. There is no need to install driving means, and the structure is simplified.

  A vertical guide member that guides the vertical movement of the guide member that is arranged on both sides of the bottle conveyance path and guides both sides of the bottle to be conveyed, and a horizontal direction that guides the movement when the guide members are moved closer to and away from each other. The guide members are provided at a plurality of locations along the bottle conveying direction, respectively, and the horizontal movement means for moving the plurality of vertical guide members close to and away from each other is interlocked by the horizontal interlocking rod and driven by the horizontal driving means. The both-side guide member for guiding both sides of the bottle conveyed by the air-conveying conveyor by moving the lifting / lowering moving means for lifting / lowering the plurality of lateral guide members by the lifting / lowering interlocking rod and lifting / lowering by the lifting / lowering driving means. The purpose of adjusting the interval and changing the height with a simple configuration with a reduced number of drive means is achieved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an air transfer conveyor (indicated by reference numeral 1 as a whole) for transporting resin bottles equipped with a guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a drive unit for adjusting the guide device. FIG. 3 is a side view of the drive unit. The container 2 conveyed by the air conveyor 1 is a resin bottle, and has a large-diameter barrel portion 2a, an upper small-diameter neck portion 2b, and a neck that gradually decreases in diameter from the trunk portion 2a upward. A shoulder portion 2c connected to the portion 2b, and a flange 2d is formed on the outer periphery of the neck portion 2b. In this air conveyor 1, a transport path for the resin bottle 2 is formed between the side walls 6 and 8 on both sides, the upper side thereof is a propulsion air duct 10, and the lower side is a moving space 12 of the trunk portion 2 a.

  A space 10 having a square cross section surrounded by the upper portions 6A, 8A of the side walls 6, 8 and the top wall 14 and the horizontal partition plate 16 on the lower side is a propulsion air duct, and is a pressurization (not shown) installed outside. Pressurized air is supplied from the air supply means. An air passage 18 including both side surfaces 18a and 18b and a top surface 18c is formed at the center of the lower surface (partition plate 16) of the propulsion air duct 10. The air passage 18 has a size through which the flange 2d of the neck portion 2b of the resin bottle 2 and a portion above it pass, and the portion above the flange 2d can pass. .

  A large number of pressurized air outlets 20 are formed at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction on both side surfaces 18a, 18b and the top surface 18c of the air passage 18, and the pressurized air in the air duct 10 passes through these outlets 20. Through the air passage 18. The air from these outlets 20 is blown from the rear side in the transport direction of the resin bottle 2 toward the front side, and this air blows to a portion above the flange 2d of the neck portion 2b of the resin bottle 2. The resin bottle 2 is advanced.

  A pair of neck guides 22 and 22 are fixed to the lower surface side of the air passage 18. The distance between the tip surfaces (surfaces facing each other) of the neck guides 22 and 22 arranged on both sides is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the neck portion 2b of the resin bottle 2, and the resin bottle 2 being transported Is allowed to swing back and forth, left and right and other directions. Further, the distance between the front end faces is smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 2d, so that the resin bottle 2 does not fall.

  The lower side of the air duct 10 is a moving space 12 through which the body 2a of the resin bottle 2 passes, and a pair of guides for the body 2a of the bottle 2 being transported on the inner surfaces of the lower side walls 6B and 8B. Guide members (guide bars) 24A, 24B are arranged. These guide bars 24A and 24B can adjust the space | interval and height according to the height, outer diameter, etc. of the bottle 2. FIG. A mechanism for adjusting the distance between the guide bars 24A and 24B and a mechanism for changing the height will be described below. Both guide bars 24A, 24B are arranged over the entire length of the air conveyor 1, and a mechanism for moving the guide bars 24A, 24B up and down (lifting and moving means) and a mechanism for expanding and contracting the distance (lateral movement means). ) Are arranged at predetermined intervals, and a plurality of continuous elevating / lowering means and lateral movement means are connected by an interlocking rod and interlocked.

  The guide bars 24A and 24B are attached to the upper ends of upright support members 26A and 26B arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the conveyance path of the bottle 2. Upright vertical guide members 28A, 28B are arranged on the inner surface side of the lower side walls 6B, 8B at the positions where these support members 26A, 26B are provided, and are placed at the front ends of the horizontal advance / retreat members 30A, 30B. It is attached and can be moved forward and backward in a direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) crossing the bottle conveying direction. Sliders 32A and 32B are fixed below the positions where the guide bars 24A and 24B are attached on the back surfaces of the support members 26A and 26B (sides facing the vertical guide members 28A and 28B). These sliders 32A and 32B are engaged with vertical guide members (guide rails) 28A and 28B. When the support members 26A and 26B move up and down, the sliders 32A and 32B of the support members 26A and 26B are guided by moving up and down along the vertical guide members 28A and 28B.

  The lower end portions 26Aa and 26Ba of both the support members 26A and 26B are bent at a right angle in the direction of the central portion of the conveyance path of the bottle 2 and are horizontal. Below the horizontal portions 26Aa and 26Ba provided at the lower ends of these support members 26A and 26B, a lateral guide member 34 in a direction crossing the transport path of the bottle 2 is horizontally disposed. The transverse guide member 34 is provided with two long holes 34a and 34b (see FIG. 2) arranged in the longitudinal direction so as to penetrate vertically. Connecting pins 36A and 36B are respectively attached to the lower end horizontal portions 26Aa and 26Ba of both support members 26A and 26B, are connected through the long holes 34a and 34b, and can move along the long holes 34a and 34b. It has become. Therefore, each support member 26A, 26B can move in the lateral direction (direction crossing the bottle conveyance path) along the elongated holes 34a, 34b of the lateral guide member 34, and can be moved closer to and away from each other. The horizontal guide member 34 is moved up and down integrally.

  The support members 26A and 26B, the vertical guide members 28A and 28B, the lateral guide members 34, and the like are arranged at a plurality of locations at predetermined intervals over the entire length of the air conveying conveyor 1, and will be described later. In this way, each of these members at a plurality of locations arranged in series is interlocked as a set, and a plurality of support members and lateral guide members are integrally raised and lowered by one drive means, A plurality of support members and vertical guide members are integrally moved laterally by one driving means.

  The horizontal advancing / retracting members 30A, 30B to which the vertical guiding members 28A, 28B are attached are inserted with the vertical pins 38A, 38B, and the lower ends thereof protrude to the lower surface side of the horizontal advancing / retracting members 30A, 30B. Yes. Horizontal cam plates 40A and 40B are respectively arranged on the lower surface side of the horizontal advance / retreat members 30A and 30B. The cam plates 40A, 40B are formed with diagonal cam grooves 40Aa, 40Ba facing in opposite directions, and the pins 38A, 38B of the horizontal advance / retreat members 30A, 30B are engaged in the cam grooves 40Aa, 40Ba. Match. These pins 38A and 38B and the cam plates 40A and 40B constitute a horizontal movement means for moving the horizontal guide members 28A and 28B in the horizontal direction, and the cam plates 40A and 40B are moved in the conveyance direction of the bottle 2. Thereby, the space | interval of the up-down direction guide member 28A, 28B of both sides, support member 26A, 26B, and a pair of guide bar 24A, 24B is expanded / reduced.

  As described above, the plurality of vertical guide members 28A, 28B are moved by a single driving means, and one cam plate 40A, 40B is a lateral driving means (lateral Directionally moving electric cylinders) 42A and 42B are connected to piston rods 42Aa and 42Ba. The other cam plates 40A, 40B constituting the set are sequentially connected via the lateral interlocking rods 44A, 44B, and one cam plate is operated by the operation of the lateral movement electric cylinders 42A, 42B. When 40A and 40B (cam plates 40A and 40B directly connected to the lateral movement electric cylinders 42A and 42B) move in the bottle conveying direction, the other cam plates 40A and 40B also move in the same direction by the same distance. The lateral movement electric cylinders 42A and 42B have a built-in servo motor so that the movement amounts of the piston rods 42Aa and 42Ba can be adjusted almost steplessly.

  When the cam plates 40A and 40B are moved in the transport direction of the bottle 2 by the operation of the electric cylinders 42A and 42B for lateral movement, the pins 38A and 38B engaged in the cam grooves 40Aa and 40Ba are moved in the bottle transport direction. The horizontal advancing / retracting members 30A, 30B to which the pins 38A, 38B are attached and the vertical guide members 28A, 28B attached to the ends of the horizontal advancing / retreating members 30A, 30B are moved toward and away from each other. Move in the direction you want. When the vertical guide members 28A and 28B move in directions approaching and separating from each other, the support members 26A and 26B connected to the inner surfaces of the vertical guide members 28A and 28B via the sliders 32A and 32B approach and separate from each other. Move in the direction. When these support members 26A, 26B move in directions toward or away from each other, the connecting pins 36A, 36B attached to the horizontal portions 26Aa, 26Ba at the lower ends thereof are elongated holes 34a, Guided by moving in 34b.

  A rail 46 having a U-shaped cross section extending along the bottle conveyance path is fixed at the center of the lower surface of the lateral guide member 34. A rotating shaft 48 in a direction crossing the bottle conveyance path is supported at the lower ends of the side walls 6 and 8 so as to be rotatable at a predetermined interval. One end of an elevating lever 50 is connected to each rotating shaft 48 so as to rotate integrally. A roller 52 is attached to the other end (upper end) of each of the lift levers 50 and is engaged in the U-shaped rail 46. The rotary shaft 48 and the lifting lever 50 constitute lifting / lowering means for lifting / lowering the lateral guide member 34.

  One end of the interlocking lever 54 is connected to each rotary shaft 48 at a position different from the position where the lift lever 50 is fixed, and rotates integrally with the rotary shaft 48 and the lift lever 50. It is like that. An ascending / descending interlocking rod 56 is connected to the other end (upper end) of each interlocking lever 54. Note that the lifting / lowering interlocking rod 56 may be provided on the lifting / lowering lever 50 and the interlocking lever 54 may be omitted.

  The rotating shafts 48 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the conveyance path of the bottle 2, and lifting driving means (lifting electric cylinders) 58 are provided at a plurality of positions on the plurality of rotating shafts 48. Yes. The other end of the transmission lever 60 is connected to the piston rod 58a of the lifting / lowering electric cylinder 58 with one end fixed to the rotating shaft 48 (the rotating shaft 48 directly rotated by the lifting / lowering electric cylinder 58). ing. Accordingly, when the piston rod 58a is expanded and contracted by the operation of the lifting electric cylinder 58, the transmission lever 60 rotates to rotate the rotating shaft 48. When the rotating shaft 48 rotates, the interlocking lever 54 and the lifting lever 50 fixed to the rotating shaft 48 rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 48. An ascending / descending interlocking rod 56 is connected to the distal end of the interlocking lever 54 and sequentially connected between the adjacent interlocking levers 54. When the rotating shaft 48 rotates by one operation of the ascending / descending electric cylinder 58. Since the plurality of rotating shafts 48 are connected as a set via the ascending / descending interlocking rod 56, these rotating shafts 48 rotate in the same direction by the same angle. Then, the elevating levers 50 respectively connected to the set of rotating shafts 48 are simultaneously rotated by the same angle. Thus, by rotating the plurality of lifting levers 50 simultaneously by the same angle, the U-shaped rail 46 can be lifted and lowered in a horizontal state. When the U-shaped rail 46 is raised and lowered, a plurality of lateral guide members 34 fixed on the rail 46 are integrally raised and lowered, and further, the lateral guide members 34 are connected via connecting pins 36A and 36B. The connected support members 26A and 26B move up and down integrally. The lifting electric cylinder 58 also has a built-in servo motor, like the lateral movement electric cylinders 42A and 42B, so that the moving amount of the piston rod 58a can be adjusted almost steplessly.

  Operation | movement of the air conveyance conveyor 1 provided with the guide apparatus which concerns on the above structure is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration in the case of transporting a large bottle 2 (a large bottle in FIG. 1 is denoted by reference numeral 2A), and FIG. 4 is a small bottle 2 (a small bottle in FIG. 1 is denoted by a reference numeral). It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the case where (it shows by 2B) is conveyed. When transporting a large bottle 2A, the interval between the guide bars 24A and 24B on both sides for guiding the body 2a of the bottle 2A is widened to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bottle 2A. Both the supporting members 26A and 26B and the lateral guide member 34 to which the guide bars 24A and 24B are fixed are guided so as to guide an appropriate position of the body portion 2a of the tall bottle 2A and allow the bottle 2A to pass therethrough. Leave it down.

  When the gap between the guide bars 24A and 24B on both sides is increased, the cam plates 40A and 40B are moved along the bottle conveyance path (in the left and right direction in FIG. 2) by the lateral movement electric cylinders 42A and 42B. In the configuration of this embodiment, when the cam plates 40A, 40B are moved to the right in FIG. 2, the connecting pins 36A, 36B of the horizontal advance / retreat members 30A, 30B move outward along the cam grooves 40Aa, 40Ba. The vertical guide members 28A and 28B and the support members 26A and 26B move outward, and the distance between the guide bars 24A and 24B is increased.

  Cam plates 40A, 40B for moving a plurality of vertical guide members 28A, 28B, support members 26A, 26B, and guide bars 24A, 24B installed at predetermined intervals along the conveyance path of the bottle 2A, The cam plates 40A and 40B fixed to the piston rods 42Aa and 42Ba are moved along the conveying direction by the operation of the electric cylinders 42A and 42B for lateral movement. Then, the other cam plates 40A and 40B are also moved by the same distance in the same direction, and a plurality of the vertical guide members 28A and 28B, the support members 26A and 26B, and the guide bar are arranged along the conveyance path of the bottle 2. The space | interval of 24A, 24B is expanded, and it becomes a setting for 2 A of large bottles.

  When lowering the lateral guide member 34 for the large bottle 2A, the piston rod 58a of the lifting electric cylinder 58 is contracted (see FIG. 3). Then, the transmission lever 60 connected to the tip of the piston rod 58a rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3, and the elevating lever 50 and the interlocking lever 54 simultaneously rotate in the counterclockwise direction together with the rotating shaft 48. To do. The interlocking levers 54 of the respective rotating shafts 48 arranged at a plurality of locations are connected via an ascending / descending interlocking rod 56, and the plurality of rotating shafts 48 and the ascending / descending levers 50 connected as a set are integrated. Rotate counterclockwise in FIG. When the inclination of the lift lever 50 is increased, the roller 52 attached to the tip of the lift lever 50 is lowered, and the U-shaped rail 46 is lowered (the transmission lever 60, the lift lever 50, which are indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. Lever 54, U-shaped rail 46, interlocking rod 56, etc.). A lateral guide member 34 is connected to the upper surface of the U-shaped rail 46, the lateral guide member 34 is lowered together with the U-shaped rail 46, and the support member 26A to which the guide bars 24A and 24B are attached, 26B descends.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the small bottle 2B is transported, the distance between the guide bars 24A and 24B arranged on both sides of the bottle transport path is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bottle 2B. Move closer. Further, according to the size of the bottle 2B, the heights of both guide bars 24A and 24B are raised so as to be in proper positions. At this time, the cam plates 40A, 40B are moved to the left in FIG. 2 by the lateral movement electric cylinders 42A, 42B, contrary to the above-described operation. When the cam plates 40A and 40B move, the pins 38A and 38B engaged with the cam grooves 40Aa and 40Ba move in a direction approaching each other, and both horizontal advance / retreat members 30A to which the pins 38A and 38B are attached are moved. 30B, the vertical guide members 28A, 28B on both sides fixed to the horizontal advance / retreat members 30A, 30B, and the support members 26A, 26B to which both guide bars 24A, 24B are attached approach, and both guide bars 24A, The interval of 24B becomes narrow. At this time, the support members 26A and 26B are moved along the long holes 34a and 34B formed in the lateral guide members 34 by connecting pins 36A and 36B connected to the horizontal portions 26Aa and 26Ba at the lower ends thereof. Guided by moving.

  On the other hand, in order to raise both the guide bars 24A and 24B, the piston rod 58a of the lifting electric cylinder 58 is extended, and the transmission lever 60 connected to the tip is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. The rotation of the transmission lever 60 causes the rotary shaft 48, the interlocking lever 54, and the lifting lever 50 to rotate integrally in the clockwise direction. The interlocking lever 54 is connected to an interlocking lever 54 fixed to another rotating shaft 48 via an ascending / descending interlocking rod 56, and is connected to be operated in conjunction with the ascending / descending electric cylinder 58. The plurality of rotating shafts 48 and the lifting lever 50 rotate at the same time, and the roller 52 attached to the upper end of the lifting lever 50 pushes up the U-shaped rail 46 (the transmission lever 60 indicated by the solid line in FIG. Lever 50, interlocking lever 54, U-shaped rail 46, interlocking rod 56, etc.). Since the entire length of the air conveyor 1 is long, it is difficult to move a large number of lateral guide members 34 and vertical guide members 28A and 28B installed at predetermined intervals by a single driving means. Then, one drive means (lateral drive means 42A, 42B and lift drive means 58) is provided for each of a plurality of locations, and the whole is operated at the same time. Therefore, the guide bar can be used without using a large number of drive means. The distance between 24A and 24B can be adjusted and the height can be changed. The positions of the guide bars 24A and 24B are not limited to the position where the body 2a of the bottle 2 is guided, but can be set according to the shape of the bottle 2 such as the shoulder 2c. Since the electric cylinders 42A, 42B, and 58 are used as the moving means as described above, the positions can be set steplessly.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air conveyance conveyor provided with the guide apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention, and shows the state which conveys a large sized bottle. Example 1 It is a top view of the drive part which adjusts the said guide apparatus. It is a side view of the drive part which adjusts the said guide apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which conveys a small bottle with the air conveyance conveyor shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conveyance conveyor 2 Bottle 2b Bottle neck 2d Bottle flange 24A Guide member (guide bar)
24B Guide member (guide bar)
28A Vertical guide member 28B Vertical guide member 34 Lateral guide member 38A Lateral movement means (pin)
38B lateral movement means (pin)
40A lateral movement means (cam plate)
40B lateral movement means (cam plate)
42A Lateral drive means (electric cylinder)
42B Lateral drive means (electric cylinder)
44A Lateral interlocking rod 44B Lateral interlocking rod 48 Elevating and moving means (rotating shaft)
50 Lifting / moving means (lifting lever)
56 Lifting interlock rod 58 Lifting drive means (electric cylinder)

Claims (1)

A guide that supports the lower surface of the flange formed on the neck of the bottle and guides both sides of the bottle to be transported, arranged on both sides of the bottle transport path of the air transport conveyor that transports the bottle in a suspended state. In a guide device provided with a member,
Provided at a plurality of locations on both sides of the bottle transport path, and provided in a plurality of locations at the bottom of the bottle transport path, and a guide member for guiding the vertical movement of the guide member. A lateral guide member for guiding the movement in the direction, a plurality of lateral movement means arranged in the conveying direction for moving the vertical guide members on both sides in a direction approaching and separating from each other, and the lateral guide member is moved up and down A plurality of lifting / lowering means arranged in the transport direction, a lateral interlocking rod for interlocking the lateral movement means adjacent to the transporting direction, a lifting / lowering interlocking rod for interlocking the lifting / moving means adjacent to the transporting direction, and the lateral interlocking Lateral drive means for approaching and separating a plurality of vertical guide members via a rod, and a lift drive hand for raising and lowering a plurality of lateral guide members via a lift interlocking rod Guide device of an air conveyor, characterized in that it comprises and.

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