JP5482147B2 - Container carrier opening device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a container carrier that grips and conveys a container with a pair of gripping members, and particularly relates to a container carrier opening device that moves one gripping member of a container carrier to open both gripping members. It is.

  2. Description of the Related Art A container processing apparatus is widely used that transports a container carrier holding a container by a conveyor, sequentially stops processing units such as a filler and a capper, and performs processing such as liquid filling and capping. In order to make such a container carrier compatible with a plurality of types of containers having different external shapes and to be used as various containers, a pair of container gripping members can be moved forward and backward in the direction of approaching and separating from the main body of the container carrier. An arrangement in which both the gripping members are biased by a biasing means such as a spring to grip the container is conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a fixed gripping member is provided on the front side in the traveling direction of the container carrier, and the movable gripping member is biased by a spiral spring from the rear side. The container is to be gripped. When gripping the container, the container supply unit restricts the movement of the container carrier being conveyed by the conveyor by the regulating screws on both sides. Then, the movable holding member is fixed by engaging the engaging member provided on the movable holding member with the opening screw and moving it at a speed slower than the container carrier whose movement is restricted by the regulating screw. It is separated from the gripping member.

JP 2008-81288 A

  The conventional configuration described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the screw and the carrier rub against each other and the screw wears quickly. Moreover, the screw is particularly problematic because of its high cost. In addition, in the case of an apparatus for manually inserting a container into a container carrier with both gripping members open, there is a problem that the operator may be caught because the screw is located close to the operator.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. A base, a fixed gripping member standing on the base, and a biasing force toward the fixed gripping member, approaching and separating from the fixed gripping member. A movable carrier member, and a container carrier that grips the container with the pair of gripping members, while the carrier carrier is transported by the transporting means, the movable gripping member is separated from the fixed gripping member, and the state is maintained. And a pressing means that is disposed on the side of the transport path by the transport means and engages the base and presses in the transport direction, and is disposed on the side of the transport path and is associated with the movable gripping member. The container carrier is engaged with the separating means for separating the movable gripping member from the fixed gripping member as the container carrier moves in the transporting direction, and the movable gripping member spaced from the fixed gripping member is transported. Move with the movement of the direction, and a separation maintaining means for maintaining the separated state of the mobile gripping member, further, the bottom of the base is over from the front side in the conveying direction of the container carrier to the rear side A groove is provided, and the engaged portion of the movable gripping member with respect to the separation maintaining means can move forward and backward in the groove, and the separation maintaining means is disposed below the transport path of the container carrier, The movable gripping member is engaged with an engaged portion .

  The container carrier opening device according to the present invention has a configuration in which the container carrier is pressed in the transport direction by the pressing means in a state where the separating means arranged on the side of the transport path of the transport conveyor is engaged with the movable gripping member. The movable gripping member can be separated from the fixed gripping member without using a screw, and the both gripping members are opened by engaging the movable holding member with the movable holding member and moving forward together. Since it can be maintained, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced, and safety can be ensured even when manual work is performed.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an entire filling line including a container carrier opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Example 1 FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container carrier. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of the container carrier opening device. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing different operating states of the same part as in FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view of the separation maintaining means.

  A container carrier to be handled by the container carrier opening device according to the present invention includes a base, a fixed grip member provided upright on the base, and a movable grip member biased toward the direction of the fixed grip member. The movable gripping member and the fixed gripping member are opened while being transported by the transporting means, and the container is inserted therebetween, and the container is gripped by these gripping members. Yes. On the side of the transport path of the container carrier by the transport means, a pressing means that engages the base and presses the container carrier in the transport direction, engages with the movable gripping member, and moves in the transport direction of the container carrier. A separation means is provided for separating the movable gripping member from the fixed gripping member along with the movement, and further, the movable gripping member is engaged with the movable gripping member in a state of being separated from the fixed gripping member, and moved along with the movement of the container carrier in the transport direction. And a separation maintaining means for maintaining the separation state of the movable gripping member, and a screw is used in a configuration in which both the gripping members are kept open while the separation maintaining means is engaged with the movable gripping member. The objective of maintaining the state by separating the movable gripping member from the fixed gripping member without achieving it is achieved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. The container carrier 2 whose pair of gripping members are opened by the container carrier opening device according to this embodiment is fixed upright on a base 4 having a substantially square planar shape and one side of the square base 4. The fixed gripping member 6, the upright movable gripping member 8 capable of moving back and forth between the fixed gripping member 6 and the side facing the side where the fixed gripping member 6 is installed, and the movable gripping member 8 are always attached. And a spring 10 that urges the fixed gripping member 6 in the direction. The fixed gripping member 6 and the movable gripping member 8 are configured to grip the container 12 between the surfaces 6a and 8a where the both 6 and 8 face each other, and the both 6 and 8 have substantially the same height. V-shaped concave portions for stably holding the container 12 are formed on the opposing surfaces 6a and 8a (see FIG. 4). In addition, the length of the movable gripping member 8 (the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction by the carrier transport conveyor 14 (see arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 4)) is longer than the length of the fixed gripping member 6. The both end portions 8 b and 8 c of the movable gripping member 8 protrude outward from the both end portions 6 b and 6 c of the fixed gripping member 6.

  The container carrier 2 is transported toward the front side in the transport direction A by the transport means (carrier transport conveyor 14). At the bottom of the base 4 of the container carrier 2, a groove 4a penetrating from the front side (the fixed gripping member 6 side) to the rear side (the movable gripping member 8 side) in the transport direction is cut. A downwardly extending plate 16 is fixed to the lower surface of the movable gripping member 8. In this embodiment, the plate 16 is bent substantially in an L shape (see FIG. 2), and a downwardly extending portion (hereinafter referred to as a vertical portion) 16a is an outer surface 8d of the movable gripping member 8 (fixed gripping member 6). And the back side of the surface 8a facing each other). As shown in FIG. 3, the width of the vertical portion 16a of the plate 16 is slightly narrower than the width of the groove 4a formed on the lower surface of the base 4, and can move forward and backward in the groove 4a. ing. Needless to say, the length of the vertical portion 16 a does not protrude downward from the bottom surface of the base 4. The vertical portion 16a constitutes the engaged portion described in claim 2.

  The container carrier opening device according to this embodiment includes a transport conveyor 14 that continuously transports the container carrier 2 that holds the containers 12, and rotary stoppers 18 (disposed on both sides of the container carrier transport path of the transport conveyor 14 ( 18A, 18B) and separation means 20 (20A, 20B) which are arranged at positions close to the container carrier conveyance path on both sides of the conveyance conveyor 14 and separate the movable holding member 8 of the container carrier 2 from the fixed holding member 6. After the movable gripping member 8 is separated from the fixed gripping member 6, the container carrier 2 is engaged with the engaged portion of the movable gripping member 8 (in this embodiment, the plate 16 fixed to the movable gripping member 8). The movable gripping member 8 and the fixed gripping member 6 are opened at the same speed (the movable gripping member 8 is separated from the fixed gripping member 6). And a spacing maintaining means 22 for maintaining.

  The container carrier 2 opening device separates the movable gripping member 8 of the container carrier 2 being transported by the transport conveyor 14 from the fixed gripping member 6 and maintains the state while the container carrier 2 is moving. The container 12 is inserted between the gripping members 6 and 8, and the container 12 is filled with the liquid while being transported while the container 12 is gripped by the gripping members 6 and 8. The filler 24 is installed downstream of the position where the container carrier opening device is provided.

  The transport conveyor 14 is composed of two conveyors 14A and 14B arranged in parallel with a gap (see FIG. 4). A groove 4a formed on the bottom surface of the base 4 of the container carrier 2 to be carried on the conveyor 14 is a space between these two conveyors 14A and 14B (hereinafter referred to as slit 14C). It passes through the top (see FIG. 3).

  Rotary stoppers 18 including a pair of star wheels 18A and 18B are provided on both sides of the container carrier transport path on the transport conveyor 14 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). These star wheels 18A and 18B are disposed at a height slightly above the transport surface of the transport conveyor 14 and lower than the top surface of the base 4 of the container carrier 2, that is, at a height that can be engaged with the base 4. Has been. Each star wheel 18A, 18B is supported by vertical rotation shafts 18Aa, 18Ba, respectively, and rotates in a horizontal plane. Each star wheel 18A, 18B has six protrusions 18Ab, 18Bb formed at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface, and six recesses 18Ac, 18Bc are formed between the protrusions 18Ab, 18Bb. Both star wheels 18A and 18B rotate synchronously, and the protrusions 18Ab and 18Bb of both 18A and 18B are simultaneously engaged with the rear end portion of the base 4 of the container carrier 2 and rotated together to rotate the container carrier 12. Is pushed forward in the conveying direction. The rotary stopper 18 constitutes the pressing means described in claim 1.

  As described above, the pair of star wheels 18A and 18B of the rotary stopper 18 are arranged on both sides of the transport conveyor 14, and are located closer to the inside of the star wheels 18A and 18B, that is, closer to the transport path of the transport conveyor 14. A separating means 20 (20A, 20B) for separating the fixed gripping member 6 and the movable gripping member 8 of the container carrier 2 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the separating means 20 has a pair of support arms 20 Ab and 20 Bb fixed to both sides of the transport conveyor 14 via brackets 20 Aa and 20 Ba. These support arms 20Ab and 20Bb are arranged in parallel with the container carrier transport direction A of the transport conveyor 14 and horizontally.

  Oscillating levers 20Ac and 20Bc are rotatably connected to the tips of the support arms 20Ab and 20Bb, respectively. Both swing levers 20Ac and 20Bc have swing ends 20Ad and 20Bd facing the direction of the conveyor 14, and the swing ends 20Ad and 20Bd constitute an engaging portion for the movable gripping member 8 described below. doing. An intermediate portion of each swing lever 20Ac, 20Bc (intermediate between the connecting portion of the support arms 20Ab, 20Bb and the engaging portion 20Ad, 20Bd at the tip of the swing lever 20Ac, 20Bc) and the rear of the support arms 20Ab, 20Bb The tension springs 20Af and 20Bf are mounted between the spring mounting members 20Ae and 20Be attached to the ends, and the swing levers 20Ac and 20Bc are always attracted to the rear side in the transport direction (the right side in FIG. 4). These swing levers 20Ac and 20Bc are normally stopped at a right angle to the support arms 20Ab and 20Bb, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction A of the transport conveyor 14. Thus, when facing the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction A, the tip engagement portions 20Ad and 20Bd of the swing arms 20Ac and 20Bc slightly enter the conveyance surface of the conveyance conveyor 14. In this state, the engaging portions 20Ad and 20Bd do not engage with the fixed gripping member 6 having a short length, and engage only with both end portions 8b and 8c of the movable gripping member 8. The tension springs 20Af and 20Bf of the separating means 20 are set to have a stronger spring force than the spring 10 that urges the movable gripping member 8 toward the fixed gripping member 6 side.

  When the movable gripping member 8 of the container carrier 2 is separated from the fixed gripping member 6 below the transport conveyor 14 (when the fixed gripping member 6 and the movable gripping member 8 are open), this movable gripping member Separation maintaining means 22 is arranged to engage with the plate 16 attached to the lower end of 8 and maintain both gripping members 6 and 8 in an open state. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the separation maintaining means 22 includes an upstream side and a downstream side arranged below a slit 14 </ b> C formed between two parallel conveyors 14 </ b> A and 14 </ b> B of the transport conveyor 14. The two sprockets 26A and 26B, a chain 28 wound around both the sprockets 26A and 26B, and a plurality of engaging members 30 attached to the chain 28 at equal intervals. The interval between the engagement members 30 matches the pitch of the container carrier 2 being conveyed in close contact with the conveyance conveyor 14. The engaging member 30 attached to the chain 28 advances at the same speed as the container carrier 2 continuously conveyed by the conveyor 14 and the rotary stopper 18. Further, a support plate 32 is disposed below the chain 28 so as to support the lower surface side of the engagement member 30 when the chain 28 is traveling on the upper side of the sprockets 26A and 26B.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the chain 28 wound around the upstream and downstream sprockets 26A and 26B is located between the two conveyors 14A and 14B when traveling on the upper side. Further, the engaging member 30 attached to the chain 28 is at a height to engage with a vertical portion (engaged portion) 16 a on the lower side of the plate 16 attached to the lower end of the movable gripping member 8. positioned. The separation maintaining means 22 is driven in synchronism with the rotary stopper 18 and travels at the same speed as the transfer speed of the container carrier 2 by the rotary stopper 18. The engaging member 30 of the separation maintaining means 22 appears on the upper surface side by rotating around the upstream sprocket 26A in synchronization with the timing when the movable gripping member 8 is opened by the separation means 20 (reference numeral 30A in FIG. 6). Engaging the front side of the plate 16. The engaging members 30 of the separation maintaining means 22 are arranged at the same pitch as the container carrier 2 being conveyed in contact with the front and rear, and are moving forward at the same speed, so that the engaging members 30 are movable. While the gripping member 8 is engaged with the plate 16, the fixed gripping member 6 and the movable gripping member 8 are kept open, and the engagement member 30 is located on the upper side of both the sprockets 26A and 26B. The container 12 can be supplied into the container carrier 2 while traveling. The conveyor 14 is traveling at a speed slightly higher than the transfer speed of the container carrier 2 by the separation maintaining means 22 and the rotary stopper 18. The driving force for advancing the container carrier 2 against the spring 10 of the container carrier 2 and the tension springs 20Af and 20Bf of the separating means 20 is based on the driving force of the rotary stopper 18.

  The phase maintaining means 22 and the rotary stopper 18 are made different in phase, that is, by changing the positional relationship between the moving engagement member 30 and the projecting portions 18Ab and 18Bb of the rotating star wheels 18A and 18B. By changing the separation position of the movable gripping member 8 with respect to the fixed gripping member 6, the distance between the gripping members 6, 8 maintained in the open state can be adjusted. Thereby, both the holding members 6 and 8 can be opened according to the body diameter of the container 12 to be grasped, and the container 12 does not fluctuate when accommodated, and can be easily accommodated manually. The state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 shows a state in which both gripping members 6 and 8 are opened to the greatest extent. With respect to this state, the position of the engaging member 30 is positioned on the front side in the transport direction and the movable gripping member 8 is positioned on the front side in the transport direction, or the protrusions 18Ab and 18Bb of both star wheels 18A and 18B are rotated. By positioning the base 4 and the fixed gripping member 6 on the rear side in the transport direction by positioning the base 4 and the fixed gripping member 6 on the rear side in the direction, it is possible to make the degree of opening of both the gripping members 6 and 8 smaller than the state shown in FIGS. it can.

  The operation of the container carrier opening device according to the above configuration will be described. The container carrier 2 is continuously transported from the upstream side (right side in FIG. 1) of the transport conveyor 14 and supplied to the container carrier opening device. When the container carrier 2 is supplied to the container carrier opening device, the movable gripping member 8 positioned on the rear side in the transport direction of the container carrier 2 (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 4) is urged against the spring 10. Thus, it is in contact with the fixed gripping member 6 on the front side in the transport direction. When the container carrier 2 on the transport conveyor 14 reaches between the rotary stopper 18 (a pair of star wheels 18A and 18B) and the separating means 20 (20A and 20B), the separating means 20 is provided as shown in FIG. The engaging portions 20Ad and 20Bd at the tips of the two swing levers 20Ac and 20Bc are engaged with both ends 8b and 8c of the movable gripping member 8 on the rear side without engaging with the fixed gripping member 6 on the front side in the transport direction.

  Further, the star wheels 18A and 18B of the rotary stopper 18 are such that when the engaging portions 20Ad and 20Bd of the swing levers 20Ac and 20Bc are engaged with the movable gripping member 8, the protrusions 18Ab and 18Bb are connected to the container carrier 2. Engagement is started at the rear end of the base 4 (see the central container carrier in FIG. 4). When both star wheels 18A and 18B continue to rotate from this state, the protrusions 18Ab and 18Bb of the star wheels 18A and 18B press the base 4 downstream. The tension springs 20Af and 20Bf of the separating means 20 are set to have a stronger spring force than the spring 10 that urges the movable gripping member 8 toward the fixed gripping member 6 and swings while the base 4 moves forward. The movable gripping member 8 engaged with the engaging portions 20Ad and 20Bd of the levers 20Ac and 20Bc cannot be advanced by the tension springs 20Af and 20Bf, and the space between the fixed gripping member 6 is expanded.

  Since the movable gripping member 8 is engaged with the swing levers 20Ac and 20Bc, and the swing levers 20Ac and 20Bc are pulled rearward by the tension springs 20Af and 20Bf, as the container carrier 2 advances, the movable gripping member 8 is gradually separated from the fixed gripping member 6. When the movable gripping member 8 moves to the rear end portion of the container carrier 2, it cannot move any further. Therefore, as the base 4 pressed by the rotary stopper 18 advances, the tension springs 20Af and 20Bf extend and both swing levers 20Ac and 20Bc gradually open. Finally, the movable gripping member 8 moves forward by pushing open the engaging portions 20Ad and 20Bd at the tips of the two swing levers 20Ab and 20Bb, and disengages from the swing levers b20Ac and 20Bc (the container carrier 2 in the center of FIG. 5). reference). The swing levers 20Ac and 20Bc released from the movable gripping member 8 are pulled by the tension springs 20Af and 20Bf, and return to the direction orthogonal to the original transport conveyor 14 to transport the movable gripping member 8 of the next container carrier 2. Wait for it to come.

  With the rotary stopper 18 and the separating means 20, the movable gripping member 8 separated from the position where the movable gripping member 8 is moved to the rearmost side in the transport direction A of the container carrier 2 toward the downstream side. A separation maintaining means 22 is provided to maintain the gap, and an engaging member 30 that rotates around the upstream sprocket 26 </ b> A and rises from below is provided in a groove provided at the bottom of the base 4 of the container carrier 2. 4a enters the front side of the vertical portion 16a of the plate 16 provided at the lower end of the movable gripping member 8. The engagement member 30 enters the front side of the vertical portion 16a of the plate 16 of the movable gripping member 8 which is separated by engagement of the engagement portions 20Ad and 20Bd of the separation means 20 and is maintained in an open state. The engagement portions 20Ad and 20Bd are disengaged, and the engagement member 30 is engaged with the plate 16. Since the speed at which the rotary stopper 18 presses and advances the container carrier 2 and the moving speed of the engagement member 30 of the separation maintaining means 22 coincide with each other, the movable gripping is performed within the range where the separation maintaining means 22 is provided. The member 8 moves forward while being maintained at a position farthest from the fixed gripping member 6. During this time, the container 12 is supplied into the container carrier 2. In this embodiment, the state in which the movable gripping member 8 is farthest from the fixed gripping member 6 has been described. However, as described above, the distance between the gripping members 6 and 8 can be adjusted, and the size of the container 12 can be adjusted. Accordingly, the interval between the two 6 and 8 can be changed.

  When the container carrier 2 supplied with the container 12 passes through the position where the separation maintaining means 22 is provided, the engaging member 30 descends while rotating around the downstream sprocket 26B. When the engagement with the plate 16 fixed to the lower end of the movable gripping member 8 is released and the movable gripping member 8 is urged by the spring 10 in the direction of the fixed gripping member 6 on the front side in the transport direction and hits the container 12. Stop. The container 12 is gripped between the movable gripping member 8 and the fixed gripping member 6 by the biasing force of the spring 10.

  The container 12 accommodated in the container carrier 2 and gripped by the fixed gripping member 6 and the movable gripping member 8 on the front and rear is conveyed as it is, and when it reaches the position of the filler 24, it is filled with liquid and sent to the next step. . Since the fixed gripping member 6 and the movable gripping member 8 of the container carrier 2 can be opened with such a simple configuration, it is not necessary to use a screw as in the conventional device, and the cost of the container carrier opening device is reduced. Can do down. Further, even when the container 12 is manually inserted, there is no risk of the operator being involved and it is safe. The processing performed by accommodating the container 12 in the container carrier 2 includes capping, labeling, casing, cleaning, etc. in addition to filling, and the filler of the embodiment is provided downstream of the container carrier opening device of the present invention. In addition to 24, processing means corresponding to these various processes are installed.

2 container carrier 4 container carrier base 6 fixed gripping member 8 movable gripping member 12 container 18 pressing means (rotary stopper)
20 Separation means 22 Separation maintenance means

Claims (1)

A base, a fixed gripping member standing on the base, and a movable gripping member that is biased toward the fixed gripping member and can be moved close to and away from the fixed gripping member. In the container carrier opening device that maintains the state by separating the movable gripping member from the fixed gripping member while transporting the container carrier that grips the carrier carrier,
A side of the conveyance path by the conveyance means, a pressing means that engages with the base and presses in the conveyance direction, and a side of the conveyance path that engages with the movable gripping member and engages the movable carrier member The movable gripping member is separated from the fixed gripping member with the movement in the transport direction, and the movable gripping member is separated from the fixed gripping member, and the container carrier is moved in the transport direction. A separation maintaining means for moving and maintaining the separation state of the movable gripping member , and further, a groove is provided on the bottom of the base from the front side to the rear side in the transport direction of the container carrier, The engaged portion of the movable gripping member with respect to the separation maintaining means can move forward and backward in the groove, and the separation maintaining means is disposed below the transport path of the container carrier so that the movable gripping member is engaged from below. this to be engaged with the engaging portion Opening device of a container carrier according to claim.

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