JP5915228B2 - Container rotation transfer system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a container transport system for delivering a container between a first gripping means for gripping a neck portion of a container provided in the first transport means and a second gripping means provided in the second transport means. It is.

  In a rotary-type filling device in which filling is performed with the tip of the nozzle positioned above the mouth of the container, the filling liquid discharged from the filling nozzle is affected by centrifugal force and is shaken outward in the radial direction of the rotating body. Therefore, the filling liquid discharged into the container at the start of filling may not hit the center of the bottom of the container but may hit the periphery or the corner of the boundary between the bottom and the peripheral wall. In recent years, PET bottles that have been widely used have various shapes at the bottom, and in the case of a container with irregularities formed on the bottom, there is a problem that foaming increases especially when the filling liquid hits the depressions. was there. Therefore, in order to solve such problems, various inventions have been proposed in which foaming is prevented by tilting the container during filling and adjusting the location where the filling liquid hits (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

  If the container is tilted at the time of filling as in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the delivery of the next rotary wheel to the gripper may become unstable if the container is tilted. When transferring the filled container to the next rotary wheel, it is necessary to return the posture of the container from an inclined state to an upright state.

  By the way, if it conveys in the state which suspended the neck part of the container with the rotary wheel, it will be in the state by which the bottom part was shaken outward by the centrifugal force. In order to correct the posture of the container conveyed in such a state, an invention in which a support member that comes into contact with the neck portion of the container held by the gripper is provided (for example, Patent Document 2 or Patent Document 3). reference). The invention described in Patent Document 2 or Patent Document 3 includes a filler that fills the resin bottle while rotating and conveying the resin bottle while holding the neck of the resin bottle. In a resin bottle conveyance processing system comprising a wheel that receives a resin bottle and rotates and conveys the neck while holding the neck portion, a support body that comes into contact with the resin bottle is provided above the gripper of the filler. Alternatively, a support body that contacts the resin bottle is provided above the gripper of the wheel.

JP 2008-265851 A Japanese Patent No. 4221767 Japanese Patent No. 4232265

  In order to prevent the container held and conveyed by the gripper of the rotating wheel from being tilted, a structure provided with a support that abuts on the neck of the container is already widely known. Even if a device for filling the container in an inclined state is provided with a mechanism for returning the attitude of the container as in Patent Document 2 or Patent Document 3, it is difficult to stabilize the attitude of the container, or the attitude of the container is There was a problem that it took time to stabilize.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the container conveyed in an inclined state can be reliably and stably delivered by correcting its posture before delivery between the gripping means. The purpose is to do so.

The present invention provides a first rotation transporting means for gripping and transporting a container by a first gripping means provided on the outer peripheral part, and a second rotation for gripping and transporting the container by a second gripping means provided on the outer peripheral part. A container having a cylindrical neck portion in which a screw portion and a flange portion are formed in order downward from the mouth portion at the upper end, and either one of the first gripping means and the second gripping means is Container rotation that grips between the screw part and the flange part, and the other gripping means grips the lower part of the flange part, and delivers and conveys the container from the first rotating conveying means to the second rotating conveying means at a predetermined delivery position. In the transport system, the second rotating transport unit includes a third gripping unit that grips the threaded portion of the container, and the third gripping unit is configured so that the second gripping unit is gripped when the second gripping unit grips the container. said first rotary transport before the Interfere with the screw portion of the container 1 the gripping means is gripped, and is characterized in that to correct the upright posture of the tilted container.

  The container transport system according to the present invention has a third grip for gripping the threaded portion near the upper end of the neck of the container to the second transport means having the second grip means for delivering the container from the first grip means of the first transport means. Since the means is provided, the container can be grasped by the second grasping means after the posture of the container is corrected by grasping the threaded portion of the container inclined by the third grasping means, and the stable container Delivery can be performed.

It is a top view which simplifies and shows the filling line in which a container is conveyed by the container conveyance system which concerns on one Example of this invention. Example 1 It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the container delivery part between the two conveyance means provided in the said container conveyance system. It is a top view which shows the two holding means provided in the conveyance means arrange | positioned at the left side of FIG. 2, A figure (a) shows a lower holding means, A figure (b) shows an upper holding means. It is a top view which shows the upper holding means of the structure different from FIG.3 (b). (Example 2)

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this container transport system, the containers 4 transported by the supply conveyor 2 are supplied to a filler 8 via an inlet wheel 6, filled with contents such as liquid in the filler 8, and then passed through an intermediate wheel 10. To the capper 12 and capping the container 4 after filling with the capper 12, and after that, the container 4 after filling and capping is discharged onto the discharge conveyor 16 through the outlet wheel 14. It is provided in the filling line (refer FIG. 1) which sent the container 4 to the next process.

  The container 4 transported by this container transport system is a lightweight resin container such as a PET bottle. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3B, a small-diameter cylinder is disposed above the large-diameter trunk 4A. The neck 4B has a shape, and the neck 4B protrudes outward from the upper end mouth 4Ba in order downward from the screw part 4Bb, the upper cylindrical part 4Bc, and the lower part of the upper cylindrical part 4Bc. A flange portion 4Bd and a lower cylindrical portion 4Be are formed. The resin container 4 has a threaded portion 4Bb formed by grippers provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion of each of the rotary conveying means (inlet wheel 6, filler 8, intermediate wheel 10, capper 12 and outlet wheel 14). The upper cylindrical portion 4Bc between the flange portion 4Bd and the lower cylindrical portion 4Be below the flange portion 4Bd is gripped and conveyed in a suspended state. In this embodiment, the filler 8 constitutes the first conveying means described in claim 1, and the intermediate wheel 10 constitutes the second conveying means.

  In this embodiment, for example, the flange portion of the resin container 4 supported by the pair of support rails of the air conveyance conveyor (supply conveyor 2) on the lower surface side of the flange portion 4Bd and conveyed by blowing air from the rear. The cylindrical portion 4Bc above 4Bd is held and rotated by a gripper (not shown) of the inlet wheel 6 and transferred to the gripper 18 of the filler 8 that holds the cylindrical portion 4Be below the flange portion 4Bd. Do. The container 4 gripped and rotated by the gripper 18 of the filler 8 is filled with liquid or the like from a filling nozzle (not shown) and then delivered to the gripper 20 of the intermediate wheel 10. The gripper 20 of the intermediate wheel 10 grips and rotates and conveys the cylindrical portion 4Bc above the flange portion 4Bd of the container 4, and grips the cylindrical portion 4Be below the flange portion 4Bd (see FIG. (Not shown) Further, the container 4 that has been capped by the capper 12 is transferred to a gripper (not shown) of the exit wheel 14, is gripped by the cylindrical portion 4 </ b> Bc above the flange portion 4 </ b> Bd, is rotated and conveyed, and is discharged. 16 is handed over. In this embodiment, the gripper 18 of the filler 8 constitutes the first gripping means of claim 1 and the gripper 20 of the intermediate wheel 10 constitutes the second gripping means. However, the present invention is not limited to the grippers of the filler 8 and the intermediate wheel 10, and the present invention can also be applied to grippers of other rotary conveying means.

  In the filler 8 of this embodiment, filling is performed in a state where the container 4 is inclined, and the intermediate wheel 10 that receives the delivery of the container 4 from the filler 8 is first in a state in which the posture of the container 4 is upright. After being returned to the position, the gripper 20 grips it. In order to correct the posture of the inclined container as described above, another gripper 22 (which constitutes the third gripping means of claim 1 in this embodiment) is provided above the gripper 20. The configuration of these grippers (second gripping means 20 and third gripping means 22) will be described with reference to FIGS. A rotating shaft 26 arranged in the vertical direction is rotatably supported by a fixed support portion 24 arranged at the center of the intermediate wheel 10, and a horizontal rotating wheel 28 is fixed to the upper end of the rotating shaft 26. Yes. An annular mounting plate 30 is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the rotating wheel 28, and a plurality of grippers (in this embodiment, a plurality of sets of second gripping means 20 and third grippers) are arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the mounting plate 30 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. A gripping means 22) is provided.

  An upright rocking shaft 32 is rotatably supported on the outer periphery of the mounting plate 30, and one of a pair of horizontal grip members 34, 36 is attached to the rocking shaft 32. Further, a second swing shaft 38 is rotatably supported on the same mounting plate 30 on the same circumference as the swing shaft 32, and the other grip member 36 is mounted. Sector gears (not shown) are provided at the portions of the grip members 34, 36 facing each other on the base 34a, 36a side, and mesh with each other. Accordingly, when one grip member (in this embodiment, the grip member 34 on the downstream side in the transport direction in FIG. 3A) is rotated, the rotation is transmitted by the sector gear and the other grip member 36 is moved to the grip member. Rotate equiangularly in the opposite direction to 34.

  Grip surfaces 34b and 36b for gripping the container 4 when both the grip members 34 and 36 are closed are formed near the distal ends of the pair of grip members 34 and 36 facing the radially outward side of the rotary wheel 28. ing. The most distal ends 34c, 36c of the grip surfaces 34b, 36b are curved inward to interfere with the radially outward side of the container 4 being rotated and conveyed.

  One end of a roller arm 40 is fixed to the swing shaft 32 of the one grip member 34. A cam follower 42 is attached to the other end (rotation end) of the roller arm 40. Spring mounting pins 44 and 46 are fixed to a portion of the roller arm 40 near the cam follower 42 and the lower surface side of the mounting plate 30, respectively, and a tension spring 48 is provided between the spring mounting pins 44 and 46. . By pulling the rotation end (cam follower 42 side) of the roller arm 40 in the clockwise direction of FIG. 3 by the tension spring 48, the pair of grip members 34 and 36 closes the front end side grip surfaces 34b and 36b. Always energized.

  A fixed plate (indicated by reference numeral 50 as a whole) is attached to the outer periphery of the fixed support portion 24 disposed at the center of the intermediate wheel 10, and a gripper opening / closing cam 52 is fixed to the outer peripheral end of the fixed plate 50. Yes. The gripper opening / closing cam 52 has a large-diameter portion 52a (see FIG. 3A) protruding outward in the radial direction by pushing the cam follower 42 pressed by the tension spring 48 outward in the radial direction. 40 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3, and one grip member 34 to which the roller arm 40 is connected is rotated in a direction away from the other grip member 36. The rotation of the one grip member 34 is transmitted to the other grip member 36 through the sector gears meshing with each other, and the grip surfaces 34b, 36b on the front end side of both the grip members 34, 36 are opened (FIG. 3). (Refer to the gripper 20 located at the center and below in (a)). In the small-diameter portion 52b in which the gripper opening / closing cam 52 is retracted radially inward, the roller arm 40 is attracted by the tension spring 48, so that the tip end sides of the grip members 34 and 36 are brought closer to each other. By swinging, the gripper 20 is in a closed state (see the gripper positioned above FIG. 3A).

  In this embodiment, the gripper 20 (second gripping member) of the intermediate wheel 10 grips the cylindrical portion 4Bc above the flange portion 4Bd of the container 4, and the screw portion 4Bb further above the cylindrical portion 4Bc. Another gripper 22 (third gripping member) for gripping is provided. The gripper 22 is in an upright or almost upright posture of the container 4 in an inclined state by interfering with and gripping the threaded portion 4Bb of the container 4 at an earlier timing than the gripper 20 as the intermediate wheel 10 rotates. To correct. A long oscillating shaft 54 is rotatably supported through the inside of the oscillating shaft 32 to which one grip member 34 of the gripper 20 (second gripping member) is attached. One grip member 56 of the gripper 22 is attached to the upper end of the long swing shaft 54. The other grip member 60 is attached to another swing shaft 58 that penetrates the inside of the swing shaft 38 and is located on the same circumference with the same radius as the long swing shaft 54 of the mounting plate 30. ing.

  An annular second mounting plate 64 is fixed via a stay 62 to the lower surface of the annular mounting plate 30 fixed to the outer peripheral side of the rotating plate 28, and the rotating plate 28 and the mounting plate 30 (hereinafter referred to as “the rotating plate 28”). It rotates integrally with the first mounting plate. The swinging shafts 32 and 38 (the swinging shaft of the gripper 20 as the second gripping means) through which the long swinging shafts 54 and 58 pass are an upper first mounting plate 30 and a lower second mounting plate. 64 is rotatably supported by penetrating 64.

  The grip members 56 and 60 of the gripper 22 are formed with triangular connection portions 56b and 60b at portions facing each other on the base portions 56a and 60a side, and the tip portions thereof overlap each other. A connecting pin 66 is inserted through the overlapping portion of the connecting portions 56b and 60b. The portions of the connecting portions 56b and 60b through which the connecting pins 66 are inserted are formed with long holes or grooves in the direction connecting the two swinging shafts 54 and 58, and are connected when the grip members 56 and 60 are rotated. The pin 66 transmits rotation and allows the connecting pin 66 to move during rotation. Of the pair of grip members 56 and 60 connected to the pair of swing shafts 54 and 58, respectively, one grip member (in this embodiment, the grip member 56 on the downstream side in the transport direction in FIG. 3B). ) Is rocked at an equal angle in the opposite direction to the grip member 56 via the connecting pin 66. Further, a stopper 68 is provided on the inner surface side of the other grip member 60 to restrict the distance between the grip members 56 and 60 when they are closed.

  Grip surfaces 56c and 60c are formed on the inner surfaces of the grip members 56 and 60 on the front end side so as to come into contact with the threaded portion 4Bb of the neck portion 4B of the container 4 from both sides. The gripper 22 as the third gripping member is smoothly continuous from the arc-shaped grip surfaces 56c and 60c toward the substantially linear portions 56d and 60d on the inner surface side of the grip members 56 and 60 (circles). Connection portions between the arc-shaped grip surfaces 56C and 60c and the straight portions 56d and 60d are indicated by reference numerals 56e and 60e). Moreover, the front-end | tip parts 56f and 60f of both the grip members 56 and 60 are curving in the inward side mutually closed according to the circular arc shape of the grip surfaces 56c and 60c.

  A roller arm 70 is fixed to the lower end of the long swing shaft 54 to which the one grip member 56 is attached. A cam follower 72 is attached to the rotating end of the roller arm 70. Spring mounting pins 74 and 76 are fixed to a position near the rotating end of the roller arm 70 and the lower surface side of the second mounting plate 64, respectively, and a tension spring 78 is interposed between the two spring mounting pins 74 and 76. Is provided. By this tension spring 78, the roller arm 70 is always attracted in the same direction as the roller arm 40 of the second gripping member 20.

  An air cylinder 80 is fixed to the lower surface side of the fixed plate 50 so that the radially outer side of the intermediate wheel 10 faces. A gripper opening / closing cam 84 is attached to the piston rod 82 of the air cylinder 80. The cam follower 72 attracted by the tension spring 78 moves along the cam surface of the cam 84 and rotates the roller arm 70 according to the shape of the cam surface. The rotation of the roller arm 70 causes the grip members 56 and 60 to approach and separate from each other, thereby opening and closing the gripper 22. Like the cam 52 of the second gripping member 20, the cam surface has a large-diameter portion 84a projecting radially outward and a small-diameter portion 84b recessed inward in the radial direction. At the large diameter portion 84a, the cam follower 72 is pushed out to open the gripper 22, and at the small diameter portion 84b, the cam follower 72 side of the roller arm 70 is attracted by the tension spring 78 to close the gripper 22.

  The gripper opening / closing cam 84 of the gripper 22 (third gripping means) is more clear than the gripper opening / closing cam 52 of the gripper 20 (second gripping means), as is apparent from the comparison between FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). In the early stage of the rotation direction, the large diameter portion 84a is shifted to the small diameter portion 84b, and the grip members 56, 60 of the third gripping means 22 are more than the grip members 34, 36 of the second gripping means 20. However, the upper gripper 20 shown in FIG. 3 (a) and the upper gripper 22 shown in FIG. 3 (b) are closed. The air cylinder 80 for moving the gripper opening / closing cam 84 of the third gripping means 22 forward / backward is not operated during normal operation, and the gripper 22 is left open to avoid interference when the filler 8 is cleaned. It is used when leaving.

  The operation of the filling line including the container transport system having the above-described configuration will be described. The container 4 (resin bottle) conveyed by the supply conveyor 2 is gripped by the gripper (not shown) of the inlet wheel 6 on the cylindrical portion 4Bc above the flange portion 4Bd of the neck portion 4B. It is conveyed by rotation. At the transfer position A from the inlet wheel 6 to the filler 8, the gripper 18 (first gripping means) of the filler 8 grips the cylindrical portion 4Be below the flange portion 4Bd, and the gripper of the inlet wheel 6 opens. Is delivered. While being gripped by the gripper 18 and being rotated and conveyed by the rotation of the rotating body of the filler 8, the content such as liquid is filled by a filling means (not shown). The container 4 filled with liquid or the like is held by the gripper 18 of the filler 8 and reaches the delivery position B to the intermediate wheel 10.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing a delivery position B from the filler 8 (first conveying means) to the intermediate wheel 10 (second conveying means). At this position B, the gripper 18 (first gripping means) of the filler 8 is moved to the intermediate wheel. Delivery is performed to ten grippers 20 (second gripping means). When the gripper 18 of the filler 8 approaches the delivery position B, the grippers 20 and 22 (second gripping means and third gripping means thereabove) of the intermediate wheel 10 also approach the delivery position. The container 4 held by the gripper 18 of the filler 8 is inclined for filling, or the bottom side is swung radially outward by centrifugal force. That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, the upper end side of the container 4 is swung toward the radially inward side of the filler 8, and the bottom side is swung toward the radially inward side of the intermediate wheel 10.

  If the container 4 is inclined as described above, the gripper 20 of the intermediate wheel 10 may grip the flange portion 4Bd together with the cylindrical portion 4Bc above the flange portion 4Bd of the container 4. Therefore, first, the gripper 22 (third gripping means) above the intermediate wheel 10 is closed to grip the threaded portion 4Bb of the container 4. As described above, the gripper opening / closing cam 84 of the third gripping means 22 is shifted from the large diameter portion 84a to the small diameter portion 84b on the upstream side in the rotational direction with respect to the gripper opening / closing cam 52 of the second gripping means 22. Therefore, the third gripping means 22 is closed before the second gripping means 20. The third gripping means 22 grips the container 4 at a position where the container 4 is gripped, not the upper and lower cylindrical portions 4Bc and 4Be of the flange portion 4Bd, but the upper screw portion 4Bb. Even if the grip members 56 and 60 are closed, the tip portions 56f and 60f curved in accordance with the closing operation of the both grip members interfere with the upper screw portion 4Bb, and the upper portion of the container 4 is The inclined container 4 that acts so as to be pulled inward in the radial direction of the intermediate wheel 10 can be corrected to an upright posture.

  As described above, the gripper 22 as the third gripping means provided on the upper side of the intermediate wheel 10 grips the container 4 inclined at the filler 8 first and corrects it to an upright posture, and then below that. The gripper 20 (second gripping means) closes to grip the cylindrical portion 4Bc on the upper side of the flange portion 4Bd. Since the container 4 is standing upright when the second gripping means 20 is closed, the grip surfaces 34b and 36b of the gripper 20 are not applied to the flange portion 4Bd side and can be gripped in an upright posture without fail. it can.

  The container 4 gripped by the two upper and lower grippers (the second gripping means 20 and the third gripping means 22) of the intermediate wheel 10 and rotated and conveyed by the rotation of the rotating wheel 28 is gripped by the gripper ( (Not shown). The gripper of the capper 12 is configured to grip the cylindrical portion 4Be below the flange portion 4Bd of the container 4 and is transferred from the grippers 20 and 22 of the intermediate wheel 10 to the gripper of the capper 12 at the transfer position C. Although not shown, a cam for opening the grippers 20 and 22 is also disposed at the delivery position C. While being gripped by the gripper of the capper 12 and being rotated and conveyed, capping is performed. The container 4 that has been capped is delivered to a gripper (not shown) of the exit wheel 14 at the delivery position D and discharged onto the discharge conveyor 16, and is sent to the next process by the discharge conveyor 16. In the embodiment, the first gripping means 18 grips the cylindrical portion 4Be below the flange portion 4Bd of the container 4, and the second gripping means 20 grips the cylindrical portion 4Bc above the flange portion 4Bd. However, conversely, the first gripping means 18 grips the cylindrical portion 4Bc above the flange portion 4Bd of the container 4, and the second gripping means 20 is the cylindrical portion 4Be below the flange portion 4Bd. You may make it hold | grip. Further, the third gripping means 22 is configured to grip the screw portion 4Bb of the container 4, but does not necessarily have to be gripped so as to hold the container 4, and is inclined to interfere with the screw portion 4Bb of the container 4. What is necessary is just to be able to correct the posture of the container 4 to a substantially upright posture.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a main part of an upper gripper 122 (third gripping means) provided on the intermediate wheel 110 of the container transport system according to the second embodiment. Since the configuration of the other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment, illustration and description are omitted. In this embodiment, the shapes of the grip surfaces 156c and 160c formed on the front end side of the surfaces of the grip members 156 and 160 facing each other are different from those of the previous embodiment. In the first embodiment, the grip surfaces 56c and 60c and the straight portions 56d and 60d toward the base side are smoothly connected. In this embodiment, the arc-shaped grip surfaces 156c and 160c and the straight portions 156d and 160d are connected. Connecting portions 156e and 160e project in a protruding shape.

  Since the connecting portions 156e, 160e between the arcuate grip surfaces 156c, 160c and the straight portions 156d, 160d formed on the surfaces of the grip members 156, 160 facing each other are projecting, the tip portions 156f, 160f Not only interferes with the surface on the radially outer side of the intermediate wheel 110 of the container 4 and pulls it inward in the radial direction, but the projecting connection portions 156e and 160e interfere with the surface on the radially inner side. Since it can be pushed outward in the radial direction, the bottom side of the container 4 is swung radially inward of the intermediate wheel 110 as in the above-described embodiment (refer to the container indicated by reference numeral 4M in FIG. 4). ) As well as when it is swung outward in the radial direction (see the container indicated by reference numeral 4N in FIG. 4), the posture can be corrected by gripping with the gripper 122. It is possible to stand the state.

4 Container 4B Container neck 4Ba Container mouth 4Bb Container thread 4Bd Container flange 8 First conveying means (filler)
10 Second transport means (intermediate wheel)
18 First gripping means 20 Second gripping means 22 Third gripping means

Claims (1)

A first rotating and conveying means for gripping and transporting the container by the first gripping means provided on the outer peripheral portion; and a second rotating and conveying means for gripping and transporting the container by the second gripping means provided on the outer peripheral portion. Prepared,
For a container having a cylindrical neck portion in which a screw portion and a flange portion are formed in order downward from the mouth portion at the upper end, one of the first gripping means and the second gripping means is connected to the screw portion and the flange portion of the container. In the container rotation transport system for gripping the gap between the first rotation transport means and the second rotation transport means, the other gripping means grips the bottom of the flange portion, and delivers and transports the container at a predetermined delivery position .
The second rotary conveying means includes third gripping means for gripping the threaded portion of the container, and the third gripping means is prior to the second gripping means when the second gripping means grips the container. The container rotating / conveying system characterized in that the inclined container position is corrected to an upright state by interfering with a threaded portion of the container gripped by the first gripping means of the first rotating / conveying means.

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