JP6462216B2 - Tube container transfer device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tube container transport device, and more specifically, for example, transports the tube container in a packaging system that receives a tube container filled in an upstream content filling device and supplies the tube container to a packaging box. It is related with the apparatus for doing.

  As one of containers for storing contents such as highly viscous liquids such as paste and cream, there is a tube container. The tube container includes a cylindrical body portion made of a flexible material such as a soft synthetic resin, and is heat sealed at one end of the body portion and continuously formed at the other end of the body portion. The cap is attached to the narrow neck.

  In order to fill the tube container with the contents, in general, one end side of the body portion without the cap is opened, and an intermediate product with the cap attached to the neck portion is used, and the contents are supplied from the opened one end side, and then One end of the opening is heat sealed and sealed. And this type of tube container is stored in a packaging box, for example, in a plurality, and is often wholesaled to a store.

  For example, in the packaging system which packs such a tube container, there exists a conveying apparatus which receives a tube container, conveys it by a predetermined path | route, and conveys it to the supply area which supplies a tube container to a packaging box. Moreover, as a conveying apparatus which conveys a tube, there exists a feeder for tube filling apparatuses disclosed by patent document 1, for example. This feeder for tube filling devices is configured such that a plurality of holders are connected to a conveyor, and a tube is loaded into each holder. The holder revolves integrally with the conveyor and sequentially moves to the installation position of each processing apparatus. Thereby, the tube is also transported to the installation position of each processing apparatus by the holder, and predetermined processing is performed there.

Special Table 2002-542129

  In the conveyance device disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the holder is integrally connected to the conveyor, the movement path of the holder is an arc-shaped part connecting the two linear parts and the linear part, and the movement path There are few degrees of freedom. Since the holder is integrally connected to the conveyor, the front and rear relative positions and the like are also fixed, and lacks versatility.

  In addition, for example, the number of processing at a time in the processing apparatus constituting the packaging system may be different, and there is a request to supply the processing number as a whole to the processing apparatus. The request cannot be met.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, since it is a cylindrical tube and the posture does not change even if it is rotated in the axial direction, it does not matter much just to insert the tube into the holder. However, for example, the orientation of the posture may occur. If simple tube containers are simply inserted into the holders, the directions of the tube containers in the holders are not aligned, and smooth processing in the processing apparatus may not be performed. Here, the directionality of the posture is, for example, the direction of the tube container by the seal portion when the seal portion is flattened like a tube container that is heat-sealed by sandwiching one end of the body portion. Sex occurs.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the tube container inspection apparatus according to the present invention is (1) a tube container transport device that is mounted on a packaging system that supplies and packs a tube container filled with contents to a packaging box. A carrier that holds the tube container in an upright state, and a conveyance path that conveys the carrier, and the carrier holds the tube container from the receipt of the tube container to a supply position to the packaging box. The processing apparatus which maintains the state and has a plurality of the carriers in an independent state, the transport path is endless, the carrier circulates along the transport path, and constitutes the packaging system when leading to said processing device configured away cut from a subsequent in number corresponding, the processing device is a test unit for performing tests on said tubular container, said key The rear coincides with guide plates provided on both sides of the conveyance path so that the movement is restricted in the horizontal and vertical directions with respect to the conveyance direction, and the tube container is heat-sealed at one end of the body portion for storing the contents. The carrier has a flat reference surface on a side surface parallel or perpendicular to the transport direction, and the plurality of carriers have the reference surface and the seal portion parallel to each other. Alternatively, the holding is performed in a state in which the seal part is parallel to the transport direction in an orthogonal state . Since the plurality of carriers move along the transport path independently of each other, the corresponding number of tube containers can be collectively supplied to each processing apparatus. In addition, when the transport path is set to an appropriate path, the carrier and thus the tube container can be transported along the transport path, and the degree of freedom of the layout layout of the packaging system is increased. In the embodiment, the processing apparatus corresponds to the distortion inspection unit 35, the leak inspection unit 42, the seal portion abnormality inspection unit 43, the product supply unit 70, and the like.

  (2) The carrier may be held so as to prevent relative rotation of the tube container about the axial direction in which the tube container stands. If it does in this way, the attitude | position at the time of setting a tube container to a carrier will be maintained until it supplies to a packaging box from the said reception. Therefore, for example, when the tube container is set in the carrier, if the orientation and posture are the same, the posture of each tube container can be aligned when supplying to each processing apparatus, and the processing can be performed easily. Good.

(3) pre-Symbol carrier to be provided with a stopper mechanism for fixing said seal portion and a recess for inserting the opposite end of the tube container, the end that is inserted into the recess. This is preferable because the tube container can be held with a simple configuration.

Group Junmen, in embodiments, corresponding to the side surface of the base portion 17. Either the long side or the short side can be the reference plane. The side surface of the flange 18 also Ru can become the reference plane. According to the present invention, since the posture and orientation of the tube container can be known from the reference plane of the carrier, the processing in each processing apparatus is facilitated . The standards plane parallel / perpendicular to the conveying direction, the relative angle is also parallel / perpendicular to the reference plane, it can be aligned in a direction along the orientation of the tubular container in the conveying direction, bulk easy for a plurality of tubular container This is preferable.

  According to the present invention, the degree of freedom of the carrier movement path is increased, and the relative positional relationship between the carriers is also free. For example, even when the number of processing devices in the processing system constituting the packaging system is different at a time, The number to be processed can be collectively supplied to the processing apparatus.

It is a top view which shows an example of the packaging system by which the conveyance apparatus for tube containers which concerns on this invention is mounted. The schematic structure of suitable one Embodiment of the conveying apparatus for tube containers which concerns on this invention is shown. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the part which loads a tube container to a seal | sticker test | inspection apparatus. It is an enlarged view which mainly shows the carrier which comprises the conveyance apparatus for tube containers. (A) is a top view which shows the distortion inspection part of a standby state, (b) is a top view which shows the distortion inspection part of an operation state. (A) is a front view which shows the leak test | inspection part of a standby state, (b) is the top view. (A) is a front view which shows the leak test | inspection part of an operation state, (b) is the top view. (A) is a front view which shows a seal | sticker part abnormality test | inspection part, (b) is the top view.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not construed as being limited thereto, and various changes, modifications, and improvements can be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a packaging system in which a tube container transport device according to the present invention is mounted, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of a preferred embodiment of the tube container transport device according to the present invention. Yes. The packaging system used in the present embodiment has a function of filling the contents from one open end of the tube container and sealing the opened portion to produce a tube container containing the contents, and an inspection for inspecting the produced tube container. Functions, assembly of cartons in the unfolded state to manufacture a packaging box, storage of multiple tube containers in the packaging box, and closing of the packaging box, etc. It is for performing a series of processes up to. The figure shows a part of the configuration.

  A tube container inspection device 11 is installed on the upstream side in the figure. A specific configuration of the tube container inspection device 11 will be described later. A tube container 1 to be processed includes a cylindrical body portion 2 made of a flexible material such as a soft synthetic resin, and one end of the body portion 2 is heat-sealed to become a seal portion 4 and sealed. The Further, the cap 3 is attached to a narrow neck portion formed continuously with the other end of the body portion 2. The contents are pushed out from the neck portion by removing the cap 3 and grasping and crushing the body portion 2 from both sides. The contents include, for example, highly viscous liquids such as pastes and creams. Specific examples include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food products.

  On the upstream side of the tube container inspection device 11, a content filling device (not shown) is arranged. This content filling device has a function of filling and supplying contents from one end of the tube container with the seal portion 4 of the body portion 2 opened, and a function of heat sealing and sealing the one end. Is provided. By this heat sealing, the sealed tube container 1 containing the contents is manufactured. The tube container 1 containing the contents is supplied to the tube container inspection apparatus 11 by the tube loading unit 12.

  2 and 3, the tube loading unit 12 used in the present embodiment is arranged in a line from the upstream content filling device in a line in the longitudinal direction with the carrying posture at the carry-out conveyor 13. Are sequentially received by five buckets 14, the bucket 14 is moved in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the carry-out conveyor 13, and the bucket is moved by a transfer device (not shown) at the loading position. Each tube container 1 in 14 is held and the cap 3 is erected with the cap 3 down, and is set on the carrier 16 waiting at the loading position of the tube container inspection device 11.

  The carrier 16 is one of the components of the tube container transport device 20 that transports the tube container in the present packaging system. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 4, the carrier 16 includes flanges 18 that protrude outward at the lower end of the long side of the substantially rectangular pedestal 17. A concave portion 19 is provided at the center of the upper surface of the pedestal portion 17. The inner diameter of the recess 19 is set equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cap 3 of the tube container 1. The pedestal portion 17 is provided with a stopper mechanism 21, which exerts a horizontal holding force with respect to the cap 3, and fixes the cap 3 at a predetermined position and angle of the pedestal portion 17. Further, a fitting concave portion having a V-shape in a plan view is formed at the end of the pedestal portion 17 on the long side, and a positioning pin is fitted in each processing apparatus.

  The stopper mechanism 21 includes a stopper piece 23 arranged near the center of one long side of the pedestal 17 and the stopper piece 23 moved in a horizontal plane so that the tip of the stopper piece 23 enters or leaves the space of the recess 19. A drive mechanism is provided. The stopper piece 23 is cantilevered at the central portion of the belt-like support bar 24. On the other hand, a pair of connecting rods 25 are arranged so as to be movable in the thrust direction so as to penetrate the pedestal portion 17 and communicate between a pair of long sides of the pedestal portion 17 in the vicinity of both longitudinal ends of the pedestal portion 17. Then, both ends of the support bar 24 are connected to one end side of the pair of connecting rods 25, and the connecting bar 26 is connected to the other end side of the connecting rod 25. Further, a coil spring 27 is attached to the other end side of the connecting rod 25. The drive mechanism includes the stopper piece 23, the support bar 24, the connecting rod 25, the connecting bar 26, and the coil spring 27 described above.

  Due to the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 27, the connecting bar 26 is urged away from the pedestal 17. In response to this urging force, the connecting rod 25, the support bar 24, and thus the stopper piece 23 move to the left in FIG. 4, and the tip of the stopper piece 23 enters the space of the recess 19. When the connecting bar 26 is pushed in the direction approaching the pedestal portion 17, the coil spring 27 is compressed and deformed, and conversely, the tip of the stopper piece 23 is removed from the space of the recess 19.

  The tube loading unit 12 urges the connecting bar 26 toward the pedestal 17 by a pusher (not shown) at the loading position, and moves the stopper piece 23 backward so as to be positioned at the retreat position outside the space of the recess 19. With this state, the tube container 1 is held by a transfer device (not shown), is raised, and the cap 3 is inserted into the recess 19. Thereafter, the pusher is moved backward to release the bias to the connecting bar 26. As a result, due to the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 27, the tip of the stopper piece 23 enters the space of the recess 19, and the cap 3 is sandwiched and held between the stopper piece 23 and the inner peripheral surface of the recess 19 facing it. Therefore, the tube container 1 maintains the posture and orientation loaded in the recess 19 of the carrier 16 by the transfer device, and moves in the tube container inspection apparatus 11 together with the carrier 16.

  Moreover, the conveyance attitude | position of the tube container 1 on the carrying-out conveyor 13 and also the bucket 14 is a lying state, and becomes the attitude | position in which the seal part 4 of the tube container 1 was located in the substantially horizontal surface. Therefore, when the tube containers 1 are erected from the state and loaded into the carrier 16, the seal portions 4 of the tube containers 1 are arranged in the direction in which the tube containers 1 are arranged in a state where the five tube containers 1 are arranged in a horizontal row. It will be arranged on a straight line along. Actually, in a state where the cap 3 of the tube container 1 is set up in the recessed portion 19 of the carrier 16, the tube container 1 is urged downward by a pushing device, and the cap 3 is pushed into the recessed portion 19. The pushing device includes a gripping portion that grips the seal portion 4 of the tube container 1 and pushes in a state where the seal portion 4 is gripped by the gripping portion. By setting the surfaces sandwiched by the five gripping portions for gripping each tube container 1 on the same plane, the seal portions 4 gripped by the gripping portions are positioned on the same plane.

  Further, in the tube container transfer device 20 of the present embodiment, the carrier 16 holding one tube container 1 can be moved individually one by one. As shown in FIG. 4, a guide groove 18 a is formed on the outer surface of the flange 18 of the carrier 16. This guide groove 18a coincides with the guide plate 32 provided on the upper side of the side wall 31 standing on both sides of the conveyance path 30 constituted by the first belt conveyor, and restricts the movement in the lateral direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. The carrier 16 moves along the transport path 30. In other words, the tube container transfer device 20 of the present embodiment includes a large number of carriers 16 having such a configuration, and the multiple carriers 16 approach and separate from each other as appropriate, and circulate around a predetermined route while changing the transfer direction. Further, the vertical position of the carrier 16 is also aligned by the guide plate 32, and the inspection accuracy is improved.

  When each carrier 16 is urged directly or indirectly through another carrier or the like, if the urging direction is movable, the carrier 16 proceeds in that direction. In this embodiment, a plurality of carriers 16 move in a group and move to a place such as each device. Further, the number of carriers 16 constituting one group varies by dividing the number into an appropriate number. In other words, in this embodiment, each processing apparatus processes a plurality of tube containers at once, but the number of individual processing apparatuses that can be handled at one time is different. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by appropriately varying the number of carriers 16 constituting one group, for example, the maximum number of tube containers 1 that can be handled by each processing apparatus or the number of tube containers 1 corresponding thereto can be processed, and each work can be performed efficiently. It can be carried out. Further, the tube container transport device 20 transports a large number of carriers 16 through a predetermined endless path. The tube container transport device 20 receives the tube container 1 at the loading position, transports the carrier 16 holding the tube container 1 through a predetermined path, and feeds the tube container 1 to the packaging box from the carrier 16 at the supply position. The process of removing the tube container 1 and returning the empty carrier 16 to the loading position is repeated.

  The tube container inspection device 11 inspects the sealing state of the seal portion 4 of the tube container 1 and carries out a good product to the downstream packaging line. The tube container transport device 20 in the tube container inspection device 11 transports the empty carrier 16 and temporarily stops when it reaches the loading position. Pause in a state where five are arranged in front and rear (see A in FIGS. 2 and 3). At this time, the forward movement of the subsequent carrier 16 is suppressed by a stopper or the like. Therefore, a predetermined space is secured and divided between the subsequent carrier 16 that has been temporarily stopped and the group of carriers 16 at the loading position.

  When the tube container 1 is loaded, the carrier 16 at the position A is pushed by a pusher (not shown) and pushed out in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the empty carrier 16 (see A in FIGS. 2 and 3). The carrier 16 loaded with the extruded tube container 1 is transported in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the empty carrier 16 on the side away from the tube loading unit 12. This conveyance is performed by the first belt conveyor. The downstream end side of the first belt conveyor is a direction conversion position C that changes the traveling direction by 90 degrees.

  At this direction change position C, a stopper is provided in front of the traveling direction of the first belt conveyor constituting the conveyance line from the position B, and the top of the carrier 16 loaded with the five groups of tube containers 1 hits the stopper. Pause at the direction change position C. At this direction change position C, it is pushed by a pusher (not shown) and pushed in the lateral direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first belt conveyor. The number of push-outs at the direction change position C is four from the beginning.

  The four groups of carriers 16 pushed out by the pusher are transferred onto a second belt conveyor 34 extending in a direction orthogonal to the first belt conveyor. Therefore, the carrier 16 conveyed from the B position to the C position in a vertical line on the first belt conveyor is conveyed in a horizontal line by the second belt conveyor 34, and the distortion inspection unit 35 To the vicinity of the entrance. As shown in FIG. 5, a temporary storage flat plate 40 is disposed at the carry-out end of the second belt conveyor 34, which is located slightly above the belt surface and the surface position. The carrier 16 (not shown in FIG. 5) conveyed by the second belt conveyor 34 rides on the temporary storage flat plate 40 and temporarily stops. When the subsequent carrier 16 conveyed by the second belt conveyor 34 reaches the carry-out end, the carrier 16 that has been temporarily stopped on the temporary storage flat plate 40 is pushed forward, and the second belt conveyor 34. Is transferred onto the third belt conveyor 41 whose conveyance direction has been changed by 90 degrees. A stopper is provided in the carry-in area of the third belt conveyor 41, and the four groups of carriers 16 supplied onto the third belt conveyor 41 are temporarily stopped in the carry-in area.

  The distortion inspection unit 35 includes a pair of first sensors 36 for checking the orientation of the seal unit 4 of the tube container 1 that is located in the carry-in area of the third belt conveyor 41 and is temporarily stopped. The first sensor 36 determines whether or not the seal portions 4 are aligned on the same plane and the same straight line. For example, two sets of transmissive photoelectric sensors are arranged at a predetermined interval. For example, the predetermined interval may be a distance with a predetermined margin from the thickness of the seal portion 4. In this case, for example, when the seal portions 4 of the tube container 1 held by the four groups of carriers 16 (not shown in FIG. 5) are neatly arranged, each transmission side of the two sets of photoelectric sensors The light output from is received by the receiving side without hitting the seal portion 4, and it is determined that there is no distortion. On the other hand, when the seal portion 4 is rotated by a predetermined angle or more in the plane, the light output from the transmission side is blocked by the rotated seal portion 4 and is not received, so that it is determined that there is distortion. Note that the photoelectric sensor may include a plurality of light projecting elements and light receiving elements arranged in a line.

  The main distortion assumed here is that the tube container is rotated in a plane, and the orientation of the seal portion 4 is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction for transport to each subsequent inspection portion. This is the case (not parallel). Therefore, even if it is a set of photoelectric sensors, when the tube container 1 rotates, one of the both ends of the seal part 4 may block light.

  The pair of first sensors 36 that perform the distortion inspection are connected to both ends of the support plate 37. The support plate 37 is connected to the cylinder rod 38 a of the cylinder 38. As shown in FIG. 5A, the first sensor 36 is out of the carry-in area of the third belt conveyor 41 at the standby position where the cylinder rod 38 a is accommodated in the main body by multiple operations. From this state, the cylinder 38 moves forward and the cylinder rod 38a extends, and the pair of first sensors 36 protrude to the carry-in side region side of the third belt conveyor 41 and are held by the temporarily stopped carrier 16. The orientation of the seal part 4 of the tube container 1 is checked. If it is determined that there is no distortion, the stopper on the third belt conveyor 41 is opened, and the temporarily stopped tube container 1 moves on the third belt conveyor 41 together with the carrier 16. In addition, when it is determined that there is distortion, predetermined abnormality processing is performed. In this abnormal process, at least the distortion inspection unit 35 and the third belt conveyor 41 are stopped, for example, an operator confirms the tube container that has become abnormal visually, etc., and at least removes the tube container alone or each carrier. Destroy all of the four groups of subjects. Further, as another abnormality process, although it is not removed when it is located in this carry-in area, it may be discharged at an appropriate location on the transfer line.

  A seal inspection device is installed on the third belt conveyor 41. In the present embodiment, a leak inspection unit 42 and a seal portion abnormality inspection unit 43 are provided as the seal inspection device. Furthermore, a defective product discharge chute 44 is disposed at the downstream end of the third belt conveyor 41. The defective product discharge chute 44 is a path for removing the defective tube container 1 in which the abnormality is detected by the leak inspection unit 42 or the seal portion abnormality inspection unit 43 from the carrier 16 and dropping it. For removal from the carrier 16, for example, when the position is stopped, the connecting bar 26 of the corresponding carrier 16 is pushed to the pedestal 17 side to release the holding force by the stopper piece 23, and the tube container 1 is sealed with the discharge device. The tube container 1 is dropped by picking and lifting the part 4 and carrying it to the defective product discharge chute 44 and opening the seal part 4.

  The leak inspection unit 42 is a pressure inspection unit that applies a certain amount of load to the body portion 2 of the tube container 1 and determines whether or not there is a seal failure from the width change of the body portion 2. For example, when the seal of the seal part 4 is incomplete, the applied air is leaked from the seal part 4 when a load is applied, and the change width becomes larger and the width becomes thinner than when it is a good product. . The change width and the width of the body portion 2 in a state where a load is applied are detected, and the pass / fail judgment is made based on whether or not the value of the non-defective product exceeds a threshold that sets a predetermined margin with respect to the reference value. . Furthermore, the leak inspection unit 42 collectively inspects the eight tube containers 1.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a first pressurizing unit 45 and a second pressurizing unit 46 are arranged opposite to each other on the left and right sides of the third belt conveyor 41. The first pressurizing means 45 and the second pressurizing means 46 sandwich and pressurize the body portion 2 of the tube container 1 from both sides. At this time, a force is applied to the outer surface of the tube container 1 from the vertical direction. The first pressurizing means 45 includes a first cylinder 50, a first support base 49 connected to the cylinder rod 50 a of the first cylinder 50, and a first pressurization plate linked to the first support base 49 so as to be able to approach and separate. 48. A spring 51 is mounted between the first pressure plate 48 and the first support base 49. The first pressure plate 48 can come into contact with the body portion 2 of the tube container 1.

  The second pressurizing means 46 includes a second cylinder 54, a second support base 55 connected to the cylinder rod 54a of the second cylinder 54, and a second pressurization plate linked to the second support base 55 so as to be able to approach and separate. 56. A spring 57 is mounted between the second pressure plate 56 and the second support base 55. The second pressure plate 56 can come into contact with the body portion 2 of the tube container 1.

  Further, all guide plates 58 are arranged above the first pressurizing means 45 and the second pressurizing means 46. Opposing tips of the pair of guide plates 58 are close to the upper portion of the body portion 2 of the tube container 1. Thereby, when the first pressurizing unit 45 and the second pressurizing unit 46 are sandwiched by applying a load to the body portion 2, the collapse is prevented. The guide plate 58 has a function as a tray for the contents that have popped out due to poor sealing when the tube container 1 is pressurized by the first pressurizing means 45 and the second pressurizing means 46.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the leak inspection unit 42 according to the present embodiment is distorted when the first pressurizing plate 48 and the second pressurizing plate 56 are retracted and are in a standby position where they are not in contact with the body 2 of the tube container 1. The checked tube containers 1 of the inspection unit 35 are conveyed by the third belt conveyor 41, and each tube container 1 is temporarily stopped in a state where it is located between the first pressure plate 48 and the second pressure plate 56. The tube container 1 is temporarily stopped by suppressing the advance of the carrier 16 by a stopper provided at an appropriate position.

  Next, the first cylinder 50 and the second cylinder 54 move forward to extend the cylinder rods 50a and 54a. Thereby, the 1st pressurization board 48 and the 2nd pressurization board 56 move near each other, contact the trunk | drum 2 of the tube container 1, and are inserted | pinched from both sides. And by pushing in the trunk | drum 2 with the set load, as shown in FIG. 7, the trunk | drum 2 is crushed and deform | transformed. Further, when receiving a reaction force from the tube container 1 side due to the sandwiching by the first pressure plate 48 and the second pressure plate 56, the first pressure plate 48 and the second pressure plate 56 have the reaction force and the spring 51, 57 is displaced to a position where it can be balanced with elasticity. And the presence or absence of a seal defect is determined from the amount of change in the width of the body 2 or the thickness when crushed.

  The seal portion abnormality inspection unit 43 is a thickness inspection unit that measures the thickness of the seal portion 4 of the tube container 1 and determines whether there is a seal failure. The seal part 4 sandwiches one end of the cylindrical body part 2 and heat-melts it to heat-seal. If the contents or air is bitten during the heat sealing, the thickness of the seal portion 4 at that location becomes thick, resulting in a seal failure. The thickness of the seal portion 4 is detected, and the pass / fail judgment is made based on whether or not the value of the non-defective product exceeds a threshold value that sets a predetermined margin with respect to the reference value. Further, the seal portion abnormality inspection unit 43 collectively inspects the eight tube containers 1.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the specific configuration is arranged in the space above the third belt conveyor 41. That is, on the outside of the third belt conveyor 41, the support posts 61 are installed upright at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction, and the guide rails 63 are attached to the surfaces of the beam portions 62 spanned between the support posts 61. The guide rail 63 is installed so as to extend in parallel with the conveyance direction of the third belt conveyor 41. A slider 64 is connected to the guide rail 63. The slider 64 receives a driving force from the driving source 68, reciprocates along the guide rail 63, and stops at an appropriate position. A cylinder 65 is attached to the slider 64. The cylinder 65 is attached so that the cylinder rod 65a extends downward, and moves together with the slider 64. A support plate 66 is connected to the tip of the cylinder rod 65a, and a plurality of pairs of second sensors 67 for measuring the thickness of the seal portion 4 are attached to the support plate 66. The second sensor 67 is for measuring the thickness of the seal portion 4 of the tube container 1. For example, a distance sensor that measures the distance to the object, here, the surface of the seal portion 4 may be used. That is, the distances d1 and d2 to the surface of the seal part 4 that faces each other are measured by the pair of second sensors 67 that are arranged to face each other with the seal part 4 interposed therebetween. Since the distance D between the pair of second sensors 67 is known, the thickness can be obtained by subtracting the total distance (d1 + d2) obtained by each second sensor 67 from the distance D. .

  In order to actually measure the thickness of the seal portion 4, for example, the slider 64 and the cylinder 65 are moved to appropriate positions along the guide rail 63, and the second sensor 67 is moved downward by moving the cylinder 65 forward. The pair of second sensors 67 are set so as to face the seal portion 4. In this state, the thickness of the seal portion 4 is measured, and the quality of the seal is determined based on the measurement result.

  And in this embodiment, since the 4 sets of 2nd sensors 67 are provided, the test | inspection with respect to the eight tube containers 1 to be examined is completed by repeating this process twice, changing the front-back position.

  The tube container 1 that has undergone the two-stage inspection of the leak inspection unit 42 and the seal portion abnormality inspection unit 43 is unloaded from the tube container inspection device 11 and transferred to the next-stage product supply unit 70 by the tube container transfer device 20. The Further, as described above, a defective product discharge chute 44 is installed on the carry-out side of the tube container inspection device 11, and at least one of the leak inspection unit 42 and the seal unit abnormality inspection unit 43 is determined to be abnormal / defective. When the tube container 1 is present, all the eight tube containers 1 are discharged. As a result, not only defective products but also defective product reserves can be prevented from being shipped as much as possible. Moreover, in this embodiment, by performing two different types of inspections, defective products can be found more reliably, and the possibility that defective products are shipped by mistake is suppressed as much as possible.

  The product supply unit 70 has a function of transferring the tube container 1 determined to be non-defective to the packaging box 71. The packaging box 71 stores a total of 10 (2 × 5) tube containers 1. Therefore, the tube container transfer device 20 arranged on the downstream side of the tube container inspection device 11 appropriately switches the number of carriers 16 constituting a group during the transfer, and the product supply unit 70 collects 10 pieces. Yes. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, four carriers 16 are cut out from the front at the D position, and five carriers are cut out from the front at the E position. A total of 10 carrier groups are formed by cutting out five carrier groups at the front and rear.

  Moreover, in the product supply part 70, the tube container 1 each hold | maintained at the ten carriers 16 is transferred to the packaging box 71 in units of five. Then, the transfer is completed, and the empty carrier 16 is transported in units of 10 and is cut into units of 5 at the F position to reach the tube loading unit 12.

  In the tube container transport device of the present embodiment, the orientation of the tube container 1 and the seal portion 4 with respect to each carrier 16 is constant. Therefore, even when the tube container 1 is supplied to the packaging box 71 by the product supply unit 70, it is possible to easily align the orientation and posture. Moreover, the tube container 1 located in the E position is aligned in a state where the seal portion 4 is parallel to the transport direction. Therefore, for example, when the tube container 1 is supplied into the packaging box 71, if the tube container 1 is rotated 45 degrees around the axis, the seal portion 4 is stored in an inclined state in the packaging box 71. Usually, since the length of the seal part 4 is longer than the outer diameter of the body part 2 of the tube container 1, it is sufficient that the seal part 4 can be housed in a compact manner by being housed in such an inclined state. And the process accommodated diagonally is preferable because each tube container in the E position has the same orientation and can be easily performed.

  Moreover, in this packaging system, the packaging box 71 which accommodates the tube container 1 also assembles an unfolded carton to make a box. The box making apparatus 73 for box making is arranged along the tube container transfer apparatus 20 on the downstream side of the tube container inspection apparatus 11. Then, the unfolded cartoner 75 accumulated in the stocker 74 in a framed state is taken out one by one, and the packaging box 71 whose lid is opened in the middle of conveyance is boxed and sent to the product supply unit 70. And if the predetermined number of tube containers 1 are accommodated in the packaging box 71, a lid part will be closed and sealed and the packaging box 71 containing a tube container will be manufactured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tube container 2 Trunk part 3 Cap 4 Seal part 11 Tube container inspection apparatus 12 Tube loading part 13 Unloading conveyor 14 Bucket 16 Carrier 17 Base part 18 Flange 18a Guide groove 19 Recess 20 Tube container conveyance apparatus 21 Stopper mechanism 23 Stopper piece 24 Support bar 25 Connecting rod 26 Connecting bar 27 Coil spring 30 Conveying path 31 Side wall 32 Guide plate 34 Second belt conveyor 35 Distortion inspection section 41 Third belt conveyor 42 Leak inspection section 43 Seal section abnormality inspection section 70 Product supply section 71 Packaging box 73 Box making equipment

Claims (3)

A transport device for a tube container mounted on a packaging system that supplies and packs a tube container filled with contents into a packaging box,
A carrier for holding the tube container in an upright state;
A transport path for transporting the carrier;
With
The carrier maintains the held state until it reaches the supply position to the packaging box after receiving the tube container,
The carrier has a plurality of independent states,
The transport path is endless, and the carrier circulates along the transport path, and is configured to be separated from the succeeding number in correspondence with the processing apparatus when reaching the processing apparatus constituting the packaging system. And
The processing apparatus is an inspection unit that inspects the tube container,
The carrier coincides with the guide plates provided on both sides of the conveyance path, so that movement is restricted in the horizontal and vertical directions with respect to the conveyance direction,
The tube container has a seal portion sealed by heat sealing one end of a body portion for storing contents,
The carrier has a flat reference surface on a side surface parallel or orthogonal to the transport direction ,
A plurality of the carriers perform the holding in a state where the reference surface and the seal portion are parallel or orthogonal to each other and the seal portion is parallel to the transport direction .   The tube container transport device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is held so as to prevent relative rotation of the tube container around an axial direction in which the tube container stands. Before Symbol carrier claims, characterized in that it comprises a stopper mechanism for fixing said seal portion and a recess for inserting the opposite end of the tube container, the end that is inserted into the recess 3. The tube container transfer device according to 1 or 2.

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