JP6725795B2 - Transport device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a transfer device that transfers a container.

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a transport device that suction-holds and transports a container such as a preform which is a preform of a PET bottle. In recent years, the shapes of containers have been diversified, and in particular, types of small size have been increasing. Further, in recent years, the production rate of containers has been increasing, and as many as 1300 containers (about 22 containers per second) may be transported per minute. In order to convey such a container, there is adopted a conveying device in which suction pads are arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of a rotatable rotating body and the body of the container is sucked and held by the suction pad and conveyed.

JP, 2009-126138, A

In a factory that inspects containers, it is sometimes necessary to distribute the containers inspected by the inspection device to a plurality of lines. In such a case, a container distribution device is arranged downstream of the inspection device. For example, the transfer device receives the inspected container from the inspection device and further transfers the container to the distribution device. The containers are sorted into a plurality of lines by the sorting device.

However, in order to install such a sorting device, a further installation space is required. For this reason, it may not be possible to arrange such a sorting device in some factories. In addition, manufacturing and installation of the sorting device involves additional costs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transporting device that can sort containers without providing a sorting device and can transport the containers at high speed.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention is a transporting device for transporting a container, comprising a rotating body, a plurality of openable/closable first chuck claws protruding outward from the rotating body, A plurality of openable and closable second chuck claws protruding outward from the rotating body; a plurality of upper cam followers that are connected to the plurality of first chuck claws and move with opening and closing operations of the plurality of first chuck claws; Upper cams contacting the upper cam followers, a plurality of lower cam followers that are connected to the plurality of second chuck claws and move with the opening/closing operation of the plurality of second chuck claws, and a lower cam follower that contacts the plurality of lower cam followers. A plurality of upper cam followers and the upper cam are arranged on the upper side of the rotary body, and the plurality of lower cam followers and the lower cam are arranged on the lower side of the rotary body. The plurality of first chuck claws and the plurality of second chuck claws are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction of the rotating body.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the upper cam includes a first upper cam and a second upper cam, and the transport device includes a first upper actuator that contacts and separates the first upper cam from the upper cam follower, and A second upper actuator that contacts and separates the second upper cam from the upper cam follower is further provided.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the lower cam includes a first lower cam and a second lower cam, and the transport device makes the first lower cam contact and separate from the lower cam follower. It is characterized by further comprising a lower actuator and a second lower actuator that makes the second lower cam contact and separate from the lower cam follower.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a plurality of upper swing arms to which the plurality of upper cam followers and the plurality of first chuck claws are fixed, and a direction in which the plurality of first chuck claws are closed via the plurality of upper swing arms. A plurality of upper urging members for urging the plurality of lower cam followers, a plurality of lower swing arms to which the plurality of second chuck claws are fixed, and a plurality of the lower swing arms via the plurality of lower swing arms. And a plurality of lower urging members for urging the second chuck claws in the closing direction.

According to the present invention, the upper cam follower and the upper cam open and close the plurality of first chuck claws, and the lower cam follower and the lower cam open and close the plurality of second chuck claws. Therefore, the transport device can separately open and close the plurality of first chuck claws and the plurality of second chuck claws. With such a configuration, the transfer device can transfer a plurality of containers while sorting them.

Furthermore, since the upper cam follower and the upper cam are arranged on the upper side of the rotating body, and the lower cam follower and the lower cam are arranged on the lower side of the rotating body, it is possible to arrange many chuck claws on the rotating body. it can. Therefore, the transfer device can transfer many containers without increasing the rotation speed of the rotating body. Since the rotation speed of the rotating body can be maintained at a low level to some extent, the life of the transporting device is extended and a failure is less likely to occur. As a result, the reliability of the transport device is improved.

It is a general view of a container. It is the figure which looked at one embodiment of the transportation device which conveys a container from the top. It is a side view of the conveyance apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3. It is a top view of a 1st chuck claw. It is a figure which shows the 1st chuck claw in the open state. It is the figure which looked at the conveyance apparatus from the bottom. It is a figure which shows the cam follower which contacts a cam. It is a figure which shows the inspection apparatus provided with the conveying apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of a conveyance apparatus and an exit star wheel conveyance apparatus. It is a figure which shows the inspection apparatus provided with the conveying apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of a conveying apparatus. FIG. 9 is a side view of a carrier device and an exit star wheel carrier device according to another embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the drawings described below, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

As an example of the container 100, a preform which is a preformed product of a PET bottle can be cited. Although the embodiment described below is a carrying device for carrying the container 100 shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is also applicable to a carrying device for carrying containers of other shapes.

FIG. 2 is a view of an embodiment of a transfer device 200 that transfers a container as viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a side view of the transfer device 200 shown in FIG. The transport device 200 includes a rotating shaft 1 and a rotating body 2 that is fixed to the rotating shaft 1 and rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 1. The rotating shaft 1 is rotatably supported by the housing 4 via a bearing (not shown). The lower end of the housing 4 is non-rotatably fixed to the base 5. In the present embodiment, the rotating body 2 has a disc shape, and the central portion of the rotating body 2 is fixed to the upper end of the rotating shaft 1. A gear or pulley 8 to which a rotational force from a motor (not shown) is transmitted is provided below the rotary shaft 1. When the motor is driven, the rotating body 2 rotates integrally with the gear or pulley 8 and the rotating shaft 1 about the axis CL1 of the rotating body 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transport device 200 includes a plurality of openable/closable first chuck claws 10 protruding outward from the outer periphery of the rotating body 2 and an openable/closable outward projecting outer periphery of the rotating body 2. A plurality of second chuck claws 20 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, these chuck claws 10 and 20 are arranged on the outer circumference of the rotating body 2, and are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction of the rotating body 2. These chuck claws 10 and 20 are arranged at equal intervals.

The chuck claws 10 and 20 rotate integrally with the rotating body 2. That is, when the rotating body 2 rotates about its axis CL1, the chuck claws 10 and 20 move around the axis CL1 along a circular orbit. Since the first chuck claw 10 and the second chuck claw 20 have the same configuration, the first chuck claw 10 will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the first chuck claw 10 may be simply referred to as the chuck claw 10.

4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the first chuck claw 10. The chuck claw 10 is composed of a fixed claw 11 and a movable claw 12. The fixed claw 11 is fixed to the outer circumference of the rotating body 2. The movable claw 12 is fixed to a swivel arm (upper swivel arm) 14 via a connecting member 17. The swivel arm 14 is arranged above the rotating body 2. The connecting member 17 is a height adjusting member that adjusts the height of the movable claw 12, and the movable claw 12 is arranged at the same height as the fixed claw 11.

Semi-arcuate recesses 11a and 12a capable of holding the container 100 are formed at the tip ends of the fixed claw 11 and the movable claw 12, respectively. In the present embodiment, the chuck claw 10 holds the side surface 101c of the container 100. More specifically, a bead ring 101b is provided between the screw portion 101a and the neck support ring 102, and the chuck claw 10 has a side surface 101c between the bead ring 101b and the neck support ring 102. Hold it. A buffer member may be attached to the recesses 11a and 12a of the chuck claw 10 to prevent the container 100 from being damaged.

As shown in FIG. 4, a support shaft (upper support shaft) 18 is fixed to the rotating body 2. The support shaft 18 is perpendicular to the upper surface 2 a of the rotating body 2 and extends through the swivel arm 14. A support member (upper support member) 19 is disposed between the swivel arm 14 and the upper surface 2a of the rotating body 2. The support member 19 has a bearing (not shown) therein, and the support member 19 rotatably supports the turning arm 14. The swivel arm 14 can swivel smoothly around the support shaft 18.

The movable claw 12 can move integrally with the turning arm 14. The movable claw 12 connected to the swivel arm 14 can move in a direction approaching the fixed claw 11 (closing direction) and a direction separating from the fixed claw 11 (opening direction). FIG. 6 is a view showing the chuck claw 10 in an opened state. The movable claw 12 can approach the fixed claw 11 until the distance between the concave portions 11a and 12a becomes smaller than the diameter of the side surface 101c of the container 100. Furthermore, the movable claw 12 can be separated from the fixed claw 11 until the distance between the concave portions 11a and 12a becomes larger than the diameter of the side surface 101c of the container 100. As described above, the chuck claw 10 is configured to clamp and release the container 100 by the operation of the movable claw 12.

The transfer device 200 includes a torsion coil spring (upper torsion coil spring) 30 as an urging member that urges the movable claw 12 in a direction approaching the fixed claw 11 (closing direction) via the turning arm 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the torsion coil spring 30 is arranged so as to surround the support shaft 18. A pressing flange (upper pressing flange) 31 to which a pin 33 extending downward is fixed is fixed to an upper portion of the support shaft 18. The torsion coil spring 30 is arranged between the turning arm 14 and the pressing flange 31.

A pin 32 extending upward is fixed to the upper surface of the revolving arm 14. One end 30 a of the torsion coil spring 30 is hooked on the pin 32, and the other end 30 b is hooked on the pin 33. The torsion coil spring 30 moves the movable claw 12 connected to the swivel arm 14 in a direction approaching the fixed claw 11 by the restoring force against the deformation.

In the present embodiment, the biasing member that biases the movable claw 12 in the closing direction is the torsion coil spring 30 that extends from the turning arm 14 to the pressing flange 31. The torsion coil spring 30 has an advantage that the movable claw 12 can be biased in a small space. In one embodiment, the biasing member may be a compression spring that biases the movable pawl 12 in the closing direction, and in another embodiment, the biasing member may be a rubber or the like that biases the movable pawl 12 in the closing direction. It may be an elastic member.

The outer end 14a of the swivel arm 14 is located radially outside the support shaft 18, and the inner end 14b of the swivel arm 14 is located radially inner than the support shaft 18. The movable claw 12 is connected to the outer end 14 a of the revolving arm 14, and the cam follower 34 is attached to the inner end 14 b of the revolving arm 14. The cam follower 34 is connected to the movable pawl 12 via the pivot arm 14, and the cam follower 34 can move integrally with the pivot arm 14 and the movable pawl 12. That is, the cam follower 34 is configured to move with the opening/closing operation of the movable pawl 12.

The cam follower 34 is composed of a stud 37 fixed to the inner end portion 14b of the turning arm 14, and a first upper cam follower 35 and a second upper cam follower 36 rotatably attached to the stud 37. The first upper cam follower 35 and the second upper cam follower 36 are arranged in series. In this embodiment, two cam followers 35 and 36 are provided, but the number of these cam followers is not limited to this embodiment, and at least one cam follower may be provided.

The components for opening and closing the chuck claw 10 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (the upper turning arm 14, the upper supporting shaft 18, the upper supporting member 19, the upper torsion coil spring 30, the upper pressing flange 31, the upper cam follower 34, etc.) are A plurality of sets are provided on the upper side of the rotating body 2. A plurality of sets of components having the same structure for opening and closing the chuck claws 20 are also provided on the lower side of the rotating body 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the transport device 200 further includes a plurality of lower cam followers 64, a plurality of lower swing arms 74, a plurality of lower support members 71, and a plurality of lower biasing members 70. There is. Each lower swivel arm 74 is rotatably supported by each lower support member 71. Each lower cam follower 64 is connected to each second chuck pawl 20 (see FIG. 2) via each lower pivot arm 74, so that the lower cam follower 64 moves as the second chuck pawl 20 opens and closes. It is configured. A movable claw of the second chuck claw 20 is fixed to the outer end of each lower swivel arm 74, and a lower cam follower 64 is attached to the inner end of each lower swivel arm 74. Each lower biasing member 70 is configured to bias the second chuck claw 20 in the closing direction via the lower turning arm 74. In the present embodiment, the lower biasing member 70 is a torsion coil spring.

As shown in FIG. 3, a fixing member 7 that supports the upper pedestal 55 is arranged above the rotating shaft 1. The upper pedestal 55 does not rotate and its position is fixed by the fixing member 7. A lower pedestal 56 is fixed to the housing 4. Similarly, the lower pedestal 56 also does not rotate, and its position is fixed by the housing 4.

The transport device 200 includes an upper cam 40 that contacts the plurality of upper cam followers 34, and a lower cam 80 that contacts the plurality of lower cam followers 64. The upper cam 40 is supported by the upper pedestal 55, and the lower cam 80 is supported by the lower pedestal 56. The upper cam follower 34 and the upper cam 40 are arranged above the rotating body 2, and the lower cam follower 64 and the lower cam 80 are arranged below the rotating body 2. The upper cam 40 and the lower cam 80 have cam surfaces that are curved along the circumferential direction of the rotating body 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper cam 40 includes a first upper cam 45 and a second upper cam 46 arranged along the circumferential direction of the rotating body 2. In this embodiment, the first upper cam 45 and the second upper cam 46 are adjacent to each other and arranged at different heights. Part of the first upper cam 45 and the second upper cam 46 may overlap.

The transport device 200 includes a first upper actuator 41 that contacts and separates the first upper cam 45 from the cam follower 34, and a second upper actuator 42 that contacts and separates the second upper cam 46 from the cam follower 34. The transport device 200 further includes an upper fixed cam 47 with which the upper cam follower 34 contacts. The upper fixed cam 47 is fixed to the upper pedestal 55.

FIG. 7 is a view of the transport device 200 as seen from below. The lower pedestal 56 is not shown for the sake of explanation. As shown in FIG. 7, the lower cam 80 includes a first lower cam 85 and a second lower cam 86 arranged along the circumferential direction of the rotating body 2. In the present embodiment, the first lower cam 85 and the second lower cam 86 are adjacent to each other and arranged at different heights. Part of the first lower cam 85 and the second lower cam 86 may overlap. The first lower cam 85 is at the same position as the first upper cam 45 and has the same shape as the first upper cam 45. The second lower cam 86 is located at the same position as the second upper cam 46 and has the same shape as the second upper cam 46.

The transport device 200 includes a first lower actuator 81 that causes the first lower cam 85 to contact and separate from the lower cam follower 64, and a second lower actuator that causes the second lower cam 86 to contact and separate from the lower cam follower 64. And 82. The transport device 200 further includes a lower fixed cam 87 with which the lower cam follower 64 contacts. The lower fixed cam 87 is fixed to the lower pedestal 56.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper actuators 41 and 42 are arranged on a pedestal 55, and the upper cam 40 is supported by the upper pedestal 55. The lower actuators 81 and 82 are arranged on the pedestal 56, and the lower cam 80 is supported by the lower pedestal 56.

The cams 40 and 80 are arranged at positions where the chuck claws 10 and 20 receive the container 100 transported by the outlet star wheel transport device 306. The fixed cams 47 and 87 are arranged at positions where the chuck claws 10 and 20 pass the container 100 to the outlet transport unit 325. That is, the cams 40 and 80 and the fixed cams 47 and 87 are arranged at positions where the chuck claws 10 and 20 should be opened in the transport path of the container 100.

The cam 40, the actuators 41 and 42, and the fixed cam 47 have the same configurations as the cam 80, the actuators 81 and 82, and the fixed cam 87. Therefore, the configurations of the cam 40, the actuators 41 and 42, and the fixed cam 47 will be described with reference to FIG.

The first upper actuator 41 is connected to the first upper cam 45, and the second upper actuator 42 is connected to the second upper cam 46. The cams 45 and 46 are connected to the pedestal 55 via swing shafts 48 and 49, respectively, and the cams 45 and 46 can swing about the swing shafts 48 and 49. With such a configuration, the cams 45 and 46 can move independently of each other in the radial direction of the rotating body 2. The actuators 41 and 42 are configured to move the cams 45 and 46 separately in the radial direction of the rotating body 2.

In the present embodiment, the actuators 41 and 42 are air cylinders, but the configurations of the actuators 41 and 42 are not particularly limited. In one embodiment, the actuators 41, 42 may be direct acting solenoids. In other embodiments, the actuators 41, 42 may be a combination of servomotors and ball screws.

The cams 45 and 46 have cam surfaces 45a and 46a that are curved along the circumferential direction of the rotating body 2, respectively. When the cam follower 34 is in contact with the cam surfaces 45a and 46a, the chuck claw 10 is opened. As shown in FIG. 8, as the rotating body 2 rotates, the cam followers 34 come into contact with the cam surfaces 45 a and 46 a of the cams 45 and 46 and move to the outer side in the radial direction of the rotating body 2. As a result, the pivot arm 14 pivots about the support shaft 18 and the chuck jaws 10 are opened. When the cam follower 34 separates from the cam surfaces 45a and 46a, the movable claw 12 moves in the closing direction by the torsion coil spring 30, and the chuck claw 10 is closed. When the container 100 exists between the fixed claw 11 and the movable claw 12, the container 100 is sandwiched by the claws 11 and 12 by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 30.

In the present embodiment, the cams 45 and 46 are connected to the swing shafts 48 and 49, but if the cams 45 and 46 can move in the radial direction of the rotating body 2, they are not necessarily connected to the swing shafts. May be.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an inspection device 300 including the transport device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The inspection device 300 is a device that inspects the appearance of the container 100 while transporting the container 100.

The inspection device 300 is provided with the entrance star wheel transfer devices 302 and 303, the main rotor device 304, the exit star wheel transfer devices 305 and 306, and the transfer device 200 according to the above-described embodiment. The inlet star wheel transfer devices 302 and 303 receive the container 100 from the inlet transfer part 310 that supplies the container 100 and transfer it to the main rotor device 304. Each of the entrance star wheel transport devices 302 and 303 is provided with a star wheel having a plurality of pockets provided at equal intervals on the outer circumference thereof. Similarly, the outlet star wheel transfer devices 305 and 306 are provided with a star wheel having a plurality of pockets provided at equal intervals on their outer circumferences.

The inspection device 300 is provided with a plurality of imaging devices 308 for imaging the container 100 and an illumination device 309 for illuminating the container 100 to be inspected. The imaging device 308 includes a camera 308a that images the container 100 and a mirror 308b. The camera 308a images the container 100 via the mirror 308b. The illumination device 309 is for illuminating the container 100 to be imaged.

The main rotor device 304 includes a plurality of suction heads (not shown) that respectively suction-hold a plurality of containers 100, and a rotation drive device 315 as a rotation drive means for rotating the suction heads. The rotation driving device 315 is provided with a spin belt 315a wound around a plurality of shafts, and the spin belt 315a receives power from a drive source (not shown) and is rotationally driven. When the spin belt 315a rotates, the suction head rotates on its axis. As a result, the container 100 held by the suction head rotates about its axis. The imaging device 308 images the container 100 that is rotating.

The operation of the inspection device 300 will be described. When the container 100 is supplied from the inlet transfer unit 310 to the inlet star wheel transfer devices 302 and 303, these containers 100 are housed in the respective pockets of the inlet star wheel transfer devices 302 and 303 and sequentially transferred to the main rotor device 304. It In the main rotor device 304, the external appearance of the container 100 is imaged by the imaging device 308, and the external appearance inspection of the container 100 is performed. The container 100 after the inspection is supplied to the exit star wheel transfer device 305 and is classified into a defective product and a non-defective product. The defective container 100 is discharged through the defective product discharge chute 324. The non-defective container 100 is transported to the next step through the exit star wheel transport device 306 and the transport device 200.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the transport device 200 and the exit star wheel transport device 306. The outlet star wheel conveying device 306 includes a rotating shaft 311 (see FIG. 9) connected to a motor (not shown), a star wheel body 312 in which a plurality of pockets 312a into which the container 100 fits are formed on the circumference, and A suction pad 314 that is provided in the pocket 312 a and that sucks the body 103 of the container 100 is provided. The central portion of the star wheel body 312 is fixed to the rotating shaft 311. The star wheel body 312 rotates together with the rotating shaft 311 by driving the motor. The suction force for sucking and holding the container 100 acts on the suction pad 314 in the section where the star wheel main body 312 should transport the container 100.

As shown in FIG. 9, the transport device 200 receives the container 100 from the exit star wheel transport device 306 at the delivery position Pa. The first upper actuator 41 moves the first upper cam 45 to the outer position where the cam follower 34 contacts the first upper cam 45. On the other hand, the second upper actuator 42 moves the second upper cam 46 inward to an inner position where the cam follower 34 does not contact the second upper cam 46. When the cam follower 34 contacts only the first upper cam 45 with the rotation of the rotating body 2, the chuck claw 10 is opened before the chuck claw 10 reaches the transfer position Pa, and the chuck claw 10 reaches the transfer position Pa. Sometimes the chuck jaws 10 are closed.

Similarly, the first lower actuator 81 moves the first lower cam 85 to the outer position where the cam follower 64 contacts the first lower cam 85. On the other hand, the second lower actuator 82 moves the second lower cam 86 inward to an inner position where the cam follower 64 does not contact the second lower cam 86. When the cam follower 64 contacts only the first lower cam 85 with the rotation of the rotating body 2, the chuck claw 20 is opened before the chuck claw 20 reaches the transfer position Pa, and the chuck claw 20 reaches the transfer position Pa. When this is done, the chuck claw 20 is closed.

When the cam follower 34 contacts the first upper cam 45 with the rotation of the rotating body 2, the chuck claw 10 opens. The container 100 is transferred to the opened chuck claw 10 by the exit star wheel transfer device 306. When the rotating body 2 rotates and the cam follower 34 separates from the first upper cam 45, the chuck claw 10 is closed and the container 100 is held by the chuck claw 10. Similarly, when the cam follower 64 contacts the first lower cam 85 as the rotating body 2 rotates, the chuck claw 20 opens. The container 100 is conveyed to the opened chuck claw 20 by the outlet star wheel conveying device 306. When the rotating body 2 rotates and the cam follower 64 separates from the first lower cam 85, the chuck claw 20 is closed and the container 100 is held by the chuck claw 20.

The suction force that acts on the container 100 of the outlet star wheel transfer device 306 is released at the transfer position Pa, and the container 100 is transferred from the outlet star wheel transfer device 306 to the transfer device 200. In one embodiment, the container 100 may be transferred from the outlet star wheel transfer device 306 to the transfer device 200 with the suction force of the outlet star wheel transfer device 306 acting on the container 100. Since the suction force acting on the container 100 is relatively weak, the chuck claws 10 and 20 of the transfer device 200 can remove the container 100 from the exit star wheel transfer device 306.

After the container 100 is transferred to the transport device 200, when the cam followers 34 and 64 come into contact with the upper fixed cam 47 and the lower fixed cam 87, respectively, as the rotating body 2 rotates, the chuck claws 10 and 20 are opened. An outlet unloading unit 325 for unloading the container 100 is connected to the transport device 200. The fixed cams 47 and 87 are arranged at the delivery position Pb where the container 100 is delivered from the delivery device 200 to the outlet delivery unit 325. Since the chuck claws 10 and 20 are opened at the transfer position Pb, the container 100 is released from the chuck claws 10 and 20 and transferred to the outlet transport unit 325.

The components for opening and closing the first chuck claw 10 (that is, the upper turning arm 14, the upper cam follower 34, the upper torsion coil spring 30, the upper cam 40, etc.) are arranged above the rotating body 2. Hereinafter, this component may be referred to as an upper chuck structure. The components for opening and closing the second chuck claw 20 (that is, the lower swing arm 74, the lower cam follower 64, the lower biasing member 70, the lower cam 80, etc.) are arranged below the rotating body 2. Hereinafter, this component may be referred to as a lower chuck structure.

According to this embodiment, all the upper chuck structures are arranged on the upper side of the rotating body 2, and all the lower chuck structures are arranged on the lower side of the rotating body 2. With such an arrangement, more chuck claws 10 and 20 can be arranged on the rotating body 2. Therefore, the transfer device 200 can transfer many containers 100 without increasing the rotation speed of the rotating body 2. Since the rotational speed of the rotating body 2 can be maintained at a low level to some extent, the life of the transport device 200 is extended and a failure is less likely to occur. As a result, the reliability of the transport device 200 is improved.

According to this embodiment, as many chuck claws 10 and 20 as the suction pads 314 (see FIG. 10) arranged outside the star wheel body 312 can be arranged around the rotating body 2. Therefore, the transport device 200 can be connected to the existing exit star wheel transport device 306. As a result, the high throughput of the entire inspection apparatus 300 can be maintained as it is.

According to the present embodiment, the upper cam follower 34, the upper cam 40, and the actuators 41 and 42 are arranged above the rotating body 2, and the lower cam follower 64, the lower cam 80, and the actuators 81 and 82 are rotating bodies. It is located below 2. Therefore, the chuck claws 10 and 20 can be opened and closed separately. Therefore, the transport device 200 can sort and transport the containers 100. Hereinafter, the transport device 200 that sorts and transports the containers 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an inspection device 300 including a carrying device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, the configuration and operation of this embodiment that are not particularly described are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and thus the duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the upper side actuator 41 and the second upper side actuator 42 move the first upper side cam 45 and the second upper side cam 46 to the outer side position to move the cam follower 34 to the first upper side cam 45 and the second upper side cam. It contacts both of the cams 46. When the cam follower 34 contacts both the first upper cam 45 and the second upper cam 46 as the rotating body 2 rotates, the chuck claw 10 is opened before the chuck claw 10 reaches the transfer position Pa, and the chuck claw 10 is opened. After passing the delivery position Pa, the chuck claw 10 is closed.

The first lower actuator 81 moves the first lower cam 85 to the outer position where the cam follower 64 contacts the first lower cam 85. On the other hand, the second lower actuator 82 moves the second lower cam 86 inward to an inner position where the cam follower 64 does not contact the second lower cam 86. When the cam follower 64 contacts only the first lower cam 85 with the rotation of the rotating body 2, the chuck claw 20 is opened before the chuck claw 20 reaches the transfer position Pa, and the chuck claw 20 reaches the transfer position Pa. When this is done, the chuck claw 20 is closed.

Since the chuck claw 10 passes through the transfer position Pa while being opened, the container 100 transported by the outlet star wheel transport device 306 is not pinched by the chuck claw 10. The outlet star wheel transport device 306 is connected to an outlet transport unit 320 that carries out the container 100. The suction force acting on the container 100 is released at the delivery position Pc, which is the connection position between the outlet star wheel transfer device 306 and the outlet transfer part 320, and the container 100 is transferred from the outlet star wheel transfer device 306 to the outlet transfer part 320. Be done.

Since the chuck claw 20 closes at the delivery position Pa, the container 100 transported by the outlet star wheel transport device 306 is pinched by the chuck claw 20 at the delivery position Pa. When the cam follower 64 contacts the fixed cam 87 as the rotating body 2 rotates, the chuck claw 20 is opened at the transfer position Pb, and the container 100 is transferred from the transfer device 200 to the outlet transfer section 325. Although both the fixed cams 47 and 87 are arranged in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, only the fixed cam 87 may be arranged.

The transport device 200 can sort and transport the container 100 into the outlet transport unit 320 and the outlet transport unit 325. According to the present embodiment, the transport device 200 can also function as a sorting device that sorts the containers 100, so that it is not necessary to provide a sorting device different from the transport device 200.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the transport device 200. As shown in FIG. 12, each of the cams 40 and 80 may be a single cam. In the present embodiment, the transfer device 200 does not include the actuators 41, 42, 81, 82, and the cams 40, 80 are fixed to the bases 55, 56, respectively. Even with such a configuration, the transport device 200 can sort the containers 100.

In the present embodiment, the length of the upper cam 40 in the circumferential direction of the rotating body 2 is larger than the length of the lower cam 80. Specifically, the upper cam 40 and the lower cam 80 have the same start end, but the end of the upper cam 40 is located downstream of the end of the lower cam 80. The upper cam 40 has a length that opens the chuck claw 10 before the chuck claw 10 reaches the transfer position Pa and closes the chuck claw 10 after the transfer position Pa. The lower cam 80 has a length that opens the chuck claw 20 before the chuck claw 20 reaches the transfer position Pa and closes the chuck claw 20 when the chuck claw 20 reaches the transfer position Pa.

In one embodiment, the length of the lower cam 80 in the circumferential direction of the rotating body 2 may be larger than the length of the upper cam 40. Specifically, the starting ends of the upper cam 40 and the lower cam 80 may be the same, and the end of the lower cam 80 may be located downstream of the end of the upper cam 40.

Although the outlet star wheel transport device 306 in the above-described embodiment includes the suction pad 314 that suctions the body 103 of the container 100, the outlet star wheel transport device 306, like the transport device 200, has a plurality of chuck claws, Also, a plurality of chuck structures for opening and closing the plurality of chuck claws may be provided.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a carrier device and an exit star wheel carrier device according to another embodiment. The exit star wheel transfer device 306 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the transfer device 200 described above. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the outlet star wheel transport device 306 opens and closes a plurality of openable and closable first chuck claws 350 protruding outward from the star wheel body 312. The components (that is, the upper swing arm 351, the upper cam follower 352, the upper torsion coil spring 353, the upper cam 354, etc.) are provided. This component is located above the star wheel body 312.

Further, the outlet star wheel transport device 306 includes a plurality of openable/closable second chuck claws (not shown) protruding outward from the star wheel body 312, and a component for opening/closing the second chuck claws (that is, the lower swing arm). 361, a lower cam follower 362, a lower torsion coil spring 363, a lower cam 364, etc.). This component is located below the star wheel body 312.

In this embodiment, the chuck claws of the exit star wheel transport device 306 and the chuck claws of the transport device 200 are arranged at different heights. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the chuck claws of the outlet star wheel transfer device 306 sandwich the screw portion 101a of the container 100, and the chuck claws of the transfer device 200 connect the bead ring 101b and the neck support ring 102 of the container 100. The side surface 101c between them is clamped. In one embodiment, the height of the chuck claws of the outlet star wheel transfer device 306 may be increased to more stably clamp the container 100. Although not shown, the chuck claw of the transfer device 200 holds the threaded portion 101a of the container 100, and the chuck claw of the outlet star wheel transfer device 306 holds the side surface 101c of the container 100 between the bead ring 101b and the neck support ring 102. You may.

In the present embodiment, the transfer device 200 and the exit star wheel transfer device 306 form part of the inspection device 300, but the transfer devices 200 and 306 may be provided separately from the inspection device 300. That is, these transfer devices 200 and 306 may be arranged in the middle of a transfer line (not shown) that transfers the container 100. In one embodiment, the transport device 200 may receive all of the transported containers 100 from the exit starwheel transport device 306, and in other embodiments, the containers 100 may be sorted and transported.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the containers 100 that are transported in series are distributed to the outlet transport unit 320 and the outlet transport unit 325 and transported, but even if the containers 100 that are transported in parallel are transported in series. Good. That is, the rotating body 2 of the transport device 200 is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the present embodiment, and the star wheel main body 312 of the exit star wheel transport device 306 is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the present embodiment. Thus, the containers 100 that are transported in parallel can be transported in series.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it is needless to say that the embodiments may be implemented in various different forms within the scope of the technical idea thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 rotating shaft 2 rotating body 4 housing 5 base 10 first chuck claw 11 fixed claw 12 movable claw 14,74 swivel arm 20 second chuck claw 30,70 torsion coil spring (biasing member)
34, 64 cam followers 40, 80 cams 41, 42, 81, 82 actuator 45 first upper cam 46 second upper cam 47, 87 fixed cam 55, 56 pedestal 85 first lower cam 86 second lower cam 100 container 200 Conveyor 300 Inspection device

Claims (4)

A transport device for transporting a container,
A rotating body,
A plurality of openable and closable first chuck claws protruding outward from the rotating body;
A plurality of openable and closable second chuck claws protruding outward from the rotating body;
A plurality of upper cam followers that are connected to the plurality of first chuck claws and move with opening and closing operations of the plurality of first chuck claws;
An upper cam in contact with the plurality of upper cam followers,
A plurality of lower cam followers that are connected to the plurality of second chuck claws and that move with opening and closing operations of the plurality of second chuck claws;
A lower cam that the lower cam followers contact,
The plurality of upper cam followers and the upper cam are arranged on the upper side of the rotating body,
The plurality of lower cam followers and the lower cam are arranged below the rotating body,
The transport device, wherein the plurality of first chuck claws and the plurality of second chuck claws are alternately arranged along a circumferential direction of the rotating body. The upper cam includes a first upper cam and a second upper cam,
The transport device further includes a first upper actuator that contacts and separates the first upper cam from the upper cam follower, and a second upper actuator that contacts and separates the second upper cam from the upper cam follower. The transport device according to claim 1. The lower cam includes a first lower cam and a second lower cam,
The transport device includes a first lower actuator that contacts and separates the first lower cam with the lower cam follower, and a second lower actuator that contacts and separates the second lower cam with the lower cam follower. The transport apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A plurality of upper swing arms to which the plurality of upper cam followers and the plurality of first chuck claws are fixed;
A plurality of upper biasing members that bias the plurality of first chuck claws in the closing direction via the plurality of upper turning arms;
A plurality of lower swivel arms to which the plurality of lower cam followers and the plurality of second chuck claws are fixed;
4. A plurality of lower urging members for urging the plurality of second chuck claws in the closing direction via the plurality of lower revolving arms are further provided. The transport device according to item.

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