JP7137063B2 - Container transfer system - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container transport system including a container transfer device that transfers a container taken out from an upstream device to a downstream transport device.

2. Description of the Related Art A container transfer device is known that transfers a container in a specific posture from an upstream container processing device or a transport device to a downstream transport device. For example, after the noodles and ingredients are put into the container of the first conveyer conveyed in an upright state from above, the container is transferred to the second conveyer on the downstream side while maintaining the upright posture. A device is known (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 6062205

In a conventional container transfer device, a container is transferred in a predetermined posture from an upstream container processing device or a transport device to a downstream transport device. On the other hand, considering that containers of different types are also used in a container processing apparatus, processing of containers on the downstream side of the container processing apparatus may differ. may need to be loaded. However, conventional container transfer devices do not support such operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a container transfer system including container transfer devices capable of selectively transferring containers to a plurality of transfer devices in different postures.

A container transport system, which is a first aspect of the present invention, comprises a container processing device that performs a predetermined process on a container, and a first transport device that is disposed downstream of the container processing device and transports the container in a recumbent position. a second conveying means disposed downstream of the container processing apparatus for conveying the container in an upright posture; and a container taken out from the container processing apparatus to the first conveying means or the second conveying means. and a control means for controlling the transfer operation by the transfer means, wherein the transfer means comprises gripping means for gripping the container and the gripping means. The posture of the container placed on the placing table is changed from the lying posture to the standing posture by means of moving means for moving, a placing table on which the container can be placed, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the placing table. a first transfer operation of taking out a lying-down container from the container processing apparatus by the gripping means and transferring it to the first conveying means; After the container in the lying position is taken out from the container processing apparatus and transferred to the container position changing means to be changed to the standing position, the container in the standing position is taken out by the gripping means and transferred to the second conveying means. and a second transfer operation to be performed.

A second aspect of the present invention is a container transport system according to the first aspect, further comprising accumulating means for accumulating the container from the container processing apparatus, wherein the control means controls the movement of the container from the container processing apparatus by the gripping means. A third transfer operation is performed in which the container in the lying posture is taken out, transferred to the container posture changing means and changed to the standing posture, and then the container in the standing posture is taken out by the gripping means and transferred to the accumulating means. It is characterized by executing

A third aspect of the present invention is a container transport system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the gripping means comprises a first gripping means for gripping a container in a recumbent posture and a second gripping means for gripping a container in a standing posture. It is characterized by the provision of gripping means.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container transfer system including container transfer devices capable of selectively transferring containers in different postures to a plurality of transfer devices.

1 is a partial plan view showing the arrangement of a container transfer line that is an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing in more detail the arrangement of the downstream side of the heat treatment device, the posture changing device, the upstream portion of the first conveyor, the upstream portion of the second conveyor, and the transfer device. FIG. 3 is a side view corresponding to the range of FIG. 2; It is a top view of a 1st chuck. It is a side view of a second chuck. The first chuck is loaded in a holder located at the downstream end of the heat treatment apparatus, and shows a state in which the neck portion of the laterally tilted container V is clamped. FIG. 10 is a side view showing how the container V, whose neck portion is held by the first chuck, is pulled out from the holder of the heat treatment apparatus and transferred onto the first transport conveyor. FIG. 10 is a side view showing how a container V in a holder located at the downstream end of the heat treatment apparatus is transferred to the placement table of the posture changing apparatus by the first chuck; FIG. 10 is a side view of a state in which the mounting table is tilted, the first chuck is opened, and the neck guide is moved to the engaging position; FIG. 11 is a side view showing the operation of the second operation mode in which the container is transferred to the second transfer conveyor by the second chuck; FIG. 11 is a side view showing the operation of the third operation mode in which the container is transferred to the accumulator by the second chuck;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partial plan view showing the arrangement of a container transfer system including a container transfer device that is one embodiment of the present invention.

The container transport system 10 of the present embodiment is a filling line for filling soft resin containers V with, for example, ketchup or pizza sauce. The vessel V is filled with hot contents and capped in upstream equipment, such as filler/capper 12 . The containers V discharged from the filler/capper 12 are conveyed on the supply conveyor 14 in a row at a predetermined interval, and are transferred to the heat treatment apparatus 18 by the delivery device 16 in units of a predetermined number downstream of the supply conveyor 14. will be posted.

The heat treatment device 18 is, for example, a device for cooling the container V filled with high-temperature content, and above it, the containers V that have been processed by the heat treatment device 18 are temporarily accumulated depending on the situation. An accumulating device (accumulating means) 20 is provided for this purpose. Further, on the downstream side of the heat treatment device 18, the attitude changing device 22, the upstream portion of the first conveying conveyor (first conveying means) 24, and the upstream portion of the second conveying conveyor 26 are arranged side by side in this order. A transfer device (transfer means) 28 is arranged adjacent to the upstream portion of the conveyor (second conveying means) 26 .

For example, a horizontal pillow packaging machine 30 is arranged downstream of the first conveyor 24 , and a shrink packaging machine 32 is arranged downstream of the second conveyor 26 . The horizontal pillow packaging machine 30 is supplied with the containers V in a lying posture, and the shrink packaging machine 32 is supplied with the containers V in an upright posture. Therefore, the first conveyor 24 conveys the containers V in a lying posture, and the second conveyor 26 conveys the containers V in an upright posture. Note that the operation of each device of the container transport system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is controlled by a control device (control means) 34 .

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing in more detail the arrangement of the downstream side of the heat treatment device 18, the posture changing device 22, the upstream portion of the first transport conveyor 24, the upstream portion of the second transport conveyor 26, and the transfer device 28. . 3 is a side view substantially corresponding to FIG. 2. FIG.

As described above, a predetermined number (10 in the illustrated example) of containers V are supplied to the heat treatment apparatus 18 from the downstream portion of the supply conveyor 14 by the delivery device 16, and the containers V are arranged in multiple rows (10 rows). transported inside. In the heat treatment apparatus 18, the containers V are loaded row by row into a holder composed of a guide plate 18B that is stretched over a pair of left and right endless conveying chains 18A at a predetermined interval in an upright position and conveyed. When the downstream end of the heat treatment device 18 is reached, the guide plate 18B that constitutes the holder is tilted along the circumference of the sprocket toward the position changing device 22, and as a result, the most downstream containers V are arranged in rows (10 in the illustrated example). ) so that the head is turned toward the posture changing device 22.

The posture changing device 22 has a mounting table 22A, and the container V laid down with its head facing downstream at the downstream end of the heat treatment device 18 is provided on an arm (moving means) 28A of the transfer device 28. A plurality of first chucks (first gripping means) 31 corresponding to one row of containers V hold the neck portions Vn, respectively, and pull them out onto the mounting table 22A. When the horizontal pillow packaging machine 30 is used for the container V, the container V is further pulled onto the adjacent first transfer conveyor 24 by the first chuck 31 and transferred to the first transfer conveyor 24 .

On the other hand, when the shrink packaging machine 32 is used for the container V, when the container V is transferred by the first chuck 31 from the heat treatment device (container processing device) 18 onto the mounting table 22A of the posture changing device 22, the first chuck 31 be released from Thereafter, the mounting table 22A is tilted at a predetermined angle in the direction in which the containers V are erected, and the neck portions Vn of the containers V are positioned by the neck guides 22C having V-shaped grooves corresponding to the containers V in one row.

In addition to the first chuck 31, the arm 28A of the transfer device 28 is provided with a plurality of second chucks (second gripping means) 33 corresponding to each of the containers V in one row. The neck Vn positioned by the neck guide 22</b>C is gripped by the second chuck 33 and the container V is lifted by the second chuck 33 . The container V is transferred while suspended from the neck by the second chuck 33 and transferred to the second transfer conveyor 26 in an upright posture.

A gap between the heat treatment device 18 and the posture changing device 22 and a gap between the posture changing device 22 and the first transfer conveyor 24 prevent the containers V dragged by the necks Vn from falling into these gaps. Anti-fall guides 21 and 23 are provided to prevent them, respectively. In addition, a fall prevention guide 24A is provided along the conveying direction of the first conveyer 24 on the side of the attitude changing device 22 of the first conveyer 24, and the side of the second conveyer 26 opposite to the first conveyer 24 is provided. Side guides 26A are provided on the sides to prevent overturning and falling of the containers V in the upright posture along the conveying direction of the conveyor.

The heat treatment device 18 of the container transport system 10 of the present embodiment is a device that cools, for example, a container V filled with high-temperature contents in a bath. When the equipment downstream of the heat treatment device 18 is stopped, the heat treatment device 18 also needs to cool the uncooled container V which has already been filled with the high temperature contents by the filler/capper 12 . Therefore, in the container transport system 10 of the present embodiment, an accumulator 20 is provided above the downstream side of the heat treatment device 18, and when the line is stopped, all the filled containers V are cooled until they are transferred to the heat treatment device 18. The container V is temporarily accumulated in the accumulating device 20 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the accumulating device 20 is a device that loads a container V into a holder composed of a guide plate 20B that spans a pair of left and right endless chains 20A at predetermined intervals. One end (delivery side end) of the accumulating device 20 is arranged near the transfer device 28, and the container V is moved into the holder of the accumulating device 20 using the second chuck 33 of the transfer device 28 as described later. It can be loaded and accumulated in sequence in a substantially upright state. A drain pan 20</b>C is provided below the accumulator device 20 so that the coolant adhering to the container V does not drip into the heat treatment device 18 .

The accumulating device 20 is driven in synchronization with the motion of the second chuck 33 of the transfer device 20 . When accumulating the containers V in the accumulating device 20, one row of the containers V from the holder at the downstream end of the heat treatment device 18 is loaded between the guide plates 20B located at the receiving end by the second chuck 33. be. After that, the endless chain 20A is moved by one row toward the other end (opposite side of the receiving end), and the container V for one row is moved to the second chuck 33 between the next pair of guide plates 20B. loaded by By repeating this, the containers V are sequentially accumulated on the accumulating device 20 .

On the other hand, after the line operation is restarted, the containers V accumulated in the accumulating device 20 are sequentially transferred to one of the first and second conveyors 24 and 26 by the second chuck 33 of the transfer device 20 . At this time, the endless chain 20A of the accumulating device 20 is driven in a direction opposite to that during accumulation in synchronism with the movement of the second chuck 33 of the transfer device 28, and the container V accumulated in the accumulating device 20 is moved to the receiving end. In the section, the second chuck 33 sequentially transfers the wafers one by one to either the first or second conveyors 24 and 26 .

4 is a plan view of the first chuck 31, and FIG. 5 is a side view of the second chuck 33. FIG.

The right side of FIG. 4 shows the state in which the first chuck 31 is opened with respect to the container V, and the left side shows the state in which the first chuck 31 is closed and the vicinity of the neck portion Vn of the container V is gripped. . Although two states are shown in FIG. 4 to show both the open state and the gripping state, all the first chucks 31 are driven in the same state in actual driving.

The end effector 36 attached to the tip of the arm 28A of the transfer device 28 includes a first effector main body 36 provided with the first chucks 31 for one row of the containers V, and A second effector body 38 provided with a second chuck 33 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, each first chuck 31 includes a pair of chuck pieces 31A and 31B, each of which can swing around a swing shaft 31C. Base ends of the chuck pieces 31A and 31B are connected to a link mechanism in the first effector body 36, and the opening and closing of the chuck pieces 31A and 31B are driven by the link mechanism.

The chuck pieces 31A and 31B are composed of rod-shaped members, for example, and the chuck pieces 31A and 31B sandwich the neck portion Vn from both sides with the rod-shaped members. The first chuck 31 hooks a rod-shaped member on the protrusions of the neck portion Vn from both sides to pull it, and does not fix and hold the neck portion Vn. Therefore, when the container V is moved by the first chuck 31, the bottom of the container V is moved by its own weight while sliding on the mounting table 22A, the first conveyor 24, and the second conveyor 26, and the container V is clamped. It swings around the neck portion Vn.

On the other hand, each of the second chucks 33 has claws 33A and 33B that firmly grip and fix the neck portion Vn from both sides and a top surface holding member 33C that is pressed against the top surface of the container V to prevent the container V from shaking. and The claws 33A and 33B are held by the second effector main body 38 via arm members 33D, and their driving is controlled. In addition, the top pressing member 33C is also held by the second effector main body 38 via the rod 33E, and its driving is controlled. Since the second chuck 33 grips the neck portion Vn of the container V in a firmly fixed state, when the posture (orientation) of the second chuck 33 is changed, the posture (orientation) of the container V is also changed by the second chuck 33 . is changed integrally with

Details of the first operation mode (first transfer operation) for transferring the container V from the heat treatment apparatus 18 to the first transfer conveyor 24 using the first chuck 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.

FIG. 6 shows that the first chuck 31 is loaded in a holder (a pair of guide plates 18B) positioned at the downstream end of the heat treatment device 18, and the neck portion Vn of the container V tilted sideways (substantially lying down) is held by the first chuck. The sandwiched state is indicated by 31 . In FIG. 7, the container V with the neck portion Vn held by the first chuck 31 is pulled out from the holder of the heat treatment apparatus 18, and is pulled on the mounting table 22A while dragging the bottom portion. A state until being transferred onto the conveyor 24 is shown.

FIG. 7A shows the state immediately after the bottom of the container V climbs over the fall prevention guide 21 and lands on the mounting table 22A. FIG. 7B shows a state in which the neck portion Vn is further pulled by the first chuck 31 and the bottom portion of the container V reaches the side portion of the mounting table 22A on the first conveyor 24 side. . Further, in FIG. 7C, the container V is further pulled from the state of FIG. has been moved to the first transport conveyor 24 . After that, the first chuck 31 is opened, and the operation of transferring the containers V to the first transport conveyor 24 is completed. transported in a recumbent position.

Next, referring to FIGS. 8 to 11, a second operation mode (second transfer operation) in which the first chuck 31 and the second chuck 33 are used to transfer the container V from the heat treatment apparatus 18 to the second transfer conveyor 26 ), and the third operation mode (third transfer operation) in which the container V is transferred to the accumulator 20 will be described in detail.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the container V in the holder positioned at the downstream end of the heat treatment device 18 is transferred to the mounting table 22A of the posture changing device 22 by the first chuck 31. As shown in FIG. The mounting table 22A has two planes with different heights, and these planes are connected by a stepped portion 22B along the longitudinal direction of the mounting table 22A. The plane on the heat treatment device 18 side of the stepped portion 22B is one step higher than the plane on the first conveyer 24 side and contacts the lower surface of the bridge plate 40 . The bridge plate 40 is a plate member that spans between the fall prevention guide 21 and the mounting table 22A. , supports the dragged bottom of container V.

On the other hand, the plane on the side of the first transport conveyor 24 with respect to the stepped portion 22B is one step lower than the plane on the side of the heat treatment device 18, and the container V is set on the same plane in a lying posture. That is, at the same position, the neck portion Vn is held by the first chuck 31, the side surface of the container V in the lying posture is supported by the same plane, and the bottom surface of the container V is supported by the stepped portion 22B. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the container V is set at the same position.

The mounting table 22A can be tilted in a direction for erecting the set container V by a tilting mechanism 25 comprising a motor or an air cylinder, for example. or air cylinder). When the containers V for one row are set on the mounting table 22A by the first chuck 31 as shown in FIG. It is rotated around to the engagement position and engages the neck Vn of each container V to position the neck portion Vn. In parallel with this, the mounting table 22A is tilted in the direction in which the container V is erected, and is in the state shown in FIG. Further, the gripping means for gripping the container V is switched from the first chuck 31 to the second chuck 33 .

FIG. 10 shows the operation of the second operation mode in which the container V of FIG. 9 is transferred to the second transfer conveyor 26 by the second chuck 33. FIG. 10A shows a state in which the neck portion Vn of the container V in the state of FIG. 9 is gripped by the second chuck 33 and the neck guide 22C is returned to the retracted position. After that, the transfer device 28 moves the second chuck 33 by moving the arm 28A, and as shown in FIG. Place in an upright position. After that, the second chuck 33 is opened, and the gripping means for gripping the container V is switched to the first chuck 31 . 6 and 8, the next row of containers V is taken out from the heat treatment apparatus 18 by the first chuck 31, and the transfer operation by the second chuck 33 shown in FIG. 10 is repeated.

FIG. 11 shows the operation of the third operation mode in which the container V of FIG. 9 is transferred to the accumulating device 20 by the second chuck 33. FIG. 11A shows a state in which each neck portion Vn of the container V in the state of FIG. 9 is gripped by the second chuck 33, and the neck guide 22C is rotated around the rotation shaft 22E to the retracted position. . After that, the transfer device 28 moves the second chuck 33 to the delivery side end position of the accumulator 20 by moving the arm 28A, and the one row of containers V gripped by the second chuck 33 is moved to the position shown in FIG. As shown in (B), the holder (between the pair of guide plates 20B) at the delivery side end of the accumulator 20 is loaded. After that, the second chuck 33 is opened, and the gripping means for gripping the container V is switched to the first chuck 31 . 6 and 8, the next row of containers V is taken out from the heat treatment apparatus 18 by the first chuck 31, and the transfer operation by the second chuck 33 shown in FIG. 11 is repeated.

In the third operator mode, the control device 34 receives an abnormal stop signal from a downstream device while the container transport system 10 is being operated in either the first operation mode or the second operation mode. is started when Further, when the downstream device is restored and the container transport system 10 is restarted, after the operation of discharging the container V from the accumulating device 20 to the first transport conveyor 24 or the second transport conveyor 26 is executed, Operation of the upstream filler/capper 12 and the like is resumed.

For dispensing containers from the accumulator 20, the first or second dispensing mode is selected according to the first or second operation mode when the line is stopped. In the first dispensing mode, first, the container V taken out from the accumulator 20 by the second chuck 33 is transferred to the tilted mounting table 22A (reverse operation of FIG. 11). After that, the neck guide 22C is moved to the engagement position to position the container V, and the table 22A is rotated and leveled so that the container V is in a lying posture (from the state shown in FIG. 9 to the state shown in FIG. 8). . Then, the container V on the mounting table 22A is gripped by the first chuck 31 and transferred to the first transport conveyor 24 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the second dispensing mode, the containers V accumulated in the accumulating device 20 are transferred row by row from the accumulating device 20 to the second transport conveyor 26 by the second chuck 33 in the posture shown in FIG. 10(B). be.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the first chuck enables the transfer of the container from the upstream processing apparatus to the position changing device in the lying posture, and the first chuck further transfers the lying-position container to the first transfer conveyor. In addition, the container V whose posture has been selectively changed by the posture changing device can be held by the second chuck and transferred to the second conveyer in an upright posture. As a result, in the container transfer apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to selectively transfer containers in different postures to a plurality of transfer devices.

Although the transfer apparatus of this embodiment includes the first and second chucks, it may be configured such that, for example, one type of chuck is used to pull out the container and convey the neck.

10 container transport system 12 filler/capper 18 heat treatment device (container processing device)
20 accumulation device (accumulation means)
22 Posture changing device (container posture changing means)
22A Placement table 24 First transport conveyor (first transport means)
26 Second transport conveyor (second transport means)
28 transfer device (transfer device)
28A arm (moving means)
31 first chuck (first gripping means)
33 second chuck (second gripping means)
34 control device (control means)
V Container Vn Neck

Claims (3)

a container processing device that performs a predetermined process on the container;
a first conveying means arranged downstream of the container processing apparatus and conveying the container in a recumbent posture;
a second conveying means arranged downstream of the container processing apparatus and conveying the container in an upright posture;
transfer means for selectively transferring the container taken out from the container processing apparatus to the first transfer means or the second transfer means;
and a control means for controlling the transfer operation by the transfer means,
The transfer means is
gripping means for gripping the container;
a moving means for moving the gripping means;
a placing table on which the container can be placed; and container posture changing means for changing the posture of the container placed on the placing table from a lying posture to a standing posture by means of a tilting mechanism for tilting the placing table. have
The control means is
a first transfer operation of taking out a lying container from the container processing apparatus by the gripping means and transferring the container to the first transport means;
After the container in the lying posture is taken out from the container processing apparatus by the gripping means, transferred to the container posture changing means and changed to the standing posture, the container in the standing posture is taken out by the gripping means, and the container is taken out by the second conveying means. and a second transfer operation of transferring to a container conveying system. accumulating means is provided for accumulating containers from the container processing apparatus;
The control means is
A container in a recumbent posture is taken out from the container processing apparatus by the holding means, transferred to the container posture changing means and changed to an upright posture, and then taken out in the standing posture by the holding means and transferred to the accumulating means. The container transport system according to claim 1, wherein a third transfer operation of transferring is executed. 3. The container transport system according to claim 1, wherein the gripping means comprises a first gripping means for gripping a container in a recumbent posture and a second gripping means for gripping a container in a standing posture.

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