JP7495620B2 - Cap conveying device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cap transport device that transports multiple types of caps with different diameters.

Conventionally, cap conveying devices that use wheels to convey multiple types of caps with different diameters and shapes required changeover work such as wheel replacement and guide adjustment. In particular, when changing the type of cap sterilizing device placed in the sterile chamber of a sterile filling system, an operator had to enter the sterile chamber, destroying the sterile environment to perform the work and then re-establishing a sterile environment when the work was completed, which took a lot of time.

Patent Document 1 describes a technology that eliminates the need for changing types. In Patent Document 1, three wheels with pockets that fit the caps being transported are placed on the same rotation axis, and the caps are transported and sterilized using the wheel that corresponds to the type of cap to be sterilized.

Patent Document 2 also describes a technology that automates the type changeover process when transporting caps of different diameters. In Patent Document 2, a first cap disk that holds a first cap, a second cap disk that holds a second cap, a first holding portion that holds a first cap, and a second holding portion that holds a second cap are alternately formed, and a third cap disk that is connected to the first cap disk and the second cap disk is disposed, and the phase of the third cap disk is adjusted between the first cap disk or the second cap disk, allowing the device to be used for both the first and second caps.

Patent No. 6242414 JP 2019-011095 A

However, the configuration of Patent Document 1 requires multiple types of guides to guide the outer circumference of the wheels and caps, which increases costs and requires a large installation space. In addition, the disinfectant must be sprayed onto multiple types of caps, so the arrangement of the spray nozzles must be devised.

On the other hand, the configuration of Patent Document 2 uses a third cap disk in which a first holding portion for holding a first cap and a second holding portion for holding a second cap are alternately formed, resulting in low processing capacity. In order to increase processing capacity, a large cap disk is required, which results in a large device and requires a large installation space. In addition, if the cap disk is rotated at high speed to increase processing capacity, the load on the caps being transported increases, causing problems such as unstable cap transport.

The present invention aims to provide a cap transport device that can perform automatic type changeover operations without increasing the installation space or reducing processing capacity.

The cap transport device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a first cap wheel having a plurality of first pockets for holding a first cap, and transporting the first cap while holding it in the first pocket; a second cap wheel having a plurality of second pockets for holding a second cap having a diameter larger than that of the first cap, and transporting the second cap while holding it in the second pocket; and a third cap wheel having a plurality of third pockets capable of holding the second cap, and transporting the first cap or the second cap while holding it in the third pocket. The third cap wheel is connected to the first cap wheel and the second cap wheel, and a moving side guide guides both sides of the first cap held in the third pocket along the outer periphery of the third cap wheel. The surface guide is provided so as to be movable between a guide position and a retracted position, and a fixed side guide is provided to guide the side of the second cap held in the third pocket; when transporting the first cap, the movable side guide is moved to the guide position, and the first cap is transferred from the first pocket of the first cap wheel to the third pocket of the third cap wheel, and the first cap is transported while being held by the third pocket and the movable side guide; when transporting the second cap, the movable side guide is moved to the retracted position, and the second cap is transferred from the second pocket of the second cap wheel to the third pocket of the third cap wheel, and the second cap is transported while being held by the third pocket and the fixed side guide.

The second aspect of the present invention, the cap transport device, is characterized in that a bottom guide that guides the bottom surfaces of the first cap and the second cap is arranged to be movable and can be adjusted according to the height of the first cap and the second cap.

The present invention provides a cap transport device that can automatically perform type change operations without increasing the installation space or reducing processing capacity.

1 is a schematic layout diagram showing the internal configuration of a cap transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 13 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of a fixed top guide and a fixed side guide along a transport path. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the moving bottom guide along the transport path. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the moving side guides along the conveying path. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of a first movable support member that supports a moving bottom guide and a first actuator that drives the first movable support member when the first and second caps are transported. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of a second movable support member that supports the moving side guide and a second actuator that drives the second movable support member when the first and second caps are transported. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of first and second actuators used in the present embodiment. 11 is an enlarged view showing a state of conveyance when a first cap is handed over between third cap wheels. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing a state of transport when a second cap is handed over between third cap wheels. FIG.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic layout diagram showing the configuration of a cap transport device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The cap conveying device of this embodiment is applied to a cap sterilizing device 10 that conveys and sterilizes two types of caps of different sizes. The cap sterilizing device 10 is entirely enclosed by a housing 12, and the caps are supplied from a first cap chute 14 and a second cap chute 16 that correspond to the two types of caps. In addition, the caps that have been sterilized in the cap sterilizing device 10 are discharged from a discharge chute 18.

The first cap chute 14 is a chute for supplying first caps C1 with a relatively small diameter (e.g., 28 mm). On the other hand, the second cap chute 16 is a chute for supplying second caps C2 with a relatively large diameter (e.g., 38 mm). The first cap chute 14 is disposed obliquely above one side of the housing 12 (the left side in the figure) with the downstream side facing downward. The second cap chute 16 is disposed obliquely below the first cap chute 14 with the downstream side facing downward.

Downstream of the first cap chute 14, a first cap wheel 20 is disposed to transport the first cap C1, and the first cap wheel 20 is capable of rotating in a vertical plane around a wheel rotation axis extending horizontally. The downstream end of the first cap chute 14 is adjacent to the first cap wheel 20 at its outer periphery above the wheel rotation axis. Downstream of the second cap chute 16, a second cap wheel 22 is disposed to transport the second cap C2, and the second cap wheel 22 is capable of rotating in a vertical plane around a wheel rotation axis extending horizontally. The downstream end of the second cap chute 16 is adjacent to the second cap wheel 22 at its outer periphery above the wheel rotation axis.

The outer diameters of the first and second cap wheels 20, 22 are approximately equal, and the outer periphery of the first cap wheel 20 is provided with a plurality of pockets (first pockets) 20A corresponding to the diameter of the first cap C1 at a predetermined pitch along the outer periphery (see FIG. 2). The outer periphery of the second cap wheel 22 is provided with a plurality of pockets (second pockets) 22A corresponding to the diameter of the second cap C2 at a predetermined pitch along the outer periphery (see FIG. 2).

When sterilizing the first cap C1, the first cap C1 is supplied from the first cap chute 14 to the cap sterilizer 10. When sterilizing the second cap C2, the second cap C2 is supplied from the second cap chute 16 to the cap sterilizer 10. The first and second caps C1 and C2 supplied from the first and second cap chutes 14 and 16 are stored and held in the pockets 20A and 22A of the first and second cap wheels 20 and 22, respectively, and are transported along the outer periphery of the wheels as the first and second cap wheels 20 and 22 rotate. The first cap wheel 20 is positioned approximately directly above the second cap wheel 22.

A third cap wheel 24, which has approximately the same diameter as the first and second cap wheels 20, 22, is disposed adjacent to the first cap wheel 20 diagonally below and near the opposite side of the first cap chute 14. The third cap wheel 24 rotates in the opposite direction to the first and second cap wheels 20, 22, and a plurality of pockets (third pockets) 24A, which have approximately the same diameter as the pockets 22A of the second cap wheel 22, are provided at a predetermined pitch along the outer periphery of the third cap wheel 24. The third cap wheel 24 is disposed diagonally above the second cap wheel 22.

The cap sterilizer 10 of this embodiment has three third cap wheels 26, 28, 30 in addition to the third cap wheel 24. The first to fourth third cap wheels 24, 26, 28, 30 have approximately the same configuration and are arranged adjacent to each other in this order to form a cap transport path. Either the first or second cap C1 or C2 to be processed is transferred to the pockets of each wheel in the order of the third cap wheels 24, 26, 28, 30, and is finally discharged from the third cap wheel 30 to the discharge chute 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, the second and fourth third cap wheels 26, 30 are positioned at approximately the same height as the first cap wheel 20 and rotated in the same direction. Meanwhile, the third third cap wheel 28 is positioned at the same height as the first third cap wheel 24 and rotated in the same direction.

That is, in the example of FIG. 1, the second third cap wheel 26 is disposed diagonally above and to the right of the first third cap wheel 24, and the third third cap wheel 28 is disposed diagonally below and to the right of the second third cap wheel 26. The fourth third cap wheel 30 is disposed diagonally above and to the right of the third third cap wheel 28. The discharge chute 18 is disposed so that its upstream end is adjacent to the diagonally above and to the right of the fourth third cap wheel 30, and is tilted downward toward its downstream end.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inside of the housing 12 of the cap sterilizer 10 is divided into three compartments by three partition plates 32A, 32B, and 32C. The first and second cap wheels 20, 22 and the first third cap wheel 24 are arranged in the first compartment A. Only the second third cap wheel 26 is arranged in the second compartment B, and the third and fourth third cap wheels 28, 30 are arranged in the third compartment C.

The first third cap wheel 24 and the second third cap wheel 26 are separated by a partition plate 32A, except for the cap transfer position (connection portion) where the two third cap wheels 24 and 26 are adjacent, and the second third cap wheel 26 and the third third cap wheel 28 are separated by a partition plate 32B, except for the cap transfer position (connection portion) where the two third cap wheels are adjacent. In addition, the first section A and the third section C are separated by a partition plate 32C.

In the second section B, a disinfectant spray nozzle (disinfectant supply means) 34 is disposed directly above the second third cap wheel 26. When the first cap C1 or second cap C2, which is handed over from the first third cap wheel 24 through the opening of the partition plate 32A and stored and held in the pocket 26A of the second third cap wheel 26, reaches near the top of the second third cap wheel 26, a disinfectant (e.g., hydrogen peroxide mist) is sprayed from above by the disinfectant spray nozzle 34.

The first cap C1 or second cap C2 sprayed with the disinfectant is then lowered along the outer periphery of the second third cap wheel 26 and handed over to the pocket 28A of the third third cap wheel 28 through the opening of the partition plate 32B. Near the outer periphery of the third third cap wheel 28, a number of air injection nozzles 36 are arranged over a predetermined section of the outer periphery to inject heated air to dry the first cap C1 or second cap C2 held in the pocket 28A.

The caps (C1 or C2) dried on the third cap wheel 28 are then transferred to the pocket 30A of the fourth cap wheel 30. A cleaning water injection nozzle 38 that injects cleaning water onto the caps C1 and C2 is disposed near the outer periphery of the fourth cap wheel 30. The caps C1 and C2 transported by the fourth cap wheel 30 make approximately half a revolution around the periphery before being transferred to the discharge chute 18. The pockets 20A, 22A, 26A, 28A, and 30A provided on the cap wheels 20, 22, 26, 28, and 30 are all provided on the periphery of each wheel at the same pitch, and the cap wheels 20, 22, 26, 28, and 30 are rotated synchronously so that the pockets always face each other in the adjacent areas.

In the cap sterilizer 10, along the cap transport path of the first and second cap wheels 20, 22 and the third cap wheels 24, 26, 28, 30, a fixed top guide 40 that guides the top surfaces of the first and second caps C1, C2 and a movable bottom guide (bottom guide) 42 that guides the bottom surfaces of the first and second caps C1, C2 are provided. In addition, along the transport path of the second cap C2 of the second cap wheel 22 and the third cap wheel 24, 26, 28, 30, a fixed side guide 44 that cooperates with the pockets 22A, 24A, 26A, 28A, 30A to guide the sides of the second cap C2 is provided. Furthermore, along the transport path of the first cap C1 of the first cap wheel 20 and the third cap wheel 24, 26, 28, 30, a movable side guide 46 that guides both sides of the first cap C1 is provided.

A swinging guide 48 is provided at a position where the second cap C2 is handed over from the second cap wheel 22 to the third cap wheel 24. The swinging guide 48 constitutes part of the fixed side guide 44, and when the second cap C2 is transported, it is disposed along the outer periphery of the second cap wheel 22 (guide position) and cooperates with the pockets 22A, 24A to guide the side of the second cap C2 from the second cap wheel 22 to the third cap wheel 24. On the other hand, when the first cap C1 is transported, the swinging guide 48 is rotated to a position (retracted position) where it does not interfere with the first cap C1, and is retracted from the transport path of the first cap C1.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the fixed top guide 40 and the fixed side guide 44 along the transport path. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the movable bottom guide 42 along the transport path. Also, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the movable side guide 46 along the transport path. Note that in Figures 2 to 4, only the first and second cap wheels 20, 22, the first and second third cap wheels 24, 26, and a portion of the third third cap wheel 28 are shown, but the fourth third cap wheel 30 also has guides 40-46 similarly arranged along the transport path of the first and second caps C1, C2.

In this embodiment, the first and second caps C1 and C2 are stored in the pockets of the cap wheels with their top surfaces aligned vertically. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the fixed top guide 40 is composed of, for example, two round bar members arranged in parallel, and the two round bar members abut against and guide the top surfaces of the first and second caps C1 and C2.

The fixed top surface guide 40 is divided into a first section that extends from the downstream side of the first cap chute 14 along the pocket 20A on the outer periphery of the first cap wheel 20 so as to overlap it, passes through the adjacent portion with the third cap wheel 24, and is arranged along the pocket 24A on the upper left outer periphery of the third cap wheel 24 so as to overlap it, up to just before the swinging guide 48; a second section that extends from the downstream side of the second cap chute 16 along the pocket 22A on the outer periphery of the second cap wheel 22 so as to overlap it, up to just before the swinging guide 48; and a third section that extends from the downstream side of the swinging guide 48 along the pockets 24A, 26A, 28A, 30A on the outer periphery of the third cap wheels 24, 26, 28, 30 so as to overlap it.

The first and second sections are connected to the third section by, for example, a bifurcated plate-like member 40A along the transport path. The fixed top guide 40 including the plate-like member 40A is disposed on one side of the first, second and third cap wheels 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30, and the top surfaces of the first and second caps C1 and C2 housed in the pockets 20A, 22A, 24A, 26A, 28A and 30A are guided by sliding against the fixed top guide 40.

Meanwhile, in the second and third sections, the fixed side guides 44 are arranged along the outer periphery of each part of the cap wheels 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 that constitute the transport path at positions that correspond to the outer diameter of the second cap C2 from each pocket 22A, 24A, 26A, 28A, 30A of the second and third cap wheels 22, 24, 26, 28, 30. That is, in the third section, the fixed side guides 44 are arranged alternately along each outer periphery that constitutes the transport path of the third cap wheels 24, 26, 28, 30.

As a result, the fixed side guide 44 prevents the second cap C2 contained in the pocket 22A, 24A, 26A, 28A, 30A from falling out of the pocket. The fixed top guide 40 and the fixed side guide 44 are supported by a fixed member 45 (see FIG. 6). Also, in FIG. 2, the fixed side guide 44 and the oscillating guide 48 are shaded, and the oscillating guide 48 is depicted as it is positioned when the second cap C2 is transported, i.e., positioned along the pocket 22A.

2 and 3, the movable bottom guide 42 has the same configuration as the fixed top guide 40, and is arranged parallel to the fixed top guide 40 on the opposite side of the outer periphery of the first to third cap wheels 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30. Unlike the fixed top guide 40, the movable bottom guide 42 is held by a first movable support member 50. The first movable support member 50 is supported by a plurality of first actuators 52, such as cylinders, and can move integrally with the first to third cap wheels 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 in the direction of the rotation axis. In FIG. 3, the first movable support member 50 is hatched, the position of the swing guide 48 when transporting the second cap C2 is drawn with a solid line, and the retracted position when transporting the first cap C1 is drawn with a dashed line.

As shown in FIG. 4, the moving side guide 46 is composed of two parallel guide plates 46A. The moving side guide 46 is integrally configured over the entire transport path of the first cap C1 by the first and third cap wheels 20, 24, 26, 28, 30, and is arranged on the same side as the moving bottom guide 42 with respect to each cap wheel 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30. The guide plates 46A of the moving side guide 46 are arranged in parallel at a distance corresponding to the outer diameter of the first cap C1, and are arranged along the pocket 20A so that the first cap C1 during transport is maintained within the pocket 20A in the first cap wheel 20. The guide plates 46A are held by the second movable support member 54, which is supported by a plurality of second actuators 56 consisting of cylinders or the like. The second movable support member 54 can also move integrally in the rotation axis direction of the first to third cap wheels 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30. In FIG. 4, the second movable support member 54 is hatched, and the swing guide 48, which is in the retracted position when transporting the first cap C1, is drawn in solid lines.

Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views showing the arrangement of the third cap wheel 24, the fixed top guide 40, the movable bottom guide 42, the fixed side guide 44, and the movable side guide 46 in the cap wheel rotation axis direction.

Figure 5(a) shows the arrangement of the first movable support member 50 that supports the moving bottom guide 42 when the first cap C1 is transported and the first actuator 52 that drives it, and Figure 5(b) shows the arrangement of the first movable support member 50 that supports the moving bottom guide 42 when the second cap C2 is transported and the first actuator 52 that drives it. Also, Figure 6(a) shows the arrangement of the second movable support member 54 that supports the guide plate 46A of the moving side guide 46 when the first cap C1 is transported and the second actuator 56 that drives it, and Figure 6(b) shows the arrangement of the second movable support member 54 that supports the moving side guide 46 when the second cap C2 is transported and the second actuator 56 that drives it.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the third cap wheel 24 is attached by a rotating shaft 24B, which is rotatably held by a hub 24C. The fixed top guide 40 and the fixed side guide 44 are fixed in a predetermined position relative to the third cap wheel 24 by a fixing member 45. In Figures 5 and 6, the fixed top guide 40 is positioned to the right of the third cap wheel 24 and abuts against the top surfaces of both the first and second caps C1 and C2 housed in the pocket 24A.

Meanwhile, the movable bottom guide 42 supported by the first movable support member 50 is moved in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 24B by the first actuator 52 in accordance with the heights of the first and second caps C1 and C2, and is positioned so as to abut the bottom surfaces of the first and second caps C1 and C2, respectively. In the example of Figures 5 and 6, the first cap C1 is taller than the second cap C2, and the movable bottom guide 42 in Figures 5(a) and 6(a) is positioned farther away from the fixed top guide 40 than the movable bottom guide 42 in Figures 5(b) and 6(b).

The fixed side guide 44 is positioned to face the opening of the pocket 24A at approximately the same position as the pocket 24A in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 24B. The fixed side guide 44 is positioned outside the pocket 24A to match the outer diameter of the second cap C2, which has a larger diameter, so that, as shown in Figures 5(b) and 6(b), when the second cap C2 is housed in the pocket 24A, it abuts against the side of the second cap C2 on the side opposite the pocket 24A. However, as shown in Figures 5(a) and 6(a), it is spaced apart from the side of the first cap C1.

When the first cap C1 is transported, the sides of the first cap C1 are supported from both sides by the guide plates 46A of the pair of movable side guides 46. At that time, as is clear from Figures 8 and 9, the center of the first cap C1 moves along approximately the same trajectory as the center of the second cap C2. Also, as shown in Figures 5(a) and 6(a), when the first cap C1 is transported, the guide plates 46A of the movable side guides 46 supported by the second movable support member 54 are moved by the second actuator 56 to a position (guiding position) where they abut the sides of the first cap C1 housed in the pocket 24A from both sides, that is, to a position closer to the fixed top guide 40 than the movable bottom guide 42.

On the other hand, when the second cap C2 is transported as shown in Figures 5(b) and 6(b), the guide plate 46A of the movable side guide 46 supported by the second movable support member 54 is moved by the second actuator 56 to a position (retracted position) where it does not interfere with the second cap C2 housed in the pocket 24A, i.e., to a position approximately the same as the movable bottom guide 42 in the axial direction, or a position farther away from the fixed top guide 40 than the movable bottom guide 42. This prevents the movable side guide 46 from interfering with the second cap C2.

Figure 7 is a side view showing the configuration of the first and second actuators 52, 56 used in this embodiment. The first and second actuators 52, 56 have the same structure and are each attached to the fixed member 45 parallel to the rotation axis of the cap wheel. In this embodiment, they are advanced and retreated in the direction of the rotation axis using fluid cylinders 52A, 56A. The ends of the fluid cylinders 52A, 56A are connected to spline shafts 52D, 56D via rods 52B, 56B, respectively. The spline shafts 52D, 56D are supported slidably by spline bearings 52C, 56C.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing the state of transport when the first cap C1 is handed over between the third cap wheels 24, 26 (or 28, 30). Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the second cap C2 being transported. Note that in Figures 8 and 9, the movable side guide 46 and the fixed side guide 44 are hatched.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the first cap C1 is transported, the guide plates 46A of the moving side guide 46 guide both sides of the first cap C1 housed in the pockets 24A, 26A. The distance between the guide plates 46A is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the first cap C1, and the first cap C1 moves between the guide plates 46A in accordance with the rotational movement of the pockets 24A, 26A of the rotating third cap wheels 24, 26.

When the first third cap wheel 24 and the second third cap wheel 26 are positioned adjacent to each other, the first cap C1, which is housed in the pocket 24A of the first third cap wheel 24, is moved along the moving side guide 46 into the pocket 26A of the second third cap wheel 26 and housed in the pocket 26A.

In addition, a plurality of protruding claws 58 are provided on the inside of the pockets 24A, 26A, 28A, 30A of the first to fourth third cap wheels 24, 26, 28, 30 so that the disinfectant, heated air, and cleaning solution can be distributed around the entire periphery of the cap side. In this embodiment, three claws 58A, 58B, 58C are provided at the bottom center of the pocket (58B) and the front and rear surfaces of the pocket opening (58A, 58C). When the first cap C1 is transported, both sides of the first cap C1 in the transport direction are held by the guide plate 46A, and it does not come into contact with the claw 58B provided at the bottom center of the pockets 24A and 26A, but can only come into contact with the front and rear claws 58A and 58C. As shown in FIG. 8, when the first cap C1 is transported from the bottom to the top, it is transported by pockets 24A and 26A, which rotate while abutting against the rear claw 58C, and when it is transported from the top to the bottom, it is transported by pockets 24A and 26A, which rotate while abutting against the front claw 58A.

On the other hand, when the second cap C2 shown in FIG. 9 is transported, the side of the second cap C2 can engage with the three claws 58A, 58B, 58C of the pockets 24A, 26A accommodated therein, and the outer side of the second cap C2 can contact the fixed side guide 44. The second cap C2 moves with the pockets 24A, 26A, which rotate while contacting either the front or rear claws 58A, 58B of the pockets 24A, 26A, and the outer side is guided by the fixed side guide 44. At the position where the first third cap wheel 24 and the second third cap wheel 26 are closest to each other, the fixed side guide 44 on the first third cap wheel 24 side and the fixed side guide 44 on the second third cap wheel 26 side overlap, and at the same position, the second cap C2 is accommodated in the pockets 24A and 26A at the same time, and both sides of the side are guided by the two fixed side guides 44. In FIG. 9, the second cap C2 is being transported from the bottom to the top and is in contact with the rear claw 58C.

As described above, in the first cap transport mode in which the first cap C1 is transported, the position of the movable bottom guide 42 is adjusted to the cap height, and the movable side guide 46 is adjusted to a position where it can abut against the side of the first cap C1 in each pocket. The swinging guide 48 is also positioned in a retracted position away from the transport path of the first cap C1, and in this state the first cap C1 is transported and the sterilization process is performed. The first cap C1 is supplied from the first cap chute 14, and the first to third cap wheels 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are all rotated synchronously. That is, when the first cap C1 transported by the first third cap wheel 24 passes a position adjacent to the second cap wheel 22, the portion of the first cap C1 that protrudes outward from the pocket 24A is accommodated and moved in the pocket 22A of the second cap wheel 22, which rotates in synchronization with the first cap wheel 20 and the first third cap wheel 24, thereby preventing the first cap C1 from interfering with the second cap wheel 22.

On the other hand, in the second cap transport mode in which the second cap C2 is transported, the position of the moving bottom guide 42 is adjusted to the cap height, and the moving side guide 46 is retracted to a position where it does not come into contact with the second cap C2 in each pocket. The swinging guide 48 is arranged along the outer periphery of the second cap wheel 22 to form a transport path for the second cap C2, and in this state, the second cap C2 is transported and sterilized. The second cap C2 is supplied from the second cap chute 16, and at least the second to third cap wheels 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 are rotated synchronously. In the second cap transport mode, the first cap wheel 20 may be stopped, rotated synchronously, or rotated independently.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by adjusting the positions of the movable bottom guide and the movable side guide with an actuator and controlling the arrangement of the oscillating guide, it is possible to automatically change the type of cap to suit different sizes without sacrificing installation space or processing capacity. In addition, since the center trajectory can be made almost the same when transporting caps of different sizes, processing can be performed without adjusting the position according to the cap even when a disinfectant spray nozzle or the like is placed on the transport path.

The number of third cap wheels 24, 26, 28, 30 is not limited to four as in this embodiment, but may be two or three, or more than four, such as six or eight. The arrangement of the disinfectant spray nozzle 34, air spray nozzle 36, and cleaning water spray nozzle 38 is also not limited to this embodiment, and they can be arranged at any appropriate position on the third cap wheel.

10 Cap sterilizer 20 First cap wheel 20A Pocket (first pocket)
22 Second cap wheel 22A Pocket (second pocket)
24 Third cap wheel 24A Third pocket 34 Sterilizing agent spray nozzle 40 Fixed top guide 42 Movable bottom guide (bottom guide)
44 Fixed side guide 46 Movable side guide C1 First cap C2 Second cap

Claims (2)

a first cap wheel having a plurality of first pockets for holding first caps, the first cap wheel conveying the first caps while holding them in the first pockets;
a second cap wheel including a plurality of second pockets for holding second caps having a diameter larger than that of the first caps, the second cap wheel conveying the second caps while holding them in the second pockets;
a third cap wheel that is formed with a plurality of third pockets capable of holding the second caps and that conveys the first cap or the second cap while holding it in the third pockets;
The first cap wheel and the second cap wheel are connected to the third cap wheel;
a movable side guide for guiding both side surfaces of the first cap held in the third pocket is provided along an outer periphery of the third cap wheel so as to be movable between a guide position and a retracted position, and a fixed side guide for guiding the side surfaces of the second cap held in the third pocket is provided;
When transporting the first cap, the movable side guide is moved to a guide position, and the first cap is transferred from a first pocket of the first cap wheel to a third pocket of the third cap wheel, and the first cap is transported while being held by the third pocket and the movable side guide;
When transporting the second cap, the movable side guide is moved to a retracted position, and the second cap is transferred from the second pocket of the second cap wheel to the third pocket of the third cap wheel, and the second cap is transported while being held by the third pocket and the fixed side guide. The cap transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that a bottom guide for guiding the bottom surfaces of the first cap and the second cap is arranged to be movable and adjustable according to the height of the first cap and the second cap.

Images