JPH025646B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a method for handling a filled and sealed tube (hereinafter referred to as a container or tube as appropriate) from a container holder holding the same to a packaging process, etc. This relates to a container unloading device used when taking out a container to a subsequent process, and is capable of taking out a container while keeping the front and back sides of the container constant and maintaining reliable synchronized timing with the subsequent process.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional technology related to a container dispensing device used for discharging a filled and sealed tube having a flat filling seal portion at one end, which is filled and sealed with a fluid such as a liquid, cream, or toothpaste, includes a tube/fill/seal machine. There is one as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 2 denotes a container holder that holds the filled and sealed tube 1 filled with a fluid such as liquid, cream, toothpaste, etc., and a plurality of tubes are arranged in an endless series (not shown). The tubes 1 are arranged in series so as to be moved sequentially and intermittently from the filling and sealing zone (not shown) of the tube 1 to the illustrated container removal zone. A push-up rod 3 is located below the container removal zone and is movable up and down.
A chute 4 is provided on one side of the container removal zone, fixed to the main body (not shown), and a chute 4 is provided on the other side of the container removal zone, and is rotatable on the main body at a fulcrum 91. A spring plate 92 is provided which is pivotally supported. To take out the tube 1 using the conventional container takeout device having such a configuration, while the container holder 2 is stopped, the push-up rod 3 is raised by passing through the hole 21 in the bottom of the container holder 2, as shown in FIG. This is done by pushing the tube 1 up from the container holder 2 and popping the pushed up tube 1 onto the chute 4 by rotating the pop-out plate 92 as shown in FIG. After this removal, the push-up rod 3 and the spring plate 92 return to their original positions as shown in FIG. 11.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the conventional technique, the tube 1 bound to the container holder 2 is released by the push-up rod 3, and the released tube 1 is further pushed out onto the chute 4 by the push-out plate 92, so that the tube 1 is not taken out. Since the front and back sides of the container were not determined, a direction alignment device was required in the subsequent process to make the front and back sides of the tube 1 constant, and it was not possible to obtain reliable synchronized timing with the equipment in the subsequent process.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a suction transfer mechanism that suctions the tube (container) pushed up as described above with a suction part and transfers it to a predetermined position such as a chute, and a suction transfer mechanism that suctions the tube (container) pushed up as described above and transfers the container to the suction part when the container is suctioned. The problems of conventional container ejecting devices are solved by providing a pressing mechanism and a twist correction guide for correcting the twist of the container being pushed up.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The container ejecting device of the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment in which the container unloading device of the present invention is applied to a tube filling/sealing machine.
3 is a vertically movable push-up rod for pushing up the filled and sealed tube 1, which is held inside the container holder 2 with the flat filling seal portion facing upward, through the hole 21; are chute, which are constructed similarly to conventional container dispensing devices and similarly arranged in the container dispensing zone. In the case of this embodiment, two tubes 1 held in adjacent container holders 2 are simultaneously pushed up by two push-up rods 3 (see Figure 2) (Figure 1 is a side view). for 1st
In the figure, one tube 1 is shown as being taken out). Further, the top dead center of the tip of the push-up rod 3 is higher than the top surface of the container holder 2, and the bottom dead center thereof is lower than the bottom surface of the container holder 2.

Thus, in the container unloading device of the present invention, a suction transfer mechanism 5 is provided above the chute 4, and a pressing mechanism 6 is provided opposite to the suction transfer mechanism 5 with the upper part of the push-up rod 3 interposed therebetween. The suction transfer mechanism 5 and the pressing mechanism 6 are driven together with the push-up rod 3 by a drive mechanism 7 shown in FIG. 2, which will be described later.

The suction transfer mechanism 5 includes a suction section 51 that suctions the tube 1 pushed up by the push-up rod 3.
and a transfer section 52 to which this is attached. The suction unit 51 has a total of four suction cups 5 that can suction each of the two tubes 1 at two locations, upper and lower.
3 and a suction head 54 to which these are attached, and a vacuum pump is connected to these suction cups 53 via a hose and a switching (on/off) valve, although not shown. The transfer section 52 also includes a swing lever 55 for rotating the suction head 54 between a solid line position (suction position) and an imaginary line position (extraction position), and a guide rod for controlling the orientation of the suction head 54 during this rotation. 56, and a connecting rod 58 for pivoting the swinging lever 55 via a lever 57. To explain the transfer section 52 in more detail, the swing lever 55 has one end attached to the main body (not shown) below the suction position (solid line position) of the suction head 54 so as to be rotatable via a pivot shaft 57'. The other end is rotatably supported on a suction head 54. The guide rod 56 has one end slidably supported on a rotating slide shaft 56' rotatably provided on the main body to the left of the suction position of the suction head 54, and the other end attached to the suction head 54. It is fixed. The lever 57 is rotatably supported near one end by a pivot shaft 57', and is integrally connected to the swinging lever 55 at a predetermined angle at the pivot shaft 57'. In addition, the connecting rod 58
is adapted to be driven by the drive mechanism 7 shown in FIG. 2, and its upper end is connected to the lever 57.
It is connected to the other end. Therefore, the transfer section 52
According to the above, as the connecting rod 58 moves up and down as shown by the arrow, the lever 57 and, by extension, the swinging lever 55 turn around the pivot shaft 57' as shown by the arrow.
6 onto the rotating slide shaft 56',
The suction head 54 rotates within a range of approximately 90 degrees around the rotation axis 57', and at this time, the direction of the suction head 54 rotates approximately 90 degrees around the rotation and slide shaft 56'.

Further, the pressing mechanism 6 is arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the tube 1 pushed up by the pushing up rod 3.
More specifically, a pressing plate 61 that moves back and forth (left and right in FIG. 1) in the direction of the suction part 51 of the suction transfer mechanism 5 while maintaining a substantially parallel state, and this pressing plate 6
a connecting rod 6 that moves the 1 in the suction transfer mechanism 5 back and forth in conjunction with the above-described rotation of the lever 57;
2. It is mainly composed of a pinion gear 64 with a lever 63 and a rack 65. The pinion gear 64 is located behind the pressing plate 61 and rotatably supported on the main body, and is connected to the pinion gear 64 via a connecting rod 62 connected between the lever 63 of the pinion gear 64 and the lever 57 of the suction transfer mechanism 5. By transmitting the rotational force of the lever 57 as described above, the lever 57 is configured to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the lever 57.
The rack 65 is held by a slide guide (not shown) provided on the main body so as to be movable back and forth and is meshed with the pinion gear 64. Therefore, the pressing plate 61 fixed to the front end of the rack 65 is engaged with the pinion gear 64. It is configured to move forward and backward by the rotation of the pinion gear 64 as described above. Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, the pressing plate 61 is provided with a side guide 66 and a torsion correction guide 67 for regulating the postures of the two tubes 1 pushed up by the pushing up rod 3. (Only one of each is shown in the drawing). The side guides 66 are fixed to the front surface of the pressing plate 61 and are configured to restrict both sides of the tube 1 being pushed up. Further, the torsion correction guide 67 is connected to the side guide 66 as shown in FIG.
The main body is a slide rod 69 that is fitted into a guide block 68 fixed to the front surface of the pressing plate 61 so as to be able to slide up and down, and has a substantially inverted V-shaped piece 69a at its lower end and a fall prevention piece 69b at its upper end. As shown in FIG.
By capturing at point a, the twist of the tube 1 is corrected and the tube 1 rises as the tube 1 rises. Furthermore, a photoelectric switch 60 is provided on the upper part of the pressing plate 61 to command the vacuum operation of the suction cup 53 in the suction and transfer mechanism 5.
The vacuum operation command circuit such as the switching valve of the suction cup 53 in the suction transfer mechanism 5 is controlled by the detection.

Further, the drive mechanism 7, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a drive mechanism for the push-up rod 3 and a drive mechanism for the connecting rod 58, which are connected to each other. The drive mechanism of the push-up rod 3 includes a drive shaft 71 rotatably supported on the main body, a cam plate 72 fixed to the drive shaft 71, and one end of which is rotatably supported on the main body by a swing arm fulcrum 74. The cam follower 75 at the intermediate portion is in contact with the cam plate 72 by a swinging arm 76, and a guide frame 78 connected to the other end (tip) of the swinging arm 76 via a connecting rod 77 and fixed to the main body. The push-up slider 79 is slidably held in the vertical direction, and the push-up spring 80 is connected between the lower end of the push-up slider 79 and the main body portion above the push-up slider 79, and urges the push-up slider 79 upward. The rotation of the drive shaft 71 causes the swing arm 76 to swing as shown by the arrow via the cam plate 72 and the cam follower 75, and this swing causes the push-up slider 79, which has two push-up rods 3 at its upper end, to move up and down. It is designed to do so. The drive mechanism of the connecting rod 58 includes a crank plate 81 fixed to the drive shaft 71, one end of which is rotatably supported on the swing arm fulcrum 74, and an intermediate portion of the connecting rod 58 attached to the crank plate 81. It consists of a swinging arm 83 that is connected via a connecting rod 82 and whose other end is connected to the connecting rod 58, and swings via the crank plate 81 and the connecting rod 82 as the drive shaft 71 rotates. The arm 83 is swung as shown by the arrow, and this oscillation causes the connecting rod 58 to move substantially up and down. The timing of vertical movement of the push-up rod 3 and the connecting rod 58 is mainly regulated by the shape of the cam plate 72. In the case of the embodiment, the push-up rod 3 is
After the connecting rod 58 starts to rise, it rises for a while, reaches the top dead center near the top dead center of the connecting rod 58, and after reaching the top dead center, the connecting rod 58 reaches the bottom dead center. It reached the bottom dead center before and maintained that state for a while.

Since the container dispensing device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is constructed as described above, its entire operation is performed sequentially as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7.

FIG. 4 is a state diagram showing the state immediately after the start of the process of taking out the tube 1. In this state, the connecting rod 58 has started to rise, but the push-up rod 3
maintains its bottom dead center. As the connecting rod 58 rises, the swing lever 55 moves as described above.
rotates in the direction of the arrow around the rotation axis 57', while
The pressing plate 61 also moves forward in the direction of the arrow, and the suction head 54
The pressing plate 61 approaches above the container holder 2.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the ejection process has progressed further than in FIG. 4, and in this state, the push-up rod 3 is at the top dead center. That is, the push-up rod 3 starts rising a while after the connecting rod 58 rises, pushes up the tube 1 inside the container holder 2, and presses the tube 1 against the suction head 54 approaching each other as described above. and the plate 61. On the other hand, in this state, the connecting rod 58 is also at the top dead center, and accordingly the guide rod 56 is approximately horizontal, so the suction cup of the suction head 54
3 is in close contact with the tube 1 which has been pushed up while facing toward the pressing plate 61. Also pressing plate 6
1 is also at its forward limit, pushing the pushed-up tube 1 toward the suction cup 53. Also, in this state, the tube 1 pushed up by the push-up rod 3 causes the twist correction guide 6
7 is pushed up, the photoelectric switch 60 detects the rise of the twist correction guide 67 and detects that there is a tube 1 to be taken out.Based on this detection, vacuum is applied to the suction cup 53 as described above, and the tube 1 is removed. It is adsorbed by a suction cup 53.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the extraction process has progressed further than in FIG. As the swing lever 55 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the tube 1 starts to be moved toward a predetermined position, that is, onto the chute 4 while being attracted to the suction cup 53 . Furthermore, the pressing plate 61 is also connected to the connecting rod 58.
Due to the downward movement, it has begun to retreat in the direction of the arrow.

FIG. 7 shows the state when the ejecting process has progressed further than in FIG. 6 and the connecting rod 58 has reached the bottom dead center, and the push-up rod 3 has already reached the bottom dead center. continues to maintain its condition. In this state, the swinging lever 55 has pivoted to a substantially horizontal state, and the guide rod 56 has pivoted to a substantially vertical state, so that the tube 1 is rotated from its lower side (in practice) held by the container holder 2. In the example, the chute 4 is rotated approximately 90 degrees with the side (with the cap) facing the opposite direction of the pressing plate 61 of the pressing mechanism 6.
It is located almost horizontally above. Then, in this state, the vacuum of the suction cup 53 is released, and the tube 1 is taken out onto the chute 4.

In addition, the container holder 2 from which the tube 1 has been taken out
is sent out from the container removal zone at the time when the push-up rod 3 descends beyond the hole 21 in the bottom surface,
In the container take-out zone, tubes 1 are connected in an endless manner to the delivered container holder 2.
The next container holder 2 that is being held is introduced,
Regarding the introduced container holder 2, the above-described operation for removing the tube 1 is performed again while the container holder 2 is stopped.

In the container takeout device of the present invention, for example, a conveyor may be used in place of the chute 4, or a container holder 2 capable of deeply holding the container 1 may be used. Also, sucker 53
The quantity, size, shape, material, etc. of the container 1 may be selected depending on the shape, size, weight, material, etc. of the container 1 to be taken out. The transfer section 52 consists of a link mechanism that rotates the lower side of the press plate of the press mechanism 6 in the direction opposite to the press plate of the press mechanism 6 by approximately 90 degrees and transfers the press plate.
It goes without saying that this is not limited to the example described, as long as it is constructed of a link mechanism or the like that can be moved to a desired position or direction as appropriate. Further, as the pressing mechanism 6, the pressing plate 61 may be configured to swing, and the side guide 66 and the twist correction guide 67 may be appropriately determined according to the shape of the container. Furthermore, detection of the presence or absence of a container is not limited to the case where the photoelectric switch 60 is used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The container unloading device of the present invention includes a suction transfer mechanism that suctions a pushed-up tube (container) with a suction part and transfers it to a predetermined position such as a chute, and a suction transfer mechanism that presses the container against the suction part when suctioning the container. A pressing mechanism is provided, and the pressing mechanism is provided with a twist correction guide for correcting the twist of the tube (container) being pushed up, so that the tube is held at a certain position in the front and back directions of the tube without causing suction errors. It is designed so that it can be taken out at a certain timing by keeping it constant.
It has the effect of having the same effects as the direction alignment device or timing adjustment device used in the post-process of the conventional container removal device,
Coupled with the fact that costs can be significantly reduced by eliminating the need for such conventional equipment in post-processes, its value is extremely high.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of its drive mechanism, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the main parts of its pressing mechanism, Figs. 4, 5, and 6. and seventh
The figures are side views sequentially showing how the conventional container dispensing device is used, and FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 are side views sequentially showing how the conventional container dispensing device is used. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Container (filled and sealed tube), 2... Container holder, 3... Push-up rod, 4... Chute, 5... Adsorption transfer mechanism, 51... Adsorption section, 52... Transfer section, 6...
Pressing mechanism, 61... Pressing plate, 67... Twisting correction guide, 69a... Approximately inverted V-shaped piece, 7... Drive mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A container holder for holding a container consisting of a filled and sealed tube having a flat filling seal portion at one end inwardly with the one end facing upward, and a container held by the container holder. A push-up rod that pushes up the
A suction transfer mechanism that suctions the container pushed up by the push-up rod to a predetermined position and transfers the container to a predetermined position, and a pressing mechanism that presses the container against the suction portion when the container is suctioned. A container ejecting device characterized in that the pressing mechanism includes a twist correction guide having a substantially inverted V-shaped piece for correcting twist of the container being pushed up. 2. Claim 1, wherein the suction transfer mechanism includes a transfer section that rotates the container by approximately 90 degrees so that the lower side of the container faces in the opposite direction to the pressing plate of the pressing mechanism.
Container removal device as described. 3. The container ejecting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressing mechanism has a pressing plate that moves back and forth in the direction of the suction part while maintaining a state substantially parallel to the container.