JPH03111325A - Vessel handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To continuously detect the variation in the amount of storage by constituting the means for detecting amount of storage of vessels by the weight detecting means for the vessels on a feed conveyor, and by calculating the amount of storage by the detected amount. CONSTITUTION:The weight of vessels 1 which have been transferred in plurality of rows on a transfer conveyor 2 and stored is detected by a weight detecting means 15. When the amount of storage of the vessels 1 increases, the rotating speed of a drive motor 11 for the transfer conveyor 2 is continuously decreased by a controller 21 in response to the increase in the amount of storage. Thus, the amount of storage of the vessels 1 is always regulated to a suitable quantity, so that bridging or the like of the vessels 1 being sent to a vessel collecting device 5 can be prevented, and an aligned condition of the vessels 1 in an output conveyor 7 can be secured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a container handling device, and more specifically,
The present invention relates to a container handling device including a detection means for detecting the amount of storage in a container.

"Prior Art" Conventionally, a container handling device includes a container processing means for processing containers, a conveyor for supplying the containers to the container processing means, and a detection means for detecting the amount of containers stored on the conveyor. It is known that it has the following.

More specifically, the container processing means may include, for example, a filling device that fills a container with a filling liquid, a capper that caps the container, a labeler that attaches a label to the container, or a container that is arranged in multiple rows at random. Examples include container collection devices that collect containers in rows.

Then, the storage amount of the container is detected by the detection means, and for example, when the storage amount becomes less than a predetermined amount, the operation of the container processing means can be stopped or the operating speed can be reduced, or vice versa. , when the amount stored in the container exceeds a predetermined amount, the operating speed of the conveyor is reduced, etc.
Appropriate control can be performed depending on the type of container processing means.

``Problem to be Solved by the Invention'' However, the detection means is generally composed of a phototube and is installed at a predetermined position on the upstream side of the conveyor, and is designed to detect the amount of stored containers based on the presence or absence of containers at that position. It has become. Therefore, when adjusting the storage amount of the container to be optimal, the mounting position must be changed, and the adjustment work is complicated.

In particular, when controlling the operating speed of the container processing means and conveyor in detail according to the amount of storage in the containers, it is necessary to arrange a large number of photocells along the conveyor to detect fluctuations in the amount of storage. There are disadvantages in that the above-mentioned adjustment work is extremely complicated and expensive.

"Means for Solving the Problems" In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a container handling device equipped with the above-mentioned detection means, in which the detection means is comprised of a weight detection means for detecting the weight of the containers on the conveyor. The amount stored in the container is calculated and measured from the detected weight.

"Effect" The containers stored on the conveyor come into contact with each other and are stored while slipping against the conveyor, and their weight becomes substantially proportional to the amount of storage of the containers. Therefore, if the weight of the container is detected by the weight detecting means, the amount stored in the container can be calculated and measured.

If a weight detecting means having, for example, a load cell capable of continuously detecting the weight of the container is used as the weight detecting means, it is possible to continuously detect fluctuations in the storage amount of the container with one weight detecting means. It becomes possible to inexpensively and continuously control the operating speed of the container processing means and the conveyor according to the storage amount of the containers.

``Embodiment'' The present invention will be described below with reference to an illustrated embodiment. In FIG. 1, containers 1 are conveyed in a plurality of random rows by a conveyor 2, and from the conveyor 2 a pair of left and right guide members 3, 4. The containers are guided to a container collecting device 5 as a container processing means. The container collecting device 5 is equipped with a plurality of rows of collecting conveyors 6 arranged in parallel to each other, of which the most downstream conveyor also serves as an exit conveyor 7.

A pair of guide members 3 .
It extends diagonally across the.

The conveyor 2 is driven by a first motor 11, the collection conveyor 6 is driven by a second motor 12, and the exit conveyor 7 is driven by a third motor 13.
They are each driven by The plurality of conveyors in the collecting conveyor 6 are set so that the conveyance speed increases in order from the upstream side to the downstream side, so that while the container 1 is conveyed downstream while increasing the speed, the conveyor speed gradually increases. They are collected in a row and can be carried out in one row by an exit conveyor 7.

However, the conveyor 2 is provided with a weight detection means 15 for detecting the weight of the containers 1 stored on the conveyor 2.
has been established.

As shown in FIG. 2, the weight detecting means 15 includes a fixed plate 16 disposed inside the conveyor 2 and fixed to a frame (not shown), and a fixed plate 16 disposed above the fixed plate 16 to control the conveyor 2. It is equipped with a support table 17 whose bottom surface is supported at the upper part, and a guide rod 18 which is attached to the lower surface of the support table 17 facing vertically downward. It is engaged so that it can be raised and lowered freely.

The support table 17 is held at the raised end position by a spring 19 provided between the support table 17 and the fixed plate 16,
In addition, by bringing the load cell 20 provided on the fixed plate 16 into contact with the lower surface of the support table 17, the weight of the container 1 can be detected. The detection signal of this load cell 20 is transmitted to each of the motors 11 to 13 mentioned above.
is input to a controller 21 that controls the operating speed.

Further, the guide rod 18 is provided with a stopper 22 at a predetermined position that contacts the fixed plate 16 to prevent the support table 17 from lowering more than necessary even if an excessive load is applied to the support plate 17.

In the above configuration, the containers 1 that have been conveyed in a plurality of random rows on the conveyor 2 are guided by the guide member 3.4 and carried into the container collection device S,
The container collecting device 5 collects the containers in a line on the exit conveyor 7 and carries them out. Then, the surplus containers 1 are stored on the conveyor 2 while slipping against the conveyor 2 while in contact with each other.

The weight of the containers 1 stored on the transport conveyor 2 presses the support table 17 downward against the spring 19, so the weight is detected by the load cell 20 and input to the controller 21. This controller 21 calculates the number of containers 1 stored on the transport conveyor 2 by subtracting the pre-measured weight of the support plate 17 etc. applied to the load cell 20 from the measured weight and dividing that value by the individual weight of each container 1. It is now possible to detect.

By the way, if the amount of containers 1 stored on the conveyor 2 becomes too large, a large number of containers 1 will be sandwiched between the pair of guide members 3.4, creating a so-called bridge, and the flow of containers 1 will be interrupted at that portion. On the other hand, container 1
If the stored amount of containers 1 becomes too small, gaps will be created between the containers 1, making it easy for the containers 1 to collide with each other and cause knocking sounds, breakage, or overturning.

Therefore, when the storage amount of the container 1 increases, the controller 21 controls the motor 11 that drives the transport conveyor 2.
The rotation speed of the motor 12, 13 that drives the container gathering device 5 is continuously decreased in accordance with the increase in the storage amount to reduce the storage amount of the container 1, or alternatively or in addition thereto. The speed is continuously increased to increase the number of containers handled by the container collection device 5.

On the other hand, when the amount of storage in the container 1 decreases, the rotational speed of the motor 11 that drives the conveyor 2 is continuously increased in accordance with the decrease in the amount of storage, or the amount of storage in the container 1 is increased. Alternatively, or at the same time, the rotational speed of the motor 12, 13 that drives the container gathering device 5 is continuously reduced to reduce the number of containers handled by the container gathering device 5.

Through such control, the amount stored in the container 1 can be adjusted to always be a suitable amount.

Next, FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the weight detection means 25 includes a swinging frame 27 having one end pivotally supported on the rotating shaft 26 of the conveyor 2. The rotating shaft 26 is supported by a frame (not shown). Therefore, the swing frame 27 can swing up and down about the rotation shaft 26, and by supporting the rotation shaft 28 of the transport conveyor 2 at the other end of the swing frame 27, the transport conveyor 2 The entire rotating shaft 26
It is possible to swing up and down around the center.

A support table 29 that supports the bottom surface of the upper part of the conveyor 2 is integrally attached to the swing frame 27, and a press plate 31 is connected to the free end side of the swing frame 27 via a connecting rod 30. The weight applied to the pressing plate 31 is detected by a load cell 33 provided on the frame 32, and the detected signal can be input to the controller 21.

Further, the pressing plate 31 is urged upward by a spring 35, thereby reducing the weight applied to the load cell 33. And a stopper 36 is attached to the frame 32.
is provided to prevent the pressing plate 31 from lowering more than necessary even if an excessive load is applied to the pressing plate 31.

In the above configuration, the container 1 is placed on the conveyor 2.
When the liquid is accumulated, the weight of the container causes the swinging frame 27 to swing slightly about the rotating shaft 26, and presses the pressing plate 31 downwardly against the spring 35 via the connecting rod 30. Thereby, the weight is detected by the load cell 33 and inputted to the controller 21, so that the same processing as in the above embodiment can be performed.

Although the load cell 20.33 is used as the sensor of the weight detecting means 15, it is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that a device having an appropriate structure such as a donkey pal weighing scale can be used.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, according to the present invention, the storage amount of the container can be calculated and measured by the weight detection means, so the weight detection means having a load cell or the like that can continuously detect the weight of the container can be used. If used, it is possible to continuously detect fluctuations in the amount of storage in a container using one weight detection means, and therefore it is possible to continuously control the operating speed of the container processing means and conveyor in accordance with the amount of storage in the container at low cost. The effect of being able to do this is obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the main part of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the main part showing another embodiment of the invention. . 1... Container 2... Conveyor 5... Container gathering device (container processing means) 11-13... Motor 17... Support plate 21... Controller 31... Suppression plate 15.25. ... Weight detection means 20.33 ... Load cell 27 ... Swing frame

Claims (1)

[Claims] A container handling device comprising: a container processing means for processing containers; a conveyor for supplying containers to the container processing means; and a detection means for detecting the amount of containers stored on the conveyor; . A container handling device comprising a weight detecting means for detecting the weight of the container on the conveyor, and calculating and measuring the storage amount of the container from the detected weight.