JPH0313126B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a direction adjusting device for a deformable container, and more specifically, for orienting a deformable container having a deformed part such as a rectangular or elliptical shape on the body in a predetermined direction. The present invention relates to a direction adjusting device for a deformable container.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a direction adjusting device for a deformable container that aligns the direction of a deformable container while continuously conveying the deformable container usually includes a conveying means for conveying the deformable container, a conveying means that engages with the container, and is integrally conveyed. The device includes an engaging member that rotates the engaging member, a rotation drive mechanism that rotates the engaging member to rotate the container, and a detector that detects the direction of the container. The rotation drive mechanism rotates the container or aligns the container in a predetermined direction without rotating the container.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, a dedicated motor is provided as the rotational drive mechanism, or a common drive source is provided, and an electromagnetic clutch is connected to each drive system of the drive source and the engagement member. Alternatively, when the deformable container is rotated by the frictional force of the deformable container, the engaging portion provided at a predetermined position of the deformable container is engaged with a stopper provided at a predetermined position to forcefully stop the deformable container. The following have been proposed. However, in a rotary drive device with such a configuration, the motor and electromagnetic clutch are expensive, and on the other hand, in the case of a device in which the engaging portion of the deformable container is brought into contact with the stopper, damage to the container, deformation, and tipping of the container may occur. There were issues such as the need for special consideration.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In view of these points, the present invention includes a conveying means for conveying a deformable container having a plurality of positioning surfaces in the circumferential direction, and a conveying means rotatably provided to the deformed container. an engagement member that receives the deformed container in a relatively non-rotatable manner while being positioned at one of a plurality of rotation stop positions corresponding to a plurality of positioning surfaces of the container;
a rotational drive mechanism provided in the conveying means for rotating the deformable container by rotating the engaging member; The engaging members are arranged in series by at least one smaller number, and each engages with a rotational drive mechanism conveyed by the conveying means, so that one of the positioning surfaces of the deformable container is in a predetermined direction. a cam member that rotates in a certain direction from a position facing toward the direction of rotation until another positioning surface adjacent to the rotational direction faces in the predetermined direction; A detector for detecting whether or not the positioning surface detected is a specific positioning surface is provided at the engaging portion between each cam member and the rotational drive mechanism, and the detector detects whether or not the positioning surface is a specific positioning surface. Provided is a direction regulating device for a deformable container, characterized in that it is provided with an engagement selection member that engages the rotational drive mechanism with the cam member only when the positioning surface oriented in a predetermined direction is not a specific positioning surface. It is something.

[Operation] According to the above-described configuration, when the deformable container is supplied to the engaging member, the engaging member is positioned at one of the plurality of rotation stop positions corresponding to the plurality of positioning surfaces of the deformable container, and the deformable container is is received in this state by the engaging member in a relatively non-rotatable manner. When the deformable container is transported by the transport means with one of the positioning surfaces facing in a predetermined direction, a detector detects whether or not the positioning surface in the predetermined direction is a specific positioning surface. Detected.

If the positioning surface facing in the above-mentioned predetermined direction is a specific positioning surface, the deformable container is positioned in the correct direction and is ejected from the direction adjustment device in this state. If the oriented positioning surface is not a particular positioning surface, a rotational drive mechanism for rotating the engagement member by the engagement selection member is engaged with the cam member.

Then, the cam member moves the engaging member to one of the positioning surfaces of the deformable container via the rotational drive mechanism.
The positioning surface is rotated in a constant direction from the state in which the positioning surface faces in the predetermined direction until the other positioning surface adjacent to the rear side in the rotational direction faces in the predetermined direction. After this,
The detector again detects whether or not the positioning surface of the deformable container that has been cut in the predetermined direction is a specific positioning surface, and the above-described operation is repeated. Since the cam members and engagement selection members are arranged in series in a number that is at least one less than the plurality of positioning surfaces of the deformable container, all of the specific positioning surfaces of the deformable container are ultimately aligned in a predetermined direction. It becomes directed and ejected from the orientation device.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the cam mechanism can be used as a drive source, it is possible to provide a direction regulating device for a deformable container that has a simple configuration and does not damage the container.

[Examples] The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated examples.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a deformable container 2 (fourth
(see Fig. 5, Fig. 5)), which consists of an endless chain 3 arranged parallel to each other, and both chains 3.
The deformable container 2 is provided with a large number of mount bases 4 attached between them, and the deformable container 2 can be transported with the bottom part fitted into an engaging member 5 rotatably provided on each mount base 4.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the deformable container 2 includes a body 6 having a rectangular cross section and therefore four positioning surfaces, and a handle 7, and is located upstream of the conveying means 1. The body 6 is conveyed by a conveyor (not shown) provided by guiding both sides of the body 6 with a fixed guide, and is cycled by each engaging member 5 by a timing screw (not shown) to form the body 6 having a rectangular cross section. The bottom portion of the engaging member 5 is fitted into the rectangular recessed portion 8 of the engaging member 5 so as not to be relatively rotatable. Note that when the deformable container 2 engages with the engagement member 5, the probability that a predetermined specific positioning surface of the deformable container 2 faces in a predetermined direction is 1/4.

However, in FIG.
A cylindrical case 9 fixed to this mount base 4
A lifting rod 11 is provided on the shaft portion of the engaging member 5 so as to be rotatable relative to the engaging member 5.

A plate 12 for receiving the bottom surface of the deformable container 2 is rotatably attached to the upper end of the elevating rod 11, and this plate 12 is raised and lowered by the elevating rod 11 within the recessed portion 8 of the engaging member 5. It's getting old. A cam follower 14 is attached to the lower end of the lifting rod 11 via a bracket 13, and the cam follower 14 is engaged with a cam member 16 fixed to a machine frame 15. Furthermore, a detent member 17 is slidably passed through the brocket 13, and the detent member 17 is fixed to the lower part of the cylindrical case 9 so as to be parallel to the elevating rod 11.

Therefore, as the chain 3 moves, when the cam floor lower 14 is moved up and down according to the cam curve of the cam member 16, the plate 12 is moved up and down via the bracket 13 and the lifting rod 11. The plate 12 has a height that matches the upper surface of the engaging member 5 at its rising end position, and when the deformable container 2 is supplied onto the plate 12 in this state, the plate 12 is lowered and the deformable container 2
The bottom of the body 6 is positioned within the recess 8 so as not to be relatively rotatable. Further, when the deformable container 2 is aligned in a predetermined direction, which will be described later, the plate 12 is raised again, and the bottom of the deformable container 2 is discharged from the concave portion 8 to the outside.

Next, a clutch case 20 is disposed inside the cylindrical case 9, and this clutch case 2
0 is interlocked with the engaging member 5 through a one-way clutch 21. This one-way clutch 21 is configured to transmit only one direction of the reciprocating rotation of the clutch case 20 to the engaging member 5. And the clutch case 2 above
A bracket 23 arranged vertically is fixed to an arm part 22 provided integrally with the machine frame 1, and a cam follower 24 is provided at the lower end of this bracket 23, and this cam follower 24 is engaged with a cam member 25 fixed to the machine frame 15. ing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cam member 25 includes a linear cam portion 26 that extends along the conveying direction of the conveying means 1 and does not rotate the engaging member 5 via the clutch case 20, and a linear cam portion 26 that does not rotate the engaging member 5 through the clutch case 20. It is provided with three arcuate cam parts 27, 28, and 29, each of which has a starting point and an end point continuous with the part 26, and rotates the engaging member 5 by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction, respectively.
And the cam follower 24 that engages with the cam member 25 is engaged with the linear cam section 26 at each starting point of the arc-shaped cam sections 27, 28, 29, or the arc-shaped cam sections 27, 28, 29 Engagement selection members 30 for selecting whether to engage are provided so as to be movable up and down.

As shown in FIG. 3, this engagement selection member 30 is raised and lowered by a cylinder device 31 provided in the machine frame 15, and in the raised position, the linear cam portion of the cam member 25 is moved up and down. In order to forcibly engage the cam follower 24 traveling while engaging the cam follower 26 with the arcuate cam portion 27, 28 or 29, the linear cam portion 26 on the downstream side of the connection portion is closed and the It consists of an L-shaped member that is continuous with an arcuate cam part.

The upper surface of the mount base 4 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical engaging member 5, and the outer peripheral surface 4
The engaging member 5 engages with the flat portion 32 formed at the location.
A stopper mechanism 33 is provided to hold the holder in that position. Therefore, although the one-way clutch 21 is used, the cam follower 24 is normally held at a fixed position, and when the engagement selection member 30 is located at the lower end position, the cam follower 24 is held at a fixed position. is the arcuate cam portion 27, 28 or 29
It comes to run on the linear cam portion 26 without being engaged with. Alternatively, the arm portion 22 integrally provided with the clutch case 20 may be held in a predetermined position by a spring or the like to hold the cam follower 24 in a position where it normally engages the linear cam portion 26.

Further, each of the arcuate cam portions 27, 28, 29
In order to detect the direction of the deformable container 2, detectors 35, 36, and 37 made of phototubes are provided at the connection between the starting point and the linear cam part 26, respectively, and each detector is shown in FIG. As shown, they are arranged so as to detect the distance between the body 6 and the handle 7 when the deformable container 2 is oriented in a certain direction. Therefore, when each of the detectors 35 to 37 is able to detect light, the specific positioning surface of the deformable container 2 is facing in a predetermined direction, and when the detectors cannot detect light, is facing in a different direction. Each of the detectors 35 to 37 outputs a signal to the cylinder device 31 when it cannot detect light, so that the engagement selection member 30 can be raised.

In the above configuration, the deformable container 2 is connected to the engaging member 5.
When the engaging member 5 is supplied to the deformable container 2, the engaging member 5 is positioned at one of the four rotation stop positions corresponding to the four positioning surfaces of the deformable container 2, and the deformable container 2 is supplied to the engaging member 5 in this state. Relatively non-rotatably accepted.

When the deformable container 2 passes the most upstream detector 35 in the above-described state, it is determined whether the positioning surface of the deformable container 2 directed in a predetermined direction by the detector 35 is a specific positioning surface. is detected. If the positioning surface of the deformable container 2 facing in a predetermined direction is a specific positioning surface, the deformable container 2 is facing in the normal direction, so the engagement selection member 30 is positioned at the lower end position. The cam follower 24 remains as it is, and the cam follower 24 runs along the linear cam portion 26 without being engaged with the arcuate cam portion 27. In this state, the engaging member 5 is not rotated, and the deformable container 2 is conveyed downstream while facing in the normal direction, and similarly passes through the detectors 36 and 37 and faces in the normal direction. It is discharged outside without leaving any residue.

On the other hand, when the detector 35 detects that the positioning surface of the deformable container 2 directed in a predetermined direction is not a specific positioning surface, a signal from the detector 35 causes the cylinder device 31 to is actuated to raise the engagement selection member 30, and the cam follower 24 that has traveled on the linear cam portion 26 is forcibly engaged with the arcuate cam portion 27 by the engagement selection member 30.

As a result, the arm portion 22 and the clutch case 2
0 is rotated in a certain direction by the cam curve on the inlet side of the arcuate cam portion 27, the engaging member 5 is rotated in that direction via the one-way clutch 21, thereby rotating the deformable container 2 by 90 degrees. . When the arm portion 22 and the clutch case 20 are rotated in opposite directions by the cam curve on the exit side of the arcuate cam portion 27, the one-way clutch 2
1 prevents the engaging member 5 and the deformable container 2 from being rotated in opposite directions.

Further, the deformable container 2 is connected to the detectors 36 and 37 on the downstream side.
The orientation of the deformable container 2 is detected in the same manner as described above, and the engagement selection member 30 is raised or held at the lower end position depending on the orientation, and the above-mentioned two types of operation are performed. One of these steps is repeated until finally the specific positioning surfaces of all the deformable containers 2 are oriented in a predetermined direction, and in this state they are discharged to the outside.

In this embodiment, if the downstream requirements are changed and it is necessary to change the direction of the handle 7 of the container 2, the detection is simply performed without changing the rotation drive mechanism etc. that rotates the container. Vessel 35~
There is an advantage that the request can be easily met by simply changing the position of 37.

In the above embodiment, the linear cam portion 26 is formed on the cam member 25, but this linear cam portion 2
6 can be omitted if necessary. Also,
It goes without saying that the arcuate cam portions 27 to 29 need only be provided at least one less than the plurality of positioning surfaces of the deformable container. When aligning toward the surface, one arcuate cam portion may be provided. In this case, if the deformable container 2 is discharged to the outside while aligned in the normal direction, and then the engaging member 5 is reversely rotated to return to the original rotation position, the one-way method described above can be achieved. Clutch 21 can be omitted. Further, in the above embodiment, the deformable container 2 is conveyed in a straight line, but it is also possible to configure it as a rotary type.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the rotary drive mechanism and the cam member do not require a motor or a clutch, their configuration can be simplified.
Moreover, the effect of not damaging the container can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is the front view of Figure 1, Figure 3 is the − of Figure 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 4. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Conveying means, 2... Deformable container, 5... Engaging member, 20... Clutch case, 21... One-way clutch, 24... Cam follower, 25...
Cam member, 26... Linear cam portion, 27-29...
...Circular cam portion, 30...Engagement selection member, 31...
...Cylinder device, 35-37...Detector.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A transport means for transporting a deformable container having a plurality of positioning surfaces in the circumferential direction, and a transport means rotatably provided on the transport means, at one of a plurality of rotation stop positions corresponding to the plurality of positioning surfaces of the deformable container. an engaging member that receives the deformable container in a relatively non-rotatable manner in a positioned state; a rotation drive mechanism provided on the conveying means for rotating the deformable container by rotating the engaging member; and a frame of the conveying means; , arranged in series along the conveying locus of the engaging member by at least one positioning surface less than the plurality of positioning surfaces of the deformable container, and each engaged with a rotational drive mechanism conveyed by the conveying means. and rotate the engaging member in a certain direction from a state in which one of the positioning surfaces of the deformable container faces in a predetermined direction until the other positioning surface adjacent to the rear side in the rotational direction faces in the predetermined direction. a cam member, a detector provided at an upstream position of each cam member and detecting whether or not the positioning surface oriented in the predetermined direction is a specific positioning surface; each cam member and a rotational drive mechanism; engagement portions of the cam member, and engages the rotary drive mechanism with the cam member only when the positioning surface directed in the predetermined direction upon receiving the detection signal from the detector is not a specific positioning surface. 1. A direction regulating device for a deformable container, characterized in that a combination selection member is provided.