JPH0327829A - Method and device for supplying canlike container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To separate the lowermost cover from a cover block and to supply it to the upper opening part by rotating a rotary body for separation and guidance on both sides of a cover block in the same direction, at the same speed and horizontally and giving a turning force to the rotary body on both sides of the diameter of the cover and holding the rotary body. CONSTITUTION:A combined body of a separate knife and rotary bodies 4 for separation and guidance following to its lower part is provided on both sides under a cover block 2'. A cover guiding groove 4c is formed nearly spirally on the circumferential from the upper ends to the lower ends of the rotary bodies 4 for separation and guidance. The cover 2 on the lowermost step of the cover blocks 2' is separated as it is rotated by the method that these rotary bodies are rotated on both sides under the cover blocks 2' in the same direction, at the same speed and simultaneously the cover is moved between the rotary bodies 4 for separation and guidance and as both end parts of the diameter of the cover 2 are held by the groove 4c and rotated, they are lowered and guided to the opening part of the upper end of the canlike container. Consequently, the cover, though it is a little soft and strained such as a plastic cover, can be supplied smoothly and without damaging the inside film of the cover.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a method for separating lids one by one from below a lid block in which lids are stacked and supplying them to the upper end opening of a can-like container. This invention relates to a method and apparatus for supplying lids to can-like containers, which can be smoothly carried out even when the lids are made of plastic or are soft and may be slightly deformed. [Prior Art] In the production of canned goods, etc., after a can-like container (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a container) is filled with contents, a lid is provided at the upper opening of the container, and the container and lid are formed. Seal the sealed parts tightly. This close contact is generally achieved by seaming if the container and lid are made of metal, or by heat sealing if they are made of plastic, but if the container and lid are made of plastic, it is generally achieved by simply pushing the container and lid into place. FIG. 4(A) is a side sectional view showing one example of a can-like container, and FIG. 4 (mouth) is a side sectional view showing one example of a lid. The container 1 usually has a circular horizontal cross section, and while those made of metal are often cylindrical, those made of plastic are often in the shape of an inverted trapezoid that expands slightly upwards as shown in Figure 4 (a). In this case as well, an annular seal portion 1a is formed around the periphery of the upper opening. Therefore, the lid 2 that seals the upper end opening of the container 1 has a peripheral edge portion that extends from the peripheral edge of the circular top plate portion 2a through the raised portion 2b and has a substantially horizontal annular seal portion '2ca, as shown in FIG. 4 (opening). 2c is formed.

When the container 1 and the lid 2 are made of plastic, the sealing is done by heat sealing, so as shown in FIG. 2c) is relatively narrow, but if it is made of metal, it is tightened, so it is wider than the example shown and the rising portion 2b is shallow. Further, in the peripheral portion 2c of the plastic lid 2, a lip portion 2cb may be provided at the tip of the seal portion 2ca as shown in the figure.

Normally, during distribution from manufacturers of containers 1 and lids 2 to canned food manufacturers, containers 1 and lids 2 are separated separately, and lids 2 are stacked with lid blocks 2 as shown in FIG. 1 shown later. ', and in the canned food manufacturing process, the lid 2 is opened from below the lid block 2'.
The containers are separated one by one and supplied to the opening of a container 1 filled with contents. Conventionally, the lid 2 was supplied to the container 1 in the following manner. First, a separating knife is prepared, which has an arc-shaped blunt blade (a blade that separates the overlapping upper and lower M2) formed on the periphery of a horizontal rotating body. A lid block 2 holds such separate knives stacked vertically.
If the cutting edge is installed only on one side of the lower end of the lid block 2' at a position where it passes between the peripheral edge 20 of the lid 2 between the lowermost stage of the lid block 2' and its upper stage, and rotated, the cutting edge will be slightly displaced downward. At this time, the lid stopper is temporarily advanced from the side and the lower surface of the peripheral edge 2c of the upper lid 2 is supported, so that the lowermost lid 2 is pushed down. will be separated from the lid block 2'. Then, in accordance with the period of such separation, the lid 2 was guided by guiding means such as a guide to the opening at the upper end of the container 1, which was successively positioned below the lid block 2', to temporarily cover the container.

Even with the conventional method where the separating knife is installed only on one side, if M2 is made of metal, it is hard and does not deform during transportation or storage, and it maintains its shape even during the separation operation, so it can be compared. There were no problems. However, when using the lid 2 made of plastic, which has been increasing in recent years, even if the lid 2 is molded into a certain shape, it is often slightly deformed by the time it is used, and it is also soft. Therefore, in the conventional method described above, it is not possible to smoothly separate the lid 2 from the lid block 2', and it is extremely difficult to supply the lid 2 to the container 1 and temporarily cover it. It had the disadvantage of damaging the inner surface of the membrane.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and even when the lid 2 is made of plastic, it is possible to smoothly separate the lowermost lid 2 from the lid block 2' and supply the container 1 to the -E opening. The challenge is to make this happen.

[Means to solve the problem]

As a result of various studies, the inventors of the present invention found that a separating guiding rotor having a spiral groove on the peripheral wall was used as a guiding means for the separated lid, and was installed below both sides of the lid block in combination with a separating knife vertically. The above problem can be solved by rotating the lid at the same speed in the same direction and separating the lid while simultaneously holding both ends of the diameter of the lid in the grooves on the peripheral wall of the separation guiding rotor and guiding it downward through the groove while rotating. The present invention was created by investigating what could be solved.

Hereinafter, the method and device for supplying lids to can-like containers according to the present invention will be explained in detail. In the method of the present invention, a combination of a separation knife and a separation-guiding rotary body following the knife is installed on both sides of the lower part of the lid block, and the peripheral wall from the upper end to the lower end of the separation-guiding rotor has a substantially spiral shape. A lid guide groove is formed in the shape. By rotating these at the same speed in the same direction on both sides of the lower part of the lid block, the lowermost lid of the lid block is rotated and separated, and at the same time, it is transferred between the separation induction rotating bodies, and both ends of the diameter of the lid are separated. While being held in the groove, the container is rotated and lowered to lead to the upper opening of the can-like container.

Next, an apparatus of the present invention suitable for carrying out the method of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing one embodiment of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the device in FIG. 1 on a reduced scale, and FIG.
The figure is an enlarged explanatory view of the main part of section A in FIG. 2.

The device of the present invention consists of a hopper, a separation guiding rotor, a lid stopper, a conveyor, and a can feed turret. In the drawing, 3 denotes a lid block 2' made up of stacked lids 2.
This is a hover bar that guides the robot to a predetermined position so that it can move vertically due to gravity. This hopper 3 may have a peripheral wall structure that surrounds the lid block 2', for example, but in the example shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, four guide pillars 3a are placed close to the outer periphery of each lid 2 of the lid block 2' with the lids 2 stacked vertically on top of the hopper bottom 3b. The lower end of the hopper bottom 3b is fixed, and the hopper bottom 3b has a hole large enough to allow the lid 2 to pass through, and is fixed to a frame (not shown). When the lid 2 has a rising portion 2b that opens upward in a tapered shape as shown in FIG. 4 (opening), the vertically adjacent lids 2 in the lid block 2'
Since the lid block 2' has a cylindrical outer shape by fitting together at b and restraining their positions, the guide column 3 is shaped like a straight line as shown in the figure.
Hopper 3 using a is suitable. If the lid 2 is able to move freely laterally in the lid block 2' due to its shape, the hopper 3 will move the lid 2 between the lowermost level of the lid block 2' and preferably its upper level. It may also be something that is simply placed in a predetermined position. Reference numeral 4 denotes a separation induction rotating body, which is installed following the lower end of the hopper 3 and below it, as shown in Fig. 1, and therefore on both sides of the lower part of the hopper 3, and rotates horizontally in the same direction and at the same speed, as shown below. It is a rotating body with a vertical axis that has a structure. The diameter of this separation-inducing rotating body 4 does not decrease downward, and at least the upper portion forms a vertical cylindrical portion 4a. That is, the separation guiding rotary body 4 may be entirely cylindrical, but in the illustrated example, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower half forms a truncated conical enlarged diameter portion 4b. The peripheral wall portion 4aa of the cylindrical portion 4a on the upper part of the separation guiding rotor 4 intersects both ends of the diameter of the lid 2 located at the lower end of the hopper 3 on the horizontal projection plane as shown in FIG. The intersection width is the periphery 2 of the lid 2
It is almost the same width as c.

A substantially spiral lid guide 114c descending in the reverse rotation direction is provided on the peripheral wall of the enlarged diameter portion 4b of the separation guide rotor 4. The lid guide groove 4c communicates with an upper end surface opening 4ca and a lower end surface opening 4cb that are open at each of the upper and lower end surfaces of the separation guiding rotating body 4. The depth of the lid guide groove 4c from the peripheral wall surface is approximately the same depth as the above-mentioned crossing width in the cylindrical portion 4a, but in the enlarged diameter portion 4b, the depth increases according to the degree of diameter enlargement, and the depth on both sides increases. Separation induction rotating body 4
This makes it possible to hold and pass the lid 2 between the holes. Therefore, the lower end face opening 4cb is also larger than the upper end face opening 4ca. As shown in FIG. 1, the groove wall between the portion of the lid guide groove 4C that continues to the upper end face opening 4ca and the upper end face of the separation guide rotor 4 forms a cutting edge 4d of a separating knife. The cutting edge 4d of this separate knife points from the starting point of the groove wall to the vicinity of the shoulder where it begins to thicken as the lid guiding groove 4C descends through a portion of approximately constant thickness. When the separation guiding rotating body 4 is provided with the enlarged diameter portion 4b, the entire portion below the area past the cutting edge 4d of the separating knife may be the enlarged diameter portion 4b. The above-mentioned respective parts of the separation guiding rotary bodies 4 on both sides are configured point-symmetrically with respect to their center point on the same horizontal cross section. Horizontally rotating the separation guiding rotors 4 on both sides of the above structure at the same speed in the same direction can be performed by various known techniques, but in the example shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, each rotating shaft 4e rotatably supported by the frame 5 is rotated by a rotational force transmitting means (not shown) such as a gear train. 6 is a lid stopper, and as shown in Fig. 1, the hopper 3
At the boundary between the lower end of the separation guide rotor 4 and the upper end surface of the separation guide rotor 4, the gap between the lowermost stage of the lid block 2' in the hopper 3 and its upper stage and the peripheral edge 2c of the lid 2 is adjusted according to the rotation of the separation guide rotor 4. When the lowermost lid 2 falls into the upper end opening 4ca of the lid guiding groove 4c of the separation guiding rotor 4 due to the weight of the upper lid 2, the upper lid temporarily moves forward and backward. This supports the peripheral edge 2c of 2. This operation is timed with the rotation of the separation guiding rotor 4 using known techniques such as cams and link mechanisms (not shown). 7 is the second
As shown in the figure, the conveyor conveys the container 1 by passing between the separation guiding rotors 4 on both sides, and guides 7a are provided on both sides of the conveyor to prevent the container 1 from slipping off.

8 is a can feed turret, which has a can pocket 8 that fits and holds the body of the container 1 on the circular periphery as shown in FIG.
a are formed adjacent to each other. A rotating shaft 8b is provided at the center of the circle, and the can bucket 8a is rotated along the circumference with the conveyor 7 as a tangent, in the same direction as the conveyor 8 at the contact point, and in synchronization with the lid supply period of the separation induction rotating body 4. It rotates horizontally so as to sequentially move below between the separation guide rotors 4 on both sides.

[For production]

In this configuration, first the lid block 2' is attached to the hopper 3.
The conveyor 7 is driven to convey the containers 1 one after another, and the can feed turret 8 is rotated while the separation guiding rotary body 4 and the lid stopper 6 on both sides are operated. When each separation induction rotating body 4 rotates and the upper end surface openings 4ca on both sides face each other, both ends of the diameter of the lowermost lid 2 that had been supported by the edge of the upper end surface of the separation induction rotation body 4 until then teeth,
Due to the weight of the upper lid block 2', the upper end opening 4c
It falls into a. At that time, the lid stopper 6 moves forward and supports the bottom of the peripheral edge 2c of the upper lid 2 of the lowermost stage of the lid block 2', and opens the upper end face with the lowermost lid 2 and the upper lid 2 overlapped. Prevent invagination into part 4ca. At the same time, the cutting edge 4d of the separate knife enters between the peripheral edge 20 of the lid 2 at the lowermost stage of the lid block 2' and its upper stage, and the peripheral edge 2c of the lowermost lid 2 completely enters into the lid guiding groove 4c. By descending further, it separates from the upper lid 2.
The lid stopper 6 retreats after the cutting edge 4d of the separate knife enters between the peripheral edge 20 of the lid 2 between the lowermost stage of the lid block 2' and its upper stage, and the lid 2 becomes the lowermost stage and reaches the peripheral edge 2c. is supported by the edge of the upper end surface of the separation guiding rotor 4. As the rotation of the separation guiding rotor 4 progresses, the lid 2 changes its position only in the vertical direction and moves down the lid guiding groove 4c, finally reaching the lower end opening 4cb. Meanwhile, the lid 2 continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow Y as the separation guide rotating body 4 holding both ends of its diameter rotates in the same direction on both sides, for example in the direction of the arrow X shown in FIG. 3, at the same speed. Since the lid 2 is rotated by applying rotational force on both sides, it does not protrude to the side as it would when receiving rotational force only on one side. Even if the lid is warped or distorted, since both ends of the diameter are held, the lid guide groove 4c of the separation guiding rotor 4 can smoothly descend. The lid 2 that has reached the lower end opening 4cb in this way is
From the conveyor 7 conveying in the direction of arrow W, the can feed turret 2 rotating in the direction of arrow Z synchronizes with the arrival of the lid 2 at the lower end opening 4cb and transfers it to the upper end opening of the container 1 located directly below. Then, a temporary lid is placed and the product is transported to the next process. When the diameter enlarged portion 4b is formed at the lower part of the separation guiding rotor 4, the lid 2 can be pushed into the container 1 using the lower surface of the expanded diameter portion 4b, thereby making the temporary lid even more stable.

In this way, the lid 2 is separated from the lid block 2' and supplied to the containers 1 that are successively transported.

The temporarily closed container 1 and lid 2 are heat-sealed, rolled, etc. under necessary environmental conditions in the next step, and the container 1 is completely sealed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The method and apparatus for supplying a lid to a can-like container according to the present invention as described above in detail includes a separating guide having a cutting edge of a separation knife and a lid guiding groove for separating the lid from the lid block and guiding the lid to the container. The rotating body is horizontally rotated in the same direction and at the same speed on both sides of the lid block, and rotational force is applied and held on both sides of the lid's diameter. Further, even if the lid has a distortion, it can be applied smoothly and without damaging the inner coating of the lid, and this has great industrial value.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing one embodiment of the device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the device of Fig. 1 on a reduced scale, and Fig. 3
The figure is an enlarged explanatory view of the main part of section A in Figure 2, Figure 4 (A) is a side sectional view showing an example of a can-like container, Figure 4 (
(mouth) is a side sectional view showing an example of the lid. In the drawings 1...Can-like container 1a...Seal part 2...Lid 2a...Top plate part 2b...Rising part 2c...Peripheral part 2ca... Seal portion 2cb...Lip portion 2'...Lid block 3...Hopper 3a...Guide column 3b...Hopper bottom 4...Separation guiding rotor 4a... Cylindrical part 4aa... Peripheral wall part 4b... Expanded diameter part 4c... Lid guide groove 4ca... Upper end opening 4cb... Lower end opening 4d... Separate knife Cutting edge 4e... Rotating shaft 5... Frame 6... Lid stopper 7... Conveyor 7a... Guide 8... Can feed turret 8a... Can pocket 8b ... Rotation axis W ... Conveyor conveyance direction X ... Rotation direction Y of separation guiding rotor ... Rotation direction of lid 2 ... Rotation direction of can feed turret II 2
Figure W1

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A lid block in which lids are stacked, in which a peripheral edge portion having a substantially horizontal annular seal portion is formed via a rising portion on the peripheral edge of a circular top plate portion, is placed in a predetermined position, and the lid block is horizontally rotated. Rotate a separate knife, which has an arc-shaped blunt edge on the periphery of the body, at a position where the cutting edge passes between the periphery of the bottom and top lids of the lid block, and then open the lid from the bottom end of the lid block. When separating the can-like containers one by one and guiding them to the upper opening of the can-like container and temporarily lidding them,
A separation knife and a separation induction rotating body following the knife are installed on both sides of the lower part of the lid block, and the lid is sandwiched between them and horizontally rotated in the same direction at a constant speed. The lower lid is separated while being rotated, and at the same time it is moved between the separation guiding rotors, and both ends of the diameter of the lid are inserted into the lid guiding groove formed almost spirally on the peripheral wall from the upper end to the lower end of each separating guiding rotor. A method for supplying a lid to a can-like container, characterized in that the lid is guided to the can-like container by lowering it downward while rotating it while holding the lid. 2. The method for supplying a lid to a can-like container according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the separation guiding rotor has an enlarged diameter, and the lid guided to the upper end opening of the can-like container is pushed by the diameter-enlarged lower surface. 3 Rising portion (2b) on the periphery of the circular top plate portion (2a)
The lids (2) are separated one by one from the lower part of the lid block (2') in which the lids (2) are stacked, each having a peripheral edge (2c) having an almost horizontal annular seal (2ca). This is an apparatus for supplying the liquid to the upper end opening of a can-like container (1), which is characterized by comprising the following parts:
) lid feeding device. (a) a hopper (3) that guides the lid block (2') to a predetermined position so that it can move in the vertical direction by gravity; It is a vertically rotating body that rotates horizontally at high speed and does not reduce in diameter downward, and at least the upper part forms a vertical cylindrical part (4a), and the peripheral edge of the cylindrical part (4a) ( 4aa) is approximately the same width as the periphery (2c) of the lid (2) on the horizontal projection plane.
3) It intersects both ends of the diameter of the lid (2) located at the lower end, and the peripheral wall has an upper end opening (4ca
) and the lower end face opening (4cb) of the lower end face, and a substantially spiral lid guiding groove (4c) descending in the reverse rotation direction has a depth that is approximately the same as the width of the intersection in the cylindrical portion (4a). The groove wall between the portion of the lid guide groove (4c) that continues to the upper end face opening (4ca) and the upper end face is formed at the cutting edge (4) of the separate knife.
d), and the above-mentioned parts on both sides of the rotating bodies are formed point-symmetrically with respect to the center of both bodies (4); (c) the lower end of the hopper (3) and the separation guiding rotating body; The peripheral edge of the lid (2) between the lowermost stage of the lid block (2') in the hopper (3) and its upper stage at the boundary with the upper end surface of the body (4) in accordance with the rotation of the separation induction rotating body (4). (2c) Move forward and backward between the bottom lid (2) and the upper lid (2)
Due to the weight of the lid guide groove (4c), the upper end opening (4c)
When it is pushed into a), the upper lid (2) is temporarily removed.
) a lid stopper (6) supporting the peripheral edge (2c) of the can-like container (1);
), and (e) a can pocket (8a) that fits and holds the body of the can-like container (1) on the circular periphery. The can pockets (8a) are formed adjacent to each other along a circumference tangent to the conveyor (7) in the same direction as the conveyor (7) at the contact point and in the lid supply of the separation guiding rotor (4). A can feed turret (8) sequentially moves below between the separating and guiding rotors (4) on both sides in synchronization with the cycle. 4. The device for supplying a lid to a can-like container (1) according to claim 3, wherein the separation-inducing rotating body (4) comprises an upper cylindrical body (4a) and a lower diameter enlarged part (4b).