JPH04279499A - Changeover method of common use type vessel holder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a vessel holder useful for various kinds of vessel and easily and accurately changeover it, by positioning a vessel-holding member by a preset volume for every vessel with a driver for changeover after the vessel- holding member is returned to the initial point by the changeover driver. CONSTITUTION:At first, a servo driver 38 are fitted on both rotary shafts 16 to rotate in the return station to the origin on a mold-changing route to return V-shaped finger 4 to the origin. The return to the origin is confirmed by detecting the edge of the V-shaped finger 4 with a proximity sensor 40 provided at the station. Next, the servo driver 38 is rotated by a previously preset number of revolution in accordance with respective vessels in the automatic mold changing station to forward both V-shaped finger 4 up to the position where the vessel can be fitted with a little allowance. In this way, two V-shaped fingers 4 are forced to move reciprocally to close to and separate from each other to freely set the distance between them.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a container holder, usually called a "hakama," which fits and holds a container for positioning the container in various container processing processes such as filling and capping. In particular, the present invention relates to a switching method for a dual-purpose container holder, which allows the container holder to be used for many types of containers, and also to switch the container holder to suit a specific container.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to facilitate orientation and centering of containers when performing various processes such as filling and capping on deformed containers having an oval cross-sectional shape, containers are placed in the container holder described above. The machine is inserted into the machine and placed on the processing line.

However, since this container holder generally has a resin body with a support hole adapted to a specific container shape, it is difficult to use it for different types of containers, and the cross-sectional shape of the container crosses the plane of the body. Even if a plurality of container support holes are formed in this manner, the reality is that the holes can only be used for two types of containers at most.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] With the above-mentioned conventional container holders, when handling a wide variety of containers, it is necessary to manufacture a large number of container holders, and it also takes time and effort to store them and load them into the line. There were many problems as well.

The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and proposes a container holder that can be used for many types of containers, and furthermore, makes it possible to efficiently and efficiently adapt this container holder to various types of containers. The present invention provides a switching method that allows accurate switching.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A switching method for a dual-purpose container holder according to the present invention includes a holder body that accommodates a container, and a plurality of In a first step, a container holder including a container holding member and an advancing/retracting means for moving the container holding member forward and backward by rotating an operating shaft is rotated by a switching driver. After returning each container holding member to its origin, in the second step, the operating shaft is rotated by a switching driver by a preset amount for each container to which the container holding member in the container holder is rotated. This is for positioning.

[0007]

[Operation] In the method for switching the dual-purpose container holder according to the present invention, the container holding member is first returned to its origin and then moved by a predetermined amount according to the shape of the container using a driver. It is possible to easily and accurately position members.

[0008]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated examples. 1 to 3 are a plan view, a side view, and a sectional view taken along line A--A in FIG. 1 of a dual-purpose container holder that can be switched by the method of the present invention. This container holder includes a bottomed rectangular cylindrical case 2 (holder main body), and a pair of V-shaped fingers 4 (container holding (members).

The rectangular cylindrical case 2 has a substantially octagonal shape with the four corners of a square cut into arc shapes, and supporting members 6 are fixed to two side walls 2a facing each other vertically in FIG. 1. Two upper and lower rods 8 and 10 are supported on the support member 6 in parallel with the side wall 2a. The upper rod 8 is a guide rod fixed to the support member 6, and the lower rod 10 is a screw rotatably supported by the support member 6.

A nut 12 is threaded onto the screw 10, and the nut 12 moves forward and backward along the guide rod 8 as the screw 10 rotates. Nuts 12 screwed onto the screws 10 on both sides, respectively.
A finger mounting body 14 having recesses formed on mutually facing surfaces is fixed to the holder, and the V-shaped fingers 4 are mounted within these recesses.

The V-shaped finger 4 is moved forward and backward toward the center of the rectangular cylindrical case 2 by means of moving means 7, which will be described below. The support member 6 has an upper portion that is connected to the rods 8 and 10.
A rotating shaft 16 (operating shaft) that is perpendicular to this extended portion 6a is supported. A bevel gear 18 is attached to the lower end of the rotating shaft 16 and meshes with a bevel gear 20 fixed to the end of the screw thread 10. Therefore,
By rotating both rotating shafts 16, the two V-shaped fingers 4 can be moved forward and backward to approach and separate from each other.

A leaf spring 22 is fixed to the upper surface of the support member 6. The tip of this leaf spring 22 is curved upward, and a circular hole 22a having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 16 is formed in this curved portion. The upper end of the rotating shaft 16 passes through the circular hole 22a of the leaf spring 22, and the leaf spring 22
In its natural state (facing upward), the inner surface of the circular hole 22a engages with the side surface of the rotating shaft 16 to prevent the rotating shaft 16 from rotating, and when the tip of the leaf spring 22 is pushed down, the rotating shaft 16 is free. It can be rotated to

A roller 24 is attached to the bottom of the finger attachment body 14 on the opposite side from the nut 12, and when the V-shaped finger 4 moves back and forth, the roller 24 rolls on the bottom surface of the case 2, thereby rotating the V-shaped finger. 4 is designed to prevent it from tilting.

[0014] Next, a method of type change, that is, a method of switching when the container holder is used for containers of different sizes and shapes will be explained. The changeover takes place on a separate changeover route connected to part of the normal container processing line, including filling machines, capping machines, etc. FIG. 4 shows an example of this. Normally, a container is inserted into a container holder in an unscrambler 26, processed sequentially in a filling machine 28, a capping machine 30, etc., and then taken out in a case 32. The empty container holder is then packed in a box and placed in the unscrambler 2 again.
Sent to 6. Further, during the mold change, the container holder is sent to the mold change route 34 which is off the normal line. First, at the origin return station 36 on the model change route 34,
Insert the servo driver 38 (see Fig. 3) into both rotating shafts 16 and rotate it, and move the V-shaped finger 4 to the origin (the reference position when adjusting the V-shaped finger; in this embodiment, the V-shaped finger 4 is the most retracted position) position). Return to the origin is confirmed by detecting the end of the V-shaped finger 4 with a proximity sensor 40 (see FIG. 1; however, other sensors such as a contact type may also be used) provided at the station 36. Next, at the automatic type change station 42, the servo driver is rotated by a preset number of rotations depending on each container, and both V-shaped fingers 4 are advanced to a position where the container can be fitted with a slight margin. let

[0015] By moving the two V-shaped fingers 4 back and forth in this way to approach and separate them from each other, the interval between them can be freely set, so that one container holder can be used for many types of containers. Moreover, the switching is extremely simple and accurate. In the above embodiment, the two stations 36 and 42 perform the return to origin and the mold change, respectively, but one station may perform both operations. Furthermore, the driver that rotates the operating shaft is not limited to a servo driver.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, a container holder that can be used for many types of containers can be quickly and accurately switched according to the shape of each container.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a container holder applied to a switching method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same container holder.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a container processing line using the container holder and a type change route for switching.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Holder main body (square cylindrical case) 4 Container holding member (V-shaped finger) 7 Advance/retract movement means 16 Operating shaft 38 Servo driver

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A holder body for accommodating a container; a plurality of container holding members disposed within the holder body and capable of moving forward and backward toward the center of the holder body; In a first step, a container holder equipped with a forward and backward moving means for moving the member forward and backward is rotated by a switching driver to return each container holding member to its origin, and then in a second step. A switching method for a dual-purpose container holder, comprising: positioning a container holding member within the container holder by rotating an operating shaft by a switching driver by a preset amount for each applied container.