JPH0666623A - Automatic container feeder in automatic color conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automate sorting and feeding works of various types of container and to rationalize color conditioning work by providing a controller for coupling a container storage passage with a transfer unit depending on the type of container and receiving/delivering the container from/to a measuring conveyor. CONSTITUTION:A container stocker 20 and a transfer unit 30 are disposed on the container supply side of an automatic color conditioner in order to sort various types of container automatically and feed the sorted containers to the center of a measuring apparatus 6 based on commands fed from a computor for managing and controlling the entire color conditioner. The transfer unit 30 is interposed between the stocker 20 and a measuring conveyor 6A in order to receive containers 11 from each container storage passage 21A and the like and to deliver the received containers onto the conveyor 6A. Tare of the container 11 is measured by a measuring apparatus 5, conformity as a container is tested, and a dye supply command is issued. A dispenser 5 supplies dye based on the command. A container 11A supplied with specific dye is then fed with stock paste and diluted water. Subsequently, a count command is issued to reset a counter and next time operation takes place.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic container feeder in an automatic color-matching device, and more specifically, in various types of automatic color-matching devices used for printing, dyeing, and the like. It automatically sorts and supplies, and rationalizes the toning work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, automatic color-matching devices for various purposes have been widely spread, and the size of the mixing container used for these is various and various depending on the use and the amount of liquid preparation. Is. In particular, a color paste preparation container for textile printing has a liquid preparation amount of about 3 to 300 l, and various sizes corresponding to this are required.

However, since the automatic color matching device is restricted by the structure, scale, measurement, accuracy, etc. of the device, the liquid adjustment amount is generally set to, for example, about 5 l to 50 l, and the liquid adjusting amount beyond this amount is generally set. In the case of, it is divided and mixed into a plurality of containers. Further, even in the above-mentioned 5 l to 50 l of the preparation amount, the mixing container is, for example, 10 l, 20 l, 30 l, 50 l.
And many types are used. (The container is a commercially available plastic container)

Conventionally, the sorting of these containers and the supply to the apparatus are manually depended on by a worker, and the operator adjusts the solution adjustment amount displayed on the operation panel of the color adjusting apparatus for each color adjustment to satisfy the solution adjustment amount. Possible containers are selected and placed in the center of the weighing device. For this reason, one or two workers are required only for supplying the container, and it is unavoidable that a loss time and a selection error occur when selecting the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic container feeder in the above-mentioned automatic color-matching device in which the container is automatically supplied without requiring a special operator, and without any selection error or loss time. To provide.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a container to which a dye is supplied, a weighing device for measuring the weight of the dye supplied to the container, and a dispenser for controlling the supply of the dye to the container, An automatic color matching device comprising a weighing conveyor for feeding a container to and from a weighing device; a container discharge port at one end and a container supply port at the other end, and a conveyor between the supply port and the discharge port The container storage passages are arranged in parallel in a plurality of stages and in a plurality of rows according to the size of the container, and the container stocker is arranged between the discharge side of the container stocker and the introduction side of the weighing conveyor from each container storage passage. Arranging a transfer device for receiving the container and feeding the container to a weighing conveyor; and connecting the transfer device to the container storage passage and the transfer device selected according to the size of the container. A control device for transferring the container to a metering conveyor via a transfer device from providing.

As a preferred example, the transfer device includes a transfer conveyor that supports and conveys a container, a support frame that supports the conveyor and is vertically movable and horizontally movable with respect to a machine frame, and a support frame. And a drive mechanism for vertically moving or horizontally moving the transfer conveyor to a position aligned with the conveyor of the predetermined container storage passage or the weighing conveyor.

[0008]

The automatic color-matching device used in the present invention is a container to which a dye is supplied, a measuring device for measuring the weight of the dye supplied to the container, a dispenser for controlling the supply of the dye to the container, and a container. It consists of a weighing conveyor that sends to and from the device.By attaching an automatic container feeder, which will be described in detail below, to this automatic color matching device, the container can be supplied without requiring a special operator. Moreover, it is automatically performed without any selection error or loss time.

The automatic container feeder of the present invention is roughly divided into a container stocker for storing containers to be filled with a dye by classifying them and a container conveyor for selecting and extracting the containers from the container stocker and weighing. It consists of a transfer device that sends the container to the container and a control device that controls the container stocker and the transfer device when selecting and supplying the container.

The container stocker has a plurality of container storage passages each having a container discharge port at one end and a container supply port at the other end, and a conveyor between the supply port and the discharge port, depending on the size of the container. The columns are arranged in parallel in a plurality of columns. Only a container of a specific size is stored and stored in the specific container storage passage in this container stocker, and the container stored inside is driven by the conveyor and sent out to the transfer device via the container discharge port. . The container in the container storage passage is appropriately replenished through the replenishment port. According to the present invention, the container storage passages for exclusively storing the containers of a specific size are provided in a plurality of stages, a plurality of rows, and in parallel, so that the plurality of containers are always prepared compactly and in a sorted state. Not only can it be stored, but by selecting a certain container storage passage, it is possible to take out a container of a certain size.

The transfer device is arranged between the discharge side of the container stocker and the introduction side of the weighing conveyor,
It is configured to receive a container from each container storage passage and feed the container to a weighing conveyor. A preferred example of a transfer device is a transfer conveyor that supports and conveys containers, a support frame that supports the conveyor and is supported to be movable up and down and horizontally with respect to a machine frame, and a transfer frame for the transfer conveyor. Is a drive mechanism for moving up and down or horizontally to a position aligned with the conveyor of the predetermined container storage passage or the conveyor for weighing.

In the present invention, the control device connects the container storage passage selected according to the size of the container and the transfer device, and transfers the container from the passage to the weighing conveyor via the transfer device. This makes it possible to automatically supply an appropriately sized container to the metering device, without any selection errors or loss time, depending on the amount of dye supplied, thus speeding up and streamlining toning operations. And are possible.

The size of the container is automatically selected by presetting the container data in the computer together with the dye data and the original paste / water data, and the transfer device is transferred from the container storage passage. The delivery of the containers to the weighing conveyor via the same also takes place according to a programmed container selection sequence.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided with a container stocker 20 and a transfer device 30 on the container supply side of an automatic color matching device, and manages the entire color matching device according to instructions from a control computer. A large number of types of containers are automatically selected and accurately fed to the center of the weighing device 6.
Although the present invention is mainly concerned with an automatic color-matching device for printing dye paste, it can be widely applied to other uses.

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a toning device for printing, and FIG.
4 is a detailed side view of the container stocker 20, the transfer device 30, and the weighing device 6, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same, and FIG.
2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of the container stocker 20 in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of the transfer device 30 in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of the device of the present invention.

(Overall Arrangement) In FIG. 1, a plurality of (generally 15 to 40 kinds in the case of printing) dye tanks 2, original paste tanks 3 and dilution water tanks 4 are installed on a pedestal 1 and are respectively connected through pipes. It is led to the supply valve.

A dispenser 5 for dye supply is suspended below the gantry 1. Although not shown in the drawing, the same number of dispense valves as the dye tank 2 are arranged in a circumferential shape, and the dispense valve instructed by the computer is called to the central portion to store a prescribed amount of dye in the container 11. Supply.

A measuring device 6 is installed just below the dispenser 5. An electronic balance is used as the measuring device 6, the weight of the dye supplied to the container 11 is accurately measured, and it is managed and controlled by a computer (for details, see Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 64-810).
No. 9).

The container 11 which has been supplied with the prescribed amount of dye is
It is fed in the direction of the arrow by a belt conveyor 9 to be described later, and is automatically stopped immediately below the original glue supply pump 7. Here, a prescribed amount of the original paste is supplied, and a prescribed amount of diluted water is also simultaneously supplied at the same position, so that the specified liquid production amount and viscosity are obtained (for details, see JP-A-63-32618).

The container 11 supplied with the original paste and the diluted water is
Further, it is sent in the direction of the arrow by the belt conveyor 9 and temporarily stopped at the mixer 8 part, and the dye, the original paste and the diluted water in the container 11 are completely stirred. As shown in FIG. 1, the mixer 8 is of a two-head type, and alternately moves up and down every 90 degrees and turns to perform stirring and cleaning of the mixer blades alternately.

The container 11 which has been stirred is further sent in the direction of the arrow through the belt conveyor 9 and the slider 10.
Supplied to the printing machine. The belt conveyor 9 is a narrow belt, a part of which is shown in FIG. 3, and in the dye supplying section (measuring device section), the original paste supplying section, and the mixer section, although not shown, from the gap of the narrow belt. The stopper device acts to lift only the container 11 and suspend it.

The above is the outline of the conventional automatic color-matching device for textile printing. In the conventional system, the size of the container 11 is first manually selected as described above, and the center of the upper part of the weighing device 6 is selected. Can be posted on. The dye supply is started after confirming that the container can satisfy the prescribed production amount. However,
The suitability of the container is automatically checked by registering the tare of each container to be used in the computer in advance.

(Container Stocker 20) The present invention is a container 11
In order to automate the sorting and supply of the containers, as shown in the left side of FIG. 1, the container stocker 20 and the transfer device 30 are shown.
Is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the container stocker 20 has container storage passages 21A, 21B, 21 which are partitioned by a frame 21 so as to have two rows and two stages in the embodiment.
It consists of C and 21D. Each of these container storage passages 21A and the like has a container discharge port 29A at one end and a container supply port 29B at the other end, and a conveyor 22 such as a roller conveyor is provided therein. Thus, the container stocker 20 includes four containers 11A having different sizes,
11B, 11C, 11D can be accommodated. The container stocker 20 can accommodate an arbitrary number of types by increasing or decreasing the number of rows and stages, but the size of the container can be 4 or less in the color matching device for textile printing, and the device can be simplified. It is not good to increase the number of container types.

The container 11 is placed on the roller conveyor 22 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, and its height is set to H1 and H2.
Further, in the left-right direction, the center of each container is regulated by the guide bar 23 so as to be X and Y. The guide bar 23 is supported by a bracket 23A so that the center of the container is always positioned in X and Y according to the diameter of the container 11.

Each roller of the roller conveyor 22 is rotatably supported by a rail 24 attached to the frame 21 in its longitudinal direction, and a sprocket 25 is fixed to the roller shaft end. Roller chain 26 in rail 24
Is stretched, and the sprocket 25 of each roller meshes with this.

The roller chain 26 is independently driven for each container-specific line by four geared motors 27,
Each roller 22 is rotated by the sprocket 25 meshing with this, and the container 11 is conveyed in the arrow direction. Frame 2
A detection mechanism 28 such as a photoelectric switch is provided at the container discharge port 29A at the right end of 1 to detect the container 11 that has been sent and the roller conveyor 22 stops. In this way, the container 11 is always conveyed to the rearmost position, that is, the position of the photoelectric switch 28 for each conveyor line, and stands by at a position where it can be immediately delivered to the transfer device 30 described later.

The container stocker 20 is replenished with a container through the container replenishing port 29B as needed according to the state of retention of the container 11. The length of the container stocker 20, that is, the number of stocks of the container is arbitrarily determined, but usually the total length is about 5 m.
It can store about 50 or more containers. This number corresponds to about 1.25 hours to 2 hours of toning time, and it is not necessary for a worker to be resident to supply a container as frequently as in the conventional method, and it is possible to switch to another work as appropriate. . In addition, in this embodiment, the container storage passage is shown to be arranged horizontally, but it should be understood that it may be arranged vertically.

(Transfer device 30) The transfer device 30 is arranged between the discharge side of the container stocker 20 and the introduction side of the weighing conveyor 6A, receives the container 11 from each container storage passage 21A and the like and conveys the container 6A. It is configured to feed the container 11 to. More specifically, the transfer device 30 includes a transfer conveyor 33A that supports and conveys the container 11, and a support frame 33 that supports the conveyor 33A and that is vertically movable and horizontally movable with respect to the machine frame 31. And drive mechanisms 34 and 39 for vertically moving or horizontally moving the support frame 33 to a position where the transfer conveyor 33A is aligned with the conveyor 22 of any of the predetermined container storage passages 21A, 21B, 21C or 21D or the weighing conveyor 6A. Consists of. In the case of FIG. 5, the machine frame is composed of a base frame 31, a vertically extending moving column 32, and a horizontally extending slide guide 35, and the supporting frame is provided as a lifter 33 for the moving column 32. The horizontal drive is performed by the air cylinder 34, and the vertical drive is performed by the geared motor 39 or the like.

The movable column 32 is moved to the positions Y ', Z', and X'as shown in FIG. 5 by the operation of the air cylinder 34, the rod end of which is fixed to the slide frame 32A at the bottom, and the cylinder side of which is fixed to the base frame 31. Moving. Therefore, the slide frame 32A includes the slide guide 35 fixed to the base frame 31 side and the slide frame 3A.
It is supported by a slide bearing 36 fixed to the 2A side.

The position Y'is set to the lifter 3 as shown in the drawing.
3, the center of the container 11 is aligned with the Y line of the container stocker 20 in FIG. 3, and the position X ′ is similarly aligned with the X line of the container stocker 20. At the intermediate position Z ', the center of the container 11 coincides with the centers of the weighing device 6 and the belt conveyor 9 as shown in FIG.

Positions Y'and X'of the moving support column 32 described above.
Is regulated at both stroke ends of the air cylinder 34, and the intermediate position Z ′ is stopped by a proximity switch or the like although not shown.

As described above, the movable support column 32 moves in the horizontal direction Y'to X ', and the lifter 33 supported by the movable support column 32 also extends vertically in the heights H1 to H2 as shown in FIGS. It can be raised and lowered. Therefore, the lifter 33 has a slide guide 37 attached to the side of the moving column 32,
Slide bearing 3 attached to the lifter 33 side
Supported by 8.

The lifting and lowering of the lifter 33 is driven by a geared motor 39 mounted below the moving column 32 and a roller chain 42 via a sprocket 40 and a free wheel 41. The roller chain 42 is connected to the lifter 33 by a connection fitting 43.

The lifting position control of the lifter 33 is regulated by respective proximity switches (not shown) provided at respective positions of heights H1, H2 and H3. The heights H1 and H2 match the heights H1 and H2 of the container stocker 20 and the height H3.
Corresponds to the height of the rear conveyor belt conveyor 6A.

In this way, the lifter 33 of the transfer device 30 follows the instructions of the computer, X-H1, X
-H2, Y-H1, Y-H2 are automatically moved to any one of the four points and moved up and down to receive a designated container from the containers 11A to 11D and to automatically deliver it to the weighing device 6 by Z. -Located at H3.

Roller conveyor 2 of container stocker 20
2 is the container 1 with the lifter 33 stopping at the specified position.
The container 11 is driven and the container 11 is delivered to the lifter 33.
When the container 11 is transferred to the lifter 33, the next container is sent and the photoelectric switch 28 stops and waits at a specified position.

The roller conveyor 33A provided on the lifter 33 is a rotation type motor roller in which a motor is built in the roller, and the container 11 received from the roller conveyor 22 of the container stocker 20 is at the Z-H3 position. Then, it is transferred to the weighing section conveyor 6A.

Thereafter, as described above, each container 11 is supplied to the printing machine through the dye supply, metering, original paste, diluted water supply, and mixer.

(Operation) Referring to FIG. 6 showing a control flowchart of the color matching device of the present invention, the memory 50 of the computer is shown.
This time, next time, next time, and toning data after that,
That is, container size data is input and stored together with dye data, original glue / water data, and the like. Based on this container size data, the containers are selected and supplied by the container selection sequence.

First, based on the container size data, X
Any one of four points of -H1, X-H2, Y-H1, Y-H2 is designated, for example, X-H2, and the driving device of the transfer device 30, that is, the air cylinder 34 and the geared motor 39 are driven according to this designation. Then, the support frame, that is, the lifter 33 is stopped at a predetermined position.

After confirming that the support frame is at the designated position X-H2, the conveyor 22 of the designated container storage passage 21A and the roll conveyor 33 of the transfer device are designated.
A is driven by one container, and the container 11A is transferred to the transfer device 30. Container 11A on conveyor 33A
After confirming with the detection device that there is
Instructed by H3, the drive device of the transfer device 30,
That is, the air cylinder 34 and the geared motor 39 are driven to stop the support frame, that is, the lifter 33 at the supply position to the measuring section.

After confirming that the support frame is at the designated position Z-H3, the weighing conveyor 6A of the color matching device and the roll conveyor 33A of the transfer device are driven,
The container 11A is transferred onto the weighing device 6.

The tare of the container 11A is weighed and compared with the set tare to judge the compatibility of the container. If YES, a dye supply command is issued. If no, a container inadequate alarm will be issued.

Based on this dye supply command and the set dye data, the dye is supplied from the dispenser 5 into the container 11A, and the dye supply is completed when the measured amount reaches the set value. In the specific example shown in FIG. 6, when there is a container compatibility signal, liquid production amount data (container size data)
And the dye data are printed out.

The container 11A to which the predetermined dye is supplied is stopped immediately below the original paste supply pump 7 by the conveyor 9. After confirming that the container 11A is in this position, a supply command for these is issued based on the original glue / water data,
A predetermined amount of original paste and dilution water are supplied. Following this supply command, a count command is issued, after counting a predetermined number of pulses, reset is performed, and operation based on the next toning data is performed.

[0047]

According to the present invention, on the container supply side of the automatic color-matching device, a container stocker for storing the containers to be filled with the dye in a size-wise manner, and a container stocker for selecting and removing the container from the container stocker And by providing a transfer device for sending the container to the conveyor for weighing, and controlling the container stocker and the transfer device in a fixed relationship at the time of selecting and supplying the container, the supply of the container does not require a special worker, Moreover, it is automatically performed without any selection error or loss time, which makes it possible to speed up and rationalize the color matching work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of an example of a textile color matching device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 Container stocker 20, transfer device 3
0 is a detailed side view of the measuring device 0 and the weighing device 6.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 A- in “FIG. 2” of the container stocker 20
FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the transfer device 30 taken along the line BB in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 frame 2 dye tank 3 element glue tank 4 dilution water tank 5 dispenser 6 metering device 6A metering section belt conveyor 7 element glue supply pump 8 mixer 9 belt conveyor 10 slider 11 container 20 container stocker 21 frame 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D container Storage passage 22 Roller conveyor 23 Guide bar 23A Bracket 24 Rail 25 Sprocket 26 Roller chain 27 Geared motor 28 Photoelectric switch 29A Container discharge port 29B Container supply port 30 Transfer device 31 Base frame 32 Moving column 32A Slide frame 33 Lifter 33A Roller conveyor 34 Air Cylinder 35 Slide guide 36 Slide bearing 37 Slide guide 38 Slide bearing 39 Geared motor 0 sprocket 41 freewheel 42 roller chain 43 fitting.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 3, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 2

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Fig. 2]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 4]

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 5

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 5]

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A container to which a dye is supplied, a measuring device for measuring the weight of the dye supplied to the container, a dispenser for controlling the supply of the dye to the container, and a metering device for feeding the container to and from the measuring device. An automatic color matching device comprising a conveyor; a container storage passage having a container discharge port at one end and a container supply port at the other end, and a conveyor between the supply port and the discharge port, depending on the size of the container. A container stocker arranged in parallel in a plurality of stages and a plurality of rows; between the discharge side of the container stocker and the introduction side of the weighing conveyor,
A transfer device is provided for receiving the container from each container storage passage and sending the container to a weighing conveyor; and connecting the container storage passage and the transfer device selected according to the size of the container to the transfer device. An automatic container feeder in an automatic color-matching device, which is provided with a control device for passing the container to a weighing conveyor. 2. A transfer device comprising: a transfer conveyor that supports and conveys a container; a support frame that supports the conveyor and is vertically movable and horizontally movable with respect to a machine frame; and a support frame for transfer. 2. The automatic container feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises a drive mechanism for moving up and down or horizontally to a position aligned with a conveyor of a predetermined container storage passage or a conveyor for weighing. 3. The container discharge port of the container storage passage is provided with a detection mechanism for detecting the presence / absence of the container and driving the conveyor in the passage when the container is not present and stopping the conveyor when the container is present. The automatic container supply device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic container supply device is provided.