JPH0736910Y2 - Rotary seal device for container rotary transport device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a rotary seal device in a container rotary transfer device, and particularly to a container rotary transfer device for rotationally transferring a container such as a bottle on a certain circumference, The present invention relates to a rotary seal device interposed between a stationary side and a rotating side for distributing and sealing a fluid.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in a container inspection machine for inspecting containers such as bottles, the transported containers are revolved when passing through the inspection area,
In the meantime, an inspection device including, for example, a light source and a camera is used to inspect the container for damage and the presence of foreign matter.
In such a container inspection machine, a star wheel that supports the side surface of the container is used to publicly transfer the container.
In this case, since the container cannot be held only by the star wheel, an adsorption unit that adsorbs and holds the side surface of the container is also used.

In addition, in a container inspection machine that inspects the entire circumference of the container, it is necessary to rotate the container while revolving around it. Therefore, the container head is held by an air cylinder that moves up and down to rotate the container.

Therefore, in the above-described container rotary transfer device, the rotary seal device is used to connect the suction unit that rotates (revolves) with the rotary transfer of the container and the fixed vacuum source side. Similarly, a rotary seal device is used to connect the air cylinder for holding the container, which rotates (revolves) with the rotational conveyance of the container, and the fixed compressed air source side.

A conventional rotary seal device in such a container rotary transfer device is a rotary disc connected to a fixed disk 61 connected to a vacuum source (or a compressed air source) and a suction cup or a holding air cylinder as shown in FIG. The fixed disk 61 and the rotating disk 62 are in close contact with each other by the urging force of the compression coil spring 63 to seal the working fluid, and the intake and exhaust ports on the fixed disk side.
The working fluid is communicated between the outlet port 64 on the side of the rotating disk 64 and the outlet port 65 on the side of the rotating disk.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional rotary seal device described above, the two discs of the fixed disc and the rotating disc are superposed on each other and the mating surface is the sealing face. There is a problem that it is inferior in sex. Further, there is a problem in that particles that have fallen off due to wear are interposed between the fixed disk and the rotating disk to promote abrasive wear.

Further, since the fixed disk and the rotating disk are sealed by being pressed by the compression coil spring, if the pressure between both disks is too high, the disks are separated and the seal is broken, so the sealing pressure is set to a predetermined level. Value (2kg /
There is a problem that it must be kept below cm ² ).

Further, there is a problem in that the power required for rotation is large because of friction loss between the fixed disk and the rotating disk.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is a container capable of solving various problems of the conventional rotary seal device, improving sealability, and improving durability. It is to provide a rotary seal device in a rotary transfer device.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a container rotary transporting system comprising a plurality of container holding devices for holding a container head or a container side surface by using vacuum or compressed air, and a rotating member for fixedly supporting the container holding device. In the rotary seal device for distributing the vacuum or compressed air interposed between the fixed-side vacuum source or compressed air source and the rotating-side container holding device in the device, the fixed-side vacuum source or compressed air source An outer cylinder communicating with the container holding device is rotatably supported by a bearing on an inner cylinder communicating with the cylindrical holding member, and a cylindrical sealing member is interposed between the inner and outer cylinders. And a sealing surface having a slight gap between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.

[Action]

According to the present invention, by the above means, vacuum or compressed air is supplied to the inner cylinder from the vacuum source or the compressed air source, and this vacuum or compressed air is supplied to the outer cylinder through the sealing member with a slight leak amount, and further the container holding device. Is supplied to. Then, the container holding device is operated by this vacuum or compressed air to hold the container head or the container side face, and the container is rotatably conveyed in this holding state.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a rotary seal device in a container rotary transport device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the container rotary transport device 1, in which the star wheel rotating shaft 2 of the device 1 is a casing 3
It is rotatably supported by a bearing 4 housed therein. An upper star wheel 5 is screwed onto the top of the rotary shaft 2, and a lower star wheel 7 is supported on the upper star wheel 5 via a stay 6, and the recesses of the upper and lower star wheels 5, 7 enable the bottle to be held. The side surfaces of the container 8 are supported.

Further, the stay 6 is equipped with a suction unit 10 that sucks and holds the side surface of the container constituting the container holding device, and the suction unit 10 includes a connection plug 11 and a suction cup 12.
The connection plug 11 is connected to the rotary seal device 15 via the tube 13.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the rotary seal device 15 includes an inner cylinder 16, an outer cylinder 17, a ball bearing 18 interposed between the inner and outer cylinders 16 and 17, and an outer cylinder 17. The inner cylinder 16 consists of a fixed sealing collar 19 and the casing 3
The outer cylinder 17 and the sealing collar 19 are fixed to the inner cylinder.
It is configured to be rotatable with respect to 16. And the inner cylinder 16
An air supply / exhaust port 20 is provided in the air supply / exhaust port 20, and the air supply / exhaust port 20 communicates with a distribution groove 22 formed in the outer peripheral portion of the inner cylinder 16 via a communication passage 21. The distribution groove 22 is formed over a predetermined angle range.

On the other hand, the outer cylinder 17 has a plurality of outlet ports 23 at predetermined intervals.
The exit port 23 is provided with a collar for sealing.
The fluid supplied from the air supply / exhaust port 20 is arranged so as to face the distribution groove 22 through a communication passage 24 formed in 19 and exit through the communication passage 21, the distribution groove 22, and the communication passage 24.
It flows to 23.

The inner cylinder 16 and the sealing collar 19 are opposed to each other with a slight gap (several microns (μ) in this embodiment), and the space between the inner cylinder 16 and the sealing collar 19 serves as a sealing surface, so-called metal. A fluid is supplied from the air supply / exhaust port 20 formed in the fixed inner cylinder 16 which constitutes a seal, and is supplied to the outlet port 23 of the rotating outer cylinder 17 with a small leak amount from the sealing surface.

Then, the rotary seal device configured as described above
The inner cylinder 16 is connected to the vacuum source 25 via the solenoid valve V, and the outer cylinder 17 is connected to each adsorption unit 10 via the tube 13. In addition, the inner cylinder 16 has an atmosphere opening port 26
Is provided, and is communicated with a relief groove 28 provided in an outer peripheral portion of the inner cylinder 16 via a communication passage 27. Further, in FIG. 3, a groove 29 is a groove to which compressed air is supplied, the inner cylinder 16 is connected to a compressed air source (not shown), the compressed air is supplied to the suction cup 12, and the suction cup 12 and a passage communicating therewith are connected. The attached dust is discharged to the outside.

Next, the operation of the rotary sealing device in the container rotary transporting device according to the present invention constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

The container 8 conveyed to the container rotating / conveying device 1 in a state of being indexed by a conveyor or a timing screw (not shown) has its side surface engaged with and supported by the concave portions of the upper and lower star wheels 5 and 7, and sucked. It is suction-held by the suction cup 12 of the unit 10. At this time, the suction operation in the suction unit 10 is performed by the rotary seal device 15 as follows. That is, the vacuum source 25 is connected to the air supply / exhaust port 20 of the inner cylinder 16 via the solenoid valve V, and the air supply / exhaust port 20 is connected to the distribution groove 22 by the communication passage 21. On the other hand, the suction cup 12 of the suction unit 10 is communicated with the outlet port 23 of the outer cylinder 17 via the connection plug 11 and the tube 13, and the outlet port 23 is communicated with the communication passage 24 of the sealing collar 19. Therefore, when the communication passage 24 and the distribution groove 22 face each other, a negative pressure is applied to the suction cup 12 by the above-mentioned system path, and the body of the container 8 is suction-held in the suction cup 12. Then, since the rotary shaft 2 rotates in this state, the upper and lower star wheels 5, 7 and the suction unit 10 rotate. The container 8 is first rotated and conveyed (revolved), and then the communication between the intake / exhaust port 20 and the outlet port 23 is cut off.
The negative pressure disappears and the container 8 is released from the adsorption unit 10.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the vacuum supply 25 on the fixed side and the suction unit 10 on the rotation side perform vacuum distribution and sealing by the rotary seal device 15, and at this time, the outer cylinder 17 in the rotary seal device 15 is Since it is rotatably supported by the inner cylinder 16 via the ball bearing 18 in a non-contact state,
No friction occurs between the inner cylinder 16 and the outer cylinder 17. Moreover, the inner cylinder
Since the metal seal 16 and the sealing collar 19 are opposed to each other with a slight gap, the amount of fluid leaked from this gap is extremely small.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container rotary transport device 30. The rotary shaft 31 of the device 30 is rotatably supported by a bearing 34 housed in a casing 33 supported by a frame 32. A disc-shaped mounting plate 35 is screwed to the lower part of the rotary shaft 32, and a plurality of container holding devices 36 are mounted on a predetermined circumference of the mounting plate 35.

The container holding device 36 includes an air cylinder 37 and an air cylinder.
Container holding cap 38 attached to the tip of the operating rod 38
The container holding cap 38 is lowered by the operation of the air cylinder 37 and is engaged with the head of the container 8 placed on the container base 39. The air cylinder 37 is connected to the rotary seal device 40 via the tube 38.

Therefore, the rotary seal device 40 is fixed to the inner cylinder 41, the outer cylinder 42, the ball bearing 43 interposed between the inner and outer cylinders 41 and 42, and the outer cylinder 42 as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9. The inner cylinder 41 is fixed to the casing 33, and the outer cylinder 42 and the sealing collar 44 are rotatable with respect to the inner cylinder 41. The rotary seal device 40 in the present embodiment is configured as a two-stage rotary seal device, and the multistage structure allows the working fluid to be distributed to a large number of container holding devices 36. As shown in FIG. 7, the inner cylinder 41 has upper and lower air supply ports 45.
A, 45B and upper and lower exhaust ports 46A, 46B are provided,
These upper and lower air supply ports 45A and 45B are connected to the communication passage 47, respectively.
Via A and 47B, it is communicated with supply distribution grooves 48a and 49a formed in two stages on the outer peripheral portion of the inner cylinder 41. On the other hand, the upper and lower exhaust ports 46A, 46B are connected to the inner cylinder via communication passages 47C, 47D, respectively.
The distribution grooves 48b, 49b for discharge formed in two steps on the outer peripheral portion of 41 are communicated with each other.

On the other hand, the outer cylinder 42 is provided with a plurality of outlet ports 50A, 50B formed in two stages, and the outlet ports 50A, 50B respectively pass through communication passages 51A, 51B formed in the sealing collar 44. To face the distribution grooves 48, 49,
The working fluid supplied from the upper air supply port 45A communicates with the communication passage 4
The working fluid supplied from the lower stage air supply port 45B flows through the 7A, the distribution groove 28, and the communication passage 51A to the outlet port 50A, and the working fluid flows through the communication passage 47B, the distribution groove 49, and the communication passage 51B to the outlet port 50B. It is like this.

Further, the inner cylinder 41 and the sealing collar 44 constitute a metal seal which faces each other with a slight gap as in FIG.

Then, the rotary seal device configured as described above
In the inner cylinder 41, the inner cylinder 41 is connected to the compressed air source 52 via the solenoid valve V, and the outer cylinder 42 is connected to the air cylinder 37 of the container holding device 36 via the tube 38. The inner cylinder 41 is provided with an atmosphere opening port 53, and is communicated with a relief groove 55 provided on an outer peripheral portion of the atmosphere opening port 53 through a communication passage 54.

Next, the operation of the rotary seal device in the container rotary transport device according to the present invention constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

The container 8 conveyed to the container rotating / conveying device 30 in a state of being indexed by a conveyor or a timing screw (not shown) is placed on the container base 39 and the head of the container 8 by the container holding device 36. Is retained. At this time, the holding operation of the container holding device 36 is performed by the rotary sealing device 40 as follows. That is, the compressed air source 52 is connected to the upper and lower air supply ports 45A and 45B of the inner cylinder 41 via the solenoid valve V, and these upper and lower air supply ports 45A and 45B are distributed by the communication passages 47A and 47B. It communicates with the grooves 48a and 49a. On the other hand, the air cylinder 37 of the container holding device 36 is communicated with the outlet ports 50A, 50B of the outer cylinder 42 via the container holding cap 38, and these outlet ports 50A, 50B are respectively communicating passages 51A, 51B of the sealing collar 44. Is in communication with. Therefore, if the communication passages 51A, 51B and the supply distribution grooves 48a, 49a face each other, compressed air is supplied to the air cylinder 37 by the above-mentioned system passage, and the operating rod of the air cylinder 37 extends. The container holding cap 38 is lowered to the position indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 5, and the head of the container 8 is held. Then, since the rotating shaft 31 rotates in this state, the mounting plate 35 and the container holding device 36 rotate. At this time, the container base 39 rotates about its axis, and the container 8 rotates. After the container 8 is rotationally conveyed (revolved) to a predetermined position, the air cylinder 37 is communicated with the discharge distribution grooves 48b, 49b this time through the outlet ports 50A, 50B and the communication passages 51A, 51B. The discharge distribution grooves 48b, 49b are communicated with the upper and lower exhaust ports 46A, 46B via the communication passages 47C, 47D, respectively, from which the compressed air in the air cylinder 37 is discharged and the operating rod of the air cylinder 37 is withdrawn. Then, the container holding cap 38 rises and the holding of the container 8 is released.

[Effect of device]

An outer cylinder communicating with the container holding device is rotatably supported via a bearing in an inner cylinder communicating with the fixed-side vacuum source or compressed air source, and a cylindrical sealing member is interposed between these inner and outer cylinders. And a sealing surface having a slight gap is formed between the sealing member and the inner cylinder or the outer cylinder,
The outer cylinder can smoothly rotate with respect to the inner cylinder via the bearing, and since the fixed side and the rotating side do not come into direct contact with each other due to the gap between the seal surfaces, friction of the seal surfaces
Deformation can be avoided, a device with excellent durability can be provided, and power loss can be minimized.

Further, according to the present invention, since the gap of the sealing surface is not influenced by the sealing pressure, the sealing pressure can be made higher than that of the conventional rotary sealing device in which the discs are superposed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a rotary sealing device in a container rotary transport device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the rotary sealing device, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rotary sealing device, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the rotary sealing device in the container rotary transport device according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the rotary sealing device, and FIG. The figure is a side view of the rotary seal device, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 6, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional rotary seal device. Is. 1 ... Container rotation transfer device, 5 ... Upper star wheel,
7 ... Lower star wheel, 10 ... Adsorption unit, 12 ...
… Suction cup, 15 …… Rotary sealing device, 16 …… Inner cylinder, 17 …… Outer cylinder, 18 …… Ball bearing, 19 …… Seal collar, 20 …… Supply / exhaust port, 21 …… Communication passage, 22 …
… Distribution groove, 23 …… Exit port, 25 …… Vacuum source, 30 …… Container rotation transfer device, 35 …… Mounting plate, 36 …… Container holding device,
37 …… Air cylinder, 38 …… Container holding cap, 40
...... Rotary seal device, 41 …… Inner cylinder, 42 …… Outer cylinder,
43 …… Ball bearing, 44 …… Seal collar, 45A,
45B …… Upper / lower side air supply port, 46A, 46B …… Upper / lower side exhaust port, 48a, 49a …… Distribution groove for supply, 48b, 49b …… Distribution groove for discharge, 50A, 50B …… Outlet port, 52 ...... A source of compressed air.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A fixed-side vacuum in a container rotary transfer device comprising a plurality of container holding devices for holding a container head or a container side face by utilizing vacuum or compressed air, and a rotating member for fixedly supporting the container holding device. In a rotary seal device for distributing the vacuum or compressed air interposed between a source or a compressed air source and the rotating side container holding device, an inner cylinder communicating with the fixed vacuum source or the compressed air source. An outer cylinder communicating with the container holding device is rotatably supported via a bearing, a cylindrical sealing member is interposed between the inner and outer cylinders, and the sealing member and the inner cylinder or the above A rotary seal device in a container rotary transfer device, wherein a seal surface having a slight gap is formed between the outer cylinder and the outer cylinder.