JPH08157042A - Glass bottle aligning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a glass bottle aligning device aligning multiple glass bottles one by one in the conveying direction and capable of surely and smoothly identifying colors with an identifying device. CONSTITUTION: This glass bottle aligning device is provided with a V-conveyor 11 constituted of a pair of belt conveyors 14a, 14b mounting and conveying fed glass bottles G, multiple moving guides 12, 12 installed on the V-conveyor 11, and a curtain type guide 13 provided in the downstream of multiple moving guides 12, 12 in the conveying direction of the glass bottles G. The running speeds of the belt conveyors 14a, 14b of the V-conveyor 11 differ from each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a glass bottle sorting device provided in a glass bottle sorting device for sorting used glass bottles by color so as to reuse used glass bottles as resources, and aligning a plurality of glass bottles conveyed by a conveyor. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, from the viewpoint of resource saving and effective use, there is an opportunity to collect used glass bottles and reuse them as resources. By the way, about half of the glass bottles are colorless and transparent, but there are many glass bottles that are colored brown, black, green, blue, etc., and it is necessary to sort them by color in order to reuse them. Therefore, a device for selecting these glass bottles by color is being developed.

As a glass bottle sorting apparatus of this type, there is one shown in FIG. This glass bottle sorter is
A conveyor 1 for conveying a plurality of glass bottles G, a guide conveyor 2 for aligning and conveying the glass bottles G sent by the conveyor 1, and a guide conveyor 2
The identification device 3 for identifying the color of the glass bottle G guided and conveyed upward, and the glass bottle G of which the color is identified by the identification device 3 are discharged to the discharge ports 4 and 4 provided corresponding to each color. The discharge conveyor 5 is provided.

It should be noted that the identification device 3 is a guide conveyor 2
And a transmitted light detection device 7 that detects transmitted light that has passed through the glass bottle G.
The transmitted light detection device 7 is configured to detect the transmitted light of the glass bottles G passing therebelow one by one in the length direction. Then, based on the output data from the transmitted light detection device 7, an identification unit (not shown) identifies the color of the glass bottle G.

[0005]

By the way, the glass bottle G transported by the transport conveyor 1 is not always transported with the axes aligned in one direction (transport direction). In some cases, the glass bottles G sent from 1 may be tilted, overlapped in parallel, or continuously conveyed in the conveying direction on the guide conveyor 2 without a gap. The light detection device 7 does not detect the transmitted light of the glass bottle G satisfactorily, or the glass bottle G of a plurality of colors
May detect the transmitted light at once, or may detect the transmitted light as one glass bottle G that is continuously conveyed without a gap, and may make an incorrect color identification. was there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a plurality of glass bottles are aligned one by one in the transport direction and are sent out at intervals so that the color can be reliably identified by the identification device. An object of the present invention is to provide a glass bottle aligning device that can be smoothly performed.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the glass bottle aligning device according to claim 1 is a glass bottle sorting device for sorting a plurality of glass bottles by color, and an identification for identifying the color of the glass bottles. A glass bottle aligning device that is installed on the upstream side of the device and sends out the glass bottle to the identifying device in a state where the glass bottle is aligned with its axis lined in one direction. A pair of belt conveyors arranged side by side in a V-shape in cross section and having a central portion as a conveying path for sending out toward the apparatus, and the conveying from the side portion of one of the belt conveyors on the pair of belt conveyors. It has a plurality of movable alignment guides that are installed at intervals in the glass bottle transport direction toward the road, and each movable alignment guide is on the side of one belt conveyor. And a guide plate that is arranged so as to extend obliquely from the support member toward the downstream side in the transport direction in the transport path, and contacts the glass bottle when the glass bottle is transported. And an elastic member that connects the support member and the guide plate to allow the position of the guide plate to move and return in response to the conveyance of the glass bottle.

Further, in the glass bottle aligning device according to a second aspect of the invention, a curtain type aligning guide is provided on the downstream side of the plurality of movable aligning guides on the pair of belt conveyors in the conveying direction, and the curtain. The type alignment guide is attached to the gate type frame straddling the pair of belt conveyors and downward from the gate type frame,
When the glass bottle is conveyed, the glass bottle is contacted with the glass bottle, and each of the glass bottles is elastically deformed in accordance with the conveyance of the glass bottle to allow the glass bottle to pass therethrough. To do.

Further, the glass bottle aligning device according to a third aspect is characterized in that the traveling speeds of the pair of belt conveyors are different from each other.

[0010]

In the glass bottle aligning device according to the first aspect, while the glass bottles are conveyed toward the identification device by the pair of belt conveyors, the glass bottles are inclined, are stacked in parallel, or are continuous in the conveying direction without a gap. Even if the glass bottle reaches the position of each movable aligning guide even when it is conveyed, the position of the glass bottle is positioned by a pair of belts by the movable aligning guide that extends obliquely to the downstream side in the conveying direction. The glass bottle is guided to the central portion of the conveyor, that is, the transport path, and the glass bottles are oriented so that their axes are oriented in the transport direction. At this time, the movable aligning guide is configured such that the position of the guide plate can be freely moved and returned by the elastic member, so that it is possible to accommodate different bottle sizes, and the glass bottle is clogged at the position of the movable aligning guide. Nothing. Since a plurality of such movable aligning guides are provided along the carrying direction, the glass bottles are arranged in a line so that their axis is surely oriented in the carrying direction while passing through these plurality of movable aligning guides. Will be lined up.

Further, in the glass bottle aligning apparatus according to the second aspect, since the curtain type aligning guide is provided on the downstream side of the plurality of movable aligning guides, for example, all the movable aligning guides are passed. Even if some glass bottles are not completely aligned after the above, the curtain type alignment guide ensures the alignment. That is, since the curtain type aligning guide has a plurality of elastic members extending downward from the frame, when these elastically deform, the glass bottles are easily passed through the central portions of the pair of belt conveyors, and the side portions are It becomes difficult to pass.
Therefore, by the action of the curtain type alignment guide, the glass bottles are aligned in a line so that the axis of the glass bottle is oriented in the carrying direction.

Further, in the glass bottle aligning apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, even if a plurality of glass bottles are conveyed while being overlapped in the width direction of the belt conveyor, for example, each of the pair of belt conveyors may be conveyed. Since the traveling speeds are different, the glass bottles on the belt conveyor with high traveling speed within a certain period of time are different due to the different conveying speeds of the overlapping glass bottles. Since it reaches the front more than in, the gap between the glass bottles is opened and the overlap is eliminated.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing the overall configuration of the glass bottle aligning device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, this glass bottle aligning device 10 is a guide for installing the identifying device 3 in the above-mentioned glass bottle selecting device. Conveyor 2
It is provided instead of the transport conveyor which is located on the upstream side (the direction of transport of the glass bottle G is indicated by an arrow A). It should be noted that the glass bottle aligning device 10 can cope with the mixing of glass bottles G having various sizes. In the figure, reference numeral 11 is a V conveyor (a pair of belt conveyors), 12
Is a movable alignment guide (hereinafter simply referred to as movable guide), and 13 is a curtain alignment guide (hereinafter simply referred to as curtain guide).

The V conveyor 11 is a supply conveyor (not shown) installed on the upstream side of the glass bottle G conveyance path.
The glass bottle G supplied from the above is placed, conveyed, and delivered to the guide conveyor 2. As shown in FIG. 1, this V-conveyor 11 has a pair of belt conveyors 14a and 14b arranged side by side in a V-shape in cross-section, with a slight gap between which the glass bottle G of the minimum size to be applied does not drop. The central portion thereof is used as the glass bottle transport path 15. Therefore, in a normal state, the glass bottle G
Is transported on the transport path 15 while being placed on both belt conveyors 14a and 14b. For example, two glass bottles G
In a state in which the glass bottles G overlap with each other, the glass bottle G riding on one of the glass bottles G may be conveyed while being placed on only one belt conveyor. The surface of the belt on which the glass bottle G is placed has a relatively small friction coefficient with respect to the glass bottle G.

The belt conveyors 14a and 14b constituting the V conveyor 11 are constructed so that their traveling speeds are different. That is, as a drive mechanism of the V conveyor 11, as shown in FIG.
Drive motors 16a and 16b are individually installed on a and 14b, and these drive motors 16a and 16b are connected to inverters 18a and 18b via a terminal box 17, respectively. The voltage of is supplied. Therefore, if the set frequencies of the inverters 18a and 18b are changed,
The rotation speeds of the drive motors 16a and 16b are changed, and the traveling speeds of the belt conveyors 14a and 14b are set to be different.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the V-conveyor 11, a plurality of movable guides 12, 12 are installed at intervals in the glass bottle G conveying direction. Among the plurality of movable guides 12, 12, one movable guide 12a faces from one side of the belt conveyor 14b to the conveyance path 15, and the next movable guide 12b moves from the side of the other belt conveyor 14a. They are provided so as to be staggered toward the transport path 15 and obliquely extend from the side portions of the belt conveyors 14a and 14b toward the downstream side in the transport direction of the glass bottle G.

As shown in FIG. 4, each movable guide 12
The guide plate 19 is connected to the support member 21 via the coil spring 20 (elastic member). The support member 21 is attached to the first plate portion 21a fixed to the base (not shown) of the belt conveyors 14a and 14b along the side surfaces of the belt conveyors 14a and 14b, and the first plate portion 21a. On the other hand, the second plate portion 21b is bent at a constant angle (in a direction obliquely extending toward the downstream side in the transport direction). The guide plate 19 is a plate material formed of a material such as vinyl chloride resin, which has a hardness that does not hinder the glass bottle G from colliding and has a small friction coefficient with respect to the glass bottle G.

The guide plate 19 is connected to the second plate portion 21b of the supporting member 21 via the coil spring 20, and the movable guide 12 as a whole has the smallest size glass bottle G on the conveying path 15. Guide plate 1 even when transported
The length of 9 is such that it can always contact the glass bottle G. In the movable guide 12 having the above structure, the guide plate 19 is provided with the support member 21 and the coil spring 2 in accordance with the conveyance of the glass bottle G.
It makes a rotational movement with the connecting portion of 0 as a fulcrum (the direction is indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 4). Further, the coil spring 20 can easily move the guide plate 19 and surely return it to the original position, and has a relatively small elastic force so as not to hinder the smooth conveyance of the glass bottle G. Use what you have.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a curtain type guide 13 is installed on the V conveyor 11 at the final end downstream of the plurality of movable guides 12, 12.
The curtain-type guide 13 has a gate-shaped frame 22 fixed so as to straddle the V conveyor 11, and a plurality of coil springs 23, 23, ... (One end is fixed to the gate-shaped frame 22 and extends downward. Elastic member).

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of coil springs 2
3, 23, ... Are the same, that is, have the same length and elastic force, and the smallest glass bottle G is the conveying path 1.
5 when any one of the coil springs 23 is conveyed.
Has such a length that it can always contact the glass bottle G. When the glass bottle G is conveyed, the coil springs 23 are easily elastically deformed in accordance with the conveyance of the glass bottle G so that the glass bottle G can be passed. In addition,
As the coil spring 23, one having a relatively small elastic force is used so as not to hinder the smooth conveyance of the glass bottle G. Here, from the lower end of the coil spring 23 to the V conveyor 11
The distance to the surface is the central part of the V conveyor 11 (on the transport path)
Is large and is small at the side portions. Therefore, when the glass bottle G passes through the curtain type guide 13, the resistance force exerted on the glass bottle G by the coil spring 23 is small at the central portion of the V conveyor 11 and large at the side portions. Has become.

Next, a procedure for aligning the glass bottles G by the glass bottle aligning device 10 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described.
First, the glass bottle G is transferred from the supply conveyor or the like to the V conveyor 11
And is transported while being placed on the V conveyor 11. Then, when the glass bottle G reaches the position of one movable guide 12, the guide plate 19 of the movable guide 12 contacts the glass bottle G, and the guide plate 19 rotates while the glass bottle G moves and the glass bottle G moves.
Will be guided to the conveyance path 15 in the center of the V conveyor 11.

Therefore, even if the glass bottle G reaches the movable guide 12 in a state of being inclined with respect to the conveying direction, immediately after the glass bottle G contacts the guide plate 19, the glass bottle G is guided by the guide plate 19 to the center of the V conveyor 11. In order to continue moving as guided by the transport path 15, the movable guide 12
When passing through, the orientation of the axis of the glass bottle G coincides with the carrying direction.

When two glass bottles G overlap each other in the width direction of the conveyor on the V conveyor 11 and are conveyed without a gap, these are moved by the movable guide 12.
When reaching the position of, the glass bottle G on the central transport path 15
The glass bottle G in the state of riding on the upper side of the glass plate G strongly abuts the guide plate 19 and moves to the rear side of the central glass bottle G when pressure is applied to the upstream side in the conveying direction. Line up on the road 15.

Furthermore, the glass bottles G are still not reliably aligned even after all the movable guides 12 have passed, or the glass bottles G have again misaligned or overlapped after passing through the movable guides 12. Even in such cases, V
At the last end of the conveyor 11, the curtain type guide 13 surely aligns the glass bottles G. That is, as mentioned above,
In the curtain type guide 13, the resistance force to the glass bottle G in the width direction of the V conveyor 11 is small in the central portion of the V conveyor 11 and is large in the side portion, so that the glass bottle G inclined with respect to the conveying direction is V conveyor. In the overlapping glass bottles G, the glass bottles G in the central portion are preferentially passed through, and the glass bottles G located on the side are passed through the curtain type guide 13 at the center. Will be lined up in a line on the transport path 15.

By the way, in this embodiment, the V conveyor 1
Although the traveling speeds of the respective belt conveyors 14a and 14b that make up No. 1 are different, since the surface of the belt has a relatively small friction coefficient with respect to the glass bottle G, the belt conveyors 14a and 14b are mounted on both belt conveyors 14a and 14b. The glass bottle G on the conveyance path 15 conveyed in a curved shape is conveyed at the substantially lower traveling speed of the belt conveyor. Therefore, for example, in a state in which two glass bottles G are located on the transport path 15 and on the fast belt conveyor, the glass bottle G mounted on the belt conveyor having a high traveling speed overtakes the glass bottle G on the transport path 15 By opening the gap between the Gs, it is possible to eliminate the overlapping of the glass bottles G.

That is, the glass bottle aligning apparatus 1 of this embodiment
0 is a plurality of movable guides 12, 12, a curtain type guide 13, each belt conveyor 14a of the V conveyor 11,
Since the glass bottles G can be surely aligned by mounting the three means of changing the traveling speed of 14b, the glass bottle aligning device 10 is used as a glass bottle selecting device, so that the color by the identification device 3 in the subsequent stage can be improved. Can be identified reliably and smoothly.

Further, for example, if the movable guide 12 in this embodiment is not a movable type but a fixed type,
Since the length of the guide is restricted by the diameter of the large-sized glass bottle G, the effect of the guide is lost for the small-sized glass bottle G that the guide cannot reach. Further, the fixed guide also causes a clogging of the glass bottle G. However, in the glass bottle aligning device 10 of the present embodiment, various dimensions of the movable guide 12 and the curtain type guide 13 can correspond to the minimum size glass bottle G, and at the same time, the guide plate 19 of the movable guide 12 rotates. Since the coil spring 23 of the curtain-type guide 13 is deformed, even if glass bottles G of different sizes are mixed and supplied, these glass bottles G can be aligned without any trouble.
Further, by using coil springs 20 and 23 of the movable guide 12 and the curtain type guide 13 having a relatively small elastic force, the coil springs 20 and 23 are easily elastically deformed, so that the glass bottle G is not clogged. It does not happen.

In this embodiment, the V conveyor 1
Although the example in which the plurality of movable guides 12 and 12 are alternately provided on the one has been described, the arrangement of the plurality of movable guides 12 and 12 is not limited to this. Various modifications are possible, such as an arrangement that extends toward. Furthermore, the movable guide may be configured such that the guide plate is pin-coupled to the support member, and the guide plate is rotatable and returnable by a coil spring about the pin. Further, in this embodiment, the movable guide 12
Although the coil springs 20 and 23 are used as the elastic members used for the curtain type guide 13 and the like, the springs are not limited to the coil springs, and other types of springs, rubber, or the like may be used. In addition, various design changes can be made to the detailed configuration of each part of the device.

[0029]

As described in detail above, claim 1 is as follows.
In the glass bottle aligning device described in (1), while the glass bottles are conveyed toward the identification device by the pair of belt conveyors, the glass bottles are inclined, are stacked in parallel, or are continuously conveyed without a gap in the conveying direction. Even in this state, the glass bottles are aligned in one direction by the plurality of movable alignment guides so that the axis of the glass bottle is oriented in the transport direction. At this time, since the position of the guide plate of the movable alignment guide can be freely moved and returned by the elastic member,
Different bottle sizes can be accommodated, and multiple glass bottles do not overlap and jam at the position of the movable alignment guide. Therefore, by applying this glass bottle aligning device to the glass bottle selecting device, it is possible to surely and smoothly perform the color identification work by the identification device in the subsequent stage.

Further, in the glass bottle aligning device according to the second aspect, since the curtain type aligning guide is provided on the downstream side of the plurality of movable aligning guides, the glass bottle aligning device passes through the plurality of movable aligning guides. Even if the glass bottles are still not reliably aligned, or if the glass bottles are misaligned or overlapped again after passing through the movable alignment guide, the curtain alignment guides will surely align the glass bottles. Can be aligned.

Further, in the glass bottle aligning device according to the third aspect of the invention, even if a plurality of glass bottles are conveyed while being overlapped with each other in the width direction of the pair of belt conveyors, each of the pair of belt conveyors. Since the traveling speed of the glass bottle is configured to be different, the glass bottle placed on the belt conveyor of the high traveling speed reaches the front more than the glass bottle placed on the belt conveyor of the slow traveling speed within a certain period of time. The overlapping of the glass bottles can be eliminated by opening the intervals.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a glass bottle aligning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a drive mechanism of a V conveyor in the same apparatus.

4 (a) is a plan view and FIG. 4 (b) is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the structure of a movable guide in the apparatus.

5 (a) is a plan view and FIG. 5 (b) is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a curtain guide in the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional glass bottle sorting apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Glass Bottle Aligning Device 11 V Conveyor (A Pair of Belt Conveyors) 12 Movable Alignment Guide 13 Curtain Type Alignment Guides 14a, 14b V Belt Conveyor Belt Conveyors 15 Conveying Path 19 Guide Plate 20 Coil Spring (For Movable Alignment) Guide elastic member) 21 Support member 22 Gate-shaped frame 23 Coil spring (curtain type alignment guide elastic member)

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Yuji Ohara 3-15-1, Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries, Ltd. Toji Technical Center (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Yamashina 3--15, Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo No. Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Toni Technical Center (72) Inventor Toshio Hirose 3-1-15-1 Toyosu Koto-ku, Tokyo Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Toji Technical Center

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A glass bottle sorter for sorting a plurality of glass bottles by color, which is installed on the upstream side of an identification device for identifying the color of the glass bottle, and the axis of the glass bottle is directed to this identification device in one direction. A glass bottle aligning device for sending out in a state of being aligned, the glass bottles being supplied are placed and conveyed, and are arranged side by side in a V-shape in a transverse cross-section for sending out toward the identification device, and a central portion is a conveying path. And a pair of belt conveyors, and a plurality of movable aligners installed on the pair of belt conveyors at intervals in the glass bottle transport direction from the side of one belt conveyor toward the transport path. Each of the movable alignment guides is provided with a support member standing on the side of one of the belt conveyors, and from the support member to the transport path toward the downstream side in the transport direction. And a guide plate which is arranged so as to extend obliquely and which comes into contact with the glass bottle when the glass bottle is conveyed, and which connects the support member and the guide plate to the guide plate according to the conveyance of the glass bottle. A glass bottle aligning device, comprising an elastic member for moving and returning the position of the glass bottle. 2. The glass bottle aligning device according to claim 1, wherein a curtain type aligning guide is provided on a downstream side of the plurality of movable aligning guides on the pair of belt conveyors in the conveying direction, and the curtain. The type alignment guide is attached to the gate-shaped frame straddling the pair of belt conveyors, and is attached downward from the gate-shaped frame, and comes into contact with the glass bottle when the glass bottle is conveyed and the glass bottle A glass bottle aligning device, comprising: a plurality of elastic members each of which elastically deforms in accordance with conveyance to permit passage of the glass bottle. 3. The glass bottle aligning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the traveling speeds of the pair of belt conveyors are different from each other.