JPH0872986A - Capping machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a capping machine which is capable of performing capping without damaging packagings such as labels, shrink films, etc. CONSTITUTION: A capping machine is provided with a star wheel 11 having two or more pockets 26 and a guide 12 that is situated around the periphery of the star wheel 11 to prevent containers from falling off from a transfer route. Cushioning members 28, that are made of elastic material and come in contact with the bodies of the containers contained in the pockets 26, are provided on the inner faces of the pockets 26. In addition, the guide 12 is provided with a cushioning member 40 that is made of elastic material and comes in contact with the bodies of the containers contained in the pockets 26 to push the containers toward a rotary shaft of the star wheel 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a capping machine, and more particularly to a capping machine suitable for mounting a cap on a container such as a glass bottle or a PET bottle made of synthetic resin which has already been wrapped with a label, a shrink film or the like. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for attaching a cap to the mouth of a container such as a glass bottle or a PET bottle,
Put a pre-threaded cap on the mouth of the container to temporarily tighten (temporarily tighten), then rotate the cap with the capping head and screw it with a predetermined tightening torque (capping torque) (full tightening). ) Is done.

An example of a capping machine for performing the above capping is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
This capping machine is roughly the intake star 1
And a center star 2 and a discharge star 3.

The main parts of the stars 1, 2 and 3 are constructed in the same manner. For example, as shown in FIG.
Is composed of an upper star plate 4, a lower star plate 5 and a spacer 6. The upper and lower star plates 4 and 5 are formed with notches in a substantially semicircular shape on the outer peripheral portions thereof.
The notch defines a pocket for accommodating the container A.

In such a capping machine, the container A is transferred to the intake star 1 provided on the upstream side of the transport path of the center star 2, and a cap is put on while being held by the intake star 1. After being temporarily screwed to the cap by bringing an interference member into contact with the cap, the cap is passed to the center star 2 and is finally tightened by the capping head attached to the center star 2. It is designed to be taken out from the capping machine through the discharge star 3 provided on the downstream side.

By the way, in order to smoothly proceed the above-mentioned capping process, it is necessary to convey the container A in a stable state. In addition, when the container A is accommodated in the pocket, the upper star plate 4 is usually arranged from the center of the body of the container A so that the container A having a height different from the container A can be accommodated. Lower star plate 5 slightly on the mouth side
Is provided so as to come into contact with the bottom side from the center of the body of the container A.

[0007]

However, since each of the stars 1, 2, and 3 is usually made of a hard material such as hard plastic, a container A, such as a beer bottle, having a label or the like packaged at the center of the body is used. When introduced into a capping machine and stored in a pocket, the label of the container A and the inner surface of the pocket are rubbed against each other, and the label is damaged. In particular, when the container A is fully tightened, a force in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the cap is applied to the container A, so that the above-mentioned problem may be more remarkable.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a capping machine capable of capping without damaging a package such as a label or a shrink film.

[0009]

The object is to provide a star wheel having a plurality of pockets for accommodating a container,
A container provided on the outer periphery of the star wheel and provided with a guide portion for preventing the container from falling out of the conveying path, and the container is provided at each position of the cap supply device and the cap mounting head of the cap mounting device by the star wheel. In a capping machine including a mechanism for sequentially transporting, the inner surface of the pocket is made of an elastic body,
While providing a cushioning member that comes into contact with the body of the container housed in the pocket, the guide portion is made of an elastic body and presses the container housed in the pocket in the direction of the rotation axis of the star wheel, and This can be achieved by a capping machine provided with a cushion member that contacts. A rubber is a specific example of the elastic body.

[0010]

In the capping machine of the present invention, the inner surface of the pocket is made of an elastic material, the cushioning member comes into contact with the body of the container accommodated in the pocket, and the guide portion is made of the elastic material, and is accommodated in the pocket. By pressing the container in the direction of the rotation axis of the star wheel and providing a cushion member that comes into contact with the body, when the container packaged in the body is accommodated in the pocket, the packaging is Protected by the cushioning member and the cushion member, the package does not come into direct contact with the star wheel and the guide portion. Further, since the cushioning member and the cushion member are made of an elastic body, they contact the container with an appropriate elastic force and prevent the container from rotating.

[0011]

The capping machine of the present invention will be described in detail below. 1 to 4 show an example of a main part of a capping machine according to the present invention. Reference numeral 11 is a center star, and reference numeral 12 is a guide portion. The center star 11 includes a right side unit 11a and a left side unit 11
b is assembled with a set screw and attached to the center post 13.

Then, each of the units 11a and 11b
The upper star plates 22 and 22 and the lower star plates 23 and 23 are joined to each other via the spacers 24 and 24.
A void portion 29 is formed between the second and the second star plates 23 and 23. Furthermore, the upper and lower star plates 2
The semicircular cutout 25 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of 2, 22, 23, 23.
Are formed, and the notches 25, 25 of the upper star plates 22, 22 and the lower star plates 23, 23 form pockets 26 for accommodating the container A.

Further, in each of the pockets 26, the notches 25 of the upper and lower star plates 22, 22, 23, 23 are formed.
A buffer member 28 formed of a belt stretched over three guide pins 27 fixed to the upper surface of the peripheral edge of the. The cushioning members 28 are made of an elastic body, and specifically, rubbers such as silicone rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, and polyurethane rubber formed in a wide ring shape are preferably used. Further, the length and width of the buffer member 28 ...
It is optional as long as it has an appropriate elasticity when pressed into the pockets 26.

Below such a center star 11, a pedestal 15 integrally formed with the center post 13 and a disc-shaped container base 1 laminated on the pedestal 15 are provided.
And 6 are provided. The container base 16 is for mounting the container A, has a larger diameter than the center star 11,
The container A accommodated in the pockets 26 is of a size that can be mounted. The container table 16 rotates in the same direction and at the same speed as the center star 11 so that the container A can be conveyed in the direction of the arrow. Further, the container A
A notch is formed at a position where the bottom of the base abuts, that is, below the pockets 26 ... And a rotation prevention part 17 such as a urethane pad fitted in the notch is provided in the notch.

Guide rollers 21 are attached to the tips of the connecting portions 20 formed between the notches 25.

On the other hand, the guide portion 12 is formed by joining the right unit 12a and the left unit 12b to each other so as to form an arc shape by an appropriate coupling means. And each of the units 12a and 12b is
The upper guide plates 31, 31 and the lower guide plates 32, 32 are joined to each other via the columns 33, 33 to form the upper guide plates 31, 3
A space portion 41 is formed between 1 and the lower guide plates 32, 32.

Further, on the outer side of the guide portion 12, there is provided a cylindrical outer cylinder 34 and a supporting rod 35 inserted therein, and a cylinder portion 36 which can be expanded and contracted by sliding the supporting rod 35, and A tension adjusting portion 39 including a V-shaped pulley holding member 37 pivotally supported at the tip of the cylinder portion 36 and a pulley 38 attached to the tip of the pulley holding member 37 is provided.

Then, the support columns 33, 33 and the pulley 3
A cushion member 40 including a band stretched over 8 is provided. Like the cushioning member 28, the cushion member 40 is preferably formed by molding rubber such as silicon rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, or polyurethane rubber into a wide ring shape.
The length of the cushion member 40 is arbitrary as long as the container A is pressed against the inner surface of the guide portion so as to obtain appropriate elasticity. The width of the cushion member 40 is substantially the same as that of the cushioning members 28 .... When the container is not housed, the cushion member 40 contacts the guide rollers 21 ...
The guide rollers 21 ... also rotate. In addition,
1 and 3, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention,
Illustration of the upper star plates 22 and 22 and the upper guide plates 31 and 31 is omitted.

Next, an example of a capping process using a capping machine provided with the center star 11 and the guide portion 12 will be described. First, the container A in which the label 14 is attached in advance to the center of the body is housed in the pocket of the intake star provided with the cap supply device and the cap temporary screwing device, and the cap is covered below the cap supply device. Then, the cap is temporarily screwed by the cap temporary screwing device and delivered to the center star 11.

The container A delivered to the center star 11 is accommodated in the pockets 26, is placed on the rotation preventing portion 17, is transported, and the buffer member 28 stretched over the pockets 26 is centered. The star 11 is pressed against the rotating shaft side. At this time, since the guide portion 12 is provided on the outer side of the container A, the elastic force of the cushioning members 28 causes the container A to move into the pocket 2.
There is no escape from 6 ...

On the other hand, the container A presses the cushioning members 28 ... And also the cushion member 40 stretched over the guide portion 12 toward the guide portion 12 side. On this occasion,
As shown in FIG. 3, the cylinder portion 36 extends and the pulley holding member 37 is pulled toward the guide portion 12 so that the cushion member 40 abuts the container A with an appropriate tension.

As a result, the container A has a buffer member 28 ...
And is clamped by the cushion member 40, and is housed in the pockets 26 ...
Further, it is conveyed in the direction of the arrow. At this time, one of the cushioning member 28 ..., The cushion member 40 contacts the label 14 of the container A, and the upper star plates 22, 22 and the upper guide plates 31, 31 contact the upper part of the label 14 of the container A,
The lower star plates 23, 23 and the lower guide plates 32, 32 are brought into contact with the lower portion of the label 14 of the container A, and the center star 1
1 and the guide portion 12 do not contact the label 14.

Next, the container A is a center star 1
By the rotation of 1, the sheet is conveyed to a position below the capping head (not shown) attached to the center star 11, and the capping head performs final tightening. The container A that has been fully tightened is further conveyed in the direction of the arrow, passes through the discharge star, and is taken out from the capping machine.

The capping machine of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the cushioning members 28 may be provided not only on the center star 11 but also on the inner surfaces of the pockets 26 of the intake star and the discharge star. Further, the shape and size of the cushioning member 28 ... and the cushion member 40 are arbitrary, and for example, the notch 25 ...
The cushioning members 28 may be internally attached to the peripheral surface of the above, or the cushion member 40 may be internally attached to the peripheral surface of the guide portion 12 on the center star side.

The number of star plates constituting the star wheel and the number of guide plates constituting the guide portion are not particularly limited, and may be one or three or more, and the size and height of the container and the packaging. It can be appropriately selected depending on the site where the treatment is applied. Also at this time, the buffer member 28 is provided in the gap formed by the star plates and the guide plates.
The cushion member 40 may be provided. Further, the numbers of the fixtures 27 ... And the columns 33 are also arbitrary.

In such a capping machine, a plurality of pockets 26 for accommodating the container A with the label 14 applied thereto are provided.
Is provided, and a guide portion 12 provided on the outer periphery of the star wheel to prevent the container A from falling off the transport path. In the capping machine including a mechanism for sequentially transporting the container A to each position below the capping head of the mounting device, the star wheel includes upper star plates 22 and 22 and a lower star plate 2.
3 and 23, a gap 29 is formed between the upper guide plate 31 and the lower guide plate 3 and the buffer member 28 is provided in the gap 29.
A space 41 is formed between the space 2 and the space 32, and a cushion member 40 is provided in the space 41.
The upper star plates 22, 22 and the lower star plates 23, 23, and the upper guide plates 31, 31 and the lower guide plates 32, 32
Are provided at positions where they do not come into contact with the label 14, respectively, so the label 14 does not come into direct contact with the star wheel, so there is no risk of damage to the label 14 and manufacturing loss can be reduced. . Further, since the cushioning members 28 ... And the cushion member 40 are both made of an elastic body, they come into contact with the container A with an appropriate elastic force and prevent the container A from rotating, so that the cap can be reliably applied. Further, since the bottom of the container A is in contact with the rotation prevention part 17, the rotation prevention effect is improved. Further, since the upper star plates 22 and 22 and the lower star plates 23 and 23 are arranged apart from the conventional one, the cushioning member 2
8 and the cushion member 40 can be formed wide, the buffer member 28 can be formed in the concave portion of the container having the uneven surface.
... or cushion member 40 ... does not enter, and cushioning member 28
The cushion member 40 and the cushion member 40 always contact the container A with a constant elastic force. Further, it is possible to reliably prevent the rotation of various types of containers such as those having a height different from that of the container A, and to convey the container in a stable state. Further, since the cushion member 40 contacts the guide roller 21 when the container A is not housed, the cushion member 40 enters the gap 29, and the fixture 27 ... Or the cushioning member 28 ...
Since there is no contact with the cushion member 40, wear of the cushion member 40 can be reduced.

[0027]

As described above, the capping machine of the present invention is provided with a star wheel provided with a plurality of pockets for accommodating a container and the outer periphery of the star wheel, so that the container can be removed from the transport path. In the capping machine, the inner surface of the pocket is equipped with a mechanism for sequentially transporting the container to each position of the cap supply device and the capping head of the cap mounting device by the star wheel. A cushioning member that is made of an elastic body and comes into contact with the body of the container housed in the pocket, and the guide portion is made of an elastic body, and the container housed in the pocket is arranged in the rotation axis direction of the star wheel. Since the capping machine is provided with a cushion member that presses and contacts the body, If but accommodated in the pocket,
Since the packaging is protected by the cushioning member and the cushion member, and the packaging does not come into direct contact with the star wheel and the guide portion, there is no possibility that the packaging will be damaged,
Manufacturing loss can be reduced. Further, when capping, the container is pressed from the outside to prevent the container from rotating, but the buffer member and the cushion member can prevent the container from rotating more reliably.
Therefore, even a container or the like having irregularities on its surface can be transported in a stable state while preventing rotation, and it is possible to obtain an effect that it can be applied to a wide variety of containers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a main part of a capping machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a state in which a container is accommodated in the capping machine of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional capping machine.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Center star, 12 ... Guide part, 21 ... Guide roller, 22 ... Upper star plate, 23 ... Lower star plate, 24 ... Spacer, 25 ... Notch, 26 ... Pocket, 28 ... Buffer member, 31 ... Upper guide plate, 32 ... Lower guide plate, 33 ... Strut, 39 ... Tension adjusting part, 40 ... Cushion member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A star wheel provided with a plurality of pockets for accommodating a container, and a guide portion provided on an outer periphery of the star wheel for preventing the container from falling out of a conveyance path. A capping machine comprising a mechanism for sequentially transporting the container to each position of the cap supply device and the capping head of the cap mounting device, wherein the inner surface of the pocket is made of an elastic body, and the container is housed in the pocket. And a cushion member made of an elastic body, which presses the container accommodated in the pocket in the direction of the rotation axis of the star wheel and contacts the body portion, while providing a cushioning member for contacting the body portion A capping machine characterized by that. 2. The capping machine according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is rubber. 3. The capping machine according to claim 1, further comprising a guide roller provided on the outer peripheral side of the fixing member, the guide roller being in contact with the band when the container is not housed.