JPH0921789A - Article carrying tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity carrying tool which can be moved by a commodity carrying line also with an information detection transmission function in addition to a commodity retention carrying function. SOLUTION: The article carrying tool 21 has an information detector 31, a radio transmitter 33 for transmitting the detection signal of the information detector 31, and a battery 35.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an article carrier (bottle carrier) that holds an article (bottle) 1 and can be moved by an article carrier line has been used in a filling facility for filling a bottle with detergent. In such an article transporting tool, when passing through an article processing machine (a filling machine, a cap mounting machine, etc.) arranged along the article transportation line, the article is subjected to a certain treatment.

On the other hand, as a data transmission method for monitoring the quality of industrial machinery, as described in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7026/1990, acoustic emission or high frequency generated when an abnormality occurs in a large structure or rotating machine. It is known to detect an abnormal sound and wirelessly transmit a signal to monitor the abnormality.

Therefore, if an attempt is made to perform an abnormality diagnosis of the equipment (article transfer line and / or article processing machine) as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-7026 in the article processing equipment such as the above-mentioned filling equipment, the article transfer is performed. Each of the abnormality diagnosis target parts of the line and the article processing machine is equipped with an information detector corresponding to those inspection items.

[0005]

However, the following problems are encountered in the article processing facility using the article transport tool, which is equipped with the information detector in each of the abnormality diagnosis target parts of the article processing facility. There is.

In order to inspect the quality of the conveying path of the article conveying line, it is necessary to install information detectors everywhere along the long conveying path, and a large number of information detectors are required.

In order to inspect the quality of a large number of article processing heads of the article processing machine (a large number of filling heads of a filling machine, a large number of cap mounting heads of a cap mounting machine), an information detector is provided for each of the plurality of heads. It needs to be installed and requires a large number of information detectors.

When a change occurs in the article transfer line or the article processing machine due to the modification of the article processing facility, it is necessary to newly install an information detector in the article transfer line or the article processing machine. I can not respond.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an article carrier which can be moved by an article carrying line with an information detecting and transmitting function in addition to an article holding and conveying function.

It is another object of the present invention to reduce the number of installed information detectors when detecting the operating state of an article processing facility using an article carrier, and to quickly respond to modification and alteration of the facility. And

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article transporting tool which holds an article and can be moved by an article transporting line, wherein an information detector and a detection signal of the information detector are provided. It is provided with a wireless transmitter for transmitting and a power source.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, the article transporting tool passes through an article processing machine arranged along an article transporting line. The information detector detects the operating state of the article transport line or the operating state of the article processing machine.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, the article conveying tool is a bottle conveying tool, and a filling machine and a cap mounting device arranged along a bottle conveying line. The information detector is an operating state of the article transport line, an operating state of the filling machine,
Alternatively, the operating state of the cap mounting machine is detected.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the following operations are provided. Since the article carrier is provided with the information detector, the wireless transmitter, and the power source, the article carrier performs an article holding and carrying function in the process of moving along the article carrying line and also has an information detecting and transmitting function. Can be fulfilled

According to the present invention described in claims 2 and 3, the following actions (1) to (3) are provided. An information detector is provided on the article transport tool passing through the article processing machine along the article transport line, and the information signal of the operating state of the article transport line and / or the article processing machine detected by the information detector is wirelessly transmitted to the diagnostic section. I tried to send it.

As described above, the operating condition such as the quality of the conveying path of the article conveying line can be inspected in a timely manner during the movement of the article conveying tool. That is, it is not necessary to install information detectors everywhere in the long conveyance path, and the number of information detectors installed can be reduced.

As described above, the operating condition such as the quality of a large number of article processing heads of the article processing machine (the filling head of the filling machine, the cap mounting head of the cap mounting machine) can be inspected in a timely manner while passing through the article carrier. That is, it is not necessary to install an information detector on each of a large number of heads, and the number of installed information detectors can be reduced.

Since the information detector is provided in the article conveying tool, even if the article conveying line or the article treating machine is changed due to the modification of the article treating equipment, the information conveying line or the article treating machine is not changed. There is no need to install a new information detector, and it is possible to quickly respond to equipment modifications and changes.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a liquid filling and packaging equipment, and FIG.
Is a schematic diagram showing a bottle carrier of the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a signal transmission system of the inspection device, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a signal processing procedure of the inspection device, and FIG. 5 is a bottle of the second embodiment. 6 is a schematic view showing a carrier, FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a bottle processing state of the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an abnormality diagnosis principle of the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a bottle carrier of the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a bottle carrier according to a fourth embodiment,
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a bottle carrier according to the fifth embodiment.

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the liquid filling and packaging equipment 10 (article processing equipment) will be described. (Liquid filling and packaging equipment 10) (FIG. 1) In the liquid filling and packaging equipment 10, the bottle 1 is filled with a liquid such as a detergent, then the bottle 1 is fitted with the cap 2, and the bottle 1 fitted with the cap 2 is packed in a packaging box. It will be packed in a box. The liquid filling and packaging facility 10 has a bottle aligning and supplying machine 11, a direction aligning machine 12, a filling machine 13, a cap mounting machine 14, and a box packing machine 15.

Filling / packaging processing by the liquid filling / packaging facility 10 is performed as described in (1) to (4) below. (1) In the bottle aligning and feeding machine 11, the bottle 1 is transferred to the empty bottle transfer tool 17 introduced by the bottle transfer line 16, and the bottle transfer tool 17 on which the bottle 1 is transferred
Is discharged by the bottle transport line 16.

(2) In the filling machine 13, the bottle 1 in the bottle carrier 17 moved by the bottle carrying line 16 is filled with the liquid. At this time, the filling machine 13 inserts any one of the many filling heads (nozzles) 13A into one bottle 1 to fill the liquid (FIG. 6).
(A)).

(3) In the cap mounting machine 14, the cap 2 is mounted on the bottle 1 in the bottle carrier 17 which has been filled with the liquid by the filling machine 13 and moved by the bottle carrying line 16. At this time, the cap mounting machine 14
The cap 2 is mounted on one bottle 1 using any one of the many cap mounting heads 14A (FIG. 6 (B)).

(4) In the cartoning machine 15, the bottle 1 with the cap 2 attached is taken out from the bottle carrier 17, and the bottle 1 is boxed. The bottle carrier 17 that has been emptied by taking out the bottle 1 is again introduced into the bottle aligning and supplying machine 11 of (1) by the bottle carrying line 16.

The bottle carrying line 16 is the conveyor 1
6A, a turning table 16B, and the like.

However, in the liquid filling and packaging facility 10, the operating state of the bottle conveying line 16 and / or the filling machine 13, the cap mounting machine 14, etc. can be inspected (diagnosed) by the inspection device 20. The first to fifth embodiments of the inspection device 20 will be described below.

(First Embodiment) (FIGS. 2 to 4) The inspection device 20 has a bottle carrier 21, a wireless receiver 22, and a diagnostic device 23.

(Bottle Transporting Tool 21) (FIGS. 2 and 3) The bottle transporting tool 21 is the same as the bottle transporting tool 17 described above for inspection, and includes an acceleration sensor 31, a camera 32, and wireless transmission. Container 33, transmitting antenna 34, battery 3
5 is provided. The acceleration sensor 31 measures the impact force (for example, the impact force due to the step difference at the transfer portion between the conveyor 16A and the turning table 16B) acting on the bottle transport tool 21 which is moving by the bottle transport line 16, This is for making it possible to inspect whether there is an abnormality in the transportability of the transport line 16. The camera 32 detects a reference position mark provided along the bottle carrying line 16 and makes it possible to recognize the current position of the bottle carrying tool 21 based on the detection result. The wireless transmitter 33 processes the sensor signal of the acceleration sensor 31 by the V / F converter 33A and the modulator 33B, and then transmits the signal from the transmitting antenna 34. In addition, the wireless transmitter 33 transmits the image signal of the camera 32 from the transmitting antenna 34 after performing signal processing on the modulator 33B.

(Radio receiver 22) (FIG. 3) The radio receiver 22 is the radio transmitter 33 of the bottle carrier 21.
The wireless transmission signal from the receiving antenna 41, the demodulator 4
2, the tuner 43, the controller 44, and the F / V converter 45 (only the sensor signal) performs signal processing, and outputs the sensor signal of the acceleration sensor 31 and the video signal of the camera 32.

(Diagnostic Device 23) (FIG. 3) In the diagnostic device 23, the signal waveform processing unit 51 performs signal processing on the sensor signal output from the wireless receiver 22, and the image processing unit 52 performs image processing on the video signal. These signal processing,
The information signal (acceleration signal, image signal) subjected to image processing is input to the determination processing unit 53. The determination processing unit 53 compares the input information signal with a predetermined reference signal in the determination condition storage unit 54 to determine whether there is an abnormality in the transportability at each position of the bottle transport line 16. The determination result is stored in the determination result storage unit 55.

The diagnostic device 23 includes an abnormal signal generator 56 for generating an abnormal signal when the judgment processing section 53 judges an abnormality.
It has. In the inspection device 20, the abnormal signal generator 56
A warning signal is issued by the abnormal signal generated by the above, or the liquid filling and packaging equipment 10 is automatically stopped.

The diagnostic device 23 performs continuous diagnosis using a continuous information signal in an arbitrary section along the movement path of the bottle carrier 21, and intermittent diagnosis using a characteristic information signal intermittent in the arbitrary section. Can be switched according to the inspection item. In the present embodiment, the diagnostic device 23 is operated continuously in the entire section of the bottle transport line 16 or in the conveyor 16
It can be operated by switching to either intermittent operation for monitoring the transfer portion of A and the turning table 16B.

The signal processing procedure of the inspection device 20 will be described below (FIG. 4). (1) The bottle carrier 21 is moved by the bottle carrier line 16, and detection is performed by the acceleration sensor 31 and the camera 32 provided on the bottle carrier 21. The sensor signal of the acceleration sensor 31 and the video signal of the camera 32 are transmitted from the wireless transmitter 33 to the diagnostic device 23 via the wireless receiver 22.

(2) The diagnostic device 23 performs signal processing of the sensor signal transmitted in (1) above and image processing of the video signal to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in transportability at each position of the bottle transport line 16. To judge.

(3) If there is no abnormality by the above (1), the above (1) and (2) are continued until the end of the measurement. If there is an abnormality, perform the following (4) to (6).

(4) If the abnormal level determined in (2) above is light, the liquid filling and packaging equipment 10 is not stopped and an alarm lamp, an alarm buzzer, etc. are activated to inform the person of the abnormality. .

(5) If the abnormal level determined in (2) above is heavy, an alarm lamp, an alarm buzzer, etc. are activated to notify the person of the abnormality, and an automatic stop signal for the liquid filling and packaging equipment 10 is given. Is output to automatically stop the equipment 10.

(6) In both (4) and (5) above, the diagnostic content (item, number of times) is recorded, and the number m of abnormalities of each item (in this embodiment, the transportability inspection of the bottle transport line 16) is determined. When the number of times n is exceeded, it is determined that the detailed diagnosis of the part related to the item is necessary, and the automatic stop signal of the liquid filling and packaging equipment 10 is output to automatically stop the equipment 10.

(Second Embodiment) (FIGS. 5 to 7) The main difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the bottle carrier 21 is replaced with a bottle carrier 21A. The bottle carrier 21A includes a camera 32, a wireless transmitter 33, a transmitting antenna 34, and a battery 35 similar to those in the bottle carrier 21, and a load sensor 61.
That you have. The load sensor 61 is arranged so as to support the bottom portion of the bottle 1 inserted in the bottle carrier 21A, and (a) the filling machine 13 measures the weight of the bottle 1 filled with the liquid. It is determined whether or not the filling amount of the filling machine 1 is as specified (FIG. 6 (A)), and as a result, the filling machine 1
The abnormality of the valve of the filling head 13A in 3 can be monitored. Further, (b) by measuring the tightening torque acting on the bottle 1 when the cap 2 is mounted by the cap mounting machine 14, it is determined whether or not there is a cap mounting failure by the cap mounting machine 14 (see FIG. B)), as a result, the cap mounting machine 14 can monitor the misalignment of the cap mounting head 14B and the like.

In the second embodiment, the diagnostic device 23 is
(a) The load signal of the load sensor 61 is compared with the reference signal (set value) and referred to (FIG. 7) to determine whether the filling amount is good or bad. Also,
(b) The load signal of the weight sensor 61 is compared with the reference signal (set value) to determine whether the cap is attached properly. The diagnostic device 23 also determines whether the abnormal level is light or heavy in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment in (a) and (b) above.

In this embodiment, the diagnostic device 23 is the filling machine 1.
The intermittent diagnosis is performed by monitoring the filling end stage of 3 and the cap mounting stage of the cap mounting machine 14.

(Third Embodiment) (FIG. 8) The main difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the bottle carrier 21B is used instead of the bottle carrier 21 and that the inspection bottle 1A is used. I have something to say. The bottle carrier 21B includes the same camera 32, the wireless transmitter 33, the transmitting antenna 34, and the battery 35 as those of the bottle carrier 21. The inspection bottle 1A is the same as the above-mentioned bottle 1 for inspection. A strain gauge 71 is provided on a bottle piece (or a neck), and a change in electric resistance of the strain gauge 71 is transmitted to the wireless transmitter 33. It is possible to send at.

The strain gauge 71 measures the tightening torque acting on the bottle 1 when the cap mounting machine 14 mounts the cap 2, and determines whether or not there is a cap mounting failure by the cap mounting machine 14, and as a result, Cap mounting machine 14
It is possible to monitor the misalignment and the like of the cap mounting head 14A.

In the third embodiment, the diagnostic device 23 compares the torque signal of the strain gauge 71 with the reference signal (set value) to determine whether the cap is attached properly. The diagnostic device 23
In the same manner as in the first embodiment, determines whether the abnormal level is light or heavy.

In the present embodiment, the diagnostic device 23 performs an intermittent diagnosis for monitoring the cap mounting stage of the cap mounting machine 14.

(Fourth Embodiment) (FIG. 9) A difference between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment is that a bottle carrier 21C is used instead of the bottle carrier 21. The bottle carrier 21C includes a camera 32, a wireless transmitter 33, and a transmitting antenna 3 similar to those in the bottle carrier 21.
4, a battery 35 is provided. The camera 32 is capable of capturing an image of the cap mounting head 14A of the cap mounting machine 14.

In the cap mounting machine 14, when the cap mounting head 14A is displaced from the proper position with respect to the base 14B, the cap mounting head 14A becomes misaligned and cap mounting failure occurs. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the cap mounting head 1 is set by the camera 32.
4A, the positions A to D of the chuck rollers 81 that chuck the cap 2 are measured to calculate the center position O thereof, and the reference position E provided on the base 14B is measured to determine the positional relationship of O with respect to E. By calculating whether or not it is in the standard state, it is possible to determine whether or not there is misalignment of the cap mounting head 14A.

In the fourth embodiment, the diagnostic device 23 uses the cap mounting head 14A based on the image pickup result of the camera 32.
By comparing and referring to the position signal (calculated value) of No. 1 with the reference signal, it is possible to monitor the misalignment of the cap mounting head 14 by the cap mounting machine 14.

The diagnostic device 23 also determines whether the abnormal level is light or heavy, substantially in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the diagnostic device 23 performs intermittent diagnosis by monitoring the cap mounting stage of the cap mounting machine 14.

(Fifth Embodiment) (FIG. 10) The fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a bottle carrier 21D is used instead of the bottle carrier 21. The bottle carrier 21D includes the same camera 32, wireless transmitter 33, and transmitting antenna 3 as those of the bottle carrier 21.
4, a battery 35 is provided. The camera 32 is the bottle carrier 2
The conveyor surface and the table surface of the bottle transport line 16 can be imaged through the holes provided at the bottom of 1D.

The camera 32 detects whether or not the images of the conveyor surface and the table surface of the bottle transfer line 16 move, and the bottle transfer tool 21D detects that the bottle transfer tool 21D is in contact with the conveyor surface and the table surface of the bottle transfer line 16. When there is an unexpected relative movement such as slipping, it is determined whether the conveyor surface or the table surface of the bottle transfer line 16 is dirty, and as a result, it is possible to monitor the abnormality of the transfer surface property.

In the fifth embodiment, the diagnostic device 23 can compare the movement of the image captured by the camera 32 with the reference signal to monitor the presence of dirt on the conveyor surface and the table surface of the bottle conveying line 16. . The diagnostic device 23 is
Substantially the same as in the first embodiment, it is determined whether the abnormal level is light or heavy.

In this embodiment, the diagnostic device 23 can be operated by switching to either continuous diagnostics in the entire section of the bottle transport line 16 or intermittent diagnostics for monitoring the transfer portions of the conveyor 16A and the turning table 16B. .

In the implementation of the present invention, the single bottle carrier 21 is provided with a load sensor 61 in addition to the acceleration sensor 31, the camera 32, the wireless transmitter 33, the transmitting antenna 34 and the battery 35. The bottle carrier 21 can be commonly used for all of the first to fifth embodiments.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. An information detector (acceleration sensor 31, load sensor 61, camera 32) is provided on the bottle conveyance tool 21 that passes through the filling machine 13 and the cap mounting machine 14 along the bottle conveyance line 16, and this information detector (acceleration sensor 31, An information signal of the operating state of the bottle conveying line 16 and / or the filling machine 13 and the cap mounting machine 14 detected by the load sensor 61 and the camera 32) is wirelessly transmitted to the diagnostic device 23.

As described above, the operating condition such as the quality of the transport path of the bottle transport line 16 can be inspected in a timely manner during the movement of the bottle transport tool 21. That is, information detectors (acceleration sensor 31, load sensor 6) are provided everywhere along the long conveyance path.
1. The information detector (acceleration sensor 31, load sensor 61, camera 32) does not need to be installed.
The number of installations can be reduced.

As described above, a large number of article processing heads of the filling machine 13 and the cap mounting machine 14 (the filling head 13A of the filling machine and the cap mounting head 14A of the cap mounting machine).
It is possible to timely inspect the operating state such as whether the product is good or bad in the process of passing the bottle conveying tool 21. That is, a large number of heads 13A, 14
It is not necessary to install an information detector (acceleration sensor 31, load sensor 61, camera 32) in each of A, and the number of installed information detectors (acceleration sensor 31, load sensor 61, camera 32) can be reduced.

Since the information detectors (acceleration sensor 31, load sensor 61, camera 32) are provided in the bottle carrier, the bottle carrier line 16, the filling machine 13 and the cap mounting machine may be modified by modifying the article processing equipment. 14 is also changed, a new information detector (acceleration sensor 3
1, it is not necessary to install the load sensor 61 and the camera 32), and it is possible to quickly respond to modification and change of equipment.

The diagnostic device 23 is provided with an abnormal signal generator 56, and an alarm signal is issued by the abnormal signal generated by the abnormal signal generator 56, or the equipment is automatically stopped. As a result, it is possible to prevent equipment failure, shorten the production stop time of the equipment, improve the productivity of the equipment, and extend the life of the equipment.

Since the bottle carrier 21 is provided with a plurality of information detectors (acceleration sensor 31, load sensor 61, camera 32), the only bottle carrier 21 can be installed along the bottle carrier line 16 with the filling machine 13 and the cap. Machine 14
In the process of passing through, each information detector (acceleration sensor 31,
A plurality of inspection items in charge of the load sensor 61 and the camera 32) can be collectively inspected. For example, by providing the acceleration sensor 31 and the load sensor 61, the acceleration sensor 31
And the transportability of the bottle transport line 16 that is in charge of
It is possible to measure the filling amount that the load sensor 61 is in charge of.

A single information detector (acceleration sensor 31, load sensor 61, camera 32) provided in the bottle carrier can detect a plurality of information items corresponding to a plurality of inspection items, so that only one bottle can be used. In the process in which the carrier 21 passes through the filling machine 13 and the cap mounting machine 14 along the bottle carrying line 16, a plurality of test items can be collectively tested. For example, with only one load sensor 61, the filling amount can be measured and the tightening torque of the cap can be inspected.

The diagnostic device 23 can switch between continuous diagnosis and intermittent diagnosis according to the inspection item. For example, in the case where the inspection item is the transportability of the transport path of the bottle transport line 16, it is possible to select a continuous diagnosis that continuously diagnoses all sections in which the bottle transport tool 21 is moving on the bottle transport line 16. . On the other hand, when the inspection item is the filling amount, it is sufficient to make an intermittent diagnosis by diagnosing in a section just before the end of filling when the bottle carrier 21 enters the filling machine and the bottle carrier 21 approaches the exit side of the filling machine. Is selected. At this time, by performing intermittent diagnosis of the inspection items that are sufficient for intermittent diagnosis, and not performing continuous diagnosis, it is possible to improve the diagnosis speed by preventing unnecessary data from being accidentally mixed in the diagnostic data.
Brings up diagnostic quality.

In the practice of the present invention, the recognition of the current position of the bottle carrier 21 moving along the bottle carrier line 16 does not require the use of the camera 32 as in the above-described embodiment, but the movement of the bottle carrier line 16 does not occur. It is possible to use the detection result of the bottle carrier tool passage detection sensor provided at a specific position along the route. That is, the current position of the bottle carrier 21 can be recognized by calculation from the detection timing of the bottle carrier tool passage detection sensor and the moving speed of the bottle carrier line 16.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to equip the article carrier which can be moved by the article carrying line with the information detecting and transmitting function in addition to the article holding and carrying function.

Further, according to the present invention, when detecting the operating state of the article processing facility using the article carrier, the number of installed information detectors can be reduced and the facility can be quickly modified or modified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a liquid filling and packaging facility.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a bottle carrier according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a signal transmission system of the inspection device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a signal processing procedure of the inspection device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a bottle carrier according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a bottle processing state of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of abnormality diagnosis of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a bottle carrier according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a bottle carrier according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a bottle carrier according to a fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bottle (article) 10 Liquid filling and packaging equipment (article processing equipment) 13 Filling machine (article processing machine) 14 Cap mounting machine (article processing machine) 16 Bottle transport line (article transport line) 17, 21, 21A to 21D Bottle transport Tool (item carrying tool) 31 Acceleration sensor (information detector) 32 Camera (information detector) 33 Wireless transmitter 35 Battery 61 Load sensor (information detector)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An article carrier which holds an article and is movable by an article carrying line, comprising an information detector, a wireless transmitter for transmitting a detection signal of the information detector, and a power source. An article transporting tool characterized by: 2. The article transporting tool passes through an article processing machine arranged along an article transporting line, and the information detector indicates whether the article transporting line is operating or the article processing machine is operating. The article carrier according to claim 1, which is for detecting. 3. The article carrier is a bottle carrier,
It goes through a filling machine and a cap mounting machine arranged along the bottle transport line, and the information detector detects the operating state of the article transport line, the operating state of the filling machine, or the operating state of the cap mounting machine. The article carrier according to claim 1, which is a member.