JPH09243517A - Apparatus for inspecting can cover opening - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a can cover opening inspecting apparatus which attempts to automate the opening inspection of a can cover formed with a stay-on type tab and largely improves the efficiency of inspecting the opening. SOLUTION: The can cover conveyed from an introducing unit 61 to a chute 71 slides on the chute 71, and is placed on an introducing station 80. Before it, the cover in which the direction of a tab is aligned and the cover in which the tab is opened are placed on an aligning station 40 and opening station 33. A feed plate 63 having three notches 88, 89, 90 making it possible to support the three covers is forwarded to the station 80 side. In this case, a motor bracket 100 is lowered, and the covers on the stations 80, 40, 33 are placed on the cutouts 88, 89, 90 of the plate 63. The plate 63 is moved in the direction of an arrow Y, the covers are simultaneously conveyed to the next stations 40, 33 and the vicinity of a discharge unit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a can lid opening inspection device for inspecting the opening of a tab by automatically opening a steion type tab formed on a can lid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a can lid such as a beer can uses a Steion type tab which can be opened without being removed from the can lid. When the tab of the Steion system is manually pulled in a predetermined direction, the opening piece surrounded by the ring-shaped groove formed in the can lid is pressed into the can. When the opening piece is pressed toward the inside of the can, most of the ring-shaped groove is pushed off, and the opening piece surrounded by the ring-shaped groove is bent downward to form an opening portion. Such a can lid is attached to the open end portion of the can body in which the contents are packed before the can is shipped. In order to prevent defects in the can lid, it is necessary to perform an opening inspection to inspect whether a tab already formed on the can lid functions properly. Such an opening inspection of the can lid is manually performed using a chain having a hook portion at its tip. Specifically, an operator hooks the hook portion on the tab, pulls the chain in a predetermined direction with a predetermined force, and inspects whether the can lid opens satisfactorily.

However, in the process of manufacturing the can lid, it is inconvenient and inconvenient for a human to manually inspect the opening of the can lid. Therefore, in order to solve this inconvenience, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-349 filed by the present applicant
No. 808 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-198542) discloses a can lid opening inspection device capable of automatically performing the above-described opening inspection. The following is the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 5-349.
The can lid opening inspection device disclosed in No. 808 will be described in detail.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the structure of the conventional can lid opening inspection device on the front side, and FIG. 11 is for explaining the structure of the can lid opening inspection device in the vicinity of the sectional line AA shown in FIG. FIG. 12, FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the structure of the can lid opening inspection device in the vicinity of the sectional line BB shown in FIG. 10, and FIG. 13 is a can lid opening inspection device in the vicinity of the sectional line C-C shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration on the plane side of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 13, this can lid opening inspection device has a carry-in path 4 for carrying in a can lid having Steion type tabs flowing through a manufacturing line with an air blower or the like.
2 The carry-in path 42 is provided with a can lid carry-in detection sensor C33 and a can lid front / back detection sensor C34 at predetermined positions. The can lid carry-in detection sensor C33 detects whether or not the can lid is carried in, and the can lid front and back detection sensor C34 carries in the can lid with one of the surface provided with the tab and the surface not provided with the tab facing up. Detect whether

As the can lid carry-in detection sensor C33 and the can lid front and back detection sensor C34, for example, contact type sensors are used. The can lid front / back detection sensor C34 includes, for example, a switch that comes into contact with the tab and switches when the can lid is carried in with the surface on which the tab is not formed facing up. A non-contact type sensor may be used as the can lid front / back detection sensor C34. The end feed plate 12 that holds the can lid carried in from the carry-in passage 42 is located at one end of the carry-in passage 42 located in the can lid opening inspection device. The end feed plate 12 can be moved up and down by a rotating plate 40 provided below the can lid which is held, and has a "U" shape when viewed from the plane side. In the vicinity of the end feed plate 12, the carry-in path 4
As shown in FIG. 10, an end stopper 14 for aligning the can lid carried in via 2 and appropriately placing it on the end feed plate 12 is fixedly provided to the side plate 51. The end stopper 14 is a jig cylinder C2.
It is possible to move in the direction of arrow D1 by the power from. The end feed 12 is provided with an end guide 13 at a position corresponding to the width of the carry-in path 42. As shown in FIG. 12, the end feed plate 12 is movable in the direction of arrow D2 by the power from the end feed plate mechanism 43 provided below the end feed plate 12. The end feed plate moving mechanism 43 has twin rod cylinders C1a and C1b as power sources. The twin rod cylinder C1a is fixed to the twin rod plate 8. The twin rod cylinder C1b is fixedly provided to the end feed bracket 11 which is movable along the rail C8b via the moving portion C8a, that is, in the direction of the arrow D2. The twin rod cylinders C1a and C1b are
The rods are engaged with each other via slide brackets 9 connected to the rods. The end feed plate 12 is fixed to the end feed bracket 11.

As shown in FIG. 11, the can lid placed on the end feed plate 12 is raised below the position of the end feed plate 12 when the can lid is carried in, and the can lid can be rotated at the raised position. A cylindrical rotating plate 40 is provided. In addition, at a position along the direction of arrow D2 at substantially the same height as the rotating plate 40,
Lower pad 3 having "U" shaped hollow portion 33a
3 are provided. Lower part 33 of hollow pad 3
The inside of 3a has an opening inspection sensor C36 as described later.
Is provided. The lower pad 33 is fixed to the motor bracket 10 at its lower portion. The rotating plate 40 is the motor 4 fixed to the motor bracket 10.
1 is attached to the rotary shaft 41a, and the rotary shaft 41a
It rotates according to the rotation of. Motor bracket 10 is LM
It is possible to move up and down along the guide C31. Specifically, the moving portion 31a provided on the motor bracket 10 can be moved up and down while engaging with a rail 31b fixedly provided on the side plate 51. The motor bracket 10 is supported by a gear head C14 attached to the jig cylinder C4, and when the gear head C14 moves up and down by power from the jig cylinder C4, it moves up and down accordingly. The rotating plate 40 and the lower pad 33 move up and down in conjunction with the up and down movement of the motor bracket 10.

A sensor slide plate 28 fixed to the top plate 16 via a sensor plate 27 is located above the rotary plate 40, and the sensor slide plate 28 is provided with an optical positioning sensor C12. As shown in FIG. 16B, the positioning sensor C12 detects the light beam emitted from the light emitting unit C12a at the light receiving unit C12b provided at a predetermined position, so that the light beam from the light receiving unit C12b is emitted. The distance to the part of the can lid that has been removed is detected. The light beam from the light receiving portion C12b has a path 55 including the end portion 54a of the tab 54 in accordance with the rotation of the rotating plate 40, for example, as shown in FIG.
Is irradiated. Since the end portion 54a has a thickness with respect to the can lid 53, the reflection position of the light beam from the light emitting portion C12a is different between when the can lid 53 is irradiated and when the end portion 54a is irradiated. Therefore, the light receiving portion C12b is replaced by the light emitting portion C
By arranging the light beam from the light emitting portion 12a at the position where the reflected light is incident when the end portion 54a is irradiated, the light receiving portion C when the light beam from the light emitting portion C12a is irradiated onto the can lid 53 is formed.
12b does not detect the reflected light, and the light receiving portion C12b detects the reflected light when the end portion 54a is irradiated. In the can lid opening inspection device of this embodiment, the position of the tab is detected based on the presence or absence of light detection of the light receiving part C12b. The light emitting portion C12a is
When the can lid is located at a rotational position where the tab can be hooked by the lever 24 when the lever 24 performs the opening operation, the end portion 54a is arranged to emit a light beam.

A top plate 16 is fixedly provided on the upper end of the side plate 51. An upper plate 32 is fixedly provided on the lower surface of the top plate 16 so as to be located above the end feed plate 12.
The upper plate 32 is shaped so as to press the can lid placed on the lower pad 33 at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the can lid as the lower pad 33 rises. The upper pad 32 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), the protrusions 32a and 32b are located so as to sandwich the position of the lever 24 when the pulling of the tab 54 is started, and the protrusions 32a and 32b press the vicinity of the outer periphery of the can lid 53. A table unit C9 is fixedly provided along the side surface at both ends of the upper surface of the top plate 16 when the can lid opening inspection device is viewed from the front. A slide top plate 17 is attached to the upper surface of the table unit C9 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow D2. The top plate 16 and the slide top plate 17 are provided with holes of a predetermined shape in which the lever arm 19 is located and the lever arm 19 can be moved in the direction of arrow D2 as described later.

A slide plate bracket 30 is fixedly provided on the upper surface of the slide top plate 17. The slide plate bracket 30 is a rod C3a.
It is fixed to the jig cylinder C3 via. The jig cylinder C3 is fixed to the top plate 16 via a top plate bracket 29. The slide top plate 17 and the slide plate bracket 30 are
The power from the jig cylinder C3 moves the table unit C9 in the direction of arrow D2.

On the upper surface of the slide top plate 17, there is fixedly provided a lever base 18 in which two plates are arranged at a predetermined interval. Lever base 18
Direct mount cylinder C5 via joint 52
Is fixedly provided with a predetermined inclination, for example, an inclination of 20 ° from the central axis. The direct mount cylinder C5 drives the movement of the shaft C5a in the direction of arrow D3. A rod end 20 is fixedly provided on the shaft C5a, and the rod end 20 is rotatably engaged with a lever arm 19 having a lever 24 via a lever shaft 21. The lever arm 19 includes a lever base 1
A lever arm rod 23 that engages with a window 18a formed in the No. 8 is fixedly provided. Lever arm rod 2
3 is positioned along the lower part of the window 18a when the pulling operation of the tab of the can lid by the lever 24 is started,
The rotation position of the lever arm 19 around the lever shaft 21 is specified.

The lever 24 moves in the direction of arrow D2 in conjunction with the movement of the slide plate bracket 30 in the direction of arrow D2 by the power from the jig cylinder C3, and the shaft 5a by the power from the direct mount cylinder C5.
It moves in the direction of substantially arrow D3 in conjunction with the movement in the direction of arrow D3.

The can lid opening inspection device has twin rod cylinders C1a and C1 based on a control signal from a control unit (not shown).
b, the jig cylinders C2, C3, C4, the direct mount cylinder C5 and the motor 41 are driven to perform a predetermined operation. Hereinafter, the operation of the can lid opening inspection device will be described step by step with reference to FIGS. 14 to 21. FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the control system of the can lid opening inspection device, and FIG. 15 (A) shows the can lid placed on the end feed plate 12 through the carry-in passage 42 shown in FIG. 13 in the direction of arrow D1. 15 is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of the end stopper 14 when moving and aligning 14.
15B is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of the end stopper 14 when the alignment in FIG. 15A is completed, and FIG. 15C is the end feed after the operation shown in FIG. 15B. An external perspective view for explaining the operation of moving the can lid placed on the plate 12 upward,
16 (A) is an external perspective view for explaining the operation when detecting the tab position of the can lid placed on the end feed 12, and FIG. 16 (B) shows the tab position detection in FIG. 16 (A). FIG. 16C is a diagram for explaining the principle and FIG.
6B is an external perspective view for explaining the operation when the can lid is placed on the end feed plate after the tab position detection in FIG. 6B is completed. FIG. 17A is a can placed on the end feed plate 12. FIG. 17B is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of transporting the lid, and FIG. 17B is an external perspective view for explaining the pulling operation of the tab by the lever 24.
19 (A) to 19 (C) and FIG. 19 (A) are views for explaining a series of operations in the process of pulling the tab by the lever 24, and FIG. 19 (B) is for explaining the position of the tab on the front side at the time of opening. 19C is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of the lever 24 after completion of the opening inspection, and FIG. 20A is the end feed plate 12 after completion of the operation shown in FIG. 19C. 20B is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of FIG. 20, FIG. 20B is an external perspective view when the can lid placed on the end feed plate 12 is blown off by an air blower, and FIG. FIG. 22 is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of the end feed plate 12 after the end, and FIG. 22 is a view for explaining the irradiation path of the light beam from the light emitting portion of the positioning sensor.

Step 1: The air is blown into the can lid 53 toward the end feed plate 12 through the carry-in passage 42 shown in FIG. 13, and hits the end stopper 14 to stop. In the process of carrying in the can lid 53, the switch provided in the can lid carry-in detection sensor C33 makes contact with the can lid and switches, and the can lid carry-in detection signal S33 is output to the control unit C32 in accordance with the switch. . When the can lid carry-in detection signal S33 is input to the control unit C32, the control unit C3
The control signal S2 is output from 2 to the jig cylinder C2.
Then, as shown in FIG. 15 (A), the can lid 53 is aligned in the direction of the arrow D1 in accordance with the movement of the end stopper 14 in the direction of the arrow D1 by the power from the jig cylinder C2, and the can lid 53 is properly aligned with the end feed plate 12. Placed on. The can lid 53 is guided and aligned by the end guide 13 in the direction of the arrow D2.

In addition, in the process of loading the can lid 53, when the can lid 53 is loaded with the surface on which the tab is not formed facing up, a switch provided in the can lid front and back detection sensor C34 is mounted on the tab. When the contact state is changed, and the abnormality detection signal S34 is input to the control section C32 in accordance with the change, the can lid 53 is conveyed to the air blow section shown in FIG. It is blown and discharged.

Step 2: The control signal S2 is output from the control section C32 to the jig cylinder C2, and the power from the jig cylinder C2 causes the end stopper plate 14 to move away from the position of the end feed plate 12, as shown in FIG.

Step 3: The control signal S4 is output from the control section C32 to the jig cylinder C4, and the power of the jig cylinder C4 raises the motor bracket 10 via the gear head C14 as shown in FIG. 15 (c). At this time, the rotary plate 40 fixed to the motor bracket 10 also rises in conjunction with the rise of the motor bracket 10, and the can lid 53 placed on the end feed plate 12 is pushed upward by the rotary plate 40. Power is supplied from the jig cylinder C4 to the positioning sensor C1.
It stops when the can lid 53 is pushed up to a height where the tab position can be detected by 2.

Step 4: When the can lid 53 reaches the height in Step 3, a control signal S41 is output from the control section C32 to the motor 41, and the rotary plate 40 is driven by the power of the motor 41 as shown in FIG. 16 (A). And the can lid 53 placed on the rotary plate 40 also rotates in conjunction therewith. At this time, the light emitting unit 12 of the positioning sensor C12
When the light beam from a is applied to the can lid 53 along the path 55 shown in FIG. 22 in accordance with the above rotation of the can lid 53 and is applied to the end portion 54 a of the tab 54 located on the path 55. The light receiving unit C12b detects the reflected light of the light beam. When the light receiving section C12b detects the reflected light, the positioning sensor C
The detection signal S12 is output from 12 to the control unit C32.
When the detection signal S12 is input, the control unit C32 outputs the control signal S41 for stopping the rotation drive to the motor 41, and the rotation of the rotary plate 40 is stopped. At this time, the can lid 53 placed on the rotary plate 40 is aligned with the rotational position where the tab is hooked on the lever 24 by the opening operation described later. According to such a can lid opening inspection device, the can lid 53 carried in from the manufacturing line can be automatically aligned so that the tab is appropriately pulled by the lever 24.

Step 5: The control signal S4 is output from the control section C32 to the jig cylinder C4, and the motor bracket 10 and the rotary plate 40 are lowered by the drive from the jig cylinder C4. In this descending process, the can lid 53 placed on the rotary plate 40 is placed on the end feed plate 12 as shown in FIG.

Step 6: The control signal S1a is output from the control section C32 to the twin rod C1a, and the twin rod cylinder C1a is driven by the slide bracket 9 and the twin rod cylinder C1 as shown in FIG. 17 (A).
b, the end feed bracket 11 and the end feed plate 12 move along the LM guide C8. The power supply from the twin rod cylinder C1a is stopped when the end feed plate 12 is located above the lower pad 33.

Step 7: A control signal S4 is output from the control section C32 to the jig cylinder C4, the motor bracket 10 and the lower pad 33 are raised by the power from the jig cylinder C4, and the can lid 53 placed on the end foot plate 12 is moved upward. Pushed up to. Jig cylinder C
The power supply from 4 is stopped when the can lid 53 mounted on the lower pad 33 reaches a position where it is pressed and fixed by the upper pad 32 with a predetermined force. At this time, the can lid 53 is formed by the protrusions 32a and 32b of the upper pad 32.
Since the vicinity of the outer periphery of the can is fixed, the state of the can lid 53 when pulling the tab 54 can be made closer to the state when the can lid 53 is fixed to the can main body, and the reliability of the opening inspection can be improved. it can.

When the power supply from the jig cylinder C3 is stopped, the lever 24 is positioned on the left side of the tab 54 in contact with the can lid 53, as shown in FIG. 18 (A), for example. Next, the control signal S3 is output from the control unit C32 to the jig cylinder C3. Control signal S3 to jig cylinder C3
Is input, the slide plate bracket 30 and the slide top plate 17 are moved rightward in the direction of arrow D2 along the table unit C9 by the power from the jig cylinder C3. At this time, the lever base 18
Also moves to the right in the direction of arrow D2, and accordingly, the lever 24 also moves to the position where the tab 54 is hooked, as shown in FIG. 18B.

Step 8: When the tab 54 is hooked by the lever 24 as shown in Step 7, the control section C3
Control signal S5 from 2 to direct mount cylinder C5
Is output. When the control signal S5 is input, the direct mount cylinder C5 passes through the shaft C5a,
The rod end 20 is raised along the direction of the arrow D3 that is inclined to the right by approximately 20 ° from the vertical direction. In response to this rise, the lever arm 19 rotatably attached to the rod end 20 via the lever shaft 21 and the lever 24 provided on the lever arm 19 also rise. As shown in FIG. 18B, when the lever 24 rises in the direction of arrow D4, the tab 54 hooked on the lever 24 also moves accordingly. When the tab 54 moves in this manner, the tab 54 shown in FIG. 22 presses the opening piece 53a surrounded by the ring-shaped groove 53b formed in the can lid 53.
When the opening piece 53a is pressed in this manner, most of the ring-shaped groove 53b is pushed off, the opening piece 53a is bent downward, and the opening portion is formed in the can lid 53.

At this time, since the lever arm 19 is rotatable about the lever shaft 21 with respect to the rod end 20, the lever arm 19 moves the lever shaft 21 according to the force applied to the lever 24 when performing the opening operation. Rotation about the center causes the angle at which the lever 24 rises to change. At this time, the angle change of the lever 24 is, for example, an angle inclined by approximately 30 ° from the vertical direction before starting the pulling operation by the power from the direct mount cylinder C5, but the pulling operation by the power from the direct mount cylinder C5 is When started, the direct mount cylinder C5 changes to an angle inclined by about 20 ° from the vertical direction which is the inclination. However, direct mount cylinder C5
The inclination of is not limited to about 20 ° and can be modified in various ways.
As described above, since the pulling operation of the tab 54 by the lever 24 in the process of opening the can lid is made rotatable about the lever shaft 21, the reliability of the can lid opening inspection can be enhanced.

Step 9: When the lever 24 is raised to the position shown in FIG. 18C and the opening of the can lid 53 by the tab 54 is completely completed, the power supply from the direct mount cylinder C5 is stopped and the lever 24 of the lever 24 is stopped. Rise also stops.
Next, the control signal S is sent from the control section C32 to the jig cylinder C3.
3 is output, and the power from the jig cylinder C3 causes the lever 24 to move leftward along the arrow D2.
4 moves away from the tab 54. Then, the control signal S5 is output from the control unit C32 to the direct mount cylinder C5, and the lever 24 is driven by the power from the direct mount cylinder C5, as shown in FIG. Return to the position of again. When the pulling operation of the tab 54 by the lever 24 is completed, the can lid 53
In the state where the can lid 53 is opened, the opening piece 53a of the can lid 53 surrounded by the groove is bent and positioned below the can lid 53, as shown in FIGS. 18 (C) and 19 (B).

In this can lid opening inspection device, whether or not the can lid 53 is opened is detected by detecting the opening piece a of the can lid 53 bent below the can lid 53 by the opening inspection sensor C36. When the aperture inspection sensor C36 opens, the light beam emitted from the light emitting unit C36a is blocked by the portion 53a of the can lid 53, and when the light receiving unit C36b no longer detects the light beam, the aperture signal S36 is sent to the control unit C32. Output. For example, the light beam is arranged so as to pass through the bent portion of the opening piece 53a, that is, the vicinity of the portion that is not completely pressed from the can lid 53.

Step 10: The opening signal S36 is the control unit C.
When input to 32, the control signal S4 is transmitted to the jig cylinder C4.
Is output to Then, as shown in FIG. 19C, the motor bracket 10 is driven by the power from the jig cylinder C4.
And the lower pad 33 descends, and the can lid 53 placed on the lower pad 33 is placed on the end feed plate 12. On the other hand, when the opening signal S36 is not input even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the alarm generation signal S35 indicating that the tab 54 of the can lid 53 is defective is the control unit C.
The alarm sound is output from 32 to the alarm unit C35, and a predetermined alarm sound is output from the alarm unit C35. By listening to the alarm sound output from the alarm unit C35, the worker knows that any result has occurred on the tab 54 of the can lid 53, and can take measures such as temporarily stopping the manufacturing line. . In this way, the presence or absence of the opening of the can lid 53 can be automatically detected.

Step 11: A control signal S1b is output from the control unit C32 to the twin rod cylinder C1b, and the end feed plate 12 is moved by the arrow D as shown in FIG. 20 (A) by the power from the twin rod cylinder C1b.
It moves in the direction opposite to the rotating plate 40 in the direction 2.

Step 12: When the end feed plate 12 is positioned at a predetermined position in step 11, the can lid 53 placed on the end feed plate 12 is provided at a predetermined position as shown in FIG. 20 (B). It is blown off with an air blow from the pipe 56 and discarded.

Step 13: When the operation in Step 12 is completed, the control section C32 outputs the control signal S3 to the jig cylinder C3, and as shown in FIG.
The power from 3 causes the end feed plate 12 to move to a position above the rotary plate 40 again.

According to the above-mentioned can lid opening inspection device, a series of operations in the can lid opening inspection such as carrying in, positioning, opening, and presence / absence of the can lid to be inspected can be automatically performed. It is possible to reduce the burden on the operator associated with the inspection.

[0032]

However, in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 5-349808, a mechanism (a jig cylinder or the like) for positioning the can lid on the end feed plate is provided separately from the end feed plate. Since it is provided and the end feed plate is configured to convey only one can lid, it is not possible to carry out a series of processes of loading, positioning, opening and discarding at the same time. There is a problem in that the efficiency of the opening inspection is low as a result, because it has only the ability to perform the opening inspection of the three can lids. As the can lid manufacturing line has become faster, there has been a strong demand for faster opening inspection.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and aims at automating the inspection of the opening of the can lid formed with the tab of the Steion system and greatly improving the efficiency of the inspection of the opening. It is an object of the present invention to provide a can lid opening inspection device that does.

[0034]

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, a tab formed on a can lid is moved in a predetermined direction, a preformed groove is pushed out, and an opening piece is moved in a predetermined direction. A can lid opening inspection device that bends to form an opening portion and inspects a can lid opening, comprising at least a loading means for loading the can lids one by one, and a can lid supplied from the loading means. The loading station to support, the positioning station that rotates and positions the can lid so that the tab faces the predetermined direction based on the detection result of the tab position detection means, and the can lid in which the opening portion is formed are supported. It consists of a main body in which opening stations are sequentially arranged side by side, and a discharge part. Furthermore, a plurality of notches capable of locking the outer peripheral portions of a plurality of can lids at the same time and abutting on the can lids at the loading stations. For simultaneously transferring the can lids, each of which has a positioning member for positioning in position, supported by the charging station, the positioning station and the opening station to the positioning station, the opening station and the vicinity of the discharging portion, respectively. End feed plate, fixing means for fixing the outer periphery of the can lid at the opening station, tab moving means for moving the tab in a predetermined direction while the can lid is fixed by the fixing means, and movement of the tab And an opening detection unit that detects the movement of the opening piece that is bent in accordance with the above.

In the can lid opening inspection device of the present invention, for example, the can lid flowing through the manufacturing line is carried into the charging section. The loaded can lids are loaded into the loading station one by one.
The can lid is transferred from the charging station to the peripheral edge of the cutout of the end feed plate, and the can cover is transferred from the end feed plate to the alignment station. Here, the position of the tab is detected by the tab position detecting means, and the position is adjusted to a predetermined position by the position adjusting means based on the detection result. Then, the aligned can lid is transferred to the opening station by the end feed plate, and the can lid is fixed by the fixing means. The tab of the fixed can lid is moved in a predetermined direction by the tab moving means. When the tab moves in this manner, the opening piece surrounded by the ring-shaped groove is pressed, the opening piece bends downward, and the can lid opens. At this time, the presence / absence of the opening of the can lid is determined by detecting the presence / absence of the movement of the opening piece bent according to the movement of the tab by the opening detection means.
Further, when the end feed plate moves to the charging station side, the can lid on the charging station is positioned by the positioning member (for example, pin member) of the end feed plate. Further, by moving the end feed plate, the can lids on the charging station, the positioning station and the opening station can be simultaneously conveyed to the next stations.

[0036]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, a can lid opening inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The can lid opening inspection device of the present embodiment is a can lid opening inspection device of a conventional example (Japanese Patent Application No. 5-349808) in order to shorten the inspection time from the charging per one can lid to the opening inspection. It is an improvement of the charging part and the main body part of. Therefore,
The description of the same parts as those of the conventional example will be omitted, and the improved parts will be mainly described. 1 is a perspective view showing a charging unit and a main body of a can lid opening inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the charging unit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view (top view), FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view (top view) of the main body shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the loading portion 61 of the can lid opening inspection device includes a stocker 79 for accommodating a can lid group formed by vertically stacking a plurality of can lids on a main plate 68. A splitter knife 64 is provided below the stocker 79 and can be reciprocally driven in the arrow Y direction with respect to the main plate 68. The main plate 68 is mounted on the device frame 60a via a bracket or the like.
It is supported by. The splitter knife 64 is provided with a pair of stoppers 66 and 67 at the tip of its main body 65, and the reciprocating drive of the splitter knife 64 causes the can lid group vertically stacked in the stocker 79 to remove the can lid at the lowermost stage. It can be separated one by one. The separated can lid is supplied into the chute, which will be described later, through the hole 69 of the main plate 68.

On the other hand, an inclined chute die 71 is provided below the main plate 68 via an end guide 70. The chute die 71 is supported by the device frame 60a via a chute bracket 81. The one can lid separated at the lower part of the stocker 79 falls on the chute die 71, and the fallen can lid slides on the chute die 71 and is supplied to the main body portion 62 described later. The chute die 71, the end guide 70, the top plate 72 and the like constitute a chute. The input unit 61 is not limited to the above-described configuration in which the can lids vertically stacked in the stocker 79 are separated one by one and dropped on the chute die 71. For example, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 5-349808.
Alternatively, a structure in which the can lids are supplied to the chute die one by one from the conveying path by an air blower may be adopted.

The chute die 71 is provided with chute guides 73 and a top plate 72 on both sides. The top plate 72 is provided with a can lid carry-in detection sensor 85 and a can lid front and back detection sensor 86 at predetermined positions. There is. The can lid carry-in detection sensor 85 detects whether or not the can lid is carried in, and the can lid front and back detection sensor 86 carries in the can lid with one of the surface provided with the tab and the surface not provided with the tab facing up. Detect whether As the can lid carry-in detection sensor 85 and the can lid front and back detection sensor 86, for example, contact type sensors are used. As the can lid front / back detection sensor 86, for example, a switch that comes into contact with the tab and switches when the can lid is carried in with the surface on which the tab is not formed facing up is provided. A non-contact type sensor may be used as the can lid front / back detection sensor 86. The top plate 72 is provided with two knock cylinders 82 and 83 via a knock plate 84. Due to a malfunction of the loading section 61, the shoot die 7
Even when a plurality of can lids are continuously supplied onto the one, the knock cylinders 82 and 83 are driven based on a command from the can lid carry-in detection sensor 85, and the rods shoot the second can lid. By pressing against the die 71, it is possible to prevent simultaneous supply of a plurality of can lids to the main body 62, which will be described later. That is, the can lid is always attached to the main body 62.
It is supplied one by one.

Next, the main body will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the main body portion 62 can hold a plurality of (in this example, 3
End feed plate 63 having notches 88, 89, 90. That is, each notch 8
The peripheral edge of 8, 89, 90 locks and holds the outer peripheral portion of the can lid, and the notch 88 at one end is for receiving the can lid thrown into the feeding station 80 from the feeding section 61. Is. The end feed plate 63 is provided in a horizontal plane and is movable in the two-dimensional directions (arrow X and Y directions) in the horizontal plane. That is, the device base 60 has two die plates 7 extending in the Y direction.
7, 78 are provided, and the die plates 77, 7
Succeed cylinder (twin rod cylinder) 8
A slide base plate 95 that is reciprocally moved in the direction of arrow X by 74 is mounted. The reference numeral 74a is
Slide base plate 9 of the success cylinder 74
5 shows two rods connected to 5. The slide base plate 95 has a tie plate 76.
Through feed cylinder (twin rod cylinder)
A cylinder plate 98 on which 75 is mounted is fixed. The slide plate 9 is attached to the two rods 93 of the feed cylinder 75 via the block plate 94.
7 are connected. And this slide plate 9
7 is reciprocally movable in the arrow Y direction with respect to the slide base plate 95 via the table unit 96. A feed plate die 92 is fixed to the block plate 94, and the end feed plate 63 lying in a horizontal plane is fixed to the upper end of the feed plate die 92.

As described above, the end feed plate 6
3 has three notches 88, 89, 90 for supporting three can lids at the same time. A stopper pin (positioning member) 91, which will be described later, is provided in the vicinity of the rear of the one cutout 88. With the above structure, the slide base plate 9 is moved by the succession cylinder 74.
5 and the end feed plate 63 can be moved in the arrow X direction, and the end feed plate 63 can be moved by the feed cylinder 75 in the arrow Y direction.
As a result, the end feed plate 63 is
It can be moved in the arrow X direction and the arrow Y direction. The success cylinder 74 and the feed cylinder 75 are controlled and driven by the control unit as shown in FIG.

Further, the motor bracket 100 is provided with a loading table (loading station) 80 for holding a can lid falling from the chute, a rotating plate 40 (positioning station and lower pad 33 (opening station), which are sequentially arranged in this order. There is.

Next, the operation of the can lid opening inspection device of this embodiment will be described. In the initial state shown in FIG. 1, the splitter knife 64 of the charging section 61 operates,
One can lid is dropped into the chute 71, and as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), this can lid passes through the inside of the chute 71 and the protrusions 99 and 9 on both sides of the charging station 80.
Move on 9. At this time, the can lid that drops from the lower end of the chute 71 is guided by the guide members 101 and 102 on both sides provided on the apparatus base 60 side, and is reliably placed on the loading station 80. Reference numeral 103 indicates a block that supports the guide members 101 and 102 on both sides.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 8 (a),
As shown in (b), the end feed plate 63 moves forward in the direction of arrow X by driving the success seed cylinder 74, and its positioning pin 91 is applied to the outer peripheral end of the can lid 53 on the charging station 80. Position.
That is, the positioning pin 91 and the back portion of the charging station 80 are brought into contact with the outer circumferences of the can lid 53 facing each other, so that the can lid 53 is in a fixed position. At this time, the notches 88, 89, 90 of the end feed plate 63 are positioned so as to surround the charging station 80, the alignment station 40, and the opening station 33. As described above, in this example, the jig cylinder C2 for positioning, which is separate from the end feed plate shown in FIG. 15 and the like, is unnecessary. Also,
In parallel with this, in the alignment station 40 and the opening station 33, the alignment and opening inspection of the can lid are respectively performed in the same manner as in the conventional case, and the aligned can lid and opening are aligned in the alignment station 40 and the opening station 33. The can lids (not shown) that have been inspected are listed.

In this way, each station 80, 40,
When the predetermined operation is completed at 33, FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), the die pad cylinder C4
As a result, the motor bracket 100 is lowered (see arrow Z), and the can lids at the stations 80, 40, 33 are cut into the notches 88, 89, 9 of the end feed plate 63.
Place it on the periphery of 0.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the end feed plate 63 is advanced by the feed cylinder 75 in the direction of the arrow Y, and the end feed plate 63 is provided at the peripheral portions of the notches 88, 89 and 90, respectively. Send each supported can lid onto each next station. That is, the can lid that was at the loading station 80 was sent to the adjacent alignment station 40, the can lid that was at the alignment station 40 was sent to the adjacent opening station 33, and was at the opening station 33. The can lid is sent to the vicinity of the discharge part (not shown).

Next, as shown in FIG. 6D, the motor bracket 100 is raised by the die pad cylinder C4, and the can lids are placed on the stations 40 and 33. At this time, the can lid supported on the peripheral portion of the notch 90 of the end feed plate 63 is discharged to a discharge portion (not shown) by an air blower as in the conventional case.

After this, as shown in FIG. 6E, the end feed plate 63 is retracted in the opposite arrow X direction by the succeeding cylinder 74, and the end feed plate 63 is moved.
Moves away from each station 80, 33, 40. Finally, the feed cylinder 75 causes the end feed plate 63 to retreat in the direction opposite to the arrow Y to return to the initial state (state of FIG. 1). During this time, the splitter knife 64 of the charging section 61 operates to load one can lid into the charging station 80. The above operation is repeated until there is no can lid in the stocker 79.

As described above, the end feed plate is provided with the positioning pin to position the can lid at the same time as the movement of the end feed plate, and the end feed plate has a notch capable of holding a plurality of can lids. As a result, the positioning time is shortened, and the can lids are simultaneously conveyed from each station to the adjacent station, and as a result, the can lid opening inspection can be performed at high speed. That is, according to the can lid opening inspection device of the present embodiment, 10 to 13 can lid opening inspections can be performed in one minute.

[0050]

Since the can lid opening inspection device of the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects. The can lid opening inspection can be automatically performed, and the burden on the operator associated with the inspection can be reduced. Further, according to the can lid opening inspection device of the present invention, the device can be miniaturized because of its relatively simple configuration, and can be easily incorporated into a production line. Also, by positioning the end feed plate and positioning the can lid on the loading station as the end feed plate moves, the positioning time is shortened and the end feed plate holds multiple can lids. By having the possible cutouts, the can lids can be simultaneously transported from each station to the adjacent station, and as a result, the can lid opening inspection can be performed at high speed. Further, in the feeding station, the can lid is positioned by the positioning member by the movement of the end feed plate, so that the conventional positioning mechanism (jig cylinder or end stopper) separate from the end feed plate is not required, and the device is eliminated. The cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a charging unit and a feeding unit of a can lid opening inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the charging unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view (top view) of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view (top view) of the main body shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 4 viewed from the opposite arrow X direction.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing movement positions of an end feed plate and a motor bracket in each step.

7 (a) and 7 (b) are a side view and a plan view, respectively, when the can lid is loaded into a loading station.

8A and 8B are a side view and a plan view, respectively, when a can lid is positioned at a charging station.

9A and 9B are a side view and a plan view showing a state in which a can lid is placed on an end feed plate, respectively.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the front side of a conventional can lid opening inspection device.

11 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the can lid opening inspection device in the vicinity of the sectional line AA shown in FIG.

12 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the can lid opening inspection device in the vicinity of the sectional line BB shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining the configuration on the plane side of the can lid opening inspection device in the vicinity of the sectional line CC shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a control system of the can lid opening inspection device.

FIG. 15 (A) illustrates the operation of the end stopper when the can lid placed on the end feed plate is moved through the carry-in path and aligned with the end stopper by moving the end stopper. External perspective view for
15B is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of the end stopper when the alignment in FIG. 15A is completed, and FIG. 15C is mounted on the end feed plate after the operation shown in FIG. 15B is completed. It is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of moving the placed can lid upward.

16 (A) is an external perspective view for explaining the operation when detecting the tab position of the can lid placed on the end feed plate, and FIG. 16 (B) shows the tab position detection in FIG. 16 (A). FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the principle, and FIG.
It is an external perspective view for explaining the operation when the can lid is placed on the end feed plate after the tab position detection in (B) is completed.

FIG. 17 (A) is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of transporting the can lid placed on the end feed plate,
(B) is an external perspective view for explaining the pulling operation of the tab by the lever 24.

18A to 18C are views for explaining a series of operations in the process of pulling the tab by the lever.

FIG. 19A is a diagram for explaining a series of operations in the process of pulling the tab by the lever, and FIG. 19B is a diagram for explaining a position of the tab on the front side at the time of opening;
(C) is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of the lever after completion of the opening inspection.

20A is an external view of an end blower for explaining the operation of the end feed plate after the end of the operation shown in FIG. 19C, and FIG. 20B is a can placed on the end feed plate. It is an appearance perspective view at the time of blowing off a lid with an air blower.

FIG. 21 is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of the end feed plate after the operation shown in FIG. 20 (B) is completed.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining an irradiation path of a light beam from a light emitting unit of a positioning sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 Twist rod plate 9 Slide bracket 10 Motor bracket 11 End feed bracket 12 End feed plate 13 End guide 14 End stopper 16 Top plate 17 Slide top plate 18 Lever base 19 Lever arm 20 Rod end 21 Lever shaft 23 Lever arm rod 24 Lever 27 Sensor plate 28 Sensor slide plate 29 Top plate bracket 30 Slide plate bracket 32 Upper pad 33 Lower pad 40 Rotating plate 41 Motor 42 Carry-in path 43 End feed plate moving mechanism 51 Side plate 52 Joint 53 Can lid 54 Tab 55 Path 56 Pipe path C1a, C1b Twin rod cylinder C2 jig cylinder C3 jig cylinder C4 Cylinder C5 Direct mount cylinder C7 LM guide C8 LM guide C9 Table unit C10 Roller follower C11 Roller follower C12 Positioning sensor C14 Gear head C31 LM guide C32 Control unit C33 Can lid carry-in detection sensor C34 Can lid front and back detection sensor C35 Alarm unit 60 Device base 60a Device frame 61 Input portion (input means) 62 Main body portion 63 End feed plate 64 Slitter knife 65 Main body portion 66, 67 Stopper 68 Main plate 69 Hole 70 End guide 71 Shoot die 72 Top plate 73 Shoot guide 74 Succeed cylinder 74a Rod 75 Feed cylinder 76 tie plate 77,78 die plate 79 stocker 80 loading station 81 chute bracket 82,83 knock cylinder 84 knock plate 85 can lid carry-in detection sensor 86 can lid front and back detection sensor 88,89,90 notch 91 positioning pin 92 feed plate die 93 rod 94 block plate 95 slide base plate 96 table unit 97 slide plate 98 cylinder Plate 99 Projection 100 Motor bracket 101, 102 Guide member 103 Block

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A can lid opening inspection is performed by moving a tab formed on a can lid in a predetermined direction to push out a preformed groove and bending an opening piece in a predetermined direction to form an opening portion. A can lid opening inspection device, based on at least a loading means for loading the can lids one by one, a loading station supporting the can lids loaded by the loading means, and a detection result of the tab position detecting means. An alignment station for rotating and aligning the can lid so that its tab is directed in a predetermined direction, and a main body portion in which an opening station for supporting the can lid in which an opening portion is formed is sequentially arranged, Further comprising a plurality of notches capable of simultaneously locking the outer peripheral portions of the plurality of can lids and a positioning member for contacting and positioning the can lids at the loading station. And an end feed plate for simultaneously transferring the can lids respectively supported by the alignment station and the opening station to the vicinity of the alignment station, the opening station and the discharge part, and the can lid at the opening station. A fixing means for fixing the vicinity of the outer periphery of the container, a tab moving means for moving the tab in a predetermined direction while the can lid is fixed by the fixing means, and a movement of an opening piece bent according to the movement of the tab is detected. A can lid opening inspection device, comprising: