JPH0957674A - Sucking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suck and hold an article by arranging a freely extensible- contractible hollow adsorbing part which has an opening on one end and whose other end side is blocked up, an extending-contracting means to extend and contract the other end side part of the sucking part and a reciprocating means to approach/separate the sucking part to/from the article. SOLUTION: While a sucking part 10 is still keeping a contracted condition, an opening 10a comes into contact with an upper surface of a commodity, and is brought into close contact with it. A piston rod 12a is contractedly retreated by driving an air cylinder 12 from this condition, and a raising- lowering plate 14 and a block 16 are raised. Then, a part on the upper side from a locking part 31 of the sucking part 10 is extended. At this time, since the opening 10a of the adsorbing part 10 is blocked up by the commodity, the volume of the adsorbing part 10 increases, and the inside of the adsorbing part 10 is put under negative pressure to the outside, and as a result, the commodity is adsorbed to and held by the opening 10a of the sucking part 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a suction device for sucking and holding an article.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a product packaging line, a suction device composed of an air cylinder, a crank mechanism or the like is used as a filling device for filling a container such as a cardboard box with a product.

A conventional suction device has a suction portion for suction-holding a product at the tip of a rod reciprocally provided by an air cylinder, a crank mechanism or the like, and the suction portion is a vacuum pump. It is connected.

When a container is filled with a product by using such a suction device, the vacuum pump is driven and the rod is lowered, and the suction portion at the tip of the rod is brought into contact with the product to suck the product on the suction portion. Hold it. After that, the rod is raised to move the entire adsorption device above the container. Next, when the rod is lowered and the vacuum pump is stopped, the product is stored in the container.

In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, a vacuum pump is required to suck the product in vacuum, and piping is required between the apparatus and the vacuum pump, which raises a problem that the cost of the apparatus as a whole increases.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an adsorption device which can reduce the cost of the entire device.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an adsorption device for adsorbing and holding an article, wherein a retractable hollow adsorption portion having an opening at one end and closed at the other end side, and the adsorption portion. It is characterized in that it comprises an expansion / contraction means for expanding / contracting the other end side portion, and a reciprocating means for moving the suction part toward or away from the article.

In the present invention, when holding an article by suction, first, with the suction section arranged above the article, the other end side portion of the suction section is contracted by the expansion / contraction means. Next, the reciprocating means brings the suction part close to the article, and the opening of the suction part is brought into close contact with the article.

From this state, the other end side portion of the suction portion is extended by the expansion / contraction means. Then, the volume of the inside of the suction portion increases, so that the inside of the suction portion has a negative pressure with respect to the outside, and as a result, the article is suction-held in the opening portion of the suction portion.

Next, when the article is separated from the suction portion, the other end side portion of the suction portion is contracted by the expansion / contraction means. Then
The pressure inside the adsorption part becomes higher than the outside, and as a result,
The article will move away from the suction section.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the article can be adsorbed and held without the need for a vacuum pump, the cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 8 are views for explaining an adsorption device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is a schematic plan view of a product packaging line that uses an adsorption device,
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the adsorption device, and FIGS. 3 to 8 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the adsorption device.

In FIG. 1, a product packaging line 1 is provided with a container conveyor 2 for supplying an empty container (container) C such as a corrugated cardboard box and a container conveyor 2 arranged in parallel with the container conveyor 2 for supplying a product W to be filled in the container C. Mainly from the product conveyor 3, an alignment conveyor 4 that aligns the products W on the product conveyor 3, and a filling robot (robot caser) 5 that fills the containers C on the container conveyor 3 with the products W on the alignment conveyor 4. It is configured. Robot Caser 5 has a product W
An adsorption device 6 for adsorbing and holding the is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the suction device 6 has a plurality of suction portions 10. The suction unit 10 is a hollow member that is expandable and contractible, and has an opening 10a at the lower end. On the other hand, an elevating plate 14 that can be moved up and down by an air cylinder 12 is disposed above the suction unit 10.
A block 16 is attached to the lower part of 4. The upper end of the suction unit 10 is fixed to the lower portion of the block 16.

The air cylinder 12 is fixed to the base 18. One end of a guide rod 20 is fixed to the upper surface of the base 18, and the guide rod 20 is fixed to the frame 2
It is slidably supported by a bush 23 attached to the No. 2. Thereby, the base 18 is supported so as to be able to move up and down.

A motor 24 is provided above the air cylinder 12.
Are arranged. A crank arm 26 is attached to the rotary shaft end 24a of the motor 24, and one end of a connecting rod 28 is rotatably attached to the tip of the crank arm 26. The other end of the connecting rod 28 is rotatably attached to the base 18. A crank mechanism 29 is constituted by the crank arm 26 and the connecting rod 28.

Further, with such a configuration, the motor 24
Is driven to rotate the crank arm 26, the base 18 and the air cylinder 12 are moved up and down via the connecting rod 28.

A locking rod 30 is provided by vertically inserting the lifting plate 14 and the block 16. The upper end of the locking rod 30 is fixed to the lower surface of the base 18. The lower end of the locking rod 30 is arranged in the suction portion 10,
At the lower end, a disc-shaped engaging portion 31 that engages with the inner peripheral surface of the suction portion 10 is attached. The locking portion 31 has a plurality of holes. These holes are for connecting the upper part and the lower part from the locking part 31 of the suction part 10 to each other. For example, when the upper part contracts from the locking part 31, the upper part The compressed air of the part is adapted to move through these holes to the lower part.

The holes 16a formed in the block 16
An O-ring 32, which abuts on the outer periphery of the locking rod 30, is attached to the shaft, and the O-ring 32 closes the hole 16a.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When sucking and holding the product W on the alignment conveyor 4,
First, the suction unit 10 is arranged above the product W (see FIG. 3), and from this state, the air cylinder 12 is driven to cause the piston rod 12a to project. Then, the block 16 descends together with the elevating plate 14 to which the tip of the piston rod 12a is attached.

At this time, the base 18 remains stationary, and the engaging portion 31 at the lower end of the engaging rod 30 has the attracting portion 1.
Since it is locked to the inner peripheral surface of 0, the upper part of the suction part 10 from the locking part 31 is contracted by the lowering of the block 16 (see FIG. 4). Next, the motor 24 is driven to rotate the crank arm 26, and the base 18 is lowered to the lowest position (bottom dead center) via the connecting rod 28. At this time, the elevating plate 14 is also lowered together with the base 18, whereby the opening 10a is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the product W while the suction portion 10 maintains the contracted state (FIG. 4) (see FIG. 5). .

From this state, the air cylinder 12 is driven to retract the piston rod 12a and raise the elevating plate 14 and the block 16. Then, the upper part is extended from the locking part 31 of the suction part 10. At this time, since the opening 10a of the suction unit 10 is closed by the product W, the volume of the suction unit 10 increases and the suction unit 1
The inside of 0 becomes negative pressure against the outside, and as a result, the product W
Will be adsorbed and held in the opening 10a of the adsorbing portion 10 (see FIG. 6).

Next, the motor 24 is driven to drive the base 18
And the lifting plate 14 is raised to the uppermost position (top dead center), and the adsorption device 6 is moved to the container C on the container conveyor 2.
Above (see FIG. 7). From this state, the air cylinder 12 is driven to project the piston rod 12a, and the block 16 is lowered. Then, the upper part of the suction part 10 from the locking part 31 is contracted, whereby the pressure inside the suction part 10 becomes higher than the outside, and as a result, the product W separates from the suction part 10 and the container C It is stored inside (see FIG. 8).

As described above, according to this embodiment, the product W can be adsorbed and held without the need for a vacuum pump, so that the cost of the adsorbing device as a whole can be reduced.

FIG. 9 shows an adsorption device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those used in the above embodiment denote the same or corresponding parts. In this suction device 6 ', the upper end of the suction portion 10 is closed by a surface 10b, and the lower end of a shaft 16' extending in the vertical direction is fixed on the surface 10b. The upper end of the shaft 16 'is
It is fixed to the lower surface of the lift plate 14.

A locking rod 30 'is provided by vertically inserting the lifting plate 14, and the upper end of the locking rod 30' is fixed to the lower surface of the base 18. The lower end of the locking rod 30 'is arranged laterally to the outer circumference of the suction part 10, and the lower end of the locking rod 30' is a disc-shaped locking part 31 'having a hole for locking the outer peripheral surface of the suction part 10. Is attached.

Next, the operation of the suction device 6'will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 15 corresponding to FIGS. 3 to 8 of the above embodiment. First, with the suction portion 10 arranged above the product W (see FIG. 10), the piston rod 12 a is projected by driving the air cylinder 12.
The lift plate 14 and the shaft 16 'are lowered.

At this time, the base 18 remains stationary, and the locking portion 31 'of the locking rod 30' is held by the suction portion 1.
Since it is locked on the outer circumference of 0, the lowering of the shaft 16 '
The upper part of the suction part 10 from the locking part 31 'is contracted (see FIG. 11). Next, when the base 18 is lowered to the lowest position (bottom dead center) by driving the motor 24, the base 1
8, the elevating plate 14 descends, and the suction portion 10 maintains the contracted state (FIG. 11), and the opening 10a abuts and closely contacts the upper surface of the product W (see FIG. 12).

From this state, the piston rod 12a is retracted by driving the air cylinder 12 to raise the elevating plate 14 and the shaft 16 '. Then, the upper portion is extended from the engaging portion 31 of the suction portion 10, and as a result, the suction portion 10
The negative pressure is applied to the inside of
It is adsorbed and held in the opening 0a of 0 (see FIG. 13).

Next, the base 18 is driven by driving the motor 24.
And the lifting plate 14 is raised to the uppermost position (top dead center), and the adsorption device 6 is moved above the container C (see FIG. 14). From this state, when the piston rod 12a is projected by driving the air cylinder 12, the suction portion 10
The upper part of the engaging part 31 'is contracted, so that the pressure inside the suction part 10 becomes higher than the outside,
The product W separates from the suction unit 10 and is stored in the container C (see FIG. 15).

Also in this case, as in the above embodiment,
The cost of the entire device can be reduced.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to a product packaging line has been shown, but the present invention can be applied not only to a product packaging line but also to an assembly line.

[0033]

As described above, according to the adsorption device of the present invention, since the article can be adsorbed and held without using a vacuum pump, the cost of the entire device can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a product packaging line in which an adsorption device according to an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the adsorption device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the suction device.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the suction device.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of the suction device.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the operation of the suction device.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the operation of the suction device.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the operation of the suction device.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of an adsorption device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the other embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the other embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the other embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the other embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the other embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the other embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Product Packaging Line 5 Robot Caser 6 Adsorption Device 10 Adsorption Part 10a Opening 12 Air Cylinder (Expansion / Expansion Means) 29 Crank Mechanism (Reciprocating Means) W Product

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 25, 1995

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

[Figure 3]

FIG. 4

[Figure 5]

FIG. 6

[Fig. 2]

FIG. 7

[Figure 8]

[Figure 9]

[Figure 10]

FIG. 11

FIG.

FIG. 13

FIG. 14

FIG.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An adsorbing device for adsorbing and holding an article, wherein a retractable hollow adsorbing part having an opening at one end and closed at the other end, and an expanding and contracting part for expanding and contracting the other end of the adsorbing part. And a reciprocating device for moving the suction unit toward or away from the article.