JPH0986641A - Glass bottle aligning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately discriminate color of a glass bottle regardless of its shape, by detecting a position of the conveyed glass bottle relating to a clearance, and straightening the glass bottle by adjusting its position relating to the clearance based on a result of this detection. SOLUTION: A glass bottle G passes through the upward of a photoelectric sensor 31 when the bottle is delivered to a belt conveyer 20 from a guide means A. Of a plurality of the photoelectric sensors 31, the sensor detecting the glass bottle G transmits its detection result to an arithmetic means 32, and it calculates a position relating to a clearance S of the glass bottle G based on the detection result. In each straightening means 50, based on a calculation result, the clearance between the fellow guide rollers 51 is set so as to gradually narrow. The glass bottle G is gradually guided to the center of the belt conveyer 20 by each auxiliary straightening means 40, to be placed in a condition that the glass bottle is positioned just above the clearance S by each straightening means 50. The glass bottle G positioned just above the clearance S is illuminated by a light source L through the clearance S, and permeation light is photographed by a camera.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a glass bottle aligning device used for a glass bottle color selecting device for separating used glass bottles by color so as to reuse the used glass bottles as resources.

[0002]

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

As one of the glass bottle selecting devices of this type, there is one shown in FIG. This sorting device 1
Belt conveyor 2 having a gap S in the central portion in the width direction
And a light source L arranged below the belt conveyor 2,
The belt conveyor 2 includes a camera C arranged above the belt conveyor L, and the belt conveyor 2 is inclined in a V shape so that the edges facing each other along the gap S face downward and the outer edges face upward. The camera C is installed so as to face the gap S.

The glass bottle G is placed on the portion of the gap S and conveyed, and is illuminated by the light source L during the conveyance and the camera C
Will be taken. If the cross-sectional shape of the glass bottle G is circular,
Since the central portion in the width direction of the glass bottle is located directly above the gap S as shown in FIG. 6 (〓), the camera C photographs the central portion in the width direction of the glass bottle in which the color of the glass bottle G is the most recognizable. .

[0005]

However, the cross-sectional shape of the glass bottle G is not limited to the circular shape, and there are rectangular and triangular shapes. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (〓), in the case of a glass bottle G having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, the central portion in the width direction is displaced from the position directly above the gap S, so that the side portion of the glass bottle G is There was a risk that the image was captured and the colors could not be accurately identified.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in order to accurately identify the color of a glass bottle,
An object is to provide a glass bottle aligning device that aligns glass bottles regardless of their shapes.

[0007]

A glass bottle aligning device according to claim 1, wherein a glass bottle is placed on a flat upper surface, and the glass bottle is conveyed in an axial direction of the glass bottle in a conveying direction of the glass bottle. Based on the detection result of the conveying means, which is formed with a gap that extends in the direction orthogonal to the upper surface and which detects the position of the glass bottle conveyed by the conveying means with respect to the gap; And an alignment means for aligning the glass bottles by adjusting the position of the glass bottles with respect to the gap.

In the glass bottle aligning device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the conveying means conveys the glass bottle, which is laid sideways, on the upper surface of the conveying body along the axial direction of the glass bottle. The glass bottle passes through the detecting means and then the aligning means in the course of being conveyed. The detection means detects the position of the conveyed glass bottle with respect to the gap, and transmits the detection result to the alignment means. The alignment means operates based on the position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap detected by the detection means, and adjusts the position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap to align the glass bottles.

The glass bottle aligning device according to a second aspect of the present invention is, as the detecting means, a plurality of photoelectric devices arranged in a row in parallel with the upper surface of the carrier and in the width direction orthogonal to the axis of the glass bottle and detecting the glass bottles to be transported. It is characterized by comprising a sensor and a calculation means for calculating the position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap based on the detection result of the photoelectric sensor.

In the glass bottle aligning device according to the second aspect, among the plurality of photoelectric sensors, the one that detects the glass bottle to be conveyed transmits the detection result to the arithmetic means. The calculation means calculates the position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap based on the detection result of the photoelectric sensor.

In the glass bottle aligning device according to a third aspect of the present invention, as the aligning means, guide rollers are arranged on both sides of the conveying means so as to face each other to form a pair, and the guide rollers are supported so as to be able to approach and separate from each other, and the guide rollers. And a drive means for moving the two away from each other.

In the glass bottle aligning device according to a third aspect of the present invention, the driving means operates based on the position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap transmitted from the detecting means to move the pair of guide rollers close to or apart from each other. The interval is changed, and the glass bottle in the middle of conveyance is sandwiched between them and aligned.

In the glass bottle aligning device according to the fourth aspect, as a driving means, a guide shaft arranged orthogonally to the glass bottle carrying direction, and slidable by being fitted into the guide shaft from both sides of the carrying means. A pair of supporting portions which are supported by the supporting rollers and which respectively support the guide rollers, servomotors which are connected to these supporting portions to move the guide rollers toward and away from each other, and operation control means which controls the operation of the servomotors. It is characterized by being provided.

In the glass bottle aligning device according to the fourth aspect, the operation control means operates the servomotor based on the position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap transmitted from the detection means to move the guide roller toward or away from the guide roller. Change the distance between each other.

The glass bottle aligning device according to a fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that a plurality of aligning means are arranged in parallel in the glass bottle conveying direction.

In the glass bottle aligning device according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the guide rollers provided in each aligning means simultaneously sandwich the glass bottles being conveyed at positions separated in the conveying direction, and adjust the position with respect to the gap between the glass bottles to arrange the glass bottles. Let

In the glass bottle aligning device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the glass bottle aligning device is disposed on the upstream side of the transporting means with respect to the aligning means so as to face each other on both sides of the transporting means so as to form a pair and are supported so as to be close to and away from each other. It is characterized in that it is provided with an auxiliary aligning means comprising an auxiliary guide roller and an elastic body for urging the auxiliary guide roller in the approaching direction.

In the glass bottle aligning device according to the sixth aspect, the auxiliary aligning means guides the glass bottle between the aligning means before reaching the aligning means. The roller is urged by the elastic body to push back the glass bottle and guide it between the guide rollers.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a glass bottle aligning device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
The glass bottle aligning apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 includes guide means A for roughly aligning and guiding the glass bottles G and color-based discharging means H for sorting and discharging the glass bottles G whose colors are identified. A belt conveyor (conveying means) 20 that is continuously arranged between the conveying means and conveys the glass bottle G, and a detecting means 30 arranged between the guide means A and the belt conveyor 20,
Auxiliary aligning means 4 arranged upstream of the belt conveyor 20.
0 and an alignment means 50 arranged on the downstream side of the auxiliary alignment means 40.

The belt conveyor 20 extends in the transport direction of the glass bottle G at the center of a transport belt (transporter) 21 having a flat transport surface (upper surface) 20a and penetrates in the direction orthogonal to the transport surface 20a. A gap S is formed, and the width of the gap S is set so as not to drop even a small-diameter glass bottle G.

A light source L for irradiating light through a gap S is arranged below the belt conveyor 20, and a glass bottle G positioned immediately above the gap S and conveyed above the belt conveyor 20 facing the light source L. A camera C for taking a picture is installed.

The detecting means 30 includes a plurality of photoelectric sensors 31 (7 in the present embodiment) arranged in a line in the width direction parallel to the transport surface 20a and orthogonal to the axis of the glass bottle, and these photoelectric sensors 31. The calculation means 32 is connected to the sensor 31.

The auxiliary aligning means 40 is the belt conveyor 20.
Guide rollers 4 arranged facing each other on both sides to form a pair and supported so as to be able to approach and separate from each other.
1, 41 and elastic springs (elastic bodies) 42 for urging the auxiliary guide rollers 41 in the approaching direction, respectively, and three auxiliary aligning means 40 are arranged in parallel along the conveying direction of the belt conveyor 20. ing.

The auxiliary alignment means 40 of the three sets arranged side by side has an interval between the auxiliary guide rollers 41 forming a set from the auxiliary alignment means 40-1 located on the upstream side of the belt conveyor 20 in the center. The means 40-2 and the auxiliary aligning means 40-3 located on the downstream side are arranged so as to gradually become smaller.

The aligning means 50 aligns the glass bottles G being conveyed from both sides of the belt conveyor 20. The aligning means 50 are arranged facing each other on both sides of the belt conveyor 20 to form a pair and to approach each other. , The guide rollers 51 and 51 that are supported so as to be separated from each other, and the driving unit 5 that moves the guide rollers 51 and 51 closer to and away from each other
2, and three sets of the aligning means 50 are arranged in parallel along the conveying direction of the belt conveyor 20.

The three sets of aligning means 50 arranged in parallel are arranged so that when the guide rollers 51 forming a set come close to each other, the distance between the guide rollers 51 is located on the upstream side of the belt conveyor 20. Aligning means 50-2 located at the center from 1 and aligning means 50-3 located on the downstream side
It is set so that it gradually becomes progressively closer to.

As shown in FIG. 3, the driving means 52 is a linear guide (guide shaft) 53 which is arranged orthogonally to the conveying direction of the glass bottle G, and the linear guide 53 is fitted and inserted from both sides of the belt conveyor 20. A pair of support portions 54 that are slidably supported and pivotally support the guide roller 51, and a servo motor 56 that is connected to these support portions 54 by a rod 55 to move the guide rollers 51 toward and away from each other. And an operation control means 60 for controlling the operation of the servo motor 56. This operation control means 60
Is connected to the computing means 32 which constitutes the detecting means 30. A limit switch 57 for preventing excessive sliding of the support portion 54 is arranged on both sides of the sliding range of the one support portion 54 of the pair of support portions 54, and further, a shaft support portion of the guide roller 51. A pressure sensor 58 is arranged in the.

In the glass bottle aligning apparatus 10 constructed as described above, when the glass bottle G is transferred from the guiding means A to the belt conveyor 20, the position of the glass bottle G with respect to the gap S of the glass bottle is detected by the detecting means 30. In the process of being conveyed by 20, the colors are identified by being aligned by the auxiliary aligning means 40 and the aligning means 50, and then transferred to the color-by-color discharge means H and sorted by color.

The glass bottles G are roughly aligned by the guide means A so that the axial direction of the bottle mouth is directed to the traveling direction of the belt conveyor 20, and when the glass bottles G are transferred from the guide means A to the belt conveyor 20, Pass above. Among the plurality of photoelectric sensors 31, the one that has detected the glass bottle G passing above transmits the detection result to the arithmetic means 32. The calculation means 32 calculates the position of the glass bottle G with respect to the gap S based on the detection result of each photoelectric sensor 31. Glass bottle G that passed above the photoelectric sensor 31
Are transferred to the belt conveyor 20 and are continuously conveyed.

Each aligning means 50 has a calculated glass bottle G.
The guide rollers 51 are made to approach each other based on the position with respect to the gap S, and the distance between the guide rollers 51 is set to gradually decrease from the aligning means 50-1 to 50-2, 50-3. As a result, the distance between the auxiliary guide rollers 41 provided in each auxiliary aligning means 40 and the distance between the guide rollers 51 provided in the aligning means 50 gradually become smaller from the upstream side of the belt conveyor 20 toward the downstream side.

In the glass bottle G, the auxiliary guide rollers 41 urged by the elastic springs 42 in the auxiliary aligning means 40 are used.
Is gradually guided to the center of the belt conveyor 20 and is guided by the guide rollers 51, 51 in each aligning means 50.
It is sandwiched between them and is positioned directly above the gap S.

The glass bottle G located immediately above the gap S is in a state in which the central portion in the width direction with respect to the axis thereof is along the gap S, is illuminated by the light source L through the gap S, and the transmitted light is photographed by the camera C. . The image of the glass bottle G is image-processed to identify the color of the glass bottle G. Aligning means 5
The glass bottle G which has passed 0 is delivered to the color-specific discharging means H.

The discharge means H for each color is the identified glass bottle G.
Is controlled based on the color information of the glass bottle G and the glass bottles G are sorted by color.

By the way, the pressure sensor 58 detects the pressing force when the glass bottle G is sandwiched between the guide rollers 51, and when the guide roller 51 provided in each aligning means 50 is too close to the glass bottle G. When excessive pressing force is detected, the guide rollers 51 are immediately separated from each other to prevent the glass bottle G from being damaged.

According to the glass bottle aligning device 10 configured as described above, not only the glass bottle G having a circular cross section shown in FIG. 4 (〓), but also an angular rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 4 (〓) Even in the glass bottle G or the like that it has, the central portion in the width direction thereof can be positioned directly above the gap S and can be passed directly under the camera C. As a result, the light emitted from the light source L passes through the gap S and illuminates the central portion in the width direction of the glass bottle G, so that the central portion in the width direction in which the color of the glass bottle G is most identifiable can be clearly captured. it can.

Before the glass bottle G reaches the alignment means 50, the plurality of photoelectric sensors 31 detect the glass bottle G in the middle of transportation and the position of the glass bottle G with respect to the gap is calculated based on the detection result. The detection result can be transmitted to the operation control means 60.

Since the pair of guide rollers 51 are made to approach and separate by the driving means 52 and the glass bottle G being conveyed is sandwiched from both sides of the belt conveyor 20 and aligned, therefore, regardless of the shape of the glass bottle G, The central portion in the width direction can be located directly above the gap S.
Moreover, since the plurality of guide rollers 51 arranged along the conveyance direction of the glass bottle G simultaneously sandwich the glass bottle G in the middle of conveyance at a position apart from each other, the direction of the glass bottle G passing under the camera C is not changed and is surely changed. Is held and transported.

By operating the servomotor 56 to move the pair of support portions 54, which respectively support the guide rollers 51, closer to and further from each other along the linear guide 53, the guide rollers 51 can be moved closer to each other and separated from each other. In addition, the operation control means 60 can control the servo motor 56 to freely change the interval between the guide rollers 51 according to the size and shape of the glass bottle G.

Before the glass bottle G reaches the aligning means 50, the auxiliary aligning means 40 gradually guides the glass bottle G toward the center of the belt conveyor 20, so that the glass bottle G is surely guided to the aligning means 50. be able to.

The glass bottle aligning apparatus 10 in the present embodiment is provided with seven photoelectric sensors 31 and three auxiliary aligning means 40 and three aligning means 50, which are installed. It may be changed according to various conditions such as a place and a target glass bottle.

[0041]

According to the glass bottle aligning device of the first aspect, the position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap is detected by the detecting means, and the aligning means is operated based on the detection result to move the glass bottle from the both sides. The glass bottles can be aligned by sandwiching them, and the central portion in the width direction of the glass bottle can be positioned directly above the gap of the conveying means and passed therethrough. With this, regardless of the cross-sectional shape of the glass bottle, it is possible to shoot the central portion in the width direction where the color of the glass bottle is the most distinguishable.
As a result, the color of the glass bottle can be accurately identified.

According to the glass bottle aligning device of the second aspect, it is possible to detect the glass bottle in the middle of conveyance by the plurality of photoelectric sensors and calculate the position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap based on the detection result. Further, the position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap can be transmitted to the operation control means before the glass bottle reaches the alignment means.

According to the glass bottle aligning device of the third aspect, the pair of guide rollers are made to approach and separate from each other by the driving means, and the glass bottle in the middle of transportation is sandwiched and aligned from both sides of the transportation means. Regardless of the cross-sectional shape of the glass bottle, the central portion in the width direction can be positioned directly above the gap of the transport means.

According to the glass bottle aligning device of the fourth aspect, the pair of supporting portions for respectively supporting the guide rollers are actuated by the servomotor so as to approach and separate along the linear guide, whereby the guide rollers are brought into contact with each other. Can be moved closer to or further from each other. Moreover, the operation control means can control the servomotor to freely change the interval between the guide rollers according to the size and shape of the glass bottle.

According to the glass bottle aligning device of the fifth aspect, a plurality of aligning means are arranged in parallel along the transport direction of the glass bottles, and the guide rollers provided in each aligning means simultaneously sandwich the glass bottles in the middle of transport at a position apart from each other. Therefore, the orientation of the glass bottle can be adjusted, and the glass bottle can be reliably held and transported.

According to the glass bottle aligning device of the sixth aspect, since the auxiliary aligning means gradually guides the glass bottle toward the center of the conveying means before reaching the aligning means, the glass bottle is surely aligned with the aligning means. I can guide you.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of a glass bottle aligning device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an aligning means of the glass bottle aligning device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an operating state of the glass bottle aligning device of the glass bottle aligning device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional glass bottle sorting apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an operating state of a conventional glass bottle sorting apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 glass bottle aligning device 20 belt conveyor (conveying means) 21 conveying belt (conveying body) 30 detecting means 31 photoelectric sensor 32 computing means 40 auxiliary aligning means 41 auxiliary guide roller 42 elastic spring (elastic body) 50 aligning means 51 guide roller 52 drive Means 53 Linear guide (guide shaft) 54 Support 55 Rod 56 Servo motor 57 Limit switch 58 Pressure sensor 60 Operation control means A Guide means C Camera G Glass bottle H Color discharge means L Light source S Gap

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Masakatsu Shimamura, Masakatsu Shimamura, 3-1-1-15 Hoyoshu, Koto-ku, Tokyo Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Toji Technical Center (72) Mitsuhiro Yamashina, Hoshu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 3-chome 1-15 Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Toji Technical Center

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A gap that extends in the transport direction of the glass bottle and penetrates in a direction orthogonal to the upper surface of a carrier that mounts the glass bottle on a flat upper surface and transports the glass bottle in its axial direction. And a detecting means for detecting the position of the glass bottle conveyed by the conveying means with respect to the gap, and an alignment for adjusting the position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap based on the detection result of the detecting means. And a glass bottle aligning device. 2. The detection means is arranged in a row in a width direction parallel to the upper surface and orthogonal to the axis of the glass bottle, and a plurality of photoelectric sensors for detecting the glass bottle being conveyed, and a detection result of the photoelectric sensor. The glass bottle aligning device according to claim 1, further comprising a computing unit that calculates a position of the glass bottle with respect to the gap based on the gap. 3. The aligning means includes guide rollers which are arranged facing each other on both sides of the conveying means and which form a pair of sets and which are supported so as to be able to move toward and away from each other, and a driving means for moving the guide rollers toward and away from each other. The glass bottle aligning device according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. The drive means includes a guide shaft arranged orthogonal to a glass bottle carrying direction, and slidably supported by the guide shaft fitted from both sides of the carrying means and the guide roller. A pair of supporting portions that respectively support the guide rollers and guide rollers that are connected to these supporting portions and that are close to each other,
The glass bottle aligning device according to claim 3, further comprising: a servomotor that separates the servomotor and an operation control unit that controls an operation of the servomotor. 5. The plurality of the aligning means are arranged in parallel along the transport direction of the glass bottle.
The glass bottle aligning device according to any one of 2, 3, and 4. 6. An auxiliary guide roller, which is arranged on both sides of the conveying means, facing the both sides of the conveying means rather than the aligning means so as to form a pair and is supported so as to be able to approach and separate from each other. The glass bottle aligning device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, further comprising: auxiliary aligning means including elastic members that bias the guide rollers toward the approaching direction.