JPH10100276A - Conveying and containing apparatus for straw member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To contain a straw member in a case in the state that it holds its attitude even if the member is charged to static electricity. SOLUTION: The apparatus for conveying and containing a straw member contains the members 50 cut in a predetermined length in a cartridge 75 via a conveyor 58 and conveying drums 67, 69, 71. Since the members 50 are restrained in its attitude by a straw locking portion of a conveyor belt upon reception supplementation of the air sucked from suction holes of a vacuum table 60 at the conveyor 58, restrained by straw adsorbing portions 68, 70, 72 at the drums 67, 69, 71 and restrained by a weight of the members 50 already contained in a hopper 76, they are conveyed and contained in an aligned state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a straw carrying / storing device for carrying a straw member formed in a predetermined length while aligning the posture thereof, storing the straw member in a case or the like, or sending the straw member to another location.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw are described in which a long hollow molded member is molded by an extruder using a resin such as polyethylene as a raw material, and the hollow molded member is converted into a straw having a predetermined length. It is known to cut a straw member into a member and store the cut straw member in a storage portion (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-79222). In the conventional method and apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw, the hollow molded member has a double straw structure in which an inner pipe is slidably inserted into an outer pipe, and the length of the straw itself is increased for drinking and the like. May be manufactured for the stretch straw used. In this case, in order to form a locking portion on the outer tube for locking the enlarged end of the inner tube at the reduced diameter end of the outer tube at the time of extension,
The straw member of the outer tube was formed with irregularities and grooves.

[0003]

However, since drinking straws are made of resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, they are easily charged with static electricity during the manufacturing process. In addition, recently, the tip of the straw is cut obliquely in order to break the seal of the container with a straw, and a locking portion for locking the inner and outer pipes of the stretchable straw or locking the straw to the container. Various measures have been taken, and straws often have directionality in the longitudinal direction. After the straw member is manufactured and transported and stored in a predetermined posture,
In some cases, the straw members repel each other due to the static electricity and the posture of the straw members is disturbed. When the posture of the straw member is disturbed, the straw member is clogged in the carrying / storing device, or the straw member is housed in the case with the orientation of the straw member being different. Conventionally, in order to avoid such a situation, workers are arranged to monitor the transport and storage of the straw member, but in the worst case, the operation of the straw manufacturing device is stopped and the straw member is set in the correct posture. Had to be fixed. As described above, in the conventional straw member transport and storage device, there are problems such as deterioration of the operation efficiency of the entire straw manufacturing device and increase of the manufacturing cost.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a straw member made of a thermoplastic resin even if the straw member is charged with static electricity during the manufacturing process thereof without disturbing the posture of the straw member. Can be securely aligned and stored in a case or the like, or can be conveyed to another place in an orderly manner, and the straw conveyance and storage process in the straw manufacturing device can be unmanned, and the operation stop of the device can be avoided. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for carrying and storing a straw member.

According to the present invention, there is provided a vacuum table provided with a large number of suction holes on a surface thereof, a ventilation passage for running on the vacuum table and passing air sucked into the suction holes, and a straw having a predetermined length. And an endless carrier having a straw engaging portion engageable with the member, and the straw member is sequentially engaged with the straw engaging portion with the aid of air sucked into the suction hole through the air passage. The conveying means for aligning the position of the straw member is provided with a straw holding portion at an outer peripheral portion at a predetermined interval, and the straw members which are fed out in an aligned state from the conveying means are individually attracted to the straw holding portion. And a case for accommodating the straw member fed from the transport drum.

In this straw member carrying / storing device, the straw member having a predetermined length is provided on the surface of the vacuum table through the air passage of the endless carrier when it is carried on the vacuum table by the endless carrier. With the assistance of the air sucked into the many suction holes, it is drawn to the transport surface of the endless transport body. For this reason, the straw members are sequentially engaged with the straw engaging portions and conveyed in a restricted state. Therefore, the straw member is conveyed by the conveying means in a posture-aligned state without being disturbed by the static electricity carried by the straw member. The straws, which are fed out of the conveying means in a posture-aligned manner, are individually sucked and transferred by a straw holding unit provided at a predetermined interval on an outer peripheral portion of the conveying drum. Since the straw members are individually sucked and transferred, the posture at the time of transfer is not disturbed even if they are charged with static electricity. Further, the straw member transferred by the transport drum is sequentially fed from the lower entrance to a case provided above the transport drum and stored therein. For this reason, the straw members sequentially fed from the transport drum are pushed in against the weight of the straw members already stored in the case, and the straw members repel each other even if they are charged with static electricity, and take a posture. It is stored neatly in the case without changing.

[0007] The straw engaging portion provided on the endless transport body can be constituted by a projection. The straw member engaged by the projection is drawn to the transport surface of the endless transport body with the aid of air sucked into a number of suction holes provided on the surface of the vacuum table. If the height of the projections is determined so that the straw members charged with static electricity cannot disturb the posture due to the static electricity, they can be conveyed with the posture alignment maintained. .

[0008] The endless transport body is formed of a plurality of endless bands, and the ventilation path is formed between the adjacent endless bands. In this case, the straw member is extended across a plurality of endless belts, and the suction member is provided with suction air acting on a portion of the straw member located above a ventilation path formed between adjacent endless bands. With assistance,
It is drawn to the transport surface of the endless transport.

[0009] At the side of the conveying means, there is provided a posture aligning roller for aligning the longitudinal posture of the straw member conveyed by the conveying means at a predetermined position. The straw member displaced in the width direction of the conveying means is pushed back by the posture aligning roller, and is returned to the predetermined posture aligned state.

[0010] A standby station is provided between the transfer means and the transfer drum for temporarily waiting the straw member fed from the transfer means. The standby station absorbs the difference in the conveying speed of the straw member between the conveying means and the conveying drum, even if the difference occurs. In other words, if any shortage appears on the straw member being conveyed,
The straw members that have been replenished from the standby straw members and that have become excessively conveyed to the conveying drum are made to stand by.

The straw holding portion has a concave portion that opens outward in the radial direction of the transport drum, and a straw-shaped opening that is open at the bottom of the concave portion and accommodates the straw member accommodated in the concave portion. And a suction hole.

The case is provided above the transfer drum, and the straw member from the transfer drum is sequentially stored from a lower entrance of the case, and the case is transferred from the transfer drum. A straw type cartridge is detachably connected to a hopper for receiving the straw member and accommodates a straw member fed from the hopper. The case filled with the straw member is removed from the hopper, and is moved to the next process, for example, assembling or packaging of a stretchable straw, in its stored state. An eccentric roller is provided in the hopper to prevent the straw member from bridging inside the hopper. The straw member charged with static electricity tends to form a bridge in the hopper, which hinders the subsequent storage of the straw member. The eccentric roller breaks the bridge that is going to be formed, and makes it easier to store the straw member in the case.

[0013] In addition, the straw member transport and storage device is configured such that a hollow molded member is formed from straw raw material with the aid of compressed air, and the hollow molded member is sized to produce a straw cylindrical member. The present invention can be applied to a straw member manufacturing apparatus that cuts a member to a predetermined length to produce a straw member, aligns the position of the straw member by a conveying unit, and sequentially stores the straw member in a case from a lower entrance.

In the case where the straw member fed into the conveying means has not yet formed the locking portion, utilizing that the straw member is being conveyed by the conveying drum,
The locking portion for the straw member is formed by the locking portion forming device attached to the side of the transport drum, and then stored in the case.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a straw member conveying and accommodating apparatus, wherein a hollow molded member is formed from straw raw material with the aid of compressed air, and the hollow molded member is sized to produce a straw cylindrical member. A stopper is formed at a predetermined interval on the tube member, and the straw member is cut to a predetermined length to produce a straw member. The present invention can be applied to a straw member manufacturing apparatus that sequentially stores straw members.

[0016]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for carrying and storing a straw member according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of an apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw to which the apparatus for transporting and storing a straw member according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of a device for transporting and storing a straw member in an apparatus for producing a beverage straw,
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a transport conveyor portion of the straw member transport and storage device shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a transport drum portion of the straw member transport and storage device applied to the beverage straw manufacturing device shown in FIG. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a beverage straw manufacturing apparatus to which the straw member transport and storage device according to the present invention is applied, an additive is added to the raw material of the straw, heated and dissolved, and the kneaded material is added. A kneaded material manufacturing process unit 1; an extruding process unit 2 for blowing compressed air into the kneaded material to form a hollow molded member from the kneaded material; cooling and sizing the hollow molded member to a predetermined shape; A sizing and cooling process unit 3 for forming a straw tubular member by forming a straw member, a cutting process unit 4 for taking a straw tubular member and cutting it to a predetermined length to produce a straw member, It is composed of a posture aligning section 5 for aligning the posture, and a storing section 6 for storing the straw member in the case in the case.

As a raw material of the straw, a thermoplastic material is used, and a typical example thereof is polypropylene (hereinafter, referred to as PP). As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
Stored in The amount of PP pellets in the raw material stocker 7 is monitored by the level sensor 8 so as to be always constant. When the vacuum pump 10 sets the negative pressure in the raw material hopper 9 through the suction pipe 11, the PP pellets are Is supplied to the raw material hopper 9 of the extruder 14 so as to be sucked out through the raw material pipe 12. The suction strength of the vacuum pump 10 that determines the supply amount of PP pellets is
It is controlled by a control signal output from the control panel 13 based on the level signal detected by the level sensor 8a in the raw material hopper 9.

In the lower part of the raw material hopper 9, a screw conveyor 16 is installed in the cylinder 15, and the screw conveyor 16 uses a motor 18 installed in a lower part of the machine base 17 of the extruder 14 to transmit a transmission device and a reduction gear. Driven through. The PP pellets fall from the raw material hopper 9 onto the screw conveyor 16 and are fed to the screw conveyor 16.
Is fed forward. The rotation speed control of the electric motor 18 is performed by an inverter. Additives to the raw material of the straw, such as pellets for coloring,
Is dropped onto a small screw conveyor from an additive case 19 provided in the vicinity of and mixed with PP pellets. The feed rate of the additive is controlled so that the ratio of the additive to the PP pellet is constant. In the extruder 14 as a kneaded product manufacturing apparatus, the mixed pellets are heated and melted by the heater while being uniformly mixed while being supplied by the screw conveyor 16, and are extruded to the front gear pump 20. Gear pump 20
Is driven by a gear pump motor 21. The gear pump 20 controls the molding head 22 at a constant and constant pressure.
To form a kneaded material into a hollow molded member. The rotation of the gear pump motor 21 that drives the gear pump 20 is controlled so as to match the production speed of the kneaded material with the molding speed of the hollow molding member by the molding head 22.

In the extrusion processing section 2, the forming head 22 is not shown, but may be, for example, a net breaker,
A downstream die and a nipple disposed therein are provided. Compressed air adjusted to a pressure slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure by a pressure regulator 24 from a compressed air supply source 23 composed of a compressor, a pressure tank or the like is discharged from an air nozzle provided at the center of the nipple. The kneaded material supplied to the cylindrical passage between the die and the nipple is
It is extruded from the second annular opening and molded into a hollow molded member 25.

The hollow shaped member 25 formed by the forming head 22 is taken up by a take-up roller 26 in the sizing and cooling section 3 and guided by a guide roller 27 to travel. The sizing and cooling process section 3 includes a water tank 28 as a cooling tank in which a cooling liquid, preferably cooling water is pumped, and the hollow shaped member 25 is passed through the cooling water and cooled. Is done. The water tank 28 is entirely movable with respect to the machine base 30 by rollers 29, and the positional relationship with the extruder 14 is adjustable. Water supply valve 3
By appropriately opening 1, the new cooling water is always supplied to the water tank 28 from the water supply system 32 including the water suction pump, the tank, the water supply pipe, etc., and the water having a predetermined water level or higher is collected and treated. Thereafter, the water is circulated to the water supply system 32. When the water temperature sensor 33 attached to the water tank 28 detects that the water temperature is too low, the heater 34 provided in the water tank 28 is heated, and the cooling water is controlled to an appropriate water temperature.

Since the temperature of the hollow molding member 25, which has just been molded from the kneaded material, is still high and in a soft state, sizing, that is, a process of adjusting the outer dimensions to a predetermined one, is performed at an early stage where cooling does not proceed. Is done. The sizing device 35 has a passage having an inner diameter larger than the outer shape of the hollow molded member 25 inside. In the illustrated example, six pipes 38 are branched from a suction pipe 37 extending from a water-sealed vacuum pump 36 installed at the lower part of the machine base 30, and each branch pipe 38 is an internal passage of the sizing device 35. It is connected to the. Each branch pipe 38 has a negative pressure control valve 39.
(Only one portion is denoted by a reference numeral), and the negative pressure adjusting valve 39 adjusts the negative pressure acting on the internal passage. Since a negative pressure acts on the outer surface of the hollow molded member 25 that travels in the internal passage of the sizing device 35, the hollow molded member 2
In No. 5, the straw cylinder member 40 is manufactured by undergoing a sizing process in which the outer dimension is enlarged to the inner diameter dimension of the passage. A thin water film is formed between the internal passage of the sizing device 35 and the outer surface of the hollow molded member 25,
The running of the hollow shaped member 25 is made smooth. In addition,
The operation of the vacuum pump 36 and the temperature of the cooling water are automatically controlled by a control signal from a control panel 41 provided in the sizing and cooling process unit 3.

After the sizing process, the straw cylinder member 40 further travels in the water tank 28 and is cooled to a predetermined hardness. At the outlet of the water tank 28, a drainer 42 for removing water attached to the outer surface of the straw cylinder member 40 is provided. The draining device 42 is supplied from a compressed air supply source 43 such as a compressor or a pressure tank and has a valve 44.
The air adjusted to a predetermined pressure and flow rate by the
5 and sprayed on the outer surface of the straw cylinder member 40,
This blows off water attached to the outer surface of the straw cylinder member 40. Next, the straw cylinder member 40 from which the attached moisture has been removed is sent to the cutting section 4. In the cutting section 4, the straw cylinder member 40 is uniformly taken by three sets of take-up rollers 46 and guided by a guide means such as a traveling guide 47 attached to the machine base 52.
In order to improve the roundness of the straw cylinder member 40, a perfect circle adjusting section 48 is arranged along the traveling path of the straw cylinder member 40.

The straw cylinder member 40 corrected to a perfect circle
Is cut into a predetermined length by the rotary cutter 49, and the straw member 50 is manufactured. Rotating cutter 49
Is provided with a plurality of rotary blades 51 that rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the traveling direction of the straw cylinder member 40. The take-up roller 46 is rotationally driven from a motor 53 provided below the machine base 52 via a suitable transmission mechanism, and the rotary cutter 49 is also a transmission having a suitable transmission mechanism and a variable gear ratio from the motor 53. It is rotationally driven through 54. By appropriately combining the traveling speed of the straw cylinder member 40 and the rotation speed of the rotary cutter 49, the straw member 5
A production speed of 0 and a length of the straw member 50 to be cut based on the production speed can be set.

The manufactured straw member 50 is gripped by the catch roller 55 and sent to the posture aligning section 5. The catch roller 55 comes into contact with the straw member 50 produced by cutting, and a transport conveyor 58 described later.
To send out. The peripheral speed of the catch roller 55 is made faster than the take-up speed of the straw cylinder member 50 to prevent interference with the subsequent straw member 50. The catch roller 55 is driven by an electric motor 56. The straw member 50 sent from the catch roller 55 is guided by a guide plate 57 and is delivered to a conveyor 58.

Next, the transporting means will be described with reference to FIG. The transport conveyor 58 which is an endless transport body has three transport belts 59 (59a, 50b, 50c) provided with projections 81 as straw engaging portions at predetermined intervals, and a plurality of suction holes 82 on the surface. And a vacuum table 60 connected to a negative pressure source. A suction pipe 84 from a negative pressure source (not shown) is connected to the vacuum table 60. The suction hole 82 sucks air through a ventilation path 83 which is a space between the adjacent conveyor belts 59. The straw member 50 is stretched and aligned parallel to the bottom between the projections 81 in a state of being stretched over the conveyor belts 59a, 50b, 50c so that the length direction is orthogonal to the traveling direction of the conveyor 58, and the suction hole 82 With the assistance of air sucked into the
It is drawn on the conveyor belt 59 in one interval. Therefore, the straw member 50 is conveyed in a state where the straw member 50 is sequentially engaged with and restricted by the projection 81. Therefore, even if the static electricity charged on the straw member 50 tries to disturb the posture of the straw member 50, the straw member cannot get over the projection 81, and the conveyor 58 remains in the posture alignment.
Conveyed by The conveyor 58 is driven by an electric motor 62 provided on a machine base 61.

At the side of the conveyor 58, there is provided a posture aligning roller 85 for aligning the longitudinal position of the straw member 50 being conveyed at a predetermined position. The rotation axis of the attitude alignment roller 85 is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the transport surface of the transport conveyor 58, and the peripheral speed of the attitude alignment roller 85 is rotated by the electric motor 86 so as to be the same as the transport speed of the transport conveyor 58. Driven. Posture alignment roller 8
A guide wall 87 is provided on the side opposite to the side on which the guide 5 is provided so as to extend along the transport conveyor 58. The posture of the straw member 50 inserted into the guide plate 57 is regulated at one end by the guide wall 87, but may be shifted to the other side and may be in a state of jumping out. The straw member 50 displaced in the width direction of the conveyor 58.
Is pushed back by the posture alignment roller 85 to return to a predetermined posture alignment state.

Next, the transfer of the straw member 50 from the standby station to the hopper of the case via the transfer drum will be described with reference to FIG. Conveyor 5
Between the transfer drum 8 and the transfer drum 67, a standby station 63 for temporarily waiting the straw member 50 sent from the transfer conveyor 58 is provided. Waiting station 6
Reference numeral 3 denotes a holding plate 64 having one end rotatably supported, a slope 65, and a small conveyor 66. The standby station 63 is for absorbing a speed difference that may cause a difference in the transfer speed of the straw member 50 between the transfer conveyor 58 and the transfer drum 67. In other words, if a shortage occurs in the conveyed straw member 50, the straw member 50 is replenished from the standby straw member 50, and the excessively conveyed straw member 50 with respect to the transport drum 67 is suspended.

On the outer periphery of the transport drum 67, straw holders 68 are formed at equal intervals. The straw holding portion 68 is composed of a U-shaped groove 88 which is a concave portion opened outward in the radial direction of the transport drum 67 and a suction hole 89 opened at the bottom of the U-shaped groove 88 for sucking the straw member 50. I have. The suction hole 89 sucks the straw member 50 within a rotation angle range connected to a suction groove 90 formed in a fixed side plate provided along the side of the transport drum 67. However, when the suction hole 89 is out of the rotation angle range connected to the suction groove 90, the straw member 50 can be delivered to the transfer drum 69 to which the straw member 50 is transferred without being particularly restricted. The straw members 50 stored in the standby station 63 are sequentially transferred to the U-shaped groove 88 one by one, and are conveyed while being sucked by the suction holes 89. Conveyor 5
The straw member 50, which is fed out from the position 8 from the posture, is
The straw is individually sucked and transferred by the straw holding section 68 of the transport drum 67. Since the straw members 50 are individually sucked and transferred, the posture during transfer is not disturbed even if they are charged with static electricity.

The straw member 50 conveyed by the conveying drum 67 is sequentially transferred to subsequent conveying drums 69 and 71. The transport drums 69 and 71 are basically
7 and the straw holding portions 70 and 72 provided on the outer periphery are formed side by side at the same interval as the interval between the straw holding portions 68 of the transport drum 67. They rotate at the same peripheral speed. Also,
Like the straw holding portion 68, the straw holding portions 70 and 72 have U-shaped grooves 91 and 94, which are concave portions, and U-shaped grooves 91 and 9, respectively.
The same applies to the suction grooves 93 and 96 provided over the angle range for suction for transferring the straw member 50.

When the straw member 50 caught in the U-shaped groove 94 of the straw holding section of the transport drum 71 reaches below the cylindrical inlet 78 of the hopper 76 in the storage section 6, it is guided by a fixed guide plate 79. U is going forward
It is taken out from the groove 94 and is forcibly fed into the hopper 76 sequentially from the cylindrical inlet 78. In order to feed the straw members 50, it is necessary to push the straw members 50 against the weight of the straw members 50 that have already been deposited, so that the straw members 50 repel each other even if they are charged with static electricity and change their posture. Instead, the sheet is fed into the hopper 76 and further into the case 75 while maintaining the posture alignment. Note that the case 75 is a cartridge type that is detachably connected to the hopper 76. One case 75 filled with the straw member 50 is partitioned by a hopper 76 and a partition plate,
Removed from the hopper 76, in the storage state as it is,
For example, it is moved to the next step such as assembling and packaging of a stretchable straw. Since the straw member 50 continuously taken up from the transport drum 71 is stored in the other case 75 connected to the hopper 76, there is no need to stop the operation of the transport storage device of the straw member 50. Further, the empty case 75 is newly connected to the hopper 76.

An eccentric roller 77 is provided inside the hopper 76 to prevent the straw member 50 from bridging inside the hopper 76 (see FIG. 3). The straw member 50 charged with static electricity easily causes a bridge in the hopper 76, which hinders the storage of the subsequent straw member 50.
The eccentric roller 77 breaks the bridge formed by the straw member 50 and smoothes the storage of the straw member in the case.

The transport belt 59 is composed of three transport belts 59a, 50b, and 50c, and the ventilation path is a space between the transport belts. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transport belt may be a single wide belt. The belt may be used, and the ventilation path may be an opening or a hole formed in the belt. In addition, although the straw engaging member is the projection 81, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a concave member into which the straw member 50 fits may be used. Furthermore, although the example in which the attitude alignment roller 85 is arranged only on one side of the transport conveyor 58 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the attitude alignment roller 85 can be arranged on both sides of the transport conveyor 58.

When the straw member 50 is used as an outer tube of a stretchable straw, for example, it is necessary to form a locking portion for locking the inner tube at the time of extension at a predetermined position of the outer tube. When the straw member 50 to be fed into the conveyor 58 has not yet been formed with a locking portion, it is possible to utilize the fact that the straw member 50 is being conveyed by the conveyor drum and to use a member provided on the side of the conveyor drum. The locking portion for the straw member is formed by the stop portion forming device. As shown in FIG. 5, a special transport drum 69 is provided between a transport drum 67 that is individually fed from the standby station 63 and a transport drum 71 that sends the hopper 76, and the straw member 50 is transported by the transport drum 69. In the meantime, a molding die 74 provided in connection with the transport drum 69 heat-molds a whole or partial concave locking portion at a predetermined position of the straw member 50.

As a device for forming a drinking straw, for example, a device already proposed by the present applicant can be applied. The present invention provides, for example, a device for forming a partially concave locking portion around a straw member disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-142305, or a straw member disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-142306. A device that forms a concave locking portion around the entire periphery of the device can be used.

The transport drums 67, 69, 71
Is driven to rotate at the same peripheral speed by the electric motor 80 provided at the lower portion of the rotary member, and is controlled to rotate at the same speed as the transfer speed of the straw member 50 by the transfer conveyor 58. Therefore, the feed speed of the raw material, the forming speed of the hollow forming member 25, the rotational speed of the take-up roller 46, the transport speed of the catch roller 55, and the respective speeds of the transport conveyor 58 and the transport drums 67, 69, 71 are determined by the feed rate of the raw material. The process is controlled so as to be synchronized so that the process from to the storage of the straw member 50 in the case 75 is continuously performed without interruption or clogging.

The apparatus for transporting and storing the straw member is shown in FIG.
5, the hollow molding member 25 is formed from the straw raw material with the aid of compressed air, the hollow molding member 25 is sized to produce the straw cylinder member 40, and the straw cylinder member 40 is extended to a predetermined length. An example of applying the present invention to a straw member manufacturing apparatus in which the straw member 50 is cut into pieces and the straw member 50 is aligned in position by a conveying means and sequentially stored in a case 75 from a lower entrance, and the straw is aligned in a posture by the conveying means The example in which the locking portion is formed on the member has been described. However, the straw member transport / storage device according to the present invention is not limited to the straw member manufacturing device of this aspect, and can be applied to the straw cylindrical member 40 produced by sizing the hollow molded member 25. A straw member is produced by forming a locking portion at a predetermined interval and then cutting the straw member to a predetermined length, and the straw member is arranged in a posture by a conveying means, and is also applied to a straw member manufacturing apparatus that sequentially stores the straw member in a case from a lower entrance. can do.

Next, another example of a straw member manufacturing apparatus to which the straw member transport and storage device according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. The sizing and cooling steps are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a front view showing another embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw to which the apparatus for transporting and storing a straw member according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a side view showing another embodiment of the apparatus for transporting and storing a straw member in the beverage straw manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG.

The straw cylinder member 40 sent to the locking section forming and cutting step section 104 is uniformly taken off by three sets of take-up rollers 146 while being guided by the traveling guide 147. With the locking part forming devices 149 and 150,
Locking portions are formed on the straw cylinder member 40 by heating at predetermined intervals. The locking part forming devices 149 and 150 are structurally the same, except that the processing direction of processing the straw cylinder member 40 from up and down or left and right directions is different. Usually, a rotary mold is used for the engaging portion forming devices 149 and 150, so that the take-up roller 146 and the mold are driven by one motor 1 provided on the machine base 155.
56. The peripheral speed of the molding tool is the take-up roller 1.
It is rotated at a constant rotational speed so as to be the same as the peripheral speed of 46, that is, the take-up speed. The electric motor 156 is provided with an inverter, and the production speed of the straw is adjusted.
The inverter control of the electric motor 156 is performed by operating a control panel 197 provided on the machine base 155.
The control panel 197 also manages the tachometer and counts the straw member 153. The length of the straw member 153 can be changed by changing the speed ratio of the transmission 157.

The straw cylinder member 40 with the locking portion formed and corrected to a perfect circle is subsequently guided by a guide 151 and then cut by a rotary cutter 152 to produce a straw member 153. You. Rotary cutter 15
Numeral 2 rotates around a rotation axis parallel to the traveling direction of the straw cylinder member 40, and a predetermined number of rotary blades 15
4 is provided. The rotary cutter 152 is the locking part forming device 1
It is operated in synchronization with 49 and 150, and cuts the straw cylinder member 40 at a position at a predetermined distance from the locking portion formed on the straw cylinder member 40. By adjusting the differential 158, the forming position of the straw cylinder member 40 formed by the locking portion forming devices 149 and 150 and the cutting position by the rotary cutter 152 are adjusted. The straw member 153 is sent to the posture alignment unit 105 while being sandwiched between the upper and lower sides by a catch roller 160. Catch roller 160
Is made faster than the take-up speed of the straw cylinder member 40 to prevent interference with the subsequent straw member 153. The electric motor 159 is an electric motor that drives the catch roller 160.

A posture aligning section 1 for aligning the posture of the straw member 153 sent from the catch roller 160.
05 (in FIG. 8, the transfer drum 58
And the straw member 153 whose posture is aligned.
Storage section 106 (conveying drum 71)
The process section from the exit to the case 75) is shown in FIGS.
Posture alignment process unit 5 and storage process unit 6 described based on
It is basically the same structure. That is, the intermediate drum 69 shown in FIG.
8 shows that the straw member 53 does not have an intermediate drum for applying a forming die since the locking portion has already been formed on the straw member 53, and Therefore, the only difference is that the rotation direction of the subsequent transport drum 71 and the installation direction of the guide plate 79 provided in the hopper 76 are different. In FIG. 8, the same components as those shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Therefore, the operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 8 does not have the above-described differences and can be easily understood. Therefore, further description of the posture alignment process unit 105 and the storage process unit 106 is omitted. I do.

[0042]

As described above, the apparatus for transporting and storing a straw member according to the present invention has the following effects. That is, when a straw member of a predetermined length is transported on a vacuum table by an endless transport body,
With the assistance of air sucked into a number of suction holes provided on the surface of the vacuum table through the ventilation path of the endless transport, the air is drawn to the transport surface of the endless transport. For this reason, the straw member is transported by the transporting unit without being disturbed in posture due to static electricity carried by the straw member and in a posture aligned state by the engaging portion. The straw members fed out of the conveying means in a posture-aligned manner are individually attracted and transferred by the straw holding portions provided at predetermined intervals on the outer peripheral portion of the conveying drum, so that even if they are charged with static electricity, they can be transferred at the time of transfer. The posture is not disturbed. Further, the straw member transferred by the transport drum is sequentially fed from the lower entrance to a case provided above the transport drum and stored therein. For this reason, the straw members sequentially fed from the transport drum are pushed in against the weight of the straw members already stored in the case, and the straw members repel each other even if they are charged with static electricity, and take a posture. It is stored neatly in the case without being changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing a drinking straw to which the apparatus for transporting and storing a straw member according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the beverage straw manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a device for transporting and storing a straw member in the beverage straw manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a transport conveyor portion of a straw member transport and storage device applied to the beverage straw manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

5 is a side view showing a transport drum portion of a straw member transport and storage device applied to the beverage straw manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing another embodiment of the beverage straw manufacturing apparatus to which the hollow molded member sizing apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

7 is a plan view of the beverage straw manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 6;

8 is a side view showing a state in which the straw member in the beverage straw manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 6 is housed in a case.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5,105 posture alignment process unit 6,106 storage process unit 40 straw cylinder member 50 straw member 58 transport conveyor 59 transport belt 60 vacuum table 63 standby station 67,69,71 transport drum 68,70,72 straw holding unit 76 hopper 77 Eccentric roller 81 Projection (straw engagement part) 82 Suction hole 83 Ventilation path 85 Posture alignment roller 88, 91, 94 U-shaped groove 89, 92, 95 Suction hole 104 Engagement part forming and cutting part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masami Abe 1-3-15 Miyagi, Adachi-ku, Tokyo Toyo Cap Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Claims (11)

[Claims] A vacuum table having a plurality of suction holes formed on a surface thereof, a ventilation passage for running on the vacuum table and passing air sucked into the suction holes, and a straw member having a predetermined length. An endless transporter having an engageable straw engaging portion, and by sequentially engaging the straw member with the straw engaging portion with the aid of air sucked into the suction hole through the air passage. Conveying means for aligning the straw members in a posture, having straw holders on the outer peripheral portion at predetermined intervals, and individually transferring the straw members fed out in a posture-aligned manner from the conveying means to the straw holding portions. And a case for accommodating the straw member fed from the transport drum. 2. The apparatus for transporting and storing a straw member according to claim 1, wherein the straw engaging portion is constituted by a projection provided on the endless transport body. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endless transport body is formed of a plurality of endless belts, and the ventilation path is formed between the adjacent endless belts. . 4. A position aligning roller provided at a side of the transfer unit to align a longitudinal position of the straw member being transferred by the transfer unit at a predetermined position. 2. The apparatus for transporting and storing a straw member according to claim 1. 5. The standby station according to claim 1, wherein a standby station for temporarily waiting the straw member sent from the transport unit is provided between the transport unit and the transport drum. A conveying storage device for the straw member as described in the above. 6. The straw holding portion includes a concave portion that opens outward in a radial direction of the transport drum, and an opening at a bottom portion of the concave portion, for absorbing the straw member housed in the concave portion. 6. A suction hole comprising a suction hole.
The transport and storage device for a straw member according to any one of the above. 7. The case is provided above the transfer drum, and the straw member from the transfer drum is sequentially stored from a lower entrance of the case, and the case is transferred from the transfer drum. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the straw member is detachably connected to a hopper for receiving the straw member. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an eccentric roller is provided inside the hopper to prevent bridging of the straw member inside the hopper. 9. A straw-shaped member is formed from a straw raw material with the aid of compressed air, a straw-shaped tubular member is produced by sizing the hollow-shaped member, and the straw-shaped tubular member is cut into a predetermined length. 9. A straw member manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the straw member is manufactured by means of a conveying member, and the straw member is arranged in a posture by a conveying means, and is sequentially stored in a case from a lower entrance.
Item 8. A transport storage device for a straw member according to item 9. 10. The straw member according to claim 9, wherein said transport drum is provided with a locking portion forming device for forming a locking portion with respect to said straw member being transported by said transport drum. Transport storage device. 11. A hollow molded member is formed from a straw raw material with the aid of compressed air, a straw cylindrical member is produced by sizing the hollow molded member, and locking portions are provided at predetermined intervals on the straw cylindrical member. The present invention is applied to a straw member manufacturing apparatus that forms a straw member by forming and cutting the straw cylinder member to a predetermined length, aligns the straw member by a conveying means, and sequentially stores the straw member in a case from a lower entrance. The conveying and storing device for a straw member according to any one of claims 1 to 8.