JPH10194241A - Automatic feeder of container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To feed several kinds of cup containers, by providing a first structure expansibly containing many cup containers, a second structure expansibly support or release the lowermost container, and a third structure sucking the opening of the lowermost container and tumbling and feeding it. SOLUTION: This automatic feeder is provided with the first structure 30 containing a number of stacked container with the openings positioned downward and an expansible containing part, the expansible second structure 40 supporting the lower part thereof and the lowermost container 109a and dropping the containers one by one by releasing the support, and the third structure 60 vertically moving as the whole structure, sucking the opening of the container 109 taken out one by one and tumbling it and dropping it in the state the opening is positioned upward. The first and second mechanism 20, 40 are constituted so that the containing part and the support plate containing and supporting containers of various sizes can be expanded by a drive part including racks and pinions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container automatic supply device for sequentially supplying a large number of cup containers to a food filling device for automatically filling a cup container with food such as pudding and jelly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such an automatic container feeding apparatus includes:
Conventionally, for example, a food filling apparatus 100 as shown in FIG.
There was one used for

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an automatic container supply device. The automatic container supply device 101 has an empty cup container 109 (FIG. 1) with its opening facing upward.
1) are stacked and stored. The lowermost one of the cup containers 109 is suctioned by a suction device (not shown) to remove dust and the like adhering to the inside of the cup container, and then transferred to a transport conveyor provided immediately below the automatic container supply device 101. It falls on 107 and is placed.

[0004] The cup container 109 placed on the transport conveyor 107 advances in the direction of the arrow in the figure due to the intermittent movement of the transport conveyor 107, is conveyed immediately below the food filling section 103, and stops there. 103 fills the inside of the cup container 109 with food. The cup container 109 filled with the food further proceeds in the direction of the arrow in the figure and stops immediately below the opening seal portion 105, and the opening portion of the cup container 109 is sealed with a resinous laminated film or the like to be commercialized, It is discharged outside the device.

[0005] By the way, there are two types of conventional automatic container supply devices as shown below. First, FIG.
In the automatic container supply device 118 as shown in FIG. 5, a large number of cup containers 109 stacked with the opening facing upward are accommodated while being guided by four guide bars 113 arranged close to the periphery thereof, It is dropped between two round rod-shaped rotary shafts 110 provided in parallel with each other, and the brim of the cup container is supported on their peripheral surfaces by being hooked.

That is, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), a large number of cup containers 109 stacked with their openings facing upward
Two round rod-shaped rotating shafts 110, 110 which are arranged at a distance slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the flange of the opening.
The diametrical ends of the flange of the cup container 109 are held on the peripheral surface of the container so as to be hooked. The two rotating shafts 110 are formed with fan-shaped cutouts 110a along their length direction, and the two rotating shafts 110, 110 synchronize with each other in the directions of arrows A and B in the figure. It is designed to rotate.

As shown in FIG. 13B, the flange of the opening of the cup container 109a located at the lowermost position among the many stacked cup containers 109 is inserted into the notch 110a of the rotating shaft 110 which will rotate soon. Engaged to enter. At this time, the second cup container 109b from the bottom, which is placed immediately above the lowermost cup container 109a,
It is hung on the peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 110.

[0008] The cup container 109a, whose brim is engaged in the notch 110a, descends with the rotation of the rotating shaft 110, so that the cup container 109a is taken out downward as shown in FIG. , Notch 110a
At the same time, it falls on the conveyor 107 provided immediately below. Similarly, next, the second cup container 109b from the bottom is taken out downward and falls onto the transport conveyor 107. . By repeating such a series of operations, the cup containers 109 are dropped and placed on the transport conveyor 107 one by one.

As another conventional example, an automatic container supplying apparatus 120 as shown in FIG. 14 has a structure in which a large number of stacked cup containers 109 are fixed close to the periphery of the cup container 109 with the opening part upward. The cup is accommodated by being guided by the guide bar 125, and the brim of the cup container 109 is hooked and supported by a pair of first support arms 121 provided in parallel with each other.

That is, as shown in FIG. 15A, a large number of cup containers 109 are stacked with their openings facing upward.
Is housed between the four guide bars 125,
A first support arm 121 formed by a pair of plate members,
By 121, the brim of the opening of the cup container 109a located at the lowermost part of the cup container 109 is hung and supported.

Above the distal ends of the pair of first support arms 121, there are provided second support arms 123 formed of a pair of plate members. The two sets of first and second support arms 121, 123
By means of 27 and 128 (see FIG. 14), they are slidably provided so as to advance and retreat alternately in the directions of arrows A and B in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15B, in order to drop and place the cup containers 109a located at the lowermost position of the many stacked cup containers 109 on the transport conveyor 107, first, the second support arm 123 is advanced in the direction of arrow B in the figure, and the flange of the second cup container 109b from the bottom is hooked and supported. Then, the first support arm 12
By moving back 1 in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the lowermost cup container 109a falls and is placed on the conveyor 107.

After the first support arm 121 is advanced in the direction of arrow A in the figure as shown in FIG.
By retracting the support arm 123 in the direction of arrow B in the figure, the cup container 109b is hung on the first support arm 121 and supported. By repeating such a series of operations, the cup containers 109 are dropped and placed on the transport conveyor 107 one by one.

[0014]

However, there is a problem that any of the conventional automatic container supply devices can supply only one kind of cup container. That is, the food filled by the food filling device is various, and the shape and size of the cup container used accordingly are also various. For this reason, a food filling factory is equipped with a number of cup container supply devices, and replaces the automatic container supply device for each cup container according to the food to be filled and mounts the container on the food filling device each time, and the food filling plant is equipped with the same. A filling operation was being performed.

Therefore, it is necessary to secure a large space in the factory for storing a number of automatic container supply apparatuses for replacement, and one automatic container supply apparatus costs several hundred thousand yen. Since it is expensive, preparing a number of them has a problem in that the equipment cost is significantly increased.

In addition, there is a problem that the labor of replacing the automatic container supply apparatus requires manual labor, and the replacement operation takes time, thereby lowering the operation rate of the food filling apparatus.

Further, the above-mentioned conventional container automatic supply device includes:
In each case, the cup container is stored with the opening facing upward and supplied, so it has the drawback that dust and the like easily enter and adhere to the cup container, and incomplete removal of dust and the like by the suction device And was not hygienic.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to supply several types of cup containers with a single container automatic supply device, thereby reducing equipment costs and preventing dust and the like from entering and adhering to the cup containers. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sanitary automatic container feeding device that can completely prevent the container.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a first method for storing a large number of stacked cup containers irrespective of the type, with an opening portion facing downward.
A mechanism, a second mechanism for scalably supporting or releasing the lowermost cup container of the stacked cup containers, and removing the cup container by sucking an opening of the lowermost cup container. Further, a third mechanism for inverting the cup container and supplying the inverted cup container to a predetermined device is provided.

According to the container automatic supply device having such a configuration, the first mechanism for arranging the opening portions downward so as to accommodate a large number of stacked cup containers irrespective of the type thereof,
By providing a second mechanism for supporting or releasing the cup containers located at the bottom of the many stacked cup containers so as to be freely expandable and contractible, it is possible to supply several types of cup containers with one automatic container supply device. This can reduce equipment costs. In addition, the automatic container supply device has a third mechanism that sucks the opening of the cup container located at the lowermost position, takes out the cup container, and further inverts the cup container to supply the cup container to a predetermined device.
Dust and the like can be completely prevented from dropping and adhering in the cup container, and when dust or the like has already entered the cup container, it can be removed by suction.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 9 are views showing an automatic container supplying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the food filling device 80 shown in FIG.
From the automatic container supply device 10 in which a large number of cup containers stacked with the opening portions downward are stored, the conveyor 83
The cup container is supplied with the opening facing upward, and the conveyor 83 on which the cup container is placed intermittently moves in the direction of the arrow in the figure, stops immediately below the food filling unit 87 and fills the food, Next, it stops just below the opening seal portion 89 and seals the opening of the cup container to produce a product and discharge it.

Automatic container supply device 10 of food filling device 80
The cup containers 109 are stacked and stored with the opening portions facing downward, and the cup containers 10 of various sizes are stored.
9 can be stored.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the automatic container supply device 10 includes a first mechanism 20 having an expandable and contractible storage section.
In addition to supporting the lowermost cup container 109a of the multiplicity of stacked cup containers 109, the support of the cup containers 109a is released, and the cup containers 109 are allowed to fall down one by one so as to be scalable. The second mechanism 40 having a mechanism and the suction opening of the cup container 109a located at the lowermost position are taken out, the cup container 109a is taken out, the cup container 109a is inverted, and the cup container 109a is turned down and dropped. And a third mechanism 60 in which the entire mechanism moves up and down.

Hereinafter, each of the above mechanisms will be described in detail and specifically with reference to the drawings. First, the first mechanism 20 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the storage unit 18 is provided with a storage unit 18 provided to be able to store cup containers of various sizes so as to be freely expandable and contractable, and the drive unit 2 for sliding the storage unit 18 to be able to be expanded and reduced.

As shown in the figure, the drive unit 2 is provided so as to extend in the width direction of the food filling device 80, and is disposed below both sides of the top plate 1 made of a plate member. Incidentally, the drive unit 2 on the side opposite to the top plate 1 in the figure is not shown. Also, a side portion of the illustrated drive unit 2 on the near side of the top plate 1 in the drawing is cut off at an appropriate width along the length direction so that the drive unit 2 can be seen well.

The drive units 2 extend in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the top plate 1 (the direction of arrow P in the figure), and are arranged at intervals in the length direction of the top plate 1. It has linear guide mechanisms 15a and 15b.
That is, the linear guide mechanism includes a rail portion 15a,
And a saddle portion 15b that slides on the rail portion 15a.

A fixed plate member 13 is fixed on the upper surface of the saddle portion 15b of the linear guide mechanism. On one end side of each of the fixed members 13, two long holes 11a are provided between the fixed plate members 13. The connecting plate member 11 formed on the fixing plate member 1 is bolted by the bolt 4.
It is fixed to 3.

Out of a plurality of fixed plate members 13 provided at intervals in the length direction of the top plate 1, rack gears 17 are provided on the outer portions of the fixed plate members 13 located at both ends of the connecting plate member 11. Is provided. A pinion 19 provided on the output shaft of the motor 16 meshes with the rack gear 17, and the forward and reverse rotation of the pinion 19 causes
The connecting plate member 11 reciprocates below the top plate 1 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. At this time, the drive units (not shown) on the opposite side to the drive unit 2 illustrated with respect to the top plate 1 reciprocate so as to approach and separate from each other in synchronization with each other.

The storage section 18 has a structure having four sets of element mechanisms 18a as shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. In the element mechanism 18a shown in FIG. 4, the second member 12 made of a flat plate member is fixed below the first member 7 having a T-shaped cross section. On the lower surface of the second member 12, a shaft pin 14 which is loosely inserted into a long hole 11a formed in the connecting plate member 11 is integrally provided. As shown in FIG. 3, one end of the first member 7 in the longitudinal direction (the circular hole 1)
A guide bar 3 extending in a columnar shape is provided integrally on the (center side of b).

The element mechanism 18a of such a storage section 18
As shown in FIG. 4, four slide grooves 1 a (FIG. 4) in which a groove 8 formed by the first member 7 and the second member 12 extend radially around a circular hole 1 b formed in the top plate 1. 5), is driven by the connecting plate member 11 which reciprocates, and is driven in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 3 (the circular hole 1b).
(In the radial direction), the four sets move so as to expand and contract with each other. A plurality of such storage portions 18 are provided at intervals in the length direction of the top plate 1.

Next, the second mechanism 40 will be described with reference to FIG. On the upper surface of the saddle portion 57b that slides with the rail portion 57a of the linear guide mechanism, a fixed plate member 43 extending in a direction perpendicular to the linear guide mechanism is fixed by screws or the like. On one side in the width direction of the fixed plate member 43, a plurality of support members 46 are provided at predetermined intervals along the length direction of the fixed plate member 43.

One end of a shaft 45 is fixed to the support member 46, and a fixing member 47 is fixed to the other end of the shaft 45. On this fixing member 47, a supporting plate 41 extending in a direction parallel to the fixing plate member 43 is provided. On a top surface of the supporting plate 41, a supporting plate 48 having an arc-shaped notch formed at a tip portion is provided. The rear end is fixed by bolts 42.

The pinion 53 meshes with rack gears 50 provided at both ends in the length direction of the fixed plate member 43, and the entire mechanism is driven by forward and reverse rotations output from the motor 55, as shown by arrows in FIG. It reciprocates in the B direction.

Although only a part of the second mechanism 40 is shown, the second mechanism 40 is composed of two sets of mechanisms together with a similar mechanism on the opposite side of the cup container 109, and the motors of both mechanisms are used. By the synchronous rotation, the pair of support plates 48 can approach or separate in the direction of arrow A in the drawing, and can be supported according to cup containers of various sizes, or can be released and dropped. It has become. FIG.
Are provided in plural pairs at intervals in the length direction of the support plate 41.

Next, the third mechanism 60 will be described with reference to FIG. The third mechanism 60 is roughly divided into a rotating unit 74.
And a lifting unit 76. As shown in the figure, the elevating unit 76 is composed of two rotatable column members 75 formed with screws and one elevating plate 73.
Column members 75 penetrate in the vertical direction at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the elevating plate 73 and are screwed together. An output shaft of a motor (not shown) is connected to the lower end of the column member 75, and the rotation of the motor rotates the column member 75 so that the lifting plate 73 moves up and down in the direction of arrow A in the figure. ing.

The rotating portion 74 is formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elevating plate 73 and a bearing 67 fixed substantially at the center of the elevating plate 73 in the longitudinal direction. A supporting plate member 63 having
A plurality of suction portions 70 standing upright at intervals in the longitudinal direction
It consists of. Both ends of the support plate member 63 are rotatably supported by a bearing 67 via a hollow rotation shaft 69 through which a shaft hole of the support plate member 63 communicates with the inner hollow portion. The bearing 67 is connected to one end of a suction pipe 71 through which the hollow portion of the rotating shaft 69 communicates with the inner hollow portion, and the other end of the suction pipe 71 is connected to a suction device (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 8, a suction plate 70 is formed by integrally forming a disk-shaped suction plate 70a having a hole at the center and a substantially cylindrical body 70b. It stands on 63. A suction hole 70c is formed inside the body 70b of the suction unit 70, and the suction hole 7c is formed in the body 70b.
On the suction plate 70a side of Oc, the tip of an L-shaped air nozzle 64 is provided coaxially.

The air nozzle 64 has an L-shaped tip projecting toward the center of the suction plate 70a, and a rear end projecting outward through the body 70b. Torso 7
One end of an air hose 65 is connected to and attached to the rear end of the air nozzle 64 protruding outward from the outside of the suction nozzle 70b. Compressed air is blown into the cup container 109 from the tip of the air nozzle 64 protruding from the air nozzle 64.

The above-mentioned rotating portion 74 is rotated by 180 ° in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 7 by driving an actuator (not shown) attached to the other end of the support plate member 63. I have.

Next, the operation of the automatic container supply device 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 9 (a), a large number of cup containers 109 are stacked so that the opening is on the lower side and the first mechanism 2
The space between the four guide bars 3 provided at the position 0 is supplied manually.

At this time, the guide bar 3 and the second mechanism 40
The support plate 48 is provided with a cup container 109 supplied according to a value programmed in advance in a control device (not shown).
In the directions of arrows A and B in the figure according to the size of. Therefore, the guide bar 3 is close to the outer diameter of the brim of the cup container 109, and the support plate 48 is
By contacting the lower surface of the brim of the cup container 109a located at the lowermost portion of the cup container 109a, the whole of the stacked cup containers 109 is supported.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9B, the suction portion 70 of the third mechanism 60 is raised, and the lower surface of the support plate 48 is brought into contact with the suction plate 70a. Then, FIG. 9 (c)
As shown in the figure, the support plate 48 slides in the direction of arrow A in the figure to release the support of the lowermost cup container 109a, so that the entire cup container 109 descends and the opening of the lowermost cup container 109a opens. The portion contacts the upper surface of the suction plate 70a.

In FIG. 9C, in order to release the support of the lowermost cup container 109a, the support plate 48 once separated in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIG.
This time, approaching in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the lowermost cup container 1
It holds the brim of the opening of the second cup container 109b from the bottom stacked just above 09a.

At this time, compressed air sent from a compressor (not shown) is blown out from the tip of the air nozzle 64 into the cup container 109a through the air hose 65 to blow off dust and the like adhering to the cup container. The blown-out dust passes through the suction hole 70c, the shaft hole of the support plate member 63, the hollow portion of the rotating shaft 69, and the suction pipe 71, and is sucked by a suction device (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 9E, the suction plate 7
The cup container 109a that has come into contact with the cup container 109a stops blowing air from the air nozzle 64 and sucks the air in the cup container 109a by the suction device (not shown) so that the cup container 109a is adsorbed on the suction plate 70a. Is done. The sucked cup container 109a is taken out downward by the elevating unit 76 which descends.

As shown in FIG. 9F, the cup container 10
The cup container 109a sucked on the suction plate 70a by sucking the air in the 9a rotates 180 ° in the direction of arrow B in the figure so that the opening thereof is upward. And FIG.
As shown in (g), the suction unit 70 is connected to the cup container 109a.
The suction device is moved downward while approaching the conveyor 83 while being sucked, the operation of the suction device is stopped, and the conveyor 83 is stopped.
The cup container 109a is dropped and placed on top.

Thereafter, the food container 87a is moved intermittently by the conveyor 83 (see FIG. 1).
And is filled with food, and then the opening seal portion 8
Stop immediately below 9 (see FIG. 1), the opening of the cup container is sealed, and the product is manufactured and discharged out of the apparatus.

According to the container automatic supply device according to the first embodiment having such a configuration, the opening portion is arranged downward so that the multiplicity of stacked cup containers 109 can be stored regardless of the type. One mechanism 20 and a cup container 109 located at the bottom of the many stacked cup containers 109
By having the second mechanism 40 for supporting or releasing a so as to be able to expand and contract a, it is possible to supply several kinds of cup containers with one automatic container supply device, thereby reducing the equipment cost.

The automatic container feeding device 10 takes out the cup container 109a by sucking the opening of the cup container 109a located at the lowermost position, and further removes the cup container 109a.
By having the third mechanism 60 for reversing the dust, it is possible to completely prevent dust and the like from entering and adhering to the cup container, and to suck in the case where dust and the like are already contained in the cup container. Can be removed.

In the above embodiment, the guide bar 3 for accommodating a large number of stacked cup containers 109 is composed of four bars. However, the number of the guide bars 3 may be increased or decreased depending on the size and shape of the cup container used. Can be set freely. In the above embodiment,
Although the invention is used in a food filling device, the invention can be used in other devices.

Further, in the above embodiment, the cleaning of the inside of the cup container 109 is performed by compressed air. However, by adding an electrostatic removing device to the suction unit 70, dust adhering to the inside of the cup container 109 is removed. It can be removed more reliably.

By adding a suction pressure adjusting device to the suction section 70, the suction pressure is adjusted according to the cup container 109, thereby preventing the suction pressure from being too strong and causing the cup container 109 to be dented. can do.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cup container 109 to be supplied has a "collar" formed at the opening thereof. However, the automatic container supplying device according to the present invention cannot conventionally supply. It is also possible to supply a cup container without the "brim".

[0055]

As described above, according to the automatic container feeding apparatus of the present invention, the first mechanism for arranging the opening portion downward and accommodating a large number of stacked cup containers regardless of the type is provided. Having a second mechanism for supporting or releasing a cup container positioned at the lowermost portion of a multiplicity of stacked cup containers so as to be able to expand and contract, enabling supply of several types of cup containers with one container automatic supply device, As a result, it is possible to reduce equipment costs.

Further, the automatic container feeding device has a third mechanism for sucking the opening of the cup container located at the lowermost position, taking out the cup container, and further inverting the cup container. Can be completely prevented from entering and adhering, and when dust or the like is already in the cup container, it can be removed by suction.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to supply a cup container without a brim, which could not be supplied conventionally.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram showing a food filling device 80 having an automatic container supply device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the automatic container supply device 10 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a main part of a first mechanism 20 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an I of an element mechanism 18a of the storage section 18 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line V-IV.

5 is a slide groove 1 of the top plate 1 in FIG.
It is a perspective view which shows a and shaft hole 1b.

6 is a perspective view showing a main part of a second mechanism 40 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a main part of a third mechanism 60 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the suction unit 70 in FIG.

FIGS. 9A to 9G are schematic sectional views sequentially showing a series of operations of the automatic container supplying apparatus 10 according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic overall configuration diagram showing a conventional food filling apparatus 100.

11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a cup container 109. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a schematic partial top view showing a conventional automatic container supply device 118.

13 (a) to 13 (c) show an automatic container supply device 1. FIG.
FIG. 13 is a view as viewed in the direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 12, showing a series of operations 18 in order.

FIG. 14 is a schematic partial top view showing a conventional automatic container supply device 120.

15 (a) to 15 (c) show an automatic container supply device 1. FIG.
It is the side view which showed a series of operation of No. 20 in order.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Top plate 1a Sliding groove 1b Circular hole 2 Drive part 3,113,125 Guide bar 4,42 bolt 7 First member 8 Groove part 10 Container automatic supply device 11 Connecting plate member 11a Slot 12 Second member 13 Fixed plate member 14 Shaft pin 15a, 57a Rail 15b, 57b Saddle 16, 55 Motor 17, 50 Rack gear 18 Storage 19, 53 Pinion 20 First mechanism 40 Second mechanism 41 Support plate 43 Fixing plate member 45 Shaft 46 Support member 47 Fixing member 48 Support plate 60 Third mechanism 63 Support plate member 64 Air nozzle 65 Air hose 67 Bearing 69 Rotating shaft 70 Suction part 70a Suction plate 70b Body part 70c Suction hole 71 Suction pipe 73 Elevating plate 74 Rotating part 75 Column member 76 Elevating part 80, 100 Food filling unit 83, 07 Conveyor 87 Food filling section 89, 105 Opening seal section 101, 118, 120 Automatic container supply apparatus 103 Food filling apparatus 109, 109a, 109b Cup container 110 Rotating shaft 110a Notch section 121 First support arm 123 Second support arm 127, 128 cylinder

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 26, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 8

FIG. 9

FIG.

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

FIG. 10

FIG. 11

FIG.

FIG.

FIG. 13

FIG. 14

FIG. 16

FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

FIG. 21

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Brief description of drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram showing a food filling device 80 having an automatic container supply device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the automatic container supply device 10 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a main part of a first mechanism 20 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the element mechanism 18a of the storage section 18 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line V-IV.

5 is a slide groove 1 of the top plate 1 in FIG.
It is a perspective view which shows a and shaft hole 1b.

6 is a perspective view showing a main part of a second mechanism 40 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a main part of a third mechanism 60 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the suction unit 70 in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a series of operations of the automatic container supply device 10 according to the present invention .
FIG. 4 schematically shows one of the works.

FIG. 10 shows a series of automatic container feeding apparatus 10 according to the present invention .
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates one of the operations.

FIG. 11 shows a series of automatic container feeding apparatus 10 according to the present invention .
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates one of the operations.

FIG. 12 shows a series of automatic container feeding apparatus 10 according to the present invention .
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates one of the operations.

FIG. 13 shows a series of automatic container feeding apparatus 10 according to the present invention .
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates one of the operations.

FIG. 14 shows a series of automatic container feeding apparatus 10 according to the present invention .
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates one of the operations.

FIG. 15 shows a series of automatic container feeding apparatus 10 according to the present invention .
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates one of the operations.

FIG. 16 is a schematic overall view showing a conventional food filling apparatus 100;
FIG.

17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the cup container 109. FIG.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing a conventional automatic container supply device 118.
FIG.

FIGS. 19 (a) to 19 (c) show an automatic container supply device 1. FIGS.
18 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
It is.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view showing a conventional automatic container supply device 120.
FIG.

21 (a) to 21 (c) show an automatic container supply device 1. FIG.
It is the side view which showed a series of operation of No. 20 in order.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0002

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such an automatic container feeding apparatus includes:
Conventionally, for example, food filling apparatus shown in FIG. 16 100
There was one used for

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0003

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an automatic container supply device. The automatic container supply device 101 has an empty cup container 109 (FIG. 1) with its opening facing upward.
7 ) are stacked and stored. The lowermost one of the cup containers 109 is suctioned by a suction device (not shown) to remove dust and the like adhering to the inside of the cup container, and then transferred to a transport conveyor provided immediately below the automatic container supply device 101. It falls on 107 and is placed.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0005] By the way, there are two types of conventional automatic container supply devices as shown below. First, an automatic container supply device 118 as shown in FIG. 18 stores a large number of cup containers 109 stacked with their openings upward, guided by four guide bars 113 arranged close to the periphery thereof. And 2 provided in parallel with each other
The books are dropped between round rod-shaped rotary shafts 110, 110, and the brim of the cup container is supported and supported on their peripheral surfaces.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

That is, as shown in FIG. 19 (a), a large number of cup containers 109 stacked with their openings facing upward
Two round rod-shaped rotating shafts 110, 110 which are arranged at a distance slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the flange of the opening.
The diametrical ends of the flange of the cup container 109 are held on the peripheral surface of the container so as to be hooked. The two rotating shafts 110 are formed with fan-shaped cutouts 110a along their length direction, and the two rotating shafts 110, 110 synchronize with each other in the directions of arrows A and B in the figure. It is designed to rotate.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As shown in FIG. 19B, the flange of the opening of the lowermost cup container 109a among the many stacked cup containers 109 is inserted into the notch portion 110a of the rotating shaft 110 which will be rotated. Engaged to enter. At this time, the second cup container 109b from the bottom, which is placed immediately above the lowermost cup container 109a,
It is hung on the peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 110.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0008] Tsubagasetsu engaged in-away portion 110a engaged cups container 109a is lowered with rotation of the rotating shaft 110, and therefore the cup container 109a, as shown in FIG. 19 (c), after removal downward , Notch 110a
At the same time, it falls on the conveyor 107 provided immediately below. Similarly, next, the second cup container 109b from the bottom is taken out downward and falls onto the transport conveyor 107. . By repeating such a series of operations, the cup containers 109 are dropped and placed on the transport conveyor 107 one by one.

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As another conventional example, an automatic container supplying apparatus 120 as shown in FIG. 20 has a structure in which a large number of cup containers 109 stacked with opening portions are fixed close to the periphery of the cup container 109. The cup is accommodated by being guided by the guide bar 125, and the brim of the cup container 109 is hooked and supported by a pair of first support arms 121 provided in parallel with each other.

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

That is, as shown in FIG. 21A, a large number of cup containers 109 are stacked with their openings facing upward.
Is housed between the four guide bars 125,
A first support arm 121 formed by a pair of plate members,
By 121, the brim of the opening of the cup container 109a located at the lowermost part of the cup container 109 is hung and supported.

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Above the distal ends of the pair of first support arms 121, there are provided second support arms 123 formed of a pair of plate members. The two sets of first and second support arms 121, 123
According to 27 and 128 (see FIG. 20 ), they are slidably provided so as to advance and retreat alternately in the directions of arrows A and B in FIG. 21 (a).

[Procedure amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As shown in FIG. 21 (b), in order to drop and place the cup containers 109a, which are located at the lowermost portion of the stacked cup containers 109, on the transport conveyor 107, first, the second support arm 123 is advanced in the direction of arrow B in the figure, and the flange of the second cup container 109b from the bottom is hooked and supported. Then, the first support arm 12
By moving back 1 in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the lowermost cup container 109a falls and is placed on the transport conveyor 107.

[Procedure amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0013] Then, after the first support arm 121 is advanced in direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. 21 (c), the second
By retracting the support arm 123 in the direction of arrow B in the figure, the cup container 109b is hung on the first support arm 121 and supported. By repeating such a series of operations, the cup containers 109 are dropped and placed on the transport conveyor 107 one by one.

[Procedure amendment 14]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0021

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 15 are views showing an automatic container supplying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[Procedure amendment 15]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0041

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Next, the operation of the automatic container supply device 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the cup containers 109 stacked in a large number are supplied by hand to the space between the four guide bars 3 provided in the first mechanism 20 with the opening part being on the lower side.

[Procedure amendment 16]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0043

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0043] Then, a third mechanism, as shown in FIG. 10 60
Is lifted, and the suction plate 70a contacts the lower surface of the support plate 48. Then, as shown in FIG. 11 , the support plate 48 slides in the direction of arrow A in the figure,
By releasing the support of the lowermost cup container 109a, the entire cup container 109 descends, and the opening of the lowermost cup container 109a contacts the upper surface of the suction plate 70a.

[Procedure amendment 17]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0044

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In FIG. 11 , the lowermost cup container 10
In order to release the support of 9a, the support plate 48 once separated in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIG. 12 , now approaches in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and is stacked right above the lowermost cup container 109a. Second cup container 109 from the bottom
b holds the flange of the opening.

[Procedure amendment 18]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0046

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As shown in FIG. 13 , the suction plate 70a
The cup container 109a in contact with the upper part is the air nozzle 64
While stopping the ejection of air from the container, suctioning air in the cup container 109a by the above-mentioned suction device (not shown),
The cup container 109a is sucked on the suction plate 70a. The sucked cup container 109a is taken out downward by the elevating unit 76 which descends.

[Procedure amendment 19]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0047

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As shown in FIG. 14 , the cup container 109a
The cup container 109a sucked on the suction plate 70a by sucking the air inside rotates 180 ° in the direction of arrow B in the drawing so that the opening thereof faces upward. Then, as shown in FIG. 15 , the suction unit 70 is lowered downward so as to approach the transport conveyor 83 while sucking the cup container 109a, stops the operation of the suction device, and drops the cup container 109a onto the transport conveyor 83. And place it.

Claims (6)

[Claims] A first mechanism for arranging a plurality of stacked cup containers irrespective of type by arranging an opening part downward, and a cup container located at a lowermost portion of the multi-stacked cup containers. A second mechanism that expands and contracts and supports or releases, a third mechanism that sucks an opening of the cup container located at the lowermost position, takes out the cup container, and inverts the cup container to supply the cup container to a predetermined device; An automatic container supply device comprising: 2. The first mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first mechanism includes: a storage unit disposed to surround the cup container; and a drive unit for expanding and contracting the storage unit. Container automatic feeding device. 3. The reciprocating movement of the drive unit in the diameter direction of the cup container, and the reciprocal movement of the drive unit expands and contracts the storage unit so as to approach and separate from a brim of an opening of the cup container. The automatic container feeding device according to claim 2. 4. A storage device according to claim 2, wherein said storage portion has a plurality of element mechanisms formed in a substantially L-shape as a whole, having rod-shaped holding members extending vertically and approaching and separating from each other. The container automatic supply device according to claim 3. 5. The second mechanism has a plurality of support plates, which support or support a collar at an opening of a lowermost or second lowermost cup container of the plurality of stacked cup containers. 2. The automatic container feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the device is released. 6. The third mechanism comprises: an adsorbing portion for adsorbing the cup container located at the lowermost position; and a 180 ° turn such that the adsorbing portion is turned upside down so that the opening of the adsorbed cup container faces upward. The container automatic supply device according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotating unit configured to move; and an elevating drive unit configured to drive the suction unit and the rotating unit to be vertically movable.