JPS6044074A - Automatic adhesive supply method and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the unmanned operation of an adhesive coating apparatus, in the adhesive coating apparatus for sending a molten adhesive to a nozzle faced to the upper part of a conveyor apparatus, by automatically supplying the adhesive into a tank on the basis of the numbers of articles to be adhered. CONSTITUTION:The molten hot melt in the heating tank 2 of a hot melt applicator 1 is applied to a carton 8 being an article to be adhered continuously conveyed by a belt conveyor 4 through a nozzle 5 faced to said carton 8 from above. The numbers of the cartons 8 coated herein are counted by a counter 10 arranged in the vicinity of a conveyor 4 and, when the numbers thereof reach a set value, a controller 11 receives the detection signal thereof to open a lid 17 by the action of compressed air through a control valve 22. After this state is detected, the liquid level of the hot melt L in the tank 2 is detected by light receiving elements 15, 16. In addition, a chute 33 is fallen through a control valve 39 when the element 16 receives light and a solenoid valve 32 is opened to supply a solid hot melt S to the tank 2 from a hopper 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic adhesive supply method and an automatic supply apparatus.

A hot melt applicator, which melts hot melt adhesive and applies it to an object to be adhered, is used when assembling cartons and the like.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a carton assembly line using such an applicator, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. The opening 52 is provided with a lid 53, and solid hot melt) S is supplied into the tank 51 from the opening 52 by opening the lid 53. Solid hot melt) S
The molten hot melt L is melted at a predetermined temperature (approximately 200°C) by a heater 54 provided at the bottom of the tank 51, and the molten hot melt L is sucked up by a pump 55 and passed through the discharge port 5.
5a to two nozzles 57 and 57 connected via a hose 56. On the other hand, when a carton 59 placed on the belt conveyor 58 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow (b) in the figure, the position of the carton 59 is detected by four limit switches 60, and the detection signals are sequentially transmitted. is supplied to the controller 61, and in response, the controller 6
1 generates a predetermined control signal and sends this control signal to the solenoid valve 6.
2.62 and drive the solenoid valves 62.62 to open and close.

Then, only when the solenoid valves 62, 62 are opened, air is supplied from an unillustrated air supply source to the nozzle 57 via the hose 63, 63,
Compressed air is supplied to 57, hot melt is discharged from nozzles 57 and 57, and as the carton 59 advances, the hot melt is applied to each soil surface of the pair of flaps 59a, 59a that have been folded back inward in advance. It has become. After that, the other pair of flaps 59b.

Flap 59a coated with hot melt 59b.

The cartons 59 are successively assembled by adhering them so that they come into contact with the carton 59a.

In the above, the molten hot melt in the tank 51 of the applicator 50 is proportional to the number of assembled cartons 59).
Since the consumption amount of L also increases, it is necessary to replenish the solid hot melt S in the tank 51.

However, in order to maintain the molten state of the solid hot melt S, it is necessary to maintain the high temperature and keep the inside of the tank 51 of the applicator 50 tightly sealed, and since the viscosity is high in the molten state, the liquid level of the molten hot melt S is automatically detected. Therefore, in the past, the operator opened the lid 53 of the tank 51 of the applicator 50 as shown in FIG.
The liquid level of the molten hot melt L was checked and the solid hot melt S was artificially supplied each time if necessary, which was inefficient. This problem becomes even more difficult when there are a large number of carton assembly lines as described above.

In view of the above-mentioned problems caused by artificial supply of hot-melt adhesive to applicators, the present inventors have created the present invention to effectively and rationally solve the problems. The target is an adhesive that automates the supply of adhesive into the tank of an applicator that melts hot-melt adhesive and applies it to the object to be adhered, thereby enabling unattended operation of the applicator. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic feeding method and an automatic feeding device.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention calculates the consumption amount of the molten adhesive in the tank of the applicator using the number of objects to be applied with the molten adhesive in the tank of the applicator as an index, and also calculates the consumption amount of the molten adhesive in the tank of the applicator. The gist of the present invention is to provide an automatic adhesive supply method in which a lid provided on a tank is opened to replenish adhesive material when the number of adhesive materials reaches a predetermined number.

The present invention also provides a hopper for storing adhesive material as a device for carrying out the above method, a heating tank for heating and melting the adhesive material from this hopper, and a conveying device for continuously conveying objects to be adhered. and 4- a nozzle located above the conveyance device for applying the molten adhesive from the heating tank to the objects to be adhered, and a nozzle disposed near the conveyance device to count the number of objects to be adhered to which the adhesive has been applied; A counter that emits a signal when the count reaches a predetermined number, a detection member attached to the heating tank that emits a signal when the amount of adhesive material supplied from the hopper reaches a predetermined amount, and a signal from the counter The gist is an automatic adhesive supply device comprising a control device that opens a heating tank lid and an adhesive material supply valve, and closes the lid and supply valve according to a signal from the detection member. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an automatic adhesive supply device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1. 01 is a hot melt applicator;
The tank 2 is equipped with a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped tank 2 equipped with a heater at the bottom for melting hot melt, and a pump 3 is installed vertically at one end in the diagonal direction of two walls 2a of the tank 2. The pump 3 is connected via a hose 6 to nozzles 5, 5 arranged in parallel at a predetermined position above the belt conveyor 4.
5 is connected to an air supply source (not shown) via a hose 7.7, and as described above, air is supplied to the nozzle 5. is controlled, thereby adjusting the amount of hot melt discharged from the nozzle 5.degree. 5, and applying the hot melt to predetermined flaps 8a, 8a soil of the carton 8.

On the side of these nozzles 5, 50, there is a counter 1 that measures the amount of the carton 8 coated with hot melt when it is conveyed by the belt conveyor 4 in the direction shown by the arrow (A).
Place 0, counter 10 and controller 11 K
[[-j-ru. The controller 11 forms the central part of this device, receives various detection signals, generates control signals, and supplies these to each control system.

On the other hand, a rectangular hot melt supply hole 12 is provided at the other end of the tank-L wall 2a in the diagonal direction along the same length direction as the tank 2, and a frame 1 is provided along the end of the supply hole 12.
3 is erected, and a pair of long pieces 13 constituting this frame 13
Inlets 14, 14 are formed in the intermediate portions of a, 13a, and a light emitting element 15 and a light receiving element 16 as optical detection means are provided facing each other on the sides of the inlets 14, 14 as shown in FIG. The pixel elements 15 and 16 are connected to the controller 11, and the short pieces 13b and 1 are perpendicular to the long pieces 13a and 13a.
A lid 17 is integrally provided on one side of the pump 3 of the pump 3b so as to cover the frame 13.

An air cylinder 18 is pivotally attached 19 to the lower part of the side wall 2b of the tank 2 which is parallel to and adjacent to the long piece 13a of the frame 13, and the upper end of the piston rod 20 of the cylinder 18 is pivotally attached to one side of the lid 17. 21.

This cylinder 18 is connected to an air supply source (not shown) via a control valve 22, and compressed air is selectively supplied into the cylinder 18 by driving the control valve 22, and the lid 17 can be opened and closed by vertical movement of the rod 20. Further, a limit switch 23 is disposed near the base of the lid 17 so as to be in contact with the second surface 17a of the lid 17 at the upper limit of the rod 207-.
3 to the controller 11.

30 is a hopper filled with hot melt; hopper 30
A cylindrical chute 31 that slopes downward extends from the bottom of the hot melt supply hole 12 so as to face the negative side of the hot melt supply hole 12, and a connection part between the hopper 30 and the chute 31 is provided with a device for controlling the opening and closing of hot melt outflow. It is connected to the controller 11 via a solenoid valve 32. A movable chute 33 is fitted to the tip of the chute 31 so as to be able to slide freely.
1. One ends of links 34 and 35 of different lengths are pivotally attached to the upper end of each of the movable chutes 33, and the other ends of links 34 and 35 are arranged horizontally behind the shoes 1 and 31. The piston rod 38 of the air cylinder 36 is pivotally mounted 38 at a predetermined position.
a. The cylinder 36 is connected to an air supply source (not shown) via a control valve 39, and compressed air is selectively supplied into the cylinder 36 by driving the control valve 39, and the link mechanism 8- mentioned above is activated by moving the rod 38 back and forth. Move chute 33 through chute 31
It is constructed so that it can be moved along.

A limit switch 40 connected to the controller 11 is disposed at the forward limit of the piston rod 38 of the cylinder 36, and when the rod 38 reaches the forward limit, the movable chute 33 reaches the lower limit. It is located between the frame 13 surrounding the supply hole 12 and the lid 17 in an open state, and is set to face above the center of the supply hole 12. On the contrary, at the retracting limit of the rod 38, the movable chute 33 reaches its ascent limit, and a limit switch 41 connected to the controller 11 is disposed at this ascent limit.

In the above, since the consumption amount of the molten hot melt L in the tank 2 of the applicator 1 increases in proportion to the number of cartons 8 coated with hot melt, the consumption amount can be detected using the number of cartons 8 as an index. can.

First, the number of cartons 8 is counted by the counter 10, and when the number reaches a set value, a control signal is supplied from the controller 11 to the control valve 22 in response to the detection signal.
2 is driven. As a result, compressed air is supplied from the air supply source to the front side of the piston inside the cylinder 18, while being exhausted from the back side of the piston, the rod 20 rises, and the lid 17 of the hot melt supply hole 12 connected to the rod 20 opens. . When the rod 20 reaches its upper limit, the upper surface 17 of the lid 17
a contacts the limit switch 23, the limit switch 23 detects that the lid 17 is completely opened, and supplies the detection signal to the controller 11. controller 1
1 supplies a control signal to the control valve 22, and the supply of compressed air to the cylinder 18 is stopped. At the same time, the light emitting element 15 and the light receiving element 16 control the liquid level of the molten hot melt L in the tank 2. To detect. This not only guarantees the detection of the amount of molten hot melt (L) consumed, which is done indirectly by counting the number of cartons 8 with the counter 10, but also determines whether the solid hot melt S should actually be supplied into the tank 2. When the light receiving element 16 receives light from the light emitting element 15, a control signal is supplied from the controller 11 to the control valve 39 in response to the detection signal.

This drives the control valve 39, and compressed air is supplied from the air supply source to the front side of the piston inside the cylinder 36.
On the other hand, the air is exhausted from the back side of the piston, and the rod 38 moves forward.
Along with this, the movable chute 33 descends along the chute 31 via the link mechanism of both links 34 and 35.
When the rod 38 reaches its forward limit, the movable chute 33 reaches its lower limit, and a detection signal informing that it has fallen is supplied from the limit switch 40 to the controller 11.
The supply of compressed air into the hopper is stopped, and the
The solenoid valve 32 provided at the bottom of the valve 30 is driven to open it. As a result, the solid hot melt S filled in the hopper 30 flows out along the chute 31 and is supplied into the tank 2 from the lower end of the moving chute 33 through the supply hole 12. As shown in FIG. 2, when the deposited layer is deposited on the molten hot melt L in the tank 2 and blocks the light emitted from the light emitting element 15 toward the light receiving element 16, the detection signal is received. controller 11 supplies a control signal to solenoid valve 32 to close it;
The supply of the solid hot melt S is stopped and the solid hot melt S falls into the tank 2 from the lower end of the moving chute 33 during the supply as described above, causing the light emitting element 15
Although the light emitted from the light receiving element 16 is intermittently blocked,
only if it receives this light for more than a predetermined allowable time,
Since the electromagnetic valve 32 is closed and the supply of the solid hot melt S is stopped, the supply of the solid hot melt S is ensured until the deposited layer completely blocks light.

Next, at the same time as hot melt supply is stopped, the control valve 39 is driven to switch, and compressed air is supplied from the rear side of the piston in the cylinder 36, while being exhausted from the front side of the piston, causing the rod 38 to retreat. Along with this, the movable chute 33 rises, and when it reaches the upper limit, the limit switch 4
0 controller 11 in contact with 1 is limit switch 4
Upon receiving the detection signals 1 to 12-, a control signal is supplied to the other control valve 22 to switch and drive it. 0 As a result, as in the case of the cylinder 36 described above, compression is applied from the back side of the piston in the cylinder 18. Air is supplied and exhausted from the front side of the piston, causing the rod 20 to descend. The lowering of the rod 20 closes the lid 17 connected thereto.

The automatic supply of hot melt as described above is carried out by Counter 10.
When the number of cartons 8 counted reaches a predetermined value, the process is repeated. Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the second embodiment of the present invention. Identical parts are given the same reference numerals, and changed parts are explained. Then, a lid 117 for opening and closing the hot melt supply hole 12 is provided by sliding it on the frame 13, and the rod 120 of the air cylinder 118 is connected to the rear surface of the lid 117.
8 is connected to an air supply source (not shown) via a control valve 122 which is connected to the controller 111. and lid 117
Limit switches 142 and 123 connected to the controller 111 are respectively provided at the forward and backward limits of the hopper 130. On the other hand, a hopper 130 is provided above the supply hole 12, and a cylindrical chute 131 is suspended from the bottom of the hopper 130. The lower end of the chute 131 is arranged so as to face one side of -1 of the midpoint of the line segment connecting the light emitting element 15 and the light receiving element 16. A solenoid valve 132 is provided on the chute 131 and the chute is connected to the controller 111.

To briefly explain the operation of the above device, the counter 10
When the number of cartons 8 to be measured reaches a predetermined value, the control valve 122 is activated, compressed air is supplied to the front side of the piston in the cylinder 118, and on the other hand, it is exhausted from the front side of the piston.
The rod 120 is moved backward, and the lid 117 is moved back to the frame 13.
Move backward while sliding along. When the lid 117 reaches the retraction limit, the limit switch 123
17 is completely opened, and the supply of compressed air into the cylinder 118 is stopped. And this time, light emitting element 1
The liquid level of the molten hot melt in the tank 2 of the applicator 1 is detected by the light emitted from the light receiving element 16.
When it receives light from the light emitting element 15, the electromagnetic valve 132 opens, and the solid hot melt filled in the hopper 130 is supplied into the tank 2 through the supply hole 12 through the chute 131.

The decision to stop the supply of solid hot melt is made in the same manner as in the previous embodiment, and when the light receiving element 16 no longer receives light, the solenoid valve 132 closes and the control valve 122 switches to the switching drives 1 to 1.
Compressed air is supplied to the front side of the piston of the cylinder 118 and exhausted from the rear side of the piston, and the rod 120 moves forward, and the lid 117 slides forward and moves out of the air, and is completely closed at the forward limit. When the forward movement limit is reached, the supply of compressed air into the cylinder 118 is stopped by the limit switch 142.

In the above example, a carton was used as an example of the object to which hot melt is applied using an applicator, but the object to be adhered can be any object, and it can be applied to, for example, the bookbinding industry, the shoemaking industry, the electrical parts industry, the wood industry, etc. be.

As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, the amount of molten hot melt consumed in the tank of the applicator can be detected using the amount of the adherend as an index, and 15- solid hot melt can be automatically supplied into the tank. Therefore, the conventional inefficient manual supply can be abolished, and the entire apparatus can be operated unmanned, making it extremely practical.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the outline of the hot melt automatic supply device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 1 showing the second embodiment. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional example, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 4. In the drawing, 1 is the applicator, 2 is the tank, and 4 is the bell.
, a conveyor, 5 a nozzle, 10 a counter, 11 a controller, 15 a light emitting element, 16 a light receiving element, 17
30 is a hopper, and 32 is a solenoid valve. Patent applicant Gitsukoman Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney 1) Yobetsu Patent attorney Kuni Hiko Ohashi Patent attorney Yu16 Koyama

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Melting the adhesive material in a heating tank,
This molten adhesive is sent to a nozzle facing above the conveyance device, and the adhesive is applied to the objects to be adhered that are continuously transferred on the conveyance device through this nozzle, and the number of objects to be adhered to which the adhesive has been applied is counted. The automatic adhesive supply method is characterized in that when the counted number reaches a predetermined number, the lid of the heating tank is opened and the adhesive material is replenished into the tank from a hopper. (2) A hopper that stores adhesive material, a heating tank that heats and melts the adhesive material supplied from the hopper, a conveyance device that continuously conveys the object to be adhered, and a conveyance device located above the conveyance device. A nozzle that applies the molten adhesive from the heating tank to the objects to be adhered, a counter that is placed near the conveyance device and counts the number of objects that have been applied with adhesive, and a counter that is attached to the heating tank that applies the molten adhesive from the hopper. Automatic supply of adhesive, comprising a detection means for detecting the amount of adhesive material supplied to the tank, and a control device for opening and closing the lid of the heating tank and the supply valve of the adhesive material according to signals from the counter and the detection means. Device.