JPS6291279A - Vessel selecting shifter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a container sorting and transferring device, and particularly to a container sorting and transferring device that sorts containers such as bottles into normal ones and defective ones and transfers them to a predetermined position. Regarding equipment.

[Prior art]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a container sorting and transfer device as a device that inspects containers such as bottles for defects, sorts out defective containers and normal containers, and transfers the containers to predetermined positions. Conventionally, container sorting and transfer equipment is generally of the vacuum suction type, and such equipment is equipped with a star wheel that supports and transports containers and a suction unit that suctions the container body, and also transfers normal containers to the next one. It is equipped with a transport device for transporting to the process and a turntable for storing defective containers, and normal containers are transported by a star wheel to the transport device for transporting them to the next process. On the other hand, the defective container is supported by the star wheel and adsorbed by the suction unit, and is transported past the transport device and onto the turntable.

The reason for adopting this method of adsorbing only defective containers by the adsorption unit 1- is as follows.

In other words, the adsorption unit that adsorbs the container is connected to a vacuum source via a pilot valve, and when the pilot valve is operated, the vacuum path is communicated and the container is adsorbed. If the operation of the unit is reversed so that only normal containers are adsorbed, the frequency of operation of the pilot valve becomes abnormally high, resulting in severe damage to the pilot valve. This is because the proportion of defective containers is usually very small, about 11% (at most about 5%). Therefore, in order to reduce the frequency of operation of the pilot valve and avoid damage to the pilot valve, a method is adopted in which only defective containers are adsorbed.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, with the conventional method in which only defective containers are picked up by a suction unit and removed from normal containers, if a failure occurs in the vacuum pump or vacuum path, the degree of vacuum decreases and the defective containers that should be removed are removed from normal containers. There have been cases where problems have occurred such as contamination. In such a case, there is a risk that the defective container will be filled with beverage and shipped, which poses a quality control problem.

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a container sorting and transfer device with a simple structure that can eliminate the trouble of defective containers being mixed into normal containers. There is a particular thing.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a container sorting and transfer device that includes a star wheel that supports containers and a suction unit that adsorbs the body of the container, in which the star wheel is disposed below the star wheel. a fixed seal seat fixed to a member that rotationally supports the rotor seal, a rotor seal that rotates together with the star wheel and comes into contact with an end surface of the fixed seal seat, and an outer periphery of the rotor seal that corresponds to the suction unit. a pilot valve arranged as a vacuum source, the pilot valve having an inlet port communicating with the adsorption unit and two outlet ports, and a long groove-shaped vacuum in the fixed seal seat communicating with a vacuum source device. and a pneumatic port communicating with the pneumatic source device, and the rotor seal has a vacuum communication passage communicating the vacuum port with one outlet port of the pilot valve, and the rotor seal has a vacuum communication path communicating with the vacuum port and one outlet port of the pilot valve. A pneumatic communication path is formed that communicates between the pyrobe 1 and the other outlet port of the valve, and by operating the pilot valve, the adsorption unit is communicated with the vacuum communication path or the pneumatic communication path. This is a characteristic feature.

[For production]

The containers that have been inspected by the container inspection machine are transported to the container sorting and transfer device, where they are supported by a star wheel, and the container body is sucked by a suction unit and rotated and transferred. At this time, the adsorption unit is communicated with a vacuum communication passage through a pilot valve, and this vacuum communication passage is communicated with a long groove-shaped vacuum port communicated with a vacuum source device to supply vacuum. In the case of a normal container, it is adsorbed as it is by the suction unit and transferred to the conveyance device that transports it to the next process, while in the case of a defective container, a reject signal is sent during the rotational transfer by the star wheel and suction unit. enters, the pilot valve is actuated, and the adsorption unit is communicated with the pneumatic communication passage, and this pneumatic communication passage is temporarily communicated with the pneumatic port communicated with the air pressure source device to supply compressed air to the adsorption unit. , the container is removed from the adsorption unit.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, a container sorting and transfer apparatus according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the overall configuration of the bottle inspection machine, which includes a tank rotation conveyance device 1 (detailed structure is not shown) that revolves around the circumference of the bottle as it rotates. ), and a camera device 2 and an illumination device 3 are arranged to face each other so as to sandwich the tank rotation conveyance device 1 therebetween.

Container sorting and transfer device 10 is adjacent to the bottle rotation transfer device @1.
A reject bottle turntable 46 and a conveyor 47 for conveying normal bottles to the next process are provided adjacent to the container sorting and transferring device 10.

The container sorting and transferring device 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, and the star wheel rotating shaft 11 of the device 10 is connected to the casing 12.
It is rotatably supported by a bearing 13 housed inside. A fixed seal seat 1 is provided at the top of the casing 12.
As shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, this fixed seal seat 15 has a vacuum port 16 in the form of an arc-shaped long groove on one end surface, and a vacuum port 16 in the form of an arc-shaped long groove. A pneumatic port 17 located on the inner peripheral side of the vacuum port 16 and a pilot valve actuating pneumatic port 18 located on the outer peripheral side of the vacuum port 16 are respectively formed.

Further, a vacuum release hole 19 is formed in the fixed seal seat 15 near the terminal end of the vacuum port 16.

The vacuum port 16 is communicated with a vacuum pump (not shown) via a joint 20 and a communication vibrator 21, and the pneumatic port 17 is communicated with a pneumatic source device (not shown) via a solenoid valve SV.
(not shown).

Further, a rotor seal 23 is attached to the rotating shaft 11 via a key 22 so as to be rotated together with the star wheel rotating shaft 11, and the sealing surface of the rotor seal 23 is in contact with the fixed seal seat 15. The seal surface of the rotor seal 23 and the fixed seal seat 15 come into sliding contact with each other as the rotation lN111 rotates. A large number of pilot valves 28 are arranged around the outer periphery of the rotor seal 23 at predetermined intervals.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rotor seal 23 has a vacuum communication passage 24 that communicates the vacuum port 16 with the first outlet port 0UTI of the pilot valve 28, and a pneumatic port. 17 and the second output port 0IJT2 of the pilot valve 28, a pneumatic communication passage 25, a pylon], a pneumatic port 18 for valve operation, and a pilot valve 2.
8 operating pneumatic communication passages 26 are formed on the same radius line, and these communication passages 24, 25, 26 are formed at predetermined angles over the entire circumference.

Further, a spring mounting member 30 is integrally attached to the rotor @ 11 above the rotor seal 23, and a spring seat 32 is fitted to the lower end of a stud 31 that is suspended from the mounting member 30. A compression coil spring 33 is interposed between the rotor seals 23, and the urging force of the compression coil spring 33 causes the rotor seal 23 to contact the fixed seal seat 15 with a predetermined pressure.

On the other hand, a star wheel 35 is disposed at the top of the rotating shaft 11, and this star wheel 35 has a pair of plate-shaped bodies 36.37 and a predetermined interval between each of the plate-shaped bodies 36.37. The engaging piece 38 is screwed onto the lower plate-like body 36, and the engaging piece 39 is screwed onto the upper plate-like body 36. Then, an engagement recess 40 that engages with the body of the bottle 45 is formed by the engagement piece 38 and the engagement piece 39. The plate-shaped bodies 36 and 37 are configured to be mutually rotatable, and the size of the engagement recess 4o can be changed by changing the interval between the engagement pieces 38 and 39. An engaging recess 40 that can be engaged with the bottle can be formed (FIG. 3 shows the state of the engaging recess before and after adjustment).

Further, a suction cup 42 is attached to the engagement piece 38, and this suction cup 42 is communicatively connected to the inlet port IN of the pilot valve 28 via a communication vibrator 43.

Next, the operation of the container sorting and transferring apparatus 10 constructed as described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the communication path during normal operation when a normal bottle is transferred while being sucked by the suction cup 42;
The figure shows a schematic explanatory diagram of communication paths when rejecting defective bottles 1 to 1.

First of all, the platform rotating conveyor v! During the rotational conveyance of 11, the camera device 2 and the illumination device 3 cause y! A45 is inspected for defects. When the bottle 45 is transferred from the bottle rotation conveyance device 1 to the container sorting and transfer device 10, it is attracted to the suction cup 42 of the interlayer RI 10 and the star wheel 3
It is engaged with the engagement recess 4o of No.5. At this time, the communication path of the suction cup 42 is as shown in FIG. The rotor seal 23 is connected to the vacuum port 16 of the fixed seal seat 15 through the vacuum communication path 24, and the vacuum port 16 is also connected to the vacuum pump.
2 is supplied with vacuum.

If the bottle 45 is a normal bottle, the suction cup 4
Atmospheric air is introduced into the suction cup 42 when the vacuum communication path 24 of the rotor seal 23 communicates with the vacuum leasing hole 19 of the fixed seal seat 15. be done. Then, the normal bottle is released onto the conveyor 47, and this conveyor 47
is transported to the next process.

On the other hand, if the bottle 45 is a defective bottle, compressed air is discharged from the suction cup 42 and the defective bottle is transferred to the eject bottle turntable 46 . That is, as the star wheel 35 rotates, the rotor seal 23 rotates together with it, and when the operating pneumatic communication passage 26 of the rotor seal 23 approaches the operating pneumatic port 18 of the fixed seal seat 15, an inspection signal is generated. Based on this, the solenoid valve Sv operates, and compressed air is supplied to the operating pneumatic port 18. Then, compressed air is supplied to the operating bow +-sp of the pilot valve 28, and the pilot valve 28 is operated, and as shown in FIG.
This second outlet port 0UT2 is connected to the fixed seal seat 15 through the pneumatic communication passage 25 of the rotor seal 23.
As a result, the suction cup 42 is supplied with compressed air, and the defective bottles are transferred to the eject bottle turntable 46.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the description of the embodiments above, according to the present invention, containers that have been inspected are transported to a container sorting and transfer device, and are supported by a star wheel, and the container body is moved to a suction unit. It is adsorbed and rotated. At this time, the suction unit is communicated with a vacuum communication passage through a pilot valve, and this vacuum communication passage is communicated with a long groove-shaped vacuum port communicated with a vacuum source device to supply vacuum. In the case of a normal container, it is adsorbed as it is by the suction unit and transferred to the conveyance device that transports it to the next process, while in the case of a defective container, a reject signal is sent during rotational transfer by the star wheel and suction unit. enters, the pilot valve is actuated, and the adsorption unit is communicated with the pneumatic communication passage, and this pneumatic communication passage is temporarily communicated with the pneumatic port communicated with the air pressure source device, and compressed air is supplied to the adsorption unit. , the container is removed from the adsorption unit.

Therefore, all containers can be adsorbed by the -H adsorption unit and only defective containers can be rejected from this adsorption unit, so even if a failure occurs in the vacuum pump or vacuum path, defective containers will be rejected among normal containers. It is possible to eliminate troubles caused by contamination.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a bottle inspection machine including a container sorting and transfer device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the container sorting and transfer device, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of the same device. An exploded perspective view of
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the fixed seal seat of the same device, Fig. 6 (t) is a plan view of the fixed seal seat, Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the rotor seal of the same device, and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the rotor seal. , FIGS. 9 and 10 are explanatory diagrams showing the communication light path of the container sorting and transfer device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Container sorting transfer device, 15... Fixed seal seat, 16... Vacuum port, 17... Pneumatic port, 23
...Rotor seal, 24...Pneumatic communication passage, 28...
・Pilot valve, 35... Star wheel, 42...
- Suction cup, 45...bottle, 46...turntable. Applicant's agent Sato - male No. 1, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6 @ 2nd eye, 8th sentence

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container sorting and transfer device comprising a star wheel that supports containers and an adsorption unit that adsorbs container bodies,
a fixed seal seat disposed below the star wheel and fixed to a member that rotationally supports the star wheel;
The rotor seal is rotated integrally with the star wheel and is in sliding contact with the end face of the fixed seal seat, and a pilot valve is provided on the outer periphery of the rotor seal in correspondence with the suction unit. has an inlet port and two outlet ports communicating with the adsorption unit,
A long groove-shaped vacuum port communicating with a vacuum source device and a pneumatic port communicating with an air pressure source device are formed in the fixed seal seat, and the rotor seal is formed with the vacuum port and one of the pilot valves. A vacuum communication path that communicates with the outlet port and a pneumatic communication path that communicates the pneumatic port with another outlet port of the pilot valve are formed, respectively, and when the pilot valve is actuated, the adsorption unit is connected to the vacuum communication path or the pneumatic communication path. 2. The long groove-shaped vacuum port and the pneumatic port formed in the fixed seal seat are on the same radius line, and the pneumatic port is located near the center of the vacuum port. The container sorting and transfer device according to item 1. 3. The air pressure source device is used to operate the pilot valve, and communication between the air pressure source device and the pilot valve is as follows:
Container sorting and transfer according to claim 1, wherein the container sorting and transfer is carried out via a pilot valve operating pneumatic port formed in the fixed seal seat and a pilot valve operating communication passage formed in the rotor seal. Device.