JPS6331918A - Rotatable and retractable vessel holder and conveyor thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Industrial Utilization and Prior Art Soft drinks such as carbonated soda are now commonly
It is packaged in a well-known plastic container as an ET container and sold at retail to consumers. In addition, other plastic containers are used and developed for beer, salad dressings, and other foods, and for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other commercial products.

These plastic containers undergo a number of different operations and/or fillings on the container, including molding, cleaning, applying and curing a protective coating, labeling, and filling.

PROBLEM SOLVED BY THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus for handling plastic containers and transporting them through various work steps so that the entire external surface of the container is exposed to allow for desired spray painting or other operations. The purpose is to create a picture with In one form, the invention is suitable for containers having a threaded neck to protect the neck from paint or other damage. Other forms of the invention are suitable for containers with open ends, such as beer containers, to completely expose their external surface for g1n painting or other operations, while at the same time protecting the interior of the container from spray painting.

In addition, the device is suitable for use in a system in which it is possible to distinguish between a transport device carrying containers and a transport device not holding containers.

The container handling system in which the device according to the invention is used comprises:
Includes a pull-in conveyor for feeding freshly formed, unpainted plastic containers in single file to the container handling system. In a typical system, containers are received by a flight conveyor in an upright position. The conveyor is
A series of container holding devices of the present invention are timed and spaced to reorient the containers to a generally horizontal orientation on the transport container.

A carrier conveyor is positioned adjacent to the transfer conveyor to collect the reoriented containers and transport them through a series of finishing operations. The carrier conveyor includes an endless conveying member in the form of an endless chain suitable for mounting and driving. A series of container holding devices are adapted to the carrier chain for time and spaced movement of the containers on the transport conveyor. In one form of the invention, a container holding device advances, grips each container by its neck, removes it from the transport conveyor, and then moves the container to the next finishing operation. This mode of transport exposes the container all below its neck for painting, labeling, printing, etc., but protects the screws and the interior of the container. In another form of the invention, the container holding device moves forward and grips the container by its open end, in the case of beer containers, thereby providing the entire external surface of each container for painting, labeling, printing, etc. be exposed to.

In normal finishing operations, the B moving container holding device positions the container in the painting chamber and rotates the container within the painting chamber to ensure a complete and homogeneous coating and to provide sufficient rotation, thereby The coating is applied evenly without dripping or dripping, after which the container is passed through the curing open for 8 passes and 1M. Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.

If one or more container holding devices do not receive a container, in one configuration the unit U takes a separate path and does not enter the next finishing operation, such as painting. Because of the gripping that does not grip the container91
・If painted, it will contaminate the mechanism.

Means for Solving the Problem It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotatable and retractable container, in particular a plastic container, through a series of finishing operations, such as applying an external protective coating to the container, after which the coating is cured. so that the container is ready to receive consumable products such as carbonated soda, ketchup, beer, cosmetics, etc.
An object of the present invention is to provide a moving container holding device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for receiving, holding, rotating and moving containers through a series of finishing operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a configuration in which a container holding device that has not received a container follows a different route than a device that has received a container.

Another object of the invention is to grip the container by its neck;
The entire external surface of the container can be freely exposed for finishing operations such as painting, inspection, labeling and printing, but the threaded part of the neck and the inside of the container can be protected from painting or damage. An object of the present invention is to provide a container holding device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container which can be inserted into the open end of the container to grip the container, thereby exposing the entire external surface of the container for finishing operations such as painting, inspection labeling and printing. The holding device must be the same.

Other objects of the invention include moving containers in time and spacing with the container transport conveyor, reducing the spacing between the device and the container, engaging and removing the containers from the transport conveyor, and as needed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container holding device which rotates the container in order to perform protective coating or other operations in such cases.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container holding device that can cooperate with a container handling system to distinguish between holding devices that have received containers and those that have not received containers.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from understanding the accompanying instructions or practicing the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a container handling system IO includes a draw conveyor 12 that moves flat-sided containers 14 through a directional chute 16, where the containers are oriented with their sides 18 generally parallel to the direction of conveyance. For other containers with a cylindrical body, different types of chutes are used that are suitable for conveying the containers in single file to the conveying container. Conveyor Conhair 2
0 (FIG. 1) comprises an endless flight conveyor belt 24 for receiving individual containers located between successive flights, formed by sidewall members 26 evenly spaced along the conveyor surface. It includes a pull-in conveyor 22. The conveyor also includes a flighted body support conveyor 28 and has upright split members 30 for supporting and positioning the containers after they have been reoriented from a vertical position to a horizontal position. Typically, each flight includes a dividing member 30 and an intermediate smooth member distributed at a distance E, on which the container is placed horizontally. The shape and construction of these flight conveyor members is compatible with the shape of the containers illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The shape of the flight section of the transfer conveyor can be configured to form different container shapes as needed, including cylindrical container shapes, as disclosed in pending U.S. patent application no. You should understand that it can be modified as follows. The transport conveyor also includes a container neck support and positioning conveyor 34. The conveyor 34 includes a continuous support cradle 36
, the cradle 36 having an airfoil 38 to engage and support the neck of each container. Neck cradle 38 is centrally aligned with body support segment 32 and cooperates therewith to properly support and position the container on the transport conveyor. See Figures 3 and 4 for details.

Retraction, conveyance and neck conveyor segments 24.26
．． 30, 32 and 36 are each mounted for third movement in the conveying direction by suitable brackets (not shown) which secure them to a spaced chain conveyor 42. The transport conveyor is transported in a known manner over sprockets mounted on suitable drive shafts.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the conveyor also includes a neck-engaging guide 48 that reorients the moving container from a vertical to a horizontal direction. The containers are efficiently transported laterally from the inlet conveyor member to the body support conveyor and the neck support conveyor. Of course, it should be understood that each transport conveyor segment moves in time and spacing with the carrier conveyor 5o transporting the individual container holding devices 49. This is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Container transport conveyor 50 includes a conveyor 52 that moves in time and spacing with the transport conveyor and includes rail supports 56 and spaced supports 54 that support container holding mechanisms 49 at their outer ends.

The carrier conveyor mechanism includes a carrier chain 58 of dual links 60 (FIG. 5). The chain is cantilevered along runner rails 62,64 and is located above the outer chain 66 and below the runner surface of the inner chain 68. Pin member 70 is secured to the chain and extends substantially the entire length of container holding device 49. The carrier pins and chains are oriented to hold the container in a horizontal position while passing through finishing operations.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 9, each container holding device 49 is moved along path A and parallel to path B at timed intervals by the containers on the conveyor. do. In addition, the container holding devices are aligned with the respective containers so that by extending the device to intersect the space between the two parallel paths, each device engages the neck of the container. Grasp this. After the container is clamped, the transport conveyor and the carrier conveyor follow divergent paths, and the container holding device transports the container through successive finishing operations.

As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 9, the container handling device is cantilever-supported by a carrier chain 58 with a central mount mounted on the bin 70 for axial sliding movement. Inner housing 7
2, an outer housing 74 rotatably attached to the inner housing at 75, and a container gripping head 76 secured to an outer end 78 of the outer housing.

The inner housing 72 has a tubular central body 80 and a recess 86.
and an end flange 82 assembled to a disc-shaped cam follower 84 at. The cam follower and flange are secured by a suitable retainer ring 88. The inner housing assembly includes spaced sliding hair rings 9.
0.92 for axial sliding along the bin 70. A compression spring 94 overlies the bin 70 within the tubular centerbody 80 to load the recessed collar 96 and internal shoulder 98 of the recess 86.

Collar 96 is secured to bin 70 and spring tips 99 and 101 are retained by end flanges 82 and collar 96 to prevent rotation of the inner housing assembly relative to the bin.

Outer housing 74 includes an integral tube 102 and a flange 104 member. The flange fits in position 106 and receives a roller bearing 108 which fits into and is retained by a ring 110 in the tubular central body 80.

The outer periphery 112 of the flange provides a friction surface for rotating a cylindrical belt 114 by which the outer housing rotates.
It is falling into.

The outer end 78 of the housing 74 tapers in diameter to receive a suitably shaped container gripping head 76. The head has a spring loaded head 1 held in place by a cylindrical resilient collar 118 surrounding the head.
It is attached to the housing end 78 by a suitable fastener 116 such as 16. Preferably, the gripping head is an open-ended collet 120 that engages the end 78 of the outer housing.

The collet 120 (FIG. 6) is a cylinder with a cylindrical wall that is divided into several segments 122 by a slit 124 extending from the open end of the collet to about the midpoint of the cylindrical wall. Preferably, it is divided into three parts. These three segments work together to "grasp" the neck 14a of the container and provide support for the container. The inner contour +26 of the collet engages the outer contour of the neck 14a of the container. Collar 118 is elastic and surrounds the collet to urge the segment into position for engagement with the neck.

If necessary, the interior 130 of the gripping head can be protected by a diaphragm 134 loaded with a spring 132, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The diaphragm eliminates spraying other than onto the container during the spraying operation. Such excess paint will be deposited on the gripping head and
Regular cleaning is required as it reduces its efficiency.

The operation of the container holding device is best illustrated in the sequence of FIG. In the figure on the right, the conveyor chain 58
is supported by upper and lower cantilever set support rails. It should be understood that the bins are mounted in parallel and spaced from each other on a continuous endless carrier chain.

Internal support bin 70 is mounted through chain link hub 134 and extends internally over substantially the entire length of container retainer 49 . The free ends of the carrier members are supported by sliding or rotational friction by support and retention rails 54,56.

To load a container, cam follower 84 engages cam surface 13.
6 and causes the device 49 to extend axially against the compressive force of the internal spring 94. As the gripping heads 76 and containers 14 move relative to each other in time, the heads engage and secure the individual containers, as shown in the left-hand view of FIG. .

Since the engagement of the carrier cradle 38 with the container shoulder 14G is sufficient to maintain the head in the extended position,
The container holding device is a cam member 13 best seen in FIG.
It is observed that the gap 137 between 6 and 138 is sufficiently overcome. As mentioned above, a retaining device that is not engaged with a container will not have this retaining engagement and will therefore be retracted through the cam gap by the force of its internal spring 94 and will hold the container through container operations such as painting. following a path separate from the carrier supporting it.

10 and 1t respectively show 8 along the path of receiving the container, engaging the cam surface 138, and engaging in work.
8v along a path that does not engage the cam surface 138 and is not engaged in service because it does not receive a container.
FIG. In FIG. 1O, the device 49 positions the container 14 in a coating chamber +40, which receives the protective coating sprayed by the nozzle 142. The position of the container within the coating chamber is determined by the placement of the cam surface 138 on which the cam follower 84 acts. The frictional contact between the cam and follower also helps prevent rotation of the inner housing 8° on the bin 70. A pair of cooperating drive healds 144 on drive wheels 146 located on opposite sides of the holding device are driven in a common direction by the glaze 148. The drive belt engages belt member +14 for the purpose of rotating the outer housing and the container within the coating chamber. Such rotation of the container coats the container evenly and prevents the paint from dripping before it cures. It is observed that by gripping the neck of the container, the entire external surface of the container can be used as a protective coating. In addition, the neck itself and the interior of the container, which do not require painting, are 414 shielded from painting.

The preliminary chamber 150 houses a vibrator 152, which contains water H+s4.
into the painting room to maintain the desired level of humidity within the painting room. In FIGS. 1O and 11, the vessel holding device is oriented horizontally and moves vertically from rails 62 and 64 secured to bracket 156 through the coating chamber supported by a set of cantilevers.

The container holding device in FIG. 11 is not engaged in work because it is not receiving containers from the conveyor.

Thus, the device 49 moves without rotation with its head fully retracted within the reserve chamber and the cam follower 84 is not engaged with the cam surface 138.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in Figures 12-14. As shown in FIG. 1-11, the container holding device 49 includes an inner pin member 7o, an inner housing 72, and a container gripping shaft 1.
an outer housing 74 having an outer end 78 for receiving 1i0. This modified embodiment of a container holding device having a mandrel 160 is particularly suitable for receiving open-ended cylindrical containers 162, which are typically used for packaging beer. The mandrel includes a generally cylindrical body with a bevel at its leading edge 165 for ease of insertion into the end of the container. The mandrel has an axial bore 166 and suitable fasteners (not shown) to quickly attach and remove the mandrel. The outer surface 168 of the mandrel is disposed with a plurality of grooves 169 to receive an O-ring 170 and engage the inner surface 171 of the container to retain the container on the mandrel.

The container holding device cooperates with the transport conveyor 28 in the manner described in FIGS. 1-11. In Figures 12-14, which illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention, the transport conveyor fits into a series of container pockets or cradles 172;
A container 162 is received from a supply system (not shown). Each container pocket includes an upwardly open V-shaped central body 174. It is open at one end 176 and closed at the other end 178 by an upright wall 180. Each pocket is attached to the conveyor by a suitable linkage 182.

The conveyor further includes an eight shift overhead pressure belt 184, which is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.
the top of each container in the manner described in issue (year, month, date). An overhead belt gently compresses and holds each container in its cradle.

During operation, the container holding device and the transport conveyor are timed and spaced eight times with respect to each other, and the container holding device engages the open end of the container, as described above. In FIG. 12, the mandrel engages the inner open end of the container, thereby exposing the entire outer surface of the container for painting, labeling, printing, and other operations.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications to the container holding device may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cutaway elevational view of a container transport system using the present invention, including a pick-up conveyor, a transfer conveyor, and a container holding device conveyor; FIG. 2 shows containers being reoriented from a vertical to a horizontal direction; , a sketch corresponding to FIG. 1 illustrating the continuous operation of loading containers onto the container gripping mandrel of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a side view of a flight conveyor holding containers in a horizontal position; FIG. 4 is an elevational view corresponding to Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 shows the mounting configuration of the container gripping shaft and the receiver:
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the components of one embodiment of the container gripping head; FIG. and FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a modified embodiment of a container gripping head with a protective diaphragm inside the head and the sequence of gripping the neck of the container; FIG. FIG. 10 is an elevational view showing the sequence of movement of the carrier conveyor and container holding and rotating device; FIG. Elevation view, Figure 11 shows the relative position of the device without a container loaded into the gripping head (the gripping head is retracted and moves outside the spray chamber and is protected from the spray); FIG. 12 shows a modified example of the present invention; FIG. The figure is an end view of the container handling device and carrier conhair of FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the mandrel conveyed by the container handling 'A H of FIG. 12. 10... Container handling system, 12 ... Feed conveyor, 14... Flat side container, 14a... Container neck, 14c... Ring neck, 14d... Shoulder, 14
g...Shoulder part, 16...Direction chute, 18...Side LL 20...8 feed conveyor, 22...Retraction conveyor, 24...Infinite flight conveyor belt, 26...Side wall member , 28... Main body support conveyor, 30... Upright dividing member, 32... Intermediate smooth member, 34... Support and positioning conveyor, 36... Support cradle, 3
8... Airfoil cradle member, 40... Bracket,
42... Chain conveyor, 44... Sprocket, 46... Drive shaft, 48... Neck engagement guide, 49
... Container carrier mechanism, 50 ... Container transport conveyor, 52 ... Conveyor, 54 ... Support part, 56 ...
Holding portion, 58...Carrier chain, 60...Double link, 62.64...Runner rail, 66...Outer chain, 68...Inner chain, 70...Inner support bin, 72... ... Inner housing, 74... Outer housing, 76... Container gripping head, 78... Outer end of outer housing, 80... Tubular central body, 82
... End flange, 84 ... Disc-shaped cam follower, 86
...Recess, 88...Retaining ring, 90.92...
・Sliding bearing, 94... Compression spring, 96... Collar, 98... Shoulder, 102... Integral tube, 104...
... Flange, 106 ... Recess, 108 ... Roller bearing, 110 ... Ring, 112 ... Outer periphery, 114 ... Cylindrical belt, 116 ... Spring loaded rivet, 118 ... Cylindrical elastic collar, 120.
...Container with open end, 121...Cylindrical wall, 122...
Segment, 124...Slit, 126...Inner contour, 128...Outer contour, 130...Inside of gripping head, 132...Spring, 134...Diaphragm, 136...Cam member, 137...Gap, +38・
...Cam member, 140... Painted member, 141... Protective coating, +42... Nozzle, 144... Drive belt, 146... Drive wheel, 148... Shaft, 150...
・Preliminary room, 152...pipe, 154...water H11
56... Bracket, 160... Container gripping mandrel, 1
62... Open end cylindrical container, 164... Cylindrical body portion, 165... Front edge, 166... Axial bore, 1
68...Outer surface, 169...Groove, 170...0
Ring, 171... Internal surface, 172... Cradle, 174... ■-shaped central body, 176... End, 1
78... End, +80... Upright wall, 182... Linkage device, +84... Overhead pressure belt.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A container holding device for mounting a transport unit for receiving and gripping containers for transport through one or more work stations, comprising: an elongated spindle for mounting at one or both ends of the transport unit; an inner housing including a tubular portion receiving the spindle therein; a cam follower forming part of the inner housing at an end adjacent the transport unit; and an inner housing integrally mounted for telescopic movement relative to the spindle. and a cam follower, means for urging the inner housing into an initial extended position relative to the spindle, an outer housing attached to the other end of the inner housing for rotation about the axis of the spindle, and a neck of the container. an outer housing having means for engaging and gripping the apparatus, the apparatus being mounted for movement from a first retracted position to a second retracted position to receive a container. container holding device. (2) A container holding device for gripping the neck of a container for movement by a conveyor, including an elongated spindle member and an inner housing slidably mounted in the axial direction of the spindle between a first position and a second position. an outer housing rotatably mounted at one end on the inner housing; and an outer housing capable of both sliding and rotational movement relative to the spindle; A container holding device comprising a container gripping member at the other end of the outer housing and means for attaching the device to a conveyor. (3) In a conveyor having a container holding device for receiving and gripping containers as they are moved through one or more operations, a plurality of elongated attachment members attached to one end of the conveying unit and an interior surface receiving a spindle therein. a housing, an inner housing mounted for telescoping movement relative to the mounting member, means for urging the inner housing into a first telescoping position relative to the mounting member; an outer housing attached to the other end, the outer housing having means for engaging and gripping the neck of the container, and moving each device from a first extended position to a second extended position for gripping the container by the neck; a means forming part of the conveyor for moving the conveyor up to (4) a conveyor for receiving, holding, and moving open-ended containers, including a plurality of endless conveyor members mounted and driven in a condition suitable for circulation through a conveying path through one or more finishing operations; means on said conveyor member for mounting a container holding and rotating device;
the apparatus including an elongate support member attached at one end to a conveyor mounting member and having a longitudinal axis;
an inner housing recessed into a support member for telescoping movement along said axis; means for urging said inner housing into a first telescoping position adjacent said conveyor member; and longitudinal movement and rotation relative to said axis. an outer housing having an outer housing movably recessed into the inner housing, means recessed into the outer housing for receiving and retaining a container, and means by which the container is rotatable; said conveyor having means for movably engaging said apparatus from a longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position, whereby said apparatus moves through said container operations over time and intervals. a conveyor, characterized in that the conveyor is mounted to grip and hold a series of containers moving together in longitudinal alignment. (5) The conveyor according to claim 4, wherein the means for receiving and holding the container comprises a mandrel that engages and grips the internal surface of the container at the open end of the container. .