TW201400362A - Container supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

When a conveyor chain 10 to which a retainer 12 housing a cup-shaped container 2 is attached becomes elongated, a gripper 44 is moved horizontally when the container 2 is retrieved from a suction cup 46 positioned above and passed to a retainer 12 positioned below. In a container supply device 1, comprising a transfer device 36 which retrieves a cup-shaped container 2 from a cup magazine 34 positioned above and transfers the container 2 to a retainer 12 attached to a chain 10 of a transport conveyor 4 positioned below, between the suction cup 46 of the transfer device 36 and the transport conveyor 4 are provided a gripper 44 which grasps and transfers the container 2, an elevator mechanism 90 which raises and lowers the gripper 44, and horizontal moving devices 98 and 102 which move the gripper 44 horizontally. If the chain 10 elongates over time, the gripper 44 which grasps and lowers the container 2 can be moved horizontally and aligned with the position of the retainer 12.

Description

Container supply device

The present invention relates to a container supply device which supplies, for example, a container such as a pudding or a jelly to a container accommodating portion of a holder which is provided on a conveyor chain of the container conveying mechanism and which is intermittently conveyed.

A filling line for filling a pudding or jelly or the like into a container, having a container conveying mechanism which is mounted with a holder at a predetermined interval on the conveying chain, and a plurality of containers for holding the container are formed on the holder In the accommodating portion (container accommodating hole), the container is stored in each of the holders, and the container is intermittently transported, and the container is sequentially stopped in the filling portion, the sealing portion, the trimming portion, and the like provided in the middle of the transport path, and sequentially Filling, sealing, and trimming. As is well known, there is a container supply device for supplying a container to a container conveying mechanism in such a filling line (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

According to the invention described in Patent Document 1, a container conveying device comprising a plate conveyor in which a plurality of slats are continuously attached to a chain is provided, and the slats are provided with a container holding hole in a row, and the slats are intermittently driven. When the supply position is stopped, the container is supplied from the container supply device.

[Practical Technical Literature] [Patent Literature]

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-253412

In the conventional container transfer device, a plurality of slats (in the present invention, a holder) having a plurality of container accommodating holes are attached to the chain at equal intervals, and the chain is stretched over a certain period of time. When the extension of the chain is increased, the container is displaced from the container accommodating hole of the holder when the container is supplied, and therefore it is necessary to move the container supply unit by a distance corresponding to the amount of extension of the chain. However, in the case of a high-performance device having an automatic supply device or the like, there is a problem that the container supply unit is enlarged, and the adjustment work requires a large labor force.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a container supply device having: a transfer mechanism for taking out and transferring a container from a supply portion; a holding mechanism for receiving and holding a container transferred by the transfer mechanism at a delivery position; and lifting The mechanism for raising and lowering the holding mechanism, the container supply device supplies the container to the container accommodating portion of the holder mounted on the transport chain and intermittently conveyed by lowering the holding mechanism, the characteristics of the container supply device The horizontal moving mechanism is provided, and the horizontal moving mechanism horizontally moves the holding mechanism along the conveying direction of the conveying chain, so that the container received by the holding mechanism at the delivery position can be horizontally moved.

Further, the second aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect of the invention, a detecting means for detecting the extension of the transport chain is provided, and when the transport chain is extended, during the lowering operation of the holding means of the holding container, After the holding mechanism moves the distance corresponding to the amount of extension of the conveyor chain in the horizontal direction, the container is supplied to the container accommodating portion of the holder.

The holding mechanism is moved up and down by the lifting mechanism, and the holding mechanism can be horizontally moved along the conveying direction by the horizontal moving mechanism. The holding mechanism receives the container from the transfer mechanism that is taken out from the supply portion and transports the container, and is supplied to the lower side. The holder of the conveyor chain, thus, when the chain is extended, by moving the lowering holding mechanism horizontally, the position of the held container and the holder can be aligned without changing the position at which the container is transferred. Therefore, do not move the container for In the case of a unit, the container can be reliably supplied to the holder.

1‧‧‧Container supply unit

2‧‧‧ Container (cup container)

2a, 46a‧‧‧Flange

4‧‧‧Container transport mechanism (container conveyor)

6‧‧‧ driven side chain gear

8‧‧‧Drive side chain gear

10‧‧‧Transport chain

12‧‧‧ Keeper

12a‧‧‧Container storage unit (container storage hole)

16‧‧‧Filling device

18‧‧‧ Sealing device

18a‧‧‧ Sealing head

20‧‧‧ trimming device

20a‧‧‧cutting the head

22‧‧‧ Film

22a‧‧‧Residual

24‧‧‧Change Roller

26‧‧‧Drive roller

28‧‧‧ idler roller

30‧‧‧ discharge roller

32‧‧‧Roller

34‧‧‧Supply Department (cup case)

36‧‧‧Transfer institutions

38‧‧‧Container separation mechanism

40‧‧‧Upper stop

40a, 42a‧‧ ‧ cylinder

42‧‧‧ Lower stop

44‧‧‧Maintenance mechanism (fixture)

44a, 44b‧‧‧Clamping members

46‧‧‧Adsorption cup

48‧‧‧ side wall

50‧‧‧ pillar

52‧‧‧ horizontal support board

54‧‧‧Installation board

56‧‧‧Rotating shaft for suction cup lifting

57‧‧‧ bearing

58‧‧‧ Gearbox

60‧‧‧ motor

62, 76, 82‧‧‧ rails

64, 80, 84, 114, 116‧‧‧ sliders

66, 78‧‧‧ lifting block

68, 92‧‧‧ shake rod

70‧‧‧ Connecting rod

72‧‧‧Adsorption cup rotation axis

74‧‧‧Motor cup rotation motor

86‧‧‧ horizontal moving board

88‧‧‧Clamp mounting plate

90‧‧‧ Lifting mechanism (drive motor)

94‧‧‧ Connecting rod

96‧‧‧ Gear rotation axis

98‧‧‧Horizontal moving mechanism (gear)

100‧‧‧Gear drive motor

102‧‧‧Horizontal moving mechanism (rack)

104‧‧‧Control device

106‧‧‧Right clamping member moving plate

108‧‧‧ Left clamping member moving plate

110, 112‧‧‧ horizontal rails

118‧‧‧Support sales

120‧‧‧ horizontal rotating rod

122‧‧‧Operating rod

124‧‧‧Clamp opening and closing motor

130, 132, 134‧‧ ‧ sensors

140‧‧‧Test piece

A‧‧‧ container supply location

B‧‧‧fill position

C‧‧‧ Sealed position

D‧‧‧ trimming position

E‧‧‧Transfer direction

F‧‧‧Remove location

G‧‧‧ handover location

H‧‧‧ opposite direction

Fig. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a container filling and sealing device having a container supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. (Example 1)

2(a) to 2(c) are explanatory views sequentially showing a process of supplying a container taken out from the supply unit of the container to the holder of the transport chain.

3 is a side view showing a moving mechanism and a driving portion of the holding mechanism.

4(a) and 4(b) are views showing a drive unit of the transfer mechanism, wherein (a) is a plan view and (b) is a front view.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view showing a transfer unit and a drive unit of the holding mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a holding mechanism.

7(a) and 7(b) are views for explaining the operation of the container supply device, wherein (a) shows a state in which the chain is not stretched, and (b) shows a state in which the chain is stretched.

8 (a) to (c) are explanatory views for sequentially explaining the operation of the container supply device according to the second embodiment, and (d) is an explanatory view for explaining the configuration of the detecting mechanism for detecting the extension of the transport chain. (Example 2)

An apparatus comprising: a transfer mechanism that takes out and transports a container one by one from a container supply unit that stacks and stores a plurality of cup-shaped containers; and a holding mechanism that receives and holds a container transferred by the transfer mechanism at an upper transfer position; and a lifting mechanism Lifting and lowering the holding mechanism, the device lowers the container received by the transfer mechanism from the transfer mechanism and supplies it to the container accommodating portion of the holder, and the holder is attached to the transport chain of the container transport mechanism disposed below at equal intervals, and The device is provided with a horizontal moving mechanism that causes the holding mechanism to move horizontally along the conveying direction of the conveyor chain, and when the conveyor chain is extended over time, the lowering is maintained by the horizontal moving mechanism The mechanism moves horizontally, thereby aligning the supplied container with the position of the retainer that is misaligned due to the extension of the conveyor chain. Therefore, even in the case where the conveyor chain is stretched, The purpose of reliably feeding the container to the holder can be achieved.

[Example 1]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. A container filling and sealing device having the container supply device (indicated by the numeral 1 as a whole) of the embodiment is intermittently conveyed by a container conveying mechanism (container conveyor) 4 in a shape of an upper large diameter and a downward diameter diameter. The cup-shaped container 2 (see FIG. 2 and the like) is sequentially stopped at the respective container processing positions such as the filling position B, the sealing position C, and the trimming position D, and the respective processes are performed.

In the container conveyor 4, a pair of conveyor chains 10 are wound on both sides of the driven side sprocket 6 and the drive side sprocket 8 disposed on both sides of the upstream portion (the right side in FIG. 1) and the downstream portion (see In Fig. 5) described herein, a plurality of holders 12 are mounted between the two side chains 10. Further, a drive mechanism (not shown) is connected to the drive side sprocket 8 to intermittently drive the transport chain 10. Each of the holders 12 is formed with a plurality of (four in this embodiment) container accommodating portions (container accommodating holes 12a) at equal intervals (see FIG. 2(c)), and the cup-shaped containers 2 are held in the respective container accommodating holes. Transfer within 12a. The cup-shaped container 2 is formed with a flange 2a at the periphery of the opening, and the flange 2a is placed and held on the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the container accommodating hole 12a of the holder 12.

Above the upstream portion of the container conveyor 4, a container supply device 1 for supplying the cup-shaped container 2 to the holder 12 (this supply position is referred to as a container supply position A) is provided. The filling position B is provided on the downstream side of the container supply position A, and the filling device 16 for filling the contents of the liquid or the like into the cup-shaped container 2 conveyed by the container conveying belt 4 is provided at the filling position B. The sealing position C and the trimming position D are sequentially disposed on the downstream side of the filling position B, the sealing device 18 is disposed at the sealing position C, and the trimming device 20 is disposed at the trimming position D.

The film 22 as a cover material is supplied between the upper portion of the opening of the cup-shaped container 2 conveyed by the container transfer belt 4 and the lower surface of the sealing head 18a of the sealing device 18 and the trimming head 20a of the trimming device 20. . The cover material film 22 is pulled out from a roll film provided outside the container filling and sealing device, and introduced into the container filling and sealing device by an introduction roller or the like (not shown). The cover material film 22 introduced into the container filling sealing device is oriented by the direction changing roller 24 The conveying direction of the container conveyor 4 (refer to the arrow symbol E in Fig. 1) is reversed, and thereafter, the driving roller 26, the idle roller 28, and the like are pulled down to the conveying surface of the container conveying belt 4, and then supplied to the sealing device 18. And below the trimming device 20.

The sealing device 18 provided at the sealing position C moves the sealing head 18a up and down by the operation of a cylinder (not shown), and when the cup-shaped container 2 intermittently conveyed by the container conveying belt 4 stops under the sealing head 18a The cylinder is operated to lower the seal head 18a, and the cover material film 22 is pressed against the opening of the cup-shaped container 2, thereby welding the film 22 to the upper surface of the flange 2a of the cup-shaped container 2. Further, the trimming device 20 also raises and lowers the trimming head 20a by the operation of a cylinder (not shown), and operates the cylinder when the cup-shaped container 2 conveyed by the container conveyor 4 stops below the trimming head 20a. The trimming head 20a is lowered, and the peripheral portion of the film 22 welded to the flange 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 is cut and separated from the main body portion of the sheet-like film 22. The residual portion 22a of the sheet-like film 22 from which the cover portion is cut is wound onto the drum 32 by the discharge roller 30 or the like.

Next, the configuration of the container supply device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. A container supply unit (cup case 34) is disposed in an upright state above the container supply position A, and the container supply unit is stacked and stored in an inverted state (the bottom portion is upward and the flange portion 2a on the opening side is downward). Cup-shaped container 2 (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown in an enlarged manner). In the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction E of the container conveyor 4, a plurality of cup cases 34 (four in this embodiment) are arranged side by side at the same interval as the interval formed in the container accommodating hole 12a of the holder 12. .

A container separating mechanism 38 is provided on both sides of the lower end portion of the cup case 34, and the container separating mechanism 38 houses the lowermost container 2 among the plurality of cup-shaped containers 2 housed in the cup case 34 in a stacked state. The container 2 is separated and delivered to the lower transfer mechanism 36 (refer to Fig. 3). As shown in an enlarged view in Fig. 2, the container separating mechanism 38 has a pair of upper stoppers 40 disposed on a lower side than the lower end opening portion of the cup case 34, and is disposed below the upper stopper 40. A pair of lower stops 42 on both sides. The upper and lower stoppers 40 and 42 move forward and backward between the forward position engaged with the flange 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 housed in the cup case 34 and the retracted position which is not engaged by the operation of the air cylinders 40a and 42a, respectively. . The upper stopper 40 and the lower stopper 42 are arranged at intervals substantially equal to each other with a distance between the flanges 2a of the stacked cup-shaped containers 2. Lower stop 42 facing the cup When the direction of the case 34 advances, it enters the lower surface side of the flange 2a of the lowermost cup-shaped container 2 housed in the cup case 34, and the upper stopper 40 advances toward the cup case 34, and is inserted to the lowermost position. The flange 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 is located between the flange 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 and the flange 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 above it.

The transfer mechanism 36 is provided below the cup case 34, and the transfer mechanism 36 transfers the cup-shaped container 2 taken out from the cup case 34 to the holding mechanism 44 disposed below. The transfer mechanism 36 has a plurality of suction cups 46, and the suction cup 46 is taken out from the cup case 34 at a position F above the position of the cup-shaped container 2 (the position shown in FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 3) and The cup-shaped container 2 is delivered to the lower transfer position G (the position shown in FIG. 2(b)) of the holding mechanism 44, and at the same time, the suction cup 46 can be rotated by 180 degrees, and the flange 2a can be taken out downward. The cup-shaped container 2 is turned over so that the flange 2a faces upward and is delivered to the holding mechanism 44.

The structure of the transfer mechanism 36 will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5 . The transfer mechanism 36 has four suction cups 46 that respectively suck and take out the cup-shaped containers 2 housed in the respective cup cases 34. Each of the suction cups 46 has a flange 46a having substantially the same diameter as the flange 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 on the opening side, and a vacuum is formed on the inner side by an adsorption mechanism (not shown), and the flange 46a is tightly attached thereto. In the state of the flange 2a of the cup-shaped container 2, the cup-shaped container 2 is adsorbed from the inner side.

On the side wall 48 (refer to FIG. 5) of the frame disposed on both sides of the container conveyor 4, the horizontal support plate 52 is disposed across the container conveyor 4 by the upright pillar 50, and both ends of the horizontal support plate 52 are provided. An upright mounting plate 54 is fixed to the portion. The suction cup lifting/lowering rotating shaft 56 is rotatably supported by a bearing 57 (see FIG. 4(b) so as to straddle between the mounting plates 54. A gearbox is attached to a central portion of the suction cup lifting rotary shaft 56. The rotation of the motor 60 is transmitted by the gears in the gear case 58 to rotate the suction cup lifting/lowering shaft 56.

A pair of guide rails 62 are respectively fixed along the support post 50 on the upper surfaces of the side walls 48 of the frame. The lift block 66 is supported by the pair of guide rails 62 disposed on both sides by the slider 64 so as to be movable up and down. One end of the swing lever 68 is connected to both end portions of the suction cup lifting shaft 56, and the other end of the swing lever 68 is connected to one end of the connecting rod 70. The other end of the connecting rod 70 is rotatably coupled to the lifting block 66, and when the rotating cup lifting shaft 56 is rotated, the lifting block 66 is rotated by the lever 68 and the connecting rod 70 are raised and lowered.

The suction cup rotating shaft 72 disposed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction E of the container conveying belt 4 is rotatably supported between the lifting blocks 66 on both sides, and the suction cup rotating shaft 72 is attached to the suction cup at the end thereof. The rotation motor 74 rotates. The suction cup 46 is attached to the suction cup rotation shaft 72 at an interval equal to the interval of the cup case 34. As the suction cup rotation shaft 72 rotates, the suction cup 46 comes out of the cup container 2 from the cup case 34. The upper position (see FIG. 2(a)) is rotated by 180 degrees between the downward position (see FIG. 2(b)) in which the cup-shaped container 2 is delivered to the lower holding mechanism 44.

Next, the configuration of the holding mechanism 44 (clamp), the elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the holding mechanism 44, and the horizontal moving mechanism for moving the holding mechanism 44 in the horizontal direction will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6. The holding mechanism 44 receives the cup-shaped container 2 from the transfer mechanism 36 and delivers it to the holder 12 of the container conveyor 4. Two upright guide rails 76 are respectively fixed to the outer sides of the two side walls 48 of the frame. The lifting block 78 that faces the conveying direction E of the container conveyor 4 is supported by the slider 80 between the two rails 76 in a freely movable manner. Horizontal guide rails 82 are fixed to the lifting blocks 78 on both sides. The horizontal moving plate 86 is fixed to the guide rail 82 by a slider 84. The jig mounting plate 88 is fixed between the horizontal moving plates 86 on both sides so as to straddle the upper side of the container conveyor 4.

One end of the rocking rod 92 is connected to the driving side of the driving motor 90 (refer to FIG. 3) provided on the ground, and one end of the connecting rod 94 is connected to the other end side of the rocking rod 92, and the lifting block 78 is connected to the connecting rod 94. The other end (upper end). Therefore, the lift block 78 is lifted and lowered by the rocking lever 92 and the connecting rod 94 under the driving of the drive motor 90.

Further, the gear rotating shaft 96 is rotatably supported between the lifting blocks 78 on both sides so as to be parallel to the jig mounting plate 88. The gear 98 is fixed to both ends of the gear rotating shaft 96, and the two gears 98 are rotated by the gear driving motor 100 (refer to FIG. 6) provided at one end of the gear rotating shaft 96. On the other hand, the horizontal moving plates 86 on both sides are fixed with horizontal racks 102 facing the conveying direction E of the container conveyor 4, and are respectively engaged with the gears 98. because When the gear rotating shaft 96 rotates with the operation of the gear driving motor 100, the gear 98 rotates, and the rack 102 meshing with the gear 98 moves in the horizontal direction along the conveying direction E of the container conveyor 4. With the movement of the rack 102, the jig mounting plate 88 moves in the horizontal direction. The drive of the gear drive motor 100 is controlled by the control device 104 (see FIG. 6), and the gear 98 is rotated in accordance with the required amount of movement of the jig 44 (the amount of movement of the rack 102). These racks 102 and gears 98 constitute a horizontal moving mechanism for moving the clamp 44 horizontally. Further, the drive motor 90 that raises and lowers the horizontal moving plate 86 to which the jig attachment plate 88 is fixed constitutes a lifting mechanism of the jig 44.

Two plates (the right grip member moving plate 106 and the left grip member moving plate 108) are arranged in parallel on both sides of the jig mounting plate 88. Two horizontal rails 110 and 112 are fixed to both sides of the clamp mounting plate 88, and the guide rails 110 and 112 are engaged with the sliders 114 and 116 fixed to the sides of the two-side clamping member moving plates 106 and 108, thereby It moves in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction E of the container conveyor 4. The plurality of holding members 44a and 44b are attached to the both side holding member moving plates 106 and 108 at equal intervals so as to face the conveying direction E of the container conveying belt 4. Each of the sandwiching members 44a attached to the right gripping member moving plate 106 and each of the sandwiching members 44b attached to the left gripping member moving plate 108 are grouped together, and each of the left and right gripping members 44a and 44b is opened and closed. A set of clamps 44 to hold and release the cup-shaped container 2.

The fulcrum pin 118 (see FIG. 6) is attached to the vicinity of the end portion (the right end of FIG. 6) close to the jig attachment plate 88, and the center portion of the horizontal rotation lever 120 is rotatably supported by the fulcrum pin 118, and the jig attachment plate 8 is located The clamping members on both sides move the middle of the plates 106, 108. One ends of the side sandwiching member moving plates 106, 108 are connected to both end portions of the horizontal rotating lever 120. One end portion (lower end portion of FIG. 6) of the horizontal rotation lever 120 is connected to one end of a lever 122 for operating the clamp member moving plate, and the other end of the operation lever 122 is eccentrically connected to the clamp opening/closing motor 124. The jig opening/closing motor 124 is fixed to one side wall 48 (the side wall on the right side of FIGS. 5 and 6) of the frame. The horizontal rotation lever 120 can be reciprocally rotated by the operation lever 122 by the clamp opening/closing motor 124. With the rotation of the horizontal rotating lever 120, the both side clamping member moving plates 106, 108 are moved in opposite directions, so that the two holding members 44a, 44b can be brought close to or separated from each other. In this embodiment, if the horizontal rotation lever 120 is rotated in the clockwise direction of FIG. 6, Then, the right grip member moving plate 106 moves toward the right of the drawing, and the left grip member moving plate 108 moves toward the left side of the drawing, and the two grip members 44a, 44b are separated to release the jig 44 (refer to the right half of FIG. 6) Fixture 44). On the other hand, if the horizontal rotation lever 120 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 6, the right grip member moving plate 106 is moved toward the left side of the drawing, and the left grip member moving plate 108 is moved toward the right side of the drawing, two grips. The members 44a, 44b are close to each other to lock the jig 44 (refer to the jig 44 on the left half side of Fig. 6).

The operation of the container filling and sealing device having the above configuration will be described. The cup-shaped container 2 is housed in the supply portion (cup case 34) of the cup-shaped container 2 in a state in which the opening portion (the flange 2a side) is stacked downward, and the lowermost container 2 of the cup case 34 is taken out by the transfer mechanism 36. . At this time, the lower stopper 42 of the container separating mechanism 38 advances and is engaged with the flange 2a of the lowermost cup-shaped container 2 in the cup case 34 to be supported.

In this state, the suction cup rotation shaft 72 is rotated by the suction cup rotation motor 74, and the suction cup 46 attached to the rotation shaft 72 faces the opening (the flange 46a side) upward. In this state, the adsorption head raising/lowering rotary shaft 56 is rotated by the motor 60, and the lifting block 66 is raised by the swing lever 68 and the connecting rod 70. When the lifting block 66 is raised to the limit, the flange 46a on the opening side of each of the suction cups 46 abuts against the flange 2a of the opening portion of the lowermost cup-shaped container 2 located in each of the cup cases 34 (Fig. 2) (a) and the state shown in Fig. 3). The suction cup 46 is brought into close contact with the cup-shaped container 2, and the cup-shaped container 2 is adsorbed by applying a vacuum. At this time, the lower stopper 42 of the container separating mechanism 38 is retreated to avoid interference with the suction cup 46, and then the upper stopper 40 is advanced and inserted into the flange 2a of the lowermost cup-shaped container 2 and the second cup from the bottom. Between the flanges 2a of the container 2.

After the second cup-shaped container 2 is supported by the upper stopper 40 of the container separating mechanism 38, the suction head lifting/lowering rotating shaft 56 is rotated by the driving of the motor 60, thereby causing the lifting block 66 and the suction cup. The rotating shaft 72 and the suction cup 46 attached to the rotating shaft 72 are lowered. The lowermost cup-shaped container 2 sucked by the suction cup 46 is taken out by the lowering of the suction cup 46. At this time, the second cup-shaped container 2 in the cup case 34 is supported by the upper stopper 40 from the bottom to be separated from the lowermost cup-shaped container 2. Thereafter, the lower stopper 42 is advanced, and the upper stopper 40 is retracted, and the entire cup-shaped container 2 in the cup case 34 is again supported by the lower stopper 42.

The suction cup 46 to which the cup-shaped container 2 has been sucked is lowered in an upward state, and is lowered by the holding mechanism (clamp 44) before being conveyed, and the suction cup 46 is attached by the driving of the suction cup rotation motor 74. The suction cup rotating shaft 72 rotates. By the rotation of the rotating shaft 72, each of the suction cups 46 is rotated by 180 degrees, and the opening side of the cup-shaped container 2 is moved downward (see FIG. 2(b)).

The holding mechanism (clamp 44) is raised to a position where the suction cup 46 of the transfer mechanism 36 is lowered to the limit, thereby delivering the cup-shaped container 2 from the suction cup 46 to the jig 44. The jig 44 is attached to the elevating block 78 that is lifted and lowered by the drive motor 90, and receives the cup-shaped container 2 from the suction cup 46 of the transfer mechanism 36 at a position that rises to the limit. When the cup-shaped container 2 is received from the suction cup 46, the horizontal rotation lever 120 is rotated by the clamp opening/closing motor 124 (rotation in the clockwise direction of FIG. 6), and the both-side clamping member moving plates 106, 108 are reversed. The direction is moved to separate the two clamping members 44a, 44b, thereby releasing the clamp 44. In this state, the cup-shaped container 2 sucked by the suction cup 46 is inserted between the two holding members 44a, 44b, and thereafter, the horizontal rotating rod 120 is rotated in the reverse direction, so that the two holding members 44a, 44b The jig 44 is closed close to maintain the lower side of the flange 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 (refer to Fig. 2(b)).

After each of the jigs 44 receives the cup-shaped container 2, the lift block 78 is lowered by the drive motor 90, and the jig attachment plate 88 is lowered, whereby the jig 44 attached to the jig attachment plate 88 is lowered. In a normal state, each of the holders 12 attached to the conveyor chain 10 and intermittently advanced is normally stopped at a certain position, and positioned so that the cup-shaped container 2 held by the respective clamps 44 and the container accommodation hole of the holder 12 are positioned. The upper and lower positions of 12a are identical, and when the jig 44 is lowered, each cup-shaped container 2 is directly inserted into the container accommodating hole 12a of the holder 12. The jig 44 is released at this position, and the respective cup-shaped containers 2 are supplied into the respective container accommodating holes 12a of the holder 12 (refer to FIG. 2(c)).

In the container filling and sealing device, the holder 12 is attached to the conveyor chain 10 to convey the cup-shaped container 2 and various processes are performed, and if the operation time is long, the conveyor chain 10 is stretched. Therefore, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the operator periodically monitors the extension of the conveyor chain 10 by visual inspection, and when the operator confirms that the conveyor chain 10 is stretched, immediately stops the apparatus and drives the driven side chain gears. 6 moves in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the cup-shaped container 2 by a distance corresponding to the amount of extension of the chain 10. Further, by inputting the amount of extension into the control device 104, the gear 98 is rotated during the lowering of the jig 44, so that the rack 102 is moved by a distance corresponding to the amount of extension of the chain 10, so that the cup-shaped container 2 held by the jig 44 It coincides with the position of the container accommodation hole 12a.

This will be specifically described below based on Fig. 7 . In the normal state in which the conveyor chain 10 does not stretch, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the rack 102 and the gear 98 are not moved and linearly descended, thereby inserting the cup-shaped container 2 held by the jig 44 into the holder 12. The container is housed in the hole 12a. On the other hand, in the case where the conveyor chain 10 is stretched, the rack 102 is horizontally moved by the rotation of the gear 98 during the lowering of the clamp 44, so that the lowering position of the clamp 44 and the conveying direction are caused by the rotation of the gear 98. The opposite direction is shifted by the distance corresponding to the amount of extension of the chain, so that the container accommodating hole 12a of the holder 12 coincides with the position of the cup-shaped container 2 (refer to Fig. 7(b)). Thus, by horizontally moving the jig 44 during the lowering of the jig 44, the amount of extension of the chain 10 can be absorbed, so that the transfer position of the cup-shaped container 2 does not change, and it is not necessary to move the cup case 34 or the transfer mechanism 36, etc. .

[Embodiment 2]

In this embodiment, the operator visually confirms that the chain 10 is stretched, but the amount of stretch can also be detected by the sensor. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, three sensors (first sensor 130, second sensor 132, and third sensor) are disposed at equal intervals in the middle of the transport path of the container conveyor 4. 134), and a detecting piece 140 substantially equal to the width of the three sensors 130, 132, 134 is disposed in the holder 12, and the detecting piece 140 is detected by the sensors 130, 132, 134 to detect The amount of stretch of the chain 10. The components other than the sensors 130, 132, and 134 and the detecting sheet 140 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same reference numerals will be given to the same portions, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the case where the sensors 130, 132, 134 are spaced apart by 2 mm and the width of the detecting piece 140 of the holder 12 is 4 mm, the positions of the respective sensors 130, 132, 134 and the detecting piece 140 are set so that at the start of production When the extension of the chain 10 is 0, only the first sensor 130 detects the detection piece 140 and is ON, and the second sensor 132 and the third sensor 134 are OFF (refer to FIG. 8(a)). . If the chain 10 is stretched, the retainer 12 will face the opposite direction to the direction of travel E. When the extension of the chain 10 is 2 mm, the first sensor 130 and the second sensor 132 are turned ON, and the third sensor 134 is turned OFF (see FIG. 8(b)). When the extension of the chain 10 is 4 mm, all of the sensors 130, 132, and 134 are turned ON (refer to Fig. 8(c)). When the extension of the chain 10 exceeds 4 mm, the first sensor 130 is OFF, the second sensor 132 and the third sensor 134 are ON (refer to FIG. 8(d)), and the chain 10 is extended beyond 6 mm. The first sensor 130 and the second sensor 132 are turned off, and the third sensor 134 is turned ON. As described above, the detection piece 140 of the holder 12 is detected by the first sensor 130, the second sensor 132, and the third sensor 134, and the amount of extension of the chain can be detected.

As described above, when the detection amount of the chain 10 is detected by the detecting means including the first sensor 130, the second sensor 132, the third sensor 134, and the detecting piece 140, the detected value is input to the control device 104. The control device 104 transmits a command signal to the gear drive motor 100. By the driving of the gear driving motor 100, the gear rotating shaft 96 is rotated to rotate the gear 98, and the rack 102 meshing with the gear 98 is horizontally moved, so that the horizontal movement of the jig 44 corresponds to the cup shape held by the jig 44. The distance required for the container 2 to be inserted into the container accommodating hole 12a of the holder 12. Further, in this embodiment, the first sensor 130, the second sensor 132, the third sensor 134, and the detecting piece 140 are disposed to detect the extension of the chain 10, but another detection may be employed. mechanism. Further, in this embodiment, the driven side sprocket 6 is movable in the conveying direction, and is biased by a spring or a cylinder or the like to automatically cause the driven side sprocket when the chain 10 is extended. 6 moves in a direction opposite to the direction of travel. Further, in the first embodiment, both the driven side sprocket 6 and the drive side sprocket 8 are bolted, and even when the chain 10 is extended, the distance between the sprocket wheels 6 and 8 is not automatically changed. change.

2‧‧‧ Container (cup container)

2a, 46a‧‧‧Flange

4‧‧‧Container transport mechanism (container conveyor)

12‧‧‧ Keeper

12a‧‧‧Container storage unit (container storage hole)

44‧‧‧Maintenance mechanism (fixture)

46‧‧‧Adsorption cup

72‧‧‧Adsorption cup rotation axis

98‧‧‧Horizontal moving mechanism (gear)

102‧‧‧Horizontal moving mechanism (rack)

Claims (2)

A container supply device comprising: a transfer mechanism for taking out and transporting a container from a supply unit; a holding mechanism for receiving and holding the container transferred by the transfer mechanism at a delivery position; and a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the holding mechanism; the container supply The apparatus supplies the container to a container accommodating portion of a holder mounted on the conveyor chain and intermittently conveyed by lowering the holding mechanism, and the container supply device is characterized in that a horizontal movement mechanism is provided, The horizontal moving mechanism horizontally moves the holding mechanism along the conveying direction of the conveying chain, so that the container received by the holding mechanism at the delivery position can be horizontally moved. A container supply device according to claim 1, wherein a detecting mechanism for detecting the extension of the transport chain is provided, and when the transport chain is extended, in the lowering operation of the holding mechanism holding the container, After the holding mechanism horizontally moves by a distance corresponding to the amount of extension of the conveyor chain, the container is supplied to the container accommodating portion of the holder.