Heat shrinkage device

Abstract

To provide a highly durable heat shrinking apparatus with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A heat shrinking apparatus 10 receives from a supply wheel 12 a container V fitted with a cap C and covered with a heat shrinkable label. The heat shrinking apparatus 10 includes a plurality of plates 40 on the outer periphery of a rotating body 18, that support a bottom surface of the container V supplied from the supply wheel 12, and also includes a gripper 26 that grips an upper portion of the container V above the container V supported by the plate 40, a heating cylinder 24 that is provided below the gripper 26 and can accommodate the container V gripped by the gripper 26, and a lifting mechanism 30 that moves the gripper 26 up and down. When the container V is supplied by the gripper 26, the plate 40 receives the container V at a forward position, and when the container V gripped by the gripper 26 is moved into the heating cylinder 24, the plate 40 is positioned at a retracted position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat shrinkage device for heating and shrinking a heat shrinkable label covering a container.

Background Art

[0002] As a heat shrinkage device for heating and shrinking a heat shrinkable label covering a container, there is known a configuration in which a container with a shrink label attached around its body circumference is held between a bottle stand and a top locator, a heating cylinder with an open upper end is raised from below the bottle stand, the container is inserted into the heating cylinder, and the shrink label is heated and shrunk by a steam injection nozzle of the heating cylinder (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the steam supply pipe connected to the heating cylinder has to be a flexible tube, and there is a possibility that the flexible tube may be damaged due to the load associated with the lifting operation. On the other hand, in order to fix the heating cylinder and insert the container into the heating cylinder, it is necessary to lift and lower the top locator and the bottle stand that hold the container while synchronizing them, which makes the mechanism and control complicated.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a heat shrinkage device with a simple configuration and high durability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The first invention of the heat shrink device includes a container supply means for supplying containers fitted with caps and covered with heat shrinkable labels, a plurality of plates provided on the outer circumference of a rotating body for supporting the bottom surface of the containers supplied by the container supply means, a container gripping means positioned above the containers supported by the plates for gripping the top of the containers, and a device provided below the container gripping means for gripping the containers grasping The device comprises a heating cylinder capable of accommodating a container held by a means, and a lifting means for raising and lowering the container gripping means, wherein the plate is movable between an advanced position and a retracted position, and when a container is supplied by the container supply means, the plate is positioned in the advanced position to receive the container, and when the container held by the container gripping means is moved into the heating cylinder, the plate is positioned in the retracted position.

[0007] The second invention of the present invention, a heat shrinking device, is characterized in that, in the first invention, the container gripping means comprises a gripper that grips the lower part of a flange formed on the container, and a pressing member that is biased downward by a biasing means and presses the top surface of a cap attached to the container, and when a container is supplied to the plate, the container gripping means is lowered to press the top surface of the cap attached to the container against the pressing member, and then the gripper is closed.

[0008] The third invention of the present invention, a heat shrinking device, is characterized in that the plate is arranged to be vertically movable in the first or second invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, a highly durable heat shrink device can be provided with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing the arrangement of a heat shrink device, which is one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the heat shrink device at the point where the container, which is gripped by the neck gripper of the supply wheel, is transferred from the supply wheel. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged view showing the detailed configuration around the gripper of the heat shrink device. [Figure 4] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the container, heating cylinder, gripper, and plate as they are transported by the heat shrinking device, in chronological order. [Figure 5] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the container being transported by the heat shrinking device, the heating cylinder, gripper, and plate in chronological order, as shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the container being transported by the heat shrinking device, the heating cylinder, gripper, and plate in chronological order, as shown in Figure 5. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of a heat shrinking apparatus, which is one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The heat shrink device 10 of this embodiment is, for example, a rotating wheel type device. It receives a filled container V (for example, a resin container, see Figure 2) with a heat shrinkable label covering its body from the supply wheel 12, heat shrinks the label in the heating cylinder 24 (described later) to fit the body of the container V, and then passes it to the discharge wheel 14. The supply wheel 12 and discharge wheel 14 of this embodiment transport the container V by gripping the lower part of the flange Vf (see Figure 3) provided on the neck of the container V with a neck gripper, but they may also be configured to transport the container V by supporting its bottom surface. The operation of each part of the heat shrink device 10 (described later) is controlled by the control device 16.

[0013] Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the heat shrink device 10 at the position where the container V, which is gripped by the neck gripper 12A of the supply wheel 12, is transferred from the supply wheel 12. In Figure 2, only one half of the heat shrink device 10 is depicted.

[0014] The heat shrinking device 10 includes a rotating body 18 that rotates around a rotation axis L, and the rotating body 18 is rotatably supported on a base 20. In this embodiment, the rotating body 18 is divided into three upper and lower stages, for example, a lower rotating body 18A, a middle rotating body 18B, and an upper rotating body 18C, and is integrally rotatable around the rotation axis L.

[0015] The lower rotating body 18A is rotatably held on the base 20 via bearings 20A and the like, and is rotated around the rotation axis L by a motor (not shown) mounted on the base 20 via gears 22. In addition, a plurality of heating cylinders 24 are arranged on the upper outer surface of the outer circumference of the lower rotating body 18A at predetermined intervals along the outer circumference. A plurality of steam injection nozzles 24A are provided in the heating cylinders 24, and steam supplied from the steam supply pipe 24B is injected into the heating cylinders 24.

[0016] On the outer circumference of the intermediate rotating body 18B, a lifting rod 28, with a gripper 26 at its lower end, is held via a sleeve 29 so as to be able to move up and down directly above each heating cylinder 24. The tip of the gripper 26 is positioned facing downwards, and as will be described later, it can grip the neck of the container V from above.

[0017] The upper end of the lifting rod 28 is attached to a lifting mechanism 30 provided on the outer circumference of the upper rotating body 18C. The lifting mechanism 30 mainly consists of a vertical rail 30A attached to the outer circumference of the upper rotating body 18C, a slider 30B that is vertically movable and engages with the vertical rail 30A, a base member 30C attached to the slider 30B, a cam follower 30D extending radially outward from the base member 30C, and a cam 30E fixed around the upper rotating body 18C and into which the cam follower 30D engages. In other words, when the rotating body 18 rotates, the cam follower 30D that engages with the cam 30E moves up and down, and the base member 30C moves up and down in accordance with the shape of the cam 30E.

[0018] The upper end of the lifting rod 28 is attached to an air cylinder 32 attached to a base member 30C via a slider 33. The air cylinder 32 normally holds the slider 33 in the lowest position, and when it is necessary to retract the gripper 26 upward, such as when the line is emergently stopped, it retracts the gripper 26 upward in place of the cam mechanism (cam follower 30D, cam 30E). That is, the control device 16 counts the heating time of each container V, and when an emergency stop is applied during operation and the rotating body 18 stops, it raises the air cylinder 32 of the gripper 26 that is gripping the container V that has elapsed the determined heating time, and takes out the container from the heating cylinder 24, thereby preventing the container V from being overheated and always controlling it to be heated for a predetermined time. During normal operation, the lifting rod 28 and the gripper 26 are lifted and lowered integrally with the base member 30C that is lifted and lowered by the cam mechanism.

[0019] Further, on the lower surface of the middle rotating body 18B, support members 34 that extend downward corresponding to each lifting rod 28 are provided, and a reciprocating air cylinder 36 is attached to the lower end of the support member 34. A lifting air cylinder 38 is attached to the reciprocating air cylinder 36, and a plate 40 that extends horizontally outward in the radial direction is attached to the lifting air cylinder 38. The plate 40 is located near the bottom surface height of the container V held by the gripper 26 and can reciprocate along the radial direction of the rotating body 18 by the reciprocating air cylinder 36. The plate 40 reciprocates between a position below the container V (forward position) and a position retracted inward from below the container V (retracted position), and can move up and down between a height (support height) that abuts against and supports the bottom surface of the container V by the lifting air cylinder 38 and a height (separation height) that is separated from the bottom surface.

[0020] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a detailed configuration around the gripper 26 of the heat shrinkage device 10. FIG. 3(a) shows a state in which the opened gripper 26 is held by the neck gripper 12A of the container V and is待机 at an upper position where it does not interfere with the neck gripper 12A (gripper standby height). In FIG. 3(a), the container V is held by the neck gripper 12A of the supply wheel 12, and its bottom surface is supported by the plate 40.

[0021] A pair of gripper pieces 26A of the gripper 26 are pivotally supported at the lower end of the lifting rod 28 through a rotating shaft 42. The tip of the gripper piece 26A extends below the rotating shaft 42, and the base end extends above the rotating shaft 42. Cam followers 44 are provided at the upper ends of the gripper pieces 26A respectively. Also, the base ends of the gripper pieces 26A are biased inwardly toward each other by a pair of springs 46, whereby the gripper 26 is constantly biased in the opening direction.

[0022] Inside the lower end of the lifting rod 28, above the gripper piece 26A, a cam 48 capable of moving up and down within the lifting rod 28 is arranged. The lower end of the cam 48 is tapered, and its tip is inserted between the cam followers 44 of the gripper piece 26A. That is, the cam followers 44 sandwich the lower end of the cam 48 from both sides by the biasing force of the spring 46.

[0023] A spring 50 is interposed between the cam 48 and the lifting rod 28 so as to bias the cam 48 upward with respect to the lifting rod 28. Also, an air chamber 51 to which compressed air is supplied from the outside is provided above the cam 48 within the lifting rod 28. That is, when compressed air is supplied to the air chamber 51, the cam 48 is lowered against the biasing force of the spring 50, and the tapered lower end is pushed between the cam followers 44. Thereby, the tips of the gripper pieces 26A are closed.

[0024] Also, in the present embodiment, at the lower end of the lifting rod 28, between the tips of the pair of gripper pieces 26A, a pressing member 52 that is pressed against the top surface of the cap C of the container V is arranged. The pressing member 52 includes a contact portion 52A that is pressed against the top surface of the cap C and a shaft portion 52B that supports the contact portion 52A. The shaft portion 52B is fitted to a receiving member 54 attached to the lower end of the lifting rod 28 so as to be movable up and down, and a spring 56 is interposed between the contact portion 52A and the receiving member 54. Thereby, the pressing member 52 is biased downward.

[0025] Figure 3(b) shows the state in which the neck gripper 12A of the supply wheel 12 is opened, the gripper 26 is lowered from the upper standby position to a height that grips the lower part of the flange Vf of the container V (container gripping height), the pressing member 52 is pressed against the top surface of the cap C of the container V which is supported by the plate 40, and the cam 48 is inserted between the gripper pieces 26A by compressed air, so that the gripper 26 grips the lower part of the flange Vf of the neck of the container V.

[0026] Furthermore, the shaft portion 52B of the pressing member 52, which is pressed against the cap C, is pushed into the receiving member 54 against the biasing force of the spring 56 as the lifting rod 28 descends. As a result, the container V is firmly held between the pressing member 52 and the plate 40 from above and below until the lower part of the flange Vf of the container V is gripped by the gripper 26. The gripper 26 can be further lowered by the lifting mechanism 30, as will be described later, and the container V gripped by the gripper 26 can be moved into the heating cylinder 24.

[0027] Next, with reference to Figures 1 and 4 to 6, the operation of the heat shrinkage process in the heat shrinkage device 10 of this embodiment will be described. Figures 4 to 6 are longitudinal cross-sectional views showing the arrangement of the container V, heating cylinder 24, gripper 26, and plate 40 transported by the heat shrinkage device 10, in chronological order across section AF of Figure 1.

[0028] The heat shrink device 10 receives a filled container V covered with a heat shrink label from the supply wheel 12 at position A. At the same time that the container V, held by the neck gripper 12A, is transported to position A, a set of heating cylinders 24, grippers 26, and plates 40 of the heat shrink device 10 reach position A. At this time, as shown in Figure 4(a), the gripper 26 is in the open state at the gripper standby height, and the plate 40 is in the forward position pushed radially outward at the separation height.

[0029] In section AB of Figure 1, the plate 40 is immediately raised to the support height by the lifting air cylinder 38 from the state shown in Figure 4(a), and as shown in Figure 4(b), the plate 40 supports the bottom surface of the container V held by the neck gripper 12A of the supply wheel 12. When the neck gripper 12A is released and detached from the container V, the gripper 26 is lowered by the lifting mechanism 30, as shown in Figure 4(c), and its tip is lowered to the container gripping height. Note that the contact portion 52A of the pressing member 52 is pressed against the top surface of the cap C before the tip of the gripper 26 is lowered to the container gripping height. The container V is held from above and below by the plate 40 and the contact portion 52A.

[0030] Next, compressed air is supplied to the air chamber 51, and the downward-pushed cam 48 is inserted between the cam followers 44 of the gripper piece 26A, closing the gripper 26 as shown in Figure 5(d). This causes the lower part of the flange Vf of the container V to be gripped by the gripper 26. Once the container V is firmly gripped by the gripper 26, the plate 40 is lowered again to the release height by the lifting air cylinder 38 while maintaining that grip, as shown in Figure 5(e). Then, the retracting air cylinder 36 moves the plate 40 back to the retracted position, as shown in Figure 6(f), reaching position B.

[0031] Next, in section BC, the container V, which is gripped by the gripper 26 by the lifting mechanism 30, is inserted into the heating cylinder 24 to a predetermined height (container heating height) to the state shown in Figure 6(g). In section CD, the container V is transported while in the state shown in Figure 6(g), i.e., while contained within the heating cylinder 24, and heated steam is blown from the steam injection nozzle 24A over the entire heat-shrinkable label covering the container V. This causes the heat-shrinkable label to conform to the shape of the body of the container V.

[0032] In section DE, contrary to section BC, the lifting mechanism 30 raises the gripper 26 from the container heating height to the container gripping height, and the container V is pulled out from inside the heating cylinder 24, returning it to the state shown in Figure 6(f).

[0033] In section EF, the state changes in the reverse order of sections AB, as shown in Figures 6(f), 5(e), (d), 4(c), (b), and (a). Specifically, when the gripper 26 is raised to the container gripping height (Figure 6(f)), the plate 40 is moved to the forward position by the forward / backward air cylinder 36 at the separation height (Figure 5(e)), and then raised to the support height by the lifting air cylinder 38 so that the container V is supported by the plate 40 (Figure 5(d)). Once the container V is supported by the plate 40, the supply of compressed air to the air chamber 51 is stopped and the gripper 26 is released (Figure 4(c)). At the timing of reaching position F, the gripper 26 is raised to the gripper standby height by the lifting mechanism 30 (Figure 4(b)). As a result, the container V is released from the gripper 26, and the contact portion 52A of the pressing member 52 is separated from the cap C. At this time, the neck gripper 14A of the discharge wheel 14 reaches position F and grips the lower part of the flange Vf of the container V. As soon as the lower part of the flange Vf of the container V is gripped by the neck gripper 14A of the discharge wheel 14, the plate 40 is lowered to isolation height by the lifting air cylinder 38 to the state shown in Figure 4(a), and the container V is discharged downstream by the discharge wheel 14. Figures 4 to 6 show the configuration and operation related to section EF in parentheses.

[0034] As described above, according to this embodiment, a container can be inserted into and removed from the heating cylinder with a simple configuration without using a flexible tube, and a highly durable heat shrink device can be provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 Heat shrinkage device 12. Supply wheel (container supply means) 18. Solids of revolution 24 Heating tube 26 Gripper (container gripping means) 30 Lifting mechanism (lifting means) 40 plates C Cap V container

Claims

1. A container supply means that supplies containers with caps attached and heat-shrinkable labels placed over them, Multiple plates are provided on the outer circumference of the rotating body to support the bottom surface of the container supplied from the container supply means, A container gripping means is positioned above the container supported by the plate and grips the upper part of the container, A heating cylinder provided below the container gripping means and capable of accommodating the container being gripped by the container gripping means, The container gripping means is equipped with a lifting means for raising and lowering the container gripping means, The aforementioned plate is made movable between an advanced position and a retracted position. When a container is supplied by the container supply means, the plate is positioned in the forward position to receive the container. When the container gripped by the container gripping means is moved into the heating cylinder, the plate is positioned in a retracted position. A heat shrinking device characterized by the following features.

2. The heat shrinking device according to claim 1, wherein the container gripping means comprises a gripper that grips the lower part of a flange formed on the container, and a pressing member that is biased downward by a biasing means and presses the top surface of a cap attached to the container, and when a container is supplied to the plate, the container gripping means is lowered to press the top surface of the cap attached to the container against the pressing member, and then the gripper is closed.

3. The heat shrinking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plate is arranged to be able to move up and down.

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