Container processing device

Abstract

To provide a container processing device that prevents the application of a load caused by interference of connection members of adjacent processing heads, and has no risk of the entanglement of the connection members.SOLUTION: An endless movement path has: a work section where a paper container C is subjected to heat treatment by a heating head 21; an upstream side arc section that is adjacent to an upstream side of the work section and in which the heating head 21 is moved in an arc shape; and a downstream side arc section that is adjacent to a downstream side in the work section and in which the heating head 21 is moved in the arc shape. A heating head movement device 30 moves the heating head 21 along the endless movement path. The heating head movement device 30 has: a turning table 34 that is provided on an inner side of the movement path, and turns a heating air feed part 33 for feeding heating air to the heating head 21 in synchronization with endless chains 24; a connection member 32 that feeds the heating air to the heating head 21 from the heating air feed part 33; and a guide member 40 that stores the connection member 32, and is bent only along a vertical face.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container processing apparatus that performs processing such as heating to seal an opening of a paper container such as a gametabletop paper container while the paper container is being conveyed along a linear movement path.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as such a container processing apparatus, in order to supply heated air to the openings of a plurality of paper containers conveyed along a linear movement path at predetermined intervals, a plurality of supply hoses having a processing head connected to the tip are provided. It is known. By giving slack to the supply hose or forming it in a coil shape, heated air can be supplied to each processing head while adjusting the distance to each processing head.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] However, when the diameter of the supply hose is relatively large with respect to the interval between each paper container, there is a problem that the supply hoses of adjacent processing heads interfere with each other and a load is applied. Also, when the number of processing heads, that is, the number of supply hoses is large, there is a problem that the supply hoses are entangled and the smooth operation of the processing head is impaired.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a container processing apparatus in which connecting members such as supply hoses of adjacent processing heads do not interfere with each other and are not likely to be entangled.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention is a container processing apparatus that performs predetermined processing on a plurality of paper containers conveyed at predetermined intervals in a linear conveyance section, and includes an endless conveyor to which a plurality of processing heads are attached, and processing head moving means. The processing head moving means linearly moves the processing head in synchronization with the paper containers conveyed in the conveyance section, and includes a working section where predetermined processing is performed on the paper containers by the processing head, an upstream arc section adjacent to the upstream side of the working section where the processing head moves in an arc shape, and a downstream arc section adjacent to the downstream side of the working section where the processing head moves in an arc shape. The processing head moving means moves the processing head along an endless moving path having these sections. Further, the processing head moving means includes a rotating body provided inside the moving path and rotating a plurality of working medium supply sections for supplying a working medium for processing to the processing head in synchronization with the endless conveyor, a connecting member capable of supplying the working medium from the working medium supply section to the processing head, and a guide member that houses the connecting member and bends only along a vertical plane.

[0006] Preferably, one end of the connecting member and the processing head are connected to one end of the guide member so as to be relatively rotatable in a horizontal plane, and the other end of the connecting member and the working medium supply section are connected to the other end of the guide member so as to be relatively rotatable in a horizontal plane.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a container processing apparatus in which the connecting members of adjacent processing heads do not interfere with each other and are not loaded, and there is no risk of the connecting members getting entangled with each other.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] The present invention will be described based on the embodiments illustrated below. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a filling and sealing system provided with a container processing apparatus 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this system, an endless chain 12 is looped around the main bodies of a sealing apparatus 10 and a filling apparatus 11, and the sealing apparatus 10 and the filling apparatus 11 continuously rotate around an axis. Filling heads 16 are attached to the main body of the filling apparatus 11 at regular intervals along its periphery, and sealing heads 17 are attached to the main body of the sealing apparatus 10 at regular intervals along its periphery. That is, the paper container C is continuously conveyed, and during the continuous conveyance, a filling operation and a sealing operation are performed on the paper container C.

[0010] Grippers 13 are attached to the endless chain 12 at regular intervals. A supply star wheel 14 is provided near the filling apparatus 11, and an empty paper container C formed in a bottomed rectangular tube shape is transferred from the supply star wheel 14 to the filling apparatus 11. In the filling apparatus 11, during its continuous rotation, the filling head 16 fills the paper container C with a liquid content and conveys it to the sealing apparatus 10. In the sealing apparatus 10, during its continuous rotation, the sealing head 17 forms the opening of the paper container C into a gable top shape and seals the opening. The so-called gable top type paper container C thus formed is transferred from the sealing apparatus 10 to a discharge star wheel 15 and conveyed to the next process.

[0011] The container processing device 20 is provided outside the endless chain 12 and between the filling device 11 and the sealing device 10, and is located on the side opposite to the supply star wheel 14 and the discharge star wheel 15. The paper containers C are conveyed at a predetermined interval by the grippers 13, and are heat-treated by a plurality of heating heads (processing heads) 21 of the container processing device 20 in a linear conveyance section between the supply star wheel 14 and the discharge star wheel 15. In the container processing device 20, an endless chain (endless conveyor) 24 is wound around a drive sprocket 22 and a driven sprocket 23, and the heating head 21 is attached to the endless chain 24 via an arm 25 or the like that extends outward as will be described later.

[0012] The drive sprocket 22 is driven by a rotary drive motor 26 to rotate around its central axis, whereby the driven sprocket 23, the endless chain 24, and the heating head 21 rotate. The attachment interval of the heating heads 21 on the endless chain 24 is the same as the attachment interval of the grippers 13 on the endless chain 12, and the heating heads 21 located on the endless chain 12 side move synchronously with the grippers 13 moving in the conveyance section in a linear section between the drive sprocket 22 and the driven sprocket 23. That is, the heating heads 21 move linearly in synchronization with the paper containers C held by the grippers 13 and conveyed in the conveyance section.

[0013] In FIG. 1, while the sprockets of the filling device 11 and the sprockets of the sealing device 10 rotate clockwise, the drive sprocket 22 and the driven sprocket 23 rotate counterclockwise. Also, the axial distance between the drive sprocket 22 and the driven sprocket 23 is shorter than the axial distance between the sprockets of the filling device 11 and the sprockets of the sealing device 10. Therefore, the heating heads 21 can heat the paper containers C in almost the entire area of the linear section between the drive sprocket 22 and the driven sprocket 23, but in the conveyance section, the paper containers C are not heated in the areas before and after the linear section.

[0014] In this specification, the straight section where the heating head 21 heats the paper container C is called the residual heat section (working section). The section adjacent to the upstream side of the residual heat section, where the heating head 21 moves in an arc by the driving sprocket 22, is the upstream arc section, and the section adjacent to the downstream side of the residual heat section, where the heating head 21 moves in an arc by the driven sprocket 23, is the downstream arc section. The connection section that connects the upstream arc section and the downstream arc section and is located on the side opposite to the residual heat section is the endless chain 24 that extends linearly in this embodiment, but it is not limited to being linear. That is, it is essential for the heating head 21 to move along an endless movement path. In this embodiment, as will be described later, the heating head moving device (processing head moving means) 30 is configured so that the heating head 21 can move smoothly along the movement path.

[0015] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the configuration of the heating head moving device 30 will be described. Note that FIG. 3 shows the heating head 21 in two positions simultaneously. The heating head 21 shown at the left end indicates the heating head 21 at the 3 o'clock position in FIG. 2, and the heating head 21 shown in the center indicates the heating head 21 at the 6 o'clock position (residual heat section) in FIG. 2.

[0016] In the illustrated example, 18 heating heads 21 are provided (see FIG. 1). The heating head 21 has a rectangular horizontal cross-sectional shape slightly smaller than the opening of the paper container C and is attached to the tip of the connection member 32. The connection member 32 is composed of a hose portion 32a of a flexible member provided in a guide member 40 to be described later, and rigid cylindrical portions 32b and 32c protruding from the guide member 40. The connection member 32 is a tubular member for supplying heated air (working medium) to the opening of the paper container C. One end portion, the cylindrical portion 32b, is fixed to the piston of the heating head lifting air cylinder 31 provided at the tip of the arm 25. That is, the heating head 21 is connected to the endless chain 24 via the tip of the connection member 32, the piston of the heating head lifting air cylinder 31, and the arm 25. The other end portion, the cylindrical portion 32c, of the connection member 32 is connected to a heated air supply portion (working medium supply portion) 33 to be described later. Therefore, the connection member 32 can supply the heated air sent from the heated air supply portion 33 to the heating head 21.

[0017] The heating air supply unit 33 is a heater, provided corresponding to each heating head 21, and is attached at equal intervals along the periphery of the rotary table (rotating body) 34. That is, 18 heating air supply units 33 are provided in the illustrated example, and heat the air supplied to the corresponding heating head 21. The rotary table 34 is a disk-shaped member, provided inside the movement path of the heating head 21. The rotary table 34 is rotatably supported about the central axis at the connection portion 36 provided at the upper end of the table shaft 35, and is controlled by a control device (not shown) to rotate the heating air supply unit 33 in synchronization with the endless chain 24.

[0018] A drive device 37 having a blower for supplying air to the connection member 32 and a power supply for supplying power to the heating air supply unit 33 is connected to the connection portion 36. Also, an air pipe 38 for supplying air to the connection member 32 and the heating head lifting air cylinder 31 is connected to the connection portion 36, and an electric wire 39 for supplying power to the heating air supply unit 33 is connected. The connection portion 36 includes a slip ring for electrically connecting between the drive device 37 and the electric wire 39, and a rotary joint for allowing air to flow between the drive device 37 and the air pipe 38.

[0019] The hose portion 32a of the connection member 32 is accommodated in the guide member 40. The guide member 40 is a Cable Bear (registered trademark) and bends only along the vertical plane. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the connection member 32 is fixed so as to always maintain a perpendicular state with respect to the rotary table 34, and on the heating head 21 side, it is fixed to the piston of the heating head lifting air cylinder 31 and held so as to extend in the vertical direction. The heating head 21 shown at the left end in FIG. 3 is at the 3 o'clock position in FIG. 2, that is, the position most separated from the heating air supply unit 33, the guide member 40 bends at two places, and the upper part between the upper part of the heating head 21 and the upper part of the heating air supply unit 33 extends horizontally. Also, the heating head 21 shown in the center in FIG. 3 is at the 6 o'clock position in FIG. 2, that is, the position closest to the heating air supply unit 33, and the guide member 40 bends greatly at one place.

[0020] The heating head 21 is attached to the cylindrical portion 32b which is one end of the connecting member 32. The cylindrical portion 32c which is the other end of the connecting member 32 is connected to the heating air supply portion 33. A bearing 41 is provided at one end of the guide member 40. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 32b and the heating head 21 are connected to be relatively rotatable in the horizontal plane with respect to one end of the guide member 40. Similarly, a bearing 42 is provided at the other end of the guide member 40. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 32c and the heating air supply portion 33 are connected to be relatively rotatable in the horizontal plane with respect to the other end of the guide member 40.

[0021] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. With respect to the paper container C that has entered the conveyance section via the filling device 11, the heating head 21 approaches from the upstream arc section while descending by the action of the heating head lifting air cylinder 31, and enters the opening of the paper container C at the entrance of the residual heat section. The heating head 21 is heated to a predetermined high temperature by the heating air supplied through the heating air supply portion 33. Therefore, the paper container C is heated while being conveyed through the residual heat section, and thereby the adhesive applied to the inner wall surface of the opening of the paper container C melts.

[0022] At the exit of the residual heat section, the heating head 21 rises by the action of the heating head lifting air cylinder 31 and separates upward from the paper container C. After that, the paper container C is sent to the sealing device 10, and the opening is formed into a gable roof shape and sealed by the sealing head 17. On the other hand, the heating head 21 moves from the residual heat section to the downstream arc section, and reaches the upstream arc section again through the connection section.

[0023] As described above, the heating head 21 continuously moves in the same direction along an endless moving path, and heats the opening of the paper container C while moving through the waste heat section which is a part of the moving path. Then, at the entrance of the waste heat section, it descends and enters the opening of the paper container C, and at the exit of the waste heat section, it ascends and detaches from the paper container C. On the other hand, the hot air supply unit 33 provided corresponding to the heating head 21 rotates integrally with the rotary table 34 and synchronously with the endless chain 24. That is, in the connecting member 32 connecting the hot air supply unit 33 and the heating head 21, one end moves along an oval orbit similar to the endless chain 24, while the other end moves along a substantially circular orbit similar to the rotary table 34.

[0024] Therefore, while the heating head 21 is moving, the horizontal distance between both ends of the connecting member 32 varies. However, since the connecting member 32 is accommodated in the guide member 40 which is a cable bear, the variation in the distance is absorbed by the bending of the guide member 40 in the vertical plane. Specifically, in the waste heat section and the connection section (the state where the heating head 21 is located at the center in FIG. 3), since the horizontal distance to the hot air supply unit 33 is relatively short, the guide member 40 bends at one place. In the downstream arc section and the upstream arc section (the state where the heating head 21 is located at the left end in FIG. 3), since the horizontal distance to the hot air supply unit 33 is relatively long, the guide member 40 bends at two places, and the part between the bending parts is in a horizontal state.

[0025] On one end of the connecting member 32, that is, on the heating head 21 side, the connecting member 32 is fixed to the piston of the heating head lifting air cylinder 31 so that the heating head 21 does not displace within the opening of the paper container C. That is, in the waste heat section, the connecting member 32 does not rotate around the axis. On the other hand, the guide member 40 always extends in the radial direction of the rotary table 34, and the distance from the rotary table 34 changes according to the position in the waste heat section and as it moves from the waste heat section to the downstream arc section. Therefore, relative rotation occurs between the tip of the guide member 40 and the connecting member 32, but this relative rotation is absorbed by the bearing 41.

[0026] On the other hand, a bearing 42 is provided at the end of the guide member 40 on the heating air supply unit 33 side as well, in order to absorb the relative rotation that occurs between the connection member 32.

[0027] As described above, in this embodiment, since each connection member 32 is housed in the guide member 40 which is a cable bearing, the connection member 32 acts independently, and the connection members 32 connected to the adjacent heating heads 21 do not interfere with each other, and the heating heads 21 can always move smoothly along the movement path.

[0028] In the above embodiment, the working medium was heating air, but it is not limited to this, and it may be steam, liquid, or a solid material without shape, or electric power.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0029] 21 Heating head (processing head) 24 Endless chain (endless conveyor) 30 Heating head moving device (processing head moving means) 32 Connection member 33 Heating air supply unit (working medium supply unit) 34 Rotating body (rotating table) 40 Guide member C Paper container

Claims

1. A container processing apparatus for performing a predetermined process on a plurality of paper containers conveyed at predetermined intervals in a linear conveyance section, comprising: an endless conveyor to which the plurality of processing heads are attached; processing head moving means for linearly moving the processing heads in synchronization with the paper containers conveyed in the conveyance section, performing a predetermined process on the paper containers by the processing heads, an upstream arc section adjacent to the upstream side of the working section where the processing heads move in an arc shape, and a downstream arc section adjacent to the downstream side of the working section where the processing heads move in an arc shape, and moving the processing heads along an endless movement path having the same; wherein the processing head moving means includes: a rotating body provided inside the movement path and rotating the plurality of working medium supply parts for supplying a working medium for the process to the processing heads in synchronization with the endless conveyor; a connecting member capable of supplying the working medium from the working medium supply part to the processing head; and a guide member that houses the connecting member and bends only along a vertical plane. A container processing apparatus characterized by the above.

2. The container processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one end of the connecting member and the processing head are connected to one end of the guide member so as to be relatively rotatable in a horizontal plane, and the other end of the connecting member and the working medium supply part are connected to the other end of the guide member so as to be relatively rotatable in a horizontal plane.

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