Capping device

Abstract

To provide a capping device that grips a cap bottom neighboring side surface that is housed in a pocket with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A capping head 22A comprises: a suction portion 43 that sucks and holds a top surface of a cap C; a plurality of gripping arms 42 that are provided with gripping jaws 42B for gripping a side surface of the cap at a lower end; and an opening / closing cam 49 that opens and closes the gripping arms 42. The cap C housed in a pocket 30 of a rotary cap wheel is removed from the pocket 30 by the suction portion 43 by raising and lowering the capping head 22A, and the cap C is gripped by the gripping jaws 42B and is screwed onto a container. The pocket 30 has a side surface holding portion 30A that supports the side surface of the cap C housed in the pocket 30. When the capping head 22A is lowered to bring the suction portion 43 into contact with the top surface of the cap C, the side surface holding portion 30A is positioned between the gripping jaws 42B of the gripping arm 42 in an open state and the side surface of the cap C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a capping device for attaching a cap to a container.

Background Art

[0002] As a rotary filling and capping device, a plurality of recesses (pockets) provided along the outer periphery of a star wheel are used to accommodate and convey containers. A filling device (four filling nozzles) arranged at a predetermined position on the upstream side of the star wheel fills the containers with liquid, and a capping device (two capping heads) arranged at a predetermined position on the downstream side of the star wheel caps the containers (see Patent Document 1). In the configuration of Patent Document 1, caps sent out from a chute are supplied to the capping heads via a cap wheel. Two pockets are provided in a predetermined section on the outer peripheral portion of the cap wheel to accommodate the caps sent out from the cap chute respectively. The pockets are formed by semi-circular notches formed at the outer edge of a fan-shaped cap holding plate arranged on a bottom support plate that supports the bottom of the cap. The lower outer surface of the cap is accommodated in the pocket in a state where it is in close contact with the semi-circular inner surface of the pocket. When the cap wheel receives a cap from the chute into the pocket, it rotates approximately 180 degrees and conveys the cap directly below each capping head. A chuck for gripping the side surface of the cap is provided at the lower end of the capping head to hold the outer periphery of the upper end portion of the cap.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the cap handled in Patent Document 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape, the outer surface near the upper end of the cap can be gripped by a chuck. However, for example, caps used for soy sauce dispensers, dispenser caps, hinge caps, etc. cannot have the outer surface near the upper end of the cap gripped by a gripping member such as a chuck. Therefore, when handling such caps, it is necessary to grip the outer surface near the lower end of the cap.

[0005] However, in the rotary filling and capping device with the configuration of Patent Document 1, the lower part of the cap is housed in a pocket and the outer surface is in close contact with the inner surface of the pocket, so the lower part of the cap cannot be gripped by a gripping member such as a chuck. For example, it is conceivable to lift the cap from the pocket by adsorbing the top surface of the cap with an adsorption head or the like, and then grip the outer surface near the lower end of the cap with a gripping member. However, if the heights of the adsorption head and the gripping member are fixed so that the lower end of the gripping member is positioned near the lower end of the cap when the adsorption head abuts on the top surface of the cap, the lower end of the gripping member will contact the upper surface of the cap holding plate before the adsorption head adsorbs the top surface of the cap, and the cap cannot be held. As a method of solving the same problem, it is also conceivable to make the gripping member and the adsorption head relatively movable up and down, but the mechanism becomes complicated and the cost increases.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a capping device with a simple configuration that can grip the side surface near the bottom of a cap housed in a pocket.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The capping device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a top surface holding portion that adsorbs and holds the top surface of the cap, a plurality of gripping arms provided with gripping claws for gripping the side surface of the cap at the lower ends, and gripping arm opening and closing means for opening and closing the gripping arms. The capping device takes out the cap housed in the pocket of the rotary cap wheel by raising and lowering the top surface holding portion with the top surface holding portion, grips the cap with the gripping claws and screws it onto the container. The above-mentioned pocket has a side surface holding part that supports the side surface of the cap housed in the above-mentioned pocket. When the capping head is lowered and the top surface holding part is brought into contact with the top surface of the cap housed in the above-mentioned pocket, the side surface holding part is positioned between the gripping claws of the gripping arm in the open state and the side surface of the cap.

[0008] The capping device according to the second invention of the present invention is, in the first invention, provided with a locking means on the above-mentioned cap wheel to prevent the caps housed in the respective pockets from coming out. Before performing the cap taking-out operation, a positioning operation is executed in which the capping head is rotated and positioned so that the locking means is located between the gripping claws, and then the cap taking-out operation is executed. Thus, in the cap holding state, the locking means is positioned between the gripping claws.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a capping device that can grip the side surface near the bottom of the cap housed in a pocket with a simple configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of a rotary filling and capping device including a capping device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The rotary filling and capping device 10 of the present embodiment includes a star wheel 14 that rotates around a vertical axis on a base 12. A large number of pockets 14A having a shape adapted to the outer peripheral surface shape (for example, a cylindrical surface) of the container V are provided at predetermined intervals on the outer peripheral portion of the star wheel 14. Further, a container conveyance guide 14B is arranged along the outer periphery of the star wheel 14 outside the pocket 14A.

[0013] That is, the bottom surface of the container V is supported by the base 12, and the side surface of the container V on the star wheel 14 side is housed in the pocket 14A and is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pocket 14A. Further, the side surface of the container V opposite to the star wheel 14 abuts against the container conveyance guide 14B, and the movement of the container V is restricted along the outer periphery of the star wheel. Thus, when the star wheel 14 is intermittently rotated in accordance with the pitch of the pockets 14A, the containers V housed in the respective pockets 14A are intermittently conveyed along the container conveyance guide 14B.

[0014] The container conveyance guide 14B is provided over substantially the entire circumference of the star wheel 14 except for a predetermined section. At the predetermined section where the container conveyance guide 14B is not provided, a supply conveyor 16 and a discharge conveyor 18 are arranged in parallel adjacent to each other along substantially the radial direction of the star wheel 14. Further, at a predetermined position on the conveyance path of the container V conveyed by the star wheel 14, a filling device 20 for filling the container V with contents above it and a capping device 22 for capping the filled container V on the downstream side are arranged.

[0015] That is, the empty container V supplied from the supply conveyor 16 to each pocket 14A is filled in the filling device 20 while being conveyed by the star wheel 14, and then the cap C is attached (capped) to the mouth of the container V in the capping device 22. Then, it is discharged to the downstream processing device through the discharge conveyor 18. In the example of FIG. 1, the supply conveyor 16 and the discharge conveyor 18 are arranged in the 9 o'clock direction of the star wheel 14, the filling device 20 is arranged in the 12 o'clock direction, and the capping device 22 is arranged in the 6 o'clock direction. Also, in the example of FIG. 1, the filling device 20 is provided with four filling nozzles 20A, and the capping device 22 is provided with one capping head 22A.

[0016] Incidentally, the cap C exemplified in the present embodiment is, for example, a cap of a soy sauce dispenser, and the outer diameter of the top is larger than that of the bottom, and a pair of spouts are provided at the top in opposite directions.

[0017] The capping device 22 includes a cap supply unit 24 that supplies the cap C to the capping head 22A. The cap supply unit 24 includes a cap wheel 26 having pockets 30 for accommodating the cap C on the outer peripheral portion, and a chute 28 for supplying the cap C to the pocket 26A. The cap C supplied from the chute 28 is accommodated in the pocket 30 one by one, and the cap C is conveyed directly below the capping head 22A by intermittently rotating the cap wheel 26.

[0018] Next, referring to FIG. 2, the overall configuration of the cap supply unit 24 of the present embodiment will be described. Note that FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the overall configuration of the cap supply unit 24.

[0019] The cap wheel 26 is rotatable in the horizontal plane by a rotation shaft 26A, and the rotation shaft 26A is intermittently rotated by, for example, a servo motor (cap wheel driving means) 27. The downstream portion of the chute 28 is arranged along the radial direction of the cap wheel 26, and is provided, for example, on the opposite side of the capping head 22A.

[0020] A plate-like cap holding plate 32 provided with pockets 30 is attached to the cap wheel 26. The cap holding plate 32 has substantially the same width as guide members 28A provided along both side edges of the chute 28, for example, and extends along the radial direction from the rotary shaft 26A. The tip of the cap holding plate 32 slightly protrudes from the cap wheel 26, and when the cap holding plate 32 is directed toward the chute 28, its tip is adjacent to the outlet of the chute 28.

[0021] The pockets 30 are provided at the tip of the cap holding plate 32, have a shape (U-shaped) conforming to the outer surface shape near the bottom of the cap C, and have a side holding portion 30A for holding the outer surface near the bottom of the accommodated cap C, and a support portion 30B for supporting the bottom (annular lower end portion) of the cap C, for example.

[0022] Also, a locking lever (locking means) 34 for preventing the cap C accommodated in the pocket 30 from falling out of the opening of the pocket 30 is provided on the cap holding plate 32. The locking lever 34 has, for example, a shape like the Chinese character "く". The base end side lever disposed on the center side of the cap wheel 26 is pivotally supported on the cap holding plate 32 via a pivot shaft 34A. On the other hand, the tip end side lever of the locking lever 34 extends to substantially the tip of the cap holding plate 32, and a locking portion (locking means) 34B that advances and retreats toward the opening of the pocket 30 so as to prevent the cap C accommodated in the pocket 30 from falling out protrudes in a hook shape from its tip.

[0023] The tip of the proximal lever of the locking lever 34 is connected to the cap holding plate 32 via a spring 35, and the locking lever 34 is biased around the pivot shaft 34A so that the locking portion 34B moves toward the opening of the pocket 30. Further, a cam follower 37 that engages with a cam 36 fixedly disposed around the rotation shaft 26A is provided on the proximal lever of the locking lever 34. The cam follower 37 is pressed against the cam surface of the cam 36 by the biasing force of the spring 35, and when the cap holding plate 32 rotates around the rotation shaft 26A as the cap wheel 26 rotates, the locking lever 34 swings around the pivot shaft 34A.

[0024] Note that the locking lever 34 is rotated at a position where its lower surface is at the same height as the support portion 30B, and the locking portion 34B can engage with the lower outer surface of the cap C that moves outward from the pocket 30. Therefore, a stepped portion is provided along the outer peripheral portion of the cap holding plate 32 so as not to interfere with the locking lever 34 that rotates toward the pocket 30 (see FIG. 4).

[0025] Also, in front of the outlet of the chute 28, a stopper 28B that can move forward and backward in the cap conveyance path is provided. The stopper 28B retracts from the conveyance path only when the pocket 30 faces the outlet of the chute 28 and stops, and discharges the cap C from the chute 28. Note that at the cap receiving position where the pocket 30 faces the outlet of the chute 28, the locking lever 34 is retracted from the pocket 30 to a position where it does not interfere with the cap C accommodated by the cam 36.

[0026] When the cap C discharged from the chute 28 is accommodated in the pocket 30, the cap wheel 26 is rotated, and the pocket 30 that holds the cap C moves toward the capping head 22A. Also, on the downstream side in the cap conveyance direction at the outlet of the chute 28, a guide 38 that prevents the conveyed cap C from falling off from the opening of the pocket 30 until the locking portion 34B of the locking lever 34 protrudes into the opening of the pocket 30 and restricts the movement of the cap C in the pocket 30 is arranged along the outer periphery of the cap wheel 26 over a predetermined section.

[0027] The locking lever 34 is rotated toward the opening of the pocket 30 before the front edge of the pocket 30 reaches the downstream end of the guide 38, and the locking portion 34B restricts the movement of the cap C. During the subsequent conveyance to the capping head 22A, the locking portion 34B prevents the cap C from falling out of the pocket 30. A cover 40 is provided on the cap conveyance path from the vicinity of the outlet of the chute 28 to the vicinity of the downstream end of the guide 38 to prevent the cap C from bouncing and falling from the pocket 30.

[0028] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the configuration around the pocket 30 of the cap holding plate 32 in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the arrangement of the capping head 22A, the cap holding plate 32, and the cap C at the cap delivery position where the cap C accommodated in the pocket 30 is delivered to the capping head 22A. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the gripping claws 42B of the capping head 22A and the pocket 30 of the cap holding plate 32 at the cap delivery position.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the capping head 22A of the present embodiment includes a plurality of gripping arms 42 that grip the outer surface of the cap C from the periphery, and a suction portion (top surface holding portion) 43 that sucks and holds the center of the top surface of the cap C. The entire capping head 22A shown in FIG. 3 is moved up and down by lifting means such as a capping head lifting cam mechanism 45, and is rotated as a whole by rotating means such as a capping head rotation servo motor 47. Further, the driving of actuators such as a servo motor (cap wheel driving means) 27, a capping head rotation servo motor 47, and a stopper 28B in the present apparatus is controlled by a control device (control means) 15 (see FIG. 1).

[0030] In FIG. 3, the left and right sides of FIG. 3 with respect to the central axis L are cross-sectional views of different cross-sections and different heights. In the left half of FIG. 3, a state is shown in which the suction part 43 is lowered until it contacts the center of the top surface of the cap C housed in the pocket 30 with the gripping arm 42 open. In the right half, a state is shown in which the cap C adsorbed by the suction part 43 is lifted from the pocket 30 together with the capping head 22A, and the gripping arm 42 is closed to grip the outer lower surface of the cap C.

[0031] In the present embodiment, the capping head 22A includes, for example, three gripping arms 42 arranged rotationally symmetrically around the central axis L of the capping head 22A. The head body 44 is configured to be hollow, and a plurality of slit-shaped grooves 44A in the vertical direction are provided at the lower end thereof corresponding to the number of the gripping arms 42. The gripping arm 42 is swingably supported via a horizontal rotation shaft 46 provided in each groove 44A. An annular spring 48 is fitted inside each gripping arm 42 below the rotation shaft 46 in the gripping arm 42, and the gripping arm 42 is biased to open radially around the rotation shaft 46. Further, a cam follower 42A is provided at the upper end of the gripping arm 42 located above the rotation shaft 46.

[0032] Above the groove 44A in the head body 44, a cam housing portion 44B for housing a rotary-shaped opening / closing cam (gripping arm opening / closing mechanism) 49 with a tapered lower end is provided, and the opening / closing cam 49 is held vertically movably so that the tapered lower end portion can be fitted in and removed between the cam followers 42B. Further, the upper end portion of the opening / closing cam 49 has a piston shape with the cam housing portion 44B as a cylinder, and divides the cam housing portion 44B into upper and lower spaces.

[0033] In the space below the cam housing portion 44B, a spring 50 that biases the opening and closing cam 49 upward is disposed. On the other hand, the space above the cam housing portion 44B is connected to a compressed air supply source 52 via a passage 44C provided in the head body 44. That is, when compressed air is supplied from the compressed air supply source 52 to the space above the cam housing portion 44B, the opening and closing cam 49 is lowered by the pressure and the gripping arm 42 is closed radially. When the supply of compressed air is stopped, the opening and closing cam 49 is raised by the biasing force of the spring 50 and the gripping arm 42 is opened.

[0034] In the center of the head body 44 and the opening and closing cam 49, a suction pipe 54 fixed to the head body 44 along the central axis L is disposed. Around the lower end of the suction pipe 54, a suction portion 43 that abuts against the top surface of the cap C is provided. On the other hand, the upper end of the suction pipe 54 is connected to a negative pressure supply source 56. That is, by suction by the negative pressure supply source 56, the cap C against which the suction portion 43 abuts is adsorbed to the suction portion 43. Note that the upper end of the suction portion 43 abuts against the lower end of the head body 44 in which the groove 44A is formed.

[0035] The relative height of the gripping arm 42 and the suction portion 43 is fixed. When the suction portion 43 abuts against the top surface of the cap C at the cap delivery position, the lower end of the opened gripping arm 42 descends to a height corresponding to the side surface near the bottom of the cap C. Therefore, in the cap holding plate 32 of the present embodiment, a gripping claw accommodating portion 32A for accommodating the gripping claw 42B provided at the lower end of the gripping arm 42 is provided in a region corresponding to the gripping claw 42B around the pocket 30.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the gripping claws 42B of two of the three gripping arms 42 are located on the cap holding plate 32, and the gripping claw 42B of the remaining one gripping arm 42 is located at a position facing the opening of the pocket 30 outside the cap holding plate 32. Therefore, two gripping claw accommodating portions 32A are provided in the cap holding plate 32.

[0037] The gripping claw housing portion 32A is configured such that when the capping head 22A is lowered to a height at which the suction portion 43 is pressed against the top surface of the cap C, the gripping claws 42B of the open gripping arm 42 do not contact the cap holding plate 32. In the example of FIG. 4, it is configured as a recess that is slightly larger than the outer peripheral shape of the gripping claw 42B, but this may be configured as an opening or a notch. That is, when the capping head 22A is lowered until the suction portion 43 abuts against the top surface of the cap 30 in order to take out the cap C from the pocket 30, the side surface holding portion 30A is positioned between the gripping claws 42B of the opened gripping arm 42 and the side surface of the cap C in the pocket 30.

[0038] When the cap wheel 26 is rotated and the cap C accommodated in the pocket 30 is disposed at the cap transfer position, the capping head 22A is rotated to a position where, for example, two of the gripping claws 42B in the open state are directly above the gripping claw housing portion 32A. Thereafter, the capping head 22A is lowered with the gripping arm 42 open until the suction portion 43 is pressed against the top surface of the cap C. At this time, the two gripping claws 42B located on the cap holding plate 32 are accommodated in the gripping claw housing portion 32A (the state on the left side of FIG. 3). In a state (arrangement) where the two gripping claws 42B are accommodated in the gripping claw housing portion 32A, the locking portion 34B of the locking lever 34 protruding from the opening of the pocket 30 is positioned between the gripping claw 34B located outside the cap holding plate 32 and one of the gripping claws 42B accommodated in the gripping claw housing portion 32A, and the gripping claw 42B does not contact the locking portion 34B.

[0039] When the cap C is adsorbed and held by the suction portion 43, the capping head 22A is raised, and the cap C is lifted from the pocket 30. Thereafter, the opening and closing cam 49 is lowered to close the gripping arm 42, and the gripping claws 42B grip the outer surface near the bottom of the cap C (the state on the right side of FIG. 3).

[0040] As described above, according to the capping device of the present embodiment, it is possible to grip the side surface near the bottom of the cap housed in the pocket with a simple configuration.

[0041] In the present embodiment, a soy sauce dispenser provided with a pair of spouts as a cap has been described as an example. However, the present embodiment is applicable to caps having a hinged lid member at the upper part like cap B or E in Patent Document 2, caps having a flange-like projection at the upper part, caps having a shape provided with protrusions such as a spout, a frustum of a cone, a conical cap, a flat-shaped (low-profile) cap, etc. Further, it can also be applied to the capped tube described in Patent Document 2 by providing a notch in the support portion of the pocket. Note that the shape of the support portion is arbitrary as long as it can support the cap from below. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it may be a shape that covers the entire inner region of the side surface holding portion, or a substantially U-shaped shape that projects inward along the side surface holding portion as shown in FIG. 4.

[0042] Further, although the cap wheel of the present embodiment has only one pocket, it can also be configured to have a plurality of pockets as in Patent Document 1. Furthermore, the shape of the side surface holding portion of the pocket in the present embodiment is an arc shape that conforms to the side surface shape of the cap. However, the side surface holding portion only needs to be able to regulate the center of the cap at a predetermined position within the pocket. For example, it may have a configuration having protrusions that contact a plurality of positions on the side surface of the cap.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0043] 10 Rotary filling and capping device 22 Capping device 22A Capping head 24 Cap supply unit 26 Cap wheel 30 Pocket 30A Side surface holding portion 32 Cap holding plate 32A Gripping claw housing portion 34B Locking portion (locking means) 42 Gripping Arm (Side Gripping Portion) 42B Gripping Claw (Side Gripping Portion) 43 Suction Portion (Top Surface Holding Portion) 49 Opening / Closing Cam (Gripping Arm Opening / Closing Mechanism) C Cap V Container

Claims

1. A capping device comprising a top surface holding portion for sucking and holding the top surface of a cap, a plurality of gripping arms provided with gripping claws for gripping the side surface of the cap at the lower end portions, and gripping arm opening and closing means for opening and closing the gripping arms, and by raising and lowering the top surface holding portion, taking out the cap housed in the pocket of a rotary cap wheel by the top surface holding portion from the pocket, gripping the cap with the gripping claws and screwing it onto a container, wherein the pocket has a side surface holding portion for supporting the side surface of the cap housed in the pocket, when the capping head is lowered and the top surface holding portion is brought into contact with the top surface of the cap housed in the pocket, the side surface holding portion is positioned between the gripping claws of the gripping arm in an open state and the side surface of the cap, characterized by the above capping device.

2. locking means for preventing the caps housed in the respective pockets from coming out is provided on the cap wheel, before performing the cap taking-out operation, a positioning operation is performed by rotating the capping head so that the locking means is positioned between the gripping claws, and then, by performing the cap taking-out operation, the locking means is positioned between the gripping claws in the cap holding state, The capping device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

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