Hollow body conveyance device, hollow body inspection device, and hollow conveyance method

Abstract

To provide a novel hollow body conveyance device capable of increasing the number of workpieces conveyed per unit time, a hollow body inspection device equipped with the hollow body conveyance device, and a hollow body conveyance method.SOLUTION: When a hollow workpiece (W) having an opening is externally mounted on a mandrel 21 provided on a rotating body 2 in a hollow body conveying device 1 for conveying the workpiece (W), a first insertion device 41 pushes the workpiece (W) toward the mandrel 21 at an insertion point to a depth less than a planned insertion depth, and a second insertion device 42 pushes the workpiece (W) downstream of the insertion point in a rotating direction of the rotating body to a depth equal to the planned insertion depth.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hollow body transport device for transporting a hollow workpiece having an opening at one end, a hollow body inspection device equipped with the hollow body transport device, and a hollow body transport method. [Background technology]

[0002] Laminated tubes are widely used as containers for storing semi-solid materials such as cosmetics and toothpaste. As shown in Figure 9, this type of laminated tube comprises a hollow cylindrical tube body (W1) and a cap (W3) for closing a mouth (W2) provided at one end of the tube body (W1). After the contents are filled through an opening (W4) at the other end, the opening (W4) is sealed to form a product (P).

[0003] When manufacturing this type of laminated tube, before filling the contents into the tube body (W1), a quality inspection is carried out on the hollow body (or only the tube body (W1)) with the lid portion (W2) attached to the tube body (W1), which is the work (W).

[0004] Currently, inspection devices have been developed to automate this quality inspection (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-8304 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The inspection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a device for automatically inspecting the presence or absence of pinholes in workpieces (W). As shown in Fig. 10, this inspection device 100 sequentially transports the workpieces (W) to a predetermined insertion point using a supply device 3, and after the workpieces (W) are wrapped around a mandrel 21 attached to a rotor 2, the workpieces (W) are transported in accordance with the rotation of the rotor 2, and inspection is performed by an inspection means 5 while the mandrel 21 is rotating downstream in the transport direction. An air outlet (not shown) is provided at the tip of the mandrel 21, and the inspected workpiece (W) is removed from the mandrel 21 by air pressure sprayed from the air outlet.

[0007] In the inspection device 100, when the workpiece (W) is fitted onto the mandrel 21, an insertion device 4 is used which pushes the workpiece (W) towards the mandrel 21 at the insertion point.

[0008] The insertion device 4 is configured to repeat forward and backward movements to push the work (W) into the mandrel 21 at the insertion point and backward movements to return to the original position. While the insertion device 4 is performing its forward and backward movements, the transportation of the work (W) by the supply device 3 and the rotation of the rotating body 2 are stopped.

[0009] That is, the number of workpieces (W) that can be transported (inspected) per unit time in the inspection device 100 depends greatly on the time required for the forward and backward movement of the insertion device 4. Therefore, if the workpiece (W) is long, the time required for the forward and backward movement of the insertion device 4 increases relatively, and as a result, the number of workpieces (W) that can be transported per unit time decreases.

[0010] The present invention was completed in consideration of the above-mentioned technical problems, and aims to provide a new hollow body conveying device that can increase the number of workpieces transported per unit time, a hollow body inspection device equipped with the hollow body conveying device, and a hollow body conveying method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The hollow body conveying device of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned technical problems, is a hollow body conveying device for conveying a hollow workpiece having an opening, and comprises a rotating body on which multiple mandrels are arranged concentrically around the rotation axis, a work supply device that sequentially transports the workpieces to a predetermined insertion point where the opening faces the tip of the mandrel, and an insertion device that pushes the workpiece toward the mandrel, wherein the insertion device comprises a first insertion device that pushes the workpiece toward the mandrel at the insertion point to a depth that is less than the planned insertion depth, and one or more second insertion devices that push the workpiece downstream in the rotation direction of the rotating body from the insertion point until it reaches a depth that reaches the planned insertion depth (hereinafter referred to as the ``conveying device of the present invention'').

[0012] In the transport device of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is one in which the driving force for the pushing operation of the first inserting device and the driving force for the pushing operation of the second inserting device are generated by a common driving source.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the transport device of the present invention, the driving force for the pushing operation of the first inserting device and the driving force for the pushing operation of the second inserting device are generated by separate driving sources.

[0014] The hollow body inspection device of the present invention, which solves the above technical problems, is characterized by including the above-mentioned transport device of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "the inspection device of the present invention").

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the inspection device of the present invention further comprises a sampling device for extracting the inspected work from the mandrel at a predetermined sampling point.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the inspection apparatus of the present invention further comprises one or more extraction devices located upstream of the extraction point in the direction of rotation of the rotor for extracting the workpiece from the mandrel without completely removing it.

[0017] The hollow body conveying method of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned technical problems, is a hollow body conveying method for conveying a hollow workpiece having an opening, and carries out a work supply process in which the workpieces are transported sequentially to a predetermined insertion point, an insertion process in which the workpiece is wrapped around a mandrel, and a conveying process in which the workpiece is conveyed while wrapped around the mandrel, and is characterized in that the insertion process carries out a first insertion process in which the workpiece is pushed toward the mandrel at the insertion point to a depth that is less than the planned insertion depth, and a second insertion process in which the workpiece is pushed downstream in the conveying direction from the insertion point to a depth that reaches the planned insertion depth (hereinafter referred to as the ``conveying method of the present invention''). [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, the number of workpieces transported per unit time can be increased. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a conveying device of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2(a) is a front view showing the operation of the supply device and the rotating body in the transport device of the present invention, and FIG. 2(b) is a side view showing the operation of the insertion device in the transport device of the present invention. [Figure 3] 3(a) to 3(c) are perspective views showing the execution of the first insertion step in the transport method of the present invention using the transport device of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4(a) to 4(c) are perspective views showing the execution of the second insertion step (and the first insertion step) in the transport method of the present invention using the transport device of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the transport device of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the transport device of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the inspection device of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the device of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9(a) to 9(c) are perspective views showing an example of a workpiece, and FIG. 9(d) is a perspective view showing a product manufactured using the workpiece. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional inspection device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0021] [Embodiment 1] <Conveying device 1 of the present invention> 1 and 2 show one embodiment of the conveying device 1 of the present invention. The conveying device 1 of the present invention is a device for conveying a hollow workpiece (W) having an opening, and is equipped with a "rotating body (2)", a "supply device (3)", and an "insertion device (4)".

[0022] -Rotating body 2- The rotor 2 has a structure in which a plurality of mandrels 21 are arranged on concentric circles centered on a rotation axis (O). As shown in Fig. 2(a), in this embodiment, the rotor 2 is constructed by arranging a plurality of mandrels 21 (eight in this example) standing perpendicular to one surface of a disk-shaped rotor main body 20 at equal intervals with a predetermined phase difference (θ: 45 degrees in this example). The rotor 2 receives a rotational force from a driving source such as a motor (not shown) to rotate, and is controlled to rotate by the phase difference (θ) between adjacent mandrels 21 and then stop for a predetermined period of time, repeatedly.

[0023] -Feeding device 3- The supply device 3 serves to sequentially transport the workpieces (W) to a predetermined insertion point where the opening of the workpiece (W) faces the tip of the mandrel 21. In this embodiment, the supply device 3 is a belt conveyor that rotates a pulley 31 by rotation from a drive source such as a motor (not shown). The belt 32 wound around the pulley 31 has V-shaped grooves 33 formed on its surface at equal intervals along the transport direction. By transporting the workpieces (W) while holding them in the V-shaped grooves 33, the workpieces (W) are transported toward the insertion point at equal intervals. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the supply device 3 is controlled to align the opening of one workpiece (W) with the tip of one mandrel 21 at the insertion point, stop for a predetermined time, and then move the workpiece (W) by the distance (X) between adjacent V-shaped grooves 33, thereby repeatedly aligning the opening of another workpiece (W) with the tip of another mandrel 21.

[0024] -Insertion device 4- The insertion device 4 serves to push the workpiece (W) toward the mandrel 21. In the present invention, the insertion device 4 comprises a first insertion device 41 and a second insertion device 42. In this embodiment, the insertion device 4 is constructed by providing the first insertion device 41 at the tip of a rod 40 of an air cylinder (not shown) that moves back and forth in a direction along the rotation axis (O) of the rotating body 2, and providing the second insertion device 42 at a position a predetermined distance from the tip of the rod 40 toward the base. Note that a first pushing plate 410 provided at the tip of the first insertion device 41 faces the tip of the mandrel 21 at the insertion point, and a second pushing plate 420 provided at the tip of the second insertion device 42 faces the tip of the mandrel 21 downstream of the insertion point in the rotation direction of the rotating body 2. 2(b), when the insertion device 4 is operated, the rod 40 moves back and forth a certain distance (Y), and the workpiece (W) with its opening facing the tip of the mandrel 21 at the insertion point is pushed toward the mandrel 21 by the first pushing plate 410 of the first insertion device 41. After the workpiece (W) in this state is transported downstream in the rotation direction of the rotor 2, it is further pushed toward the mandrel 21 by the second pushing plate 420 of the second insertion device 42. In other words, the wrapping of the workpiece (W) on the mandrel 21 is performed in stages (here, in two stages) by the first insertion device 41, which pushes the workpiece (W) toward the mandrel 21 at the insertion point to a depth less than the planned insertion depth, and the second insertion device 42, which pushes the workpiece (W) downstream in the rotation direction of the rotor 2 from the insertion point to a depth equal to the planned insertion depth. In the present invention, the term "predetermined insertion depth" means a predetermined insertion depth of the mandrel 21 into the workpiece (W).

[0025] <Transportation method of the present invention> The transport device 1 of the present invention having the above configuration is an apparatus for carrying out the transport method of the present invention for transporting a hollow workpiece (W) having an opening. The transport method of the present invention carries out a "workpiece supply step," an "insertion step," and a "transport step." Hereinafter, the execution of the transport method of the present invention by the transport device 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0026] -Work supply process- In the work supply process, the workpieces (W) are transported sequentially to a predetermined insertion point. In the conveying device 1 of the present invention, the supply device 3 is operated, and the workpieces (W) are conveyed by conveyor while being held in the V-shaped groove 33, thereby transporting the workpieces (W) sequentially toward the insertion point at equal intervals (see FIG. 3(a)). When the leading workpiece (W) faces the mandrel 21 at the insertion point, the operation of the belt conveyor of the supply device 3 (and the rotational movement of the rotor 2) stops.

[0027] - Insertion process - In the insertion step, the workpiece (W) is wrapped around the mandrel 21. In the transfer method of the present invention, the insertion step includes a first insertion step and a second insertion step.

[0028] First insertion process In the first insertion step, the workpiece (W) is pushed toward the mandrel 21 at the insertion point to a depth that is less than the planned insertion depth. In the conveying device 1 of the present invention, the insertion device 4 is operated, and the first pushing plate 410 of the first insertion device 41 pushes the workpiece (W) at the insertion point toward the mandrel 21 (see FIG. 3(b)). After the workpiece (W) has been pushed to a depth that is less than the planned insertion depth, the first pushing plate 410 of the first insertion device 41 returns to its original position (see FIG. 3(c)).

[0029] Second insertion process In the second insertion process, the workpiece (W) is pushed downstream in the conveying direction from the insertion point until it reaches a depth that reaches the predetermined insertion depth. In the conveying device 1 of the present invention, the supply process is resumed after the first insertion process is performed, and a new workpiece (W) is supplied to the insertion point, and the workpiece (W) after the first insertion process is transported to a position downstream in the rotation direction of the rotating body 2 (here, downstream by a phase difference θ) from the insertion point (see FIG. 4(a)). In this state, the operation of the belt conveyor of the supply device 3 (and the rotational movement of the rotating body 2) is stopped again, and the inserting device 4 is operated, and the second pushing plate 420 of the second inserting device 42 pushes the workpiece (W) toward the mandrel 21 (see FIG. 4(b)). After the workpiece (W) is pushed to a depth that reaches the predetermined insertion depth, the second pushing plate 420 of the second inserting device 42 returns to its original position (see FIG. 4(c)). Note that the first inserting process is also performed simultaneously when the second insertion process is performed.

[0030] -Transportation process- In the conveying step, the workpiece (W) is conveyed while being wrapped around the mandrel 21. In the conveying device 1 of the present invention, the workpiece (W) that has been pushed into the mandrel 21 to a depth reaching the insertion depth by the execution of the inserting step is conveyed toward the downstream side of the rotational movement of the rotating body 2.

[0031] According to the conveying method of the present invention, which executes each of the above steps, it is possible to realize gradual insertion of the work (W) by simultaneously executing the first insertion step and the second insertion step, and since the advance / retreat distance of the first insertion device 41 is shortened, the time for which the work supply step is stopped is shortened, and as a result, the number of workpieces conveyed per unit time can be increased.

[0032] In this embodiment, a two-stage insertion process is performed using one first insertion device 41 and one second insertion device 42, but a multi-stage insertion process may also be performed using a plurality of second insertion devices 42 as shown in Fig. 5. By performing a multi-stage insertion process using a plurality of second insertion devices 42, the advance / retract distance of the first insertion device 41 can be further shortened, and as a result, the number of workpieces (W) transported per unit time can be further improved.

[0033] In addition, in this embodiment, the transport device 1 of the present invention is designed so that the driving force for the pushing operation of the first inserting device 41 and the driving force for the pushing operation of the second inserting device 42 are generated by a common driving source, but the transport device 1 of the present invention may also be designed so that the driving force for the pushing operation of the first inserting device 41 and the driving force for the pushing operation of the second inserting device 42 are generated by separate driving sources, as shown in Fig. 6. If the driving force for the pushing operation of the first inserting device 41 and the driving force for the pushing operation of the second inserting device 42 are generated by separate driving sources, the advance / retract distance of the first inserting device 41 can be set shorter than the advance / retract distance of the second inserting device 42, and as a result, the number of workpieces (W) transported per unit time can be further improved.

[0034] [Embodiment 2] <Inspection device 10 of the present invention> FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of the inspection device 10 of the present invention. The inspection device 10 of the present invention is characterized by being equipped with the conveying device 1 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the inspection device 10 of the present invention is constructed as an apparatus equipped with an inspection means 5 that observes the state of printing applied to the surface of the workpiece (W) at a predetermined inspection position downstream in the rotation direction of the rotating body 2. At the inspection position, the mandrel 21 is connected to an electromagnetic clutch (not shown) and rotates, and the workpiece (W) wrapped around the mandrel 21 is inspected while rotating at the inspection position.

[0035] In addition, an air outlet (not shown) is provided at the tip of each mandrel 21 provided on the rotating body 2 in the inspection device 10 of the present invention, and the inspected work (W) is extracted from the mandrel 21 at a predetermined extraction point by receiving air pressure sprayed from the air outlet, comes into contact with the contact plate 60 of the extraction device 6, falls, and is collected at a predetermined location below.

[0036] The inspection device 10 of the present invention having the above configuration is designed to inspect the workpiece (W) while transporting it using the transport device 1 of the present invention, which has an improved number of workpieces (W) transported per unit time, so that the number of workpieces (W) inspected per unit time can be improved.

[0037] In this embodiment, the extraction device 6 is a device that extracts the workpiece (W) at one extraction point. However, as shown in FIG. 8, if an extraction device 7 is provided that extracts the workpiece (W) from the mandrel 21 upstream of the extraction point in the rotation direction of the rotor 2 without completely removing it, the workpiece (W) can be extracted by simultaneously performing two steps of the extraction operation and the removal operation, thereby reducing the time required to extract the workpiece (W).

[0038] In this embodiment, a tube having a shape as shown in FIG. 9 is used as the work (W), but the work (W) is not particularly limited as long as it is a hollow body having an opening at at least one end.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inspection means 5 is used to observe the state of printing on the surface of the workpiece (W), but there is no particular limitation on the purpose of inspection by the inspection means 5. Another example of the inspection means 5 is a means for identifying the presence or absence of pinholes in the workpiece (W).

[0040] Additionally, in this embodiment, the air pressure sprayed from the air outlet is used to remove the workpiece W, but there are no particular limitations on the means for removing the workpiece W. Examples of means for removing the workpiece W include means for removing the workpiece W while holding it with claws or a chuck.

[0041] The present invention can be embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or essential features. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and is not limited to the text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications and variations within the equivalent range of the claims are within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0042] The present invention is suitably used as a means for increasing the number of workpieces transported per unit time. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. The conveying device of the present invention (hollow body conveying device) 2 Rotating bodies 20 Rotating body 21 Mandrel 3 Feeding device 31 Pulley 32 Belt 33 V-groove 4 Insertion device 40 rods 41 First insertion device 42 Second insertion device 5. Inspection methods 6 Sampling device 7 Extraction device 10. Inspection device of the present invention (hollow body inspection device) double work

Claims

1. A hollow body conveying device for conveying a hollow workpiece having an opening, a rotating body having a plurality of mandrels arranged on concentric circles centered on a rotation axis; a work supply device that sequentially transports the work to a predetermined insertion point where the opening faces the tip of the mandrel; an insertion device for pushing the workpiece toward the mandrel; and The insertion device a first insertion device for pushing the workpiece toward the mandrel at the insertion point to a depth less than a predetermined insertion depth; one or more second insertion devices that push the workpiece downstream of the insertion point in the rotation direction of the rotor until the workpiece reaches a predetermined insertion depth; A hollow body conveying device comprising:

2. 2. The hollow body conveying device according to claim 1, A hollow body transfer device in which the driving force for the pushing operation of the first inserting device and the driving force for the pushing operation of the second inserting device are generated by a common driving source.

3. 2. The hollow body conveying device according to claim 1, A hollow body conveying device in which the driving force for the pushing operation of the first inserting device and the driving force for the pushing operation of the second inserting device are generated by separate driving sources.

4. A hollow body inspection device comprising the hollow body transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. 5. The hollow body inspection apparatus according to claim 4, The hollow body inspection apparatus further comprises a sampling device for extracting the inspected work from the mandrel at a predetermined sampling point.

6. 6. The hollow body inspection apparatus according to claim 5, The hollow body inspection apparatus further comprises one or more extraction devices located upstream of the extraction point in the direction of rotation of the rotor for extracting the workpiece from the mandrel to an extent that the workpiece is not completely extracted.

7. A hollow body conveying method for conveying a hollow workpiece having an opening, comprising: a work supply process for sequentially transporting the workpieces to a predetermined insertion point; an insertion step of sheathing the workpiece on the mandrel; a transporting step of transporting the workpiece while it is wrapped around the mandrel; Run In the inserting step, a first insertion step of pushing the workpiece toward the mandrel at the insertion point to a depth less than a predetermined insertion depth; a second insertion step of pushing the workpiece downstream in the conveying direction from the insertion point until the workpiece reaches a predetermined insertion depth; A hollow body transport method characterized by carrying out the steps of:

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