Barrel unloading position correction unit
The barrel lowering position correction unit aligns the barrel lifting device with receiving claw members, ensuring stable barrel transport and enabling automated processes like residual liquid discharge and filling.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- RAIN IND
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-21
AI Technical Summary
The center positions of the barrel lifting and lowering device and the receiving claw on a chain conveyor are misaligned due to chain elongation and control limits, hindering automated barrel transport processes such as residual liquid discharge and filling.
A barrel lowering position correction unit that aligns the center position of the barrel lifting device with the receiving claw members using a rotatable wheel, cylinder, positioning pin, and positioning plate to ensure precise alignment and stable lifting.
Enables reliable automated barrel transport by maintaining the barrel stopper position, allowing efficient residual liquid discharge and filling processes.
Smart Images
Figure 2026084546000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a position correction mechanism for aligning the center position of a barrel lifting and lowering device (barrel lift-up part) in a barrel conveyance line with the center position of a receiving claw (for placing a barrel) installed on a chain conveyor and the receiving claw.
Background Art
[0002] (In the operation of filling barrels with whiskey or the like) Automation of the conveyance line for efficiently and safely moving barrels has been implemented. In the conveyance line, the barrels to be conveyed on the chain conveyor are stored in a state containing moisture (a state containing residual liquid matter) rather than in a dried state. Therefore, in the barrel conveyance line (as a process before the filling operation), in order to discharge the residual liquid matter, a process of removing the barrel plug and a process of discharging the residual liquid matter are required. During these processes, it is necessary to temporarily lift the barrel being conveyed from the chain conveyor and rotate the barrel itself.
[0003] On the other hand, when the conveyance line is operated, the center position of the receiving claw (on which the barrel is placed) attached to the chain conveyor does not match the center position of the barrel lifting and lowering device (barrel lift-up part) that temporarily lifts the barrel being conveyed from the chain conveyor during conveyance, which has been an obstacle to the automation of the conveyance line. The cause of such a state is the control limit of the operation of the chain conveyor that conveys the barrels (repeating "operation" ⇒ "stop"), and furthermore, as a result of continuously operating the conveyance line for a certain period of time, it is due to the elongation of the chain constituting the chain conveyor (elongation due to wear of the joint part between the chains: the material of the chain is worn away and the gap widens, and the overall length elongates). The applicants have made intensive development in view of such a situation and have arrived at the present invention.
[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a barrel inversion device (Patent Document 1: Title of Invention) that aims to "reduce the effort required when inverting a barrel filled with beer (Patent Document 1: Abstract)". The device consists of a first conveyor for transporting barrels, an inversion mechanism consisting of a first roller and bar member, and a second conveyor for transporting the inverted barrels. The mechanism causes the barrels to tilt and invert due to their own weight during transport. In particular, it is equipped with a mechanism to switch between a rotating state and a locked state for the support rollers, so it can accommodate barrels of different sizes from 10 liters to 30 liters. Furthermore, the support rollers are rubber-lined to prevent the barrels from slipping, and the rollers and bar members are made of high-strength materials such as stainless steel and are designed to withstand the weight of the barrels. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]
[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-104623 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0006] According to the barrel inversion device described in Patent Document 1 (Patent Document 1: Title of Invention), it is certainly possible to reduce the effort required when inverting barrels. However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is a technique for inverting (turning upside down) barrels while they are upright (with the upper side where the barrel's mouthpiece is located facing downwards), and therefore cannot be applied to barrel transport lines in situations like the present invention (where barrels are transported lying down: the barrels are on their sides).
[0007] The objective of the present invention is to realize an automated line for barrel transport by providing a barrel lowering position correction unit that aligns the center position of the barrel lifting and lowering device (barrel lift-up section) in a barrel transport line with the center position between the receiving claw members (on which barrels are placed) installed on the chain conveyor. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a barrel lowering position correction unit that aligns the center position of a barrel lifting and lowering device (barrel lift-up section) in a barrel conveying line with the center position between receiving claw members installed on a chain conveyor, and is characterized by comprising: receiving claw members for placing barrels installed at predetermined intervals on a chain conveyor; a barrel lift-up section installed at the lower side of a barrel placed horizontally on the chain conveyor and having a rotatable wheel member on the upper end side that contacts the barrel; a cylinder member that can slide the barrel lift-up section in the conveying direction; a positioning pin member that is set to protrude freely on the barrel lift-up section; and a positioning plate member installed on the upstream receiving claw member when a barrel is placed on it.
[0009] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the positioning pin is a barrel unloading position correction unit that is installed so as to be able to protrude when viewed from the side, at the uppermost part of the upstream wheel member, in a position where the positioning pin can move in and out. [Effects of the Invention]
[0010] The present invention is a position correction unit that aligns the center position of a barrel lifting device (barrel lift-up section) in a barrel conveying line with the center position between receiving claw members installed on a chain conveyor. The unit comprises receiving claw members installed at predetermined intervals on a conveyor that transports barrels, a barrel lift-up section installed on the underside of a barrel placed horizontally on the chain conveyor and equipped with a rotatable wheel member on its upper end that contacts the barrel, and a cylinder member that allows the barrel lift-up section to slide back and forth. Furthermore, the barrel lift-up section is equipped with a positioning pin member that is set to protrude freely.
[0011] The positioning pin of the barrel lowering position correction unit slides in a cylinder until it contacts a positioning plate member installed on a receiving claw member (installed on the chain conveyor), thereby aligning the center position of the barrel lifting device (barrel lift-up section) in the barrel transport line with the center position between the receiving claw members installed on the chain conveyor.
[0012] After aligning the center position of the barrel lifting device (barrel lift-up section) with the center position of the receiving claw members installed on the chain conveyor, the barrel lifting device (barrel lift-up section) lifts the barrel off the chain conveyor, and rotates the barrel so that the barrel stopper is directly above it while it is suspended. Since the barrel can be transported to the next process while maintaining the position of the barrel stopper (memorizing the position of the barrel stopper) with the barrel stopper directly above it, each process in the subsequent processes of barrel stopper removal, residual liquid discharge, and barrel filling can be carried out reliably, and an automated barrel line can be realized. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0013] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the barrel unloading position correction unit according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This diagram illustrates the state before positional misalignment correction. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the state after positional misalignment correction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0014] <Structure of the barrel unloading position correction unit> Hereinafter, one embodiment of the barrel unloading position correction unit 10 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the barrel unloading position correction unit 10 according to the present invention.
[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the barrel lowering position correction unit 10 includes receiving claw members 30 (four per barrel) installed at predetermined intervals (spacing sufficient to support barrels placed horizontally) on the chain conveyor 20 that transports the barrels, a barrel lift-up unit 50 (barrel raising and lowering device) installed below the barrels placed horizontally on the chain conveyor 20 and equipped with a rotatable wheel member 40 on its upper end that contacts the barrel, and a cylinder member 60 that allows the barrel lift-up unit 50 to slide back and forth. Furthermore, the barrel lift-up unit 50 is equipped with a positioning pin member 70 that is set to protrude freely.
[0016] A positioning plate member 80 is installed on the upstream side of the receiving claw member 30 (a total of four receiving claw members 30 are installed for each barrel, two on the upstream side and two on the downstream side) when the barrel is placed on it. More specifically, the positioning plate member 80 is installed on the upstream side of the receiving claw member 30 installed on the upstream side (see Figure 1). The positioning pin member 70 is installed so as to be able to protrude (at the position where it moves in and out) at the top of the upstream wheel member 40 when viewed from the side. (For the purpose of explaining the principle of the barrel lowering position correction unit 10) Figure 1 shows the positioning pin member 70 (before protrusion) before position correction (indicated as "before correction" in Figure 1) and the positioning pin member 70 (after protrusion) after position correction (indicated as "after correction" in Figure 1) (in one drawing).
[0017] <Method of position correction using barrel lowering position correction unit> Figure 2 illustrates the state of the barrel lowering position correction unit 10 before positional misalignment correction. Figure 3 illustrates the state of the barrel lowering position correction unit 10 after positional misalignment correction. The barrel lowering position correction unit 10 aligns the center position of the barrel raising and lowering device (barrel lift-up section 50) with the center position of the receiving claw member 30 installed on the chain conveyor 20. (A'→A in Figure 2)
[0018] The center position of the cask lifting and lowering device (cask lift-up unit 50) refers to the center line between the wheel members 40 of the cask lowering position correction unit 10 and the wheel members 40 when the conveyance line is viewed from directly sideways with respect to the conveyance direction of the conveyance line. The center position of the receiving claw member 30 refers to the center line between the receiving claw members 30 (on which the cask is placed) when the conveyance line is viewed from directly sideways (see Fig. 2).
[0019] When the cask lowering position correction unit 10 temporarily lifts the cask being conveyed from above the chain conveyor 20 and in the process of inverting the cask itself, etc., the center position A of the receiving claw member 30 installed on the chain conveyor 20 (in the state where the cask is placed) does not match the center position A' of the wheel member 40 of the cask lift-up unit 50 (the state where the center position A of the receiving claw member 30 has advanced to the upstream side from the center position A' of the wheel member 40 (see Fig. 2 (described as misalignment))). The cask lowering position correction unit 10 corrects such a state.
[0020] Specifically explaining such a state, the position of the cask in the state where the cask is placed on the receiving claw member 30 (and the receiving claw member 30) is deviated from the center position of the wheel member 40 of the cask lift-up unit 50 (the state where the center position A of the receiving claw member 30 has advanced to the upstream side from the center position A' of the wheel member 40 (see Fig. 2 (described as misalignment))). When the cask lifting and lowering device (cask lift-up unit 50) is operated in this state, the wheel member 40 of the cask lift-up unit 50 cannot lift the cask in a balanced manner, and there is a risk that the cask will roll off the conveyance line (see Fig. 2).
[0021] The state where the center position of the receiving claw member 30 installed on the chain conveyor 20 does not match the center position of the wheel member 40 of the cask lift-up unit 50 is mainly due to the control limit of the operation of the chain conveyor that conveys the cask (repeating "operation" ⇒ "stop"), and furthermore, it is due to the elongation of the chain that constitutes the chain conveyor 20 (elongation due to wear, etc. at the joint part of the chain and the chain: the material of the chain is scraped and the gap widens, and the overall length elongates), etc.
[0022] The bottle lowering position correction unit 10 is a mechanism for sliding the bottle lift-up part 50 back and forth (in the direction along the conveying direction) separately from the vertical lifting and lowering mechanism in order to correct the position of the bottle lift-up part 50. When correcting the position of the bottle lift-up part 50, a positioning pin member 70 for positioning (which can protrude in the vertical direction) is installed. Further, a positioning plate member 80 is installed on the end surface of the upstream receiving claw member 30 (on the upstream side in the state where the bottle is placed) in the state where the bottle is placed (see Fig. 2).
[0023] When aligning the center position of the (bottle lift-up part) with the center position of the receiving claw member 30 installed on the chain conveyor 20, that is, when moving the bottle lift-up part 50 by pushing out the cylinder member 60, the bottle lift-up part 50 is first pushed out upstream beyond the position where the positioning plate member 80 is installed (on the upstream side of the upstream receiving claw member 30). Then, the positioning pin member 70 set on the bottle lift-up part 50 is protruded. With the positioning pin member 70 protruded, the bottle lift-up part 50 is slid downstream (in the reverse direction), and the protruded positioning pin member 70 abuts against the positioning plate member 80 installed on the upstream side of the (upstream) receiving claw member 30 (see Fig. 3). When the protruded positioning pin member 70 abuts against the positioning plate member 80, the cylinder member 60 stops and the bottle lift-up part 50 also stops (and the alignment is completed in this state).
[0024] By sliding the bottle lift-up part 50 downstream (moving the cylinder member 60) until it abuts against the positioning plate member 80 installed on the upstream side of the (upstream) receiving claw member 30 (after moving the bottle lift-up part 50 upstream), the alignment of the 'Receiving Claw Center' (the center position of the receiving claw member 30) and the 'Bottle Lifting Roller Center' (the center position of the wheel member 40) can be achieved.
[0025] <Effect of the bottle lowering position correction unit> The present invention relates to a barrel lowering position correction unit 10 that aligns the center position of the barrel lifting and lowering device (barrel lift-up section 50) in a barrel conveying device with the center position of the receiving claw member 30 installed on a chain conveyor. The barrel lowering position correction unit 10 makes it possible to provide a barrel lowering position correction unit 10 that aligns the center position of the barrel lifting and lowering device (barrel lift-up section 50) in a barrel conveying line with the center position of the receiving claw member 30 installed on a chain conveyor 20.
[0026] As a result, after aligning the center position of the barrel lifting / lowering device (barrel lift-up section 50) with the center position of the receiving claw member 30 installed on the chain conveyor, the barrel lifting / lowering device (barrel lift-up section 50) lifts the barrel off the chain conveyor, and rotates the barrel so that the barrel stopper is directly above it (while confirming the position of the barrel stopper with a sensor, etc.) while it is floating. After rotating the barrel so that the barrel stopper is directly above it (while confirming the position of the barrel stopper with a sensor, etc.), the barrel is returned to the chain conveyor by the barrel lifting / lowering device (barrel lift-up section 50). Since the barrel can be transported to the next process while maintaining the position of the barrel stopper with the barrel stopper directly above it (while memorizing the position of the barrel stopper), each process in the (next process) barrel stopper removal process, residual liquid discharge process, and barrel filling process can be carried out reliably, and an automated barrel line can be realized.
[0027] The positioning pin member 60 is installed so as to be able to protrude from the uppermost part of the upstream wheel member 40 when viewed from the side, so in other words, the uppermost part of the (upstream) wheel member 40 of the barrel lift-up unit 50 moves to the position where the (upstream) receiving claw member 30 is installed. (At the same time) the uppermost part of the (downstream) wheel member 40 of the barrel lift-up unit 50 moves to the position where the (downstream) receiving claw member 30 is installed.
[0028] In other words, the uppermost part of the (upstream) wheel member 40 of the barrel lift-up section 50 and the uppermost part of the (downstream) wheel member 40 of the barrel lift-up section 50 are located further out than the (upstream) receiving claw member 30 and both ends of the (downstream) receiving claw member 30, so that the barrel can be lifted in a balanced and stable state (see Figure 3).
[0029] <Example of modification to the barrel lowering position correction unit> The barrel unloading position correction unit according to the present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments described above, and the configuration of the chain conveyor, receiving claw member, wheel member, barrel lift-up section, cylinder member, positioning pin member, positioning plate member, etc. can be appropriately changed as needed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]
[0030] As described above, the barrel lowering position correction unit according to the present invention exhibits excellent effects and can therefore be suitably used as a position correction unit for aligning the center position of the barrel lifting device in a barrel conveying device with the center position between the receiving claw members installed on the chain conveyor. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0031] 10. Barrel unloading position correction unit 20. Chain conveyor 30. Claw component 40. Wheel components 50. Barrel lift-up section 60. Cylinder component 70. Positioning pin component 80. Positioning plate component
Claims
1. A barrel lowering position correction unit that aligns the center position of the barrel lifting device (barrel lift-up section) in a barrel transport line with the center position between the receiving claw members installed on the chain conveyor, A receiving claw member for placing barrels, which are installed at predetermined intervals on a chain conveyor, A barrel lift-up unit is installed at the lower side of a barrel placed horizontally on a chain conveyor, and has a rotatable wheel member on its upper end that contacts the barrel. The barrel lift-up section is equipped with a cylinder member that can slide in the conveying direction, The barrel lift-up section is equipped with a positioning pin member that is set to protrude freely. A barrel lowering position correction unit characterized in that a positioning plate member is installed on the upstream receiving claw member when a barrel is placed on it.
2. The barrel unloading position correction unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning pin is installed so as to be able to protrude from the uppermost part of the upstream wheel member when viewed from the side, in a position in which the positioning pin can move in and out.