Barrel stopper

Abstract

To provide a barrel stopper that smoothly accepts barrels rolling down a slope when they are received onto a conveying line in a barrel-filling line (or barrel-discarding line), as these barrels vary in size (and weight) and are randomly arranged. [Solution] A barrel stopper 10 for receiving barrels entering the conveying line from an inclined conveyor, the barrel stopper 10 is formed in a three-pronged structure and has a rotatably installed barrel receiving section 50 on which a cylinder member 40 equipped with a wheel member 20 on two ends that come into contact with the received barrel and an air pressure adjustment member 30 for adjusting the air pressure is installed on the remaining end, and the air adjustment member 30 operates the cylinder member 40 with an air pressure set for each barrel type identified by a barrel type identification means just before the barrel reaches the conveying line.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a cask stopper installed at the cask receiving location (in the conveying line) for receiving casks that enter from an inclined conveyor when the casks are received in the cask conveying line.

Background Art

[0002] In a cask filling line (or cask discharging line), when receiving casks into the conveying line, the casks enter the conveying line from an inclined conveyor or the like. However, the casks to be received in the conveying line have different sizes (and weights) and there is variation. Moreover, since casks of different sizes flow in randomly (considering an automated line), there is a problem that it is difficult to smoothly receive the casks that enter the conveying line from an inclined conveyor or the like.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, it is attached to the horizontal beam of a shelf or the horizontal beam of a stackable container, and by having a flat portion or a rod-shaped portion that substantially contacts the three-dimensional curved surface along the outer circumference of the cask, the cask is supported stably without wobbling. Thus, even for casks of different sizes, only the contact position shifts slightly and stable fixing becomes possible. By arranging the cask receivers at four locations in the longitudinal direction of the cask, the stability is further improved. By using this cask receiver, there is no need to use a fixed shelf that is difficult to assemble and disassemble as in the past, and by storing the containers in a nested manner, space can be saved. Therefore, the work of fixing the casks to the shelf or container is made more efficient, and stable storage of the casks becomes possible. A cask receiver, a shelf or a container to which the cask receiver is attached (Patent Document 1: Title of the Invention) is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The barrel holder described in Patent Document 1, and the shelf or container to which the barrel holder is attached (Patent Document 1: Title of Invention), are thought to be able to securely hold barrels of different sizes, even if the contact position is only slightly shifted. However, when receiving barrels into a conveying line (automated line) on a barrel-filling line (or barrel-unfilling line), it is considered difficult to smoothly receive (control) barrels rolling down an inclined conveyor belt (each barrel being of a different size (and weight) with variations, and moreover, barrels of different sizes flowing randomly).

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a barrel stopper that can smoothly accept barrels entering the conveyor line from an inclined conveyor or the like when barrels are being loaded onto a barrel line (or barrel unloading line), where barrels (each different in size and weight, with variations, and barrels of different sizes and characteristics flowing randomly) are being loaded onto the conveyor line. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a barrel stopper for smoothly receiving barrels that are entering the conveying line from an inclined conveyor toward the conveying line, and is characterized by comprising a barrel receiving section formed in a three-pronged structure, a cylinder member equipped with wheel members on two ends that come into contact with the received barrel and an air pressure adjusting member for adjusting the air pressure on the remaining end, and a load sensor member electrically linked with the cylinder member.

[0008] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the air adjustment member is a barrel stopper that operates the cylinder member with an air pressure set for each barrel type identified by the barrel type identification means just before the barrel reaches the conveying line. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The present invention is a barrel stopper for smoothly receiving barrels entering a conveyor line from an inclined conveyor. The barrel stopper is characterized by a barrel receiving section that is installed to be rotatable. The barrel receiving section (of the barrel stopper) is formed in a three-pronged structure, with wheel members installed on two ends that come into contact with the received barrels, and a cylinder member equipped with an air pressure adjustment member for adjusting the air pressure installed on the remaining end. The cylinder member (equipped with the air pressure adjustment member) is operated at an air pressure set for each barrel type identified by a barrel type identification means (located away from the barrel receiving section).

[0010] The barrel type identification means identifies the barrel type (just before the barrel reaches the conveyor line, for example, as it rolls along the inclined conveyor), and sends an electrical signal (corresponding to the load of each barrel type) to the air pressure adjustment member so that the air pressure is set to a predetermined level for each barrel type. In response to this electrical signal, a repulsive force is generated by a cylinder member equipped with the air pressure adjustment member. The barrel stopper generates a stress that rotates the barrel receiving section with an appropriate repulsive force from the cylinder member, whose air pressure is controlled by the air pressure adjustment member, thereby controlling the impact force generated when the barrel enters the conveyor line (by the repulsive force against the impact force from the barrel). Therefore, when receiving barrels into the conveyor line on a barrel filling line (or barrel unloading line), a barrel stopper can be provided that smoothly accepts barrels entering from an inclined conveyor. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the barrel stopper (main body) according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a system diagram explaining the mechanism of the barrel stopper. [Figure 3] This is a diagram illustrating the acceptance state of the barrel stopper. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the state of the barrels after they have been accepted by the barrel stopper and are being fed into the conveyor line. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] <Structure of the barrel stopper> Hereinafter, one embodiment of the barrel stopper 10 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the barrel stopper 10 (main body) according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a system diagram illustrating the mechanism of the barrel stopper 10.

[0013] The barrel stopper 10 according to the present invention is a device for smoothly receiving barrels that are entering the conveyor line from the inclined conveyor 11 toward the conveyor line. More precisely, it is a device for stopping the barrel just before it is put into the conveyor line (see Figures 1(a) and 1(b)) and then putting it into the conveyor line (see Figure 1(b)).

[0014] The barrel stopper 10 consists of a barrel receiving section 50 that constitutes the main body of the barrel stopper 10, and a barrel type identification means 60 installed separately from the main body (at a location just before the barrel reaches the conveying line, for example, when it is rolling along the inclined conveyor 11). The barrel stopper 10 is characterized by the barrel receiving section 50 (which is equipped with a pivot axis 51 and is installed to be rotatable). The barrel receiving section 50 is formed in a three-pronged structure (when viewed from the side), with wheel members 20 on two ends that come into contact with the received barrels, and a cylinder member 40 equipped with an air pressure adjustment member 30 on the remaining end.

[0015] The barrel receiving section 50 is rotatably installed (equipped with a pivot axis 51) and has four wheel members 20 (located where they come into contact with the received barrels) at the point where barrels enter from the inclined conveyor 11 toward the transport line. The material of the wheel members 20 may be rubber or metal, but since barrels are being handled (to avoid damaging the barrels), rubber is preferable.

[0016] The barrel receiving section 50 is equipped with a cylinder member 40 (located at one end of a three-pronged structure and not in contact with the received barrel) that controls the impact force caused by the kinetic energy from the barrel that is applied to the barrel receiving section 50 when a barrel is received. The cylinder member 40 is equipped with an air pressure adjustment member 30.

[0017] As shown in Figure 2, the barrel type identification means 60, which is installed at a location separate from the barrel receiving section 50 before the barrels are fed into the conveyor line, identifies the barrel type and then emits an electrical signal corresponding to the load of each barrel type. That is, when the barrel type identification means 60 identifies a barrel type approaching the conveyor line, the air pressure adjustment member 30 controls the air pressure of the cylinder member 40 (generating a repulsive force corresponding to the barrel type) via an interface or the like.

[0018] The barrel stopper 10 is most notable for controlling the air pressure of the cylinder member 40 using an air pressure adjustment member 30. The air pressure adjustment member 30 is a device that controls the air pressure of the cylinder member 40 (by electrical signals). The air pressure adjustment member 30 is linked to a barrel type identification means 60, which is determined by identifying the barrel type. The load due to the kinetic energy from the barrel is sent to the air pressure adjustment member 30 (via an interface, CPU, etc.) in response to an electrical signal input from the barrel type identification means 60, and the air pressure adjustment member 30 can adjust (control) the air pressure of the cylinder member 40. In other words, when a barrel enters the barrel from the inclined conveyor 11, the impact force due to the kinetic energy applied to the barrel receiving section 50 can be adjusted in response to the "rebound force" that counteracts it, thereby controlling the impact force due to the kinetic energy from the barrel.

[0019] The barrel type identification means 60 identifies the type of each barrel being conveyed. It can be identified visually by an operator, or by a load sensor, or by image processing (image processing by AI with machine learning: classifying an image in pixel units and identifying the barrel by analysis using a convolutional neural network, which is a type of deep learning). In addition, other sensors such as strain gauge type sensors (which convert displacement and pressure such as those of an inclined conveyor into electrical signals), capacitance type sensors, and piezoelectric type sensors can be used.

[0020] <Method for Controlling Barrels by a Barrel Stopper> Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining the receiving state of the barrel stopper 10. Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining the state when the barrel is put into the conveying line after the barrel stopper has received the barrel.

[0021] When the barrel stopper 10 receives a barrel, stress acts in the direction in which the barrel receiving part 50 rotates (clockwise in Figure 3). However, when receiving barrels into the conveying line, the barrels to be received into the conveying line have different sizes (and different weights) and vary, and moreover, barrels of different sizes flow in randomly. Therefore, it is not possible to have a mechanism that makes the repulsive force provided by the barrel receiving part 50 itself constant. If the repulsive force provided by the barrel receiving part 50 itself is adjusted according to a barrel with a small weight, a barrel with a large weight will exceed the repulsive force and will not fit into the barrel receiving part 50. Conversely, if the repulsive force is adjusted according to a barrel with a large weight, a barrel with a small weight will be bounced off and will not fit into the barrel receiving part 50.

[0022] The barrel receiving part 50 is devised so that it can generate a repulsive force (which is different each time) according to the pressure (impact force) due to the kinetic energy from each barrel in order to cope with barrels of various weights. Specifically, a cylinder member 40 is installed that can control the air pressure by an air pressure adjustment member 30 that receives an electrical signal from the barrel type identification means 60 according to the magnitude of the pressure (impact force) due to the kinetic energy of the barrel to be received.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the state of the barrel stopper 10 before it accepts a barrel (to the state immediately after it accepts a barrel) is such that the center of the wheel member 20 on the upstream side (the side from which the barrel enters the conveyor line) is approximately horizontal (-5° to 5°) (in relation to the pivot axis 51), and the center of the wheel member 20 on the downstream side is at an angle of approximately 30 degrees (25° to 35°) with respect to the horizontal (in relation to the pivot axis 51). This angle (determined by the applicants through repeated prototyping) is an angle that makes it easy to accept barrels entering from the inclined conveyor and to stop the accepted barrels.

[0024] When the barrel stopper 10 accepts a barrel, the barrel receiving portion 50 is subjected to stress in a clockwise direction. Consequently, one end of the barrel receiving portion 50 (to which the cylinder member 40 is connected) is also subjected to stress in a clockwise direction. In order to counteract this stress (to control it by generating a counteracting stress), the cylinder member 40 needs to generate stress in a counterclockwise direction on one end of the barrel receiving portion 50. Specifically, air is injected so that the rod of the cylinder member 40 moves to the right, thereby generating air pressure (see Figure 3).

[0025] The cylinder member 40 is linked (via the air pressure adjustment member 30) to a barrel type identification means 60 that identifies barrel types based on differences in barrel shape (dimensions), weight, etc., and adjusts the air pressure of the cylinder member 40 (via the air pressure adjustment member 30) according to the electrical signal input from the barrel type identification means 60. After the barrel stopper 10 safely accepts the barrel into the barrel receiving section 50, it injects air so that the rod of the cylinder member 40 moves to the left, bringing it to the state shown in Figure 4 (the upstream wheel member 20 is at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the horizontal in relation to the pivot axis 51, and the downstream wheel member 20 is almost horizontal), and then puts the barrel into the conveyor line. After that, it returns to the state shown in Figure 3 to be ready to accept the next barrel.

[0026] <Effects of barrel stoppers> The barrel stopper 10 works as follows: the barrel type identification means 60 identifies the barrel type and sends an electrical signal to the air pressure adjustment member 30 to adjust the air pressure according to the barrel type. The air pressure adjustment member 30 controls the air pressure of the cylinder member 40 in response to the electrical signal, and the barrel receiving section 40 rotates with an appropriate repulsive force to counteract the pressure from the barrel, thus controlling the movement with the repulsive force against the barrel. Therefore, when receiving barrels into the conveying line on a barrel filling line (or barrel unloading line), the barrels vary in size (and weight), and even when barrels of different sizes flow randomly, the barrel stopper 10 can smoothly receive barrels rolling down a slope.

[0027] <Example of barrel stopper modification> The barrel stopper according to the present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments described above, and the configuration of the wheel member, air pressure adjustment member, cylinder member, barrel receiving part, pivot axis, load sensor member, etc. can be appropriately changed as needed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the cylinder member may be linked to an electro-pneumatic regulator to control the air pressure (=repulsive force). [Industrial applicability]

[0028] As the barrel stopper according to the present invention exhibits the excellent effects described above, it can be suitably used as a barrel stopper installed at a barrel receiving location on a barrel conveying line to receive barrels that are rolling along an inclined conveyor during barrel receiving. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0029] 10. Barrel stopper 11. Inclined conveyor 20. Wheel component 30. Air pressure adjustment component 40. Cylinder component 50. Barrel receiving section 51. Rotation center axis 60. Barrel type identification method

Claims

1. A barrel stopper for receiving barrels that are entering the conveying line from an inclined conveyor, A barrel stopper characterized by having a barrel receiving section that is rotatably installed, having a three-pronged structure, with wheel members installed on two ends that come into contact with the received barrel, and a cylinder member equipped with an air pressure adjustment member for adjusting the air pressure installed on the remaining end.

2. The barrel stopper according to claim 1, characterized in that the air adjustment member operates the cylinder member with an air pressure set for each barrel type identified by the barrel type identification means just before the barrel reaches the conveying line.

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