Container Alignment and Conveyance Device

Abstract

To provide a container aligning and conveying device capable of conveying a container to the next process at desired timing without impairing an external design while maintaining an upright state without tilting a filled container B supplied to a conveyance path while using a vertical container aligning mechanism.SOLUTION: A container aligning and conveying device has a guide mechanism 30 for moving each of a pair of guide members 31 and 31 arranged opposite to each other across a conveyance path of a filled container B in a conveying device forward and backward between an advance position where the filled container B dropping from a supply path of a container aligning mechanism is erected on the conveyance path and a retreat position where a route on the conveyance path of the filled container B erected on the conveyance path is opened.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container alignment and conveying device that has a conveying path that conveys filled containers horizontally (X-axis direction) toward the next process, and a supply path that drops the filled containers with their filling ports facing upward onto the conveying path and supplies them. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a conveying device has been used as a conveying device for aligning filled containers with their filling ports facing upwards on a conveying path and transporting them to the working position of the desired process, the conveying device comprising: a container alignment mechanism having a vertical supply path that continuously transports filled containers with their filling ports facing upwards (upright position); a conveyor that is arranged below the lower end of the supply path and spaced apart by more than the height dimension of the filled containers and transports filled containers supplied from the lower end horizontally to the next process; and a timing screw that supports the filled containers on the conveyor to maintain their position and adjusts the timing of transport of the filled containers by the conveyor (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-113351 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when this container alignment and conveying device aligns filled containers in an upright position on the conveying path, the filled containers are dropped onto the running conveyor from a position at least the height dimension of the filled container from the lower end of the supply path formed in the container alignment mechanism.As a result, filled containers supplied to the conveyor are prone to tilting, and the tilted filled container is guided from one side with a timing screw to correct its posture to an upright state while the conveyor is timed to transport it to the working position of the desired process downstream, resulting in the problem that the outer surface of the filled container can be scratched.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a container alignment and conveying device that uses a vertical container alignment mechanism while keeping filled containers supplied to the conveying path in an upright position without tilting, and can convey them to the next process at the desired timing without compromising the external design. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the container alignment and conveying device of the present invention includes a container alignment mechanism having a supply path arranged so that a filled container in an upright position with a filling port facing upward can be lowered, and a container alignment mechanism arranged below a lower end opening of the supply path and adapted to convey the filled container supplied from the lower end opening. It has a transport path that transports the product horizontally to the next process. a conveying mechanism, the conveying mechanism including a pair of guide members disposed opposite each other across the conveying path of filled containers in the conveying mechanism in a space between a lower end opening of the supply path and the conveying path, the pair of guide members being arranged to move back and forth between an advanced position for positioning a filled container descending from the supply path of the container alignment mechanism upright on the conveying path and a retreated position for opening a path on the conveying path for a filled container upright on the conveying path. and a side belt mechanism that moves the belt surface of the expanding circular belt between an advanced position where the filled container is sandwiched between the belt surfaces of a pair of side belt units arranged opposite to each other across the conveying path for filled containers in the conveying mechanism and a retracted position where the filled container is released from the clamping, and rotates and drives the circular belt to convey the clamped filled container downstream of the conveying path, and a control unit controls the pair of guide members to advance to the advanced position in accordance with the timing of the discharge of the filled container from the supply path of the container alignment mechanism, guide the filled container onto the conveying path while positioning it upright, and then return to the retracted position, advance the pair of side belt units to the advanced position in accordance with the timing at which the filled container is guided onto the conveying path by the pair of guide members, drive the circular belt to convey the filled container along the conveying path at the timing when the pair of guide members retract and the path on the conveying path for the filled container is released, and return the pair of side belt units to the retracted position when the filled container is sent out to the next process. It is characterized by:

[0007] According to the container alignment and conveying device of the present invention, the pair of guide members of the guide mechanism are advanced to the forward position, the filled container is guided downward along the supply path of the container alignment mechanism and discharged from the lower end opening in an upright position with the filling port facing upward, and positioned upright on the conveying path, and then the pair of guide members are retracted to the retracted position to open the filled container's path on the conveying path, thereby allowing the filled container to be conveyed horizontally by driving the conveying mechanism. When the pair of guide members are in the forward position, a pair of side belt units are moved to the backward position, and after a filled container is placed on the conveying path by the pair of guide members, when the pair of guide members move to the backward position, the pair of side belt units are moved to the forward position to sandwich the filled container between the belt surfaces, and the circular belt is driven to rotate to intermittently convey the sandwiched filled container downstream of the conveying path.

[0008] In addition, the container alignment and conveying device of the present invention is characterized in that each of the opposing surfaces of the pair of guide members is formed with a concave guide portion having a tapered surface that cooperates with the pair of guide members to receive a filled container descending from the supply path of the container alignment mechanism when the pair of guide members face each other in the forward position and guide it onto the conveying path.

[0009] According to the container alignment and conveying device of the present invention, when the pair of guide members face each other in the forward position, they cooperate to form a guide section having a tapered surface, so that a descending filled container can be received in the guide section and guided into an upright position on the conveying path. Effect of the Invention

[0012] In this way, the container alignment and conveying device of the present invention can use the container alignment mechanism while not damaging the external design of filled containers supplied to the conveying path, and can convey the filled containers to the next process at the desired timing while maintaining an upright position without tilting them. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a main configuration of one embodiment of a container aligning and conveying device of the present invention, showing a state in which a filled container discharged from a supply path of a container alignment mechanism is placed on a slide stage. FIG. [Diagram 2]FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a main configuration of one embodiment of a container aligning and conveying device of the present invention, illustrating a state in which a filled container placed on a slide stage is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a container alignment and conveying device 1 arranged to transport filled containers B to an entrance section for filled containers B located upstream of a main conveying path (main path) connecting multiple filling and packaging processes such as filling, checking, sealing, and labeling of filled containers B.

[0015] The container alignment and conveying device 1 of this embodiment is intended to align and convey filled containers B of various shapes and uses, such as cylindrical containers used as filled containers B for kitchen detergents, etc., approximately cylindrical containers with a recess formed on the outer peripheral surface, tubular containers used as filled containers B for mayonnaise, etc., which are blow-molded in multiple layers from materials such as PE or nylon, containers with handles formed on the outer peripheral surface used as filled containers B for laundry solvents, etc., and containers with a trigger spray attached to an opening formed with a narrow diameter so that it is easy to grip during use.

[0016] Figures 1 and 2 show a filled container B whose external shape is elliptical when viewed from above, with the cross-sectional area gradually decreasing from the bottom to the top, and a filling port formed facing upward at approximately the center of the shoulder of the body, with two opposing recesses formed in the body portion on either side of the long axis of the elliptical cross-sectional shape.

[0017] The container alignment and conveying device 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a container alignment mechanism (not shown) having a supply path (shooter) arranged so that filled containers B in an upright position with their filling ports facing upward can be lowered. The container alignment mechanism can be exemplified by a mechanism configured to continuously align filled containers B in an axial direction (height direction) in the supply path formed in a tube shape with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the filled containers B, and to discharge filled containers B one by one from the lower end of the supply path at a predetermined timing by opening and closing gates provided in multiple stages in the supply path based on a detection signal from a sensor that detects filled containers B conveyed through the supply path, for example, as in the alignment device disclosed in the above-mentioned JP-A-8-113351.

[0018] The container aligning and conveying device 1 of this embodiment is provided with a conveying mechanism 10 that is disposed below the lower end of the supply path and that conveys the filled container B discharged from the lower end in a horizontal direction while placing the filled container B on its upper surface. In this embodiment, this conveying mechanism 10 feeds the filled container B into the loading section of the main path, and together with the main path, constitutes a conveying path for filled containers B.

[0019] In this embodiment, the conveying mechanism 10 includes a slide stage 20 on which the filled container B discharged from the supply path is placed and slid horizontally (perpendicular to the paper surface in Figures 1 and 2), a guide mechanism 30 that guides the filled container B to an upright position on the conveying path on the slide stage 20, and a side belt mechanism 40 that conveys the filled container B horizontally and introduces the filled container B into the entrance section of the main path.

[0020] The slide stage 20 is configured so that the top surface of a long table which serves as the loading surface for the filled container B and the transport path is at the same height as the top surface of the main path, and so that the transport path merges with the main path at the loading section.

[0021] The guide mechanism 30 has a pair of guide members 31, 31 arranged opposite each other across the transport path in the space between the lower end of the supply path and the slide stage 20. Rods 32a, 32a of electric actuators 32, 32 are connected to each of the pair of guide members 31, 31, and are configured to move forward and backward by driving the electric actuators 32, 32 between a forward position shown in Fig. 1 where a filled container B descending from the supply path of the container alignment mechanism is positioned upright on the transport path, and a backward position shown in Fig. 2 where the path on the transport path is opened for filled container B positioned upright on the transport path.

[0022] The opposing surfaces of the pair of guide members 31, 31 are each formed with a concave vertical split shape having tapered surfaces 34, 34 closing downward, which form hole-shaped guide sections 33, 33 when the pair of guide members 31, 31 face each other in the forward position. By providing the guide sections 33, 33 with tapered surfaces 34, 34 closing downward in this manner, the pair of guide members 31, 31 cooperate when facing each other in the forward position, and can receive a filled container B descending from the supply path of the container alignment mechanism and guide it onto the conveying path. Furthermore, by forming the guide sections 33, 33 to be hole-shaped, the filled container B can be guided in the entire circumferential direction.

[0023] Furthermore, in the container alignment and conveying device 1 of this embodiment, the side belt mechanism 40 is provided with a pair of side belt units 41, 41 arranged opposite each other across the conveying path in the space between the position at which the pair of guide members 31, 31 of the guide mechanism 30 move back and forth and the slide stage 20.

[0024] Each of the pair of side belt units 41, 41 has a plurality of pulleys (not shown) rotatably arranged in a housing 42, 42, an endless belt 43, 43 stretched by the pulleys, and a motor (not shown) that transmits a rotational driving force to one of the plurality of pulleys. The endless belts 43, 43 are arranged in each side belt unit 41, 41 along the conveying path of the filled containers B with their belt surfaces facing each other. The endless belts 43, 43 are made of a material such as synthetic rubber or polyurethane, and a toothed belt having teeth formed on its inner circumferential surface to mesh with teeth formed on the pulleys can be used.

[0025] The housings 42, 42 equipped with each side belt unit 41, 41 are mounted on sliders 45, 45 which move back and forth by driving electric actuators 44, 44, and are configured to be movable back and forth between a forward position in which the filled container B is clamped between the opposing belt surfaces of a pair of side belt units 41, 41 as shown in Figure 2, and a backward position in which the filled container B is released from the clamped position as shown in Figure 1.

[0026] In this embodiment, the guide mechanism 30 and the side belt mechanism 40 are provided on a base 50 provided below both sides of the slide stage 20.

[0027] Further, the electric actuators 32, 32 of the pair of guide members 31, 31, the electric actuators 44, 44 of the pair of side belt units 41, 41, and the drive of the motors that rotate the pulleys are controlled by a control unit (not shown).

[0028] Specifically, the electric actuators 32, 32 of a pair of guide members 31, 31 are controlled so that the pair of guide members 31, 31 move forward to an advanced position in synchronization with the discharge of the filled container B from the supply path of the container alignment mechanism (not shown), guide the filled container B onto the conveying path while positioning it upright, and then return to the retracted position.

[0029] In addition, the electric actuator of the pair of side belt units 41, 41 44,44is controlled to advance to an advanced position in synchronization with the timing at which filled container B is guided onto the conveying path by the pair of guide members 31, 31. A motor (not shown) that rotates the pulley of side belt unit 41 is controlled to rotate forward at the timing at which the pair of guide members 31, 31 retreats and opens the way for filled container B on the conveying path, thereby conveying filled container B along the conveying path.

[0030] Then, when the filled container B has been fed to the carry-in portion of the main path, the electric actuators 44, 44 are controlled to return the pair of side belt units 41, 41 to the retracted positions.

[0031] Next, the operation of the container aligning and conveying device 1 of this embodiment will be described. In the container alignment and conveying device 1 of this embodiment, the electric actuators 32, 32 of a pair of guide members 31, 31 are controlled to advance the pair of guide members 31, 31 to an advanced position in accordance with the timing of the discharge of a filled container B from a supply path of a container alignment mechanism (not shown). When the pair of guide members 31, 31 face each other at the advanced position, as shown in Fig. 1, a recess formed by the opposing surfaces having tapered surfaces 34, 34 closing downwards is received in the guide portions 33, 33 of the descending filled container B and guided so as to be upright on the conveying path.

[0032] Next, as shown in Figure 2, in synchronization with the timing at which the filled container B is guided onto the conveying path by the pair of guide members 31, 31, the electric actuators 44, 44 are controlled to move the pair of side belt units 41, 41 forward to the forward position, and the lower portion of the filled container B, which has been guided and is positioned upright on the slide stage, is clamped by the endless belt 43 facing the space between the guide mechanism 30 and the slide stage 20.

[0033] At that timing, the electric actuators 32, 32 of the pair of guide members 31, 31 are controlled to return the guide members 31, 31 to the retracted position. At the timing when the path of the filled container B on the transport path is thus opened, the motors of the side belt units 41, 41 are driven to transport the filled container B on the transport path and feed it into the loading section of the main path.

[0034] Once the loading into the loading section of the main path is completed, the electric actuators 44, 44 are controlled to retract the pair of side belt units 41, 41 to the retracted position, and again advance the pair of guide members 31, 31 to the forward position in accordance with the timing of the discharge of the filled container B from the supply path of the container alignment mechanism not shown.

[0035] By repeating this operation, filled containers supplied to the transport path can be intermittently transported to the next process at the desired timing without compromising the external design of the containers, while still using the container alignment mechanism, and while maintaining an upright position without tilting the containers.

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0037] The conveying path (main path) arranged downstream of the container alignment and conveying device 1 does not need to be an independent conveying device, and may be, for example, a conveying path of a rotary type or line type filling device on whose circumference the filling process, capping process, sealing process, inspection process, etc. are arranged.

[0038] Furthermore, the transport mechanism may use a running conveyor belt of a known configuration instead of the slide stage 20. In that case, the timing of the running drive of the conveyor belt is controlled to match the advance and retreat of the guide mechanism and the advance and retreat and running timing of the side belt mechanism. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] B Filling container 1 Container alignment and transport device 10. Conveyor mechanism 20 Slide Stage 30 Guide mechanism 31 Guide member 32 Electric Actuator 32a Rod 33 Guide section 34 Tapered surface 40 Side belt mechanism 41 Side belt unit 42 Housing 43 Endless Belt 44 Electric Actuator 45 Slider 50 Bases

Claims

1. a container alignment mechanism having a supply path arranged so that a filled container in an upright position with its filling port facing upward can be lowered; a conveying mechanism disposed below a lower end opening of the supply path and having a conveying path for conveying the filled containers supplied from the lower end opening in a horizontal direction toward a next process, The conveying mechanism includes a guide mechanism that moves each of a pair of guide members arranged opposite each other across the filled container conveying path in the conveying mechanism in a space between a lower end opening of the supply path and the conveying path between an advanced position for positioning a filled container descending from the supply path of the container alignment mechanism upright on the conveying path and a retreated position for opening a path on the conveying path for a filled container upright on the conveying path; a side belt mechanism that moves the belt surface of the expanding circular belt between a pair of side belt units arranged opposite each other across the filled container transport path in the transport mechanism, between a forward position where the filled container is sandwiched between the belt surfaces and a backward position where the filled container is released from the clamping, and rotates the circular belt to transport the clamped filled container downstream of the transport path, The control unit controls the pair of guide members to advance to an advanced position in accordance with the timing of the discharge of the filled container from the supply path of the container alignment mechanism, guides the filled container onto the conveying path while positioning it upright, and then returns it to a retracted position, controls the pair of side belt units to advance to an advanced position in accordance with the timing at which the filled container is guided onto the conveying path by the pair of guide members, drives the circular belt to convey the filled container along the conveying path at the timing at which the pair of guide members retract and open the path of the filled container on the conveying path, and controls the pair of side belt units to return to the retracted position when the filled container is sent out to the next process. A container aligning and conveying device comprising:

2. The container alignment and conveying device described in claim 1, characterized in that each of the opposing surfaces of the pair of guide members has a concave guide portion having a tapered surface that cooperates with the pair of guide members when they are opposed to each other in the forward position to receive a filled container descending from the supply path of the container alignment mechanism and guide it onto the conveying path.

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