Clearance Detection Device

Abstract

To provide a clearance detection device with a simple structure, which allows an irradiator and a detector to be quickly installed even when measuring a plurality of seaming chucks and seaming rolls and which can suppress an increase in load and work time of an operator.SOLUTION: A clearance detection device 100 includes an irradiator 111 and a detector 112 capable of detecting irradiation light B1 emitted from the irradiator 111. The irradiator 111 and the detector 112 are mounted at a main body 110 and the main body 110 is mounted between a seaming chuck SC and a lifter plate P in a fixable manner. The irradiator 111 is provided in such a manner that the irradiation light B1 can pass between the seaming chuck SC and seaming rolls R1, R2. The detector 112 is provided in a manner to be able to receive passing light B2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a clearance detection device having an irradiator that irradiates light between a seaming chuck and a seaming roll of a can lid seaming machine for containers, and a detector that can detect the light irradiated from the irradiator. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a known can lid seaming machine that seams can lids onto containers used in container filling equipment, etc., uses a seaming chuck that presses the can lid onto the container and a seaming roll that rotates around the seaming chuck to seam the can lid onto the container. When starting up such a can end seaming machine or during maintenance, it is necessary to adjust the clearance between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll in accordance with the specifications of the container and can end. Generally, a method is used in which the seaming chuck and the seaming roll are adjusted to have a specified positional relationship while directly measuring using a dial gauge or a thickness gauge, and a method of checking the positional relationship between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll using an optical device, as described in Patent Document 1, is also known.

[0003] The clearance detection device (optical device 100) described in Patent Document 1 detects the shape of the clearance between the seaming chuck (chuck 50) and the seaming roll (roll 52) of a can end seaming machine (sealing machine), by passing the irradiated light (light) directed upward from an irradiator (laser light source) located below the seaming chuck (chuck 50) and seaming roll (roll 52) through an irradiation side optical path changer (prism 108) and then detecting it with a detector (CCD camera 114) via a detection side optical path changer (prism 110). Furthermore, the clearance shape data detected by the detector (CCD camera 114) can be analyzed automatically or with the assistance of an operator through appropriate software to obtain a clearance measurement value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2007-518097 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the clearance detection device described in Patent Document 1 still has room for improvement. In other words, in the clearance detection device described in Patent Document 1, when the irradiator, the irradiation side optical path change body, the detector, and the detection side optical path change body each measure multiple seaming chucks or seaming rolls, the positions of the irradiator, the irradiation side optical path change body, the detector, and the detection side optical path change body must each be moved and adjusted separately, which may increase the burden on the worker and the working time.

[0006] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a clearance detection device that has a simple configuration, can quickly install an irradiator and detector even when measuring multiple seaming chucks or seaming rolls, and can suppress the burden on the worker and increase in working time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The clearance detection device of the present invention is a clearance detection device having an irradiator that irradiates irradiation light between a seaming chuck and a seaming roll of a can lid winding machine for containers, and a detector capable of detecting the irradiation light irradiated from the irradiator, the irradiator and the detector are arranged in a main body, the main body is configured to be able to be fixed between the seaming chuck and a lifter plate arranged below the seaming chuck, the irradiator is arranged to be able to pass the irradiation light between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll, the detector is arranged to be able to receive transmitted light which is the irradiation light that has passed between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll, the main body is provided with a plurality of chuck fitting portions that are detachably provided to be fitted with an inner peripheral surface of the seaming chuck, the plurality of chuck fitting portions are formed with different outer diameters for seaming chucks having different outer diameters, and the plurality of chuck fitting portions are arranged on the main body so that the shortest distance from the center of the irradiation light passing between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll to the outer diameters of the plurality of chuck fitting portions is constant. Configured to be installed one by one By doing so, the above-mentioned problems are solved. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the clearance detection device of claim 1, the irradiator and detector are arranged in the main body, and the main body is fixed by being sandwiched between the lifter plate and the seaming chuck. Therefore, once the positions of the irradiator and detector on the main body are adjusted, it is possible to eliminate the need to adjust the positions of the irradiator and detector again when measuring the clearance between the seaming chucks and seaming rolls of multiple heads installed on the same can end winding machine, thereby reducing the working time. In addition, the shape of the clearance between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll can be captured by detecting the irradiated light (passing light) from the irradiated body with a detector, so there is less measurement error compared to when measuring by directly placing a gauge on a three-dimensional shape, there is no personal variation between the person measuring, and the positional relationship between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll can be reliably adjusted to the appropriate position. In addition, the main body is provided with a plurality of chuck fitting portions that fit with the inner peripheral surface of the seaming chuck in a detachable manner, and the plurality of chuck fitting portions are formed with different outer diameters for the seaming chucks having different outer diameters, and the plurality of chuck fitting portions are attached to the main body so that the shortest distance from the center of the irradiation light passing between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll to the outer diameters of the plurality of chuck fitting portions is constant. Configured to be installed one by one Therefore, for example, when replacing the seaming chuck with one having a different outer diameter, the seaming chuck and seaming roll can be positioned in an appropriate positional relationship with respect to the irradiated light simply by replacing the chuck fitting portion, and the clearance between the seaming chuck and seaming roll can be measured without having to adjust the positions of the irradiator or detection unit again.

[0009] According to the configuration described in claim 2, the irradiator and detector are configured to be able to change and fix their positions on the main body, so that clearance can be quickly detected by simply aligning the irradiator and detector on the main body, even for heads with different shapes and diameters of seaming chucks or seaming rolls. According to the configuration described in claim 3, an irradiation side light path change body is provided in the main body, and the irradiation light passes through the irradiation side light path change body before passing between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll, so that the position of the irradiator can be freely positioned so as not to interfere with the can end seaming machine.

[0010] According to the configuration described in claim 4, a detection side optical path change body is provided in the main body, and the passing light passes through the detection side optical path change body before being irradiated to the detector, so that the detector can be positioned freely so as not to interfere with the can end winding machine. According to the configuration described in claim 5, the main body, the irradiator and the detector are positioned below the seaming chuck when the main body is fixed between the seaming chuck and the lifter plate, so that there is little interference with the seaming chuck or seaming roll adjacent to the head being measured, and adjustment operations of the clearance detection device can be easily performed.

[0011] According to the configuration described in claim 6, the main body is capable of detecting the pressing force generated between the seaming chuck and the lifter plate, thereby further shortening the adjustment time of the head of the can end seaming machine and improving work efficiency. According to the configuration described in claim 7, the device further includes a memory means for storing the detected clearance value and / or the detected pressing force. Therefore, by storing the clearance indicating the proper positional relationship between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll and the proper pressing force value, the next time the position of the seaming chuck or seaming roll is adjusted, the difference in numerical value from the previous adjustment can be easily identified, and the device can be quickly adjusted to the proper position.

[0012] According to the configuration described in claim 8, the detector can acquire the passing light as digital data, thereby eliminating the possibility of erroneous input due to the worker's reading or writing, and ensuring that correct values ​​are recorded. According to the configuration described in claim 9, the device further includes a control device that can automatically analyze the digital data obtained from the detector and calculate the clearance between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll.Therefore, an operator can easily know the state of the clearance between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll by simply setting the clearance detection device in the correct position, and can more quickly adjust it to the appropriate position. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a can end seaming machine M arranged on a production line L. FIG. [Diagram 2] An enlarged view of a can end seaming machine M located on production line L. [Diagram 3] 4 is an enlarged view showing the positional relationship between the seaming chuck SC, the first seaming roll R1, the second seaming roll R2, and the lifter plate P of the can end seaming machine M. [Figure 4] Schematic cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship of each part when a can lid CL is wrapped around a container by a can lid wrapping machine M. FIG. [Diagram 5]1 is a perspective view of a clearance detection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship of each part of a clearance detection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, excluding a positioning member 115. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a clearance detection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a can end seaming machine M. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a clearance detection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention attached to a can end seaming machine M. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view showing an optical path from an irradiating body 111 to a detector 112 in a clearance detection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 3 is a schematic diagram of a projection view showing the shape between a first seaming roll R1 and a seaming chuck SC detected by a clearance detection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 11] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a change in the positional relationship due to a difference in outer diameter between the seaming chuck SC and the seaming chuck SCb in the clearance detection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an analysis procedure 1 of the shape between the seaming roll R1 and the seaming chuck SC detected by the clearance detection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a second analysis procedure of the shape between the seaming roll R1 and the seaming chuck SC detected by the clearance detection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 14] 1 is a schematic diagram of a projection view showing the shape between the second seaming roll R2 and the seaming chuck SC detected by the clearance detection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing a procedure for analysis based on an image captured by the detector 112 of the clearance detection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] A clearance detection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0015] The clearance detection device 100 is a device that detects the clearance between the first seaming roll R1 and the second seaming roll R2 and the seaming chuck SC of a can end winding machine M arranged on a production line L, for example, as shown in Figures 1 to 4. The can lid seaming machine M further has a lifter plate P of a lifter unit ∪ that clamps the container C covered with the can lid CL between the seaming chuck SC and applies a predetermined pressing force, and performs a double seaming method in which a first seaming roll R1 approaches the side of the can lid CL to wrap the can lid CL and the mouth of the container C together, and then a second seaming roll R2 approaches to tighten the can lid CL and the mouth of the container C so as to crimp them together.

[0016] The lifter unit ∪ has a mechanism for moving the container C up and down using a cam or the like, and an elastic member (not shown) is arranged below the lifter plate P to urge the lifter plate P upward with a predetermined pressing force.When the can lid CL and container C are clamped by the seaming chuck SC, the elastic member (not shown) is compressed and deformed through the lifter plate P, generating a pressing force on the can lid CL and container C.

[0017] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the clearance detection device 100 has a main body 110, a chuck fitting portion 116 provided on an upper portion of the main body 110, and a pressing force measuring device 117 provided on a lower portion of the main body 110. The main body 110 includes an irradiator 111 that irradiates irradiation light between the first seaming roll R1 and the second seaming roll R2 and the seaming chuck SC, a detector 112 that detects passed light, which is the irradiation light that has passed between the first seaming roll R1 and the second seaming roll R2 and the seaming chuck SC, a first irradiation side optical path change body 113a, a second irradiation side optical path change body 113b, a first detection side optical path change body 114a, and a second detection side optical path change body 114b, each of which is arranged via a positioning member 115.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 8, the pressing force measuring device 117 is provided with an adjust screw 118 for adjusting the height of the pressing force measuring device 117, and a load cell holder 120, and the load cell holder 120 and the adjust screw 118 are connected via a bearing 119. The pressing force measuring device 117 is provided with a connection part 123 that connects to the main body part 110, and the connection part 123 and the adjustment screw 118 are threadedly engaged with each other.

[0019] A load cell plate 121 and a load cell 122 are provided within the load cell holder 120 so as to be sandwiched between the load cell plate 121 and the load cell holder 120 . The load cell 122 is connected to a control device (not shown) such as a personal computer via an amplifier (not shown), and the measured value of the load cell 122 can be displayed on the screen of the control device (not shown).

[0020] The irradiator 111, the detector 112, the first irradiation side optical path changer 113a, the second irradiation side optical path changer 113b, the first detection side optical path changer 114a, and the second detection side optical path changer 114b are configured so that their fixed positions on the main body 110 can be adjusted by a positioning member 115. Furthermore, the chuck fitting portion 116 and the pressing force measuring device 117 are configured to be detachable from the main body portion 110 .

[0021] Next, a method of detecting and measuring a clearance by the clearance detection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0022] First, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the load cell plate 121 is placed on the lifter plate P and aligned so that the chuck fitting portion 116 fits into the seaming chuck SC, and the clearance detection device 100 is sandwiched between the seaming chuck SC and the lifter plate P.

[0023] Next, the irradiator 111, detector 112, first irradiation side optical path change body 113a, second irradiation side optical path change body 113b, first detection side optical path change body 114a, and second detection side optical path change body 114b, which have been temporarily fixed to the main body 110 in advance via the positioning member 115, are adjusted and fixed to positions where the irradiation light B1 from the irradiator 111 can pass between the first seaming roll R1 and the seaming chuck SC and where the transmitted light B2 can be detected by the detector 112.

[0024] In this embodiment, the irradiator 111 irradiates laser light, and the detector 112 is composed of a CCD camera capable of detecting laser light, and the irradiator 111 and the detector 112 are arranged below the seaming chuck SC at the same height and in the same direction so as to be able to irradiate irradiation light B1 in the horizontal direction or detect passing light B2 from the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the first illumination side optical path change body 113a, the second illumination side optical path change body 113b, the first detection side optical path change body 114a, and the second detection side optical path change body 114b are all formed of prisms and are arranged so as to change the direction of travel of the incident illumination light B1 or transmitted light B2 by 90 degrees. This eliminates the need to insert the irradiator 111 and detector 112 into narrow spaces in the can end seaming machine M, and allows the operation to proceed without interfering with seaming rolls and seaming chucks that are not the subject of measurement.

[0025] With clearance detection device 100 set up as described above, irradiated light B1 irradiated horizontally from irradiator 111 has its direction of travel changed upward by first irradiation side optical path change body 113a, and then its direction of travel changed horizontally toward the clearance by second irradiation side optical path change body 113b, and transmitted light B2, which is irradiated light that has passed through the clearance, has its direction of travel changed downward by second detection side optical path change body 114b, and then its direction of travel changed horizontally toward the detector by first detection side optical path change body 114a, before reaching detector 112. When the transmitted light B2 is captured by the detector 112, planar image data as shown in FIG. 10 can be obtained.

[0026] By measuring the clearance between the first seaming roll R1 and the seaming chuck SC, for example, the vertical running clearance VC or the roll clearance RC, from this planar image data, the positional relationship between the first seaming roll R1 and the seaming chuck SC can be easily confirmed. Furthermore, compared to measuring the vertical running clearance VC and roll clearance RC by directly applying a gauge or the like to a three-dimensional shape, there is no measurement error or individual differences between operators, so the first seaming roll R1 and seaming chuck SC can be reliably adjusted to the appropriate positions. In addition, since the vertical running clearance VC and roll clearance RC can be measured without contact, there is no risk of damaging the seaming roll or seaming chuck.

[0027] In addition, the clearance detection device 100 is provided with a pressing force measuring device 117, so that when the clearance detection device 100 is clamped and fixed between the seaming chuck SC and the lifter plate P, the pressing force on the container C and can lid CL can be measured at the same time.Therefore, when adjusting the clearance between the first seaming roll R1 and the seaming chuck SC, the pressing force on the container C and can lid CL by the seaming chuck SC and the lifter plate P can be adjusted without replacing the measuring tool.

[0028] Here, a specific example of a method for adjusting the pressing force applied to the container C and the can lid CL by the seaming chuck SC and the lifter plate P using the pressing force measuring device 117 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the clearance detection device 100 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the seaming chuck SC and the lifter plate P, and the measurement value of the load cell 122 displayed on the screen of the control device (not shown) is adjusted to zero.

[0029] At this time, since the adjust screw 118 of the pressing force measuring device 117 and the connection part 123 are threadedly engaged, by rotating the adjust screw 118, the connection part 123 can be moved in the vertical direction, i.e., the height of the entire clearance detection device 100 can be adjusted. When the adjustment screw 118 is rotated to extend the height of the entire clearance detection device by a specified amount, the height position of the seaming chuck SC does not change, so the lifter plate P is pushed downward and the elastic member (not shown) is compressed through the lifter plate P, and the pressing force applied to the pressing force measuring device 117 sandwiched between the seaming chuck SC and the lifter plate P is displayed on the screen of the control device (not shown) as the measured value of the load cell 122.

[0030] This makes it possible to easily adjust the pressing force generated when the can lid CL and container C are clamped between the seaming chuck SC and the lifter plate P to an appropriate value by adjusting the set length (amount of compression) of the elastic member (not shown) with an adjustment screw (not shown) provided on the lifter unit ∪ while checking the change in the measurement value of the load cell 122.

[0031] In addition, the can lid seaming machine M is equipped with multiple heads, but if the irradiator 111, detector 112, first irradiation side optical path change body 113a, second irradiation side optical path change body 113b, first detection side optical path change body 114a, and second detection side optical path change body 114b are fixed in the positions for measuring the first seaming roll R1 and seaming chuck SC of one head, it is possible to start measuring the clearance between the first seaming roll and seaming chuck of the other head simply by sandwiching the clearance detection device 100 between the seaming chuck and lifter plate of the other head, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0032] In addition, since the chuck fitting portion 116 is configured to be detachable from the main body portion 110, it can be easily adapted to can lid seaming machines that use seaming chucks or lifter plates of different shapes by simply replacing the chuck fitting portion 116 to suit the respective shapes. It should be noted that if the seaming chuck is changed to one with a different diameter, the position of the side of the seaming chuck relative to the optical path of the irradiated light B1 will change. However, this can be accommodated by adjusting the position of the positioning member 115 to change the positions of the first irradiation side optical path changing body 113a, the second irradiation side optical path changing body 113b, the first detection side optical path changing body 114a, and the second detection side optical path changing body 114b, thereby changing the optical path of the irradiated light B1 to the desired position.

[0033] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, by changing the position of the central axis Cb of the chuck fitting portion 116b from the central axis Ca of the chuck fitting portion 116 and shifting it from the position of the central axis Cc of the load cell 122 and attaching it to the main body portion 110 so that the relative distance between the optical path of the irradiation light B1 and the side of the replaced seaming chuck SCb does not change, it is possible to deal with this issue by simply replacing the chuck fitting portion 116b without adjusting the position of the positioning member 115. Furthermore, since the outer diameter of can lids CL handled by a can lid seaming machine of the same specifications does not change significantly, even if the outer diameter of the seaming chuck SC is changed in a can lid seaming machine of the same specifications, the deviation between the central axis Cc of the load cell 122 and the central axis of the chuck fitting portion 116 is slight, and the pressing force can be measured stably by the pressing force measuring device 117.

[0034] Furthermore, by using software that automatically analyzes the images acquired by detector 112 as digital data, the possibility of erroneous input due to operators reading or writing measurement values ​​can be eliminated, ensuring that correct values ​​are recorded.

[0035] Here, a specific example of a method for calculating the vertical running clearance VC and the roll clearance RC when an image captured as digital data by the detector 112 is analyzed using a control device will be described (the process flow is shown in FIG. 15). For the sake of explanation, the detector 112 is a CCD camera with a pixel count of 1200×1600, but the specifications of the detector 112 are not limited to this.

[0036] First, the captured image is subjected to binarization and labeling processes to obtain a labeling processed image in which only the areas where the laser light was captured, that is, only the dots in the clearance area between the first seaming roll R1 and the seaming chuck SC, are displayed in black, as shown in Figure 12. In addition, in an image that has actually been subjected to binarization and labeling processes, the clearance area between the first seaming roll R1 and the seaming chuck SC is filled in black, but for the sake of explanation, in Figures 12 and 13, it is shown as a contour line and countless small dots. Next, data on the contour (boundary) of the clearance portion as viewed from above, below, left, and right of the labeling processed image is obtained, and the coordinates on the image (the horizontal direction of the image is the X coordinate, and the vertical direction of the image is the Y coordinate) are defined.

[0037] Based on the specified coordinate data, the top surface coordinates of the seaming chuck SC are calculated. First, the point on the side of the seaming chuck SC in the labeling processed image that is located at the rightmost position on the X-axis is defined as coordinate Ps (Xs, Ys), and the point where a virtual line Ls extended upward on the Y-axis from coordinate Ps intersects with the top surface of the seaming chuck SC is defined as coordinate Pc (Xs, Yc1). The coordinate is shifted one dot at a time to the right on the X axis from the coordinate Pc (Xs, Yc1), and the Y coordinates of the points where the X coordinate intersects with the top surface of the chuck are obtained as Yc2, Yc3 to Yc100 for 100 dots, and the average value is taken as the straight line Lc (Yc) indicating the top surface of the seaming chuck SC.

[0038] Next, the point where the virtual line Ls intersects with the lower surface of the first seaming roll R1 is defined as coordinate Pr(Xs, Yr1). The coordinate is shifted one dot at a time to the right on the X-axis from the coordinate Pr(Xs, Yr1), and the Y coordinates of the points where that X-coordinate intersects with the underside of the first seaming roll R1 are obtained as Yr2, Yr3 to Yr100 for 100 dots, and the regression line Lr indicating the underside of the first seaming roll R1 is calculated.

[0039] Similarly, the coordinate Pv(Xc1, Yc+60) is the coordinate of the point where the top surface Lc of the seaming chuck SC intersects with the side of the seaming chuck SC when it is moved 60 dots downward along the Y axis, and the coordinate is shifted one dot at a time until the top surface Lc of the seaming chuck SC is moved 500 dots downward along the Y axis.The X coordinates of the points where the top surface Lc of the seaming chuck SC intersects with the side of the seaming chuck SC at that Y coordinate are obtained as Xc1, Xc2 to Xc441, for a total of 441 dots, and the regression line Lv indicating the side of the seaming chuck SC is calculated. The point where the straight line Lc indicating the upper surface of the seaming chuck SC intersects with the regression line Lv is defined as coordinate Pt (Xt, Yc), and the point where the imaginary line Lt extended upward from the coordinate Pt along the Y-axis intersects with the regression line Lr is defined as coordinate Pf (Xt, Yf). The distance between the coordinates Pf and Pt is the shortest distance from the lower surface of the first seaming roll R1 to the upper surface of the seaming chuck SC, that is, the vertical running clearance VC.

[0040] Next, a new coordinate axis Xv-axis with the regression line Lv as the reference line and a coordinate axis Yv-axis perpendicular to the Xv-axis are defined, and data is scanned from the regression line Lv toward the left of the Xv-axis. As a result, the range from the regression line Lv toward the first seaming roll R1 corresponds to an angle correction that enables distance measurement in the Xv axis direction from the regression line Lv, i.e., in the vertical direction from the regression line Lv.

[0041] After scanning the data using the regression line Lv as a reference line, the coordinates Pb (Xvb, Yvb) of the point on the side surface of the first seaming roll R1 that is closest to the regression line Lv are obtained. The shortest distance in the Xv axis direction from the coordinate Pb to the regression line Lv is the shortest distance from the side surface of the first seaming roll R1 to the side surface of the seaming chuck SC, that is, the roll clearance RC.

[0042] After measuring the clearance between the first seaming roll R1 and the seaming chuck SC of all heads of the can end seaming machine M and adjusting it to the appropriate position, the transmitted light, which is the irradiated light that has passed through the clearance between the second seaming roll R2 and the seaming chuck SC, is captured by detector 112, and planar image data such as that shown in Figure 14 can be obtained. By measuring the clearance between the second seaming roll R2 and the seaming chuck SC, such as the vertical running clearance VC and the roll clearance RC, from this planar image data, the positional relationship between the second seaming roll R2 and the seaming chuck SC can be easily confirmed, and the second seaming roll R2 and the seaming chuck SC can be reliably adjusted to the appropriate positions.

[0043] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the present invention described in the claims.

[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the irradiator has been described as irradiating laser light, but the configuration of the irradiator is not limited to this. For example, the irradiator may be a light-emitting diode or an infrared irradiator. In the above embodiment, the detector is described as a CCD camera, but the configuration of the detector is not limited to this, and may be other imaging elements such as a CMOS sensor, as long as it can detect black and white or color images without distortion. Also, a tracing table that projects the passing light onto the back side of a translucent plate and traces the contour of the clearance between the seaming roll and the seaming chuck may be used.

[0045] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the clearance between the first seaming roll and seaming chuck is measured and then the clearance between the second seaming roll and seaming chuck is measured, but the measurement procedure is not limited to this. For example, the clearance between the second seaming roll and seaming chuck may be measured and then the clearance between the first seaming roll and seaming chuck may be measured, or measurements may be taken alternately for each head. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the illumination side optical path changer and the detection side optical path changer are described as being formed from prisms that change the direction of incident light by 90 degrees, but the configuration of the illumination side optical path changer and the detection side optical path changer are not limited to this, and may be formed from, for example, a prism that changes the direction of incident light by 60 degrees, or may be formed with a mirror surface.

[0046] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the irradiation light irradiated from the irradiator passes through the first irradiation side optical path change body and the second irradiation side optical path change body, passes between the seaming roll and the seaming chuck, and passes as passed light through the second detection side optical path change body and the first detection side optical path change body to be detected by the detector. However, the process by which the irradiation light irradiated from the irradiator is detected by the detector is not limited to this, and for example, there may be one or three or more irradiation side optical path change bodies through which the irradiation light passes, and there may be one or three or more detection side optical path change bodies through which the passed light passes, or there may be no irradiation side optical path change body or no detection side optical path change body. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a load cell is provided on the lower part of the main body, but the configuration of the clearance detection device is not limited to this. For example, the load cell may be provided between the main body and the chuck fitting portion, or there may be no load cell.

[0047] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the vertical running clearance and roll clearance are described as being measured and / or analyzed from the image acquired by the detector, but the measurement locations and analysis method are not limited to this, and for example, locations other than the vertical running clearance and roll clearance may be measured, and the positional relationship between the seaming roll and the seaming chuck may be adjusted by superimposing an image acquired by the detector on a projected image showing the appropriate positional relationship between the seaming roll and the seaming chuck. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the irradiator, the detector, the first irradiation side optical path changing body, the second irradiation side optical path changing body, the first detection side optical path changing body, and the second detection side optical path changing body are described as being fixed to the main body part via a positioning member, but the method of fixing them to the main body part is not limited to this, and for example, they may be fixed to the main body part directly without using a positioning member. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 100 Clearance detection device 110 Main body 111: Irradiation body 112 Detector 113a: First irradiation side optical path changer 113b Second irradiation side optical path changer 114a First detection side optical path changer 114b Second detection side optical path changer 115 Positioning member 116, 116b: Chuck fitting portion 117... Pressing force measuring device 118 ··· Adjusting screw 119 ··· Bearing 120 ··· Load cell holder 121 Load cell plate 122 Load cell 123 Connection B1...Irradiation light B2... Passing light C... Container CL ··· Can lid L Production Line M ··· Can end seaming machine P Lifter plate ∪ Lifter unit R1: First seaming roll R2: Second seaming roll SC, SCb: Seaming chuck Ca: central axis of the seaming chuck SC and the chuck fitting portion 116 Cb: central axis of the seaming chuck SCb and the chuck fitting portion 116b Cc: Central axis of load cell 122 RC: Roll clearance VC: Vertical running clearance Ps: The coordinate of the rightmost point in the X-axis direction on the side of the seaming chuck SC in the labeling processing image Ls: A virtual line extending upward along the Y axis from the coordinate Ps in the labeling processing image. Pc: The coordinates of the point where the virtual line Ls in the labeling processed image intersects with the upper surface of the seaming chuck SC. Lc: A straight line indicating the top surface of the seaming chuck SC in the labeling processed image. Pr: The coordinates of the intersection of the virtual line Ls in the labeling processing image and the bottom surface of the first seaming roll R1 Lr: The regression line showing the bottom surface of the first seaming roll R1 in the labeling processed image. Pv: The coordinate of the point where the top surface Lc of the seaming chuck SC in the labeling processed image intersects with the side surface of the seaming chuck SC when the top surface Lc is moved 60 dots downward along the Y axis. Lv: Regression line showing the side of the seaming chuck SC in the labeling processed image Pt: The coordinates of the intersection of the line Lc and the regression line Lv in the labeling processed image. Lt: A virtual line extending upward along the Y axis from the coordinate Pt in the labeling processing image. Pf: The coordinates of the intersection of the virtual line Lt and the regression line Lr in the labeling processed image. Pb: The coordinate of the part of the side surface of the first seaming roll R1 in the labeling processing image that is closest to the regression line Lv in the direction of the coordinate axis Xv.

Claims

1. A clearance detection device having an irradiator that irradiates light between a seaming chuck and a seaming roll of a can lid seaming machine for a container, and a detector that can detect the light irradiated from the irradiator, The irradiator and the detector are disposed in a main body portion, The main body is configured to be fixed between a seaming chuck and a lifter plate arranged below the seaming chuck, The irradiator is disposed so that the irradiating light can pass between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll, The detector is disposed so as to be capable of receiving transmitted light, which is irradiation light that has passed between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll; The main body is provided with a plurality of chuck fitting portions that are detachably fitted to an inner peripheral surface of a seaming chuck, The plurality of chuck fitting portions are formed with different outer diameters for the seaming chucks having different outer diameters, A clearance detection device characterized in that the multiple chuck fitting portions are configured to be attached one by one to the main body portion so that the shortest distance from the center of the irradiated light passing between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll to the outer diameters of the multiple chuck fitting portions is constant.

2. The clearance detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the irradiator and the detector are configured to be fixable at different positions on the main body.

3. The main body is provided with an illumination-side optical path change body for changing the illumination direction of the illumination light, 3. The clearance detection device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the irradiating body passes through the irradiation side light path changing body and then passes between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll.

4. The main body is provided with a detection side optical path change body for changing the irradiation direction of the passing light, 4. The clearance detection device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted light passes through the detection-side optical path changing member and is then irradiated onto the detector.

5. 5. The clearance detection device according to claim 1, wherein the main body, the irradiator and the detector are positioned below a seaming chuck when the main body is fixed between a seaming chuck and a lifter plate.

6. 6. The clearance detection device according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a pressing force measuring device capable of detecting a pressing force generated between the seaming chuck and a lifter plate.

7. 7. The clearance detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage means for storing the detected clearance value and / or the detected pressing force.

8. 8. The clearance detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detector is capable of acquiring the passing light as digital data.

9. 9. The clearance detection device according to claim 8, further comprising a control device capable of automatically analyzing digital data acquired from the detector and calculating the clearance between the seaming chuck and the seaming roll.

Images