Container Processing Equipment

Abstract

To provide a container processing device with container holding means for holding the container.SOLUTION: Multiple arms 52 are provided on the upper surface of a pedestal 46 for engaging with the side surfaces of containers V to sandwich the containers V from both sides and fix the positions thereof. When a motor 56 is activated, a pair of arms 52 are rotated around a rotation shaft 52A by a link mechanism 54, the side surfaces of the containers V are sandwiched from both sides by the holding portions at the tips of the arms 52, and the positions are fixed. Holding parts 62, 64 having different shapes are provided on both sides of the arms 52 with the rotation shaft 52A interposed therebetween, and changing the direction of rotation about the rotation shaft 52A allows switching the holding parts 62 and 64.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container processing apparatus having a container holding means for holding a container. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in production lines for products such as cup noodles, a noodle block transported from a noodle block transport conveyor is transferred to a rotatable inversion box, and a container is placed over the noodle block on this inversion box, and this container is held by container holding means and inverted together with the inversion box to store the noodle block inside the container (Patent Document 1), or a container processing device is known that lifts the container held by a retainer while it is being transported, and then holds this raised container with container holding means while adding ingredients and sealing the opening (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-73300 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-199494 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, despite the recent diversification of container shapes and sizes, the container holding means of conventional container processing apparatuses cannot hold containers of different shapes and sizes.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a container processing apparatus having a container holding means capable of holding containers of different shapes or two different sizes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The container processing device of the present invention comprises: MultipleA container conveying means for conveying a container; Multiple a container processing means for performing a predetermined process on the container; Multiple and a container holding means for holding the container, the container holding means being provided so as to sandwich the side surface of the container from both sides. multiple an arm, a rotation shaft on which the base of the arm is supported, and a each Arm In the same direction Rotate Multiple and a drive means for clamping and releasing the container, and the arm is provided with a pair of arms for clamping the rotating shaft. On both ends Holding parts of different shapes are provided. A holding portion adapted to the first container is provided on the right side surface of one end of the arm and the left side surface of the other end, and a holding portion adapted to the second container is provided on the left side surface of the one end and the right side surface of the other end. By changing the direction of rotation about the rotation axis, According to the container to be held The holding portion is switchable. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container processing apparatus capable of holding containers of different shapes or two different sizes. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the arrangement of a container processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lid supplying device in a state in which a container is held by a retainer, as viewed from the container conveying direction. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lid supply device as seen from the container transport direction, showing a state in which containers are lifted by a lid attachment lifting device and lids are attached to flange portions of each container. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a partial plan view showing the arrangement of the base and arms when a small diameter container is held. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a partial plan view showing the arrangement of the base and arms when a large diameter container is held. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a container processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0010] In the container processing device 10 of this embodiment, contents such as noodle blocks N and ingredients are poured into a cup-shaped container V with a flange at the opening, the opening is sealed with an inner lid S, and then a covering lid C is attached to the sealed opening. The container processing device 10 is equipped with a transport conveyor (container transport means) 12 that intermittently transports containers V in multiple rows, and the transport conveyor 12 is equipped with a pair of left and right chains 12A and multiple retainers 14 hung on the chains 12A. The retainer 14 has multiple holes formed along the width direction, and the containers V are held in each of the holes.

[0011] In this embodiment, the noodle blocks N are supplied from a noodle block supplying conveyor 16, which is positioned above the upstream section of the transport conveyor 12, in multiple rows that match the number of rows in the container V. The noodle blocks N supplied from the noodle block supplying conveyor 16 are placed into the container V row by row through an inverting box 18, which is positioned adjacent to the downstream end of the noodle block supplying conveyor 16, and are held in each hole of a retainer 14 of the transport conveyor 12, which is positioned below the inverting box 18.

[0012] The reversing box 18 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the width direction of the conveyor and can be reversed 180 degrees around a horizontal axis 18A. The noodle block N on the noodle block supply conveyor 16 is transferred to the upward-facing surface of the reversing box 18 via a crossover plate 16A. A container magazine 20 that holds stacked containers V is positioned above the reversing box 18, and containers V are removed one by one from the container magazine 20 by the container supply arm 20A and placed on top of the noodle block N on the reversing box 18. The reversing box 18 is then reversed 180 degrees while holding the flange portion of the container V. As a result, the container V is held upright while suspended from the underside of the reversing box 18, and the introduction of the noodle block N into the container V is completed.

[0013] Directly below the inversion box 18, one of the retainers 14 of the transport conveyor 12 is waiting, and directly below each hole of the retainer 14, a container supply lifting device 22 is disposed which supports the bottom surface of the container V and lowers the container V. The container V held on the underside of the inversion box 18 has its bottom surface supported by the container supply lifting device 22 and is lowered to be fitted into each hole of the retainer 14.

[0014] Above the conveyor 12 and downstream of the reversing box 18, an ingredient supplying device 24 that puts ingredients sealed in soup or small bags into the container V from above, an ingredient inspection device 26 that inspects the condition of the put-in ingredients, an inner lid supplying device 28 that supplies an inner lid S to the opening of the container V to seal the opening of the container V, an inner lid sealing device 30 that attaches the inner lid S placed on the opening to the flange, and a seal inspection device 32 that inspects the condition of the attached inner lid S are arranged in this order. These devices perform the above-mentioned processes on the containers V that are conveyed to each position by the conveyor 12. In the inner lid supplying device 28, the inner lids S are held in a stacked state in the inner lid magazine 28A, and are taken out one by one from the inner lid magazine 28A by the inner lid supplying arm 28B and placed on the flange of each container V.

[0015] Downstream of the seal inspection device 32, there is disposed a cover lid supply device (processing means) 34 that attaches cover lids C that cover the openings of the containers V sealed with the inner lids S to the flanges of the containers V. The cover lid supply device 34 is provided with a cover lid magazine 34A that holds the cover lids C in a stacked state corresponding to each row of containers V above the transport conveyor 12. Below the retainer 14 located directly below the cover lid magazine 34A, there is disposed a cover lid attachment lifting device (container lifting means) 36 that supports and lifts the bottom surfaces of the containers V held in each hole of the retainer 14. The cover lids C held in the cover lid magazine 34A are taken out of the cover lid magazine 34A one by one by a cover lid arm 34B disposed between the cover lid magazine 34A and the transport conveyor 12 and attached to the flanges of each container V.

[0016] That is, when the retainer 14 stops directly above the lifting device 36 for attaching a lid, the lid supply device 34 lifts the container V held in each hole with the lifting device 36 for attaching a lid, and separates the flange portion from the retainer 14. Also, while the container V is being lifted, the lid C taken out from the lid magazine 34A by the lid arm 34B is attached to the flange portion. Thereafter, the container V covered with the lid C is lowered by the lifting device 36 for attaching a lid, and is held in each hole of the retainer 14 again.

[0017] Immediately downstream of the cover lid supply device 34, a finished product discharge device 38 is disposed to discharge containers V that are determined to be free of abnormalities by the ingredient inspection device 26 and the seal inspection device 32. The finished product discharge device 38 includes a finished product discharge lifting device 38A that lifts the containers V held in each hole of the retainer 14, a finished product discharge conveyor 38B that discharges the containers V to a downstream processing device (not shown), and a pusher 38C that pushes the containers V lifted by the finished product discharge lifting device 38A to the finished product discharge conveyor 38B. The finished product discharge lifting device 38A lifts only the containers V that are determined to be free of abnormalities by the ingredient inspection device 26 and the seal inspection device 32. The finished product discharge conveyor 38B is disposed above the conveyor 12 along the width direction of the conveyor 12 so as to be perpendicular to the conveyor 12, for example, and the containers V are discharged in a line by line.

[0018] An inclined conveyor 40 is provided below the conveying surface of the downstream portion of the conveyor 12 in the conveying direction, which gradually raises the containers V held in the holes of the retainers 14. As a result, containers V that are determined to have an abnormality in the ingredient inspection device 26 or the seal inspection device 32 and have not been discharged by the finished product discharge device 38 are transported to the downstream portion of the conveyor 12 while still held by the retainers 14, pushed out of the holes in the retainers 14 at the downstream end of the conveyor 12 by the inclined conveyor 40, and collected in a waste box (not shown) disposed adjacent to the downstream end of the conveyor 12.

[0019] 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of the cover lid supply device 34 of this embodiment as seen from the container transport direction. Fig. 2 shows a state in which the containers V are held by the retainer 14, and Fig. 3 shows a state in which the containers V are lifted by the cover lid attachment lifting device 36, and the cover lids C are attached to the flanges of the containers V by the cover lid arms 34B.

[0020] 2, both ends of the retainer 14 are supported by a pair of left and right chains 12A, and the chains 12A run on chain guides 12B supported by a fixed frame 37. The inner diameter of a hole provided in the retainer 14 is larger than the outer diameter of the body of the container V but smaller than the outer diameter of the flange portion, and the container V is held by the retainer 14 with the flange portion hooked on the edge of the hole in the retainer 14. In this embodiment, for example, six containers V are held by each retainer 14.

[0021] A rotating shaft 34C of the covering lid arm 34B is arranged horizontally along the retainer 14 above the retainer 14. Six covering lid arms 34B corresponding to the containers V held by the retainer 14 are attached to the rotating shaft 34C via an advancing / retracting mechanism 42. A suction head 44 is provided at the tip of the covering lid arm 34B, and is capable of suctioning the top surface of the covering lid C. The rotating shaft 34C can be rotated by a drive motor (not shown), and the six covering lid arms 34B can be rotated together.

[0022] Meanwhile, a pedestal 46 of the lifting device 36 for attaching a lid is disposed along the retainer 14 below the retainer 14. The pedestal 46 supports the bottom surfaces of all of the containers V held in the holes of the retainer 14 to lift and lower the containers V. The pedestal 46 is supported, for example, by a pair of lifting shafts 48, which are supported so as to be able to move up and down by bearings 50 supported by the fixed frame 37. The lifting shafts 48 are raised and lowered at a predetermined timing by a drive mechanism of the lifting device 36 for attaching a lid.

[0023] A plurality of arms (container holding means) 52 are provided on the upper surface of the base 46, which engage with the side surfaces of the containers V to sandwich each container V from both sides and fix its position. One more arm 52 is provided than the number of containers V so as to sandwich all of the containers V, and in this embodiment, seven arms 52 are provided on the base 46. The center of each arm 52 is rotatably supported on the base 46 by a rotating shaft 52A. A lever 60 is attached to the lower end of each rotating shaft 52A (the lower end of the base 46), and is rotated by a link mechanism (driving means) 54.

[0024] 4 and 5 are partial plan views showing a state in which containers V1 and V2 having different bottom outer diameters are held on base 46 by arm 52. FIG.

[0025] As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the link mechanism 54 includes, for example, three pieces of first to third link plates 54A, 54B, and 54C. One end of the first link plate 54A is attached to a rotating shaft 56A of a motor (driving means) 56 provided at one end of the base 46, and is swung by the rotation of the rotating shaft 56A. One end of the second link plate 54B is journaled at the other end of the first link plate 54A, and one end of the third link plate 54C, which is bent from the main body into an L-shape, is journaled at the other end of the second link plate 54B. The main body of the third link plate 54C is disposed along one long side of the base 46.

[0026] The main body of the third plate 54C is provided with rotating shafts 58 at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction, and the tip of a lever 60 extending from the rotating shaft 52A of the arm 52 is journaled on each rotating shaft 58. As a result, when the motor 56 rotates forward or backward, the third link plate 54C moves left and right along the longitudinal direction of the base 46 via the first and second link plates 54A, 54B, and the arms 52 together with the lever 60 rotate left and right integrally around the rotating shaft 52A.

[0027] Before the base 46 is lifted, the arm 52 is maintained in a direction approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base 46. When the base 46 is lifted by the lift shaft 48 and the bottom surface of the container V comes into contact with the base 46, the motor 56 rotates to the left or right depending on the type of container V. In the case of a container V1 having a small diameter bottom surface as shown in Fig. 4, the motor 56 rotates the arm 52, for example, clockwise. On the other hand, in the case of a container V2 having a large diameter bottom surface as shown in Fig. 5, the motor 56 rotates the arm 52, for example, counterclockwise.

[0028] 4 and 5, arc-shaped recesses (holding portions) 62, 64 having a curvature that matches the outer diameter of the containers V1, V2 near the bottom are provided at both ends of each arm 52. For example, in Fig. 4 and 5, a recess 62 that matches the outer diameter of the small-diameter container V1 is provided on the right side of the upper end and the left side of the lower end of the arm 52, and a recess 64 that matches the outer diameter of the large-diameter container V2 is provided on the left side of the upper end and the right side of the lower end.

[0029] When a container V1 is processed in the container processing device 10, the arm 52 is rotated clockwise, and the upper left side surface of the container V1 engages with the recess 62 at the upper end of the arm 52 located on the left side of the container V1, and the lower right side surface engages with the recess 62 at the lower end of the arm 52 located on the right side of the container V1. As a result, the sides of the container V1 are sandwiched between the recesses 62 of the left and right arms 52, and the position is fixed.

[0030] Furthermore, when a container V2 is processed in the container processing device 10, the arm 52 is rotated counterclockwise, and the lower left side surface of the container V2 engages with the recess 64 at the lower end of the arm 52 located on the left side of the container V2, and the upper right side surface engages with the recess 64 at the upper end of the arm 52 located on the right side of the container V2. As a result, the sides of the container V2 are sandwiched between the recesses 64 of the left and right arms 52, and the position is fixed.

[0031] With the sides of the containers V held by the arms 52, the base 46 is further raised to the height shown in Fig. 3. In parallel with this, the cover lid C is attached to the opening sealed by the inner lid S by the cover lid arm 34B. Thereafter, the base 46 is lowered again to the height shown in Fig. 2, and each container V is held in each hole of the retainer 14 and transported downstream.

[0032] As described above, according to the container processing apparatus of this embodiment, one arm can handle containers of different diameters, so there is no need to replace the arm depending on the type of container, improving work efficiency.

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, even if the container is raised and lowered at high speed, the container does not shift position on the base, and processing such as covering with a lid can be performed appropriately.

[0034] In this embodiment, the containers are transported intermittently, but by making the processing means and the lifting means capable of following the transported containers, it is also possible to transport the containers continuously. In this embodiment, the containers are lifted and covered with lids, but the processing is not limited to this. In this embodiment, the portion (holding portion) provided on the lever for holding the container is an arc-shaped recess, but it is not limited to an arc as long as it can properly fix the position of the container, and may be, for example, a V-shaped recess or a recess of another shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 Container processing equipment 12 Transport conveyor (container transport device) 34 Covering lid supply device (processing means) 36 Lifting device for attaching the cover 52 Arm (container holding means) 54 Link mechanism (driving means) 56 Motor (driving means) 62, 64 Recess (retaining portion)

Claims

[Claim 1] A system comprising: a container transport means for transporting a plurality of containers; a container processing means for performing a predetermined process on the plurality of containers transported by the container transport means; and a container holding means for holding the plurality of containers to be processed by the container processing means; the container holding means includes a plurality of arms arranged to sandwich the side surfaces of the container from both sides, a rotation shaft on which the bases of the arms are supported, and a drive means for rotating the arms integrally in the same direction about the rotation shaft to hold and release the plurality of containers; This container processing device is characterized in that holding portions of different shapes are provided on both sides of the arm, on either end of the arm facing the rotation axis, holding portions adapted to a first container are provided on the right side of one end of the arm and the left side of the other end, and holding portions adapted to a second container are provided on the left side of one end and the right side of the other end, and the holding portions can be switched to suit the container being held by changing the direction of rotation around the rotation axis.

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