Air injection nozzle

Abstract

To provide an air jet nozzle which enables easy adjustment of air jetted from a slit.SOLUTION: An air jet nozzle includes: a first member 31 having a first surface 31a; a second member 32 having a second surface 32a; a sheet-like shim member 33 detachably sandwiched between the first surface 31a and the second surface 32a; and an air passage 34 which is disposed over at least one of the first member 31 and the second member 32 and the shim member 33. The air passage 34 has: a slit-like shim passage part 35 which is open in a gap between the first surface 31a and the second surface 32a and extends inward from an outer edge part of the shim member 33; and a supply passage part 36 which is open on an outer surface of at least one of the first member 31 and the second member 32 and the shim passage part 35.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air injection nozzle.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, a gas discharge nozzle described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this gas discharge nozzle, a slit having an opening on the laminar flow passage surface side is formed between the lower surface of the cover and the inclined surface of the upper surface of the main body. High-pressure gas is discharged from the slit, and while taking in outside air, a laminar flow along the laminar flow passage surface is formed and separated from the slit. The high-pressure gas discharged from the slit is increased by attracting outside air as secondary gas, and forms an air flow larger than the discharge amount. By this air flow, for example, a lightweight object to be conveyed such as a sheet body can be floated and conveyed from the surface of the laminar flow passage surface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the gas discharge nozzle of Patent Document 1, it is not easy to change the slit shape. Specifically, for example, it is difficult to perform various adjustments such as the flow rate, flow velocity, injection range, and injection balance of the air injected from the slit according to the type, size, weight, etc. of the object to be conveyed, or various uses other than conveyance.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide an air injection nozzle capable of easily adjusting the air injected from the slit.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the air injection nozzle of the present invention includes a first member having a first surface, a second member having a second surface, a sheet-like shim member detachably sandwiched between the first surface and the second surface, and an air flow path disposed across at least one of the first member and the second member and the shim member. The air flow path opens into a gap between the first surface and the second surface, and has a slit-like shim flow path portion extending inward from an outer edge portion of the shim member, and a supply flow path portion opening into an outer surface of at least one of the first member and the second member and the shim flow path portion. Moreover, a plurality of the shim flow path portions are provided at intervals of each other when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the first surface. 。

[0007] In this air injection nozzle, the air supplied to the air flow path is ejected from the gap between the first surface and the second surface to the outside of the nozzle through the slit-like shim flow path portion from the supply flow path portion. The air ejected in this way (hereinafter sometimes referred to as injection air) forms a straight air flow along the direction in which the shim flow path portion extends. This injection air is air in the form of a thin and high-speed air curtain, such as what is called an air knife. The injection air is increased by attracting the surrounding outside air as secondary air, and forms an air flow larger than the discharge amount from the nozzle. With this injection air, for example, it is possible to assist in transporting an object such as a can, or to blow off and remove a liquid adhering to the object in a manufacturing process. According to this air injection nozzle, while stably achieving the intended function (action) by the injection air, the amount of air supplied from an air supply source such as an air compressor can be kept small.

[0008] According to the present invention, a shim member is detachably interposed between the first surface and the second surface. Therefore, for example, by preparing a plurality of types of shim members having different sizes, shapes, etc. of the shim flow path portion and appropriately exchanging them, the shape of the shim flow path portion can be easily changed. That is, by variously setting the shape of the concave portion extending inward from the outer edge portion of the shim member, etc., various adjustments such as the flow rate, flow velocity, injection range, injection balance, etc. (hereinafter sometimes simply omitted as the flow rate, etc.) of the air ejected from the shim flow path portion can be easily and accurately performed. In addition, since the air injection nozzle can be disassembled and assembled, it has good maintainability.

[0009] As described above, according to the present invention, the adjustment of the air ejected from the shim flow path portion, that is, the slit, of the air injection nozzle can be easily performed. In the air injection nozzle, a plurality of the shim flow path portions are provided at intervals of each other when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the first surface. In this case, for example, by injecting air from the plurality of shim flow path portions to both sides of the center of gravity of the object, it is possible to suppress the collapse of the weight balance of the object and easily maintain a good conveyance posture of the object. Further, for example, by mutually changing the size, shape, etc. of the plurality of shim flow path portions, the flow rate, etc. of the air injected from each shim flow path portion can be adjusted. Therefore, a plurality of injection airs can be suitably formed according to the object to which the air is injected, the application, etc.

[0010] In the above air injection nozzle, it is preferable that the shim member has a bent portion having a U shape that opens on the nozzle tip side in a predetermined direction in which the shim flow path portion extends.

[0011] In this case, the shim flow path portion can be formed inside the bent portion, and the structure of the shim member can be simplified.

[0012] In the above air injection nozzle, it is preferable that the second surface includes a portion that protrudes toward the nozzle tip side in a predetermined direction in which the shim flow path portion extends, rather than the first surface.

[0013] In this case, the air ejected from the shim flow path portion to the outside of the nozzle is guided to the portion of the second surface that protrudes more than the first surface, thereby forming a stable and straight air flow along the direction in which the shim flow path portion extends.

[0016] It is preferable that a plurality of sets of the shim flow path portion and the supply flow path portion are provided in the above air injection nozzle.

[0017] In this case, a plurality of air flow systems can be provided according to the number of sets of the shim flow path portion and the supply flow path portion. For example, since the air flow rate, pressure, etc. of the air can be set separately for each air flow system, the air injection nozzle of the present invention can be applied to various objects and uses.

[0018] In the above air injection nozzle, the first member has a first inclined surface disposed at a portion of the outer surface of the first member that faces a direction opposite to the direction in which the first surface faces, and the second member has a second inclined surface disposed at a portion of the outer surface of the second member that faces a direction opposite to the direction in which the second surface faces. The first inclined surface is located on the side of the second surface from the first surface in the thickness direction of the shim member as it goes toward the nozzle tip side in a predetermined direction in which the shim flow path portion extends, and the second inclined surface is preferably located on the side of the first surface from the second surface in the thickness direction as it goes toward the nozzle tip side.

[0019] In this case, the surrounding outside air (secondary air) attracted by the high-speed air ejected from the shim flow path portion is guided by the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface and flows, so that it joins the ejected air smoothly with less turbulent flow. For this reason, a straight and large amount of air flow directed from the shim flow path portion toward the nozzle tip side can be formed more stably.

[0020] In the present invention, since the first member, the second member, and the shim member can be disassembled, for example, by replacing either the first member or the second member, at least one of the inclination angles, inclination lengths, etc. of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface can be appropriately adjusted. Therefore, adjustment of the flow rate etc. of the ejected air can be performed more easily and with high accuracy.

[0021] In the above air injection nozzle, it is preferable that the supply flow path portion has a piping connection flow path portion that opens to at least one outer surface of the first member and the second member, and an air chamber that is connected to the piping connection flow path portion and the shim flow path portion.

[0022] In this case, by providing an air chamber in the air flow path, the flow rate etc. of the air ejected from the shim flow path portion can be stabilized.

[0023] In the above air injection nozzle, it is preferable that the air chamber has a first chamber disposed in the first member and opening to the first surface, and a second chamber disposed in the second member and opening to the second surface and communicating with the first chamber.

[0024] In this case, a large volume of the air chamber can be ensured, and the flow rate of the injection air can be made more stable.

[0025] In the above air injection nozzle, it is preferable that the shim flow path portion is connected to the connection portion between the first chamber and the second chamber.

[0026] In this case, it is suppressed that the shim flow path portion is connected to the edge of the air chamber in the thickness direction of the shim member. That is, air flows into the shim flow path portion from both the first chamber and the second chamber, that is, from both sides in the thickness direction of the shim member. For this reason, when air flows from the air chamber into the shim flow path portion, turbulent flow is less likely to occur, and the flow rate of the air ejected from the shim flow path portion becomes more stable.

Advantages of the Invention

[0027] According to the air injection nozzle of one aspect of the present invention, the adjustment of the air ejected from the slit can be easily performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028]

Figure 1

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 2C

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0029] The air injection nozzle 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The air injection nozzle 30 of the present embodiment is used, for example, in various manufacturing processes of a can manufacturing factory.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the air injection nozzle 30 includes a first member 31 having a first surface 31a, a second member 32 having a second surface 32a, a sheet-like shim member 33 detachably sandwiched between the first surface 31a and the second surface 32a, a screw member 40 for fixing the first member 31, the second member 32, and the shim member 33, and an air flow path 34 disposed across at least one of the first member 31 and the second member 32 and the shim member 33. The first member 31, the second member 32, and the shim member 33 are each made of a metal such as stainless steel, for example. The air flow path 34 has a shim flow path portion 35 extending in a predetermined direction between the first surface 31a and the second surface 32a, and a supply flow path portion 36 for supplying air to the shim flow path portion 35.

[0031] In the present embodiment, the thickness direction of the shim member 33 is simply referred to as the thickness direction. In the XYZ orthogonal coordinate system (three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system) shown in FIGS. 2A to 3 and the like, the thickness direction corresponds to the Z-axis direction. The direction from the first surface 31a to the second surface 32a side (-Z side) in the thickness direction, that is, the direction from the first member 31 to the second member 32, is referred to as the lower side. The direction from the second surface 32a to the first surface 31a side (+Z side) in the thickness direction, that is, the direction from the second member 32 to the first member 31, is referred to as the upper side.

[0032] Also, the predetermined direction in which the shim flow path portion 35 extends is simply referred to as the predetermined direction. The predetermined direction is a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction. The predetermined direction corresponds to the Y-axis direction. Among the predetermined directions, the direction in which air is jetted from the shim flow path portion 35 to the outside of the nozzle (+Y side) is referred to as the nozzle tip side, and the opposite direction (-Y side) is referred to as the nozzle rear end side.

[0033] Also, the direction orthogonal to each of the thickness direction and the predetermined direction is referred to as the left-right direction. The left-right direction corresponds to the X-axis direction. One side (-X side) of the left-right direction is referred to as the left side, and the other side (+X side) is referred to as the right side.

[0034] In this embodiment, the left side, the right side, the upper side, and the lower side are merely names for explaining the relative positional relationship of each part, and the actual arrangement relationship, etc. may be an arrangement relationship other than the arrangement relationship indicated by these names.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the first member 31 and the second member 32 are each substantially rectangular plate-shaped or substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped and extend in the left-right direction. The first member 31 and the second member 32 are arranged adjacent to each other such that their inner surfaces face each other, that is, the first surface 31a and the second surface 32a face each other.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 3, the first member 31 has a first surface 31a, a first groove 31b, a first inclined surface 31c, and a screw insertion hole 31d. The first surface 31a is disposed on the lower surface (inner surface) facing the lower side of the first member 31. The first surface 31a is rectangular. The first surface 31a is a planar shape that extends in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction.

[0037] The first groove 31b is a groove-shaped recessed upward from the first surface 31a and extends in the left-right direction. The first groove 31b is disposed in a portion of the first surface 31a on the nozzle rear end side. In this embodiment, the first groove 31b has a semi-circular shape that opens downward in a cross-section perpendicular to the left-right direction.

[0038] A plurality of first grooves 31b are provided in the first member 31. The plurality of first grooves 31b are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, two first grooves 31b are provided side by side in the left-right direction.

[0039] The first inclined surface 31c is disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the first member 31 that faces a direction opposite to the direction in which the first surface 31a faces. Specifically, the first inclined surface 31c is disposed on a part of the upper surface facing upward of the outer surface of the first member 31. The first inclined surface 31c is located at the end on the nozzle tip side of the upper surface of the first member 31.

[0040] The first inclined surface 31c is located downward as it goes toward the nozzle tip side. In the present embodiment, the first inclined surface 31c is a planar surface inclined with respect to a virtual plane (not shown) perpendicular to the thickness direction, and extends over the entire length in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) on the upper surface of the first member 31. As shown in FIG. 2C, when viewed from the left-right direction, the inclination angle at which the first inclined surface 31c is inclined with respect to the virtual plane is, for example, 10° or more and 40° or less, more preferably 20° or more and 30° or less, and is 25° in the illustrated example. As shown in FIG. 2A, when viewed from the thickness direction, the first inclined surface 31c is disposed so as to overlap at least the end on the nozzle tip side of the shim flow path portion 35.

[0041] The screw insertion holes 31d penetrate the first member 31 in the thickness direction. A plurality of screw insertion holes 31d are provided in the first member 31. The plurality of screw insertion holes 31d are arranged at intervals in a predetermined direction (Y-axis direction) and the left-right direction (X-axis direction), respectively.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the second member 32 has a second surface 32a, a second groove 32b, a pipe connection hole 32e, a second inclined surface 32c, and a screw hole 32d.

[0043] The second surface 32a is disposed on the upper surface (inner surface) facing upward of the second member 32. The second surface 32a has a rectangular shape. The second surface 32a is a planar surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction. As shown in Fig. 2A when viewed from the thickness direction, the second surface 32a includes a protruding portion 32aa that protrudes outward from the first surface 31a. That is, this portion 32aa protrudes toward the nozzle tip side from the first surface 31a. The portion 32aa has a rectangular shape extending in the left-right direction when viewed from the thickness direction. The portion 32aa extends over the entire length in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the second member 32, that is, the second surface 32a.

[0044] As shown in Figs. 2A to 2C, the second groove 32b is a groove-shaped depression extending downward from the second surface 32a and extending in the left-right direction. The second groove 32b is disposed in a portion of the second surface 32a on the nozzle rear end side. In the present embodiment, the second groove 32b has a rectangular shape that opens upward and extends in the thickness direction in a cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction.

[0045] A plurality of second grooves 32b are provided in the second member 32. The plurality of second grooves 32b are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, two second grooves 32b are provided side by side in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 2A when viewed from the thickness direction, each second groove 32b overlaps with each first groove 31b.

[0046] The pipe connection hole 32e opens to the rear surface 32f facing the nozzle rear end side of the outer surface of the second member 32 and the second groove 32b. The pipe connection hole 32e has a circular hole shape extending in a predetermined direction (Y-axis direction). As shown in Figs. 2A to 2C, a plurality of pipe connection holes 32e are provided in the second member 32. The plurality of pipe connection holes 32e are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, two pipe connection holes 32e are provided side by side in the left-right direction. Each pipe connection hole 32e is individually connected to each second groove 32b.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 1, an air pipe member 50 is connected to the pipe connection hole 32e. The number of air pipe members 50 is the same as the number of pipe connection holes 32e, and in the present embodiment, there are a plurality (two). That is, a plurality of air pipe members 50 are provided. The plurality of air pipe members 50 have different air flow systems from each other. Compressed air is supplied to each air pipe member 50 from an air supply source such as an air compressor (not shown). Also, in the present embodiment, the nozzle support member 51 is fixed to the rear surface 32f of the second member 32 by screwing. Thereby, the nozzle support member 51 supports the air injection nozzle 30. Although not particularly shown, the nozzle support member 51 is fixed to an apparatus frame or the like.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2C, the second inclined surface 32c is disposed in a portion of the outer surface of the second member 32 that faces the direction opposite to the direction in which the second surface 32a faces. Specifically, the second inclined surface 32c is disposed in a part of the lower surface facing downward of the outer surface of the second member 32. The second inclined surface 32c is located at least at the end on the nozzle tip side of the lower surface of the second member 32. In the illustrated example, the second inclined surface 32c is disposed in a portion other than the end on the nozzle rear end side. As shown in FIG. 2C, in a side view seen from the left - right direction, the length of the second inclined surface 32c is longer than the length of the first inclined surface 31c.

[0049] The second inclined surface 32c is located upward as it goes toward the nozzle tip side. In the present embodiment, the second inclined surface 32c is a planar shape inclined with respect to a virtual plane (not shown) perpendicular to the thickness direction, and extends over the entire length in the left - right direction (X - axis direction) on the lower surface of the second member 32. As seen from the left - right direction as shown in FIG. 2C, the inclination angle at which the second inclined surface 32c is inclined with respect to the virtual plane is, for example, 10° or more and 40° or less, more preferably 20° or more and 30° or less, and is 25° in the illustrated example. As shown in FIG. 2A, when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the second surface 32a, that is, from the thickness direction, the second inclined surface 32c is disposed so as to overlap at least the end on the nozzle tip side of the shim flow path portion 35.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the screw holes 32d open to the second surface 32a and extend in the thickness direction. A plurality of screw holes 32d are provided in the second member 32. The plurality of screw holes 32d are arranged at intervals from each other in a predetermined direction (Y - axis direction) and in the left - right direction (X - axis direction). When viewed from the thickness direction, each screw hole 32d overlaps with each screw insertion hole 31d.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 3, the shim member 33 is in the shape of a substantially rectangular plate. The dimensions of the shim member 33 in a predetermined direction (Y-axis direction) and the left-right direction (X-axis direction) are the same as, for example, the dimensions of the first surface 31a in the predetermined direction and the left-right direction. The shim member 33 has a dimension in the thickness direction (Z-axis direction) (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the thickness dimension) of 0.1 mm or less, preferably 0.05 mm or less, and more desirably 0.03 mm or less. Further, the thickness dimension of the shim member 33 is preferably, for example, 0.01 mm or more.

[0052] The shim member 33 has a recess 33a, a through hole 33b, and a bent portion 33c. The recess 33a is a notch that penetrates the shim member 33 in the thickness direction. As viewed from the thickness direction in FIG. 3, the recess 33a extends inward from the outer edge portion on the nozzle tip side (+Y side) of the outer periphery of the shim member 33. That is, the recess 33a opens at the outer edge portion on the nozzle tip side of the shim member 33 and extends from this opening portion toward the nozzle rear end side (-Y side). The recess 33a is in a substantially rectangular shape extending in a predetermined direction (Y-axis direction). That is, the dimension of the recess 33a in the predetermined direction is larger than the dimension in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). The recess 33a is disposed in a portion of the shim member 33 other than the end portion on the nozzle rear end side.

[0053] As viewed from the thickness direction, the end portion on the nozzle rear end side of the recess 33a overlaps with the first groove 31b and the second groove 32b. In the present embodiment, the dimension of the recess 33a in the left-right direction is the same as the dimension of the first groove 31b in the left-right direction and the dimension of the second groove 32b in the left-right direction.

[0054] A plurality of recesses 33a are provided in the shim member 33. The plurality of recesses 33a are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). In the present embodiment, two recesses 33a are provided side by side in the left-right direction. The position of each recess 33a in the left-right direction is the same as the position of each first groove 31b in the left-right direction and the position of each second groove 32b in the left-right direction.

[0055] The through hole 33b penetrates the shim member 33 in the thickness direction. A plurality of through holes 33b are provided in the shim member 33. The plurality of through holes 33b are arranged at intervals from each other in a predetermined direction (Y-axis direction) and in the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0056] As shown in FIG. 3 and viewed from the thickness direction, the bent portion 33c has a U-shaped or C-shaped opening on the nozzle tip side (+Y side). The bent portion 33c has a pair of extending portions that extend along a predetermined direction and are arranged at intervals from each other in the left-right direction, and a connecting portion that extends in the left-right direction and connects the ends on the nozzle rear end side (-Y side) of the respective extending portions. In the present embodiment, a plurality (two) of bent portions 33c are provided side by side in the left-right direction. In the illustrated example, of the two bent portions 33c, one of the pair of extending portions of one bent portion 33c and one of the pair of extending portions of the other bent portion 33c are formed as the same portion (common portion) at the center portion in the left-right direction of the shim member 33.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, a plurality of screw members 40 are provided. The plurality of screw members 40 are respectively inserted into the screw insertion holes 31d of the first member 31 and the through holes 33b of the shim member 33, and are screwed into the screw holes 32d of the second member 32. Thereby, the first member 31, the second member 32, and the shim member 33 are integrally fixed.

[0058] Compressed air supplied from an air supply source (not shown) flows through the air flow path 34. In the present embodiment, the air flow path 34 is arranged in the first member 31, the second member 32, and the shim member 33. The air flow path 34 has a shim flow path portion 35 and a supply flow path portion 36.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, the shim flow path portion 35 is a part of the air flow path 34 defined by a portion of the recess 33a that is located on the nozzle tip side of the first groove 31b and the second groove 32b, the first surface 31a, and the second surface 32a. That is, the shim flow path portion 35 is in the shape of a slit extending inward from the outer edge portion on the nozzle tip side of the shim member 33. The shim flow path portion 35 extends in a predetermined direction (Y-axis direction). The shim flow path portion 35 has a smaller thickness dimension compared to the dimensions in the predetermined direction and the left-right direction. As viewed from the thickness direction as shown in FIG. 3, the shim flow path portion 35 is disposed inside the bent portion 33c.

[0060] The shim flow path portion 35 opens to the outside of the nozzle at the gap between the end portion on the nozzle tip side of the first surface 31a and the portion of the second surface 32a that faces the end portion of the first surface 31a. That is, the shim flow path portion 35 opens at the gap between the first surface 31a and the second surface 32a.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 2C, the thickness dimension of the opening portion of the shim flow path portion 35, that is, the slit width dimension S, is 0.1 mm or less, preferably 0.05 mm or less, and more desirably 0.03 mm or less. Also, the slit width dimension S is preferably, for example, 0.01 mm or more. In the present embodiment, the slit width dimension S of the shim flow path portion 35 is the same as the thickness dimension of the shim member 33. Also, the thickness dimension of the shim flow path portion 35 is constant over the entire length in the predetermined direction in the shim flow path portion 35.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the first surface 31a, a plurality of shim flow path portions 35 are provided at intervals from each other. The plurality of shim flow path portions 35 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). In the present embodiment, two shim flow path portions 35 having the same shape as each other are provided. Specifically, the two shim flow path portions 35 have the same cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction (Y-axis direction), that is, the slit cross-sectional (slit opening) shape, and the length dimensions in the predetermined direction (slit flow path length) are the same as each other.

[0063] The supply flow path portion 36 opens to at least one of the outer surfaces of the first member 31 and the second member 32 and the shim flow path portion 35. In the present embodiment, the supply flow path portion 36 opens to the rear surface 32f of the outer surface of the second member 32 and the shim flow path portion 35. The supply flow path portion 36 is a part different from the above-mentioned part of the air flow path 34 defined by the first groove 31b, the second groove 32b, the portion of the recess 33a that overlaps the first groove 31b and the second groove 32b when viewed from the thickness direction, and the pipe connection hole 32e.

[0064] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the supply flow path portion 36 has a pipe connection flow path portion 37 and an air chamber 38. The pipe connection flow path portion 37 is an air flow path portion defined by the pipe connection hole 32e. The pipe connection flow path portion 37 opens to at least one of the outer surfaces of the first member 31 and the second member 32. In the present embodiment, the pipe connection flow path portion 37 opens to the rear surface 32f of the outer surface of the second member 32. The pipe connection flow path portion 37 extends in a predetermined direction (Y-axis direction).

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the air chamber 38 is connected to the pipe connection flow path portion 37 and the shim flow path portion 35. The air chamber 38 is an air flow path portion defined by the first groove 31b, the second groove 32b, and the portion of the recess 33a that overlaps the first groove 31b and the second groove 32b when viewed from the thickness direction. The air chamber 38 is a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped air storage chamber that expands in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction. The air flowing through the air flow path 34 is temporarily stored in the air chamber 38 and then flows into the shim flow path portion 35.

[0066] The air chamber 38 has a first chamber 38a and a second chamber 38b. The first chamber 38a is an air flow path portion defined by the first groove 31b. The first chamber 38a is disposed in the first member 31 and opens to the first surface 31a. The first chamber 38a extends in the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0067] The second chamber 38b is a flow path portion of air defined by the second groove 32b. The second chamber 38b is disposed in the second member 32, opens to the second surface 32a, and communicates with the first chamber 38a. The second chamber 38b extends in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction (Y-axis direction).

[0068] The first chamber 38a and the second chamber 38b are connected via an end portion of the recess 33a that is located on the nozzle rear end side with respect to the shim flow path portion 35 (see FIG. 3). The shim flow path portion 35 leads to the connection portion between the first chamber 38a and the second chamber 38b, that is, the above-described end portion.

[0069] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a plurality of supply flow path portions 36 are provided. The plurality of supply flow path portions 36 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, two supply flow path portions 36 are provided side by side in the left-right direction. Each supply flow path portion 36 is individually connected to each shim flow path portion 35. That is, in the present embodiment, a plurality (two) of sets of the shim flow path portion 35 and the supply flow path portion 36 are provided.

[0070] Next, an example in which the air injection nozzle 30 is adopted as a part of the manufacturing process in a can manufacturing factory will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. In the present embodiment, the can printing apparatus A in the can manufacturing factory is provided with the air injection nozzle 30.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 4, the can printing apparatus A performs printing of a design composed of a plurality of colors (for example, eight colors) on the outer peripheral surface of the body portion of the bottomed cylindrical can 20. Specifically, the can printing apparatus A of the present embodiment is an offset printing apparatus. The can printing apparatus A includes an ink adhering mechanism B and a can moving mechanism C.

[0072] The ink adhering mechanism B includes a plurality of ink units 1 that supply inks of respective colors and a blanket wheel 8. The number of ink units 1 provided in the can printing apparatus A is the same as the number of ink colors (types of colors) printed on the body portion of the can 20. The blanket wheel 8 has a plurality of blankets 9 that contact a printing plate (not shown) of the cylinder 6 of each ink unit 1 to transfer ink. The plurality of blankets 9 are arranged on the outer periphery of the blanket wheel 8 at intervals in the wheel circumferential direction. The wheel central axis of the blanket wheel 8 extends parallel to the central axis of the cylinder 6.

[0073] The can transfer mechanism C includes a can shooter 10 that takes in the can 20 into the can printing device A, a mandrel 11 that rotatably holds the can 20 supplied from the can shooter 10, and a mandrel turret 12 that sequentially contacts the can 20 mounted on the mandrel 11 with the blanket wheel 8 while rotating the can 20. The turret central axis of the mandrel turret 12 extends parallel to the central axis of the cylinder 6 and the wheel central axis of the blanket wheel 8. The mandrel turret 12 rotates the plurality of mandrels 11 in the turret circumferential direction. The mandrel turret 12 transfers ink to the can body by bringing the can body of the can 20 held by the mandrel 11 into contact with the blanket 9.

[0074] In this can printing device A, inks of different colors are attached from the ink sources of the plurality of ink units 1 to a printing plate such as a sleeve printing plate on the outer peripheral surface of each cylinder 6 via each roll group. The inks of each color attached to the printing plate of each cylinder 6 are placed as an image pattern on the blanket 9 on the rotating blanket wheel 8, and the can 20 is printed with a predetermined design when this image pattern contacts the body portion of the can 20 held by the mandrel 11. The can printing speed of the can printing device A is, for example, 1200 cpm, which is very high. The above "cpm" is a unit representing the number of processed cans (printed cans) per minute.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 5, the air injection nozzle 30 is provided in the can shooter 10 of the can transfer mechanism C. The air injection nozzle 30 assists the movement (transfer) of the can 20 transferred from the can shooter 10 to the mandrel 11.

[0076] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the air injection nozzle 30 is arranged so that the above-described left-right direction (X-axis direction) extends parallel to the can axis P of the can 20. That is, the direction in which the opening (slit opening) of the shim flow path portion 35 that opens into the gap between the first surface 31a and the second surface 32a is arranged substantially parallel to the can axis P. Although not particularly shown, a virtual extension line extending the shim flow path portion 35 toward the nozzle tip side passes through a position on the outer peripheral surface of the can 20 that is shifted downward in the vertical direction from the can axis P. For this reason, by the air injected from the air injection nozzle 30, at least a part of the can 20 is made to float from the inner surface of the can shooter 10 and is guided to the mandrel 11 with less frictional resistance.

[0077] FIG. 7 is a side view showing a part of the can shooter 10. The alternate long and short dash line indicated by the symbol G in FIG. 7 indicates a virtual weight balance plane G perpendicular to the can axis P of the can 20, that is, the center of gravity. Since the weight of the bottom 20b side of the can 20 is heavier than the weight of the top 20a side portion, the weight balance plane G is located on the bottom 20b side rather than the center in the can axis P direction of the can 20.

[0078] A plurality (two) of the shim flow path portions 35 of the air injection nozzle 30 inject air into both sides of the can 20 sandwiching the center in the can axis P direction. More specifically, the plurality of shim flow path portions 35 inject air into both sides of the can 20 sandwiching the weight balance plane G in the can axis P direction. In addition, compared with the air flow rate injected from one shim flow path portion 35 located on the left side (-X side), that is, the top 20a side, the air flow rate injected from the other shim flow path portion 35 located on the right side (+X side), that is, the bottom 20b side, may be increased. According to the present embodiment, when air is injected from the air injection nozzle 30, the weight balance of the can 20 is less likely to be disrupted, that is, the can 20 can be stably transferred from the can shooter 10 to the mandrel 11 while maintaining a good conveyance posture of the can 20.

[0079] Although not particularly shown, for example, the distance in the direction of the can axis P between one of the two shim flow path portions 35 and the weight balance surface G, and the distance in the direction of the can axis P between the other of the two shim flow path portions 35 and the weight balance surface G may be the same as each other. Also, in this case, the air flow rates ejected from the two shim flow path portions 35 may be the same as each other.

[0080] Next, an example in which the air injection nozzle 30 is adopted in another part of the manufacturing process of the can manufacturing factory will be described. Although not particularly shown, the air injection nozzle 30 is provided, for example, in a conveying device between a DI (Drawing & Ironing) processing device of the can 20 and a can washing device.

[0081] In this conveying device, the can 20 is conveyed in an inverted posture in which the top 20a faces the lower side in the vertical direction and the bottom 20b faces the upper side in the vertical direction. Before being transferred to the can washing device, the can 20 has a soiled liquid such as soluble accumulated in the domed portion of the bottom 20b. When this soiled liquid enters the can washing device, it affects the washing efficiency of the can 20 and the like.

[0082] Therefore, in this conveying device located in a previous process than the can washing device, the air injection nozzle 30 is provided above the conveying conveyor in the vertical direction, and by injecting air from the air injection nozzle 30 to the domed portion of the bottom 20b of the can 20, the soiled liquid accumulated on the bottom 20b can be blown off and removed. When the air injection nozzle 30 is used for the above-mentioned applications and the like, it is preferable to ensure that the dimension of the air injection nozzle 30 in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) is large, for example, 700 mm or more, according to the conveyor width of the conveying conveyor and the like.

[0083] In the air injection nozzle 30 of the present embodiment described above, the air supplied to the air flow path 34 passes through the slit-shaped shim flow path portion 35 from the supply flow path portion 36 and is jetted outside the nozzle from the gap between the first surface 31a and the second surface 32a. The air jetted in this way forms a straight air flow along the direction in which the shim flow path portion 35 extends. This jetted air is air in the form of a high-speed air curtain with a thin thickness dimension, which is called a so-called air knife or the like. The jetted air is increased by attracting the surrounding outside air as secondary air, and forms an air flow in a larger amount than the discharge amount from the nozzle. By this jetted air, for example, it is possible to assist the conveyance of an object such as the can 20, or to blow off and remove the liquid adhering to the object in the manufacturing process. According to this air injection nozzle 30, while stably achieving the intended function (action) by the jetted air, the amount of air supplied from an air supply source such as an air compressor can be suppressed to a small amount.

[0084] And according to the present embodiment, a shim member 33 is detachably interposed between the first surface 31a and the second surface 32a. Therefore, for example, by preparing a plurality of types of shim members 33 having different sizes, shapes, etc. of the shim flow path portion 35 and appropriately exchanging them, the shape of the shim flow path portion 35 can be easily changed. That is, by variously setting the shape of the concave portion 33a extending from the outer edge portion of the shim member 33 toward the inside, various adjustments such as the flow rate, flow velocity, injection range, injection balance, etc. (hereinafter, may be simply omitted as the flow rate, etc.) of the air jetted from the shim flow path portion 35 can be easily and accurately performed. In addition, since the air injection nozzle 30 can be disassembled and assembled, the maintainability is good.

[0085] From the above, according to the present embodiment, the adjustment of the air jetted from the shim flow path portion 35 of the air injection nozzle 30, that is, from the slit, can be easily performed.

[0086] In addition, in the present embodiment, the shim member 33 has a U-shaped (C-shaped) bent portion 33c that opens to the nozzle tip side. In this case, the shim flow path portion 35 can be formed inside the bent portion 33c, and the structure of the shim member 33 can be simplified.

[0087] Also, in the present embodiment, the second surface 32a of the second member 32 includes a protruding portion 32aa that protrudes toward the nozzle tip side from the first surface 31a of the first member 31. In this case, the air jetted from the shim flow path portion 35 to the outside of the nozzle is guided to the protruding portion 32aa of the second surface 32a that protrudes from the first surface 31a, thereby forming a stable and straight air flow along the direction in which the shim flow path portion 35 extends, that is, the predetermined direction (Y-axis direction).

[0088] Also, in the present embodiment, a plurality of shim flow path portions 35 are provided at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the first surface 31a, that is, when viewed from the thickness direction. In this case, for example, by jetting air from a plurality of shim flow path portions 35 to both sides of the center of gravity of the object (the can 20 in the present embodiment), it is possible to suppress the collapse of the weight balance of the object and easily maintain the conveyance posture of the object well. Although not particularly shown, for example, by mutually changing the sizes and shapes of the plurality of shim flow path portions 35, etc., the flow rate of the air jetted from each shim flow path portion 35 can be adjusted. Therefore, according to the object to which the air is jetted, the application, etc., a plurality of jetted airs can be respectively formed suitably.

[0089] Also, in the present embodiment, a plurality of sets of the shim flow path portion 35 and the supply flow path portion 36 are provided. In this case, according to the number of sets of the shim flow path portion 35 and the supply flow path portion 36, a plurality of air flow systems can be provided. For example, since the flow rate, pressure, etc. of the air can be set separately for each air flow system, it becomes possible to apply the air jet nozzle 30 of the present embodiment to various objects and applications, etc.

[0090] In this embodiment, as the first inclined surface 31c of the first member 31 faces the nozzle tip side (+Y side), it is located on the side of the second surface 32a from the first surface 31a, that is, on the lower side (-Z side) in the thickness direction of the shim member 33. Also, as the second inclined surface 32c of the second member 32 faces the nozzle tip side, it is located on the side of the first surface 31a from the second surface 32a, that is, on the upper side (+Z side) in the thickness direction of the shim member 33. In this case, the surrounding outside air (secondary air) attracted by the high-speed air ejected from the shim flow path portion 35 is guided by the first inclined surface 31c and the second inclined surface 32c and flows, so that it merges with the ejected air smoothly with less turbulent flow. Therefore, a straight and large amount of air flow directed from the shim flow path portion 35 toward the nozzle tip side can be formed more stably.

[0091] In this embodiment, since the first member 31, the second member 32, and the shim member 33 can be disassembled, for example, by replacing either the first member 31 or the second member 32, at least one of the inclination angles, inclination lengths, etc. of the first inclined surface 31c and the second inclined surface 32c can be appropriately adjusted. Therefore, it is easier and more accurate to adjust the flow rate of the ejected air, etc.

[0092] In this embodiment, the supply flow path portion 36 includes a piping connection flow path portion 37 and an air chamber 38 that connects the piping connection flow path portion 37 and the shim flow path portion 35. In this case, by providing the air chamber 38 in the air flow path 34, the flow rate, etc. of the air ejected from the shim flow path portion 35 can be stabilized.

[0093] In this embodiment, the air chamber 38 includes a first chamber 38a located in the first member 31 and a second chamber 38b located in the second member 32. In this case, a large volume of the air chamber 38 can be ensured, and the flow rate, etc. of the ejected air can be further stabilized.

[0094] In this embodiment, the shim channel portion 35 is connected to the connection portion between the first chamber 38a and the second chamber 38b. That is, the shim channel portion 35 is connected to the portion located between both end edges in the thickness direction of the air chamber 38. In this case, it is possible to suppress the shim channel portion 35 from being connected to the edge of the air chamber 38 in the thickness direction. That is, air flows into the shim channel portion 35 from both the first chamber 38a and the second chamber 38b, that is, from both sides in the thickness direction of the shim member 33. Therefore, when air flows from the air chamber 38 into the shim channel portion 35, turbulent flow is less likely to occur, and the flow rate and the like of the air ejected from the shim channel portion 35 become more stable.

[0095] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, as described below, configuration changes and the like are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0096] In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the first member 31, the second member 32, and the shim member 33 are fixed by a plurality of screw members 40 has been given, but the present invention is not limited to this. The first member 31, the second member 32, and the shim member 33 only need to be fixed so that the shim member 33 can be removed, and may be fixed by, for example, a pin member or adhesion.

[0097] In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the first inclined surface 31c of the first member 31 and the second inclined surface 32c of the second member 32 are each planar has been given, but the present invention is not limited to this. At least one of the first inclined surface 31c and the second inclined surface 32c may be convexly curved, concavely curved, or the like when viewed in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). That is, at least one of the first inclined surface 31c and the second inclined surface 32c may be convexly curved or concavely curved. However, being planar as in the above-described embodiment is more preferable because it is easy to manufacture the nozzle and it is easy to stably merge the secondary air into the ejected air.

[0098] In the foregoing embodiment, an example in which the second member 32 has the pipe connection hole 32e has been given, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the first member 31 may have a pipe connection hole, or both the first member 31 and the second member 32 may have a pipe connection hole.

[0099] In the foregoing embodiment, it has been assumed that the air injection nozzle 30 is provided with a plurality of air pipe members 50 having different air flow systems from each other, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the plurality of air pipe members 50 may be branched from one air flow system. Further, only one air pipe member 50 may be provided in the air injection nozzle 30, and the flow path may be branched from this air pipe member 50 to a plurality of supply flow path portions 36.

[0100] In the foregoing embodiment, an example in which the air injection nozzle 30 is provided with two shim flow path portions 35 having the same shape as each other has been given, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The two shim flow path portions 35 may have different shapes from each other. Further, three or more shim flow path portions 35 may be provided.

[0101] In the foregoing embodiment, an example in which the second surface 32a of the second member 32 includes a protruding portion 32aa on the nozzle tip side with respect to the first surface 31a of the first member 31 has been given, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The second surface 32a of the second member 32 does not have to protrude on the nozzle tip side from the first surface 31a of the first member 31. Further, unlike the foregoing embodiment, the first surface 31a of the first member 31 may include a protruding portion on the nozzle tip side with respect to the second surface 32a of the second member 32.

[0102] In the foregoing embodiment, an example in which the air injection nozzle 30 is provided in the can printing apparatus A or the conveying apparatus between the DI processing apparatus and the can washing apparatus has been given, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The air injection nozzle 30 may be used in manufacturing processes other than the above in the can manufacturing factory. Further, the air injection nozzle 30 can be appropriately used for applications such as conveyance and cleaning in various factories other than the can manufacturing factory.

[0103] In addition, within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, each configuration described in the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined, and addition, omission, substitution, and other changes of the configuration are possible. The present invention is not limited by the above-described embodiments, but is limited only by the scope of the claims.

Industrial Applicability

[0104] According to the air injection nozzle of the present invention, it is possible to easily adjust the air ejected from the slit. Therefore, it has industrial applicability.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0105] 30... air injection nozzle, 31... first member, 31a... first surface, 31c... first inclined surface, 32... second member, 32a... second surface, 32aa... protruding portion of the second surface on the nozzle tip side from the first surface, 32c... second inclined surface, 33... shim member, 33c... bent portion, 34... air flow path, 35... shim flow path portion, 36... supply flow path portion, 37... piping connection flow path portion, 38... air chamber, 38a... first chamber, 38b... second chamber

Claims

1. a first member having a first surface; a second member having a second surface; a sheet-like shim member removably sandwiched between the first surface and the second surface; an air flow path disposed across at least one of the first member and the second member and the shim member; and the air flow path includes: a slit-shaped shim flow path portion that opens into a gap between the first surface and the second surface and extends inward from an outer edge portion of the shim member; and a supply flow path portion that opens into an outer surface of at least one of the first member and the second member and the shim flow path portion; a plurality of the shim flow path portions are provided at intervals of each other when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the first surface; an air injection nozzle.

2. the shim member has a bent portion in a U shape that opens on a nozzle tip side in a predetermined direction in which the shim flow path portion extends; the air injection nozzle according to Claim 1.

3. the second surface includes a protruding portion on a nozzle tip side in a predetermined direction in which the shim flow path portion extends, relative to the first surface; the air injection nozzle according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. a plurality of sets of the shim flow path portion and the supply flow path portion are provided; the air injection nozzle according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. the first member has a first inclined surface disposed on a portion of an outer surface of the first member that faces a direction opposite to the direction in which the first surface faces; the second member has a second inclined surface disposed on a portion of an outer surface of the second member that faces a direction opposite to the direction in which the second surface faces; the first inclined surface is located on the second surface side from the first surface in a thickness direction of the shim member as it goes toward a nozzle tip side in a predetermined direction in which the shim flow path portion extends; the second inclined surface is located on the first surface side from the second surface in the thickness direction as it goes toward the nozzle tip side; the air injection nozzle according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

6. the supply flow path portion includes: a pipe connection flow path portion that opens into an outer surface of at least one of the first member and the second member; and an air chamber connected to the pipe connection flow path portion and the shim flow path portion; the air injection nozzle according to any one of Claims 1 to 5.

7. the air chamber includes: a first chamber disposed in the first member and opening into the first surface; and a second chamber disposed in the second member and opening into the second surface and communicating with the first chamber; the air injection nozzle according to Claim 6.

8. The shim flow path portion is connected to a connection portion between the first chamber and the second chamber. The air injection nozzle according to claim 7.

Images