Covering and removing device

Abstract

To provide a combination of powder container and lid attaching / detaching device with which the lid of the a powder container can be automatically attached and detached with no need of precise adjustment of the positional relationship between the lid of the powder container and the lid attaching / detaching device.SOLUTION: A powder container 2 includes: a container body 6 in which an inlet port 4 is formed; and fixing means 10 for fixing a lid 8 to the container body 6 in a releasable manner. A lid attaching / detaching device 32 includes: gripping means 34 for gripping the lid 8; releasing means 36 for releasing the fixation of the lid 8 by the fixing means 10; lifting means 38 for lifting and lowering the gripping means 34; and positional deviation absorbing means 40 for absorbing positional deviation of the gripping means 34 with respect to the lid 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention provides a container body having an insertion port formed therein; A lid that blocks the inlet and a fastening means for releasably fastening the lid to the container body. Powder container with of Lid removal device for removing and attaching the lid Place Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] A powder container for storing and transporting powders such as food and medicines comprises a container body with an inlet at the top and an outlet at the bottom, a lid that closes the inlet, and a valve attached to the outlet.

[0003] When adding powder to a powder container through an inlet or when cleaning the inside of the powder container, it is necessary to remove the lid from the inlet.In such cases, a lid removal device is used to automatically remove and attach the lid of a powder container (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-4082 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When automatically attaching and detaching a lid to a powder container, it is necessary to precisely adjust the positional relationship between the lid of the powder container and the lid detachment device. However, powder containers are usually transported using roller conveyors or forklifts, making it difficult to precisely adjust the positional relationship between the lid of the powder container and the lid detachment device.

[0006] The object of the present invention, which has been made in view of the above facts, is to provide a device that can automatically attach and detach a lid of a powder container without precisely adjusting the positional relationship between the lid of the powder container and a lid detachment device. Lid Detachable attachment Place The purpose is to provide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems are solved as follows. lid Detachable attachment Place Provided are: " a container body having an insertion port formed therein; A lid that blocks the inlet and a fastening means for releasably fastening the lid to the container body. Powder container with of A lid removal device for removing and attaching the lid In place There 、 before The device is provided with a gripping means for gripping the lid, a releasing means for releasing the fixation of the lid by the fixing means, a lifting means for lifting and lowering the gripping means, and a positional deviation absorbing means for absorbing a positional deviation of the gripping means relative to the lid. 、 the securing means includes a plurality of spring latches disposed around the periphery of the inlet; Each of the plurality of spring latches has a latch plate that can swing about a horizontal axis between a pressing position that presses the lid and a release position that releases the pressing of the lid, and a spring that positions the latch plate at the pressing position, the release means includes a release piece that lowers an end of the latch plate to swing the latch plate to the release position, and a release piece actuator that raises and lowers the release piece, The positional deviation absorbing means includes a rubber member disposed between a support structure supporting the lid detachment device and the lifting means. " will be provided.

[0010] before The release piece is preferably annular and can simultaneously swing the latch plates of the plurality of spring latches to the release position regardless of the relative angle between the powder container and the lid removal device in the vertical direction.

[0011] The lid preferably includes a plate-like portion covering the inlet, a support pillar extending upward from the upper surface of the plate-like portion, and a grippable piece attached to the upper end of the support pillar, and the gripping means preferably includes a pair of gripping pieces that can move between a gripping position where the grippable piece can be gripped and a release position where the grippable piece is released, and an actuator for the gripping pieces that moves the pair of gripping pieces between the gripping position and the release position.

[0012] Preferably, the support post of the lid is cylindrical, the gripped piece is circular, the diameter of the gripped piece is larger than the diameter of the support post, and the opposing surfaces of the pair of gripping pieces are provided with an arc-shaped notch corresponding to the support post and an arc-shaped recess corresponding to the gripped piece, so that the gripped piece can be gripped by the pair of gripping pieces regardless of the relative angle between the powder container and the lid detachment device in the vertical direction. Preferably, the lid includes guide means for positioning the lid at a predetermined position relative to the inlet. Preferably, the lid detachment device includes a plunger for pressing the lid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] Original Clearly According to this, when the lid is gripped by the gripping means, any positional deviation of the gripping means relative to the lid is absorbed by the positional deviation absorption means, so that the lid of the powder container can be automatically attached and detached without having to precisely adjust the positional relationship between the lid of the powder container and the lid detachment device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a powder container. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the inlet and lid shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 2A is a plan view showing the state in which the lid shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the insertion port, and FIG. 2B is a front view of the state shown in FIG. 2A. [Figure 4] (a) Front view of the lid removal device, (b) Enlarged cross-sectional view of line AA in (a), (c) Cross-sectional view of line BB in (b). [Figure 5] FIG. 4(b) is a side view of the lid removal device shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the release piece shown in FIG. 4 . [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the positional deviation absorbing means shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of the first displacement absorbing member shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the second displacement absorbing member shown in FIG. [Figure 10]5 is a front view showing a state in which the powder container shown in FIG. 1 is being moved toward the lower side of the lid attaching / detaching device shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 11] 5 is a front view showing a state in which the powder container shown in FIG. 1 is positioned below the lid attaching / detaching device shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 12] 12 is a front view showing a state in which the gripping means of the lid attaching / detaching device is lowered from the state shown in FIG. 11. [Figure 13] (a) is a side view of the state shown in FIG. 12, and (b) is an enlarged view of part A in (a). [Figure 14] (a) A front view showing the state in which a pair of gripping pieces have been brought closer to each other from the state shown in Figure 12 and are gripping the piece to be gripped by the pair of gripping pieces, (b) an enlarged view of the gripping pieces in (a), and (c) a cross-sectional view along line AA in (b). [Figure 15] 15 is a front view showing a state in which the release piece is lowered from the state shown in FIG. 14 to release the lid from being fixed by the fixing means. FIG. [Figure 16] 16 is a front view showing a state in which the gripping means is raised from the state shown in FIG. 15 and the lid is removed from the insertion opening. FIG. [Figure 17] 17 is a front view showing a state in which the release piece is raised from the state shown in FIG. 16. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the powder container is being moved from below the lid attaching / detaching device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The following is a description of the present invention. lid Detachable attachment Place A preferred embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] (Powder container 2) First, the powder container 2 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. As shown in Figure 1, the powder container 2 includes a container body 6 having an inlet 4, a lid 8 that closes the inlet 4, and a fastening means 10 that releasably fastens the lid 8 to the container body 6.

[0017] (Container body 6) The container body 6 may be formed from a metal material such as steel or a synthetic resin material. An inlet 4 is formed in the upper part of the container body 6, and an outlet 12 is formed in the lower part of the container body 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet 4 and the outlet 12 are circular, but they may both be rectangular. A valve 14 (e.g., a butterfly valve) that opens and closes the outlet 12 is attached to the outlet 12. In addition, a support frame 16 that supports the container body 6 is attached to the outer surface of the container body 6.

[0018] (Lid 8) 2 and 3, the lid 8 includes a circular plate-shaped portion 18 that covers the insertion port 4, a cylindrical support 20 that extends upward from the upper surface of the plate-shaped portion 18, and a circular graspable piece 22 attached to the upper end of the support 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3(b), the diameter of the graspable piece 22 is larger than the diameter of the support 20.

[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, the plate-shaped portion 18 is made of synthetic resin, and the support 20 and the gripped piece 22 are made of metal, but this is not limited to this, and for example, the entire lid 8 may be made of the same material (synthetic resin or metal).

[0020] (Guide means) The lid 8 includes a guide means for positioning the lid 8 at a predetermined position relative to the insertion opening 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide means is composed of a plurality of guide pieces 24 (for example, about 3 to 5 pieces) attached to the underside of the plate-like portion 18, but it may also be a single annular guide piece. The material of the guide pieces 24 may be the same as the material of the plate-like portion 18 (for example, synthetic resin).

[0021] The guide pieces 24 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the plate-shaped portion 18 and positioned slightly inward from the periphery of the plate-shaped portion 18. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the outer peripheral surface 24a of each guide piece 24 (the surface on the periphery side of the plate-shaped portion 18) is inclined radially inward from the upper end to the lower end of the plate-shaped portion 18. An O-ring 26 is attached to the lower surface of the plate-shaped portion 18, and the O-ring 26 is positioned radially outward from the guide pieces 24.

[0022] When the lid 8 is positioned above the insertion opening 4, if the center of the insertion opening 4 and the center of the plate-shaped portion 18 of the lid 8 are not aligned, the outer peripheral surface 24a of the guide piece 24 will come into contact with the periphery of the insertion opening 4 when the lid 8 is lowered toward the insertion opening 4. Then, as the lid 8 descends, the guide piece 24 moves the lid 8 horizontally, and the lid 8 is positioned at a predetermined position relative to the insertion opening 4. In other words, the center of the insertion opening 4 and the center of the plate-shaped portion 18 of the lid 8 will be aligned. Therefore, even if the center of the insertion opening 4 and the center of the plate-shaped portion 18 of the lid 8 are not aligned when the lid 8 is positioned above the insertion opening 4, the multiple guide pieces 24 will adjust the lid 8 to the predetermined position when the lid 8 is placed on the insertion opening 4.

[0023] (Fixing means 10) 3, the fixing means 10 includes a plurality of spring latches 28 arranged around the periphery of the slot 4. In the illustrated embodiment, eight spring latches 28 are arranged at equal intervals around the periphery of the slot 4. Each spring latch 28 has a latch plate 30 and a spring (not shown).

[0024] The latch plate 30 can be made of a metal material such as steel, but may also be made of synthetic resin. The latch plate 30 is able to swing freely around a horizontal axis between a pressing position (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 3(b)) where it presses the peripheral edge of the plate-shaped portion 18 of the lid 8 downward, and a release position (position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3(b)) where it releases the pressing of the lid 8. Although not shown, a spring of the spring latch 28 positions the latch plate 30 in the pressing position.

[0025] In each spring latch 28, the spring positions the latch plate 30 in the pressing position, thereby pressing downward the peripheral edge of the plate-like portion 18 of the lid 8 placed on the insertion port 4, and fixing the lid 8 to the insertion port 4. When the lid 8 is fixed to the insertion port 4, the O-ring 26 is sandwiched between the annular flange 4a of the insertion port 4 and the plate-like portion 18, and the insertion port 4 is sealed by the lid 8.

[0026] On the other hand, when the end (radially outer end) of the latch plate 30 located in the pressing position is pressed downward against the force of the spring, the latch plate 30 is positioned in the release position, thereby releasing the locking of the lid 8.

[0027] (Lid attachment / detachment device 32) Next, the lid removal device 32 will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 9. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the lid removal device 32 includes a gripping means 34 that grips the lid 8, a release means 36 that releases the fixation of the lid 8 by the fixation means 10, a lifting means 38 that raises and lowers the gripping means 34, a positional deviation absorbing means 40 that absorbs positional deviation of the gripping means 34 relative to the lid 8, and a plunger 42 (see Figure 5) that presses the lid 8.

[0028] (Gripping means 34) The gripping means 34 includes a pair of gripping pieces 44 and a gripping piece actuator 46 that moves the pair of gripping pieces 44 .

[0029] (Gripping piece 44 of gripping means 34) The pair of gripping pieces 44 can move substantially horizontally between a gripping position (position shown by a dotted line in Figure 4(a)) where they can grip the gripped piece 22, and a release position (position shown by a solid line in Figure 4(a)) where they release the gripped piece 22.

[0030] As shown in Figures 4(b) and 4(c), the opposing surfaces of the pair of gripping pieces 44 are provided with an arc-shaped cutout 44a corresponding to the support 20 of the lid 8 and an arc-shaped recess 44b corresponding to the gripped piece 22. The diameter of the cutout 44a is approximately the same as the diameter of the support 20, and the diameter of the recess 44b is approximately the same as the diameter of the gripped piece 22. When the pair of gripping pieces 44 are positioned at the gripping position, the gripped piece 22 is accommodated in the accommodation space defined by the recess 44b of each gripping piece 44 (see Figure 14(b)). The pair of gripping pieces 44 may be made of synthetic resin or metal.

[0031] (Actuator 46 for gripping piece of gripping means 34) The gripping piece actuator 46 may be, for example, an air-driven actuator (air chuck). The gripping piece actuator 46 brings the pair of gripping pieces 44 close to each other to position them in the gripping position, and moves the pair of gripping pieces 44 away from each other to position them in the release position.

[0032] (Release means 36) The release means 36 includes a release piece 48 that lowers the end of the latch plate 30 to swing the latch plate 30 to the release position, and a release piece actuator 50 that raises and lowers the release piece 48.

[0033] (Release piece 48 of release means 36) 6, the release piece 48 in the illustrated embodiment is annular and sized to be able to simultaneously press against all of the latch plates 30. Therefore, the release means 36 can lower the release piece 48 to simultaneously swing the latch plates 30 of all of the spring latches 28 to the release position. The release piece 48 may be made of synthetic resin or metal.

[0034] (Actuator 50 for release piece of release means 36) The release piece actuator 50 may be composed of an air cylinder, an electric cylinder, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the release piece actuator 50 is composed of four air cylinders connected to the release pieces 48 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0035] A rubber member 52 such as a vibration-isolating rubber is disposed between the release piece actuator 50 and the release piece 48. That is, the release piece 48 is floatingly supported on the release piece actuator 50 via the rubber member 52. A first bracket 54 is fixed to each release piece actuator 50. Each release piece actuator 50 is supported via the first bracket 54 on a support structure 56 that supports the lid attachment / detachment device 32.

[0036] (Lifting means 38) The lifting means 38 may be composed of an air cylinder, an electric cylinder, or the like. The lifting means 38 is connected to the gripping piece actuator 46 of the gripping means 34. A second bracket 58 is fixed to the lifting means 38. The lifting means 38 is supported by a support structure 56 via the second bracket 58.

[0037] (positional deviation absorbing means 40) As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the positional deviation absorbing means 40 in the illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of (e.g., 4 to 6) first positional deviation absorbing members 40a and a plurality of (e.g., 4 to 6) second positional deviation absorbing members 40b.

[0038] (First positional deviation absorbing member 40a) 7 and 8, the first positional deviation absorbing member 40a is disposed between the first bracket 54 of the release means 36 and the second bracket 58 of the lifting means 38. The first positional deviation absorbing member 40a has a rubber member 60, metal circular plates 62 attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the rubber member 60, and a metal male thread portion 64 protruding from the surface of the circular plate 62.

[0039] (Drum-shaped rubber member 60) As shown in Fig. 8, the rubber member 60 is hand-held drum-shaped. Specifically, the rubber member 60 has circular upper and lower surfaces, with the diameter gradually decreasing from the upper end to the middle and gradually increasing from the middle to the lower end. The first positional deviation absorbing member 40a is fixed to the first and second brackets 54, 58 by fastening nuts 66 to the male threaded portions 64, as shown in Fig. 7.

[0040] (Second positional deviation absorbing member 40b) As shown in FIG. 7, the second displacement absorbing member 40b is disposed between the first bracket 54 of the release means 36 and a third bracket 68 fixed to the support structure 56. Referring to Figure 9, the second misalignment absorption member 40b includes a pair of cylindrical rubber members 70, 72 spaced apart in the vertical direction, and a metal connecting piece 74 connecting the pair of rubber members 70, 72.

[0041] (Cylindrical rubber member 70) The hole 70a in the upper rubber member 70 extends vertically, and the diameter of the hole 70a gradually decreases from the top to the bottom. A connecting piece 74 is fixed to the top end of the upper rubber member 70, and a metal annular plate 76 is attached to the bottom surface of the upper rubber member 70.

[0042] (Cylindrical rubber member 72) The hole 72a of the lower rubber member 72 also extends in the vertical direction, but the diameter of the hole 72a gradually decreases from the bottom end to the top end, in contrast to the hole 70a of the upper rubber member 70. A connecting piece 74 is fixed to the bottom end of the lower rubber member 72, and a metal annular plate 76 is attached to the top surface of the lower rubber member 72.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, the second positional deviation absorbing member 40b is fixed to the first and third brackets 54, 68 using a bolt 78 and nuts 80, 82.

[0044] 4, in the illustrated embodiment, the first and second positional deviation absorbing members 40a and 40b are installed between the gripping means 34 and the lifting means 38 and the support structure 56. In other words, the gripping means 34 and the lifting means 38 are floatingly supported on the support structure 56 via the first and second positional deviation absorbing members 40a and 40b.

[0045] In addition, a second positional deviation absorbing member 40b is installed between the releasing means 36 and the support structure 56. In other words, the releasing means 36 is floatingly supported on the support structure 56 via the second positional deviation absorbing member 40b.

[0046] (Plunger 42) A known metal roller plunger with a roller attached to the tip can be used as the plunger 42. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, a pair of plungers 42 are provided. The pair of plungers 42 are supported by a fourth bracket 84 fixed to the gripping piece actuator 46 of the gripping means 34.

[0047] Next, the process of removing the lid 8 from the powder container 2 using the lid removing device 32 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0048] When removing the lid 8 from the powder container 2, first, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the powder container 2 is moved by appropriate transport means such as a roller conveyor or a forklift, and positioned below the lid removing device 32. At this time, the pair of gripping pieces 44 of the gripping means 34 is positioned in the release position.

[0049] Alternatively, if the lid attaching / detaching device 32 is movably supported by the support structure 56, the lid attaching / detaching device 32 may be moved to be positioned above the powder container 2. Also, both the powder container 2 and the lid attaching / detaching device 32 may be moved to adjust the positional relationship between the powder container 2 and the lid attaching / detaching device 32 as shown in FIG.

[0050] Once the powder container 2 is positioned below the lid removal device 32, as shown in Figure 12, the lifting means 38 is used to lower the gripping means 34, and the pair of gripping pieces 44 is positioned so that they can grip the gripped piece 22 of the lid 8. At this time, as shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b), the tip of the plunger 42 comes into contact with the upper surface of the plate-like portion 18 of the lid 8, and the plunger 42 presses down on the upper surface of the plate-like portion 18.

[0051] 14, the pair of gripping pieces 44 are moved toward each other by the gripping piece actuator 46 and positioned at the gripping position. At this time, if the centers of the pair of gripping pieces 44 (for example, the center of the circle defined by the pair of arc-shaped recesses 44b) and the center of the gripped piece 22 of the lid 8 are aligned, the gripped piece 22 will naturally be gripped by the pair of gripping pieces 44.

[0052] Furthermore, even if the centers of the pair of gripping pieces 44 and the center of the gripped piece 22 are not aligned, the lid removal device 32 in the illustrated embodiment is equipped with a positional deviation absorption means 40, so that the gripped piece 22 is gripped by the pair of gripping pieces 44.

[0053] That is, while the gripping piece 44 is moving, the hourglass-shaped rubber member 60 of the first positional deviation absorption member 40a and the cylindrical rubber members 70, 72 of the second positional deviation absorption member 40b are elastically deformed to absorb the positional deviation between the gripping piece 44 and the gripped piece 22. As a result, the centers of the pair of gripping pieces 44 and the centers of the gripped piece 22 are aligned, and the gripped piece 22 is gripped by the pair of gripping pieces 44.

[0054] Furthermore, even if one of the gripping piece 44 and the gripped piece 22 is tilted relative to the other (for example, if one of the gripping piece 44 and the gripped piece 22 is horizontal while the other of the gripping piece 44 and the gripped piece 22 is tilted from the horizontal plane), the rubber members 60, 70, 72 will elastically deform, thereby eliminating the relative tilt between the gripping piece 44 and the gripped piece 22, and the gripped piece 22 will be gripped by the pair of gripping pieces 44.

[0055] Incidentally, if either one of the first and second positional deviation absorption members 40a, 40b is provided, it is possible to absorb the positional deviation between the gripping piece 44 and the grasped piece 22. However, as in the illustrated embodiment, it is preferable to provide both the first and second positional deviation absorption members 40a, 40b, because this increases the amount of positional deviation that can be absorbed.

[0056] 14(b) and 14(c), in the illustrated embodiment, the support 20 of the lid 8 is cylindrical, the gripped piece 22 is circular, and the opposing surfaces of the pair of gripping pieces 44 are provided with an arc-shaped notch 44a corresponding to the support 20 and an arc-shaped recess 44b corresponding to the gripped piece 22. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the gripped piece 22 is gripped by the pair of gripping pieces 44 regardless of the relative angle between the powder container 2 and the lid detachment device 32 in the vertical direction.

[0057] After the pair of gripping pieces 44 grip the gripped piece 22, the release piece 48 is lowered by the release piece actuator 50, as shown in Figure 15, and the latch plate 30 of the spring latch 28 is swung to the release position, thereby releasing the fixation of the lid 8.

[0058] As described above, the release piece 48 in the illustrated embodiment is annular and is formed in a size that allows it to simultaneously press against all of the multiple latch plates 30, so that all of the latch plates 30 can be simultaneously swung to the release position by lowering the release piece 48. Furthermore, because the release piece 48 is annular, it is possible to simultaneously swung all of the latch plates 30 to the release position by the release piece 48 regardless of the relative angle between the powder container 2 and the lid removal device 32 in the vertical direction.

[0059] Once the lid 8 has been released from its fixed position, as shown in Fig. 16, the gripping means 34 gripping the lid 8 is raised by the lifting means 38 to open the insertion opening 4 of the container body 6. Next, as shown in Fig. 17, the release piece 48 is raised by the release piece actuator 50 to separate the release piece 48 from the spring latch 28.

[0060] In this way, the lid removal device 32 can automatically remove the lid 8 of the powder container 2. After removing the lid 8, the container body 6 can be moved to a required position, as shown in Figure 18, and powder can be introduced into the container body 6 through the inlet 4, or the inside of the container body 6 can be cleaned.

[0061] On the other hand, when attaching the lid 8 to the container body 6, the above-mentioned procedure is carried out in reverse. Specifically, first, the container body 6 is moved and positioned below the lid attaching / detaching device 32 (see FIG. 17). Next, the release piece 48 is lowered to swing the latch plate 30 to the release position (see FIG. 16). Next, the gripping means 34 gripping the lid 8 is lowered, and the lid 8 is placed on the insertion opening 4 (see FIG. 15).

[0062] Even if the center of the plate-shaped portion 18 of the lid 8 held by the holding means 34 is not aligned with the center of the insertion port 4 before the lid 8 is placed on the insertion port 4, the guide piece 24 aligns the center of the plate-shaped portion 18 with the center of the insertion port 4. Furthermore, the rubber members 60, 70, 72 of the positional deviation absorbing means 40 elastically deform, thereby absorbing any positional deviation of the holding means 34 relative to the lid 8. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the plunger 42 holds the lid 8 in place, preventing the lid 8 from rattling.

[0063] Once the lid 8 is placed on the insertion opening 4, the release piece 48 is raised to swing the latch plate 30 to the pressing position, thereby fixing the lid 8 to the insertion opening 4 (see FIG. 14). Then, the pair of gripping pieces 44 are moved away from each other to the release position (see FIG. 12), and the gripping means 34 is raised (see FIG. 11). In this way, the lid removal device 32 can automatically attach the removed lid 8 to the container body 6.

[0064] As described above, in the combination of the illustrated embodiments, when the lid 8 is gripped by the gripping means 34, any positional deviation of the gripping means 34 relative to the lid 8 is absorbed by the positional deviation absorption means 40, so that the lid 8 of the powder container 2 can be automatically attached and detached without having to precisely adjust the positional relationship between the lid 8 of the powder container 2 and the lid detachment device 32.

[0065] Depending on the type of powder, it may be necessary to minimize the amount of metal powder mixed in. In this regard, in the combination of the illustrated embodiments, by making at least one of the parts that repeatedly come into contact and out of contact from a synthetic resin, it is possible to suppress the generation of metal powder and reduce the amount of metal powder mixed in the powder.

[0066] In the combination of the illustrated embodiment, (1) the plate-shaped portion 18 of the lid 8 and the latch plate 30, (2) the release piece 48 and the latch plate 30, and (3) the gripping piece 44 and the gripped piece 22 / support 20, (1) to (3) are parts that repeatedly come into contact with each other and do not come into contact with each other. For example, by making the plate-shaped portion 18, the release piece 48, and the gripping piece 44 out of synthetic resin, the generation of metal powder can be suppressed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 2: Powder container 4: Inlet 6: Container body 8: Lid 10: Fixing means 18: Plate-shaped part 20: Prop 22:Gripped piece 28: Spring latch 30: Latch plate 32: Lid attachment / detachment device 34: Gripping means 36: Release means 38: Lifting means 40: Position deviation absorbing means 42: Plunger 44:Gripping piece 44a: Notch 44b: recess 46: Actuator for gripping piece 48: Release piece 50: Release piece actuator 56:Support structure 60: Drum-shaped rubber component 70: Cylindrical rubber member 72: Cylindrical rubber member

Claims

1. A lid removal device for removing and attaching a lid to a powder container, the device comprising: a container body having an inlet formed therein; a lid for closing the inlet; and a fastening means for releasably fastening the lid to the container body, a gripping means for gripping the lid, a releasing means for releasing the fixing of the lid by the fixing means, a lifting means for lifting and lowering the gripping means, and a positional deviation absorbing means for absorbing a positional deviation of the gripping means relative to the lid, the securing means includes a plurality of spring latches disposed around the periphery of the inlet; Each of the plurality of spring latches has a latch plate that can swing about a horizontal axis between a pressing position that presses the lid and a release position that releases the pressing of the lid, and a spring that positions the latch plate at the pressing position, the release means includes a release piece that lowers an end of the latch plate to swing the latch plate to the release position, and a release piece actuator that raises and lowers the release piece, The lid removal device, wherein the positional deviation absorbing means includes a rubber member disposed between a support structure that supports the lid removal device and the lifting means.

2. The lid removal device of claim 1, wherein the release piece is annular and simultaneously swings the latch plates of each of the multiple spring latches to the release position regardless of the relative angle between the powder container and the lid removal device in the vertical direction.

3. the lid includes a plate-like portion that covers the insertion port, a support pole that extends upward from an upper surface of the plate-like portion, and a grippable piece that is attached to an upper end of the support pole, The lid removal and attachment device described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the gripping means includes a pair of gripping pieces that can be moved between a gripping position where the gripped piece can be gripped and a release position where the gripped piece is released, and a gripping piece actuator that moves the pair of gripping pieces between the gripping position and the release position.

4. The support of the lid is cylindrical, the gripped piece is circular, and the diameter of the gripped piece is larger than the diameter of the support; An arc-shaped notch corresponding to the support and an arc-shaped recess corresponding to the grasped piece are provided on the opposing surfaces of the pair of gripping pieces, The lid attaching / detaching device according to claim 3 , wherein the gripped piece is gripped by the pair of gripping pieces regardless of the relative angle between the powder container and the lid attaching / detaching device in the vertical direction.

5. 5. The lid attaching / detaching device according to claim 1, wherein the lid includes guide means for positioning the lid at a predetermined position relative to the insertion opening.

6. The lid removal device according to claim 1 , further comprising a plunger for pressing the lid.

Images