JP3422052B2 - Locking device for variable container holder - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a plurality of fingers (container holding members) movably disposed toward a center of a holder base (container holder main body). The present invention relates to a variable container holder that can be used for a plurality of types of containers having different sizes by moving each finger to a predetermined position.In particular, a finger that has moved to a predetermined position may be shifted from that position. The present invention relates to a lock device for locking so as not to be locked. 2. Description of the Related Art When processing such as filling or capping of a deformed container having a cross section of an ellipse or the like by a container processing apparatus such as a filling machine or a capper, positioning and centering of the container are performed. In order to perform the process, the container is accommodated in a container holder, held and placed on the container processing line. [0003] However, the container holder conventionally used generally has a container accommodating hole which conforms to a specific container shape in a resin body, and accommodates and transports the container in this hole. Therefore, it cannot be used for containers of different shapes. Therefore, a plurality of fingers (container holding members) that can move forward and backward toward the center of the holder base are provided on the holder base (container holder main body),
By moving these fingers according to the size and shape of the container and stopping them at a predetermined position, a variable container holder that can use one type of container holder for containers of various shapes has been used. ing. In order to move each finger of the variable container holder, for example, a plurality of screw shafts are arranged on a holder base, and the center side and the outside of each screw shaft are rotatably supported by bearings. At the same time, there has already been proposed a structure in which a finger is screwed into each of these screw shafts, and the fingers are moved in a radial direction along the screw shaft by rotating the screw shaft. [0005] In the above-described variable container holder, a mechanism that locks a finger that has been moved to a predetermined position according to the size of the container so as not to move from that position. Conventionally, a friction lock mechanism using a leaf spring or the like has been used. In such a lock mechanism using frictional force, the screw shaft may rotate due to vibration during transportation or an impact due to a collision, and the finger may deviate from a predetermined position. there were. The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and there is no possibility that a finger fixed at a predetermined position will be displaced. In addition, when the finger is moved and applied to a different container, it is easily performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock device for a variable container holder which can be unlocked and re-locked. [0007] A lock device according to the present invention is rotatably mounted on a holder base and bearings radially disposed on the holder base and provided near the center and the outer periphery of the holder base. A plurality of screw shafts supported, and a plurality of fingers which are screwed to the respective screw shaft shafts and which can move forward and backward along the screw shafts by rotation of the screw shafts, and are provided at outer end portions of the respective screw shafts. Provided on a variable container holder which is configured to move each finger to a predetermined position by rotating the screw shaft by engaging a rotation means with the rotation operation unit of each screw shaft. With a stopper plate interposed between the outer bearing and the rotary operation part, A spring is arranged between the stopper plate and the outer bearing to press the stopper plate against the rotation operating portion of the screw shaft, and the stopper plate is provided with an engaging portion capable of engaging with the rotating operation portion. Things. In the above-mentioned locking device for the variable container holder, the stopper plate is constantly urged outward by a spring, and is pressed against a rotation operating portion provided at the end of the screw shaft to rotate the stopper plate. Since the operation portion and the engagement portion of the stopper plate are engaged, the rotation of the screw shaft is restricted, and the finger does not move. Further, when rotating the externally provided rotating means by engaging it with the rotation operating portion of the screw shaft, the stopper plate is pushed in against the spring and the lock is released. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a variable container holder provided with a lock device (indicated by reference numeral 1 as a whole) according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the base (holder base) 2 of the container holder has a base 2a in which four corners of a square are slightly cut out, and an octagonal container support provided on an upper portion of the base 2a. 2b, and the container support 2
In b, eight radial guide grooves 2c are formed at equal intervals. At the center of these radial guide grooves 2c,
A bearing plate 4 (see FIG. 6) is fixed by a bolt 6 to an end surface of the container supporting portion 2b in which a circular bearing portion 2d is formed and each radial guide groove 2c is open to the outer peripheral side. . A screw shaft 8 having a shape as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is disposed in each of the radial guide grooves 2c, and is rotatably supported by the circular bearing portion 2d and the bearing plate 4. Each screw shaft 8 is screwed into a screw hole 10a of an upright finger 10 (see FIGS. 10 to 12). When the screw shaft 8 is rotated, the finger 10 is moved into the radial guide groove 2c. Can be moved along the screw shaft 8. The bearing plate 4 of each screw shaft 8
A pin 12 (see FIG. 8) for transmitting rotation to the screw shaft 8 is fixed through the portion near an end of a portion 8a (hereinafter, referred to as a head portion) protruding outward from the screw shaft 8. An annular groove 8c is formed near the screw portion 8b of the head portion 8a.
And is rotatably supported by fitting into a notch groove 4a formed in the groove. The head portion 8a of the screw shaft 8
A square stopper plate 14 is fitted between the bearing plate 4 and the rotation transmitting pin 12 on the outer periphery. Although the stopper plate 14 has a rectangular shape, its rotation is restricted, but can move in the axial direction of the screw shaft 8. Stopper plate 1
4, a recess 14 is provided on the surface of the holder base 2 facing the center.
The compression spring 16 is disposed between the concave portion 14 a and the bearing plate 4 to urge the stopper plate 14 outward of the screw shaft 8. Near the outer end of the screw shaft 8, the rotation transmitting pin 12 is fixed through as described above.
The stopper plate 14 is stopped by being pressed against the rotation transmitting pin 12. The stopper plate 14 is shown in FIG.
Or as shown in FIG. 14, around the axis O ₁ of the screw shaft 8 extending through this engaging groove 14b which is perpendicular to the vertical and horizontal are formed. When the surface of the stopper plate 14 urged by the compression spring 16 is pressed against the rotation transmitting pin 12, the screw shaft 8 is rotatable, and the rotation transmitting pin 12 Engagement groove 14
When the screw shaft 8 is fitted inside the shaft b, the rotation of the screw shaft 8 is restricted. The operation of the container holder lock device 1 according to the above configuration will be described. Since the eight fingers 10 provided in the container holder are screwed to the screw shafts 8 respectively, the screw guides 8 are rotated so that the radial guide grooves 2c in which the screw shafts 8 are arranged are rotated. It can be moved toward the center of the container holder or in the outward direction while standing upright. Each finger 10 is moved to a predetermined position and stopped according to the shape of the container held and transported by the container holder. In this state, the stopper plate 14 fitted around the head 8a of each screw shaft 8 is
6 and is pressed against the pin 12 for transmitting rotation. On the outer surface of the stopper plate 14, an engagement groove 14b having a vertical and horizontal cross is formed.
2 is fitted into the engagement groove 14b, the rotation of the screw shaft 8 is prevented. When the screw shaft 8 is locked in this way, the screw shaft 8 does not rotate even if there is vibration during transportation or an impact due to collision, so that the finger 10 is completely displaced from a predetermined position. Can be prevented. Further, when the finger 10 is moved to a predetermined position and the rotation of the screw shaft 8 is stopped, and the rotation transmitting pin 12 is not fitted in the engagement groove 14 b of the stopper plate 14, The screw shaft 8 may rotate, but the screw shaft 8
During the rotation by 0 degree, the rotation transmitting pin 12 is
Since it is always fitted in b, further rotation can be prevented. Although not shown in the drawings of the present application, a changer (rotating means) used to move the finger 10 by rotating the screw shaft 8.
Has an operating claw that meshes with the rotation transmitting pin 12. When the operating claw is advanced from the right direction in FIG. 1 to mesh with the rotation transmitting pin 12, the tip of the operating claw is simultaneously As a result, the stopper plate 14 is pushed in, the engagement between the rotation transmitting pin 12 and the engagement groove 14b is automatically released, and the screw shaft 8 can be rotated. Moreover, after rotating the screw shaft 8,
When the rotation is stopped and the operation claw of the changer is removed from the rotation transmitting pin 12, as described above, the rotation transmitting pin 12 is fitted into the engagement groove 14b or slightly (90).
(Within degrees), the screw shaft 8 is completely locked in the engagement groove 14b, and the rotation of the screw shaft 8 is completely locked. In the above embodiment, a variable container holder having eight screw shafts 8 and fingers 10 has been described. However, it is needless to say that the number of these is not limited to eight or eight. Absent. Stopper plate 1
The shape of 4 is not limited to a quadrangle, and may be any shape that does not rotate with the screw shaft 8. Further, the number of the engagement grooves 14b formed on the outer surface side of the stopper plate 14 is two in the vertical and horizontal directions shifted by 90 degrees in the present embodiment, but is not limited to two, and only one in one direction or 60 Three can be provided at an interval of degrees, four can be provided at an interval of 45 degrees, and the like. Further, as the engaging portion on the stopper plate 14 side, an engaging groove 14b into which the rotation transmitting pin 12 is fitted is provided, but the present invention is not limited to such an engaging groove 14b, and the pin 12 is engaged and the screw shaft is engaged. Other shapes, such as projections, may be used as long as rotation of 8 can be prevented. As described above, according to the present invention, an outer bearing rotatably supporting each screw shaft,
A stopper plate provided with an engagement portion with which the rotation operation portion can be interposed is provided between the rotation operation portion provided at the outer end portion of the screw shaft and the rotation operation portion. By placing a spring between the stopper plate and pressing the stopper plate against the rotary operation part of the screw shaft, it is possible to reliably prevent the finger from being shifted from the position after the finger is set at the predetermined position. it can. In addition, even when the size is changed by moving the finger, the lock can be easily released and the lock can be easily re-locked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a variable container holder provided with a lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a plan view of a holder base of the variable container holder. FIG. 4 is a side view of the holder base. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a front view of a bearing plate. FIG. 7 is a front view of the screw shaft. 8 is a view in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a side view of the finger. FIG. 10 is a front view of a finger. FIG. 11 is a plan view of a finger. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a stopper plate. FIG. 13 is a front view of a stopper plate. FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. [Description of Signs] 2 Holder base 4 Bearing near outer periphery (bearing plate) 8 Screw shaft 10 Finger 12 Rotation operating part (rotation transmission pin) 14 Stopper plate 14b Stopper plate engaging part (engaging groove) 16 Spring

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yukinobu Nishino 58-shi, Ozutahonmachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Pref. Shibuya Kogyo Co., Ltd. A) JP-A-57-72544 (JP, A) JP-A-48-104760 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65B 43/54 B67C 3/24

Claims (1)

(57) Claims 1. A holder base and a plurality of holders radially arranged on the holder base and rotatably supported by bearings provided near the center and the outer periphery of the holder base. A screw shaft, a plurality of fingers that are screwed to each screw shaft shaft, and that can move forward and backward along the screw shaft by the rotation of the screw shaft, and a rotation operation unit provided at an outer end of each screw shaft. In the variable container holder which is provided to move each finger to a predetermined position by rotating the screw shaft by engaging the rotation means with each rotation operation unit, the outer bearing and the rotation operation unit A stopper plate provided with an engagement portion with which the rotation operation portion can be engaged is interposed between the stopper plate and the stopper plate. Locking device variable container holder stopper plate arranged spring is characterized in that so as to press the rotating operation of the screw shaft between the bearing of the.