JP3908608B2 - Container container - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container storage device for storing containers containing contents in a plurality of stages, and in particular, in a process in which a container moves from a carry-in part to a carry-out part while being accommodated in a storage part. It is related with the container storage apparatus which drops a container from the terminal of this to the conveyor located in the lower stage.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Bicarbonate and acetic acid are generally used as dialysis fluids. Of these, bicarbonate-based dialysis fluids are powdered agent A containing no sodium bicarbonate and powdered agent B consisting of sodium bicarbonate. Are dissolved in diluted water to obtain a concentrated solution. The concentrated solution is supplied to a separate dialysate adjusting device and diluted with water again to obtain a desired concentration, and then administered to the patient.
[0003]
The A agent and the B agent are each filled into a polyethylene container formed into a substantially cylindrical shape having an opening at one end by blow molding, and the opening is sealed with a film or the like. Then, the film is opened at the time of dissolution, the solution obtained while injecting dilution water from the opening is derived, and a concentrated solution of a predetermined concentration is produced by circulating and stirring between separate dissolution tanks. Is done.
[0004]
Examples of the container accommodation device containing the agent A and the agent B include those proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-038827. This container storage device has a storage section formed over a plurality of upper and lower stages so as to store a plurality of containers each containing agent A and agent B, and each stage has conveying means such as a belt conveyor. Is provided. And the container of A agent or B agent was carried in from the uppermost stage in an accommodating part, and it accommodated while conveying sequentially to a lower stage, took out from the container which reached the lowermost stage sequentially, and conveyed to the following process.
[0005]
However, in the process in which the container is transported in the accommodating portion, when the container reaches the end of the transport means located in the upper stage, the container falls from there and reaches the transport means located in the lower stage. Thus, by accommodating a container over a plurality of upper and lower stages, a planar accommodation space can be reduced and accommodation efficiency can be improved.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional container, the container that has reached the end of the transport means positioned at the upper stage is configured to fall freely when reaching the transport means positioned at the lower stage. There has been a problem that the container is broken or the container is overrun on the lower transport means and the accommodation position becomes unstable. In other words, the above-described storage device having the storage portion composed of the upper and lower stages can improve the storage efficiency, but it is necessary to sequentially drop the stored containers from the upper stage to the lower stage, and an impact at the time of dropping occurs. is there.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can improve the storage efficiency of the container and can reduce the impact when the container is dropped from the upper stage to the lower stage in the storage part. It is in providing the accommodation apparatus.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a carry-in unit for carrying in a container containing the contents, a storage unit for storing the container carried in from the carry-in unit over a plurality of upper and lower stages, and the storage unit An unloading unit that unloads the container in order; and a conveyor that is disposed at each stage of the housing unit and moves to the unloading unit side while placing the container loaded from the loading unit. In the process of moving from the carry-in part to the carry-out part while being housed in a container, the container container is a container storage device that drops containers from the end of the conveyor located in the upper stage to the conveyor located in the lower stage of the conveyor located in the upper stage. It is provided with a drop control means that is disposed at the end and drops onto a conveyor located in the lower stage while holding the container that has reached the end, The drop control means includes a rotor attached to a drive shaft or a driven shaft at the end of the conveyor located in the upper stage, and a holding means formed on the rotor and capable of being held in contact with a container reaching the end of the conveyor And a one-way clutch interposed between the rotor and the drive shaft or driven shaft of the conveyor, and the one-way clutch allows relative rotation of the drive shaft or driven shaft with respect to the rotor, The drive shaft or the drive shaft is disposed so as not to allow relative rotation of the rotor with respect to the drive shaft. .
[0010]
According to such a configuration, when the container does not flow on the upper conveyor, the one-way clutch allows the relative rotation of the drive shaft or the driven shaft in the conveyor with respect to the rotor, so that the rotor and the holding means do not operate. On the other hand, when the container flowing in the upper stage reaches the end, the container abuts on the holding means, and the relative rotation of the drive shaft or the driven shaft with respect to the rotor is not allowed, so the rotor and the holding means rotate together with the drive shaft. To do. As a result, the container that has reached the upper end is dropped onto the lower conveyor at the rotational speed of the drive shaft while being held by the holding means.
[0011]
Claim 2 The described invention is characterized in that the holding means is constantly urged to an origin position where it can come into contact with a container that has reached the end of the conveyor located in the upper stage.
[0012]
Claim 3 The described invention includes an origin position detecting means for detecting that the holding means is at the origin position.
[0013]
Claim 4 The described invention is characterized in that the drop control means can be controlled to operate or stop.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
In the dissolution apparatus according to the present embodiment, a powdery A agent not containing sodium bicarbonate and a powdery B agent made of sodium bicarbonate are dissolved in diluted water, and the solution is mixed to be concentrated. It is arranged in a concentrated liquid production apparatus for producing a liquid. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the concentrated liquid production apparatus mainly includes a storage device 1, a transfer device 2, a dissolution device 3, and a volume reduction device 4.
[0015]
Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the container A includes a substantially cylindrical body A3 having a bottom surface A4, and a neck A2 having an opening A1 at one end and continuously reduced in diameter from the body A3. It consists of the resin integral molded product comprised, and the film-like seal | sticker Aa for sealing the A agent accommodated in trunk | drum A3 is affixed on opening part A1. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the container B which accommodates B agent is the body B3 (from trunk | drum A3) which has neck part B2 in which the opening part B1 was formed in the end, and the bottom face B4 similarly to the container A. The seal Ba is pasted on the opening B1.
[0016]
The container device 1 is predetermined in advance so that the supply of the containers A and B to the transfer device 2 and the melting device 3 constituting the post-process is not interrupted even if the workers carry in the containers A and B temporarily. A quantity of containers A and B are accommodated, and the accommodated containers A and B are configured to be carried out at a necessary time interval in a subsequent process.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 5, the storage device 1 has a plurality of loading units 1a and 1b that carry containers A and B in a horizontal state, and a plurality of containers A and B that are loaded from the loading units 1a and 1b. The storage portions 1c and 1d that are accommodated over the steps, the unloading portions 1e and 1f that carry out the containers A and B in the order of being accommodated in the accommodation portions 1c and 1d, and the stages of the accommodation portions 1c and 1d, respectively. It is mainly composed of the belt conveyors 5a to 5d, 6a and 6b provided, and guide means 13 which is also a chain conveyor.
[0018]
The belt conveyors 5a to 5d, 6a, and 6b move to the unloading section 1e or 1f side while placing the containers A or B loaded from the loading section 1a or 1b. As shown in FIG. A pair of belts 37 are suspended between the shaft 35 and the driven shaft 36. When the drive shaft 35 is rotated by driving the motor 38, the conveyance surface of the belt 37 moves in the conveyance direction, and the container A or B placed on the conveyance surface is conveyed. In the figure, the conveying direction of the container A or B is from left to right, with the right end forming the start end 39 of the belt conveyor and the left end forming the end 40 of the belt conveyor.
[0019]
The upper belt conveyor and the lower belt conveyor are arranged so as to be in the opposite conveying directions. Specifically, in FIG. 5, the belt conveyors 5a, 5c and 6a are in the right conveying direction, the belt conveyor. 5b, 5d, and 6b are left-facing conveyance directions. Thereby, the container A carried in from the carrying-in part 1b is conveyed to the terminal end 40 of the belt conveyor 5a, falls from there to the lower belt conveyor 5b, and is similarly conveyed sequentially over the belt conveyors 5c and 5d. Then, it reaches the carry-out part 1f. Of course, the container B carried in from the carry-in part 1a is similarly transported to the terminal end 40 of the belt conveyor 6a, dropped from there onto the lower belt conveyor 6b, and then reaches the carry-out part 1e by the belt conveyor 6b. Become.
[0020]
Here, a drop control means 41 is provided at each end 40 of the belt conveyor disposed in each stage of the storage device 1. The drop control means 41 is for holding the container A or B reaching the terminal end 40 and dropping it onto a belt conveyor located at the lower stage thereof, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. It mainly comprises a guide pin 43 as a holding means, a one-way clutch 44, a micro switch 45 as an origin position detecting means, and a coil spring 46.
[0021]
The rotor 42 is formed of a cylindrical member attached to the drive shaft 35 of the belt conveyor, and is disposed so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 35. The rotor 42 switches between an operation that rotates together with the drive shaft 35 and an operation that does not follow the drive shaft 35 (that is, a state where the rotor 42 stops even if the drive shaft 35 rotates) by the function of the one-way clutch 44 described later. It is configured.
[0022]
A one-way clutch 44 is interposed between the rotor 42 and the drive shaft 35. More specifically, a sliding ring (not shown) is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 35, and the one-way clutch 44 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the rotor 42. The sliding ring and the one-way clutch 44 are always connected. It is in a contact state. The one-way clutch 44 is disposed so as to allow relative rotation of the drive shaft 35 with respect to the rotor 42, but not allow relative rotation of the rotor 42 with respect to the drive shaft 35.
[0023]
That is, in a state where no rotational force is applied to the rotor 42, relative rotation of the drive shaft 35 with respect to the rotor 42 is allowed, so that the rotor 42 is in a free state and is driven by the motor 38. While only 35 rotates (the rotor 42 is in a stopped state), the container A or B comes into contact with the guide pin 43 so that a rotational force is applied to the rotor 42 and the rotor 42 tries to rotate faster than the drive shaft 35. Then, since the relative rotation of the rotor 42 with respect to the drive shaft 35 is not allowed, the rotor 42 is connected to the drive shaft 35 and together with the drive shaft 35 (that is, at the same rotational speed as the drive shaft 35). It will rotate.
[0024]
The guide pin 43 is composed of a pair of left and right pin-shaped members protruding from the rotor 42, and can be held in contact with the container A or B reaching the end 40 of the belt conveyor. Specifically, when the container A or B flowing on the belt conveyor located in the upper stage reaches the end 40, the side surface of the container A or B comes into contact with the guide pin 43, but the container A or B is It further flows by the driving force of the belt conveyor and applies a pressing force to the guide pins 43.
[0025]
With this pressing force, a rotational force is applied to the rotor 42. In this state, as described above, the rotor 42 is connected to the drive shaft 35 and rotates at the rotational speed of the drive shaft 35. Become. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the container A or B comes into contact with the guide pin 43 of the rotor 42 at the origin position, the rotor 42 is connected to the drive shaft 35 while the container A or B is held by the guide pin 43. Since the container rotates at the number of rotations (see FIG. 9), free fall of the container A or B is avoided, and the container A or B is gently dropped onto the lower belt conveyor as the drive shaft 35 rotates.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 10, the container A or B is guided by a guide plate 47 disposed at the start end 39 of the belt conveyor located at the lower stage in the process of dropping onto the belt conveyor located at the lower stage. In such a state, the container A or B slides along the guide surface of the guide plate 47. However, since the guide pin 43 supports the container A or B, the lower stage is surely not overrun. To the belt conveyor (see FIG. 11).
[0027]
Thereafter, when the container A or B is transported by the lower belt conveyor, the pressing force applied to the guide pin 43 disappears, and the rotor 42 reversely rotates by the biasing force of the coil spring 46 to return to the origin position. Become. As described above, since the guide pin 43 is constantly urged to the origin position by the coil spring 46, the guide pin 43 after being dropped to the lower stage while holding the container A or B is directly returned to the origin position. Then it can wait to hold the container A or B to be dropped.
[0028]
Further, the drop control means 41 is provided with a micro switch 45 for detecting a state in which the guide pin 43 is at the origin position. On the other hand, a detection pin 42a projects from the side surface of the rotor 42, and the detection pin 42a is configured to turn on the micro switch 45 in a state where the guide pin 43 is at the origin position (FIG. 8). .
[0029]
Thereby, in the state where the micro switch 45 is turned on, it can be detected that the guide pin 43 is at the origin position, and whether or not the container A or B is accommodated in the position extending from the terminal end 40 to the lower stage in the upper belt conveyor. Since it can discriminate | determine, the accommodation condition of the container A or B in the accommodating part 1c or 1d can be grasped | ascertained. Note that other general-purpose detection means may be used instead of the microswitch 45. In this case, a non-contact type sensor can be used in addition to the contact type sensor as in the present embodiment.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, the guide pin 43 is formed to hold the container. However, as long as the container can be dropped onto the belt conveyor located at the lower stage while holding the container, the guide pin 43 has another configuration (for example, from the rotor 42). A projecting plate-like or net-like one).
[0031]
The delivery means 7 is disposed at the terminal end of the accommodating portion 1d in the lowermost belt conveyor 5d (that is, near the boundary with the carry-out portion 1f), and sends out the containers A one by one to the carry-out portion 1f. As shown in the figure, there are four blades 9a radially, and these blades 9a can be rotated around the shaft 15 so that the blades 9a alternately protrude on the placement surface of the belt conveyor 5d, and the shaft 15 is interposed. And a ratchet mechanism 14 that is coupled to the blade member 9 and permits or restricts the rotation of the blade member 9.
[0032]
The ratchet mechanism 14 is fixed to the shaft 15 and has a rotary 14a in which a claw portion 14aa is formed at a position corresponding to the blade 9a of the blade member 9 on the outer peripheral surface, and is rocked so as to be locked or separated from the claw portion 14aa. The ratchet 14b includes a movable ratchet 14b, and one of the blades 9a of the blade member 9 protrudes on the placement surface of the belt conveyor 5a. At the same time, the ratchet 14b is configured to swing in a direction away from the claw portion 14aa to allow the rotation when the container A is delivered to the carry-out portion 1f.
[0033]
As a result, when the latching mechanism 14 is released by the delivery signal or the like and the blade member 9 is rotated by a quarter, the first container A in the accommodating portion 1d is delivered to the carry-out portion 1f, while the subsequent Since the container A is controlled to be unloaded by the next protruding blade 9a, the container A can be sent to the unloading portion 1f one by one. The container A sent to the carry-out portion 1f is restricted from further movement by the stopper S and waits at a predetermined position.
[0034]
The above is the description of the delivery means 7 for the container A, but the delivery means 8 for the container B has the same configuration. Note that the distance between the upper belt conveyor and the lower belt conveyor is substantially equal to the outer dimensions of the container A or B, and the upper and lower surfaces of the container A or B moved by the lower belt conveyor are sandwiched between them. It is configured to be.
[0035]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transfer device 2 places the containers A and B that are sent out by the sending means 7 and 8 of the storage device 1 and stand by at the carry-out portions 1f and 1e, and dissolves them. As shown in FIG. 13, a container A recess 10a for placing the container A while positioning it and a container B recess 10b for placing the container B while positioning the container A are formed. Two claws 10 (the other one is arranged on the back side of the paper), a horizontal guide 11 for moving the claws 10 in a horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface), the horizontal guide 11 and It is comprised from the vertical guide 12 which guides and moves the nail | claw 10 to a perpendicular direction (the same figure up-down direction).
[0036]
And the nail | claw 10 is previously located in the lowest end of the vertical guide 12, and after the container A and the container B are sent out one by one to the carrying-out part 1f and 1e by the delivery means 7 and 8, respectively, First, the container A is placed on the container A recess 10a (see FIG. 13). When the claw 10 is lifted as it is, the container B waiting at the carry-out part 1e can be placed on the container B recess 10b, as shown in FIG. It will be mounted on each end side.
[0037]
In this state, the claw 10 is guided by the horizontal guide 11 and moved in the horizontal direction with respect to the floor surface, and the neck portions A2 and B2 of the containers A and B are placed on the lower clamping member 32 of the melting device 3, and The trunk portions A3 and B3 are placed on the placement member 34. The dissolution apparatus 3 is for diluting the A agent and the B agent in the containers A and B with pure water or the like to produce a concentrated liquid having a predetermined concentration. As shown in FIGS. 15 to 18, the lower clamping member 32, the upper clamping member 33, the mounting member 34, the connecting means 16, the shaft 18, and the like.
[0038]
The mounting member 34 and the lower clamping member 32 are connected by a frame F1 and are separated by a predetermined dimension, and the bottom surfaces A4 and B4 of the barrels A3 and B3 of the containers A and B are formed in the recesses formed in the mounting member 34. The vicinity is supported, and the necks A2 and B2 of the containers A and B are supported by the recesses 32a and 13b formed in the lower clamping member 32.
[0039]
The upper holding member 33 is formed with recesses 33a and 33b at predetermined positions so as to match the recesses 32a and 13b of the lower holding member 32 and to hold the necks A2 and B2 of the containers A and B, respectively. The upper clamping member 33 is formed at a predetermined position of the frame F2, and the frame F2 is rotatable with respect to the frame F1 about the rotation shaft 19. That is, when the frame F2 rotates about the rotation shaft 19, the upper clamping member 33 is also interlocked and separated from the lower clamping member 32, so that the containers A and B are placed from the claw 10 in such a separated state. .
[0040]
Further, the frame F2 is connected and fixed to a hollow shaft 18 having a rotation shaft 19 therein, and the shaft 18 is rotated by a motor (not shown), thereby rotating the frame F2 and moving the upper clamping member 33. The lower holding member 32 is configured to abut (state shown in FIG. 18) or separate (state shown in FIG. 17). In addition, since the rotational force by the shaft 18 is not directly transmitted to the frame F1, the mounting member 34 and the lower side are not affected even if the shaft 18 is rotated unless the pin 20 described later is engaged. The clamping member 32 does not rotate.
[0041]
The connecting means 16 is liquid-tightly connected to the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B held by the mounting member 34 and the lower clamping member 32, and is diluted water (for dissolving the A agent and the B agent ( (Liquid for dissolution) is injected and the solution in the containers A and B is derived. As shown in FIG. 15, the connecting means 16 is disposed on a plate member 21 connected to the frame F <b> 2, and the base end of the plate member 21 is connected to an operating rod 17 a extending from the cylinder 17. Therefore, when the cylinder 17 is driven to reduce the length of the actuating rod 17a, the plate material 21 moves from the state shown in the figure, and the connecting means 16 comes into contact with the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B. Become.
[0042]
Here, a pin 20 that can be inserted into the hole 22a of the stay 22 extended from the lower holding member 32 and the hole 33c formed in the upper holding member 33 is formed in the approximate center of the plate member 21; When the plate member 21 comes close to the lower holding member 32 and the upper holding member 33, as shown in FIG. 19, the pin 20 is inserted into the holes 22a and 33c, and the lower holding member 32 and the upper holding member 33 are engaged. It is configured to stop.
[0043]
When the shaft 18 is rotated in such a locked state, the rotational force is transmitted from the frame F1 to the frame F2, and these frames F1 and F2 rotate integrally, so that the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B are rotated. The containers A and B can be rotated in a direction in which is directed upward or downward. Thus, in the process of connecting the connecting means 16 to the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B, the lower holding member 32 and the upper holding member 33 are connected, and the frames F1 and F2 of the melting apparatus are integrated. Therefore, the apparatus configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where a separate connecting means is provided.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21, the connecting means 16 is provided with an injection port 16a formed in the approximate center of the casing for injecting water into the container A or B and a solution obtained in the container A or B. It has a lead-out port 16b for lead-out. A spiral groove 16aa is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the injection port 16a, and the injected water is configured to generate a swirling flow in the container A or B. Thereby, water can be spread also to A agent or B agent adhering to the inner wall etc. of container A or B, and it can melt | dissolve efficiently with a simple structure. In place of the spiral groove 16aa, a spirally formed ridge (projected with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the injection port 16a) or a plurality of nozzles are directed in different directions. It may be installed.
[0045]
On the other hand, the outlet 16b communicates with an annular recess 16c formed on the outer periphery of the inlet 16a via a communication hole 16d, and the solution that has reached the annular recess 16c flows through the communication hole 16d. However, it is configured to be derived from the outlet 16b. Further, as shown in FIG. 22, three blades 30 (opening means) are fixed (fixed in a state surrounding three sides of the injection port 16a) to the outer rib forming the recess 16c, and the container A Or it is comprised so that the seal | sticker Aa or Ba stuck on opening part A1, B1 of B may be excised and opened.
[0046]
Since the cutting tool 30 protrudes to the side where the containers A and B are disposed from the inlet 16a and the outlet 16b (recess 16c) in the connecting means 16, the seals Aa and Ba are connected when the connecting means 16 is connected. After the opening of the water, the injection of the water and the derivation of the solution are performed, so that the solution can be prevented from being injected while the seals Aa and Ba are not opened, and a more reliable dissolution operation can be performed. In addition, since the blade tool 30 is in a state surrounding three sides of the injection port 16a, it is possible to avoid the seals Aa and Ba excised at the time of opening from falling into the containers A and B.
[0047]
In addition, an annular packing 31 is formed on the connection surface of the connection means 16 with the container A or B, and water or a solution is in close contact with the edges of the openings A1 and B1 in the container A or B. Leakage from the connecting portion with the connecting means 16 is prevented. Such packing 18 is preferably made of a gel-like material or a soft rubber material. In that case, due to elastic deformation, the height of the containers A and B depending on the squeezed state when the containers A and B are molded or sealed. The dimensional error (product variation) in the direction can be effectively absorbed.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 23, the inlet 16a is connected to the bottom surface of the dissolution tank T1 provided separately via a flexible tube (water supply line L1), and the outlet 16b is the upper surface of the dissolution tank T1. And a flexible tube (lead-out line L2). The water supply line L1 is provided with a pump P. The water or the solution in the water supply line L1 is pumped and the water or the solution is circulated between the dissolution tank T1 and the containers A and B. Configured to get. Further, the symbol Y shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 24 indicates an electromagnetic valve for sending air into the dissolution tank T1, and is controlled so as to be opened when water is supplied to the dissolution tank T1 and closed during circulation described below. Has been.
[0049]
Thus, in order to perform the dissolving operation of the agent A and the agent B, water is supplied from the water supply source W into the dissolution tank T1, and the water is led to the connecting means 16 via the water supply line L1, and the container A or While injected into B, the injected water flows through the container A or B, and then is led out from the outlet 16b and led again to the dissolving tank T1 through the outlet line L2. That is, water (dissolved solution) is circulated between the dissolution tank T1 and the container A or B and dissolved until a predetermined concentration is reached.
[0050]
The dissolution tank T1 is connected to the compressor C, and is configured to supply air into the container A or B through the air layer in the dissolution tank T1. That is, as shown in FIG. 24, the containers A and B are inverted and the openings A1 and B1 are directed downward (at this time, the pump P is stopped and water or a solution flows through the water supply line L1. In this state, the compressor C is driven so that air is supplied from the dissolution tank T1 via the lead-out line L2, so that air can be fed into the containers A and B from the lead-out port 16b.
[0051]
By sending in air, the residual dissolved solution remaining in the container A or B can be easily led out from the injection port 16a, and the residual dissolved solution can be quickly and reliably discharged outside the container (that is, in the storage tank T2). Can be discharged. Here, since the storage tank T2 is installed below the containers A and B, the residual dissolved liquid derived by feeding air is guided to the storage tank T2 instead of the dissolution tank T1. In this embodiment, the residual dissolved solution is derived from the inlet 16a while injecting air from the outlet 16b. However, the residual dissolved solution is derived from the outlet 16b while injecting air from the inlet 16a. You may comprise.
[0052]
The volume reduction device 4 cuts the empty containers A and B after the residual dissolved solution is discharged and reduces the volume thereof to facilitate disposal, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26. It is mainly comprised from the elongate long members 23a-23d, the guide plate 24, the pusher 25, the cutting blade 26 for bottom surfaces, and the cutting blade 27 for side surfaces.
[0053]
The mounting long members 23a and 23b are formed of cylindrical members for mounting the container A, and the container A can be mounted on these separated portions. The mounting long members 23a and 23b are formed with gaps 23aa, 23ab and 23ba, 23bb through which the pair of claws 10 (see FIGS. 13 and 14) can pass in the vertical direction. Is configured to place the container A on the placing long members 23a and 23b by passing through the gaps 23aa, 23ab, 23ba and 23bb while the container A is placed. Similarly, the placing long members 23c and 23d can place the container B in these gaps, and gaps 23ca and 23cb that can pass through the claws 10 are formed. In addition, the elongate member used here may be comprised from the member of another shape, such as a hollow pipe and a board | plate material.
[0054]
The guide plate 24 is made of a plate material in which guide holes 24a and 24b having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the container A or the container B are formed. The guide plate 24 is erected on the base end side (left end side in FIG. 26) of the mounting long members 23a to 23d, and guide holes 24a and B are pressed against the containers A and B pressed by a pusher 25 described later. It is configured to guide while passing through 24b.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 25, the pusher 25 is formed with a container A push portion 25a that can push the opening A1 of the container A and a container B push portion 25b that can push the opening B1 of the container B. The container A and the container B are moved to the guide plate 24 side by sliding in the arrow direction. The container A push part 25a and the container B push part 25b are respectively formed with grooves 28 (see FIG. 26) for avoiding interference with a side cutting blade 27 described later.
[0056]
The bottom cutting blade 26 is a bent blade for cutting off the bottom surfaces A4 and B4 side of the container A on the mounting long members 23a and 23b and the container B on the mounting long members c and 23d. And can swing around the shaft 26a. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 25, when the bottom cutting blade 26 swings about the shaft 26a, the blade portion of the bottom cutting blade 26 cuts the bottom surfaces A4 and B4 side of the containers A and B, and the cutting is performed. The bottom surfaces A4 and B4 thus formed can be dropped.
[0057]
The side cutting blade 27 is composed of blades arranged facing the guide holes 24a and 24b, respectively, and cuts the opposing side surfaces of the container A and the container B guided into the guide holes 24a and 24b by the pusher 25, respectively. To do. Behind the side cutting blade 27 (on the left side in FIG. 26), a partition plate 29 extends in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the floor surface, and the upper one cut by the side cutting blade 27 is placed. It is configured so that it can be placed. The lower container A and the container B cut by the side cutting blade 27 are accommodated below the partition plate 29.
[0058]
According to the volume reducing device 4, after the containers A and B transported from the melting device 3 by the claws 10 are placed on the placing long members 23 a to 23 d, the bottom cutting blade 26 first swings. Then, the bottom surfaces A4 and B4 side of the container A and the container B are excised. Thereafter, the pusher 25 slides to slide the container A and the container B to pass through the guide holes 24a and 24b. In the passing process, the opposite side surfaces of the container A and the container B are cut by the side cutting blade 27. The upper one is accommodated on the partition plate 29 and the lower one is accommodated below the partition plate 29.
[0059]
Next, the operation of the concentrated liquid production apparatus having the above configuration will be described.
In advance, the containers A and B are loaded side by side from the loading sections 1a and 1b, and a plurality of containers A and containers B are stored in the storage sections 1c and 1d. A specific description will be given of the part that accommodates the container A (the same applies to the part that accommodates the container B). The container A carried into the carry-in portion 1b in the horizontal state has the bottom surface A4 formed by the uppermost guide means 13. While being guided, the belt is conveyed to the dropping control means 41 at the end (right end in FIG. 5) by the belt conveyor 5a.
[0060]
In this drop control means 41, no rotational force is applied to the guide pins 43 until the container A reaches the end, so that even if the drive shaft 35 of the belt conveyor 5a is rotating, the rotor 42 and the guide pins 43 When the container A reaches the end and the guide pin 43 is pressed when the container A is stopped (idle state), a rotational force is applied to the rotor 42, so that the container A is held by the guide pin 43. The rotor 42 rotates at the same rotational speed as the drive shaft 35. At this time, the rotor 42 rotates against the urging force of the coil spring 46, and the detection pin 42a formed on the side surface is separated from the microswitch 45 and turned off.
[0061]
The container A held by the guide pins 43 slowly falls in the same manner as the rotational speed of the drive shaft 35 while being guided by the guide plate 47 until reaching the belt conveyor 5b located at the lower stage. Thereby, compared with what makes it fall naturally, the impact at the time of dropping can be reduced remarkably, and it can avoid that the container A deform | transforms and breaks.
[0062]
When the container A starts to flow on the belt conveyor 5b, the guide pin 43 returns to the origin position by the urging force of the coil spring 46, and the micro switch 45 is turned on. Thereby, it can detect that the guide pin 43 exists in an origin position, and can grasp | ascertain the accommodation condition of the container A in the position. That is, if the microswitch 45 is in the OFF state for a predetermined time or more, it can be seen that the container A is filled to at least the position (in this case, the position straddling the belt conveyors 5a to 5b).
[0063]
Thereafter, the same movement is sequentially performed toward the lower stage, and the container A that has dropped to the start end (the right end in the figure) of the lowermost belt conveyor 5d is further moved by the blade 9a of the blade member 9 that the delivery means 7 constitutes. Movement is restricted. Thereafter, the subsequent container A is also moved in the same manner, and is accommodated in the accommodating portion 1d in the order of loading from the loading portion 1b. Thus, the accommodation work by the accommodation device 1 is completed.
[0064]
The blades 9 of the delivery means 7 and 8 are rotated, so that the containers A and B sent out one by one to the carry-out portions 1e and 1f are moved along the vertical guide 12 by the claws 10 waiting at the descending end. Are raised and placed on the claws 10 respectively. The claw 10 reaches the rising end in a state where the containers A and B are placed, and then moves along the vertical guide 12 so that the container A spans the placement member 34 and the lower clamping member 32 of the melting device 3. , B are placed.
[0065]
In the melting apparatus 3 that has been waiting, the frame F2 is in the state shown in FIG. 17, and the upper part of the frame F1 is open, so that the containers A and B are sandwiched between the mounting member 34 and the lower side. It is placed on the member 32 smoothly. After the containers A and B are transferred to the melting device 3, the claw 10 waits below the placement member 34 and the lower clamping member 32.
[0066]
Thereafter, the shaft 18 rotates and the frame F2 rotates, and the state shown in FIG. 17 is changed to the state shown in FIG. 18, so that the opening side neck portions A2 and B2 of the containers A and B are sandwiched. Then, by driving the cylinder 17 and moving the plate material 21 to the upper clamping member 33 and the lower clamping member 32 side, the connecting means 16 is connected to the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B, and the pin 20 is The frames F1 and F2 are connected by inserting the holes 22c and 33c and locking the lower holding member 32 and the upper holding member 33 together.
[0067]
On the other hand, when the connecting means 16 is connected to the containers A and B, the seals Aa and Ba of the containers A and B are opened by the cutting tool 30, and then the packing 31 is liquid-tight with the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B. Abutted. Then, by rotating the shaft 18 by a quarter in the direction opposite to the previous rotation, the frames F1 and F2 are integrally rotated, and the openings A1 and B1 of the held containers A and B are directed upward.
[0068]
In this state, dilution water is supplied from the water supply source W shown in FIG. 23 into the dissolution tank T1, and the pump P is driven to flow the dilution water in the dissolution tank T1 to the water supply line L1. Thereby, the dilution water is injected into the containers A and B from the injection port 16a, and the solution overflowing from the openings A1 and B1 reaches the outlet 16b through the recess 16c and the insertion hole 16d. The dissolving liquid flows through the outlet line L2 through the outlet 16b and is supplied again into the dissolving tank T1. In this way, the dissolving liquid is circulated between the dissolving tank T1 and the containers A and B so that the dissolving liquid has a predetermined concentration.
[0069]
When a separate concentration sensor (not shown) or the like recognizes that the dissolved solution has reached a predetermined concentration due to such circulation, the pump P is stopped and the circulating operation of the dissolved solution is stopped. In this state, the shafts 18 are rotated halfway to rotate the frames F1 and F2, and the containers A and B are inverted until the openings A1 and B1 of the containers A and B face downward (state shown in FIG. 24). Then, by driving the compressor C, air is sent into the containers A and B through the dissolution tank T1 and the lead-out line L2.
[0070]
By sending in air, it is possible to expedite the residual dissolved solution in the containers A and B being led out to the storage tank T2 via the water supply line L1. That is, since the storage tank T2 is installed below the containers A and B, if the air layer of the dissolution tank T1 is opened, the residual dissolved liquid in the containers A and B is stored by gravity without sending air. Although it leads to T2, it is preferable to send air to the storage tank T2 because the remaining dissolved solution can be led out to the storage tank T2 quickly and reliably. Further, air may be sent from the inlet 6a of the connecting means 6 through a separate line, and the residual dissolved solution may be discharged from the outlet 16b.
[0071]
After recognizing that most of the residual solution in the containers A and B is led out to the storage tank T2, the shaft 18 is rotated by a predetermined angle a few times to shake the frames F1 and F2 holding the containers A and B. Move. When the frames F1 and F2 are swung in this way, the containers A and B are shaken with the openings A1 and B1 facing downward, and the residual solution remaining on the inner walls of the containers A and B is also retained. Since it can collect and discharge | emit to a part of bottom face A4 and B4, a residual solution can be discharged | emitted more reliably.
[0072]
Next, after rotating the shaft 18 to return the frames F1 and F2 to the initial state, the claw 10 that has been waiting under the melting apparatus 3 is raised, and the empty containers A and B are placed again, The empty containers A and B are moved along the guides 11 and the vertical guides 12, and are transferred onto the placing long members 23 a to 23 d of the volume reducing device 4. The subsequent volume reduction operation is as described.
[0073]
Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rotor 42 and the guide pin 43 of the storage device can be controlled to rotate or stop, and the container can be removed from the upper conveyor at a desired timing. You may make it fall to a lower stage. In such a case, for example, when the container is dropped from the belt conveyor located in the upper stage to the lower stage, intermittent feeding at a desired interval can be easily performed.
[0074]
In this embodiment, the drive shaft 35 is located at the end 40 of the belt conveyor and the drop control means 41 is provided on the drive shaft 35. However, the driven shaft 36 is provided at the end 40 of the belt conveyor. If it is located, as shown in FIG. 27, a one-way clutch 44, a rotor 42, and a guide pin 43 constituting the drop control means 41 may be formed on the driven shaft 36. In this figure, the container is conveyed from the drive shaft 35 side to the driven shaft 36 side by the belt 37 and is sent to the lower belt conveyor while being held by the guide pins 43.
[0075]
Furthermore, instead of the belt conveyor of the storage device, another conveyor (such as a chain conveyor or a roller conveyor) may be used, and the container may be held when the container is dropped from the end of the various conveyors to the lower stage. The drop control means may have another form as long as it holds the container that has reached the end of the conveyor and drops it onto the conveyor located in the lower stage.
[0076]
Furthermore, the container to be accommodated is not limited to the one containing the agent A and the agent B as in the present embodiment, and may contain other contents as long as it has an opening at one end. Good. The storage device 1, the dissolution device 3, and the volume reduction device 4 may be separate and independent devices and may be used alone.
[0077]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the container accommodates the container over a plurality of upper and lower stages, the container accommodation efficiency can be improved, and the drop control means holds the container that has reached the end. Since it is dropped on the conveyor located in the lower stage, the impact can be reduced when the container is dropped from the upper stage to the lower stage in the storage section.
[0078]
Also, Claim 1 According to the invention, the container that has reached the end of the upper conveyor falls on the lower conveyor at the rotational speed of the drive shaft or the driven shaft while being held by the holding means. The impact at the time of dropping the container can be reduced.
[0079]
Claim 2 According to the invention, since the holding means is always urged to the origin position where it can come into contact with the container reaching the end of the conveyor located in the upper stage, the holding means after dropping the lower stage while holding the container is The container to be returned to the origin position and then dropped can be held.
[0080]
Claim 3 According to the invention, since the origin position detecting means for detecting that the holding means is at the origin position is provided, it is possible to determine whether or not the container is accommodated at a position extending from the terminal end to the lower stage in the upper conveyor. The accommodation situation of the container in the accommodation unit can be grasped.
[0081]
Claim 4 According to the invention, since the drop control means can be controlled to operate or stop, the containers can be dropped from the upper conveyor to the lower stage at a desired timing, for example, intermittent feeding at a desired interval can be easily performed. Can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a concentrated liquid production apparatus to which an accommodation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a left side view showing a concentrated liquid production apparatus to which a storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a container that is applied to the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention and that stores the agent A.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a container that is applied to a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention and that stores a B agent.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a top view showing a belt conveyor in the accommodation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.
8 is a view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7 and shows a state in which the guide pin in the drop control device is at the origin position.
FIG. 9 is a view showing a process in which a guide pin is rotating in the fall control device.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a process in which a guide pin is rotating in the fall control device.
FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which the guide pin reaches the end of rotation in the drop control device.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing delivery means in the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a claw (a state where a container A is placed) provided in a transfer device in a concentrated liquid production apparatus to which a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a claw (a state in which the container A and the container B are placed) provided in the transfer device in the concentrated liquid production apparatus to which the storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 15 is a top view showing a dissolution apparatus in a concentrated liquid production apparatus to which a storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an upper clamping member and a lower clamping member of a dissolution apparatus in a concentrated liquid production apparatus to which a container according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied (cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15).
FIG. 17 is a left side view showing a state in which a frame F2 of a dissolution apparatus is opened in a concentrated liquid production apparatus to which a storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 18 is a left side view showing a state in which the frame F2 of the dissolving device is closed in the concentrated liquid production apparatus to which the containing device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 19 is an enlarged schematic view showing a state in which the frames F1 and F2 of the dissolving apparatus are connected in the concentrated liquid production apparatus to which the containing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 20 is a bottom view showing connecting means of a dissolution apparatus in a concentrated liquid production apparatus to which a storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the connection means of the dissolution apparatus in the concentrated liquid production apparatus to which the storage apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 22 is a schematic view showing a cutting tool (opening means) provided in a connecting means of a dissolving device in a concentrated liquid production apparatus to which a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a connection state between the dissolution tank and the storage tank (when the opening of the container faces upward) in the dissolution apparatus of the concentrated liquid production apparatus to which the storage apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 24 is a schematic view showing a connection state between the dissolution tank and the storage tank (when the opening of the container faces downward) in the dissolution apparatus of the concentrated liquid production apparatus to which the storage apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 25 is a schematic view showing a volume reducing device disposed in a concentrated liquid production apparatus to which a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 26 is a left side view showing a volume reducing device disposed in a concentrated liquid production apparatus to which a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a belt conveyor and a drop control means formed on its driven shaft in a storage device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Container
1a, 1b ... carry-in part
1c, 1d ... accommodating portion
1e, 1f ... Unloading part
2 ... Transfer device
3. Dissolving device
4 ... Volume reduction device
5a-5d, 6a, 6b ... belt conveyor
7, 8 ... Delivery means
9 ... Blade member
10 ... nail
11 ... Horizontal guide
12 ... Vertical guide
13 ... Guide means
14 ... Ratchet mechanism
15 ... Shaft
16: Connection means
16a ... Inlet
16b ... outlet
17 ... Cylinder
18 ... Shaft
19 ... Rotating shaft
20 ... pin
21 ... Board material
22 ... Stay
23a-23d: Long member for placement
24 ... Guide plate
25 ... Pusher
26 ... Bottom cutting blade
27 ... Side cutting blade
28 ... Groove
29 ... Partition plate
30 ... Blade (opening means)
31 ... Packing
32 ... Lower clamping member
33 ... Upper clamping member
34. Mounting member
35 ... Drive shaft
36 ... driven shaft
37 ... Belt
38 ... Motor
39 ... Start of belt conveyor
40 ... the end of the belt conveyor
41. Drop control means
42 ... Rotor
43 ... Guide pin (holding means)
44. One-way clutch
45 ... Micro switch (origin position detection means)
46 ... Coil spring
47 ... Guide board
A, B ... Container
A1, B1 ... opening
Aa, Ba ... Seal
C ... Compressor
T1 ... Melting tank
T2 ... Reservoir
L1 ... Water supply line
L2: Derived line
F1, F2 ... Frame
S ... Stopper

Claims (4)

A carry-in section for carrying in a container containing the contents;
An accommodating part for accommodating the container carried in from the carry-in part over a plurality of upper and lower stages;
An unloading section for unloading the container in the order of being housed in the housing section;
A conveyor that is disposed at each stage of the storage unit and moves to the unloading unit side while placing containers loaded from the loading unit;
A container storage device that drops containers from the terminal end of the conveyor located in the upper stage to the conveyor located in the lower stage in the process of moving from the carry-in part to the carry-out part while being accommodated in the storage part. ,
It is disposed at the end of the conveyor located in the upper stage, and comprises drop control means for holding the container reaching the end and dropping it onto the conveyor located in the lower stage,
The fall control means is
A rotor attached to the drive shaft or driven shaft at the end of the conveyor located in the upper stage;
Holding means formed on the rotor and capable of being held in contact with a container reaching the end of the conveyor;
A one-way clutch interposed between the rotor and the drive shaft or driven shaft of the conveyor;
And the one-way clutch is disposed so as to allow relative rotation of the drive shaft or driven shaft with respect to the rotor and not allow relative rotation of the rotor with respect to the drive shaft or drive shaft. A container storage device characterized by the above . It said holding means accommodating device of a container according to claim 1, characterized in that it is constantly urged in the container and in contact may origin position reaches the end of the conveyor located at the upper stage. 3. The container receiving apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an origin position detecting means for detecting that the holding means is at the origin position. The container storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the drop control means can be controlled to operate or stop.

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