JP6996962B2 - Container transfer device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container transfer device that transfers a container to a film fitting position in order to fit a tubular film body into the container.

Conventionally, for example, a film fitting device for fitting a tubular heat-shrinkable film (label) around a container such as a PET bottle is known. The film fitting device sequentially cuts a long tubular film substrate folded into a sheet shape to a predetermined length to form a tubular film body, and this tubular film body is formed along the outer periphery of the mandrel. By transporting it downward, it opens in a substantially cylindrical shape. Then, by sending the tubular film body downward from the mandrel by the shot roller in such an opened state, the tubular film is continuously conveyed to the film fitting position below the mandrel at a predetermined pitch. The body is fitted from above (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-316116

As a method of sequentially transferring the container to the film fitting position where the tubular film body is fitted to the container, there is a method of intermittently transferring the container by a predetermined pitch. In such an intermittent container transfer method, the container is clamped at a predetermined pitch by a pair of clamp members, and in this state, the pair of clamp members are moved forward at a predetermined pitch to the upstream side in the container transport direction to move the container to the film fitting position. Transfer and release the container. As a result, the tubular film body opened from the film fitting device is sent out and fitted into the container which is in a stationary state at the film fitting position. After that, the container in which the tubular film body is fitted is clamped again by the pair of clamp members and transferred to the downstream side in the container transfer direction, and the next container is transferred to the film fitting position. By repeating such an operation, the tubular film body is sequentially fitted to the container.

In the container transfer device that clamps the container and intermittently transfers it by a predetermined pitch in this way, a clamp recess is formed in each of the pair of clamp members, and the container body is fitted into the clamp recess to clamp the container. be. In this case, the clamp recess may be formed as a V-shaped notch when viewed from above.

When the clamp recess is formed as a V-shaped notch, and if the outer peripheral shape of the container body is circular, the clamp position is accurately determined by contacting the edge of the V-shaped notch at two points. .. Therefore, the container can be accurately transferred to the film fitting position by intermittent transfer. Further, when the tubular film body to be fitted is a label and is labeled with, for example, a product name, the circumferential position of the label with respect to the container is not restricted if the container body is circular.

On the other hand, when the container body is non-circular such as an ellipse, the circumferential position of the label display on the container is limited, so that the rotation position of the container transferred to the film fitting position is accurately determined. If it is not in this state, the display position of the label will be uneven and the appearance of the product will be deteriorated. When the non-circular container body is clamped by the clamp recess consisting of V-shaped notches, the container surface may not be slippery due to the container material, or depending on the outer shape of the container body, the container may be clamped. The container may be transferred to the film fitting position without the rotation position being corrected. In this case, the accuracy of the container transfer position is lowered, so that the fitting operation of the tubular film body (label) may become unstable. Further, since the rotation position of the container transferred to the film fitting position also varies, the display of the label fitted on the container may deviate from the desired position in the circumferential direction.

An object of the present invention is that when a container having a body shape having a non-circular cross section is intermittently transferred to a film fitting position, the container can be transferred in a state where the transfer direction position and the rotation position of the container are accurately positioned. It is to provide a container transfer device.

The container transfer device according to the present invention is a container transfer device that intermittently transfers the container to a film fitting position where a tubular film body is fitted to a container having a non-circular body outer shape, by means of a conveyor. A stopper device that releases the container when the container is intermittently transferred while stopping the sequentially transported containers at a predetermined position, and a predetermined pitch toward the downstream side in the container transfer direction with the container clamped at the predetermined position. The container is provided with a clamp transfer device for transferring the container to the film-fitting position by repeatedly performing an intermittent transfer operation of transferring and releasing the container one by one, and the clamp transfer device includes a pair of clamp members for clamping the container. Each clamp member has a plurality of clamp recesses into which the body of the container fits when the container is clamped at predetermined pitch intervals in the container transfer direction, and the container facing edge of each clamp recess has the container. At least two rotating members that abut on the outer peripheral surface of the body of the container at the time of clamping are provided , and the mounting surface on which the container transferred to the predetermined position and the film fitting position is placed is on the bottom of the container. Opposing air suction holes are provided .

According to this configuration, since the two rotating members are provided on the opposite edge of the container of the clamp recess, the rotating member comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the container body when the container is clamped by the pair of clamp members. This makes it easier for the container to rotate in the clamp recess, and as a result, the rotation direction position and transfer direction position of the container when the container is clamped can be accurately determined regardless of the slipperiness of the container surface and the outer shape of the container body. In addition, since the bottom of the container is sucked from the air suction hole provided on the mounting surface of the container, the container can be maintained in a stable and standing state even when the clamp by the pair of clamp members is released. Therefore, the container can be transferred to a state in which the container is accurately positioned at the film fitting position, the fitting operation of the tubular film body F can be stably performed, and the display orientation of the tubular film body with respect to the container is also aligned.

Further, in the container transfer device according to the present invention, the two rotating members are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to a straight line orthogonal to the container transfer direction through the center position of the body of the container clamped in the clamp recess. It is preferable that it is.

According to this configuration, the container can be clamped by contacting the rotating members at symmetrical positions on both sides of a straight line passing through the center position of the body of the container in the clamp recess, and the clamped state of the container can be made more stable. ..

The other container transfer device according to the present invention is a container transfer device that intermittently transfers the container to a film fitting position where a tubular film body is fitted to a container having a non-circular body outer shape. A stopper device that releases the container when the container is intermittently transferred while stopping the containers sequentially conveyed by the conveyor at a predetermined position, and a stopper device that clamps the container at the predetermined position to the downstream side in the container transfer direction. The container is provided with a clamp transfer device for transferring the container to the film-fitting position by repeatedly performing an intermittent transfer operation of transferring at a predetermined pitch and releasing the clamp, and the clamp transfer device is a pair of clamp members for clamping the container. Each clamp member has a plurality of clamp recesses into which the body of the container is fitted when the container is clamped at predetermined pitch intervals in the container transfer direction, and the container facing edge of each clamp recess has the above. At least two rotating members that come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the body of the container when the container is clamped are provided, and an elevating table that moves the container up and down toward the film fitting device is provided at the film fitting position. The upper surface of the elevating table is formed to be smaller than the outer contour of the body of the container, and the elevating table moves upward from the film fitting device when the tubular film body is fitted to the container. After the tubular film body is fitted, it moves downward .

According to this configuration, the film fitting operation is performed in a state where the container placed on the elevating table smaller than the container body is brought close to the film fitting device, so that the surface of the container and the inner surface of the tubular film body are slippery. Even if the properties are not good, it is possible to prevent the tubular film body from being shallowly fitted to the container. If the surface of the container and the inner surface of the tubular film body have good slipperiness, the tubular film body fitted in the container passes through the container body and covers the upper end of the lift. However, the container is lowered by moving the elevating table downward after the film is fitted, so that the lower end position of the tubular film body is fitted so as to coincide with the lower end portion of the container. From these things, it is possible to align the height position of the tubular film body with respect to the container.

According to the container transfer device according to the present invention, when a container having a body shape having a non-circular cross section is intermittently transferred to a film fitting position, the container transfer direction position and rotation position are accurately positioned. Can be transferred.

It is a top view of the container transfer apparatus which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is (a) front view, (b) side view, and (c) top view which shows the example of the container which is transferred in the container transfer apparatus of FIG. It is a top view which shows the pair of clamp members. It is an enlarged plan view which shows the state which a roller comes into contact with the outer periphery of the body of a container. It is a figure which shows the mode that the rotation direction position of a container is corrected by contacting with a roller. (A) to (d) are diagrams showing a state in which a container having an elliptical body outer shape is transferred along the lateral direction and the angular positions where the two rollers contact the body are changed. Is. (A) to (g) are diagrams showing a state in which a container having an elliptical body outer shape is transferred along the longitudinal direction, and the angular positions of the two rollers in contact with the container body are changed. Is. (A) to (g) are states in which the angular positions of the two rollers in contact with the container body are changed when the container having a substantially square body shape is transferred along the diagonal direction. It is a figure which shows. (A) to (g) indicate the angle positions at which the two rollers contact the container body when the container having a substantially hexagonal body shape is transferred with one side surface facing the container transfer direction. It is a figure which shows each changed state. (A) to (d) are diagrams showing the operation of a pair of clamp members. It is a cross-sectional view of BB in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which a pair of clamp members includes the upper clamp part and the lower clamp part. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 11 showing the container transfer device of the second embodiment. (A) is a diagram showing a state in which the tubular film body is fitted in a desired position (normal position) in the container, and (b) is a shallow cover state in which the tubular film body is fitted in the upper part of the container. It is a figure which shows the state of being fitted. (A) is a diagram showing how the tubular film body fitted in the container rebounds on the mounting surface, and (b) shows a shallowly covered state in which the rebounded tubular film body is fitted on the upper part of the container. It is a figure which shows the state which became. (A) to (c) are diagrams showing how a tubular film body is fitted to a container in the container transfer device of the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this description, specific shapes, materials, numerical values, directions, etc. are examples for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and can be appropriately changed according to applications, purposes, specifications, and the like. Further, when a plurality of embodiments and modifications are included in the following, it is assumed from the beginning that these configurations are appropriately combined and used.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the container transfer device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. In FIG. 1, the illustration of the film fitting device for fitting the tubular film body to the container C is omitted. FIG. 2 is a front view (a), a side view (b), and a top view (c) showing an example of the container C transferred by the container transfer device 10 of FIG.

The container transfer device 10 has a function of intermittently transferring the container C conveyed by the upstream conveyor 12 to the film fitting position α. The upstream conveyor 12 is installed on the upstream side of the container transfer device 10 in the container transfer direction indicated by the arrow A. The upstream side conveyor 12 is composed of, for example, an endless belt conveyor, and can convey the container C by being continuously driven.

The upstream conveyor 12 extends linearly toward the film fitting position α set in the container transfer device 10. The film fitting position α is a position where the tubular film body F is fitted to the container C by the film fitting device 70 (see FIG. 11).

A downstream conveyor 13 is installed on the downstream side of the container transfer device 10 in the container transfer direction A. The downstream side conveyor 13 receives the film-fitted container C sent out from the container transfer device 10 and conveys it to the downstream side in the container transfer direction A. The downstream side conveyor 13 extends linearly along an extension line of the upstream side conveyor 12. The downstream side conveyor 13 is composed of, for example, an endless belt conveyor.

The container transfer device 10 includes a base 11 having a rectangular shape in a plan view. A pair of gate members 14 are installed on the base 11 and above the upstream conveyor 12. Each gate member 14 is connected to one end of an L-shaped lever 16 in a plan view. Each lever 16 is rotatably supported around a rotation shaft 17 erected on the base 11. The other end of each lever 16 is connected to the drive shaft of the air cylinder 19 via a ball joint 18.

Each gate member 14 is in a position shown by a solid line when the air cylinder 19 is inactive. At this position, each tip of the pair of gate members 14 is located above the upstream conveyor 12. Therefore, the container C that has been conveyed to the container transfer device 10 by the upstream conveyor 12 is stopped by the pair of gate members 14, and is in a state adjacent to the bead chain. In this state, since the upstream conveyor 12 is continuously driven, the upstream conveyor 12 is moving while sliding with respect to the bottom surface of the container C.

The pair of gate members 14 operate so as to return to the solid line position again after being once rotated to the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line by driving the air cylinder 19 in synchronization with the operation of the pair of clamp members described later. .. As a result, one container C located at the head (that is, the most downstream side of the container transfer direction A) among the containers C arranged in a string of beads is released. As a result, the released container C is conveyed to the downstream side by the upstream side conveyor 12. By repeating such a rotation operation at predetermined intervals, the pair of gate members 14 are separated from the container row of the beads one by one and conveyed to the container transfer device 10 by the upstream conveyor 12. To.

In the present embodiment, a pair of gate members 14 are provided, and the containers C are separated one by one from the container rows arranged in a string of beads and transported to the downstream side, but the present invention is not limited to this. do not have. For example, the container C may be conveyed to the container transfer device 10 at regular intervals by the upstream conveyor 12. In this case, the pair of gate members 14 and the mechanisms 16 to 19 for driving them can be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the container C transferred by the container transfer device 10 of the present embodiment has a body portion C1 for accommodating the contents and a cap C2. The cap C2 opens and closes an opening formed at the upper end portion of the neck portion narrowed from the upper portion of the body portion C1 so as to be openable and closable. In this embodiment, the container C has a body shape having a non-circular cross section. More specifically, the body portion C1 of the container C has a substantially elliptical outer peripheral shape as shown in FIG. 2 (c). Further, in the center of the bottom surface of the container C, a recess C3 forming a convex shape toward the inside of the body portion C1 is formed. In the following, with respect to the body portion C1 of the container C, the major axis direction may be referred to as "longitudinal direction" and the minor axis direction may be referred to as "minor direction".

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the container transfer device 10 of the present embodiment includes a stopper device 20 and a clamp transfer device 30 installed on the base 11.

The stopper device 20 includes a pair of stopper members 20a and 20b arranged above the end of the upstream conveyor 12. Each of the stopper members 20a and 20b is composed of, for example, a resin member. The stopper members 20a and 20b move back and forth between the solid line position retracted from the upper position of the upstream conveyor 12 and the broken line position protruding above the upstream conveyor. Such an advance / retreat operation of the stopper members 20a and 20b can be realized by, for example, a drive mechanism such as a cam mechanism or an air cylinder.

In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the container C having a substantially elliptical body outer peripheral shape is transferred along the lateral direction by the upstream conveyor 12 and the container transfer device 10. Therefore, corresponding to the outer peripheral shape of the body of the container C, each of the stopper members 20a and 20b has a curved shape in which the side edge of the tip portion faces the upstream side (left side in FIG. 1) in the container transfer direction A. Is formed in. As a result, when the stopper members 20a and 20b move forward and the tip portion abuts on the upper portion of the container C, the stopper members 20a and 20b come into contact with each other along the outer peripheral surface of the body portion C1 of the container C, and the container C is stopped in a stable state. be able to.

Immediately before the container C separated from the container row by the pair of gate members 14 reaches between the pair of stopper members 20a and 20b, the pair of stopper members 20a and 20b approach each other to the broken line position. Move forward. As a result, the container C is in a slipped state with respect to the continuously driven upstream conveyor 12, and is stopped by the pair of stopper members 20a and 20b. This container stop position is a predetermined position β that is first clamped by the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b described later. Further, the pair of stopper members 20a and 20b move backward to release the container C when the container C is transferred from the predetermined position β by the clamp transfer device 30 described later.

The clamp transfer device 30 includes a mounting table 31 and a pair of clamp members 32a and 32b. The mounting table 31 is a member for mounting the container C transferred from the predetermined position β on the upstream conveyor 12 by the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b on the upper surface. The mounting table 31 is installed on the base 11.

The pair of clamp members 32a and 32b are arranged above the mounting table 31 so as to face each other on both sides of the area between the upstream conveyor 12 and the downstream conveyor 13.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a pair of clamp members 32a and 32b. As shown in FIG. 3, substantially triangular clamp recesses 34a, 34b, 34c are formed at the end edges of the pair of clamp members 32a, 32b facing each other. Since the configuration of the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b is the same, the clamp member 32a will be described below as an example.

The clamp recesses 34a, 34b, 34c of the clamp member 32a are formed so as to be separated by a predetermined pitch p corresponding to the intermittent transfer pitch of the container C, respectively. The clamp recess 34a located on the most upstream side (left side in FIG. 3) with respect to the container transfer direction A is a portion that clamps the container C stopped at a predetermined position β by the stopper device 20 on the upstream conveyor 12. The clamp recess 34b located in the middle with respect to the container transfer direction A is a portion for clamping the container C at the intermediate position γ on the mounting table 31 separated from the predetermined position β by a predetermined pitch p. The clamp recess 34c located on the most downstream side (right side in FIG. 3) with respect to the container transfer direction A is a portion for clamping the container C at the film fitting position separated from the intermediate position γ by a predetermined pitch p.

The clamp member 32a includes a horizontally long rectangular clamp body 35. The clamp body 35 is made of, for example, a resin plate material. Three notches 35a, 35b, and 35c are formed at a predetermined pitch p on the edge of the clamp body 35. Of these, with respect to the container transfer direction A, the two notches 35a and 35b located on the upstream side and the middle are formed in a substantially semicircular shape, and the notch portions 35c located on the downstream side are formed in a V shape. There is. The V-shaped notch 35c forms the clamp recess 34c.

A mounting plate 41 is fixed to the two notches 35a and 35b of the clamp body 35 by screwing or the like. The mounting plate 41 is mounted on the upper surface and the lower surface of the clamp main body 35 at positions corresponding to the notch portions 35a and 35b, respectively. The mounting plate 41 is formed with a V-shaped notch groove 41a. The notch groove 41a constitutes the clamp recesses 34a and 34b.

Further, two rollers (rotating members) 43 are rotatably attached to the mounting plate 41. As shown in FIG. 4, the roller 43 has a flat columnar roller portion 43a and a shaft portion 43b protruding vertically from the roller portion 43a, and these shaft portions 43b are inserted into through holes of the mounting plate 41. The rollers 43 are rotatably supported by being inserted respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller portion 43a protrudes from the notch groove 41a of the mounting plate 41. By arranging the rollers 43 in this way, when the body portion C1 of the container C is fitted into the clamp recesses 34a and 34b, the outer peripheral surface of the roller portion 43a comes into contact with the surface of the body portion C1 and rotates. It has become like. In this embodiment, an example in which the rotating members provided in the clamp recesses 34a and 34b are configured by the rollers 43 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the ball is rotatably supported by the mounting plate 41. The rotating member may be composed of the shaped member. Further, three or more rotating members such as rollers may be provided in one clamp recess.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the container C is corrected in the rotational direction position in contact with the roller 43. When the container C is clamped by the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b, as shown in FIG. 5, in the clamp recesses 34a and 34b, the outer peripheral surface of the roller portion 43a of the roller 43 is on the surface of the body portion C1 of the container C. Contact. As a result, the container C (indicated by the broken line and the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 5), which was in the rotation position deviated from the container transfer direction A before the clamping, is rotated by being clamped in contact with the roller 43. The position is corrected, and the lateral direction of the body portion C1 becomes the rotation position (shown by the solid line in FIG. 5) along the container transfer direction A. In other words, the longitudinal direction of the body portion C1 of the container C is orthogonal to the container transfer direction A. As a result, the transfer direction position and the rotation direction position of the container C intermittently transferred from the predetermined position β to the film fitting position α via the intermediate position γ can be accurately determined by the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b.

Here, the two rollers 43 are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the straight line X orthogonal to the container transfer direction A through the body center position O1 of the container C clamped in the clamp recess. By arranging in this way, the rollers 43 can be brought into contact with each other at symmetrical positions on both sides of the straight line X passing through the body center position O1 of the container C in the clamp recesses 34a and 34b to clamp the body C1 of the container C. It is possible to make the clamp state of the container C more stable.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the angle θ formed by the two straight lines connecting the rotation center O2 of the two rollers 43 and the container body center position O1 is the outer shape of the body of the container C and the transfer. It can be changed as appropriate depending on the orientation and the like.

6 (a) to 6 (d) show that when the container C having an elliptical body cross section is transferred along the lateral direction as in the present embodiment, the two rollers 43 are transferred to the body C1. It is a figure which shows the state which changed the contact angle position, respectively. The angle θ is preferably set to, for example, 80 ° to 50 °, and more preferably 70 ° to 60 °. By setting such an angle range, the rotation position correction function of the container C by the two rollers 43 can be performed better.

7 (a) to 7 (g) show a state in which the angular positions of the two rollers in contact with the container body are changed when the container having an elliptical body shape is transferred along the longitudinal direction. It is a figure which shows. Unlike the present embodiment, when the container C having an elliptical body outer shape is transferred in the container transfer direction A along the longitudinal direction, the angle θ is as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (g). In addition, it is preferably set in the range of 120 ° to 60 °, more preferably in the range of 110 ° to 70 °, and even more preferably in the range of 100 ° to 80 °. By setting such an angle range, the rotation position correction function of the container C by the two rollers 43 can be performed better.

In this embodiment, an elliptical body shape will be described as an example of a non-circular body shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a container having a body shape having another shape. ..

For example, FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (g) show the angle positions at which the two rollers contact the container body when the container C having a substantially square body cross section is transferred along the diagonal direction. It is a figure which shows each changed state. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (g), the two rollers 43 come into contact with the container C on both sides of one corner of the outer shape of the body, and the angle θ is 120 ° to 60. It is preferably set in the range of °, more preferably in the range of 110 ° to 70 °, and even more preferably in the range of 100 ° to 80 °. By setting such an angle range, the rotation position correction function of the container C by the two rollers 43 can be performed better.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) to 9 (g), when the container C having a substantially hexagonal body cross section is transferred with one side surface facing the container transfer direction, the two rollers are the container. It is a figure which shows the state which changed the angle position which contacts with a body part, respectively. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9G, the two rollers 43 are in contact with the container C on both sides of one corner of the outer shape of the body, and the angle θ is 100 ° to 40 °. The range is preferably set to, more preferably 90 ° to 50 °, still more preferably 80 ° to 60 °. By setting such an angle range, the rotation position correction function of the container C by the two rollers 43 can be performed better.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, two slide members 36 are attached to the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b, respectively. The slide member 36 is fixed to the side surface of the clamp members 32a, 32b on the side opposite to the clamp recesses 34a, 34b, 34c. Each slide member 36 is engaged with a guide groove 39 of a guide member 38 installed on the base 11 so as to be slidable in a direction orthogonal to the container transfer direction A. Each guide groove 39 extends along the container transfer direction A.

One end of the rod 40 is connected to the lower surface of the guide member 38 via a ball joint (not shown). The other end of the rod 40 is connected to the tip of the lever 44 via a ball joint 42. The base end portion of the lever 44 is fixed to the rotation shaft 46 protruding on the base 11. As a result, when the rotation shaft is rotated in a predetermined angle range by a driving means such as a cam mechanism (not shown), the lever 42 swings, and as a result, the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b connected by the rod 40 are formed. It moves forward and backward in the direction approaching each other (arrow D1) or in the opposite direction (arrow D2). By moving the pair of clamp members 32a, 32b forward and backward in this way, the container C is gripped (clamped) or released (clamped) in the clamp recesses 34a, 34b, 34c.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b each have an extension portion 48 at an upstream end portion (right side in FIG. 1) in the container transfer direction A. Each extending portion 48 is provided with a cam portion 50 having a cam groove. For example, a cam follower 52 made of a bearing or the like is fitted and arranged in the cam groove of the cam portion 50. The cam follower 52 is rotatably pivotally supported at the end of the lever 54. The base end portion of the lever 54 is fixed to the rotation shaft 56 protruding on the base 11.

With this configuration, when the rotation shaft 56 is rotated within a predetermined angle range by a driving means such as a cam mechanism (not shown), the lever 54 swings. When the tip end portion of the lever 54 rotates toward the upstream side in the container transfer direction A, the clamp members 32a and 32b are pulled via the cam follower 52, the cam portion 50, and the extension portion 48. As a result, the clamp members 32a and 32b move in the downstream side (arrow A1 direction) in the container transport direction while being linearly guided by the guide groove 39 with which the slide member 36 is engaged, while the lever 54 moves in the opposite direction. When rotated, it moves to the upstream side in the container transport direction (arrow A2 direction).

In the clamp transfer device 30 configured as described above, the intermittent transfer of the container C is performed as follows. 10 (a) to 10 (d) are views showing the operation of the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b. Above FIG. 10A, the container C is stopped by the stopper device 20 on the upstream conveyor 12, and the predetermined positions β and the intermediate positions γ are clamped by the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b. The film fitting position α and the film fitting position α are shown respectively. These positions α, β, and γ are common in FIGS. 10A to 10D.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the three containers C are arranged at a predetermined pitch p apart from each other. In this state, as shown in FIG. 10B, the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b move forward in the direction of arrow D1. As a result, the three containers C are gripped by the clamp recesses 34a, 34b, 34c of the clamp members 32a, 32b.

In this state, the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b move in the arrow A1 direction, that is, on the upstream side in the container transfer direction A by a predetermined pitch p, as shown in FIG. 10 (c). Then, as shown in FIG. 10 (d), the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b move in the direction of the arrow D2 so as to be separated from each other, whereby the three containers C are released. At this time, in comparison with the container position shown in FIG. 10A, the three containers C are each transferred by a predetermined pitch p to the upstream side in the container transfer direction (direction of arrow A).

After that, as shown in FIG. 10 (d), the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b move in the direction of arrow A2 and return to the positions shown in FIG. 10 (a). This then prepares for the intermittent transfer operation. By repeatedly operating the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b in this way, the container C can be sequentially and intermittently transferred to the film fitting position α.

Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 11, the operation of transferring the container C to the film fitting position α by the container transfer device 10 of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.

As described above with reference to FIG. 10, the container C stopped at the predetermined position β by the stopper device 20 is gripped by the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b and intermittently transferred by a predetermined pitch p. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the container C is first transferred from the predetermined position β on the upstream conveyor 12 to the intermediate position γ on the mounting table 31 by a predetermined pitch p.

In the mounting table 31, an air suction hole 60 facing the bottom of the container C is provided on the mounting surface (or the upper surface) on which the container C transferred to the predetermined position β and the film fitting position α is placed. Is preferable. The air suction hole 60 is connected to an air suction source (for example, a pump or the like) 63 via an air passage 61 and a tube 62. As a result, the bottom of the container C is sucked by the air suction hole 60 at the intermediate position γ and the film fitting position α by the container transfer device 10, and the inside of the recess C3 (see FIG. 2) is depressurized, thereby causing a pair of clamps. The container C can be maintained in a stable and standing state even when the clamps by the members 32a and 32b are released.

After that, by the next intermittent transfer operation by the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b, the container C at the intermediate position γ is transferred on the mounting table 31 by a predetermined pitch p, and the clamp is released at the film fitting position α. Then, at the film fitting position α, the tubular film body F in the open state is sent downward by the shot roller 74 from the lower end portion of the mandrel 72 of the film fitting device 70. As a result, the tubular film body F is fitted around the container C at the film fitting position α.

The container C into which the tubular film body F is fitted is transferred from the film fitting position α to the upstream side of the container transfer direction A by a predetermined pitch p by the next transfer operation of the clamp members 32a and 32b. .. At this time, the container C in which the tubular film body F is fitted is transferred from the mounting table 31 onto the downstream conveyor 13. As a result, the container C fitted with the tubular film body F is conveyed to the downstream side (direction of arrow A) by the continuously driven downstream side conveyor 13. Then, the container C is conveyed in the heating device (not shown) by the downstream conveyor 13, so that the tubular film body F is heated. As a result, the tubular film body F made of the heat-shrinkable film contracts and is mounted in close contact with the periphery of the container C.

As described above, according to the container transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, the pair of clamp members 32a are provided with the two rollers 43 at the edges of the clamp recesses 34a and 34b of the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b. When the container C is clamped by 32b, the roller 43 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the body portion C1 of the container C, so that the container C can easily rotate in the clamp recesses 34a and 34b. As a result, the rotational direction position and the transfer direction position of the container C at the time of container clamping can be accurately determined regardless of the slipperiness of the container surface and the outer shape of the container body. Therefore, the container C can be transferred to a state in which the container C is accurately positioned at the film fitting position α, the fitting operation of the tubular film body F can be stably performed, and the display orientation of the tubular film body F with respect to the container C is also aligned. Be done.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example in which a pair of clamp members 32a and 32b includes an upper clamp portion 33a and a lower clamp portion 33b. As shown in FIG. 12, the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b includes an upper clamp portion 33a and a lower clamp portion 33b, and each of the clamp portions 33a and 33b is provided with an upper clamp recess 34a1 and a lower clamp recess 34a2. May be This also applies to the other clamp recesses 34b and 34c. In this case, it is preferable to provide the rollers 43 in both the upper clamp recess 34a1 and the lower clamp recess 34a2. By forming the clamp recesses 34a, 34b, 34c with the upper clamp recesses 34a1 and the lower clamp recesses 34a2 in this way, the upper side and the lower side of the body portion C1 of the container C are clamped by the pair of clamp members 32a, 32b. In particular, the tall container C can be transferred more stably.

Next, the container transfer device 10A of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 13 and the like. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 11 showing the container transfer device 10A of the second embodiment. Hereinafter, only the differences from the container transfer device 10 of the first embodiment described above will be described, the same reference numerals will be given to the same configurations, and duplicate description will be omitted by reference.

As shown in FIG. 13, at the film fitting position α in the mounting table 31, an elevating table 80 for moving the container C upward toward the film fitting device 70 is provided. The elevating table 80 is configured to be movable up and down using, for example, a motor 82 or the like as a drive source, and moves up and down when the tubular film body F is fitted to the container C from the mandrel 72 of the film fitting device 70. After the shape film body F is fitted, it moves downward. Further, the upper surface of the elevating table 80 is lowered to the same height position (or flush surface) as the upper surface of the mounting table 31 when the container C is intermittently moved. Further, the upper surface of the elevating table 80 is formed to be smaller than the outer contour of the body portion C1 of the container C. An air suction hole 60 is formed on the upper surface of the lift 80 with an opening. The other configurations are the same as those of the container transfer device 10 described above.

FIG. 14A is a diagram showing a state in which the tubular film body F is fitted in the container C at a desired position (normal position), and FIG. 14B is a diagram in which the tubular film body F is placed on the upper part of the container C. It is a figure which shows the state of being fitted in the state of being fitted and shallowly covered. Further, FIG. 15 (a) is a diagram showing how the tubular film body F fitted to the container C rebounds on the mounting surface, and FIG. 15 (b) shows the rebounded tubular film body F of the container C. It is a figure which shows the state which became the shallow cover state which was fitted on the upper part.

When the margin between the outer shape of the body portion C1 of the container C and the peripheral length of the tubular film body F is small, the fitting height position of the tubular film body F may become unstable depending on the slipperiness of the container surface. The slipperiness of the container surface may change significantly due to, for example, a mold release agent during container molding, deterioration of the container material over time, static electricity, temperature, dew condensation, and the like. When the slipperiness of the container surface is good, as shown in FIG. 14A, the tubular film body F fitted to the container C has the lower end of the film on the mounting surface 31a on which the container C is mounted. It stops at the reached position and reaches the desired fitting height position. On the other hand, when the slipperiness of the container surface is poor, as shown in FIG. 14B, the tubular film body F may stop at the upper part of the container C, resulting in a shallow cover state.

Further, when the slipperiness of the container surface is too good, as shown in FIG. 15A, the tubular film body F fitted to the container C rebounds and floats on the mounting surface 31a, whereby FIG. 15 As shown in (b), there was a case where the container C was covered with a shallow cover.

16 (a) to 16 (c) are views showing how the tubular film body is fitted to the container in the container transfer device 10A of the second embodiment.

In the container transfer device 10A of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16A, the elevating table 80 is moved ascending to the container immediately before the tubular film body F is fitted to the container C at the film fitting position α. C is brought close to the mandrel 72 (see FIG. 13) of the film fitting device 70, and in this state, the tubular film body F opened in a substantially cylindrical shape is fitted. At this time, the container C is stably maintained in an upright state on the upper surface of the elevating table 80 by being sucked by air through the air suction holes 60.

In this state, the tubular film body F discharged from the film fitting device 70 toward the container C passes through the bottom of the container C and around the upper end of the elevating table 80 as shown in FIG. 16 (b). It becomes a state of being covered with. This is because the size of the upper surface of the elevating table 80 is formed to be smaller than the outer shape of the body portion C1 of the container C.

Then, as shown in FIG. 16C, when the elevating table 80 descends to the original position (that is, the same height position as the mounting surface), the lower end of the tubular film body F is in contact with the mounting surface 31a. The container C descends inside. As a result, the lower end of the tubular film body F has a desired fitting height position that coincides with the bottom surface of the container C.

As described above, according to the container transfer device 10A of the present embodiment, the film fitting operation is performed in a state where the container C placed on the elevating table 80 smaller than the container body C1 is brought close to the film fitting device 70. Therefore, even when the slipperiness of the surface of the container or the inner surface of the tubular film body F is not good, it is possible to prevent the tubular film body F from being shallowly fitted to the container C. When the surface of the container and the inner surface of the tubular film body have good slipperiness, the tubular film body fitted in the container passes through the container body and covers the upper end of the elevating table 80. However, the container C is lowered by moving the elevating table 80 downward after the film is fitted, so that the lower end position of the tubular film body F is fitted in a state of being aligned with the lower end of the container C. .. From these facts, it is possible to align the fitting height position of the tubular film body F with respect to the container C.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications thereof, and various changes and improvements can be made within the scope of the claims of the present application and the equivalent scope thereof.

For example, in the above description, the case where the container C is transferred by the clamp transfer device 30 in the order of the predetermined position β, the intermediate position γ, and the film fitting position α by a predetermined pitch p has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the intermediate position γ may be omitted, and the predetermined position β and the film fitting position α may be provided apart by a predetermined pitch p. In this case, the pair of clamp members 32a and 32b do not need to form the clamp recess 34b, and the length in the container transfer direction A can be shortened.

Further, although the example in which the tubular film body F is fitted around the body portion of the container C has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. The tubular film body may be a cap seal fitted around the cap C2 at the upper end of the container C.

10,10A container transfer device, 11 base, 12 upstream side conveyor, 13 downstream side conveyor, 14 gate member, 16,42,44,54 lever, 17,46,56 rotating shaft, 18,42 ball joint, 19 Air cylinder, 20 stopper device, 20a, 20b stopper member, 30 clamp transfer device, 31 mounting table, 31a mounting surface, 32a, 32b clamp member, 33a upper clamp part, 33b lower clamp part, 34a, 34b, 34c clamp Recess, 34a1 upper clamp recess, 34a2 lower clamp recess, 35 clamp body, 35a, 35b, 35c notch, 36 slide member, 38 guide member, 39 guide groove, 40 rod, 41 mounting plate, 41a notch groove, 43 Roller (rotating member), 43a roller part, 43b shaft part, 48 extension part, 50 cam part, 52 cam follower, 60 air suction hole, 61 air passage, 62 tube, 63 air suction source, 70 film fitting device, 72 Mandrel, 74 shot roller, 80 lift, 82 motor, A container transfer direction, C container, C1 body, C2 cap, C3 recess, F tubular film body, p predetermined pitch, α film fitting position, β predetermined Position, γ intermediate position.

Claims (3)

A container transfer device that intermittently transfers the container to a film fitting position where a tubular film body is fitted to a container having a non-circular body outer shape.
A stopper device that releases the container when the container is intermittently transferred while stopping the containers sequentially conveyed by the conveyor at a predetermined position.
A clamp transfer device that transfers the container to the film fitting position by repeatedly performing an intermittent transfer operation in which the container is clamped at the predetermined position and transferred to the downstream side in the container transfer direction at predetermined pitch intervals to release the clamp. Equipped with
The clamp transfer device includes a pair of clamp members for clamping the container, and each clamp member has a plurality of clamp recesses in which the body of the container is fitted when the container is clamped at predetermined pitch intervals in the container transfer direction. At least two rotating members that come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the body of the container when the container is clamped are provided on the opposite edge of the container of each clamp recess.
A container transfer device provided with an air suction hole facing the bottom of the container on the mounting surface on which the container transferred to the predetermined position and the film fitting position is placed . A container transfer device that intermittently transfers the container to a film fitting position where a tubular film body is fitted to a container having a non-circular body outer shape.
A stopper device that releases the container when the container is intermittently transferred while stopping the containers sequentially conveyed by the conveyor at a predetermined position.
A clamp transfer device that transfers the container to the film fitting position by repeatedly performing an intermittent transfer operation in which the container is clamped at the predetermined position and transferred to the downstream side in the container transfer direction at predetermined pitch intervals to release the clamp. Equipped with
The clamp transfer device includes a pair of clamp members for clamping the container, and each clamp member has a plurality of clamp recesses in which the body of the container is fitted when the container is clamped at predetermined pitch intervals in the container transfer direction. At least two rotating members that come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the body of the container when the container is clamped are provided on the opposite edge of the container of each clamp recess.
An elevating table for moving the container up toward the film fitting device is provided at the film fitting position, and the upper surface of the elevating table is formed smaller than the outer contour of the body of the container. The table is a container transfer device that moves up from the film fitting device when the tubular film body is fitted to the container, and moves down after the tubular film body is fitted . In the container transfer device according to claim 1 or 2.
A container transfer device in which the two rotating members are arranged symmetrically with respect to a straight line orthogonal to the container transfer direction through the center position of the body of the container clamped in the clamp recess.

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