JPS6153285B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article accumulation and transfer device suitable for, for example, supplying a plurality of ampoules that are continuously discharged one by one from an ampoule labeling machine to a blister packaging machine. .

When collecting and transporting bottles, there is a method in which bottles are continuously transported using a belt conveyor (or top plate, etc.), and at the end, a mechanism such as a shutter is used to collect multiple bottles and transport them to the next process. Although this is generally employed, in the case of small and unstable items such as ampoules that are easily tipped over, the above-mentioned transportation and accumulation is impossible.

On the other hand, if the ampoules are transported using a bucket or chuck, a new device is required to prevent the ampoules from falling during stacking, and there is also a function inside the labeling machine to check for labeling errors and automatically eject defective products. In this case, a separate device for replenishing ampules must be added to a bucket or chuck that does not hold ampoules, which unnecessarily complicates the device and increases costs.

Furthermore, if the labeling machine in the front process and the blister packaging machine in the back process are each driven by a separate motor,
It is common to have a pool zone within the connected conveyor, which can be started and stopped by a clutch when it is necessary to stop either the labeling machine at the front end or the blister packaging machine at the end end. However, stopping the machine often has a negative effect on the machine's functions (for example, when molding PVC film, molding defects occur when starting up).
The challenge was how to run the machine continuously without stopping it.

The object of the present invention is to provide two drive sprockets in an accumulation and transfer device, connect one of the drive sprockets to the drive source of the previous process device via a clutch, and to control the operation of the clutch depending on the presence or absence of the articles being sent. Through control, it is possible to reliably transport and transfer items from front-process equipment such as labeling machines to post-process equipment such as blister packaging machines, and it is possible to accumulate multiple items, and the machine can be operated continuously. The goal is to make it possible to drive.

The present invention provides a first drive sprocket that is driven intermittently or continuously by a device in the front process, a second drive sprocket that is intermittently driven by a device in the back process, and a pair of drive sprockets that move simultaneously while keeping a constant distance from each other. a moving sprocket, a pair of idle sprockets, and an endless chain that is hung over the first and second drive sprockets, the moving sprocket, and the idle sprocket, and has a number of article holders attached at predetermined intervals. and
An article that is installed between a device in a previous process and a device in a subsequent process to absorb the speed difference between the delivery speed from the previous process and the intake speed in the subsequent process to transfer the product sent out from the previous process to the subsequent process. a transfer device in which the first drive sprocket is connected to a drive source of the preceding process device via a selectively engageable or disengageable clutch, and a transfer device transfers the article to the article holder of the endless chain; An article detection device for detecting the presence or absence of an article on the transfer device is provided in proximity to the transfer device, and the operation of the clutch can be controlled by a detection signal from the article detection device, and the pair of movable sprockets are moved along the guide rail. A detection device that is rotatably attached to a movable slider and detects the amount of movement of the slider is provided in proximity to the guide rail, and the drive speed of the drive source is switched between high speed and low speed based on a detection signal from the detection device. It is composed of

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an article accumulation and transfer apparatus according to the present embodiment. This accumulation and transfer device 1 includes a chain conveyor 2 provided between a front-process device such as a labeler machine and a back-process device such as a blister packaging machine.
and a delivery device 6 that delivers the articles sent from the pre-processing device to the chain conveyor.

The chain conveyor 2 has a long guide rail 21
and first and second drive sprockets 2 arranged symmetrically about the center of the guide rail.
2 and 23, a pair of idler sprockets 24 and 25 arranged symmetrically opposite to the movable sprocket about the center of the guide rail, and a slider 26 movably disposed on the guide rail 21. A pair of movable sprockets 27 and 28 rotatably mounted with an interval of
4 and 25 and moving sprockets 27 and 28 as shown in the figure.
It has

Shaft 3 to which the first drive sprocket 22 is fixed
1 is a drive source 81 which is rotatably supported by a known method and can be switched to high or low speed for the preceding process device 8 via known means (in this embodiment, a chain 32 and a sprocket 33) and a clutch 34.
It is designed to be driven continuously. The shaft 35 to which the second driving sprocket 23 is fixed is also rotatably supported by a known method, and is supported by known means (in this embodiment, a chain 36 and a sprocket 37, but gears may also be used) and an intermittent drive device. A drive source 91 for the device 9 in the subsequent process is connected via 38.
It is designed to be driven by

Bearings 39 and 40, which rotatably support idler sprockets 24 and 25, are biased to apply tension to chain 30 by springs 41 and 42, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, a large number of article holders 43 are attached to the chain 30 at predetermined intervals. In this embodiment, the article holder 43 handles ampoules as articles to be collected and transported, so it is simply configured to allow the ampoules to be placed at an angle to prevent them from falling. However, as an article holder, other shapes,
For example, it may be of a chuck type that can be opened and closed.

A number of rollers 44 are rotatably attached to the lower part of the chain, and these rollers 44 roll on guide rails 45 provided below the chain.
This allows the chain to move smoothly.

At one end of the guide rod 21 (the left end in the figure) there is a detection device for detecting when the slider moving the guide rod 21 approaches one end of the guide rod, namely an acceleration proximity switch (referred to as an acceleration switch) 46a and a first stop switch. Proximity switches (hereinafter referred to as stop switches) 47a are provided at predetermined intervals. Further, a detection device, that is, a deceleration switch 46b and a second stop switch 47b are provided at the other end of the guide rod 21 at a predetermined interval.

The acceleration switch 46a detects that the slider approaches its installation position and sends the signal to the upstream device to switch the speed of its drive source 81 to high speed, thereby increasing the speed of the first drive sprocket 22. It is designed to switch quickly. Further, the deceleration switch 46b detects that the slider approaches its installation position and sends the signal to the upstream device 8 to switch the speed of the drive source 81 to a low speed, thereby reducing the speed of the first drive sprocket 22. The speed is now switched to low speed. and first and second stop switches 47a, 47b
When the sliders approach their respective installations, the signals are supplied to the devices 9 and 8, respectively, and the driving sources 91 and 81 thereof are stopped.

As shown in FIG.
It consists of a star wheel 60 inclined at an angle of 15° (in this embodiment). star wheel 60
A plurality of notches 62 are formed at equal intervals on the outer periphery to receive the article, and the notches can be formed into any shape according to the shape of the article, and in this embodiment, the shape is suitable for transporting ampules. An annular groove 63 is further formed around the entire circumference of the star wheel 60, and within this annular groove 63, the chain conveyor 2
A guide member 64 is provided at the transfer position to ensure that the article in the cutout 62, ie the ampoule m, is transferred onto the article holder of the chain conveyor 2.

A known detection device 65 for detecting the presence or absence of an article in the notch 62 of the star wheel 60 is provided near the delivery position.

This delivery device 6 cuts the articles sent out one by one by the screw 82 of the upper process device 8 into a notch 6.
Item holder 43 of the chain conveyor received in 2
It is becoming easier to pass it on internally.

In the article accumulation and transfer apparatus configured as described above, the first
The second drive sprocket 22 is continuously rotated by the drive source 81 of the upper process device 8 via the clutch 34, and the second drive sprocket 23 is intermittently rotated by the drive source 91 of the lower process device 9 via the intermittent drive mechanism 38. driven by. Therefore, chain 30
There is a speed difference between the first driving sprocket 22 side and the second driving sprocket 23 side, but this speed difference is caused by the moving sprockets 27 and 28
It is absorbed by moving along the guide rail 21. That is, while the second drive sprocket 23 is intermittently stopped, the chain from the second drive sprocket 23 to the first drive sprocket via the moving sprocket 28 and the idle sprocket 24 is not connected to the first drive sprocket. 22, the moving sprocket moves to the right. However, when the second drive sprocket 23 rotates intermittently, the chain from the first drive sprocket 22 through the moving sprocket 27 to the second drive sprocket 23 is moved at a faster rate than is fed by the first drive sprocket. Because of this, the movable sprockets 27 and 28 move to the left.

Under such conditions, when the detection device 65 detects that no article is placed in the notch 62 of the star wheel 60, the detection signal causes the clutch 3 to be activated.
4 is released and the rotation of the first drive sprocket 22 is stopped, stopping the feed of the chain 30 in this part, thus ensuring that the article m is fed into the article holder of the chain. .

The articles supplied from the delivery device 6 into the article holder 43 are transferred to the second
is sent to the drive sprocket 23 side of the second drive sprocket, and while the chain is intermittently stopped due to the intermittent stop of the second drive sprocket, a plurality of pieces are transferred together to the known transfer device 7.
is transferred to downstream equipment.

Next, if the operating speed of the upper process device 8 is lower than the operating speed of the lower process device, the feed speed of the first drive sprocket 22 is also relatively lower than the feed speed of the drive sprocket 23 of the second drive sprocket. Therefore, the supply speed from the upper process equipment cannot catch up with the supply speed to the lower process equipment, so the moving sprockets 27 and 28 move to the left together with the slider 26, and the slider 26 is detected by the acceleration switch 46a. Then, the speed of the drive source 81 of the upper process device 8 is switched to the high speed side by the signal, and this time it becomes faster than the speed of the lower process device 9, so the slider 26
gradually moves to the right. When the deceleration switch 46b finally detects the slider 26, the speed of the upper process device is switched to the low speed side, and the speed of the lower process device 9 is switched to the low speed side.
, the slider 26 gradually moves to the left again.

In this way, the lower process equipment and the upper process equipment can continue to operate without stopping.

On the other hand, if the operation of the upper process device 8 or the lower process device 9 is temporarily stopped for some reason, for example, if the operation of the lower process device is temporarily stopped (for supplying packaging film, etc.) , the second drive sprocket 23 also stops and the intermittent feeding of the chain also stops, but since the first drive sprocket is still rotating, there is no movement from the second drive sprocket 23 to the first drive sprocket via the moving sprocket 28. Only the chain in between is fed by rotation of the first drive sprocket. Therefore, the slider 26 moves to the right, and the deceleration switch 46b detects this first, and the upper process device 8 is switched to a low speed. However, if the lower process device 9 is stopped, the slider 26 continues to move to the right while being switched to a low speed. And the slider is the second stop switch 4
If the operation of the lower process device 9 is restarted before reaching the position 7b, the slider 26 will return to the left at that point, but if the operation cannot be resumed, the stop switch 47b will finally detect the slider 26, and the electric signal will be output. The drive of the upstream process equipment is also stopped.

When the lower process equipment is ready to resume operation, only the lower process equipment starts operating first, moves the slider 26 to the left, and the second stop switch 47b is placed in a position where the slider 26 is not detected. At that time, the operation of the upstream equipment is restarted.

The above is a case where the operation of the lower process equipment is stopped, but conversely, when the time arises when the operation of the upper process equipment has to be stopped, the first stop switch 47a
The operation of the lower process equipment is stopped in the same manner as described above. When the upper process equipment is restarted, the lower process equipment also starts operating at the same time.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention can provide the following effects.

(b) By cleverly using a switch on the transfer conveyor between the front-process equipment and the rear-process equipment, continuous and smooth conveyance can be achieved even if the front-process and rear-process are driven separately.

(b) Detects the presence or absence of an article, and if there is no article,
Since the clutch automatically temporarily stops feeding the article holder and the conveyor can be continuously replenished with articles, it is not necessary to prepare articles for replenishment in advance or to install a device.

(c) In the same chain conveyor, one side can be fed continuously at a constant speed, and the other side can be fed intermittently, with the moving sprocket as a boundary, so it is possible to collect and transfer.

(d) If either the lower process equipment or the upper process equipment stops for a certain period of time, the other will automatically stop, allowing safe operation.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the first driving sprocket is continuously rotated, but when the pre-process equipment items are fed out one by one by intermittent driving, it is sufficient to perform intermittent driving accordingly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an article accumulation and transfer apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a chain, and FIG.
The figure is an enlarged sectional view of the article delivery device. 22, 23... Drive sprocket, 24, 25
...Idle sprocket, 27, 28...Movement sprocket, 30...Chain.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first drive sprocket that is intermittently or continuously driven by a device in the front process, a second drive sprocket that is intermittently driven by a device in the back process, and a second drive sprocket that is simultaneously kept at a constant distance from each other. A pair of movable sprockets that move, a pair of idle sprockets, the first and second drive sprockets, and an endless chain that is hung between the movable sprockets and the idle sprockets and has a number of article holders attached at predetermined intervals. is provided between the equipment in the previous process and the equipment in the subsequent process, and absorbs the speed difference between the delivery speed from the previous process and the intake speed in the post process, so as to absorb the article sent out from the previous process. In an apparatus for transferring articles to a subsequent process, the first drive sprocket is connected to a drive source of the apparatus for the previous process via a selectively engageable or disengageable clutch, and the first drive sprocket is connected to the article holder of the endless chain. An article detection device for detecting the presence or absence of an article on the delivery device is provided in proximity to a delivery device for delivering the article, and the operation of the clutch can be controlled by a detection signal from the article detection device, and the pair of movable sprockets is rotatably attached to a slider movable along a guide rail, a detection device for detecting the amount of movement of the slider is provided in proximity to the guide rail, and the drive speed of the drive source is determined by a detection signal from the detection device. 1. An article accumulation and transfer device, characterized in that it is configured to switch between high speed and low speed.