JPS6234633B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to an automatic bottling device.

``Prior art'' Conventionally, the conventional bottling method for liquids, etc., employed in bottling factories involves continuously transporting bottles in a line, and cleaning them one after another during the transport.
It is a continuous processing method that involves filling, capping, and stamping or labeling.

An automatic bottling device that belongs to this method has a conveyance path through which bottles are conveyed in a line, and a cleaner (first step) and a filler, which introduce bottles from the conveyance path, process them, and return them, are placed in the middle of the conveyance path. It is equipped with a device (second process), a capper (third process), and a stamping or labeling device (fourth process), and is also equipped with a conveyor for empty containers in parallel with the conveyance path. Bottles brought in are extracted one by one and sent to a conveyance path, and the fed bottles are continuously transferred and processed in the first to fourth steps by each of the above devices, while empty containers or The case is transferred to the end of the conveyance path by an empty container transfer conveyor and left on standby.
After all the processing has been completed, the bottles are put back into a waiting container or case and transported outside.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" However, since this conventional method is based on processing one piece one after another, there is currently a limit to processing speed and processing efficiency.

Further, the bottle feeding operation and the processing bottle storage operation are required to be carried out manually by an operator, which may cause contamination or damage. In the case of glass bottles, the damage is often broken, chipped, cracked, etc., and in the case of plastic bottles, it is often caused by deterioration of physical properties due to crumples, deformation, discoloration, etc.

Furthermore, the equipment has to be large-scale, and if it is attempted to automate the supply of bottles and the storage of processed bottles, the equipment will become even larger and will occupy an entire factory building.

The present invention seeks to obviate such conventional drawbacks.

``Means for Solving the Problems'' The present invention has an inlet conveyor and an outfeed conveyor arranged at right angles, and has a direction change transfer device at the corner thereof to accommodate a plurality of bottles in predetermined rows and columns. A container transfer device that introduces containers, an index table that rotates intermittently arranged inside a corner of the container transfer device, and an index table that extracts bottles line by line from the containers introduced by the introduction conveyor and then stops. A rotary loader that transfers the bottles one after another to the starting point of the bottle, and a rotary loader that is sequentially deployed around the index table to process the bottles in each row in the index table at once when the bottles are stopped. A cleaner, a filling device, a cap feeding device, and a cap tightening device are used to transfer completely processed bottles from the end point of the index table when the bottle is stopped to the empty container that is sent to the delivery conveyor by the container transfer device. It consists of a rotary unloader that transfers and accommodates the above-mentioned rows one after another.

``Function'' Because of the above configuration, if a container containing bottles brought in from a container manufacturer is sent as is to the container transfer device, the bottles in the container will be indexed in intermittent rotation row by row by a rotary loader. As the index table rotates intermittently, the air is cleaned by an air cleaner for each row, the liquid is filled by a filling device, a cap is placed on a cap by a cap supply device, and the cap is tightened by a cap tightening device. When the container is tightened and all processing is completed, the containers are transferred and accommodated row by row by a rotary unloader into empty containers that are subsequently transferred by the container transfer device, and then sent out.

"Example" The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 shows its configuration, and the specific bottling method shown here is a container B containing a plurality of bottles A arranged in rows and columns.
are introduced into the container transfer device 210, and the bottles A... are transferred one after another in rows by the rotary loader 220 to the index table 230, which is an intermittent rotating bottle transport means, and are sequentially moved around the index table 230. Deployed air cleaner 240, filling device 250, cap supply device 26
0. The cap tightening device 270 cleans each row of bottles A..., fills them with liquid, covers them, and tightens the caps. If necessary, a marking device 280 is provided at the final stage. As a result, the bottle A is engraved in the final process and the entire process has been completed.
One row at a time, one after another, the empty containers are transferred by the rotary unloader 290 to the empty containers sent by the container transfer device 210, and then sent out.

The automatic bottling device used for the above-mentioned bottling includes a container transfer device 210 that changes direction at right angles and transfers the container.
A polygonal index table 230 that rotates intermittently is placed inside the corner of the index table 230, and the rotary loader 220, air cleaner 240, and filling device 25 are placed around the index table 230 as described above.
0, a cap feeding device 260, a cap tightening device 270, a marking device 280 as required, and a rotary unloader 290 are sequentially provided.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
0a, a sending conveyor 210b, and a direction changing and transferring device 210c between them, and an inlet conveyor 2
10a and the delivery conveyor 210b are configured to feed the container B in a fixed positional relationship at least at the end and start end, and to feed the bottles A one pitch at a row interval, and the direction change transfer device 210c. A rotating rail 211 that rotates 90 degrees by appropriate power is provided at the corner of the route, and this is connected to the end of the inlet conveyor 210a and the starting end of the delivery conveyor 210b, so that both conveyors 21
A pushing mechanism 212 and a pushing mechanism 213 for pushing the container B with operating hooks 214 and 215 are provided beside the ends and starting ends of the containers 0a and 210b, respectively.
When the container B reaches the end of the introducing conveyor 210a, the pushing mechanism 212 pushes the container B onto the rotating rail 211, the rotating rail 211 rotates 90 degrees, and then the pushing mechanism 215 pushes the container B onto the sending conveyor 210b. I'm trying to send it to.

As shown in FIG. 1, the index table 230 is arranged so that each side of the polygon is intermittently rotated at one side pitch by a drive device as appropriate, and when stopped, two sides face the container transfer device 210. In addition, bottle clamps 231 are provided on each side to support a row of bottles A in container B all at once, and although not shown, a cam mechanism or the like is used to clamp the bottles on the two sides facing the container transfer device 210. The clamp 231 is opened.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotary loader 220 has a fluid pressure cylinder 222 mounted on a frame 221 extending upward from the distal end of the introduction conveyor 210a.
A lifting mechanism is provided, which includes a lifting body 223 that is operated by a fluid pressure motor 224.
horizontal T-shaped pivoting arm 225 that rotates 90 degrees at
, and the rotating arm 225 is connected to the introduction conveyor 2
Index table 23 from the position above 10a
0, and a plurality of bottle chucks 226 corresponding to one row of bottles A in the container B are vertically provided on the rotating arm 225.

Note that the chucks 226 are air chucks,
It can be used as an electromagnetic chuck to supply air and current as appropriate, or it can be used for push-push, that is, the first push grabs the bottle, and the second
It may also be a purely mechanical automatic chuck that releases it after the first push.

The rotary loader 220 is connected to the introduction conveyor 21
Containers B containing a large number of bottles A in rows and columns are introduced into the introduction conveyor 210a, and when they reach the end and are fed in pitch, they are lifted and lowered by the hydraulic cylinder 222. Vertical movement of body 223 and fluid pressure motor etc. 224
The rotating arm 225 moves up and down and rotates, and the chuck 226 operates to transfer the bottles A in the container B to the bottle clamps 231 of the index table 230 one after another in one row. At the same time, the bottle is transferred and held by the bottle clamps 231.

An air cleaner 240 (Fig. 3) and a filling device 25 are sequentially arranged around the index table 230.
0 (Fig. 4) Cap supply device 260 (5th
), the cap tightening device 270 (FIG. 6) is attached to the index table 230 as shown in FIG.
When the index table 230 stops, these devices operate all at once in conjunction with the stop of the index table 230. A unit bottle A is cleaned, filled with liquid, supplied with a cap, and then tightened.

The air cleaner 240, as shown in FIG.
Lifting bar 41 equipped with a plurality of air nozzles 42...
and a lifting mechanism 140 that moves the lifting bar 41 up and down.
and an air supply device (not shown) that supplies compressed air to the air nozzles 42 through a hose, and is located along the index table 230 and adjacent to the introduction conveyor 210a.

The elevating device 140 is provided with a fluid pressure cylinder 142 on a frame 141 that extends above the index table 230, and a fluid pressure cylinder 142 is provided on a frame 141 that extends above the index table 230.
31 and facing parallel to the lifting bar 41
is moved up and down by its fluid pressure cylinder 142.

The air nozzles 42... are 1 when stopped.
Lifting bar 41 corresponding to group bottle A...
It is installed vertically from

The air cleaner 240 operates in conjunction with the index table 230, and when the bottles A... of each group come to this location and pause, the lift bar 41 is lowered to move the air nozzles 42... to each bottle A. …Insert it inside and blow out compressed air to air clean each bottle.

As shown in FIG. 4, the filling device 250 includes an elevating bar 51 having a plurality of filling nozzles 52, and an elevating mechanism 140 that moves the elevating bar 51 up and down (the same as that of the air cleaner 240 described above, the details are omitted. ), filling liquid tanks 53, 53, and a pump 5 that supplies the liquid in the filling liquid tanks 53, 53 to the filling nozzles 52 through hoses 54...
5, 55, and the index table 23
0 and is adjacent to the air cleaner 240.

The lifting bar 51 is placed above and parallel to the bottle clamp 231 when stopped, and the filling nozzles 52 are vertically disposed from the lifting bar 51 in correspondence with one group of bottles A.

The filling device 250 includes an index table 23
0 and operate in relation to each other, and when bottle A of each group comes to us and pauses,
Lower the lifting bar 51, insert the filling nozzle into each bottle A, and at the same time operate the pumps 55, 55 to transfer the liquid from the filling liquid tanks 53, 53 to the bottles A...
Fill it.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cap supply device 260 includes an elevating bar 61 having a plurality of vacuum rods 62, and an elevating mechanism 140 (same as that of the air cleaner 240 described above, so the details are omitted) that moves the elevating bar 61 up and down. ), a vacuum device (not shown) for appropriately sucking air from the vacuum rods 62 through a hose, and cap bar feeders 63, 63 for supplying caps C to the vacuum rods 62, which correspond to the index table 230. At the same time, the filling device 2
Adjacent to 50.

The elevating bar 61 is placed above and parallel to the bottle clamp 231 when stopped, and the vacuum rods 62 are vertically disposed from the elevating bar 61 in correspondence with one group of bottles A.

Further, the bar feeders 63, 63 have a plurality of branched supply ends 63a, and each of these supply ends 63a faces directly below the vacuum rod 62.
...is a shutter type stopper that can be lowered.

The cap feeding device 260 is operated in conjunction with the index table 230, and when the bottles A of each group come to this location and pause, the lifting bar 61 is lowered and the vacuum rods 62 are fed from the bart feeder 63. Adsorb cap C and place it over the mouth of each bottle A, stop air intake, and leave it alone.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cap tightening device 270 includes an elevating bar 71 having a plurality of rotating spindles 72, an elevating mechanism 140 that moves the elevating bar 71 up and down, and each rotating spindle attached to the elevating bar 71. The rotating mechanism 73 corresponds to the index table 230 and is adjacent to the cap feeding device 260.

The elevating mechanism 140 is the same as the elevating mechanism 140 of each previous device.

The lifting bar 71 faces parallel to the bottle clamp 231 when stopped, and the rotating spindles 72 are vertically movable from the lifting bar 71 in correspondence with one group of bottles A. , are springs 72a, . The rotation mechanism 73 includes a motor 73 provided on the lifting bar 71.
a and a rotation transmission gear train.

The cap tightening device 270 is operated in conjunction with the index table 230, and when the bottles A of each group come to this position and pause, the lifting bar 71 is lowered and the rotating spindles 72 are moved Cap C attached to bottle A...
Press and rotate to tighten cap C to each bottle A.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary unloader 290 is located above the starting end of the delivery conveyor 210b, and in relation to the index table 230 and the delivery conveyor 210b, the rotary unloader 290 collects processed materials from the index table 230 when the delivery conveyor 210b is stopped. Grasp the bottles A... in units of rows and send them to the delivery conveyor 2.
The rotary unloader 29 is transferred to and accommodated in the empty container B that is being fed in pitch at the starting end of 10b.
0 is the same as the above-mentioned rotary loader 220 (FIG. 2), and illustration and detailed explanation will be omitted as reference is made to this.

Thus, in the automatic bottling apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, when the container B containing the unprocessed bottles A is fed to the introduction conveyor 210a, the container B containing the unprocessed bottles A is placed in a predetermined positional relationship at the end of the container B. Bottles A in container B are fed one by one by the rotary loader 220 to the index table 23
0 one after another, index table 2
With 30 intermittent rotations, the first
It is cleaned by the air cleaner 240 during the stroke, and the second
In the process, liquid is filled by the filling device 250, in the third process, the cap supply device 260 covers the caps C, and in the fourth process, the cap tightening device 2
When the cap C... is tightened by 70 and the processing is completed, the empty container B is further transferred by the container transfer device 210 by the rotary unloader 290 and is being pitch-fed at the starting end of the delivery conveyor 210b. Then, each line is transferred, accommodated, and sent out.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, even if bottles A... are processed in units of several rows, capping and sealing may be performed in each processing device depending on the object to be processed. You may add or exclude devices such as the above, or you may change the specific configuration in terms of design.

Furthermore, the processed bottles that have been sent out may be subsequently sent to a packaging device or the like.

"Effects of the Invention" According to the present invention, a plurality of bottles accommodated in rows and columns in a container are processed as a row unit.
Processing speed and efficiency can be improved, and if a container containing bottles brought in from a container manufacturer is fed directly to the container transfer device, the processed bottles will be stored in the container and delivered, so there will be no need for workers to without having to bother with the hands of
Therefore, contamination by tentacles may occur, cracks,
No damage such as deterioration of physical properties, deformation, discoloration, etc. due to chipping, cracking, bulging, or bulging, and no decrease in yield.

In addition, since the bottles brought in and the containers that housed them match when taken out, container manufacturers mark the containers with information such as the contents, lot number, machine number, date of manufacture, and factory name. This allows efficient integrated work in which the container manufacturer and the content manufacturer are directly connected, and the content manufacturer can continue to package bottles into individual containers, which can then be shipped directly to wholesalers, retailers, etc.

Furthermore, as a container transfer device, an inlet conveyor and an outlet conveyor are arranged at right angles, and a direction change transfer device is arranged at the corner, and an index table is arranged inside the corner, so that containers and The general flow path of the bottles is streamlined, making it simpler and less wasteful, making it possible to downsize the equipment as a whole and reduce factory space.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the configuration, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are perspective views specifically showing each component. 210... Container transfer device, 220... Rotary loader, 230... Index table, 240...
Air cleaner, 250... Filling device, 260... Cap supply device, 270... Cap tightening device, 28
0... Stamping device, 290... Rotating unloader.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container transfer device in which an inlet conveyor and an outfeed conveyor are arranged at right angles, and a direction change transfer device is provided at a corner thereof to introduce a container containing a plurality of bottles in predetermined rows and columns, and the container transfer device an index table that rotates intermittently placed inside the corner of the bottle, and a rotary loader that extracts bottles line by line from the container introduced by the introduction conveyor and transfers them one after another to the starting point of the index table when stopped. , a cleaner, a filling device, a cap feeding device, and a cap tightening device, which are sequentially arranged around the index table and process the bottles in each row of the above-mentioned bottles on the index table at once when the index table is stopped. and a rotary unloader that transfers and stores all processed bottles one after another in rows from the end point of the index table at the time of stop to the empty containers sent to the delivery conveyor by the container transfer device. Automatic bottling equipment consisting of.