JPS6234636B2 - - Google Patents

Description

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

``Problems to be solved by conventional technology and inventions'' The normal bottling method used in bottling factories involves continuously transporting bottles in a line, with an air cleaner (first step) and a filling device ( Second
A capper (third step), a stamping or labeling device (fourth step) are arranged, and bottles are drawn from the transfer line to each device, processed, and returned to the line.

In addition, a case conveyor is installed in parallel with the line, and the bottles brought in in the case are taken out and sent to the line one by one to be processed in the above-mentioned first to fourth processes. The used cases are transferred to the end of the line by a case conveyor and kept on standby, and the bottles after all processing are put back into the waiting case and carried outside.

However, this conventional method has the following drawbacks.

The bottle that was brought in and the case that contained it become mismatched when it was taken out. In other words, the route from the container manufacturer to the content manufacturer and the route from the content manufacturer to wholesalers and retailers do not match the bottles and the cases that house them.

Therefore, the container manufacturer is unable to display the contents on the case, as well as the lot number, machine number, date of manufacture, factory name, etc., and the container manufacturer and the content manufacturer are unable to perform efficient integrated work directly connected to each other. It is also essential to stamp or label each bottle.

When taking the bottle in and out of the case, glass bottles may break, chip, crack, etc., and plastic bottles are relatively less likely to have such problems, but they may cause deterioration of physical properties due to blisters, cracks, discoloration, etc.
Deformation etc. also occur.

Therefore, yield is poor and losses are large.

Furthermore, when the bottle is taken in and taken out, the bottle comes into contact with the operator's hands and becomes contaminated.

On the line, move the bottles in a line,
Furthermore, since each processing step processes one item, there is currently a limit to the processing speed.

The present invention seeks to eliminate these drawbacks.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The present invention provides a conveyor for transporting cases in which a large number of bottles are arranged in predetermined rows and columns in a fixed posture, and a conveyor is provided above the conveyor along the flow direction. A cleaner, a filling device, a cap feeding device, and a cap tightening device that process all the bottles in the case once or several times are arranged in order, and below the conveyor, these cleaners, filling devices,
The cap feeding device and the cap tightening device are each provided with a catcher which corresponds to the cap feeding device and the cap tightening device and is mechanically interlocked to temporarily hold the transferred cases as appropriate, and the packaging device is connected to the end of the conveyor. Become.

``Function'' With the above structure, if a case containing bottles brought in from a container manufacturer is sent directly to the belt conveyor, the bottle will be air-cleaned by the cleaner while still in the case, and the liquid will be removed by the filling device. is filled, a cap is placed on the cap by a cap feeding device, and the cap is tightened by a cap tightening device. When these devices are in operation, the respective catchers also work together to temporarily hold the case as appropriate to enable each process.

The bottle and case are then transferred to a packaging device, where the bottle and case are packaged into one.

"Example" The illustrated embodiment will be described below.

The illustrated embodiment relates to the bottling of sample bottles for cosmetics, etc., and FIG. 1 shows its configuration.

In this case, the top-open case B containing a large number of sample bottles A arranged vertically and horizontally is transferred as is on the belt conveyor 1, and during the transfer, the bottles A in case B are transferred several times to each other. ,
Clean (first step), fill with lotion, etc. (second step), supply the cap (third step), tighten the cap (fourth step), and then continue to bottle A.
...is packaged together with Case B (5th step).

Next, the device will be specifically explained.

As shown in FIG. 1, the belt conveyor 1 that transports the cases 1 includes a cleaner 2 in the first stage, a filling device 3 in the second stage, a cap feeding device 4 in the third stage, and a cap feeding device 4 in the fourth stage. Cap tightening device 5
are provided one after another, and the belt conveyor 1 is equipped with the second
As shown in the figures to FIG.
Case guides 12, 12 are provided on the frame 11 in parallel with each other and are supported and fixed to the frames, and an endless annular flat belt 13 is positioned between the frames 11, 11. It is stretched around rollers (not shown) provided at both ends, and a power source such as a motor is connected to one of the rollers, and is operated by this.

Note that the flat belt 13 is appropriately associated with an idler, a tension roller, etc. installed on the frame. If the flat belt has a U-shaped cross section, a case guide is not necessary.

The belt conveyor 1 transports the case 1 containing the bottles A on a flat belt 13, and at this time, both sides of the case 1 are placed on the flat belt 13,
to keep Case 1 in a constant direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaner 2 is fixed to both frames 11, 11.
A fluid pressure cylinder 22, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, is fixed to the support body 21 that spans between the belts, and the cylinder 22 moves up and down a lifting plate 23 located above the flat belt 13, and from the lifting plate 23 downward. A plurality of nozzles 24 are arranged and protruded so that they can be inserted into all the bottles A in one row in the transferred case B as the elevating plate 23 is lowered.

The nozzles 24 are each composed of an air nozzle and a vacuum nozzle, and the air nozzle is connected to an air tank and a vacuum tank (not shown) via an air hose 25, and the vacuum nozzle is connected to a vacuum tank (not shown) via an air hose 25... By supplying compressed air into the bottle and sucking out the air inside the bottle with a vacuum nozzle, the inside of the bottle A can be cleaned.

The cleaner 2 also includes a catcher 7 that catches the case B transferred below the flat belt 13 and sets it at a predetermined position.
72 has a pair of catch bars 73, 73 which are pushed up from both sides of the flat belt 13 and fed in appropriate pitches toward the belt. Abutment positioning stopper 73
a, 73a.

In addition, 1 pitch of the above pitch feed is case B.
It is set according to the line spacing of the bottles A... housed in the bottle A.

The above-mentioned cleaner 2 and catcher 7 are automatically operated in relation to each other as described below by means of timing operation means or known electrical or mechanical detection means and automatic control means.

On the belt conveyor 1, when the case B containing the bottles A is carried on the flat belt 13, the waiting catch bars 73, 7
Then, the hydraulic cylinder 71 is actuated to raise the catch bars 73, 73, and the catch bars pick up the case B and set it in a predetermined position.

At the same time, the fluid pressure cylinder 22 in the cleaner 2 is activated, the elevating plate 23 is lowered, and the nozzle 2
Insert 4... into bottle A... in the first row.

As a result, the bottles A in the first row are cleaned of air, and then the elevating plate 23 is raised by the fluid pressure cylinder 22 to remove the nozzles 24 from the bottles A. At the same time, the catch bars 73 and 73 are 1 in the moving direction of the flat belt 13 by the cylinder 72.
Pitch the bottle A in the second row to nozzle 2.
4. Make it correspond to...

Thereafter, the same operation as above is repeated to clean the air of all bottles A, and finally, the catch bar 73,
73 is deeply pulled down below the flat belt 13 by the fluid pressure cylinder 71, and the case B is moved again to the flat belt 1.
3 and send it out, after which everything returns to its original state.

As shown in FIG. 3, the filling device 3 has a fluid pressure cylinder 32, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, fixed to a support 31 that is fixed to both frames 11, 11 of the belt conveyor 1 and spans between the frames 11, 11. The cylinder 32 moves the lifting plate 33 located above the flat belt 13 up and down, and the lifting plate 3
Bottle A in case B transferred downward from 3
...The elevator plate 33 for all the items in the middle
Multiple filling nozzles 3 for insertion as the
4... are arranged protrudingly.

The filling nozzle 34... is connected to a pump 36 installed on the side of the frame 11 via a hose 35...
36, and the pumps 36, 36 are connected to a filling liquid tank (not shown).

The filling device 3 also includes a catcher 7 that is the same as the catcher 7 of the cleaner 2.

The filling device 3 and the catcher 7 are automatically operated in relation to each other by timing operation means or known electrical or mechanical detection means and automatic control means as follows.

Bottle A, which has been transported by belt conveyor 1 after the air has been cleaned by cleaner 2, is stored in case B.
When it reaches the filling device 3, the cleaner 2
As in case B, the case B hits the positioning stoppers 73a, 73a (catch bar) of the waiting catcher 7, and the catch bars 73, 73 are raised by the hydraulic cylinder 71, and the catch bar picks up the case B and places it in a predetermined position. Set to .

Accordingly, in the filling device 3, the fluid pressure cylinder 32 is activated to lower the elevating plate 33, and the filling nozzles 34 are inserted into the bottles A in the first row.
At the same time, the pumps 36, 36 are operated to fill the bottles A with a predetermined amount of filling liquid from the filling nozzles 34.

Next, the elevating plate 33 is raised by the fluid pressure cylinder 32 to remove the filling nozzles 34 from the bottles A, and the catch bars 73 are moved one pitch in the direction of movement of the flat belt 13 by the fluid pressure cylinder 72, and the second Filling the bottle A in the row with the nozzle 34...
correspond to

After that, repeat the same operation as above and bottle A.
...When all the batteries are filled, the catch bar 73,
73 is deeply pulled down below the flat belt 13 by the fluid pressure cylinder 71, and the case B is moved again to the flat belt 1.
3 and send it out, everything will return to its original state.

The cap supply device 4, as shown in FIG.
Two fluid pressure cylinders 42 and 43, such as pneumatic pressure and hydraulic pressure, with different strokes are fixed to a support body 41 that spans both frames 11 and 11 of the belt conveyor 1, and the cylinders 42 and 43 are positioned above the flat belt 13. The upper and lower lifting plates 44 and 45 are moved up and down in two steps.

Note that if one fluid pressure cylinder can perform two-stage operation, only one fluid pressure cylinder is required.

The lower elevating plate 45 is attached to the upper elevating plate 44 so as to be able to move laterally (in the direction of the flat belt). I'm trying to make it move.

Vacuum spindles 47 are vertically installed on the lower elevating plate 45 in correspondence with the bottles A of the row of case B being sent, and the spindles 47 are connected to the vacuum tanks via vacuum hoses. (not shown).

A cap parts feeder 48 is installed on the side of the support 41, and its tip 48a is inserted into the inside of the support 41 (above the flat belt) in parallel with the rows of vacuum spindles 47.

The above-mentioned cap feeding device 4 is also equipped with the same catcher 7 as the catcher 7 of the cleaner 2, and is mutually controlled by timing actuation means or known electrical or mechanical detection means and automatic control means.
The related operations are automatically performed as follows.

Case B in which bottles A are filled with liquid by the filling device 3 and transported by the belt conveyor 1.
When the case B reaches the cap supply device 4, the catcher 7 picks up the case B and sets it in a predetermined position, as before.

At the same time, one of the hydraulic cylinders 42 for vertical movement operates to lower both the lifting plates 44, 45 and the vacuum spindle 47. ... adsorbs and rises. Next, the fluid pressure cylinder 46 is actuated to move the lower elevating plate 45 laterally, and further, the other hydraulic cylinder 43 for vertical movement is actuated to move both the elevating plates 44, 45.
Accordingly, the vacuum spindle 47... descends again, covers the cap C... which is adsorbed, on the bottle A... in the first row, stops the vacuum, and moves the cap C...
Leave it alone, then rise and move backwards and forwards,
Return to original state.

After that, the catcher 7 sends case B to one pitch as before, and caps bottles A in successive rows as described above.
After all the caps are finished, they are placed on the flat belt 13 and sent out, and both the catcher 7 and the cap feeding device 4 return to their original states.

The cap tightening device 5, as shown in FIG.
A fluid pressure cylinder 52, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, is fixed to a support 51 that is fixed across both frames 11, 11 of the belt conveyor 1, and the cylinder 52 is used to move the upper part of the flat belt 13 through relay members 53, 54. An elevating plate 55 provided in the vertical axis is movable up and down, and a plurality of rotary spindles 56 corresponding to one row of bottles A are vertically disposed vertically on the elevating plate 55, and these rotating spindles 56... , are movable up and down, and spring downward by springs 57, and are moved upward and downward by means of interlocking means such as gears.
A motor 58 provided at the center ensures uniform rotation.

Furthermore, a plurality of horizontal hydraulic cylinders 59a and clamps 59 actuated by the hydraulic cylinders 59a are mounted on the support body 51.
A clamper 59 consisting of the above-mentioned rotating spindles 56 is provided so that a row of bottles A corresponding to the rotating spindles 56 can be clamped at once.

The cap tightening device 5 described above is also equipped with a catcher 7 like the previous devices, and is controlled by timing actuating means or electrical or mechanical known detection means and automatic control means as follows. The relevant information is automatically activated.

All bottles A accommodated by the cap supply device 4...
The case B, which has been transferred by the belt conveyor 1 with the cap C... covered, is transferred to the cap tightening device 5.
When the case B is reached, the catcher 7 picks up the case B and sets it in place, as in the previous device.

At the same time, the clamper 59 operates to clamp the bottles A in the first row, and the fluid pressure cylinder 5
2 is activated, the elevating plate 55 is lowered, and at the same time, the motor 58 rotates the rotary spindles 56, which press the caps C covering the bottles A in the first row. It rotates, tightens onto the bottle, then rises and returns.

Thereafter, case B is sent to one pitch by catcher 7 as in the case of the previous device, and cap C... is sent to bottles A... in successive rows as described above.
After all the parts are tightened, they are placed on the flat belt 13 and sent out, and everything returns to its original state.

As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging device 6 is connected to the end of the belt conveyor 1, and specifically, as shown in FIG.
, a supply device 62 for the heat-shrinkable synthetic resin half-folded film 8, a film opening device 63 at the next stage of the introducing belt conveyor 61, a film adhering device 64 at the next stage of the device 63, and a film applying device 64 at the next stage of the device 64. It consists of a shrink tunnel 65 at the next stage and a delivery roller conveyor 66.

The introduction belt conveyor 61 has a pair of flat belts 61a, 61a, which are stretched by rotating rollers supported by a frame (not shown) and are appropriately driven by a motor or the like, and which are supported by the frame on both sides. A pair of case guides 61
b, 61b, and a case feeding arm 61c is provided between both flat belts. The arm 6
1c is not shown, but flat belts 61a, 61
The case B introduced onto the flat belts 61a, 61a is pushed into the film opening device 63 at the next stage by being operated by a drive device located below the flat belts 61a, 61a.

The film opening device 63 has a table 63a on which the case B is placed, and a frame 63b provided above the table 63a so as to be movable up and down by a hydraulic cylinder or the like. A plurality of vacuum nozzles 63c..., 63d
... are opened, these nozzles are connected to a vacuum tank (not shown) via a vacuum hose (not shown), and the case B on the table 63a is pushed into the next stage film deposition device 64. A case feed bar 63e is provided, and although not shown, the case feed bar 63e is operated by an appropriate drive mechanism.

The film adhering device 64 includes a frame-shaped film closing heater provided above a suitably constructed and driven belt conveyor 64a that introduces the case B and sends it out to the next stage so as to move up and down with a fluid pressure cylinder or the like. 64b.

The Shrink tunnel 65 has a heating device therein, and is equipped on a delivery roller conveyor 66, and a supply device 62 for the heat-shrinkable synthetic resin half-folded film 8 is provided on the side of the film opening device 63. The film support portions 62a, 6
2a and a guide roller 62b.

The introduction belt conveyor 61, film opening device 63, film adhering device 64, shrink tunnel 65, and delivery roller conveyor 66 are as follows:
Timing actuation means or known electrical or mechanical detection means and automatic control means are adapted to operate automatically in conjunction with each other as follows.

When a case B containing processed bottles A is sent from the preceding belt conveyor 1 to the introduction belt conveyor 61, the introduction belt conveyor 61
is transferred while maintaining a constant posture by case guides 61b, 61b, and pushed into the next stage film opening device 63 by case feed arm 61c.

The film opening device 63 introduces the half-folded film 8 from the heat-shrinkable synthetic resin half-folded film 8 supplying device 62 in a backward posture on the folded side, and sucks both half-folded films into upper and lower vacuum nozzles 63c..., 63d... The case B is opened and waiting, and the pushed case B enters inside the half-folded film 8.

Next, the vacuum nozzles 63c..., 63d...
Stop the adsorption of the case B, and move the case B to the case feed bar 63e.
The film is sent together with the half-folded film 8 to the next stage film adhering device 64. Thereafter, the case feed bar 63e returns, and the frame body 63b descends to attract both halves of the half-folded film 8 to the vacuum nozzles 63c, 63d, etc., and rises to wait in the above-mentioned introduction position.

The film adhering device 64 brings the case B and the half-folded film 8 to a predetermined position using a belt conveyor 64a, and the film closing heater 64b descends to weld both the top and bottom of the half-folded film 8 together around the case B. At the same time, the subsequent film is cut to cover the entire case B and bottles A with the film, and the film is sent to the next delivery roller conveyor 66 by the belt conveyor 64a at the same time as the film closing heater 64b returns to the upward position.

The delivery roller conveyor 66 transports bottles A and cases B coated with heat-shrinkable synthetic resin films and passes them through a shrink tunnel 65, which heats the coated film D appropriately. The film D is then shrunk to remove any slack, and the packaging is completed. The delivery roller conveyor 66 sends this out.

Therefore, the automatic bottling device of the illustrated embodiment is as follows:
As described above, if case B containing bottles A... brought in from a container manufacturer is sent to belt conveyor 1 along with the case, bottles A... will remain in case B during the first process. In the second step, the air is cleaned by the cleaner 2, and in the second step, the liquid is filled by the filling device 3. In the third step, the cap supply device 4 covers the cap C..., and in the fourth step, the cap is tightened by the cap tightening device 5. Then, the packaging device 6 wraps the entire bottles A and Case B with synthetic resin film, and sends them out to wholesalers and retailers. can be carried to.

In the above embodiment, in each device in the first to fourth steps, the entire bottle A in case B is processed several times for one line, but this process is repeated several times for each line. Alternatively, all of them may be processed at once. In this case, make the elevating plate of each device larger,
Nozzles 24 and 34 in the cleaner 2 and filling device
The cap feeding device 4 is equipped with a vacuum spindle 47 and a cap parts feeder 48, and the cap tightening device 5 is equipped with a rotary spindle 56 and a clamper 59, respectively, and the catcher 7 of each device is operated accordingly. Just do it.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the object to be processed is a sample bottle, but the object is not limited thereto.

The above-mentioned first to fifth steps may not all be necessary depending on the object to be treated, and steps for performing different operations such as capping and sealing may be added, and the selection of each part and device may be made as appropriate. The specific configuration of these devices may be changed in design as required.

``Effects of the Invention'' According to the present invention, while a large number of bottles are housed in a case and being sent on a conveyor, the cleaner, filling device, cap feeding device, and cap tightening device sequentially send the bottles to multiple destinations simultaneously. , cleaning, filling, and attaching caps, and furthermore, packaging can be continued using the packaging device. Therefore, various processes can be consistently and automatically carried out with high efficiency while the case is still housed, improving speed and efficiency.

In addition, there is no need to take the bottles out of the case and put them back in, and there will be no discrepancies between before and after processing, so container manufacturers can display the contents on the case, lot number, machine number, manufacturing date, factory name, etc. This allows for highly efficient integrated work in which container manufacturers and content manufacturers are directly connected, and it becomes possible to omit markings, labeling, and other markings on each bottle.

Furthermore, since the bottles are not taken out or taken out of the case, there is no damage such as deformation, discoloration, or deterioration of physical properties due to bottle breakage, chips, cracks, bulges, or swells, improving yields and preventing contamination of the bottles by workers' tentacles. Does not occur.

Furthermore, there is no need for a bottle insertion/extraction device or a case transfer conveyor, making it possible to downsize the device and equipment and be economical.

[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 part and device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Belt conveyor, 2... Cleaner, 3... Filling device, 4... Cap feeding device, 5... Cap tightening device, 6... Packing device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A conveyor is provided that transports cases in which a large number of bottles are arranged in predetermined rows and columns in a fixed posture, and above the conveyor, the bottles in the cases are sequentially conveyed in the direction of flow. A cleaner, a filling device, a cap feeding device, and a cap tightening device that process all the caps in several times are installed, and each of the cleaner, filling device, cap feeding device, and cap tightening device is located below the conveyor. An automatic bottling device characterized in that catchers are provided correspondingly and mechanically interlocked to appropriately temporarily hold transferred cases, and a packaging device is connected to the end of the conveyor.