JPS6234648B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cap supplying device for supplying caps to a capping applicator used, for example, in the production of cartridge-filled films.

Generally, capping is performed by a cap supplying process in which the cap is supplied to a capping applicator, and a capping process in which the cap is fitted onto the cartridge body member in the capping applicator.

Therefore, in order to perform capping at low cost, a capping applicator that performs capping sequentially has been developed, but in order to not lose the features of this capping applicator, It is required to use a feeding device that can reliably feed the caps to the capping applicator, and for this purpose, a vibrating parts feeder or the like is used to feed the caps at a rate higher than that consumed by the capping applicator. We are trying to maintain an oversupply condition at all times.

However, in this series of processes, it is often necessary to stop the capping applicator, such as when the cap or cartridge body member contains a defective material and the desired capping cannot be performed. However, there was a drawback in that a surprisingly large amount of unnecessary power was consumed by the parts feeder while the parts feeder was stopped.

The present invention was developed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cap supply device that can reliably supply caps to a capping applicator and has low operating costs. do.

Its features include a cap feeding mechanism that feeds the cap along the feeding path to the capping applicator, and a mechanism that monitors the passage of the cap along the feeding path and changes its output each time the cap passes. The cap supply control system includes a monitoring mechanism including a light sensor, and a cap supply control system that reduces the supply capacity of the cap supply mechanism when the caps sent to the monitoring area of the monitoring mechanism are accumulated. The present invention includes a delay circuit that generates a drive signal that reduces the supply capacity of the cap supply mechanism when the output of the optical sensor in the monitoring mechanism does not change for a set time period or more due to retention of caps.

According to such a configuration, when the capping applicator is operating normally, the caps are supplied at a normal feeding rate without staying in the monitoring area of the monitoring mechanism, so that the optical sensor in the monitoring mechanism The output of the cap will change by repeatedly turning on and off each time the cap passes through the monitoring area, but by setting the above setting time to a value larger than the time required to repeat this on and off, the output of the cap will change. During the OFF cycle, the delay circuit does not generate a drive signal that reduces the feeding capacity of the cap feeding mechanism, so that the cap feeding mechanism continues to operate normally, thereby allowing the cap to feed at the normal feed rate. On the other hand, when some trouble occurs and the capping operation of the capping applicator stops, the cap remains in the monitoring area of the monitoring mechanism, so the output of the optical sensor in the monitoring mechanism is turned on or off. The OFF state continues beyond the set time, and the delay circuit generates a drive signal that reduces the supply capacity of the cap supply mechanism, and this drive signal reduces the supply capacity of the cap supply mechanism. As a result, the feeding of the cap by the cap feeding mechanism is effectively stopped, and when there is no problem with the capping applicator, the cap can be fed smoothly, whereas when a problem occurs with the capping applicator, the cap can be fed smoothly. Since the power consumption of the supply mechanism is reduced, it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption, and as a result, the operating cost of the device can be kept low.Also, since the operation of the cap supply mechanism is not completely stopped, it is possible to restart the cap again. The supply capacity rises quickly when starting to feed out the cap, making it possible to increase the cap supply efficiency.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cap feeding device that feeds caps to a capping applicator used in the production of cartridge-filled film. Reference numeral 1 denotes a vibrating parts feeder (hereinafter referred to as "parts feeder") that constitutes the cap feeding mechanism. A tray portion 11 for accommodating the caps is formed in the upper part of the parts feeder 1, and a spiral feeding path P1 through which the caps are fed in a line is formed on the inner surface of the tray portion 11. There is. Connected to the tip of this feed path P1 is an inclined feed path P2 consisting of a chute 2 that is inclined downward and has one feed mechanism (not shown) at its downstream end. This chute 2 constitutes a feeding path P together with the spiral feeding path P1, and the cap from its discharge port is connected to a cap holder 31 that constitutes the capping applicator 3.
received by.

The cap holder 31 is provided on a gate-shaped rotating support frame 32 that rotates around a rotation center After being rotated to the side, the cap in the cap holder 31 is fitted and attached to the cartridge body member located in the front, and then returned to its original position to prepare for the next capping.

A reflective photoelectric sensor 6 and an air nozzle 7 are connected behind the spiral feeding path P1 following the dish portion 11 of the parts feeder 1 through holes 61 and 71 formed in the feeding path member related to the feeding path P1. They are installed in this order along P1, and a photoelectric sensor 6 distinguishes between the front and back sides based on the difference in paint color between the front and back sides of the cap, and the pressurized air flow from the air nozzle 7 is applied to only those caps that are not in the required condition. is selectively sprayed to blow it away. In addition, as a means for selectively feeding the caps, the photoelectric sensor 6 is not used, and the air nozzle is directly opposed to the spiral feeding path P1 at an appropriate angle, and the skirt portion and center hole related to the fitting portion of the caps are directly opposed to the spiral feeding path P1. The fact that the state of resistance to air flow due to the cross-sectional shape of the cap is different between the front side and the back side may be used to blow off only the inappropriately oriented caps from the feed path P1.

The chute 2 in the feeding path P has a side wall 2
Long hole 2 extending in the length direction in the center of 1 and 21'
2, 22' are formed to face each other,
In the middle of this chute 2, a sensor pair 4 consisting of a light emitting element E and a light receiving sensor S facing each other through the elongated holes 22 and 22' is provided to constitute a monitoring mechanism so as to monitor the passage of the cap. .
The light-emitting element E and the light-receiving sensor S are installed at a position in which their aligned optical axes pass through the passage level of the center hole of the cap in the width direction of the chute 2, and in the longitudinal direction of the chute 2. Regarding the direction, it is assumed that the light beam directed from the light emitting element E toward the light receiving sensor S is blocked by the stopped collar of the cap when the cap is retained.

A pair of sensors 4 constituting the monitoring mechanism
A cap supply control system is connected to. This cap supply control system controls the parts feeder, which is the cap supply mechanism, when the output of the sensor pair 4 in the monitoring mechanism does not change for more than a set time determined based on the consumption rate of the caps passing through the monitoring area in a normal state. A delay circuit (not shown) that generates a drive signal that reduces the supply capacity of 1
and a mechanism (not shown) that excites the parts feeder 1 at a low voltage when the drive signal is generated from the delay circuit, and a mechanism (not shown) that excites the parts feeder 1 with a low voltage when the drive signal is not generated from the delay circuit. It has a mechanism (not shown) for excitation, that is, high voltage excitation in the state.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the capping applicator has been operating normally since the light beam reaching the light receiving sensor S from the light emitting element E through the center hole of the cap is blocked. The light beam is still blocked even after the set time, which is longer than the time t required for one cap to pass through the light beam transmission area, that is, the monitoring area, which is determined according to the consumption rate of the cap according to 3. When the output of the sensor pair 4 remains on or off and does not change, the delay circuit generates a drive signal that reduces the supply capacity of the parts feeder 1, and this drive signal excites the parts feeder 1 with a low voltage. supply capacity will decline. On the other hand, when the light beam from the light emitting element E is released from the blocking state and reaches the light receiving sensor S before the set time elapses, that is, the center hole of the cap changes the light beam from the blocked state to the transmitted state within the set time. repeated in sensor pair 4
When the output repeats on and off within the set time, the delay circuit does not generate the drive signal that reduces the supply capacity, and at this time, the parts feeder 1 is excited with a high voltage and its supply capacity is normal. It is said that

In an embodiment with such a configuration, only the caps from the parts feeder 1 that are oriented in a predetermined direction due to the action of the photoelectric sensor 6 and the air nozzle 7 are lined up along the feeding path P and connected to the sensor pair 4. The caps pass through the monitoring area and are sent downstream by their own weight, and the caps are fed from the feeding path P to the capping applicator 3 addressed to one cap by the single feed mechanism. The cap holder 31 is fitted into the cartridge body member.
When the capping applicator 3 is operating normally, the cap does not stay in the monitoring area related to the sensor pair 4, so the drive signal is not transmitted from the delay circuit of the cap supply control system. Therefore, the parts feeder 1 is in a normal operating state.

If a problem occurs in the capping by the capping applicator 3 and the feeding operation of the one-piece feeding mechanism is stopped, the caps stay in the chute 2 up to the monitoring area of the sensor pair 4, and therefore The light beam from the light emitting element E is interrupted for a set time that is longer than the time t corresponding to the consumption rate of the cap, and the output of the sensor pair 4 remains unchanged for more than the set time, For this reason, a drive signal is generated from the delay circuit of the cap supply control system, and as a result, the parts feeder 1 is switched from high voltage excitation to low voltage excitation and its supply capacity is reduced. will be effectively stopped. Then, when capping by the capping applicator 3 is started again and the single piece feeding mechanism starts the feeding operation again, the chute 2
Due to the weight of the caps lined up, the caps are sequentially moved downward in response to the operation of the capping applicator 3, which causes the light emitting element E to move downward.
Each time the light beam passes through the center hole of the cap, it reaches the light receiving sensor S within the set time, so at this time, no drive signal is generated from the delay circuit of the cap supply control system.
As a result, the parts feeder 1 is excited with a high voltage, and the supply capacity of the parts feeder 1 is returned to its original normal operating state.

In the present invention, the monitoring mechanism and the cap supply control system reduce the supply capacity of the cap supply mechanism, for example, the parts feeder 1, when the caps accumulate in the feeding path P. If there is a problem with capping with ping applicator 3, etc.
When the feeding operation of the individual cap feeding mechanism is stopped, that is, when the feeding operation of the cap feeding mechanism is not required, the supplying capacity of the cap feeding mechanism is reduced, so power is wasted in the cap feeding mechanism. Therefore, since a large amount of power is normally consumed when the cap supply mechanism is in an oversupply state,
We were able to achieve significant energy savings,
The operating cost of the cap supply device can be kept low, and when the operation of the capping applicator 3 returns to normal, the supply capacity of the cap supply mechanism is restored. When operating normally, always ensure that the capping applicator 3
It is possible to supply caps to customers and carry out the required capping work with high work efficiency.
When reducing the supply capacity of the cap supply mechanism, the driving source is not completely stopped, but is brought into operation to the extent that cap delivery is virtually stopped, and when the cap supply mechanism is started again. The supply capacity can be increased quickly.

Further, in the present invention, two sensor pairs each comprising a light emitting element and a light receiving sensor are provided along the feeding path P, and these sensor pairs are connected to the sensor pair 4 in both the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the chute 2.
The light receiving sensor of one of these sensor pairs located on the downstream side of the feeding path P receives a signal indicating that a light beam has been irradiated and receives that signal. The parts feeder 1 is excited with a high voltage when the light beam continues to be irradiated even after the time T in which one cap has stopped in the monitoring area according to the consumption rate of the cap. A delay circuit for high-voltage excitation, which emits a drive signal for the pulse, and a light-receiving sensor in the other pair of sensors located upstream of the feed path P receive a signal indicating that a light beam has been irradiated and receive the signal. From time to time, the cap is supplied with a delay circuit for low voltage excitation which generates a drive signal to excite the parts feeder 1 at a low voltage when the light beam is still cut off even after the time t required for the cap to move has elapsed. It may be incorporated into the control system, and in this way, two pairs of sensors constitute a monitoring mechanism, with one pair of sensors energizing the parts feeder 1 at a high voltage, and the other pair of sensors energizing the parts feeder 1 at a low voltage. By doing so, it is possible to ensure the intended operation of the cap supply control system and to simplify its configuration. Furthermore, in such an embodiment, if one sensor pair is placed on the steeply sloped chute 2 near the capping applicator 3, when the capping applicator 3 returns to operation,
Even if caps are accumulated in the feed path P upstream of one sensor pair, the caps will not be accumulated in this sensor pair, making the supply of caps even more reliable. .

When installing one pair of sensors located on the downstream side of the feed path P, please use the cap holder 3.
1, and the other pair of sensors located upstream of the feeding path P is installed at a position where the number of caps retained during the period up to 1 does not interfere with continuous work by the capping applicator 3. In this case, the location may be such that intermittent replenishment is possible to maintain a stable retention state up to one sensor pair. Specifically,
The position of each sensor pair is determined by the consumption rate of caps in the capping applicator 3, the supply rate of the parts feeder 1, etc.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cap supplying device that can reliably supply caps to a capping applicator and has low operating costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the cap feeding apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart relating to an example of a cap feeding control system. 1... Vibrating parts feeder, 11... Dish section,
2... Chute, 21, 21'... Side wall, 22,
22'...Long hole, 3...Capping applicator, 31...Cap holder, 4...Sensor pair, S...Light receiving sensor, E...Light emitting element, 6...
...Photoelectric sensor, 7...Air nozzle.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cap supply mechanism that supplies a cap to a capping applicator along a feeding path, and monitors the passage of the cap in the feeding path and changes its output each time the cap passes. The cap supply control system includes a monitoring mechanism including a light sensor, and a cap supply control system that reduces the supply capacity of the cap supply mechanism when the caps sent to the monitoring area of the monitoring mechanism are accumulated. A cap feeding device comprising a delay circuit that generates a drive signal that reduces the feeding capacity of the cap feeding mechanism when the output of the optical sensor in the monitoring mechanism does not change for a set time or more due to retention of caps.