JPH0368754B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an improvement in a conveying device used in a container cleaning device or the like.

(Prior art) Conventionally, a container supply conveyor, a pair of endless conveyance belts with grippers that grip the containers (bottles) supplied by the conveyor from both sides with grippers and convey them in reverse, and a pair of endless conveyance belts with grippers that grip the containers (bottles) supplied by the conveyor from both sides and convey them in reverse. A container (bottle) for discharging washed and drained containers during the process.
A container cleaning device has already been proposed that includes a discharge conveyor and a cleaning liquid pipe having a nozzle disposed below the container reversing path of the endless conveyance belt and facing the containers to be reversed and conveyed.

A conventional example of this container cleaning device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. Reference numeral 22a is a drive sprocket, and the shaft 21a of the drive sprocket 22a is rotatably supported on a machine frame (not shown). It is driven and rotated at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow by a driving means omitted. Further, 22b is a driven sprocket, and the shaft 21b of the driven sprocket 22b is also rotatably supported on the machine frame. Also, between these sprockets 22a and 22b, two sets of endless chains 24a and 24b are connected to these sprockets 22a and 22b.
a, 22b are stretched at appropriate intervals in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of paper in FIG. 6), and between these two sets of endless chains 24a, 24b, the body of the container (bottle) 20 is placed at an appropriate position. The two sets of endless chains 24a and 24b form a gripping device 24 for the container 20. Further, one endless chain 24b of the container gripping device 24 is
Container conveyor slat conveyors 23a, 23b and guides 28a, 28b, which will be described later, are configured to be flexible in the lateral direction (left-right direction) with respect to the traveling direction.
In order to easily feed the container (bottle) 20 sent through the endless chains 24a, 24b, and the rotary tables 26a, 26b, 26c, 2
6d and the like, the distance from the other endless chain 24a is increased via a guide roller (not shown) (see FIGS. 6 and 7).
In addition, slat conveyors 23a and 23b for conveying containers
is the sixth sprocket between the sprockets 22a and 22b.
As shown in FIG. 7, two sets of opposing endless chains 2 of the container gripping device 24 are stretched in an endless manner.
The bottom of the container 20 is supported by the containers 4a and 24b, and the container 20 is transported by being driven by a drive sprocket 22a. Further, 29a and 29b in FIG. 7 are container supply/discharge slat conveyors driven by a drive means (not shown), 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d are rotary tables arranged as shown in the figure, and 28a, 2
Reference numerals 8b, 28c, and 28d are container guides, in which the containers 20 fed from the directions of arrows A and B to the container guides 28a and 28b by the container feeding and discharging racket conveyors 29a and 29b are transferred to two series of containers via rotary tables 26a and 26b. The gripping device 24 is fed between the two opposing endless chains 24a and 24b in an upright position, and the container conveyor 23
a, 23b, and while the container conveying slat conveyors 23a, 23b run along the drive sprocket 22a as shown in FIG.
The container 20 assumes an inverted position and reaches the driven sprocket 22b while maintaining this position, during which time the container 20 is cleaned by water jets sprayed from a number of spray nozzles (not shown). After cleaning, the container 20 is moved to the driven sprocket 2.
Slat conveyor 23 for conveying containers along 2b
While a and 23b are rotating, the container guides 28a and 28d are moved to the container supply/discharge rack conveyor 29a and 29 via rotary tables 26c and 26d.
b, and is discharged out of the machine in the directions of arrows D and C by the same conveyors 29a and 29b. In FIGS. 8 and 9, reference numeral 30 denotes an elastic body with a hollow D-shaped cross section (see FIG. 9), which is attached to the endless chains 24a and 24b through a mounting member 31. Each gripper is fixed to a plurality of gripper substrates (plates) 32 fixed to the side surfaces of the links.

In the container cleaning apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the containers are sent in the directions of arrows A and B by the container feed/discharge slat conveyors 29a and 29b, and then the container guide 28
A, 28b The container 20, which is fed in an upright position between the opposing endless chains 24a, 24b of the two series of container gripping devices 24 via the rotary tables 26c, 26b, has its body positioned at the appropriate position between the endless chains. The containers are gripped via the elastic bodies 30 of 24a and 24b and conveyed by the container conveyance slat conveyors 23a and 23b, and then transferred to the drive sprocket 22 of the series.
While moving along the direction a, it assumes an inverted position as shown in Fig. 6, and while in this inverted position, it reaches the driven sprocket 22b, during which time the water is injected from a pressure water source (not shown) -> piping -> injection nozzle. Cleaned by water flow. Further, the cleaned containers 20 are placed in an upright position while the container transport slat conveyors 23a and 23b rotate around the driven sprockets 22b (see FIG. 6), and are moved to the container guides 28a and 2 shown in FIG.
8d The containers are sent out in the directions of arrows C and D via rotary tables 26a and 26d, and further discharged to the outside of the machine by container supply/discharge slat conveyors 29a and 29b.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the container cleaning apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, when the container 20 to be cleaned is a non-elastic container such as a bottle, the container is connected to an elastic body of endless chains 24a and 24b. 30
Even if the container is gripped with a handle, the container will not be deformed and cleaning of the container will not be particularly hindered. or in the case of containers that are easily damaged, use endless chains 24a and 24b.
When gripped by the elastic body 30 of the container, the container is deformed and damaged, so that it cannot be used for cleaning these containers.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems, and includes a pair of endless conveyance belts arranged substantially parallel to each other, and a direction of movement on each of the opposing surfaces of the endless conveyance belts. A gripper substrate mounted in orthogonal directions, a substantially semi-cylindrical flexible member having a C-shaped cross section with both C-shaped ends fixed to the gripper substrate, and the flexible member and the gripper. The conveying device is characterized by having a rib that protrudes from at least one side of the surface facing the substrate, and its purpose is to transport plastic bottles, aluminum cans,
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved conveying device that can grip and convey even objects to be conveyed, such as paper containers, without changing or damaging them.

(Embodiment) Next, an explanation will be given with reference to an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 in which the conveying device of the present invention is applied to a container cleaning device. Reference numeral 32 in FIGS. A gripper substrate 32 is attached to each of the opposing surfaces of a pair of endless conveyor belts (endless chains 24a, 24b shown in FIGS. 6 to 9) arranged substantially in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement. . Further, 41 in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 is a thick base fixed to each gripper board 32 via the mounting member 31, and 42 is a substantially semicylindrical flexible member. Both ends of the C-shape 42 are fixed to the base 41 on the gripper substrate 32 side. Reference numeral 43 denotes a rib formed to protrude from the base 41 on the gripper substrate 32 side toward the flexible member 42 . The flexible member 42 is adapted to deform depending on the type of container (can, bottle, etc.).
That is, if the container to be transported is a can 44 as shown in FIG. 1, it deforms as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and if it is a bottle, it deforms as shown by the two-dot chain line. At this time,
The flexible member 42 comes into contact with the rib 43 and securely grips the bottle. Further, the flexible member 42 is connected to the sprocket 22 shown in FIG.
In order to avoid interference with sprockets 22a and 22b when parts a and 22b are reversed by 180°, the width of the lower half is reduced as shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 also shows the base 41 on the gripper substrate 32 side.
Another embodiment, FIG. From the flexible member 42 to the base 41
This is still another embodiment having only ribs 45 formed to protrude toward.

(Function) Next, the function of the conveying device will be explained. When the container to be transported is a can 44, the can 44 is connected to a pair of endless transport belts (24 in FIGS. 6 to 9) arranged approximately parallel to each other.
a, 24b), a gripper substrate 30 attached to each of its opposing surfaces in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction, and a base 4 on the side of each gripper substrate 30.
At this time, the flexible member 42 is held in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. It is held and does not come into contact with the rib 43. Further, even if the dimensions of the can 44 to be conveyed change, the flexible member 42 only elastically deforms within the range of the dimensional difference and does not come into contact with the ribs 43.

When the container to be transported is a bottle, the bottle is gripped and transported in the same manner as described above, but at this time, the flexible member 42 is elastically deformed as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The bottle is securely gripped by the contact. The above operation is the same in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention and a conveyance device include a pair of endless conveyance belts arranged substantially parallel to each other, and grippers attached to opposing surfaces of each endless conveyance belt in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction. a substantially semi-cylindrical flexible member having a C-shaped cross section with both C-shaped ends fixed to the gripper substrate, and at least a surface of the flexible member facing the gripper substrate. It has ribs that protrude from one side toward the other, and the above-mentioned effect is performed, so even objects to be transported such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans, paper containers, etc. will not be deformed or damaged. It has the effect of being able to be grasped and transported without any problems.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and that various design modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing one embodiment of the conveying device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view seen from the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are bottom views showing other embodiments.
Fig. 5 is a rear view along the arrow line in Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a side view of the conventional conveying device, Fig. 7 is its plan view, Fig. 8 is its front view, and Fig. 9 is its FIG. 8 is a bottom view taken along the arrow line in FIG. 8; 24a, 24b... Endless conveyance belt, 32, 41...
... Gripper substrate, 42 ... Flexible member, 43,
45...Rib.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A pair of endless conveyance belts arranged substantially parallel to each other, a gripper board attached to each of the facing surfaces of the endless conveyance belts in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction, and a gripper board having a C-shaped cross section with both ends of the C shape. It has a substantially semi-cylindrical flexible member fixed to the gripper substrate side, and a rib formed to protrude from at least one of the facing surfaces of the flexible member and the gripper substrate toward the other side. A transport device characterized by: