JPH0479917B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic pot lid attachment/detachment system that removes the lid from a filled pot, cleans it, and attaches it to an empty pot. be.

[Prior art]

When transporting a liquid, such as a photographic emulsion, a cylindrical pot is used. After filling the pot with the photographic emulsion, a lid is fitted to the opening and the pot is transported to the coating process within the factory. be done. During the application process, the lid is removed from the filled pot to remove the contents. The pot from which the contents have been removed is cleaned internally, covered with a separately cleaned lid, and returned to the manufacturing process, where it is refilled and reused.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Conventionally, when removing a lid from a pot or putting a lid on an empty pot that has been cleaned, a worker had to do it by hand, which posed the problem of requiring a lot of labor.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic pot lid attachment/detachment system that automatically performs operations from removal of the lid to attachment of the lid, thereby saving labor.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention sets a lid removal station in the transfer path of the pot filled with contents and fitted with a lid, and the pot with a fitted lid is sent to this lid removal station. Sometimes, a lid removal means is provided for holding and removing the lid of the pot. This lid removing means moves the lid removed from the pot to a cleaning station and a transfer station that are removed from the pot transfer path while holding the lid, and then releases the lid from being held. A cleaning means is installed in the cleaning station, and the lid is cleaned while being held by the lid removal means. The lid after cleaning is sent to the transfer station by the lid removal means, and the transfer station further sends the lid after cleaning to the lid storage station by the transfer means. The lid storage station is provided with a lid storage means for stacking and storing the lids after washing. Between the lid storage means and the empty pot transfer path, when the empty pot reaches the mounting station in the empty pot transfer path, the lid mounting means takes out the cleaned lid from the lid storage means and transfers the empty pot to the empty pot. A lid attachment means is provided for fitting the lid to the lid.

[Effect]

When the pot with the fitted lid and its contents comes to the lid removal station, the lid removal means holds and removes the lid from the pot and moves the lid to the transfer station via a cleaning station outside the pot transfer path. . The lid is automatically cleaned as it passes through the cleaning station, and the cleaned lid is placed on the transfer station. The thus cleaned lids are sent to the lid storage means by a transfer means provided in the transfer station and stored in a stacked state. The lid mounting means operates between the lid storage means and the mounting station in the empty pot transfer path, and fits the cleaned lid taken out from the lid storage means into the empty pot moved to the mounting station.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the present invention, in which a pot 1 filled with contents is transferred along a transfer path 10 with a lid 2 covering it. This transfer path 10
consists of a plurality of transport rollers arranged at a predetermined pitch. When the filled pot 1 transferred through the transfer path 10 reaches the lid removal station A, the transfer is temporarily stopped, and during this stop, the lid 2 is removed by the lid removal machine 11. The lid removal machine 11 reaches the transfer station C from the lid removal station A via the cleaning station B, returns to the lid removal station A again, and has an arm 12 waiting for the removal of the next lid, and this arm 12. A vacuum pad 13 is attached to the tip of the vacuum pad 13. At the cleaning station B, the rotation of the arm 12 is temporarily stopped, and during this period, the inside of the lid 2 is cleaned by the cleaning machine 14 for a certain period of time while the lid 2 is held by the vacuum pad 13. At the transfer station C, the lid 2 is released from being held and placed on the transfer roller 15. This transfer roller 15 sends the lid 2 to the lid storage station D. A lid storage machine 16 is disposed at this lid storage station D, and is activated when it detects that the lids 2 have been sent to stack and temporarily stock the lids 2.

By rotating the arm 12 of the lid removal machine 11,
When it is detected that the removal of the lid 2 is completed,
A transfer roller at the lid removal station A rotates and transports the filled pot 1 thereon towards the emptying device 20 . The empty pot 1 from which the contents have been removed by the contents removal device 20 is sent to a washing machine 21. This cleaning machine 21 is equipped with a nozzle that sprays cleaning liquid, and cleans the inside of the empty pot 1. When the cleaned empty pot 1 reaches the lid attachment station E,
The lid mounting machine 24 starts operating. This lid attachment machine 2
4 is equipped with an arm 25 that swings between the lid storage station D and the lid mounting station E, and a vacuum pad 26 attached to the tip of the arm 25, which allows the empty pot 1 to reach the lid mounting station E. When detected, the lid 2 stored in the lid storage machine 16
is held and carried to the lid mounting station E, where it is fitted into the mouth of the empty pot 1 which is temporarily stopped. The empty pot 1 with the lid 2 attached thereto is transferred toward a return station (not shown) when the arm 25 starts returning toward the lid storage station D after the lid 2 is attached.

The lid removal machine 11 is activated when it is detected by an optical or mechanical switch that the filled pot 1 has reached the lid removal station A;
Execute the sequence described above. Further, the lid mounting machine 24 is activated when it detects that the empty pot 1 has arrived at the lid mounting station E, and executes the above-described sequence. Furthermore, the lid removal station A
The transfer roller located at is linked to the lid removal machine 11 and is activated after the removal of the lid 2 is completed. Similarly, the transfer rollers at the lid application station E are linked to the lid application machine 24 and are activated when the application of the lid 2 is completed. The lid storage machine 16 is provided so that the lid removing machine 11 and the lid mounting machine 24 can operate independently without synchronization.

FIG. 2 shows the lid removal machine. The rotation of the motor 30 is caused by a rotation shaft 32 via a reducer 31.
transmitted to. Since the arm 12 is fixed to the tip of the rotating shaft 32, the motor 3
0 rotates, the arm 12 rotates according to the amount of rotation.
rotates. An air cylinder 33 is attached to the tip of the arm 12, and a vacuum pad holder 34 is fixed to a piston rod 33a of the air cylinder 33. When the piston rod 33a moves forward, the vacuum pot holder 34 is guided by the guide shaft 35 and lowered to press the vacuum pad 13 attached to the tip of the metal pipe 36 against the upper surface of the lid 2. This metal pipe 36 is connected to a vacuum source (not shown) via a flexible pipe 37, and can be retracted somewhat upward against a spring 38. Note that since the lid mounting machine 24 has the same structure as the lid removing machine 11, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The lidded pot 1 sent through the transfer path 10 is
It rides on a plurality of transfer rollers 40 at the lid removal station A. This transfer roller 40 is driven by a motor with a brake (not shown), and when a sensor (not shown) detects that the lidded pot 1 has reached a predetermined position, Rotation temporarily stops. Thereafter, the air cylinder 33 is operated to lower the vacuum pad 13 so as to press it against the lid 2 and adsorb it. After this suction, the air cylinder 33 is operated to pull up the vacuum pad 13 while holding the lid 2.

After removing the lid 2 from the filled pot 1, the motor 30 rotates to rotate the arm 12 approximately 90 degrees. When this arm 12 rotates 90 degrees, the lid 2 reaches the cleaning station B, and the inside of the lid 2 is cleaned by the cleaning machine 14. After this cleaning, the motor 30 rotates again to rotate the arm 12 another 90 degrees and transport the lid 2 to the transfer station C. In this transfer station C, after the air cylinder 33 is operated to lower the vacuum pad 13, the atmosphere is introduced into the vacuum pad 13 to release the adsorption of the lid 2 and place it on the transfer roller 15. .

After releasing the lid 2, the air cylinder 33 is actuated to raise the vacuum pad 13, and then the motor 30 is reversed to return the arm 12 to the lid removal station A, waiting for the next lid removal. . Note that reference numeral 41 is a frame that supports the transfer roller 40, and reference numeral 42 is a frame that supports the lid removal machine 11.
This is the frame.

Figures 3 and 4 show the washing machine.
The cleaning machine 14 includes a cylindrical container 45, a cleaning ring 46 housed inside the container 45, and a spray ball 47. The cleaning ring 46
is provided with a plurality of nozzles 46a, and is arranged above the container 45 to clean the inside of the fitting groove 2a of the lid 2. In addition, this cleaning ring 46 is installed at a position 180 degrees apart from the liquid sending pipe 4 so that the cleaning liquid can be sprayed uniformly at all positions.
8 and 49 are connected to each other.

When arm 12 reaches washing station B,
The air cylinder 33 is actuated to lower the vacuum pad 13 and push the lid 2 into the container 45. After this,
The valve 50 opens and the cleaning liquid sent from the liquid sending pipe 51 is sent to the cleaning ring 46 and the spray ball 4.
Send to 7. The cleaning liquid sprayed from the nozzle 46a of the cleaning ring 46 cleans the fitting groove 2a of the lid 2. Further, the cleaning liquid sent to the spray ball 47 is sprayed from its nozzle 47a to clean the inner surface of the lid 2. When cleaning is carried out for a certain period of time,
The valve 50 closes, and at the same time the air cylinder 33 operates to suck and hold the lid 2 while the container 45 is closed.
pull it up from

Figures 5 and 6 show the lid storage machine. When the washed lid 2 is placed on the transfer roller 15, the transfer roller 15 rotates and transfers it to the lid storage machine 16. This lid storage machine 16 has a top cover 56 having a hole 56a slightly larger than the lid 2 attached to the top of a frame 55. Guide rods 57 to 59 for guiding the lid 2 are provided inside the hole 56a. Note that the upper end of the guide rod 59 in the transfer area of the lid 2 is located at a lower position than the top cover 56 in order to prevent it from colliding with the lid 2.

Air cylinders 60 are attached to the upper left and right sides of the frame 55, and one end of an arm 62 is attached to the cylinder rod 60a. This arm 62 is connected to the air cylinder 60
When activated, the lid 2 rotates around the shaft 63 and pushes the lid 2 to a position where it comes into contact with the guide rods 57 and 58. Note that reference numeral 64 is a guide arm fixed to the upper end of the top cover 56 in order to regulate the position of the lid 2 in the left-right direction.

The support plate 66 is housed within the frame 55, and when the lid 2 matches the hole 56a of the top cover 56, it is lowered by the thickness of the lid 2. This support plate 66 is fixed to the tip of a rod 68 inserted through a pair of bearings 67. The lower end of this rod 68 is fixed to a movable plate 70 screwed onto a threaded rod 69. The threaded rod 69 has bearings 71, 7
2, and is rotated by a motor 73 with a brake.

The lid 2 transferred by the transfer roller 15 stops with its front half resting on the top cover 56. Immediately after that, the air cylinder 60 is activated, swinging the arm 62 and pushing the back of the lid 2. The lid 2 pushed by this arm 62 is connected to a pair of guide rods 5
7, 58 and is positioned. Note that since the air cylinder 60 reciprocates once, the arm 62 is normally retracted to the illustrated state.

When it is detected that the lid 2 matches the hole 56a of the top cover 56, the motor 73 rotates and the threaded rod 69 lowers the movable plate 70 by the thickness of the lid 2. When this moving plate 70 descends,
The support plate 66 connected via the rod 68 is lowered so that the upper surface of the lid 2 located at the top is at the same height as the top cover 56. Similarly, the support plate 6
By lowering the lids 6, the lids 2 are stacked one after another. The lids 2 stacked in this lid storage machine 16 are
The lid mounting machine 24 suctions and holds the lids one by one and takes them out. When the lid 2 is removed, the motor 73 rotates in the opposite direction to raise the support plate 66.
The lid 2 at the top is flush with the top cover 56.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention having the above configuration removes the lid that is sent through the transfer path while covering the pot filled with the contents from the pot, washes it, temporarily stores it, and then removes the stored lid. Since it can be attached to an empty pot, the process of removing the lid, cleaning process, which was previously done manually, is now possible.
The entire mounting process can be automated, resulting in labor savings.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the lid removal machine. Third
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the washing machine. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cleaning ring. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the lid storage machine. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the lid storage machine. 1... Pot, 2... Lid, 10... Transfer path, 1
1... Lid removal machine, 12... Arm, 13...
Vacuum pad, 14... Washing machine, 15... Transfer roller, 16... Lid storage machine, 20... Contents removal machine, 21... Washing machine, 24... Lid mounting machine, 25...
...Arm, 26...Vacuum pad, A...Lid removal station, B...Cleaning station, C...
...transfer station, D...lid storage station, E...lid attachment station.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When a pot with a fitted lid and filled with contents reaches a lid removal station in a pot transfer path, the lid is held and removed from the pot, and the pot is transferred while holding this lid. Lid removal means for sequentially sending the lid to an off-road washing station and transfer station and then releasing the lid; and a cleaning means installed at the washing station for cleaning the lid held by the lid removal means. and a transport means for transporting the cleaned lids sent to the transport station by the lid removal means to a lid storage station; and a transport means installed in the lid storage station for stacking the lids sent by the transport means. A lid storage means for storing the empty pot, and a lid storage means installed between the empty pot transfer path and the lid storage means, and when the empty pot reaches the lid mounting station in the empty pot transfer path, the empty pot is taken out from the lid storage means. An automatic pot lid attachment/detachment system comprising a lid attachment means for fitting a pot lid. 2. The pot according to claim 1, wherein the lid removing means and the lid attaching means include a rotatable arm and a vacuum pad attached to the distal end of the arm and movable up and down. Automatic lid attachment/detachment system. 3. The automatic pot lid attachment/detachment system according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning means comprises a container into which the lid is placed, and a nozzle disposed inside the container for spouting cleaning liquid.