JPH0645394B2 - Lid fastening device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Field of Application> The present invention is required in addition to pressing a container lid fitted on the mouth and neck of the container to move it downward. The present invention relates to a lid fastening device that can be rotated in any direction.

<Prior Art> As a container lid for a container in which a male screw thread or an inclined ridge is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth and neck, rotate the container lid at the time of a lid tightening operation for sealing the mouth and neck. There is proposed a synthetic resin container lid of a type that is attached to the mouth and neck only by a so-called tapping operation for forcibly moving it downwards and is rotated in a predetermined direction during the opening operation to open the mouth and neck ( See, for example, the specification and drawings of Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 47-22905 and Japanese Patent Application No. 61-80225 filed by the present applicant). Such a container lid has a circular top surface wall and a cylindrical side wall hanging down from the peripheral edge of the top surface wall, and the inner peripheral surface of the side wall has the male screw formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth and neck of the container. A plurality of engagement projections of any suitable shape are formed to cooperate with the ridges or slanted ridges.

And as a lid fastening device for the container lid as described above, a supporting substrate for supporting a container in which a container lid having a circular top surface wall and a cylindrical side wall hanging down from the peripheral edge of the top surface wall supports the container fitted in the mouth and neck part. And an elevating member mounted above the support substrate to be movable up and down,
A pressing head that is mounted on the elevating member so as to be capable of elevating and lowering over a predetermined range and has a pressing lower surface located below the lower end of the elevating member; and the pressing head that is interposed between the elevating member and the pressing head. A lid tightening mechanism including an elastic member that is biased downward, an elevating member of the lid tightening mechanism, a raised position where the pressing lower surface of the pressing head is located above the container lid, and the pressing lower surface of the pressing head. Is used to move the container lid up and down between it and the lower position where it abuts against the upper surface of the top wall of the container lid and presses the container lid downward.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Thus, when the lid closing of the container lid of the above-mentioned type was examined, the container for the mouth / neck portion was not simply moved by forcibly moving the container lid downward during the lid closing operation. It has been found that the lid is not attached enough, and a so-called incomplete lid tightening state occurs in which the container lid freely moves over a certain range with respect to the mouth and neck. In addition, it has been found that it is important to rotate the container lid in the closing direction after forcibly moving the container lid downward in order to avoid the generation of the incomplete lid closing state.

The present invention has been made in view of such facts, and its technical problem can be configured by adding a relatively inexpensive improvement to the above-described conventional lid fastening device, and forces the container lid downward. It is possible to provide a lid fastening device which can rotate the container lid in the closing direction after the container lid is moved manually.

<Means for Solving the Problems> According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned technical problem, in the above-described conventional lid fastening device, (a) the pressing head of the lid fastening mechanism is rotatable on the elevating member. (B) mounting the rotary head on the lifting member of the lid tightening mechanism, and further, when the lifting member is lowered to the lowered position, it is engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the side wall of the container lid, and the rotary head is rotatably attached; (B) An improvement is provided in which a rotating means for rotating the rotary head is provided, which includes a driven belt frictionally engaged with the rotary head.

That is, according to the present invention, as a lid fastening device that achieves the above-mentioned technical problem, a container lid having a circular top surface wall and a cylindrical side wall hanging down from the peripheral edge of the top surface wall supports a container fitted in the mouth and neck. A supporting substrate, and an elevating member mounted above the supporting substrate so as to be movable up and down.
A pressing head that is mounted on the elevating member so as to be capable of elevating and lowering over a predetermined range and has a pressing lower surface located below the lower end of the elevating member; and the pressing head interposed between the elevating member and the pressing head. A lid tightening mechanism including an elastic member that is biased downward, an elevating member of the lid tightening mechanism, a raised position where the pressing lower surface of the pressing head is located above the container lid, and the pressing lower surface of the pressing head. A lifting and lowering means for moving the container lid up and down between the container lid and a lower position for pressing the container lid downward by contacting the top surface of the top wall of the container lid. Is rotatably mounted on the elevating member, and is engaged with the elevating member of the lid tightening mechanism on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall of the container lid when the elevating member is lowered to the lowered position. The rotating head is rotatably attached. Further, there is provided a lid tightening device including a rotating means for rotating the rotary head, which includes a driven belt frictionally engaged with the rotary head.

<Operation> In the lid fastening device of the present invention, when the elevating member is lowered, the pressing head presses the container lid to forcibly move the container lid downward, and in addition, the rotating head moves the container lid. The rotary head is rotated in the required direction by the driving force transmitted to the rotary head from the driven belt of the rotating means and then engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the side wall, whereby the container lid is rotated in the required direction.

Embodiment FIG. 1 schematically shows a lid fastening system with a preferred embodiment of a lid fastening device improved according to the present invention. The system shown in the figure includes a conveyor belt conveyor means 4, a rotary turret type carry-in means 6, a rotary turret type carry-out means 8, and a container lid supply means 10 together with the rotary turret type lid fastening device 2. The container 12 filled with the contents is
It is supplied in an upright state onto the conveyor belt conveyor means 4 and conveyed toward the carry-in means 6 in the direction indicated by the arrow 14. The carry-in means 6 conveys the container 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow 15,
It is loaded into the lid fastening device 2 at the loading position 16. The container 12 carried into the lid fastening device 2 is carried from the carry-in position 16 to the carry-out position 20 in the direction indicated by the arrow 18. The container lid supply means 10 is configured so that the container 1 is fitted at the container lid fitted position 22.
The container lid 24 is fitted on the mouth and neck of No. 2. While the container 12 to which the container lid 24 is fitted is conveyed from the container lid fitted position 22 to the carry-out position 20, the container lid 24 covers the mouth and neck of the container 12 as required, as described below. Be tightened. The carry-out means 8 carries the container 12 with the container lid 24 closed from the carry-out position 20 in the direction indicated by the arrow 26, and carries it out from the lid tightening device 2 onto the conveyor belt conveyor means 4. The carried-out container 12 is indicated by an arrow 28 on the conveyor belt conveyor means 4.
It is conveyed in the direction indicated by.

The conveyor belt conveyor means 4, the carry-in means 6, the carry-out means 8 and the container lid supply means 10 may have a well-known form,
Therefore, a detailed description of these means will be omitted herein.

The lid fastening device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The illustrated lid fastening device 2 is an appropriate support structure (not shown).
It includes a horizontal lower base 30 supported by. A plurality of columns 32 (only one column 32 is shown in FIG. 2) are planted in the lower base 30 at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction. A horizontal upper base 34, which may be disk-shaped, is fixed to the upper ends of the columns 32. The lid fastening device 2 includes a rotary shaft 36 that extends substantially vertically through the lower base 30 and the base 34. The rotary shaft 36 is rotatably attached to the lower base 30 through an appropriate bearing means 38, and
It is rotatably mounted on the upper base 34 via an appropriate bearing means 40. The input gear 42 is provided at the lower end of the rotary shaft 36.
Is fixed, and the input gear 42 is drivingly connected to a drive source (not shown) which may be an electric motor through an appropriate transmission means (not shown). Thus,
The rotating shaft 36 is rotated at a predetermined speed in the direction shown by an arrow 18 in FIG. 1 by a drive source.

Fixed to the rotary shaft 36 is a support substrate 44, which may be a disk having a substantially horizontal support surface. Further, a horizontal turret disc 46, which is located slightly above the support substrate 44, is also fixed to the rotary shaft 36. A plurality of semi-circular cutouts 48 (six in the illustrated case) are formed in the peripheral edge of the turret disk 46 at intervals in the circumferential direction (see also FIG. 1). . The carry-in position 16
The container 12 loaded into the lid fastening device 2 in (FIG. 1) is loaded upright on the support substrate 44, and its body is received in the notch 48 of the turret disk 46.
Therefore, by rotating the support substrate 44 and the turret disk 46 together with the rotating shaft 36 in the direction indicated by the arrow 18 in FIG. 1, the container 12 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow 18 in FIG. Radial outward movement of the container 12 is prevented by a stationary guide rail 50 extending in an arc along the turret disc 46. The stationary guide rail is fixed to the lower base 30 by a suitable connecting member (not shown).

A horizontal mounting plate 52 located above the support substrate 44 and the turret disc 46 is further fixed to the rotary shaft 36. The mounting plate 52, which may be circular, has a plurality of (six in the illustrated case) through openings 54 formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. Each of the through openings 54 is aligned with each of the notches 48 formed in the turret disk 46. An elevating member 58 of a lid fastening mechanism, generally designated by reference numeral 56, is mounted in each of the openings 54 of the mounting plate 52 so as to be vertically movable (the lid fastening mechanism 56 will be described in more detail later). .

A substantially cylindrical cam block 61 is fixed to the lower surface of the upper base 34. A cam groove 63 is formed on the outer surface of the cam block 61 so as to extend continuously in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, a horizontally extending pin 65 is fixed to the upper end of each elevating member 58 of the lid fastening mechanism 56, and a cam driven roller 67 located in the cam groove 63 is rotatably attached to the pin 65. It is installed. The cam groove 63 and the roller 67 constitute an elevating / lowering means 69 for vertically moving the elevating / lowering member 58 as described later.

The lid tightening mechanism 56 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. At the lower end of the elevating member 58, a substantially cylindrical extension member 60 is fixed. Then, in the through hole 62 of the extension member 60, a substantially columnar pressing head 64 is provided.
Is mounted so that it can be raised and lowered. An annular shoulder portion 66 is formed in the lower portion of the through hole 62, while an annular flange 68 is formed in the upper end portion of the pressing head 64. The annular flange 68 abuts on the annular shoulder portion 66, so that an extension member is formed. The lowering of the pressing head 64 with respect to 60 is limited to the lower limit position shown in FIG. The lower end surface of the pressing head 64 that projects downward beyond the lower end of the extension member 60 defines a pressing lower surface 70 that abuts the upper surface of the top wall of the container lid 24, as described below. A plug 72 is fixed to the upper end of the through hole 62 formed in the extension member 60. An elastic member 74, which may be a compression coil spring, is interposed between the plug 72 and the upper end of the pressing head 64. The elastic member 74 is used as the extension member 60.
With respect to the pressing head 64, the pressing head 64 is elastically biased downward.

Thus, the configuration of the lid fastening device 2 as described above is substantially the same as the configuration of the conventional lid fastening device described above. However, according to the present invention, the illustrated lid fastening device 2 has the following improvements.

Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 3, in the lid fastening device 2 according to the present invention, when the pressing head 64 of the lid fastening mechanism 56 is pressed against the upper surface of the top wall of the container lid 24 as described later. It is important that the pressing head 64 can freely rotate so as not to hinder the rotation of the container lid 24. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, a spring bearing 78 is provided at the upper end of the pressing head 64 via a thrust bearing 76.
The lower end of the elastic member 74 is received not by the upper end surface of the pressing head 64 but by the spring receiver 78.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a substantially cylindrical rotating member 82 is rotatably mounted on the outside of the extension member 60 via an appropriate bearing means 80. An annular rotary head 84 is fixed to the lower end of the rotary member 82. Referring to FIG. 4 together with FIG. 3, the inner peripheral surface of the annular rotary head 84 has a circular main portion 86 and a frustoconical lower portion 88 whose diameter gradually increases downward.
The inner diameter of the circular main portion corresponds to the outer diameter of the container lid 12. In the illustrated specific example, the circular main portion 86 is formed with a large number of meshing projections 90 that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction and extend in the axial direction. The lower end of each of the meshing protrusions 90 is tapered.

It is important that the lid fastening device 2 according to the present invention is further provided with a rotating means for selectively rotating the rotary head 84. Explaining with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the rotating means 92 is composed of a belt mechanism. More specifically, the rotating means 92 has a driven shaft 94 and a driven shaft 96 rotatably mounted on the lower substrate 30. The driven shaft 94 and the driven shaft 96
A plurality of belt wheels 98 and 100 are fixed to each of the belt wheels 98 and 100, and an endless driven belt 102 is wound around the belt wheels 98 and 100. The driven shaft 94
Is drivingly connected to a drive source (not shown), which may be an electric motor, via an appropriate transmission means (not shown). Thus, the belt 102 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 103 by the driving source.

Explaining the operation of the lid fastening device 2 as described above,
It is as follows. At the loading position 16 where the container 12 is loaded into the lid fastening device 2 by the loading means 6, the lid fastening mechanism 5 is inserted.
The elevating member 58 of 6 is at the uppermost position shown in the left side of FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3, and the pressing lower surface 70 of the pressing head 64 is located above the container 12 by a predetermined amount. When the container 12 carried into the lid fastening device 2 is conveyed to the container lid fitted position 22, it is supplied by the container supply means 10 as shown in the left side of FIG. 2 and as shown in FIG. The easy lid 24 is fitted on the mouth and neck of the container 12. On the outer peripheral surface of the mouth and neck of the container 12, a male screw thread or a slanted ridge 104 is formed.
(Only a small part of it is shown in FIG. 3) is formed. Referring to FIG. 4 together with FIG. 3,
The illustrated container lid 24 includes a circular top wall 104 and the top wall 1
04, and a cylindrical side wall 106 that hangs from the periphery.
On the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 106, a large number of protrusions 108 extending in the axial direction are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. Side wall 1
Engagement protrusions (not shown) of an appropriate shape are formed on the inner peripheral surface of 06. For details of the container lid 24 and the mouth / neck portion of the container 12, refer to, for example, the specification and drawings of Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 47-22905 or Japanese Patent Application No. 61-80225 filed by the present applicant. Please refer.

The container 12 to which the container lid 24 is fitted is indicated by reference numeral 110 in FIG.
While being conveyed from the position shown by to the position shown by reference numeral 112, the elevating member 58 of the lid fastening mechanism 56 is gradually lowered from the uppermost position to the lowermost position shown in the right side of FIG. 2 and shown in FIG. Be punished. Thus, as can be easily understood by comparing FIGS. 3 and 5, the pressing lower surface 70 of the pressing head 64 is disposed on the top wall 104 of the container lid 24.
And presses the container lid 24 with a pressing force defined by the elastic force of the elastic member 74. As a result, the container lid 24 is forcibly moved downward with respect to the mouth and neck of the container 12, and a normal lid tightening operation is performed. Fifth
As clearly shown in the figure, the pressing head 64 is slightly raised with respect to the elevating member 58 against the elastic biasing action of the elastic member 74.

As described above, when the elevating member 58 of the lid tightening mechanism 56 is lowered from the uppermost position to the lowermost position, the rotary head 84 is also lowered accordingly. That way,
A rotary head 84 surrounds the container lid 24, as shown in FIG. In this state, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the meshing protrusions 96 formed on the circular main portion 86 of the inner peripheral surface of the rotary head 84 has the side wall 106 of the container lid 24.
It is located between the ridges 108 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ridge (more specifically, between every two ridges 108). Even if the meshing protrusion 90 and the protrusion 108 are vertically aligned when the rotary head 84 is lowered, the meshing protrusion 90 is positioned.
Since the lower end of the container is tapered, the container lid 2
4, the rotary head 84 rotates slightly, and the meshing protrusion 90
Enters between the ridges 108 smoothly.

When the container 12 is further conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow 18 (FIG. 1) and enters the additional lid tightening area indicated by numeral 114, as shown in the right side of FIG. 2 together with FIG. The outer peripheral surface of the rotating member 82 is brought into contact with the belt 102 that is being driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 103. That way,
A required torque limited by a frictional force between the belt 102 and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member 82 is transmitted to the rotating member 82, and the rotating member 82 and the rotating head 84 fixed to the rotating member 82.
Is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 103 in FIG. The rotation of the rotary head 84 is transmitted from the meshing protrusion 90 to the ridge 108, and thus the container lid 24 is rotated by the arrow 10 with the required torque.
It is rotated in the direction indicated by 3. Thus, an additional lid closing operation is performed, and the container lid 24 is attached to the mouth and neck of the container 12 sufficiently securely as required.

The easy lid 12 is numbered from the position indicated by numeral 116 in FIG.
While being transported to the position indicated by 18, the elevating member 58 of the lid tightening mechanism 56 is gradually raised from the lowermost position to the uppermost position, and thus the pressing head 64 and the rotary head 84 are moved upward from the container lid 24. Be separated.

<Effect of the Invention> According to the lid fastening device 2 according to the present invention, in addition to the usual lid fastening operation for forcibly moving the container lid 24 downward, that is, the so-called capping operation, the container lid 24 is rotated in the required direction. An additional closing operation is carried out, so that the container lid 24 is closed on the mouth and neck of the container 12 in a sufficiently reliable manner without causing a so-called incomplete closing state.

In addition, the lid clamping device 2 of the present invention does not need to be newly manufactured as a whole and adds a relatively inexpensive improvement to the existing lid clamping device that performs only a normal lid clamping operation, that is, a so-called plugging operation. It can be configured by.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a lid fastening system including a preferred embodiment of a lid fastening device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the lid fastening device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the lid fastening mechanism in the lid fastening device shown in FIG. 1 is at its uppermost position. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the container lid together with the rotary head in the lid fastening device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the lid fastening mechanism in the lid fastening device shown in FIG. 1 is at its lowest position. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the mutual relationship between the meshing protrusion of the rotary head shown in FIG. 4 and the protrusion of the container lid. 2 ... Lid clamping device 12 ... Container 24 ... Container lid 56 ... Lid clamping mechanism 58 ... Elevating member 64 ... Pressing head 69 ... Ascending / descending means 70 ... Pressing lower surface of pressing head 74 ... Elastic member 84 ... Rotating head 92 ... Rotating means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP 61-11387 (JP, A) JP 57-37553 (JP, A) JP 59-7279 (JP, Y2)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A supporting base for supporting a container fitted in a neck and neck of a container lid having a circular top wall and a cylindrical side wall hanging down from the peripheral edge of the top wall, and being movable up and down above the supporting base. Mounted lifting member,
A pressing head that is mounted on the elevating member so as to be capable of elevating and lowering over a predetermined range and has a pressing lower surface located below the lower end of the elevating member; and the pressing head interposed between the elevating member and the pressing head. A lid tightening mechanism including an elastic member that is biased downward, an elevating member of the lid tightening mechanism, a raised position where the pressing lower surface of the pressing head is located above the container lid, and the pressing lower surface of the pressing head. A lifting and lowering means for moving the container lid up and down between the container lid and a lower position for pressing the container lid downward by contacting the top surface of the top wall of the container lid. Is rotatably mounted on the elevating member, and is engaged with the elevating member of the lid tightening mechanism on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall of the container lid when the elevating member is lowered to the lowered position. The rotating head is rotatably attached. And a rotation means for rotating the rotary head, the drive means including a driven belt frictionally engaged with the rotary head.