JPH0777887B2 - Container holder - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a container holder for transporting containers for cosmetics, medicines, etc. to devices such as a bottle washing machine, a filling machine, and a capper.

(Prior Art) In order to convey a container for cosmetics, chemicals, etc. to a device such as a bottle washing machine, a filling machine, a capper, etc., it is necessary to convey the container in a stable state and with a certain degree of positioning. A method of using a special tool for storing a container, or JP-A-63-63
The method of using a container holder as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 96005-has been adopted.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the method of using the dedicated tool for storing the container is to store the container (Y) shown in FIG. 4 (a) in the special hakama (Ha) (FIG. 4 (b)). After that, they are stored in a combined hakama (H) ((c) in the same figure) and are routed to each device. Combined hakama (H)
The exclusive hakama (Ha) is a cylindrical member with a bottom, and the exclusive hakama (Ha) having an inner diameter that matches the outer diameter of the container (Y) is exclusively provided.

On the other hand, the container holder disclosed in JP-A-63-96005 has a pair of grippers for holding and centering the container by advancing toward the container from both sides of the container and contacting the container, and in the above-mentioned direction. The container gripping mechanism composed of a pair of shafts that move forward and backward and the link mechanism that drives the container gripping mechanism are the main parts, and as shown in FIG.
Connect the pair of grippers (21) and (22) to the pair of shafts (23) and (2
Since it is configured to move forward and backward with 4), one gripper (2
2) One end (22a) is fixed to one shaft (23) and the other end (22a)
Pass the other shaft (24) through b) and the other gripper (2
One shaft (23) is passed through one end (21a) of 1) and the other end (21a)
b) is fixed to the other shaft (24). Therefore, in order to move the grippers (21) and (22) in the opening / closing direction, it is necessary to move the pair of shafts (23) and (24) in opposite directions.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In recent years, the demand of customers has been diversified in general, and various types of containers for cosmetics have been provided.

However, the above-described conventional method has the following problems in dealing with a wide variety of containers.

That is, when using a special hakama, many kinds of special hakama must be held, a large space is required for its storage, and when changing the kind of the container, it is replaced with a special hakama suitable for the container. However, there is a problem in that switching takes a long time.

On the other hand, when the container holder disclosed in JP-A-63-96005 is used, there are the following problems.

That is, in FIG. 5, the axis (23) is moved in the direction of the arrow C, and the axis (2
4) Move the gripper (21), (22) by moving it in the direction of arrow B.
When the gripper (22) is opened, the gripper (22) slides on the shaft (24) passing through the other end (22b), but this sliding acts as resistance and the gripper (22) cannot move smoothly. Of. This is because one end (22a) of the gripper (22) has a shaft (2
3) receives the acting force in the direction of arrow C, but the other end (22
This is because b) serves as a fulcrum due to sliding resistance, and the gripper (22) receives an acting force (moment) in the direction of arrow D.
Also, when the grippers (21) and (22) are closed, the gripper (22) receives an acting force in the direction of arrow E for the same reason as when opening. The same applies to the gripper (21).

Therefore, when the grippers (21) and (22) are closed by receiving the force acting in the opening direction when the grippers (21) and (22) are closed, the container gripping force decreases and , The container cannot be positioned accurately.

In addition, it is required that the manufacturing process of cosmetics, chemicals, etc. be hygienic, but in all of the above conventional examples, the contents spill when the container falls or falls and when the container is damaged. It is extremely unsanitary because it scatters.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a container gripping tool that grips the container with a predetermined gripping force corresponding to a wide variety of containers and can accurately position the container, and that considers hygiene. With the goal.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention for solving the above problems includes a mounting table on which a plurality of containers are mounted, a container having a V-shaped cutout, and mounted on the mounting table. A pair of grip plates for gripping and centering at the notches at the same time from both sides thereof, and slides provided on both sides of the pair of grip plates for moving the pair of grip plates in the front-rear direction toward the container. A mechanism, a link mechanism that synchronizes the operation of the pair of grip plates, and a biasing means that acts equally on both sides of the grip plates and that advances the pair of grip plates toward the container, The slide mechanism includes a slide shaft and a slide block that engages with the slide shaft and slides along the slide shaft, and The gist of the present invention is that a peripheral wall is provided around the mounting table.

(Operation) In order to grip the container with the container holder of the present invention, first,
Open the pair of grip plates by appropriate means,
Then, a plurality of containers are mounted on the mounting table between the pair of grip plates. In this way, since the container is held by the grip plate in a state where the container is placed on the mounting table, the container can be transported in an extremely stable posture. Thereafter, when the pair of grip plates are released from the open state, the pair of grip plates are advanced toward the container as a result of the action of the biasing means, the link mechanism and the slide mechanism, and contact the container. At this time, the container is gripped and centered by the pair of grip plates, but the slide mechanism is provided on both sides of the pair of grip plates, and the biasing force of the biasing means acts evenly on both sides of the grip plates. Therefore, the moment force due to the sliding resistance of the sliding portion of the slide mechanism does not theoretically act on the grip plate, and the grip plate can move smoothly. Therefore, when the grip plate comes into contact with the container, there is no problem that the gripping force is weakened and the gripping force cannot be accurately positioned. Further, since the biasing means acts so as to always close the pair of grip plates, it is possible to prevent the container from being conveyed without being gripped due to a malfunction of the device.

Further, since the container is gripped by the V-shaped notch provided on the grip plate, a wide variety of containers can be gripped regardless of the size of the container, whether it is circular or elliptical. be able to.

Further, since the peripheral wall is provided at the peripheral edge of the mounting table, it is possible to prevent the contents from spilling and scattering around when the container is overturned or damaged, which is extremely hygienic.

(Example) Hereinafter, the first example of the container holder according to the present invention will be described.
Description will be given with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a container holder according to an embodiment of the present invention with a part thereof broken away, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an enlarged slide portion thereof, and FIG. A- in Figure 1
FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the container pallet (P) has a rectangular base plate (1), a container mounting base (2), and a pair of slide units (Sa), (Sa), () arranged on the base plate (1). Sa), a pair of grip portions (G), and a link portion (R).

The slide unit (Sa) comprises a slide shaft (3) and two slide blocks (7) engaged with the slide shaft (3). Further, the pair of slide shafts (3) are arranged on the base plate (1) at right angles to the longitudinal direction thereof and at a predetermined interval in parallel.
Further, each of the two slide blocks (7) engaging with one slide shaft (3) is provided with a locking tool (12), and a tension spring (11) is locked to this. The two extension springs (11) have the same spring constant and free length.

The container mounting table (2) is a member having a U-shaped vertical cross section and also has a concave portion (2a) having a U-shaped vertical cross section as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. Is fixed on the base plate (1).

The link portion (R) includes two pairs of link bars (8),
(8), four link blocks (6) each having an h-shaped vertical section, and the link bars (8) and (8) which are provided substantially at the center of the base plate (1) and rotated in the direction of arrow a. A center pin (9) that is freely supported, and the ring block (6) is fixed on the slide block (7) so that the groove portions (6a) of the link block (6) face each other. is doing. Then, the two link bars (8), (8) are provided so as to intersect with each other, and as shown in FIG. 2, notch portions (8a) of appropriate length and width provided at both ends thereof, It is engaged with a pin (10) provided in the groove (6a) of the link block (6). Then, when the link bars (8) and (8) are rotated in the direction of arrow a shown in FIG. 1, the link block (6) and the slide block (7) integrated with the link block (6)
Moves in the direction of arrow b on the slide shaft (3).

The grip part (G) comprises a holding angle (5), a grip plate (4) and a rod (13). The holding angle (5), the grip plate (4) and the rod (13) are two. It is provided as a pair. The holding angle (5) is a member having an L-shaped vertical cross section, and the grip plate (4) is fixed to the vertical surface (5a) thereof as shown in FIG. Then, in order to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the base plate (1),
A pair of holding angles (5) are horizontally mounted on the ring block (6) and fixed to the ring blocks (6), and the grip plates (4) are opposed to each other. V-shaped notches (15) are provided at the side ends of the grip plate (4) facing each other, and in this example, the notches (15) are provided at six positions at equal pitch intervals. As shown in FIG. 1, there is an appropriate gap between the horizontal surface (5b) of the holding angle (5) and the grip plate (4), and the grip portion (G) is indicated by the arrow b.
It does not come into contact with the mounting table (2) when moved in the direction. Further, one end of one rod (13) is fixed to a side end surface of the one grip plate (4) substantially in the center in the longitudinal direction and having no notch (15), and the other end is held and held by the other grip plate (4). A pair of rods (13) are provided so as to be exposed on the opposite side through the plate (5).

A mode in which the container is held by the container pallet having the above configuration will be described below.

First, one rod (13) of the pair of rods (13) shown in FIG. 1 is pressed in the arrow d direction. Then, the one grip plate (4) to which the rod (13) is fixed is pressed in the arrow d direction, and moves on the slide shaft (3) in the same direction. At the same time, the other grip plate (4) is moved in the opposite direction to the one grip plate via the link (R), and the pair of grip plates (4) is moved in the direction of the arrow b to open. It becomes a state. At this time, the tension spring (11) is pulled in the direction of arrow b.

In this state, as indicated by the chain line in FIG. 1, the container (Y)
Is placed between the notches (15) of the pair of grip plates (4) and on the placing table (2). Then, when the pressing force on the rod (13) is released, the pair of grip plates (4) are moved toward the center by the restoring force of the tension spring (11) and the link portion (R). The grip plate (4) holds the container (Y) while positioning the container (Y) by the notch (15). At that time, since the same tension spring (11) is locked to the pair of slide blocks (7) of each slide shaft (3), the urging force of the tension spring (11) is applied to the slide blocks (7) on both sides. Acts equally,
The slide block (7) moves smoothly on the slide shaft (3) without hollowing. Therefore, the container (Y) can be gripped with a predetermined gripping force and positioned accurately. The urging force of the tension spring (11) acts evenly on both sides of the grip plate (4) via the slide block (7).

As described in detail above, in the present embodiment, the pair of grip plates can be opened by simply pressing one of the pair of rods by the link portion that engages with the pair of grip plates. Since it is a thing, even if there is a space to attach the opening device of the grip plate to only one side, the grip plate can be opened, and the line design becomes easy.

In addition to the configuration of the container pallet (P) described above, a known shock absorber is provided on the base plate (1) that is the front side with respect to the transport direction of the container pallet (P), and the base plate (1) that is the rear side is provided.
A contact member with which the shock absorber contacts may be provided on the top. According to this configuration, the shock absorber can reduce the impact caused by the collision between the pallets (P) of the containers, which occurs when the plurality of container pallets (P) are continuously conveyed.

Further, if a known mechanical flag is provided at an appropriate position on the base plate (1), information unique to the container pallet (P),
For example, information such as unfilled container and broken bottle can be transmitted to the control device of the next process or the whole.

(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the present invention, slide mechanisms for moving the pair of grip plates in the front-rear direction toward the container are provided on both sides of the grip plates, and the biasing means is provided. Since the force is evenly applied to both sides of the grip plate, the grip plate can be moved smoothly, accurate positioning can be performed, and a plurality of containers can be simultaneously gripped.
In addition, there is no need for special tools that match the shape of the container,
It is not necessary to adjust each part of the apparatus and replace parts when switching containers, and it is possible to reduce equipment costs and manufacturing costs, and automation can be achieved.

Further, by providing an outer peripheral wall on the upper edge of the mounting table of the container, it is possible to prevent the contents of the container from being scattered when the container is overturned or damaged, and related devices can be provided. It ’s possible to keep it clean,
It is possible to improve quality and work environment.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a perspective view showing a part of an embodiment of the present invention in a partially broken manner, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an enlarged slide portion thereof, and FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. , FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are explanatory views showing a conventional example. (P): Container pallet, (G): Grip, (S
a) …… Slide part, (R) …… link part, (1) ……
Base plate, (2) ... mounting table, (3) ... slide shaft, (4) ... grip plate, (5) ... holding angle, (6) ... link block, (7) ... slide block, (8) …… Link bar, (9) …… Center pin, (10) …… Pin, (11) …… Tension spring, (12)
…… Locking device, (13) …… Rod.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mounting table on which a plurality of containers are mounted and a V-shaped notch, and the containers mounted on the mounting table are grasped and centered from both sides of the container at the same time by the notches. A pair of grip plates, a slide mechanism provided on both sides of the pair of grip plates for moving the pair of grip plates in the front-rear direction toward the container, and a link mechanism for synchronizing the operation of the pair of grip plates. And a biasing means that acts evenly on both sides of the grip plate and advances the pair of grip plates toward the container, and the slide mechanism includes a slide shaft and the slide shaft. And a container block composed of a slide block that slides along the slide shaft, and a peripheral wall provided around the mounting table. Ingredients.