JPH0139952B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a lid attachment device for attaching a lid to an open end of a container, and more specifically, a flange protruding radially outward on the lower outer peripheral surface of the open end to which the lid is attached. The present invention relates to a lid mounting device for mounting a lid on a container having a lid.

For example, a lid attachment device for attaching a lid to the open end of a container such as a beverage bottle as required and sealing the container includes a plurality of container receivers formed on the outer periphery at intervals in the circumferential direction. A rotary turret mechanism is used, and a lid is attached to the open end of the container as required while the container carried into the container receiving portion of the rotary turret mechanism moves through an arcuate path as the rotary turret mechanism rotates. Lid mounting devices equipped with a mounting mechanism for normal mounting have been proposed and put into practical use. The attachment mechanism includes a pressure head for applying an axial pressing force to the upper surface of the lid fitted onto the open end of the container, and the action of the pressure head causes the lid to be attached to the open end of the container. While pressing, the desired deformation of the lid is applied, thus sealingly fitting the lid to the open end of the container. Containers that are carried into the container receptacle of the rotating turret mechanism and are moved as the rotating turret mechanism rotates are generally positioned on the upper surface of a support that preferably rotates in synchronization with the rotating turret mechanism. Therefore, support of the container against the pressing force transmitted to the container from the pressure head via the lid is achieved by supporting the bottom surface of the container by the top surface of the support.

The conventional lid attachment device as described above is not suitable for containers whose axial strength is sufficiently large.
It does not cause any problems. However, in the case of containers where the axial strength of the container body is relatively low, such as plastic containers made of suitable plastic materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene or vinyl chloride resin, the pressure head of the mounting mechanism Therefore, when a predetermined amount of pressing force is applied to the top surface of the lid, the axial stress transmitted to the container through the lid and supported by the support causes the container body to be damaged or crushed. This is an unacceptable problem.

To solve this problem, U.S. Patent No.
3875725 and the drawings, a pair of movable jaws are provided in the container receiving portion of the rotating turret mechanism to support the lower surface of a flange protruding outward in the radial direction provided on the lower outer peripheral surface of the open end of the container. It is disclosed that it is equipped with. In a lid mounting device equipped with such a pair of movable jaws, when a container is carried into the container receiving portion of the rotating turret mechanism, the pair of movable jaws located just below the flange provided on the container move. are pivoted toward each other and closed, enclosing the container just below the flange. When a pressing force is applied to the top surface of the lid by the pressurizing head of the mounting mechanism, a portion of the top surface of the pair of movable jaws engages and supports the bottom surface of the flange, thus removing the container from the lid. At least a portion of the axial pressing force transmitted to the container body is supported by a pair of movable jaws, thereby reducing the axial stress transmitted to the container body by that amount. Generally, the axial strength of the container neck, where the open end and flange are formed, is considerably greater than the axial strength of the container body. By supporting at least a portion of the axial pressing force exerted by the container, the above-mentioned problem of the container body being damaged or crushed can be solved.

However, the solution described above makes the lid applicator considerably more complex and expensive, and also makes the operation of the lid applicator unreliable and unstable. That is, when adopting the solution as described above, the positioning of the neck of the container carried into the container receiving part of the rotating turret mechanism is achieved by the pair of movable jaws that are closed in the direction towards each other. However, in order to accurately position the neck of the container as required by the pair of movable jaws that are movable relative to the rotating turret mechanism, the pair of movable jaws themselves must be manufactured and installed with considerable precision. In addition, the movement of the pair of movable jaws must be controlled with great precision, especially the synchronized movement between them, which inevitably makes the lid attachment device quite complex and expensive. I get used to it.
Furthermore, even if the pair of movable jaws are fabricated and installed and their movement controlled with considerable precision, the movement of the container by the pair of movable jaws, which must be moved as required with respect to the rotating turret mechanism, is difficult. In order to perform the neck positioning, the positioning of the container neck inevitably becomes unreliable and unstable, and the relative relationship between the container neck and the pair of movable jaws is not as expected. There is also a considerable risk that the neck of the container or the pair of movable jaws and mechanisms associated therewith may be damaged.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 12983/1983 discloses the above-mentioned pair of devices in order to solve the above-mentioned problem of the container body being damaged or crushed without making the lid attachment device so complicated and expensive. Instead of equipping each container receiving portion of the rotating turret mechanism with a movable jaw, each of the container receiving portions of the rotating turret mechanism is provided with a fixed flange support portion having an arcuate opening opened radially outward for receiving the neck of the container. forming a fixed flange support having an upper surface capable of engaging a lower surface of the flange formed on the container, and further outwardly of the rotating turret mechanism, a lower surface of the flange formed on the container; A stationary flange support is provided having an upper surface that can engage with the upper surface of the stationary flange support, and when the pressure head of the attachment mechanism applies a pressing force to the upper surface of the lid, the upper surface of the fixed flange support and the upper surface of the stationary flange support It is disclosed to support the underside of the flange formed on the container by a flange.

However, if such a solution were to be adopted, new and unacceptable problems would arise as follows. That is, when equipped with a fixed flange support and a stationary flange support as disclosed in JP-A-54-12983, the fixed flange support is
Since it is fixed to the container receiving part of the rotating turret mechanism, it moves together with the containers carried into the container receiving part in accordance with the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism. However, since the stationary flange support is a stationary body that is separately disposed outside of the rotating turret mechanism, it does not move with the container. The lower surface of the flange formed on the container must therefore slide over the upper surface of the stationary flange support.
However, when the pressure head of the attachment mechanism applies a pressing force to the top surface of the lid, the top surface of the stationary flange support engages and supports the bottom surface of the flange formed on the container, and thus the stationary flange support The upper surface of the body and the lower surface of the flange formed on the container are pressed against each other with considerable force. When two surfaces pressed against each other with such a large force are moved relative to each other, a significantly large frictional force is generated between the two surfaces. Therefore, as the container is moved in response to the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism, there is a significant amount of friction between the upper surface of the stationary flange support and the lower surface of the flange formed on the container that slides over this upper surface. force is generated. In this way, if an extremely large frictional force is applied locally to a portion of the lower surface of the flange formed on the container, smooth conveyance of the container will be hindered, and the container will be tilted from its desired upright position. Also, an unacceptable situation occurs in which a part of the flange formed on the container is deformed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main purpose is to make the lid-applying device significantly more complicated and expensive than the solution disclosed in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 3,875,725 and the drawings. The container body can be fixed without making the operation unreliable or unstable, and without creating new problems such as the solution disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 54-12983. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and excellent lid mounting device that skillfully solves the above-mentioned problem of damage or crushing.

According to the present invention, there is provided a rotating turret mechanism in which a plurality of container receiving portions are formed on the outer periphery at intervals in the circumferential direction, and a container is placed in the container receiving portion of the rotating turret at a predetermined container loading position. a container carrying-in mechanism for carrying in containers, and a container carrying-out mechanism for carrying out containers from the container receiving section of the rotating turret mechanism at a container carrying-out position located downstream of the container carrying-in position when viewed in the rotational direction of the rotating turret mechanism; While the container carried into the container receiving portion of the rotating turret mechanism moves from the container carrying-in position to the container carrying-out position as the rotating turret mechanism rotates, the opening end of the container is moved as required. an attachment mechanism for attaching a lid to a lid, the attachment mechanism comprising a pressure head that applies a pressing force in an axial direction to the upper surface of the lid; In a lid attachment device for attaching a lid to a container having a radially outwardly projecting flange; each of the container receptacles of the rotating turret mechanism comprising:
a first opening formed by the main body of the rotating turret mechanism or by a member fixed to the main body and having an arcuate opening opening radially outward;
and a movable member attached to the main body so as to be movable between an active position and a non-active position, and when the movable member is positioned in the active position, the first a second flange support part having an arcuate opening that cooperates with the arcuate opening of the flange support part to form a substantially circular opening;
The movable member is positioned in the inactive position at least in the container loading position and the container unloading position, and the movable member is in the working position at least while the pressure head is applying pressing force to the top surface of the lid. Movable member positioning means are provided for positioning the first flange support and the second flange support so that the top surface of the first flange support and the second flange support are in contact with the flange of the container at least while the pressure head is applying a pressing force to the top surface of the lid. A lid attachment device is provided that is configured to engage a lower surface and support a container.

In the lid attachment device of the present invention, the flange support portion for engaging the lower surface of the flange of the container and supporting the container is formed by the main body of the rotating turret mechanism or by a member solidly attached to the main body. ,
Therefore, the first flange support part does not move relative to the main body of the rotary turret mechanism, and the second flange support part is formed by a movable member that is movably attached to the rotary turret mechanism. It is structured as follows. Therefore, the neck of a container introduced into the container receptacle of the rotating turret mechanism does not move relative to the body of the rotating turret mechanism and is therefore always kept in the required position by the first flange support. It is reliably and stably positioned in the desired position. The second flange support is moved relative to the neck of the container whose position is regulated by the first flange support so as to be able to engage a flange underside formed therein. In this way, the intended action can be achieved and the tolerance range for the production and installation of the movable member forming the second flange support and the control of its movement can therefore be relatively large, so that the lid The desired effect can be achieved without making the mounting device very complicated and expensive. Furthermore, the first and second flange supports are formed on the neck of the container because they are both moved together with the main body of the rotating turret mechanism and therefore with the container carried into the container receiving section of the rotating turret mechanism. The lower surface of the flange and the upper surfaces of the first and second flange supports are not moved relative to each other while being pressed against each other with a considerably large force, and therefore there is a significantly large frictional force between them. is never generated.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of a lid attachment device constructed in accordance with the present invention.
This will be explained in more detail.

To outline the overall structure of the lid mounting device with reference to FIG. 1, the illustrated lid mounting device includes a rotating turret mechanism 2, a container carrying-in mechanism 4, a container carrying-out mechanism 6, and a mounting mechanism 8 (not shown in FIG. 1). (not shown, only a part of which is shown in FIG. 2).

The rotating turret mechanism 2 is composed of a plate-shaped body rotatably mounted on a support shaft 12 implanted in a machine base 10, and is rotated in the direction of an arrow 14 by an appropriate drive mechanism (not shown). It is rotated in the direction shown. A plurality of (eight in the illustrated case) container receiving portions 16 are formed on the outer peripheral edge of the rotating turret mechanism 2 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. will be explained in detail later).

The container carrying mechanism 4 in the illustrated example includes a plurality of semicircular (six in the illustrated case) container guide portions 20 formed on the outer periphery at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.
It consists of a so-called star wheel. The star wheel constituting the container transport mechanism 4 is rotatably mounted on a support shaft 22 implanted in the base 10, and is driven by an arrow 2 by an appropriate drive mechanism (not shown).
It is rotated in direction 4.

In the illustrated example, the container delivery mechanism 6 also includes:
A plurality of (six in the illustrated case) container guide portions 2 that are substantially the same as the star wheels that constitute the container carry-in mechanism 4.
It consists of a star wheel with 5. The star wheel constituting the container unloading mechanism 6 is rotatably mounted on a support shaft 26 implanted in the base 10, and is driven by an arrow 28 by an appropriate drive mechanism (not shown).
It is rotated in the direction of.

In the lid attachment device as described above, the container 32 is filled with contents and the lid 30 is fitted on the open end.
When the containers are conveyed by an appropriate conveyor mechanism 34 in the direction shown by the arrow 35 to the position where the container carrying mechanism 4 is disposed, the container guide section 2 of the container carrying mechanism 4
0 is the body 32b of the container 32 (FIGS. 2 and 3)
engage with. The container guide section 20 of the container carry-in mechanism 4, which rotates in synchronization with the rotating turret mechanism 2, is connected to the carry-in side arcuate guide surface 36 of a stationary guide body 33 disposed between the container carry-in mechanism 4 and the container carry-out mechanism 6. The container 32 is then transferred to the container receiving portion 16 of the rotary turret mechanism 2 at a container loading position indicated by reference numeral A in FIG. Containers 32 carried into the container receiving section 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 are conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow 14 as the rotating turret mechanism 2 rotates to a container unloading position shown by the symbol D in FIG. While the container 32 is being transported by the rotating turret mechanism 2 from the container carrying-in position A to the container carrying-out position D, the mounting mechanism is rotated in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism 2, as will be explained later. 8 (FIG. 2), the lid 30 fitted over the open end of the container 32 is pressed against the open end of the container 32, and appropriate parts of the lid 30 are deformed, thus causing the container 32 to deform. A lid 30 is attached as required to the open end and the open end of the container 32 is sealed.

The mounting mechanism 8 itself has a lid 30 attached to the open end of the container 32.
Any device may be used as long as it can be attached as required, and depending on the form of the open end of the container 32 and the form of the lid 30 to be attached thereto, it may be of a configuration well known to those skilled in the art. can be used selectively. The mounting mechanism 8 in the illustrated example is
For example, it may be of substantially the same construction as the mounting mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-29236, and as shown in FIG. Contains 13. When the container 32 conveyed by the rotary turret mechanism 2 reaches the position indicated by reference numeral B in FIG. It engages with the upper surface of the fitted lid 30 with a required pressing force, thus pressing the lid 30 against the open end of the container 32, and when the container 32 is in the position indicated by C in FIG. 1, for example, it is raised. and is separated from the top surface of the lid 30. On the other hand, the thread forming roller 11 is connected to the pressure head 9
acts on the side surface of the lid 30 while applying a pressing force to the lid 30, forming a thread on the side surface of the lid 30 along the thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the open end of the container 32, and The lower edge tightening roller 13 acts on the lower end of the side surface of the lid 30 while the pressure head 9 is applying a pressing force to the lid 30, deforming the lower edge radially inward, so that the lower edge is present at the open end of the container 32. the shoulder. Thus, while the container 32 is being conveyed by the rotary turret mechanism 2 from the position indicated by the reference numeral B in FIG. With the cooperation of the edge-tightening rollers 13, the lid 30 is fitted to the open end of the container 32 in the required manner.

When the container 32 with the lid 30 attached as required as described above is further conveyed to the container unloading position D by the turret mechanism 2, the container unloading mechanism 6 rotates in synchronization with the rotating turret mechanism 2.
The container guide part 25 is connected to the body part 32b (second part) of the container 32.
and FIG. 3), the stationary guide body 33
The container 32 is transferred along the unloading side arcuate guide surface 38 of the rotary turret mechanism 2.
The container 32 is carried out from the conveyor mechanism 3 again.
Position above 4. The container 32 transferred onto the conveyor mechanism 34 is then transported in the direction shown by an arrow 35 to a location where operations such as inspection, labeling, packaging, etc. are performed as necessary.

The above-described configuration and operation effects of the illustrated lid mounting device are already known, and do not constitute new features of the lid mounting device constructed according to the present invention. Therefore, detailed explanations regarding these will be omitted in this specification.

In the lid mounting device as described above, the container 32 carried into the container receiving part 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 at the container carrying position A is moved along the required path as the rotating turret mechanism 2 rotates. In addition to ensuring that the container 32 is transported to the above-mentioned unloading position D through the container 32, the container 32 is prevented from being damaged when the mounting mechanism 8 is operated between the position indicated by the symbol B and the position indicated by the symbol C in FIG. It is important to reliably and stably support the container 32 without causing collapse.

Such requirements can be met without causing the above-mentioned problems and drawbacks associated with the conventional lid attachment device disclosed in the specification and drawings of the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. To achieve this, a lid attachment device constructed in accordance with the present invention employs an improved construction as detailed below.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 as well as FIG. 1, the structure of each of the plurality of container receiving portions 16 provided in the rotating turret mechanism 2 will be described. In the illustrated example, the above-mentioned support A disk-shaped main body 40 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 is attached to the shaft 12 (FIG. 1).
is rotatably mounted, and a plurality of (eight in the illustrated case) container receiving portions 16 are provided on the peripheral edge of the disc-shaped main body 40 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Each of the container receiving parts 16 includes a first flange support part 42 and a second flange support part 44.

In the illustrated example, the disk-shaped main body 40
Preferably, members 46 are removably attached to the periphery of the device at equal intervals in the circumferential direction by suitable means (not shown) such as setscrews, and the members 46 are mainly used to provide the above-mentioned A first flange support portion 42 is formed. However, if desired, the first flange support portion 42 can be formed only by the disk-shaped main body 40 itself by processing the peripheral edge of the disk-shaped main body 40 into a desired shape. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the first flange support portion 42 has an arc-shaped opening 48 that is open radially outward, and an upper surface that extends in an arc shape of approximately 180 degrees along the arc-shaped opening 48. 50.

On the other hand, the second flange support portion 44 is formed by a movable member 52 movably attached to the disc-shaped main body 40 adjacent to each of the members 46. In the illustrated example, the member 46
A recess 54 is formed in the disc-shaped main body 40 adjacent to each of the recesses 54, and a base portion of a movable member 52 having an approximately crescent shape as a whole is rotatably mounted in the recess 54 by a connecting shaft 56. There is. The second flange support section 44 formed by the movable member 52 has an arc-shaped opening 58 and an arc-shaped opening 58, similar to the first flange support section 42 described above.
It has an upper surface 60 extending in an arc shape of approximately 180 degrees along. A lead spring 62 is tensioned between each of the movable members 52 and the disk-shaped main body 40, and the lower movable member 52 is normally prevented from making contact by the elastic biasing action of the tension spring 62. The surface 64 is held in a non-active position in which it abuts the upright contact surface 66 of the recess 54 (in FIG. The movable member 52 in the receiving part 16 is held in its active position). however,
When the stationary cam means to be referred to later acts on the movable member 52, the movable member 52 is brought into the operating position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 against the elastic biasing action of the tension spring 62 (in FIG. , the above-mentioned positions B and C and the container receiving part 1 located therebetween.
The movable member 52 at 6 is brought into the active position). When the movable member 52 is in the active position, the arcuate opening 48 of the first flange support 42 and the arcuate opening 58 of the second flange support 44 cooperate, as clearly shown in FIG. A substantially circular opening is formed.

On the other hand, a container 32 is fitted with a lid 30 as required by a lid fitting device constructed according to the invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, the neck portion 32a and the body portion 3
2b, and an annular flange 68 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the neck portion 32a and protrudes radially outward below the open end into which the lid 30 is fitted. As described in detail later, such a container 32 is carried into the container receiving portion 16 when the movable member 52 forming the second flange support portion 44 of the container receiving portion 16 is in the non-operating position, and A portion of the neck 32a below the flange 68 is received within the arcuate opening 48 of the first flange support 42, after which the movable member 52 is moved to the operating position. Thus, the upper surface 50 of the first flange support part 42 and the upper surface 60 of the second flange support part 44
is located opposite the lower surface of the flange 68 of the container 32, and as will be described in detail later, the pressurizing head 9 of the mounting mechanism 8 engages with the upper surface of the lid 30 fitted over the open end of the container 32. Flange 68 when applying pressing force
supports the container 32 by engaging with the lower surface of the container. The flange 6 of the upper surface of the container receiving part 16, and therefore of the upper surface of the member 46 and the movable member 52 in the illustrated embodiment.
The peripheral edge areas of the areas forming the upper surfaces 50 and 60 that engage the lower surfaces of the 8 are lowered by more than a predetermined amount than the upper surfaces 50 and 60, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is preferable that the This is because, as is well known to those skilled in the art, a typical mounting mechanism 8 is used to attach a container 32 with a lid 30 fitted in a predetermined manner to the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2.
In the normal case where the pressure head 9 is located
The lowering distance of the mounting mechanism 8 as a whole is limited by engaging with the upper surface of the lid 30. However, when the lid mounting device starts operating, etc., the lid 30 is fitted into the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2. When no container 32 is present, the upper surfaces 50 and 6 are configured to descend somewhat lower than in the normal case.
If the peripheral area of 0 is not lowered by a predetermined amount or more than the upper surfaces 50 and 60, the mounting mechanism 8
when it falls somewhat below the normal case,
Operating elements such as the lower edge tightening roller 13 are located on the upper surface 5.
This is because the collision occurs in the peripheral area of 0 and 60.

Next, the stationary cam means 70 for moving the movable member 52 to the operating position against the elastic biasing action of the tension spring 62 will be explained. The inner circumferential cam surface 72 formed by the inner surface of the member is fixed to the base 10 on the outside of the rotary turret mechanism 2. More specifically, it extends from a position somewhat upstream from the position indicated by reference numeral B in FIG. 1 to a position somewhat downstream from the position indicated by reference numeral C in FIG. When the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism 2 causes the container receiving portion 16 to reach a position somewhat upstream from the position indicated by the symbol B in FIG. The cam surface 74 of the movable member 52 held in
(FIG. 3) is engaged with the inner circumferential cam surface 72, and the movable member 5 is engaged by the cam action of the inner circumferential cam surface 72.
2 is moved to the operating position and held there against the elastic biasing action of the tension spring 62. When the rotating turret mechanism 2 continues to rotate and the container receiving portion 16 reaches a position somewhat downstream from the position indicated by the symbol C in FIG. Having disengaged from the surface 72, the movable member 52 is returned to the above-mentioned inactive position by the elastic biasing action of the tension spring 62.

In the illustrated embodiment, the tension spring 62 elastically biases the movable member 52 to the non-active position, and the cam action of the stationary cam means 70 moves the movable member 52 to the active position. However, if desired, the action of the spring and stationary cam means constituting the movable member positioning means may be reversed so that the movable member, which is elastically biased into the operative position by the elastic biasing action of the spring, is moved by the cam of the stationary cam means. It can also be constructed so that it can be moved to a non-operative position by action.

The illustrated lid loading device constructed in accordance with the present invention further includes a container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2.
Advantageously, a bottom support 76 for supporting the bottom of the container 32 carried into the container 32 and a body support 78 for supporting the body 32b are provided.

The bottom support 76 will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. The support shaft 12 (the first
Figure) shows the disc-shaped main body 4 of the rotating turret mechanism 2.
A disk-shaped body 80 is mounted a predetermined distance below 0, and the upper peripheral edge of the disk-shaped body 80 constitutes the bottom support 76. That is, in the illustrated example, when the container 32 is carried into the container receiving section 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 at the container carrying-in position A (FIG. 1), the container 32 is moved as shown in FIG.
The bottom surface of the container 32 is located on and supported by the bottom support 76, and this state continues until the container 32 is delivered from the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 at the container delivery position D (FIG. 1). Ru. Bottom support 7
The upper surface of the periphery of the disc-shaped body 80 constituting the disc-shaped body 80 may be integrated with the main body of the disc-shaped body 80, but in the illustrated example, an annular groove is carved in the main body of the disc-shaped body 80, and A buffer member 82 made of a material with some elasticity such as natural or synthetic rubber or a suitable synthetic resin and a rigid surface member 84 laminated thereon are disposed in this groove. A bottom support 76 is formed by. In addition, the upper surface of the periphery is the bottom support 76.
The plate-shaped body 80 constituting the rotary turret may be a stationary body that remains stationary even while the rotating turret mechanism 2 is rotated, but it may be a stationary body that is rotatably mounted on the support shaft 12 and the rotating turret is rotated. Preferably, it is rotated synchronously with the mechanism 2. especially,
As mentioned later, a portion of the axially downward pressing force applied from the pressure head 9 of the mounting mechanism 8 to the lid 30 and transmitted to the container 32 is transmitted from the bottom surface of the container 32 to the bottom support 76, and the pressure of the container 32 is When the bottom surface and the bottom support body 76 are brought into pressure contact with each other,
It is important that the disk-shaped body 80 be rotated in synchronization with the rotating turret mechanism 2.

Next, to explain about the trunk support 78, the support shaft 12 (FIG. 1) implanted in the base 10 includes:
Further, a disk-shaped body 86 is mounted slightly above the disk-shaped body 80, and the circumferential side surface portion of the disk-shaped body 86 constitutes the trunk support 78. This disk-shaped body 86
may be a stationary body that remains stationary even while the rotating turret mechanism 2 is rotated;
Preferably, the rotary turret mechanism 2 is rotatably mounted on the rotary turret mechanism 2 and rotated in synchronization with the rotary turret mechanism 2.
The circumferential side surface of the disk-like body 86 that defines the body support 78 may be a simple circumferential surface (in such a case, the outer circumferential surface of the body 32b of the container 32 and the body support 78 In particular, when the plate-shaped body 86 is rotated in synchronization with the rotating turret mechanism 2, the container receiving portion 16 provided in the rotating turret mechanism 2
It is preferable that a plurality of approximately semicircular openings corresponding to the shape of the body 32b of the container 32 are formed corresponding to the positions of the openings. When a plurality of openings as described above are formed in the circumferential side of the plate-shaped body 86, the container 32 is carried into the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 at the container carrying position A (FIG. 1). When the lower end of the body 32b of the container 32 is
The container 32 is located in an opening formed in the
When the lower end of the rotary turret mechanism 2 attempts to tilt toward the rotation center axis of the rotating turret mechanism 2, the body support 78
The substantially semicircular side surface of the opening forming the opening contacts the body 32b of the container 32 to support the container 32 and prevent it from tilting. This situation continues until the container 32 is delivered from the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 at the container delivery position D.

The illustrated lid attachment device constructed in accordance with the present invention further includes a first portion 8, as shown in FIG.
A stationary outer guide is provided consisting of a portion 8a and a second portion 88b. The first portion 88a of the stationary outer guide moves at least from the container loading position shown at A in FIG.
A container that is received in the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 and is moved along with the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism 2 in the area up to the position where the pressure head 9 of the container starts applying pressing force to the top surface of the lid 30. 32
It has a guide surface 90a extending along the outer circumference of the movement path of the body portion 32b. Also, the second
The portion 88b is located at least in the position indicated by C in FIG.
Similarly, the body 32b of the container 32, which is moved along with the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism 2, is located in the region from the position where pressing force is stopped to the top surface to the container unloading position indicated by the symbol D. It has a guide surface 90b extending along the outer periphery of the movement path. The effects of such a stationary outer guide body consisting of the first portion 88a and the second portion 88b will be discussed below.

Next, the effects of the illustrated lid mounting device, which has been improved as described above in accordance with the present invention, will be summarized and explained.

When the container receiving portion 16 passes through the container loading position A according to the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism 2, the movable member 5
2 is positioned in its non-operating position, and when a container 32 with a lid 30 attached to the open end to be attached as required is carried into the container receiver 16 in such a state, the container 32 is opened. The neck portion 32a, more specifically, the portion of the neck portion 32a below the flange 68 is connected to the first flange support portion 42 of the container receiving portion 16.
is received within the arcuate opening 48 of. At this time, the first
As described above, since the flange support 42 does not move relative to the main body 40 of the rotating turret mechanism 2, the loading and positioning of the neck 32a of the container 32 with respect to the first flange support 42 can be performed reliably and as desired. It is executed stably. When the container 32 is carried into the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2, the neck portion 32a of the container 32 is positioned as required with respect to the first flange support portion 42, and at the same time, the bottom surface of the container 32 is placed on the bottom surface support. The body 32b of the container 32 is positioned on the body 76, and the body 32b of the container 32 is received in the approximately semicircular opening formed in the body support 78, more specifically, the disc-shaped body 86. In this state, the bottom of the container 32 is attached to the bottom support 76.
is in contact with and supported by the container 3
It is desirable that the lower surface of the flange 68 formed on the second neck portion 32a be located slightly above the upper surface 50 of the first flange support portion 42, with a slight gap existing between the two.

Rotating turret mechanism 2 in the state as described above.
As is easily understood, the container 32 carried into the container receiving section 16 of FIG. Then, the container is moved from the container carry-in position indicated by the symbol A, through the position indicated by the symbol B and the position indicated by the symbol C, to the container discharge position indicated by the symbol D. At this time, when the container 32 moves to a position somewhat upstream from the position indicated by the symbol B in FIG.
The movable member 5 is moved by the cam action of the stationary cam means 70.
2 is moved into the working position. Thus, the arcuate opening 58 of the second flange support 44 is located around the neck 32a of the container 32, and the top surface 60 of the second flange support 44 is located above the first flange support 42.
Like the top surface 50, it is located opposite the bottom surface of the flange 68 formed on the neck 32a of the container 32, preferably with a slight gap therebetween. Next, when the container 32 is in the position indicated by the reference numeral B in FIG. 1, the mounting mechanism 8 is lowered and its pressure head 9 engages with the upper surface of the lid 30 to apply the required pressing force, as described above. In this way, a downward pressing force in the axial direction acts on the container 32 from the pressure head 9 via the lid 30, and the bottom surface of the container 32 is pressed against the bottom support 76, and the body 32b of the container 32 becomes somewhat elastic. The neck 32a of the container 32 is thereby deformed.
The lower surface of the flange 68 formed in the flange 68 is engaged with the upper surface 50 of the first flange support section 42 and the upper surface 60 of the second flange support section 44 . Therefore, a portion of the pressing force transmitted from the pressure head 9 to the container 32 via the lid 30 is transmitted to the first flange support portion 4.
The pressing force received by the upper surface 50 of 2 and the upper surface 60 of the second flange support 44 and transmitted to the body 32b of the container 32 is reduced accordingly, and thus the body 32b of the container 32 is relatively weak. Even in such cases, damage or crushing is reliably avoided (see US Pat. No. 3,875,725 and the drawings in this regard). In the illustrated example, the lower surface of the flange 68 formed on the neck portion 32a of the container 32 does not reach the upper surface 50 of the first flange support portion 42 until the body portion 32b of the container 32 is somewhat elastically deformed. Second flange support part 44
Since it is configured to be engaged with the upper surface 60, a portion of the pressing force transmitted to the container 32 is transmitted to the body 3.
2b, but the pressure head 9 of the mounting mechanism 8
When the flange 6 is engaged with the top surface of the lid 30, the flange 6 is already formed on the neck 32a of the container 32.
The lower surface of 8 is the upper surface 50 of the first flange support part 42
and the upper surface 60 of the second flange support 44, almost all of the pressing force transmitted from the pressure head 9 to the container 32 via the lid 30 is transmitted to the first flange support 42 and the upper surface 60 of the second flange support 44. The body 32 of the container 32 is received by the second flange support 44 .
There is almost no pressing force transmitted to b (therefore,
Needless to say, damage or crushing of the body 32b of the container 32 is reliably avoided).

As the rotating turret mechanism 2 rotates, the container 3
2 moves from the position shown by reference numeral B to the position shown by reference numeral C in FIG. In addition to pressing the lid 30 against the open end of the container 32, other elements of the attachment mechanism 8 (thread forming roller 11 and tightening roller 13 in the illustrated embodiment) act on the lid 30 to tighten the lid 30. It is deformed as desired, and thus the lid 30 is fitted to the open end of the container 32 as desired. The container 32 with the lid 30 attached as required is further moved to the container unloading position indicated by reference numeral D in FIG. 1 as the rotating turret mechanism 2 rotates. Once moved to a position somewhat downstream of the position indicated by C, the camming action of the stationary cam means 70 on the movable member 52 is released and the movable member 52 is thus rendered inactive by the elastic biasing action of the tension spring 62. returned to position. At the container unloading position indicated by the symbol D in FIG. 1, the container unloading mechanism 6
(FIG. 1) acts on the container 32 to transport the container 32 out of the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2.

By the way, the container receiving part 1 of the rotating turret mechanism 2
The container 32 carried into the rotating turret mechanism 2
When the container is moved from the container carry-in mechanism indicated by the symbol A in FIG. As described above, the pressure head 9 of the mounting mechanism 8 engages with the upper surface of the lid 30 and applies a pressing force to it in the range from the position shown by the symbol A to the position shown by the symbol C. In the range from the position indicated by B and from the position indicated by C to the container unloading position indicated by D, the mounting mechanism 8 does not act on the lid 30, and the container 32 is simply placed on the bottom support 76. in the placed state (if the bottom support 76 is not provided, the flange 68 formed on the neck 32a of the container 32 is connected to the first flange support 4
(by engaging with the upper surface 50 of 2). In such a situation,
As is easily understood, the centrifugal force acting on the container 32 that moves with the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism 2 causes the container 32 to fly outward from the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2. There is a tendency to put it away. However, in the illustrated embodiment of the lid-applying device constructed in accordance with the present invention, at least from the container loading position indicated by the reference numeral A to the reference numeral B in FIG.
The outer periphery of the movement path of the body 32b of the container 32 that is moved along with the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism 2 in the range from the position shown by C to the container unloading position shown by D. A stationary outer guide (i.e., a first portion 88a and a second portion 88a) having guide surfaces 90a and 90b extending along the
8b), the guide surfaces 90a and 90b of the stationary outer guide reliably prevent the container 32 from flying out.

Next, a second specific example of the lid mounting device constructed according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The second specific example illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is
With respect to the first specific example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the movable member 52 forming the second flange support portion 44 of the container receiving portion 16 is appropriately positioned in the working position and the non-working position. This is a modification of the structure of the movable member positioning means for this purpose. In the second specific example illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5,
A movable member 52 is attached to the main body 40 of the rotating turret mechanism 2.
Each of the connecting shafts 56 rotatably connects the
A first link 92 is attached to the lower end of the connecting shaft 56 that extends downward through the main body 40 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 and projects downward beyond the lower surface of the main body 40.
One end is fixed. The other end of the first link 92 is pivotally connected to one end of a second link 94 by a hinge pin 93, and the other end of the second link 94 is pivotally connected to a third link 98 by a hinge pin 96. freely connected. This third link 98 is rotatably connected to the main body 40 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 by a connecting shaft 100 at its intermediate portion. Further, a cam driven roller 102 is rotatably attached to the other end of the third link 98.

On the other hand, below the main body of the rotating turret mechanism 2 and around the support shaft 12 implanted in the base 10,
Stationary cam means 104 are provided. The stationary cam means 104 is arranged in a desired position, for example by being fixed to the inner end of the stationary guide 33, and is kept stationary while the body 40 of the rotary turret mechanism 2 rotates. It is configured,
An outer circumferential cam 106 formed by its outer surface
is a small diameter arcuate section 1 as clearly illustrated in FIG.
06a and a large diameter arcuate portion 106b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the third link 98
A tension spring 108 is tensioned between each of the rotary turret mechanisms 2 and the main body 40 of the rotating turret mechanism 2. The tension spring 108 elastically biases the third link 98, which is pivotally connected to the main body 40 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 by the connecting shaft 100, in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. A cam driven roller 102 rotatably mounted on the third link 98 is brought into reliable contact with an outer peripheral cam surface 106 of a stationary cam means 104.

The first to third links 92, 9 as described above
4 and 98, the tension spring 108, and the stationary cam means 104.

When the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2 is located at the container loading position indicated by the symbol A in FIG.
06, and the movable member 52 is positioned at a non-operating position. However, when the container receiving portion 16 moves to a position somewhat upstream from the position indicated by the symbol B in FIG. It comes into contact with the portion 106b.
In this way, the third link 98 is connected to the connecting shaft 10.
0 in the clockwise direction in FIG.
tension spring 10 to a position where it abuts a stop pin 110 fixed in place on the underside of the body 40 of the rotary turret mechanism 2 with respect to each of the links 98 .
8 is rotated against the elastic biasing action. Such pivoting movement of the third link 98 is transmitted to the movable member 52 via the second link 94 and the first link 92, and the movable member 52 is moved to the operative position. In such a state, the container receiving portion 16 is moved to the fourth position according to the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism 2.
It is maintained until it reaches a position somewhat downstream from the position indicated by symbol C in the figure. When the container receiving portion 16 is at a position somewhat downstream from the position indicated by the symbol C in FIG.
Thus, by the elastic biasing action of the tension spring 108, the first to third links 92, 94, and 98 return to their original states, and the movable member 52 returns to the non-operating position. will be returned to.

As described above, the movable member positioning means in the second specific example illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is also the same as the movable member positioning means in the first specific example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. Similarly, it will be apparent that rotation of the rotating turret mechanism 2 will position the movable member 52 in the active or non-active position as appropriate.

The configuration of the second specific example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 other than the movable member positioning means is substantially the same as that of the first specific example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The explanation for this will be omitted.

Although the first and second specific examples of the lid mounting device configured according to the present invention have been described above in detail, the present invention is not limited to such specific examples, and there are no deviations from the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that various modifications and modifications can be made without any problems.

For example, in the illustrated example, the lid 30 to be attached is already fitted onto the open end of the container 32.
is carried into the container receiving portion 16 of the rotating turret mechanism 2. If desired, an appropriate lid supply mechanism may be attached to the rotating turret mechanism 2, and the container carrying mechanism 4 may be used to transfer the container to the rotating turret mechanism. When or after carrying the container 32 into the container receiving part 16 of No. 2, the lid 30 is supplied to the open end of the container 32 by the action of the lid supply mechanism and fitted thereon, and then the lid 30 is fitted onto the open end of the container 32 by the action of the lid supply mechanism 8. Thus, the lid 30 can be attached to the open end of the container 32 as desired.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view showing a specific example of a lid mounting device constructed according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows the first
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lid mounting device shown in the figure. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the container receiving part of the lid mounting device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a second specific example of the lid mounting device constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the lid mounting device shown in FIG. 4. 2... Rotating turret mechanism, 8... Mounting mechanism,
9... Pressure head, 16... Container receiver, 30...
Lid, 32...Container, 32a...Neck of container, 32
b... Container body, 42... First flange support part, 44... Second flange support part, 52... Movable member, 62... Tension spring, 70... Stationary cam means, 72... Inner cam surface, 104... Stationary cam means, 106... Outer cam surface, 108... Tension spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A rotating turret mechanism in which a plurality of container receiving portions are formed on the outer periphery at intervals in the circumferential direction, and a container is placed in the container receiving portion of the rotating turret at a predetermined container loading position. a container carrying-in mechanism for carrying in containers; and a container carrying-out mechanism for carrying out containers from the container receiving section of the rotating turret mechanism at a container carrying-out position located downstream of the container carrying-in position when viewed in the rotational direction of the rotating turret mechanism. Then, while the container carried into the container receiving portion of the rotating turret mechanism moves from the container carrying-in position to the container carrying-out position in accordance with the rotation of the rotating turret mechanism, a required amount of water is applied to the open end of the container. a lower outer peripheral surface of an opening end to which a lid is to be attached; the apparatus mechanism includes a pressure head that applies a pressing force in an axial direction to the upper surface of the lid; In a lid attachment device for attaching a lid to a container having a radially outwardly projecting flange; each of the container receivers of the rotating turret mechanism comprising:
a first opening formed by the main body of the rotating turret mechanism or by a member fixed to the main body and having an arcuate opening opening radially outward;
and a movable member attached to the main body so as to be movable between an active position and a non-active position, and when the movable member is positioned in the active position, the first a second flange support part having an arcuate opening that cooperates with the arcuate opening of the flange support part to form a substantially circular opening;
The movable member is positioned in the inactive position at least in the container loading position and the container unloading position, and the movable member is in the working position at least while the pressure head is applying pressing force to the top surface of the lid. Movable member positioning means are provided for positioning the first flange support and the second flange support so that the top surface of the first flange support and the second flange support are in contact with the flange of the container at least while the pressure head is applying a pressing force to the top surface of the lid. A lid attachment device configured to engage with a lower surface and support a container. 2. Both the arcuate opening of the first flange support and the arcuate opening of the second flange support are approximately
2. A lid attachment device as claimed in claim 1, which has an arc of 180 degrees and cooperates to form a substantially circular opening. 3. The lid mounting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable member is rotatably mounted to the main body about a fulcrum position adjacent to the first flange support. 4. The movable member positioning means includes a spring means for elastically biasing the movable member toward either the active position or the non-active position, and a spring means for elastically biasing the movable member toward either the active position or the non-active position, and the movable member positioning means for biasing the movable member toward the active position against the biasing action of the spring means. 4. A lid mounting device according to claim 1, further comprising stationary cam means for moving the lid to the other of the non-operating position and the non-operating position. 5. the spring means resiliently biases the movable member to the inactive position, and the stationary cam means is located outwardly of the container receptacle along at least a portion of its path of travel and directly against the movable member; 5. The lid mounting device according to claim 4, further comprising a cam having an inner circumferential cam surface that acts to move the movable member to the operating position. 6 the spring means resiliently biases the movable member to the inactive position and the stationary cam means located within and coupled to the movable member along at least a portion of the travel path of the container receptacle; 5. The lid mounting device according to claim 4, comprising a cam having an outer circumferential cam surface that acts on the movable member via a link mechanism to move the movable member to the operating position. 7. Claims 1 to 7, wherein the peripheral portions of the upper surfaces of the first flange support portion and the second flange support portion that engage with the lower surface of the flange of the container are lowered by a predetermined amount than the upper surface. The lid mounting device according to any one of Item 6.