JPH0585228B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a container inverting device, and more specifically,
The present invention relates to a container inverting device suitable for use in a container cleaning device that grips a container, inverts it, and injects cleaning fluid into the inverted container.

``Prior Art'' Conventionally, a container reversing device includes a bracket that is circulated and conveyed by a conveyance mechanism in a predetermined endless trajectory, a gripping member that is rotatably provided on the bracket with the conveyance direction being an axial direction, and this gripping member. A gripper provided on a member for gripping a container, a cam follower provided on the gripping member, and a cam rail that engages with the cam follower, the cam follower, the gripping member, and the gripper being integrated together according to the cam curve of the cam rail. A device is known in which the container gripped by the gripper is rotated between an upright state and an inverted state.

The above cam follower is usually held between two cam rails from both sides (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-281990), but in some cases, one cam rail is held between cam followers from both sides. is known (US Pat. No. 4,104,081).

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' However, in conventional container reversing devices of this type, the cam rail is always brought into contact with the cam follower, which causes the problem of wear between the two, and furthermore, it is difficult to accurately rotate the cam rail. Since the cam rail needs to be assembled into a predetermined shape, the assembly work of the cam rail has become complicated.

"Means for Solving the Problem" In view of such circumstances, the present invention is based on a container reversing device equipped with a pair of rotatably supported cam followers and a cam rail interposed between the pair of cam followers. The present invention provides a container reversing device which provides a configuration that allows the cam rail to be easily separated from the cam follower, thereby reducing wear between the cam rail and the cam follower, and which facilitates assembly of the cam rail. be.

That is, the present invention comprises: a bracket that is circulated and conveyed by a conveyance mechanism while drawing a predetermined endless trajectory; a gripping member that is rotatably provided on the bracket with the conveyance direction as an axial direction; a gripper for gripping, a pair of cam followers each rotatably supported on the gripping member;
and a cam rail interposed between the pair of cam followers, and the pair of cam followers, the gripping member, and the gripper are integrally rotated according to the cam curve of the cam rail, and the container gripped by the gripper is brought into an upright state. In the container reversing device for rotating the container to an inverted state, the bracket and the gripping member are provided with a stopper that abuts each other at a position where the container gripped by the gripper is in an upright state or an inverted state to restrict rotation of the gripping member. In addition, the distance between the pair of cam followers is set such that the outer side thereof widens.

"Operation" According to the above configuration, when the pair of cam followers, the gripping member, and the gripper are rotated integrally by the cam rail, and the container gripped by the gripper is rotated into an upright state or an inverted state, ,
The rotation of the gripping member can be restricted by the stopper.

Since the distance between the pair of cam followers that sandwich the cam rail is set so that the outer side thereof widens, the cam rail can be easily moved from between the pair of cam followers when the rotation of the gripping member is restricted by the stopper. It can be detached outwardly and smoothly engaged at the required position.

Therefore, by separating the cam rail from a pair of cam followers, it is possible to reduce the wear between the two, and since there is no need to place the cam rail in a predetermined position with high precision in the part where it has been removed, the assembly is easier. Work can be made easier.

"Example" The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated example.
In Figure 1, the container cleaning device is mounted on a fixed frame 1.
and a lifting frame 3 that is raised and lowered by the lifting mechanism 2.
It is equipped with Although only one elevating mechanism 2 is shown in FIG. 1, three or more similar elevating mechanisms 2 are provided so that the elevating frame 3 can be moved up and down in synchronization with each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed frame 1 is provided with a conveyor 6, a timing screw 7, an inlet star wheel 8, and an outlet star wheel 9. The container 10 transported by the container 10 is synchronized with the star wheel 8 on the inlet side of the container cleaning device by the timing screw 7, and is carried into the inside of the container cleaning device via the star wheel 8 on the inlet side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the entrance side star wheel 8 is connected to a gear 14 and a fixed frame 1.
The exit side star wheel 9 is also connected to a motor (not shown) by meshing with a gear 16 connected to a speed reduction mechanism 15 provided at It is linked to the motor. Furthermore, the timing screw 7 is interlocked with the motor by a chain 19 extending between a sprocket 17 connected thereto and a sprocket 18 connected to the speed reduction mechanism 15.

A vertically disposed drive shaft 23 is rotatably supported on the lift frame 3, and a disc-shaped rotating body 24 is fixed to the upper part of the drive shaft 23. A large number of grippers 25 are attached at equal intervals on the outer periphery. Each gripper 25 grips the opening of the container 10 brought in by the star wheel 8 on the entrance side.

A gear 28 attached to the lower part of the drive shaft 23 is meshed with a gear 30 connected to a deceleration mechanism 29 provided on the elevating frame 3, and this deceleration mechanism 29 is connected to the fixed frame via a conventionally known telescopic joint 31. It is linked to the speed reduction mechanism 15 provided in 1.
Thereby, even if the elevating frame 3 is raised or lowered by the elevating mechanism 2, the interlocking state between the deceleration mechanisms 15 and 29 can be maintained by the telescopic joint 31.

The grip 25 provided on the rotating body 24 has a third
As shown in FIG. 4, there are brackets 35 attached to each rotating body 24, and each bracket 35 is attached to be rotatable 180 degrees around a pin 36 disposed in the tangential direction of the rotating body 24, that is, in the transport direction. The inner gripping member 37 is provided with an arcuate support portion 37a that supports the inside of the mouth of the container 10.

The inner gripping member 37 and the bracket 35 include
Stoppers S ₁ and S ₂ are provided at both end positions of the 180 degree rotation of the inner gripping member 37 to restrict the rotation of the inner gripping member 37 by coming into contact with each other, thereby preventing the container 10 gripped by the gripper 25. can be maintained in an upright position and an inverted position.

At the tip of the sliding rod 38 slidably provided on the inner gripping member 37, the arcuate support portion 37a is attached.
An outer gripping member 39 is attached to support the outer side of the mouth of the container 10 facing the sliding rod 38.
A spring 40 elastically loaded between the outer gripping member 39 and the inner gripping member 37 allows the outer gripping member 39 to be held at the arcuate support portion 37a.
In the natural state, the outer gripping member 39
The opening of the container 10 can be gripped by the circular support portion 37a.

A cam lever 41 for moving the sliding rod 38 forward and backward is swingably attached to the inner gripping member 37, and the free end of the cam lever 41 is connected to the distal end of the sliding rod 38 by the elastic force of the spring 40. The cam lever 41 is brought into contact with the stopper part 3 of the inner grip member 37 due to its elastic force.
7b.

A cam follower 42 is provided at the free end of the cam lever 41, and a cam member 43 provided between the inlet star wheel 8 and the outlet star wheel 9 is attached to the cam follower 42, as shown in FIGS. 42 from the outside in the radial direction, and while the cam follower 42 is in contact with the cam member 43, the outer gripping member 39 is held against the spring 40.
can be separated from the arcuate support portion 37a of the inner gripping member 37.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner gripping member 37 is maintained in the posture of gripping the container in the erect state by the stopper _S2 , but the rotation regulating effect by the stopper _S2 is further ensured. In order to do this, a stopper member _S3 is attached to the inner grip member 37, and this is brought into contact with the bracket 35. Therefore, when the outer gripping member 39 is separated from the arcuate support portion 37a of the inner gripping member 37 against the spring 40, the rotational force applied to the inner gripping member 37 is transferred to the stopper _S2 and the stopper member. Can be received by S ₃ .

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, cam grooves 38a are provided on both sides of the outer peripheral surface of the sliding rod 38, respectively.
Each cam groove 38a has a portion on the side of the outer gripping member 39 formed in a straight line along the axial direction, and a portion on the opposite side formed in a spiral shape diagonally in the circumferential direction and in opposite directions. As shown in FIG. 5, balls 47 attached to the tips of bolts 46 screwed onto both sides of the inner gripping member 37 are inserted into the cam grooves 37 and 37, respectively.
a, and in the above-mentioned natural state, each ball 47 is positioned at the tip of the linear portion of the cam groove 38a.

Therefore, when the cam follower 42 contacts the cam member 43 and swings, thereby moving the sliding rod 38 forward against the spring 40, the balls 47 are moved relative to each other in the cam groove 38a. It is moved from a straight section to a spiral section. As a result, the sliding rod 38 and the outer gripping member 39 are rotated relative to the inner gripping member 37, and are displaced from the position facing the arcuate support portion 37a to a position rotated approximately 90 degrees in the lateral direction.

In this state, when the mouth of the container 10 is carried into the arcuate support portion 37a of the inner grip member 37 by the inlet star wheel 8, the cam follower 42 is separated from the cam member 43, so that the sliding The movable rod 38 and the outer gripping member 39 are returned to their original positions by the elastic force of the spring 40.
At this time, the outer gripping member 39 first
The spiral portion of the container 10 is rotated back to the front position facing the arcuate support portion 37a, and then moved linearly toward the arcuate support portion 37a. It is held smoothly and reliably between the arcuate support portion 37a of the inner gripping member 37.

On the other hand, when the gripper 25 gripping the container 10 approaches the outlet starwheel 9, the cam follower 42 engages with the cam member 43, so that the outer gripping member 39 is separated from the arcuate support portion 37a while remaining opposed to it. After that, the arcuate support portion 37
It is moved to a position 90 degrees off from the front position of a.
Therefore, the container 10 is smoothly delivered to the outlet star wheel 9 from within the arcuate support portion 37a without being obstructed by the outer gripping member 39, and is further discharged to the conveyor 6.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 1, the cam member 4
3 is attached to the tip of a support arm 44, and the base of this support arm 44 is attached to the upper end of the drive shaft 23 so as to be rotatable with respect to the drive shaft 23. This support arm is connected to the rotating body 24 by a connecting rod 45 attached to the fixed frame 1.
The connecting rod 45 and the support arm 44 are arranged so that they do not rotate due to the
4 are connected to each other so as to allow the lift frame 3 to move up and down as the lift frame 3 moves up and down.

Next, each gripper 25 is rotated 180 degrees in the normal rotation zone A of FIG. 2 by a container reversing mechanism 49 (FIG. 3) consisting of a cam mechanism, and the container 10 gripped in the upright state is rotated into an inverted state. I am now able to do this. Further, the container reversing mechanism 49 is configured to rotate the gripper 25 in the reverse direction by 180 degrees in the reversing zone B, thereby returning the container 10 which has been placed in an inverted state to an upright state again.

As shown in FIG. 3, the container reversing mechanism 49 includes a pair of cam followers 50 provided on the inner gripping member 37 of each gripper 25, and both cam followers 50.
It consists of a cam rail 51 passed through between the two. The cam rail 51 is fixed to the elevating frame 3 by a plurality of supports 52 as shown in FIG. The gripper 25 is twisted such that the gripper 25 rotates 180 degrees around the pin 36 of the gripper 25 between the normal rotation zone A and the reverse rotation zone B.

In this embodiment, each of the cam followers 50 is constituted by a truncated conical roller rotatably supported on the stopper member _S2 , thereby widening the distance between the pair of cam followers 50 on the outside thereof. That's what I do.

Therefore, with this configuration, the cam rail 51 held between the pair of cam followers 50 can be smoothly removed from between the cam followers 50, and can be smoothly engaged again. When the rotation of the inner gripping member 37 is restricted by the stoppers S ₁ and S ₂ and the stopper member S ₃ , that is, when the cam rail 51 is not operating the container in the forward or reverse rotation, the cam rail Since it is not necessary to restrict the rotation of the inner gripping member 37 at 51, the cam rail 51 can be separated from between the pair of cam followers 50 within that range to prevent wear due to mutual contact.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a container opening nozzle 55 for spraying cleaning liquid is provided at a position in front of the timing screw 7.
The opening of the container 10 can be cleaned by spraying cleaning liquid from above toward the opening of the container 10, which is conveyed in an erect state by the conveyor 6.

The container opening nozzle 55 is attached to a water receiving table 56 (see FIG. 1) fixed to the lifting frame 3, and the container opening nozzle 55 is raised and lowered together with the water receiving table 56 as the lifting frame 3 moves up and down. It's becoming like that. The cleaning liquid sprayed from the container opening nozzle 55 toward the mouth of the upright container 10 is collected by a water receiving table 56, and the cleaning liquid collected by the water receiving table 56 is circulated (not shown). The water is collected in a washing tank, and is circulated and supplied again to the container mouth nozzle 55 from within this circulation washing tank.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the rotary body 24 is provided with internal cleaning nozzles 57 at positions radially inside each gripper 25, and each internal cleaning nozzle 57 injects cleaning liquid into the inverted container 10. This makes it possible to clean the inside of the container 10. Each internal cleaning nozzle 57 is connected to the above-mentioned circulation cleaning tank (not shown) via a rotary joint 58 (FIG. 1) in an internal cleaning circulation cleaning zone C following the normal rotation zone A shown in FIG. The cleaning liquid in the circulation cleaning tank is circulated and supplied to the inner cleaning nozzle 57. The cleaning liquid injected into the container 10 is collected into a circulating cleaning tank via a water receiving table 56 provided on the elevating frame 3.

Further, the water receiving table 56 is provided with an inverted container 1 at the entrance of the internal washing circulation cleaning zone C.
An outer washing nozzle 60 for washing the outside of the container 10 is provided, and the outside of the container 10 can be washed with the washing liquid from the outer washing nozzle 60. The cleaning liquid in the circulation washing tank is also supplied to this outer washing nozzle 60, and the cleaning liquid injected from the outer washing nozzle 60 is also collected into the circulation washing tank.

Container 10 that has passed through the internal cleaning circulation cleaning zone C
Next, it passes through an internal washing and finishing washing zone D. In this internal cleaning finishing cleaning zone D, the internal cleaning nozzle 57 provided on the rotary body 24 is switched and connected to the fresh water supply source via the rotary joint 58, and clean water is supplied from the fresh water supply source. A cleaning liquid is injected into the container 10 from the nozzle to perform final cleaning. This cleaning liquid is then collected into the circulation cleaning tank.

Container 10 after finishing cleaning has been completed in this way
passes through the draining zone E in an inverted state to drain water, and then returns from the inverted state to an upright state when passing through the above-mentioned reversal zone B. Then, the container 10 passed through the reversal zone B and was erected.
is delivered to the exit star wheel 9 at the same time as the gripper 25 releases the grip, and is discharged onto the aforementioned transport conveyor 6 by the exit star wheel 9.

In the above configuration, for example, when changing from a container with a low height to a container 10 with a high height, the elevating frame 3 may be raised by the elevating mechanism 2 according to the height of the container. When the elevating frame 3 is raised, the rotating body 24
Since the gripper 25 is raised, the gripper 25 provided thereon is also raised. Further, since the cam rail 51 that constitutes the container reversing mechanism 49 is also lifted up integrally with the lifting frame 3, the cam follower 51 provided on the gripper 25
The engagement between the cam rail 51 and the cam rail 51 is never disengaged.

On the other hand, since the conveyor 6 and the star wheel 8 on the entrance side are provided on the fixed frame 1 and do not rise, the tall containers conveyed by the star wheel 8 on the entrance side cannot be rotated. It is smoothly gripped by the gripper 25 raised integrally with the body 24, and rotated by the container reversing mechanism 49 as the rotating body 24 rotates.

Further, as the rotating body 24 rises, the inner washing nozzle 57 provided thereon rises, and as the elevating frame 3 rises, the container nozzle 5 provided thereon rises.
5 and the outer washing nozzle 60 are raised, the relative positions of the container opening nozzle 55 and the inner washing nozzle 57 with respect to the container 10 do not change, and the relative positions of the outer washing nozzle 60 and the container 10 also remain unchanged. The only difference is the height, and compared to the case where the external washing nozzle 60 is provided on the fixed frame 1, fluctuations in the relative position between the nozzle and the container can be made smaller. Therefore, the container can be cleaned in good condition regardless of the height of the container.

As described above, when changing the height of a container, it is only necessary to raise and lower the lifting frame 3 according to the height of the container using the lifting mechanism 2, making the changing operation extremely easy. I can do it.

Further, the inner gripping member 37 is in the normal rotation zone A.
Since its rotation is restricted by the stoppers S ₁ and S ₂ and the stopper member S ₃ except when passing through the reversal zone B, the cam rail 51 can be separated from between the pair of cam followers 50.
Accordingly, the cam rail 51 and the cam follower 50
It is possible to prevent wear caused by contact with

Then, the cam rail 51 is connected to a pair of cam followers 5.
If the cam rail 51 is separated from 0, the cam rail 51 does not control the rotation angle position of the inner gripping member 37 during that time, so the shape of the cam rail 51 in that separated section can be set roughly. Note that the cam rail 51 can be omitted in the above-mentioned separation section, but for some reason, such as when the container 10 that is inverted in the forward rotation zone A comes into contact with an obstacle, the container 10 may change to the upright state before reaching the reverse rotation zone B. In order to prevent the cam rail 5 from returning to
1 at a position where it does not come into contact with the cam follower 50, and at a position where rotation of the inner gripping member 37 can be prevented when the inner gripping member 37 is rotated.

Further, in the above embodiment, the cam follower 50 is formed of a truncated conical roller so that the distance between the pair of cam followers 50 is widened on the outside thereof, but the invention is not limited to this.
For example, it is clear that the same effect can be obtained even if the cam follower 50 is a cylindrical roller and its rotation axis is set so that its outer side expands.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the drive shaft 23, the rotating body 24, the gear 28,
30, reduction mechanism 15, 29 and telescopic joint 3
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-281990, an endless chain is used to draw a gripper in an elliptical endless trajectory. Of course, it is also possible to use a transport mechanism that circulates and transports the material. Further, the cleaning liquid may be cleaning air.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, in the present invention, the stopper can restrict the rotation of the gripping member to maintain the container in an upright or inverted state, and the cam rail can be moved smoothly between the pair of cam followers. left,
Since the cam rail can be engaged with the pair of cam followers, it is possible to reduce the wear between the two by disengaging the cam rail from the pair of cam followers, and in the section where the cam rail is disengaged, the cam rail must be placed in a predetermined position with high precision. Since there are no holes, the assembly work can be made easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 shows an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 2; FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of FIG. 1; FIG. The figure is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 4. 10...Container, 23...Drive shaft, 24...Rotating body, 25...Gripper, 35...Bracket, 3
6...Pin, 37...Inner grip member, 49...Container reversing mechanism, 50...Cam follower, 51...Cam rail, _S1 , _S2 ...Stopper, _S3 ...Stopper member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bracket that is circularly conveyed by a conveyance mechanism while drawing a predetermined endless trajectory, a gripping member that is rotatably provided on the bracket with the conveyance direction as an axial direction, and a gripping member that is provided on the gripping member. A gripper for gripping a container, a pair of cam followers each rotatably supported on the gripping member, and a cam rail interposed between the pair of cam followers, the pair of cam followers following the cam curve of the cam rail, In a container reversing device that integrally rotates a gripper and a gripper to rotate a container gripped by the gripper between an upright state and an inverted state, the container gripped by the gripper is attached to the bracket and the gripper in an upright position. A container characterized in that a stopper is provided to restrict the rotation of the gripping member by abutting each other in an upright or inverted position, and the interval between the pair of cam followers is set so that the outer side thereof widens. Reversing device.