JP2005104535A - Capper - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a capper 1 which correctly applies a head load as compared with a conventional one and is highly versatile. <P>SOLUTION: A capping head 5 includes a pressure block 23 for applying a required head load to a PP cap 4 from upward and a thread roller 36 for forming a thread on the PP cap 4. The pressure block 23 is coupled with the lower end of a rising shaft 11, and the shaft 11 is raised/lowered via a bracket 21 and a ball spring 17 in conjunction with a servo motor 8. A controller 22 stores, in advance, a torque value of the servo motor 8 with which an optimum head load according to the type of the PP cap 4 can be determined. When the type of the PP cap 4 is changed, the controller 22 retrieves the torque value stored in advance with which the optimum head load can be determined and controls the operation of the servo motor 8 to obtain the torque value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a capper, and more particularly to a capper that raises and lowers a capping head by a servo motor to attach a cap to a container.

Conventionally, a capper provided with a capping head for attaching a cap to a container is well known. Conventionally, the raising and lowering operation of the capping head generally uses a cam mechanism including a cam and a cam follower (for example, Patent Document 1).
Further, a rotary capper having a plurality of capping heads that use a servo motor for raising and lowering each capping head is also known (for example, Patent Document 2).
Furthermore, for example, Patent Document 3 is known as a capper provided with a capping head capable of capping different types of containers.
JP-A-10-59488 Japanese Patent No. 3109527 Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-68237

By the way, for cappers that can be fitted with PP caps (pill proof caps) and screw caps on containers, the optimal head load is set vertically below the cap by the capping head according to the capping method. There is a need to. Depending on the container and cap to be handled, for example, about 60 to 180 kg for PP caps, about 3 to 20 kg for screw caps for resin caps, etc. Head load suitable for various capping methods Had to be set to
Conventionally, in the case of a seam for a vial bottle, if the outside diameter of the vial bottle to be handled is different, it is necessary to set a head load suitable for the outside diameter of the bottle.
In such a case, conventionally, an air cylinder is provided in the capping head, and when a large load is to be applied, the air cylinder is operated (Patent Document 3) or a required head load can be obtained manually. The spring in the capping head is exchanged or adjusted.
However, when adjusting the head load by the air cylinder, it is troublesome to adjust the air pressure of the air cylinder first according to each capping method, and it cannot be used for many types.
In addition, if the spring in the capping head is manually replaced or adjusted to obtain the required head load, it is necessary to replace or adjust the spring for all capping heads. It was complicated.
Furthermore, when a head load is applied by an air cylinder or a spring as in the past, it is impossible to detect the head load actually applied, and a head load set for some reason is obtained. Even if it is not, since the cap is attached as it is, there is a possibility of causing a defective cap attachment.

In view of the circumstances described above, the present invention includes a capping head for attaching a cap to a container, a servo motor for moving the capping head up and down, and a control device for controlling the operation of the servo motor. A capper that attaches a cap to a container with an optimum head load applied thereto,
The control device stores a torque value of a servo motor that obtains the optimum head load when the cap is attached to the container, reads a torque value output from the servo motor, and stores the torque value and the storage unit. A comparison unit that compares the torque value stored in
The control device controls the operation of the servo motor so that the torque value output from the servo motor when the cap is attached becomes the torque value stored in the storage unit, and an optimum head load corresponding to the cap is applied to the cap. A capper to be added is provided.

  According to the configuration described above, it is possible to accurately add the optimum head load stored in the storage unit when attaching the cap to the container. Even when the cap to be processed is changed, the head load adjustment operation on the capping head side can be performed very easily.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a line type capper 1. A plurality of sets of the cappers 1 are arranged at a capping position A, which is a transport process of the transport conveyor 3 that transports the containers 2 intermittently.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the container 2 is intermittently supplied to the capping position A by the transport conveyor 3 in a state where the upper end opening portion is covered with a PP cap (pill proof cap) 4. It has become.
When the container 2 is supplied to the capping position A, the capping head 5 is rotated after being lowered. Thereby, the pressure block 23 with which the capping head 5 is provided contacts the cap 4 and presses it downward. Then, the thread roller 36 of the capping head 5 is pressed against the peripheral wall 4A of the PP cap 4 in this state and rotates around the peripheral wall 4A following the shape of the screw portion 2A on the container 2 side, and the lock roller of the capping head 5 37 also presses against the peripheral wall 4A and rotates around it. As a result, the threaded portion 4B is formed on the PP cap 4, and the entire periphery of the lower end portion 4C of the PP cap 4 is bent in accordance with the shape of the outer peripheral portion of the container 4, and is crimped to that portion. (FIG. 3B).
Note that a ring-shaped seal member (not shown) is provided on the inner end face of the PP cap 4, and the container 4 is sealed when the seal member is pressed against the upper end portion 4 </ b> D of the container 4.

The capper 1 of the present embodiment includes a capping head 5 for attaching the PP cap 4 to the container 2 and three servo motors 6, 7, 8 serving as a drive source for the capping head 5, as will be described later. The capping head 5 is moved up and down by the servo motors 7 and 8.
The capping head 5 includes a lifting shaft 11 that is moved up and down in conjunction with the servo motor 8, and a first cylindrical member that is fitted to the outer periphery of the upper portion of the lifting shaft 11 so as to be rotatable and movable in the axial direction. 12, a second cylindrical member 13 that is rotatably fitted to the lower outer peripheral portion of the elevating shaft 11 and that is provided on the lower inner peripheral portion of the first cylindrical member 12 so as to be movable up and down, and the first cylindrical member. By supporting the upper part of 12, both cylindrical members 12, 13 and the lifting shaft 11 are supported, and a cylindrical supporting member 14 that is lifted and lowered by the servo motor 7 is provided.
The first cylindrical member 12 is spline-fitted to the second cylindrical member 13, whereby both the cylindrical members 12, 13 can be relatively moved (lifted / lowered) in the axial direction. Cannot be rotated relative to each other. Therefore, both the cylindrical members 12 and 13 can be integrally rotated with respect to the lifting shaft 11, and the first cylindrical member 12 can be lifted and lowered with respect to the second cylindrical member 13 and the lifting shaft 11. It is like that. In addition, a spring (not shown) is mounted over both the cylindrical members 12 and 13, and the first cylindrical member 12 and the second cylindrical member 13 are constantly urged in the direction of separating vertically from each other by this spring. .

A fixed frame 15 is disposed at a position adjacent to the conveyor 3, and a ball screw 17 is pivotally supported on the fixed frame 15 via vertical bearings 16, 16 in a vertical direction. The nut portion 21A of the bracket 21 is threaded through the ball screw 17. The upper end of the elevating shaft 11 is connected to the tip of the bracket 21 after projecting to the upper side of the first cylindrical member 12. Accordingly, the lifting shaft 11 is supported by the bracket 21, and the second cylindrical member 13 fitted to the lifting shaft 11 is also supported by the bracket 21.
A servo motor 8 is connected to the lower end of the ball screw 17, and the operation of the servo motor 8 is controlled by a control device 22. When the servo motor 8 is rotated forward and backward by a required amount based on an operation command from the control device 22, the ball screw 17 is also rotated forward and backward, so that the lifting shaft 11 and the second cylinder connected to the bracket 21 are rotated. The shaped member 13 is raised and lowered. Thus, the rotational movement of the servo motor 8 is converted into a linear movement by the ball screw 17 and the nut portion 21A.
The lower end portion of the elevating shaft 11 is a flange portion 13A that is the lower end portion of the second cylindrical member 13.
The pressure block 23 is attached to the lower end of the lifting shaft 11. The elevating shaft 11 is lowered by the servo motor 8 so that the pressure block 23 comes into contact with the lower PP cap 4 from above, whereby the PP cap supported on the upper end 4D of the container 2. 4 is applied with a required pressure (head load) directed downward in the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, the upper outer peripheral portion of the first cylindrical member 12 is supported by the cylindrical support member 14 so as to be rotatable and movable up and down. The support member 14 is connected to the distal end portion of the bracket 24. A ball screw 26 is pivotally supported on the fixed frame 15 through vertical bearings 25 and 25 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. The ball screw 26 is threadedly engaged with the nut portion 24A of the bracket 24 and penetrated. Yes. The upper end of the ball screw 26 is connected to the servo motor 7. The operation of the servo motor 7 is controlled by the control device 22, and when the servo motor 7 is rotated forward and backward by a required amount according to an operation command from the control device 22, the support member 14 and the first member supported by the support member 14 are supported. One cylindrical member 12 is moved up and down by a required amount. Then, the second cylindrical member 12 is moved up and down by the servo motor 7 from a state in which the lifting shaft 11 and the second cylindrical member 13 are stopped at a predetermined height, so that the second cylindrical member 12 The first cylindrical member 12 is moved up and down relatively.

A bracket 27 is connected horizontally to the upper portion of the support member 14, and the servo motor 6 is attached to the bracket 27. The servo motor 6 is engaged with a gear 28 fitted to the drive shaft and a gear 32 on the rotating shaft 31 side rotatably supported by the bracket 27. A small-diameter gear 33 is fitted to the upper portion of the rotating shaft 31, and the gear 33 is engaged with a large-diameter gear 35 fitted to the upper end portion of the second cylindrical member 12.
The operation of the servo motor 6 is controlled by the control device 22, and when an operation command is transmitted from the control device 22 to the servo motor 6, the servo motor 6 is rotated forward and backward at a required rotational speed. It has become so. When the servo motor 6 is rotated, the first tubular member 12 and the second tubular member 13 are rotated forward and backward with respect to the lifting shaft 11 via the plurality of gears 28, 32, 33, 35. It is like that.
Thus, the thread roller 36 and the lock roller 37 are rotated around the pressure block 23 as both the cylindrical members 12 and 13 are rotated with respect to the lifting shaft 11. As will be described in detail later, as indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 3, the thread roller 36 and the lock roller 37 are connected to the peripheral wall 4 </ b> A of the PP cap 4 with the pressure block 23 in contact with the PP cap 4 from above. Then, the two rollers 36 and 37 are lowered while being rotated, whereby the threaded portion 4B is formed on the peripheral wall 4A of the PP cap 4 and the lower end portion 4C is bent.

As shown in FIG. 2, support shafts 41 are connected to the lower surface of the flange portion 13 </ b> A of the second cylindrical member 13 at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction, and the swing levers 38 and 42 are horizontally mounted on the support shaft 41. It is attached so that it can swing in the direction. In FIG. 2, for the sake of illustration, there are a mixture of members that can be seen and those that cannot be seen by the right swing lever 38 and the left swing lever 42, but the swing lever 38 and the swing lever 42 have the same configuration. is there.
A vertical through hole 42a is formed at the tip of the swing levers 38 and 42, and a support pin 46 is rotatably and vertically attached to the through hole 42a. A shock-absorbing spring 47 is mounted on the upper end of the support pin 46 and the upper surfaces of the swing levers 38 and 42.
Further, a thread roller 36 is attached to the lower end portion of the support pin 46 projecting downward from the swing lever 38, and a lock roller 37 is attached to the lower end portion of the support pin 46 projecting downward from the swing lever 42. .
The thread roller 36 is attached to the support pin 46 with a slight inclination so that the thread roller 36 follows the inclination of the threaded portion formed in the container 2 when pressed against the peripheral wall 4A of the PP cap 4. I have to.
Further, a cam follower 43 is rotatably attached to the upper end portion of the swing lever 38, and a cam follower 51 is attached to the upper end portion of the swing lever 42.

On the other hand, a notch 13B is formed above the cam follower 43 in the flange portion 13A. A cam member 48 connected downward to the first tubular member 12 is inserted into the cutout portion 13B from above, and the first tubular member 12 descends with respect to the second tubular member 13. When this is done, the cam surface 48A of the cam member 48 is engaged with the cam follower 43.
The swing lever 38 is always urged outward by a spring 45 provided across the pin 44 connected to the flange portion 13A and the lower portion of the swing lever 38.
When the first cylindrical member 12 is located at the position of the rising end relative to the second cylindrical member 13 by the servo motor 7, the cam surface 48A of the cam member 48 is positioned above the cam follower 43, and the cam follower 43 It is set so as not to be engaged with being spaced apart from.
Therefore, the swing lever 38 that is always pulled outward by the spring 45 is maintained outward, and the thread roller 36 is also maintained at the retracted position indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. Thus, when the sled roller 36 is in the retracted position, the sled roller 36 does not contact the PP cap 4 even if the capping head 5 is lowered.
A notch (not shown) is also formed in the flange portion 13A above the cam follower 51 attached to the swing lever 42, and a cam member (not shown) similar to the cam member 48 is provided on the first cylindrical member 12 below. It is provided for When the cam member (not shown) is in the upper position and is not engaged with the cam follower 51, the tip of the swing lever 42 and the lock roller 37 pulled by the spring (not shown) are in contact with the PP cap 4. It is located on the outer side where there is no gap (FIG. 3B).

When the first cylindrical member 12 is lowered relative to the lifting shaft 11 and the second cylindrical member 13 by the servo motor 7 and both the cylindrical members 12 and 13 are rotated by the servo motor 6, The first tubular member 12 is moved from the above-described raised end position to the lowest lowered position with respect to the second tubular member 13.
Accordingly, the cam surface 48A of the cam member 48 is engaged with the cam follower 43, and the swing lever 38 and the thread roller 36 are moved to the molding position on the inner side, and the PP positioned on the inner side. The periphery of the peripheral wall 4A is rotated by being pressed against the peripheral wall 4A of the cap 4. The swing lever 42 is also moved inward from the outer position by engaging a cam member (not shown) with the cam follower 51, and the lock roller 37 is also in pressure contact with the peripheral wall 4A of the PP cap 4, It rotates around the peripheral wall 4A.
As a result, the thread portion 4B is formed on the peripheral wall 4A of the PP cap 4 by the thread roller 36, and the lower end portion 4C of the peripheral wall 4A is bent inward by the lock roller 37 so as to be crimped to the outer peripheral portion of the container 2. (FIG. 3B).

The basic configuration of the capping head 5 described above is known, for example, from the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-59488).
Thus, in this embodiment, as described above, the raising / lowering operation of the capping head 5 is raised / lowered by the servomotors 7 and 8, and the raising / lowering operation of the pressure block 23 is controlled by the servomotor 8. The accuracy of the head load (a load directed vertically downward) applied to the cap can be improved.
In addition to this, the cap load 1 can be adjusted by making it possible to easily adjust the head load applied to each cap when the cap 2 other than the PP cap is attached to the container 2 and the difference between the containers 2 to which the PP cap 4 is attached. Improved.

That is, in this embodiment, a capping experiment is performed in advance on the type of each container 2 to be capped, the type of each PP cap 4 to be attached to it, each cap having a different capping method, and the container to be attached to it. Then, by the experiment, an optimum head load to be applied to the PP cap 4 (or other cap) by the servo motor 8 via the pressure block 23 is obtained, and the servo motor when the optimum head load is obtained. 8 is obtained, and the optimum torque value of the servo motor 8 is stored in the storage unit 801 of the control device 22 in advance.
When the PP cap 4 is actually attached to the container 2 by the capper 1, the command unit 803 of the control device stores the storage unit 801 according to the difference between the PP cap 4 processed by the capping head 5 and the type of the container 2. The optimum torque value of the servo motor 8 stored in the above is called and the servo motor 8 is commanded. (Fig. 4)
A rotary encoder 52 is connected to the servo motor 8, and a pulse signal detected by the rotary encoder 52 is fed back to the control device 22. Thereby, the control device 22 grasps the rotation amount of the servo motor 8. Further, an ammeter 53 is connected to the servo motor 8, and the current value of the servo motor 8 detected by the ammeter 53 is input to the comparison unit 802 of the control device 22.
Therefore, the control device 22 instructs the servo motor 8 to provide the optimum torque value and rotationally drives it, and then stores the current value input from the ammeter 53 in the storage unit 801 in the storage unit 801. When the input current value becomes the current value corresponding to the optimum torque value, the state is changed during the capping operation, that is, the PP cap 4 by the thread roller 36 and the lock roller 37. During the molding operation, the servo motor 8 is operated by instructing to continue. Thereby, the head load for pressing the pressure block 23 provided at the lower end of the lifting shaft 11 against the PP cap 4 can be set to an optimum load according to the PP cap 4 and the container 2 to which the PP cap 4 is mounted. It has become.

In the present embodiment, the servo motor 7 that moves the first cylindrical member 12 up and down also attaches the thread roller 36 and the lock roller 37 to the PP cap 4 on the type of each container 2 and the PP cap 4 to be attached thereto. An experiment is performed in advance to obtain an optimum pressure contact force when pressing the peripheral wall 4A. Then, the lowering amount of the first cylindrical member 12 with respect to the optimum second cylindrical member 13 for obtaining the optimum pressure contact force by the rollers 36 and 37, and the optimum torque of the servo motor 7 for obtaining the lowered amount. A value is obtained and stored in the storage unit 701.
A rotary encoder 52 ′ is connected to the servo motor 7, and a pulse signal detected by the rotary encoder 52 ′ is fed back to the control device 22. Thereby, the control apparatus 22 grasps | ascertains the rotation amount of the servomotor 7. FIG. Further, an ammeter 53 ′ is connected to the servo motor 7, and the current value of the servo motor 7 detected by the ammeter 53 ′ is input to the comparison unit 702 of the control device 22.
When the capping is actually performed, the command unit 703 of the control device 22 calls the optimum torque value corresponding to the type of the PP cap 4 and the container 2 from the storage unit 701 and uses the torque value as the servo motor 7. To Then, the current amount of the servo motor 7 input from the ammeter 53 ′ is compared by the comparison unit 702. When the current value is obtained to obtain an optimum torque value, the command unit 703 of the control device 22 During the molding operation of the PP cap 4 by the lock roller 37, the servo motor 7 is operated by instructing to continue.
Further, regarding the servo motor 6 that rotates both the cylindrical members 12 and 13, the optimum rotation speed and amount of rotation of both the cylindrical members 12 and 13 are obtained in advance by experiments with respect to the type of the container 2 and the PP cap 4 attached thereto. It is stored in the storage unit 601.
A rotary encoder 52 ″ is connected to the servo motor 6, and a pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 52 ″ is input to the comparison unit 602 of the control device 22. Thereby, the control apparatus 22 grasps | ascertains the rotational speed and rotation amount of the servomotor 6. FIG. The servo motor 6 is connected to an ammeter 53 ″, and the current value detected by the ammeter 53 ″ is input to the control device 22.
When capping is actually performed, the command unit 603 of the control device 22 calls the optimum rotation speed according to the types of the PP cap 4 and the container 2 from the storage unit 601 and commands the servo motor 6.

In the above configuration, when the type of the PP cap 4 and the type of the container 2 to be processed are specified by the capper 1, the type of the PP cap 4 and the container 2 is input to the control device 22.
In the state where the capping head 5 is supported on the upper side where it does not come into contact with the container 2, the container 2 covered with the PP cap 4 is moved to the capping position A by the transport conveyor 3 as shown in FIG. Supplied. Then, the command unit 803 of the control device 22 first calls the optimum torque value from the storage unit 801 for the servo motor 8 so that the optimum head load can be obtained for the specified types of the PP cap 4 and the container 2. Then, the torque value is commanded to the servo motor 8 to drive the servo motor 8 to rotate.
Further, the command unit 703 of the control device 22 first stores the storage unit for the servo motor 7 so as to obtain the optimum pressure contact force of the thread roller 36 and the lock roller 37 for the specified PP cap 4 and container 2 type. The optimum torque value is called from 701, the torque value is commanded to the servo motor 7, and the servo motor 7 is rotationally driven.
Further, the command unit 603 of the control device 22 stores the servo motor 6 so that the optimum rotational speeds of the cylindrical members 12 and 13 according to the types of the PP cap 4 and the container 2 specified above can be obtained. The optimum rotation speed is called from the unit 601 and the servo motor 6 is instructed to rotate the rotation speed of the servo motor 6.
As a result, the elevating shaft 11 and the second cylindrical member 13 are lowered, and the first cylindrical member 12 is also lowered synchronously, and both the cylindrical members 12 and 13 are moved to the elevating shaft 11 while being lowered. Rotated against.

And the pressure block 23 provided in the lower end part of the raising / lowering axis | shaft 11 contacts the PP cap 4 from upper direction, and presses it below as shown to Fig.3 (a). Then, since the current value of the servo motor 8 detected by the ammeter 53 is input to the control device 22, the command unit 803 of the control device 22 determines the servo motor 8 having the optimum current value detected by the ammeter 53. The drive of the servo motor 8 is controlled so that the torque value becomes a current value that can be obtained.
On the other hand, when it is detected from the pulse signal input from the encoder 52 of the servo motor 8 that the pressure block 23 is in contact with the PP cap 4 and the descending of the elevating shaft 11 and the second cylindrical member 13 is stopped. The command unit 703 of the control device 22 stops the drive of the servo motor 7 or reduces the rotation speed so as not to increase the relative distance between the lifting shaft 11 and the second cylindrical member 13 and the first cylindrical member 12. Thus, before the optimum head load is applied to the PP cap 4 by the pressure block 23, the thread roller 36 and the lock roller 37 are controlled so as not to contact the peripheral wall 4A of the PP cap 4.

When the detected current value from the ammeter 53 gradually increases and reaches the current value at which the optimum torque value of the servo motor 8 is obtained, the command unit 803 of the control device 22 maintains that state. Command to servo motor 8. Subsequently, the command unit 703 of the control device 22 commands the optimum torque value to the servo motor 7 so that the first tubular member 12 is further lowered with respect to the lifting shaft 11 and the second tubular member 13. Both cylindrical members 12 and 13 are rotated by the servo motor 6. Therefore, the cam surface 48A of the cam member 48 is engaged with the cam follower 43 and the thread roller 36 is moved to the inner molding position so as to come into pressure contact with the peripheral wall 4A of the PP cap 4 with an optimum torque load. When a cam member (not shown) is engaged with 51, the lock roller 37 is also pressed against the peripheral wall 4 </ b> A of the PP cap 4 with an optimum torque load.
In this state, the thread roller 36 moves downward around the peripheral wall 4A while forming a screw part 4B on the peripheral wall 4A following the shape of the screw part 2A of the container 2. The lock roller 37 also moves downward around the peripheral wall 4A while drawing a spiral trajectory.
Thus, together with the threaded portion 4B that follows the shape of the threaded portion 2A of the container 2 is molded on the peripheral wall 4A of PP cap 4 put on the container 2, the lower end 4C of the PP cap 4 by a locking roller 37 containers 2 Following the shape of the outer peripheral portion of the plate, it is bent inward and crimped.

At this time, the amount of movement that the thread roller 36 presses against the inner wall 4A of the PP cap 4 is determined in advance, for example, two turns, and the comparison unit 602 of the control device 22 rotates the first cylindrical member 12. When the pulse signal of the encoder 52 ″ of the servo motor 6 to be detected is detected and the number of pulses corresponding to the determined number of turns is counted, the command unit 703 of the control device 22 reverses the servo motor 7 by a predetermined amount. To Then, since the first cylindrical member 12 is raised with respect to the second cylindrical member 13 and the lifting shaft 11, the cam follower 43 moves following the inclination of the cam surface 48A of the cam member 48, whereby the thread roller 36 is moved. Is separated from the PP cap 4, and the lock roller 37 is also moved outward to be separated from the PP cap 4.
In addition, after the comparison unit 602 of the control device 22 counts the pulse signal of the encoder 52 ″ corresponding to the determined number of turns, the command unit 603 issues a stop command to the servo motor after a predetermined time, and the first cylinder The rotation of the cylindrical member 12 and the second cylindrical member 13 is stopped.
Thereafter, the servo motor 7 and the servo motor 8 are reversely rotated by a required amount synchronously by the command units 703 and 803 of the control device 22, so that both the cylindrical members 12 and 13 and the elevating shaft 11, that is, the capping head 5. The whole is raised and separated from the container 2 and the PP cap 4, and returns to the height position that was located before capping.
As described above, the capper 1 attaches the PP cap 4 to the upper end opening of the container 2.
When the types of the PP cap 4 and the container 2 to be processed by the capper 1 are changed, and when a cap having a different capping method is attached to the container 2, the PP cap 4 (cap) to be changed and the container to which the cap is attached What is necessary is just to specify two types and to input them into the control device 22.
Then, the control device 22 calls the optimum torque values of the servo motors 7 and 8 corresponding to the changed PP cap 4 (cap) and the type of the container 2 to which it is attached from the storage units 701 and 801, and The capping is done in the same way.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the PP cap 4 is attached to the container 2, the head load caused by the pressure block 23 that biases the PP cap 4 downward can be accurately controlled, and the container 2 to be processed The head load can be changed very easily according to the type of the PP cap 4.
Accordingly, it is possible to provide a capper that is more accurate and versatile than the conventional capper described above.
In the above embodiment, the first cylindrical member 12 is moved up and down by the servo motor 7. However, the servo motor 7 is omitted and the first cylindrical member 12 is moved up and down by a conventionally known cam mechanism. You may do it.
In the above embodiment, the PP capper for attaching the PP cap 4 to the container 2 has been described. However, if the capping head 5 is replaced with a screw capper or a stopper capper, the screw cap is attached to the container as a screw capper. Alternatively, it can function as a stopper cap for attaching the stopper cap to the container. In that case, the capping head for the screw capper is not connected to the servo motor 8 for raising and lowering the pressure block 23, and the head load is controlled by the servo motor 7, and the replaced capping head is used as the servo motor. 8 may be moved up and down in synchronization with the servo motor 7 or may be stopped at the upper position.

Next, although the above-described embodiment has described the case where the present invention is applied to the line type capper 1, the present invention can also be applied to a rotary type capper. That is, for example, the present invention can be applied to a rotary screw capper as disclosed in Patent Document 2 (Patent No. 3109527).
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the rotary screw capper 101 includes a rotating body 102 that is rotated in a predetermined direction by a driving source (not shown), and a capping head that is disposed at a plurality of circumferential positions of the rotating body 102. 103. The sun gear 104 connected to the rotating body 102 is engaged with a gear 106 fitted to the upper end of the rotating shaft 105 of the capping head 103.
The rotating shaft 105 is rotatably supported by the support member 107, and a ball screw 108 supported by the rotating body 102 is threaded through the nut portion 107 </ b> A of the support member 107.
A servo motor 109 is attached to the rotating body 102, and the servo motor 109 is linked to the ball screw 108 through a plurality of gears.

The operation of the servo motor 109 is controlled by the control device 111. An encoder 112 is connected to the servo motor 109, and the rotation amount of the servo motor 109 is input to the control device 111 by the encoder as a pulse signal. An ammeter 113 is connected to the servo motor 109, and the current value of the servo motor 109 is detected by the ammeter 113 and input to the control device 111.
In such a configuration, each capping head 103 is rotated by the rotation of the sun gear 104 and the gear 106 as the rotating body 102 rotates, and the servo motor 109 is rotated forward and backward by a required amount by the control device 111. Thus, the capping head 103 can be raised and lowered. Thereby, the capping head 103 can screw the screw cap into the mouth of the container.
Also in this embodiment, the operation of the servo motor 109 is controlled by the control device 111 in the same manner as the operation of the servo motor 8 of the first embodiment described above. That is, when the screw cap is attached to the container, the control device 111 instructs the servo motor 109 to provide a torque value for obtaining an optimal head load stored in advance, and drives the servo motor 109 to rotate. When the current detected by the ammeter 113 reaches a current value at which an optimum torque is obtained, the control device 111 instructs the servo motor 109 to maintain the optimum torque for a predetermined time, and continues the servo motor 109. To activate. Thereby, the screw cap can be screwed into the container while an optimum head load is applied to the screw cap by the capping head 103.
Then, when the screw cap to be processed and the container for screwing it are changed, the changed screw cap and the type of the container may be specified and input to the control device 111. As a result, the control device 111 controls the operation of the servo motor 109 so as to obtain a head load corresponding to a new cap and container.
Even in the second embodiment having such a configuration, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.
The present invention is also applicable to a case where it is desired to change the head load at the start of meshing when the tip of the threaded portion of the container and the tip of the threaded portion of the cap are meshed, such as a resin cap. That is, it is possible to change the head load during one capping operation.

Sectional drawing which shows one Example of this invention. The enlarged view of the principal part of FIG. The figure which shows the capping process by the capper 1 of FIG. The figure which shows the relationship between the control apparatus 22 shown in FIG. 1, and each servomotor 6-8. Sectional drawing which shows 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Capper 2 ... Container 4 ... PP cap 5 ... Capping head 8 ... Servo motor 22 ... Control apparatus 801 ... Memory | storage part 802 ... Comparison part

Claims (2)

A capping head for attaching the cap to the container, a servo motor for raising and lowering the capping head, and a control device for controlling the operation of the servo motor are provided, and an optimum head load is applied to the cap by the capping head. A capper for attaching a cap to the container,
The control device stores a torque value of a servo motor that obtains the optimum head load when the cap is attached to the container, reads a torque value output from the servo motor, and stores the torque value and the storage unit. A comparison unit that compares the torque value stored in
The control device controls the operation of the servo motor so that the torque value output from the servo motor when the cap is attached becomes the torque value stored in the storage unit, and an optimum head load corresponding to the cap is applied to the cap. Cappa characterized by adding. The storage unit stores a torque value of a servo motor that can obtain the optimum head load for a plurality of caps of different types,
2. The capper according to claim 1, wherein the control device calls a torque value of a servo motor capable of obtaining an optimum head load corresponding to a cap attached to the container from the storage unit.

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