JP5165009B2 - Container feeder for automatic inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a container supply device of an automatic inspection apparatus that inspects containers such as ampoules and vials and contents stored in the container.

  Conventionally, in an automatic inspection apparatus that inspects containers and the contents stored in the containers, a supply apparatus that supplies cylindrical containers such as ampoules and vials to an inspection star wheel or a supply star wheel is a large number of devices mounted on a supply conveyor. The container is automatically fed to the supply star wheel or inspection star wheel.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration of a loading unit having a screw conveyor that sequentially loads a plurality of bottles into an inspection rotor via a relay star wheel. In this case, although there is no fear of the bottle falling when mounted on a relay star wheel or the like, there is a restriction that it is difficult to increase the mounting efficiency.

JP 2003-322235 A

  In a high-speed processing type container supply device that supplies a large number of containers placed on a supply conveyor to a supply star wheel or the like via a guide member, for example, if the container has an elongated container shape with an aspect ratio of 2 or more, the container When the container is supplied, the container is likely to fall depending on the conditions such as the material of the container, the weight, and the friction with the conveyor belt, and there is a problem that the supply cannot be performed smoothly as the speed increases. Once the container falls, the fall container is sandwiched between the supply star wheel and the guide member, causing damage. Therefore, the worker has to remove this, and there is a problem that the efficiency is lowered in the automatic inspection apparatus that transports a large amount of containers at high speed. In addition, in order to avoid this, reducing the transport speed leads to a decrease in work efficiency.

  In addition, when a large number of containers placed on a supply conveyor are supplied to a supply star wheel or the like, depending on conditions, the containers are clogged by forming an arched bridge on a supply passage where the width becomes narrow, and the supply stops. There is a case.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a novel container supply device that does not cause the above-described container overturning or bridging in a high-speed processing type container supply device that supplies a large number of containers to a supply star wheel or the like with a supply conveyor. .

  The present invention includes a supply conveyor that is inclined downward in the container supply direction, and a pair of left and right guide members that are provided on the supply conveyor and restrict the conveyance width toward the container supply direction. In the container supply device of the inspection apparatus for supplying and loading the container to the rotating star wheel, at least one guide passage for guiding the container to the container mounting pocket on the outer periphery of the star wheel is provided between the star wheel and the supply conveyor. The two supply guide members are provided so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the supply conveyor.

  Further, the supply guide member for guiding the container to the container mounting pocket on the outer periphery of the star wheel follows a certain period in synchronization with the container mounting pocket of the star wheel.

  The supply guide member may be movable within a range in which the container regulated by the guide member is guided to the guide passage.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a driving means for controlling the movement of the supply guide member and a control device for controlling the driving means are provided.

  Further, the driving means has a cam mechanism, a servo motor and a rack and pinion mechanism, or a servo motor and a crank mechanism.

  The width of the guide passage of the supply guide member is larger than the container diameter and smaller than twice the container diameter.

  The supply guide member is provided with a plurality of guide passages, and the interval between the guide passages on the container outlet side is made substantially equal to the pitch of the container placement pockets of the star wheel.

  The plurality of guide passages are provided in parallel to each other.

  The plurality of guide passages have an inclination angle with each other.

  Further, a gate member for opening and closing the guide passage of the supply guide member is provided in the supply guide member, and the opening and closing of the guide passage is controlled by the control device.

According to the present invention, the supply conveyor is provided on the supply conveyor by the supply conveyor inclined downward in the container supply direction and the pair of left and right guide members that are provided on the supply conveyor and restrict the conveyance width in the container supply direction. In a container supply device of an inspection apparatus for supplying and loading a container to a rotating star wheel, at least one guide passage for guiding the container to a container mounting pocket on the outer periphery of the star wheel is provided between the star wheel and the supply conveyor. In the high-speed processing type container supply device that supplies a large number of containers to a supply star wheel or the like by the supply conveyor, the provided supply guide member is provided so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the supply conveyor. It is possible to provide a novel container supply device that does not cause overturning or bridging.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the container supply apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the container supply apparatus of this invention. It is a front view which shows the gate apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the 1st control system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the 2nd control system of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the container supply apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an inspection apparatus 1 inspects the appearance of a container 3 mounted on the outer periphery of an inspection star wheel 2 with an inspection unit 4 having a camera or the like, and selects as a good product with a selection star wheel 5 according to the inspection result. 6 is discharged to the discharge unit 8 by the sorting star wheel 7.

  On the other hand, a large number of ampules 3 such as ampoules supplied in an upright state on a supply conveyor 9 that is gently inclined downward in the container supply direction has a guide member 10 that narrows the conveyance width in the container supply direction. To the supply star wheel 13 via the supply guide member 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a guide member driving unit of the supply guide member 11. The container 3 is then supplied to the inspection star wheel 2 via the conveying star wheel 14 and mounted thereon.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a portion where the container 3 is mounted on the supply star wheel 13. In the figure, a supply guide member 11 is provided between the supply conveyor 9 and the supply star wheel 13 so as to be capable of reciprocating in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the supply conveyor 9. The supply guide member 11 is supported on a guide rail 14 provided in the inspection apparatus main body, and is provided so as to be able to reciprocate by a cam mechanism.

  The supply guide member 11 has an arm 16 having a cam follower 15 at the tip, and is urged by a compression spring 17 in the right direction in the figure. The guide member drive unit 12 includes a servo motor 18, a speed reducer 19, and a disc cam 20. By the cam mechanism, the supply guide member 11 is reciprocated by the width of the opening in the region where the guide member 10 that restricts the conveyance width in the container supply direction is in contact with the supply guide member 11. Further, the supply guide member 11 follows for a certain period in synchronism with the rotation of the supply star wheel 13 and reliably guides the containers 3 on the supply conveyor 9 to the supply star wheel 13.

  By the reciprocating motion of the supply guide member 11, the container 3 stagnated at the end of the supply conveyor 9 can be released and smooth feeding can be realized. Furthermore, by allowing the supply guide member 11 to follow for a certain period in synchronization with the rotation of the supply star wheel 13, a sufficient margin can be given to the time until the container 3 is mounted on the supply star wheel 13.

  As the reciprocation conversion mechanism of the supply guide member 11, a servo motor + rack and pinion mechanism / crank mechanism, linear drive mechanism, electromagnetic actuator, fluid actuator, etc. can be used in addition to the cam mechanism.

  The supply guide member 11 further includes a pair of guide passages 30 for guiding the container 3 therein. Each guide passage 30 has an inclination angle to the left and right with respect to the traveling direction of the supply conveyor 9 and is substantially adjacent on the container inlet side. On the container outlet side where the container 3 is mounted on the supply star wheel 13, the supply star wheel 13 is provided. Opening is made at a position facing two adjacent container placement pockets 31 provided at a constant pitch on the outer periphery.

  Even if the guide passage 30 is provided in parallel with the traveling direction of the supply conveyor, the container 3 can be smoothly guided. Further, the guide passage 30 may be one, or three or more guide passages may be provided. The width of the guide passage 30 is larger than the width of the container 3 and does not exceed twice the width, and the optimum width is selected from conditions such as the weight of the container and surface friction for stable supply.

  The supply guide member 11 is movably provided in a range in which the container 3 regulated by the guide member 10 is guided to the guide passage 30.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the supply guide member 11 as viewed from the supply star wheel 13 side. In the openings 32 of the pair of guide passages 30, gate members 33 are respectively supported by swinging arms 35 that rotate about a fulcrum 34, and open and close the openings 32 of the guide passages 30. Reference numeral 36 denotes an electromagnetically driven, hydraulically or pneumatically driven actuator that drives the swing arm 35.

  When the supply of the container 3 to the inspection apparatus 1 is stopped due to some request, the gate member 33 can realize a supply stop gate function with a simple configuration.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the drive system of the present invention. In the figure, power is supplied to the other drive shaft 42, the supply conveyor 9, and the supply star star wheel 13 from a drive motor 40 provided in the inspection apparatus 1 via a speed reducer 41. Next, the rotation of the supply star star wheel 13 is detected by the encoder 43, and the synchronization signal is supplied to the drive motor 18 and the actuator 36 by the control device 44 of the inspection apparatus 1. The drive motor 18 drives the supply guide member 11 via the speed reducer 19 and the reciprocating motion conversion mechanism 45. On the other hand, the actuator 36 drives the gate member 33.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of another drive system. Power is supplied from the single drive motor 40 to each component of the inspection apparatus, and the whole is driven in synchronization. The opening / closing control of the gate member 33 is performed from the control device 44 as in FIG.

1: inspection device 3: container 4: inspection unit 9: supply conveyor 10: guide member 11: supply guide member 12: guide member drive unit 13: supply star wheel 15: cam follower 16: arm 17: spring 20: disc cam 30 : Guide passage 31: Container placement pocket 33: Gate member 36: Actuator 44: Control device

Claims (12)

A container supply device of an inspection apparatus that automatically inspects containers and the contents stored in the container, the supply conveyor inclined downward toward the container supply direction, and provided on the supply conveyor toward the container supply direction With a pair of left and right guide members that regulate the conveyance width narrowly, the containers on the supply conveyor are supplied to the rotating star wheel, loaded, conveyed to the inspection unit, and the appearance content of the containers is inspected by the inspection unit. In the container supply device of the inspection device that sorts
A supply guide member provided with at least one guide passage between the star wheel and the supply conveyor for guiding the container to a container placement pocket on the outer periphery of the star wheel is in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the supply conveyor. A container supply device for an inspection apparatus, wherein the container supply device is moved in synchronization with a container placement pocket of the star wheel along a tangential line of the rotation direction of the star wheel.   2. The container supply device of the inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply guide member that guides the container to a container mounting pocket on the outer periphery of the star wheel follows a certain period in synchronization with the container mounting pocket of the star wheel. A container supply device.   3. A container supply apparatus for an inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply guide member is movable within a range in which the container regulated by the guide member is guided to the guide passage. Device container supply device.   The container supply device for an inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a drive unit that moves the supply guide member; and a control device that controls the drive unit. Container supply device.   5. The container supply device for an inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the drive means has a cam mechanism.   5. The container supply apparatus for an inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the driving means includes a servo motor and a rack and pinion mechanism.   5. The container supply apparatus for an inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the drive means includes a servo motor and a crank mechanism.   The container supply device for an inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the width of the guide passage of the supply guide member is larger than the container diameter and smaller than twice the container diameter. Container supply device.   4. The container supply device for an inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of guide passages are provided in the supply guide member, and an interval between the guide passages on the container outlet side is set on the container placement of the star wheel. A container supply device for an inspection apparatus characterized by being substantially equal to a pocket pitch.   10. The container supply apparatus for an inspection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of guide passages are provided in parallel to each other.   The container supply device for an inspection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of guide passages have an inclination angle with each other. 8. The container supply device for an inspection apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a gate member for opening and closing the guide passage of the supply guide member is provided in the supply guide member, and the opening and closing of the guide passage is controlled by the control device. A container supply device for an inspection apparatus.

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