JP4009421B2 - Cylinder positioning device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  In the present invention, for example, a cylinder is automatically loaded into a gas filling device in sequence, and the loaded cylinder is automatically filled with a gas such as LPG by a filling machine of the gas filling device, and then the cylinder is removed from the gas filling device. Bonn used in high-pressure gas filling system configured to automatically carry outBeThe present invention relates to a positioning device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  Conventionally, as a high-pressure gas filling system that automatically and sequentially fills a large number of cylinders with a gas such as LPG, there is one disclosed in JP-A-8-219396.
  As shown in FIG. 10, the high-pressure gas filling system includes a gas filling device 81, a carry-in line 82 for carrying a cylinder into the gas filling device 81, and a carry-out line 83 for carrying the cylinder from the gas filling device 81. .
  In this high-pressure gas filling system 80, empty cylinders brought into the platform are transferred to the carry-in conveyor 85 of the carry-in line 82 by the load conveyor 84 in the carry-in line 82, and the gas is filled by the carry-in conveyor 85. It is transferred to a loading device 86 in front of the device 81, and the cylinder is loaded into the gas filling device 81 by this loading device 86.
[0003]
  In addition, while the empty cylinder is being transferred to the loading device 86 by the loading conveyor 85, first, the type of the cylinder (20Kg cylinder, 30Kg cylinder, 50Kg cylinder, etc.) is determined by the cylinder type reader 87, and then The barcode attached to the cylinder is read by the identification number reading device 88, and the identification number read from the barcode is inquired of the computer to read out the type of the cylinder and the tare weight.
  Further, in the identification number reading device 88, the cylinder is weighed by the weighing machine, and the residual gas is calculated from the measured weight and the tare weight.
[0004]
  After passing through the identification number reading device 88, the empty cylinder is transferred by the journalizing device 89, for example, a 20 kg cylinder is transferred to the auxiliary carry-in conveyor 90, and the 50 kg one is transferred to the cap removing apparatus 91 by the carry-in conveyor 85 as it is. The cap removing device 91 removes the cap that covers the valve provided in the upper part of the cylinder.
  The cylinder transferred by the auxiliary carry-in conveyor 90 and the cylinder that has passed through the cap removing device 91 are positioned by the orienteering device 92 so that the direction of the filling port of the valve of the cylinder faces the front of the carry-in transfer direction A. As it is, it is carried into the gas filling device 81 by the carry-in device 86.
[0005]
  The gas filling device 81 includes a rotary table 93 that rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow B around a vertical axis, and a plurality of filling machines 94 that are arranged on the outer peripheral side of the rotary table 93 in the circumferential direction. ing.
  Each filling machine 94 is installed so as to face the outer side in the radial direction of the rotary table 93, and can receive a cylinder from the outer side in the radial direction of the rotary table 93. The cylinder is loaded by the carry-in device 86 while 94 is moving in the B direction.
[0006]
  The filling nozzle 95 of the filling valve of the filling machine 94 is provided so as to face the outer side in the radial direction of the rotary table 93.
  On the other hand, when the cylinder is filled with gas by the filling machine 94, the cylinder is carried out by the carry-out device 96 when the filling machine 94 comes to the carry-out line 83.
  The unloaded cylinder is transported in the unloading transfer direction C by the unloading conveyor 97, the excess / deficiency check device 98 checks whether the filling amount is excessive or insufficient, and then the plugging confirmation device 99 checks whether the plug is defective or not. If the amount is insufficient or poorly closed, it is removed from the carry-out line 83 by the defective conveyor 100. If the amount of filling and closing is good, a seal cap is attached to the safety valve portion of the cylinder valve by the seal cap device 101. For example, a cap is attached to a valve of a cylinder of 50 kg by a cap mounting device 102.
[0007]
  Finally, the journalizing apparatus 103 carries out each cylinder type.
  The orienteering device 92 includes a rotating device that rotates the cylinder around the central axis in the vertical direction and a detection device that detects the direction of the valve of the cylinder, and an optical sensor is employed as the detection device.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  In the conventional apparatus, in order to automate the work of carrying the cylinder into the gas filling device 81 and filling the cylinder with gas, the filling of the filling machine 94 is carried out prior to loading the cylinder into the gas filling apparatus 81. The direction of the filling port of the cylinder valve is corrected in accordance with the direction of the nozzle 95, but an optical sensor is used to detect the direction of the filling port of the cylinder valve. Although it itself is highly reliable, it may be unreliable depending on the method used (for example, repeated operation) and the environment (for example, a dusty place, a place where external light enters). In some cases, there was a risk of malfunction.
[0009]
  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has attempted to improve the reliability of the detection device.CylinderAn object of the present invention is to provide a positioning apparatus.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  Technical measures taken by the present invention to solve the technical problem are as follows:A cylinder positioning device for positioning a cylinder provided with a valve on the upper surface of the cylinder and a handle provided on the upper part of the valve so that a handle for opening and closing the valve covers the upper part of the filling port of the valve,
  CylinderA rotating device that rotates the shaft about the center axis in the vertical direction, BaA detector that detects the orientation of the filling portA support rod that is lifted and lowered by a lifting device; and a support suspended from the support rod, and a base of the detection body is pivotally supported on the support and the detection body is provided so as to be swingable up and down. A detection part is provided on the tip side of the detection body, a suspension member is provided between the support rod and the detection body, and the support rod is lowered from a raised position located above the cylinder. The support is in contact with the handle of the valve and the lowering of the support is regulated, so that the detection unit is positioned on the outer side in the cylinder radial direction of the handle, and then the support rod is further lowered. By lowering the suspension member, the detection body swings downward due to its own weight, and the detection body swings downward, so that the detection unit enters the lower side of the handle from the position radially outside the cylinder of the handle. To move to a position In the state where the detection body is configured and the detection unit enters the lower side of the handle, the cylinder is rotated by the rotating device so that the charging port of the valve is brought into contact with the detection unit. As soon as it is detected, the rotator stops.Position the cylinder so that the filling port faces in the specified direction.Is doneIt is characterized by that.
[0011]
  Also,CylinderTo know the size and empty weight ofCylinderIt is preferable that a code reader for reading a code attached to the upper portion is provided and the code reader can be moved up and down together with the detection body.
  Also,CylinderIf the code is not read when the is first positioned,CylinderIt is better to further rotate.
  Also, make sure that the filling port of the valve faces the direction corresponding to the direction of the filling nozzle of the filling machine.CylinderAfter positioningCylinderInto the gas filling machine and from the filling nozzle of the filling machine through the filling port.CylinderIt may be used in a high-pressure gas filling system in which gas is filled.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
  FIG. 2 shows a high-pressure gas filling system 1 that automatically fills a large number of cylinders (containers) 2 with a gas such as LPG. Broadly speaking, a gas filling device 3 that fills the cylinder 2 with gas, and this gas A loading unit 4 for loading an empty cylinder 2 into the filling device 3 and an unloading unit 5 for unloading the cylinder 2 filled with gas from the gas filling device 3 are provided.
[0013]
  The cylinder 2 is an ordinary pressure vessel, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper and lower ends are formed in a closed cylindrical shape, and a valve 10 is provided at the center of the upper surface. 10 is provided with a filling port (gas outlet) 11 and a safety valve 19 projecting radially outward of the cylinder 2 from a valve body 10A provided with a valve body for opening and closing the valve 10, and an upper end of the valve body 10A. On the side, a handle 20 for opening and closing the valve 10 (operating the valve body) is provided so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis so as to cover the filling port 11 and the safety valve 19.
[0014]
  Further, the filling port 11 is provided such that its upper end is located above (at a higher position) than the upper end of the safety valve 19.
  The carry-in section 4 is provided with a carry-in conveyor for transferring the empty cylinder 2 carried in from the carry-in inlet 6 in the carry-in transfer direction A and transferring the cylinder 2 to the gas filling device 3 side. The code reading unit 7, the weighing unit 8, and the carry-in device 9 are sequentially arranged from the rear in the carry-in transfer direction A to the front.
  The empty cylinder 2 that has been automatically or manually carried into the carry-in entrance 6 is transferred in the carry-in transfer direction A by the carry-in conveyor, and first reaches the orienteering code reading unit 7, where The cylinder 2 is positioned (the position is corrected) so that the direction of the filling port 11 of the provided valve 10 is in a predetermined direction, and a bar code (or a number or a symbol or the like attached to the upper part of the cylinder 2 is used. ID code) is read.
[0015]
  The code read from this bar code is inquired of a computer installed in the filling station office or the like, and the size of the cylinder 2 (for example, 20 kg cylinder, 30 kg cylinder or 50 kg cylinder) and the empty weight of the cylinder 2 (empty) For example).
  If the cap is attached to the valve 10 of the cylinder 2, it is removed before reaching the orienteering code reading unit 7.
  Next, the cylinder 2 is transferred to the measuring unit 8, where the current weight of the cylinder 2 is measured and the residual gas is calculated by comparing the measured weight with the empty weight.
[0016]
  The gas filling device 3 includes a rotary table 12 that rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow B around a central axis X in the vertical direction, and a plurality of filling machines 13 that are arranged on the outer peripheral side of the rotary table 12 in the circumferential direction. It has.
  Each filling machine 13 is installed so as to face the outer side in the radial direction of the rotary table 12, and can receive the cylinder 2 from the outer side in the radial direction of the rotary table 12. The cylinder 2 is loaded by the carry-in device 9 while the machine 13 is moving in the B direction.
[0017]
  Further, the filling machine 13 is provided with a filling nozzle that is attached to the filling port 11 of the cylinder 2 charged in the filling machine 13 and injects gas into the cylinder 2 from the filling port. The rotary table 12 is provided so as to face inward in the radial direction.
  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the orientation of the filling port 11 of the valve 10 of the cylinder 2 is changed in the orienteering code reading unit 7 so as to face rearward in the loading / transferring direction A.
  The carry-out unit 5 is provided with a carry-out conveyor for transferring the cylinder 2 from the gas filling device 3 toward the carry-out port 14 in the carry-out transfer direction C, and the carry-out device 15, the gas filling amount check unit 16, and the gas leakage The check portion 17 and the seal cap device 18 are sequentially arranged from the rear in the carry-out transfer direction C to the front.
[0018]
  When the cylinder 2 is filled with gas by the filling machine 13, the cylinder 2 is taken out by the carry-out device 15 when the filling machine 13 comes to a position substantially opposite to the carry-out device 15. It is transferred by the carry-out conveyor in the carrying-out transfer direction C, the gas filling amount check unit 16 checks whether the gas filling amount is excessive or insufficient, and then the gas leakage check unit 17 checks whether there is a clogging failure. In the case of good, the seal cap device 18 attaches a seal cap to the safety valve 19 portion of the valve 10 of the cylinder 2, and for example, the valve 10 of the 50 kg cylinder 2 is fitted with a cap by the cap attachment device, 14 is discharged.
[0019]
  In addition, when the filling amount is insufficient or the clogging is poor, it is appropriately excluded.
  As shown in the rear view in FIG. 3, the orienteering code reading unit 7 includes an orienteering device 21 that corrects the orientation of the filling port 11 of the valve 10 of the cylinder 2, and a code such as a bar code attached to the cylinder 2. And a code reader 22 for reading.
  In the following description, the front in the loading / transferring direction A is referred to as the front, the rear in the loading / transferring direction A is referred to as the rear, the left side toward the front in the loading / transferring direction A is referred to as the left side, and the right side toward the front in the loading / transferring direction A. Is called the right side.
[0020]
  The orienteering device 21 is configured as a rear portal structure and is installed so as to straddle the carry-in conveyor of the carry-in unit 4, a detection device 24 that detects the direction of the filling port 11 of the cylinder 2, and a detection A lifting device 25 that lifts and lowers the device 24, a chucking device 26 that holds the cylinder 2 around its central axis Y, and a rotating device 27 that rotates the cylinder 2 around its central axis Y are provided. Yes.
  The elevating device 25 includes a guide rod 28 arranged in the vertical direction and supported by the device frame 23, an elevating frame 29 supported by the guide rod 28 so as to be movable up and down, an air cylinder for moving the elevating frame 29 up and down, and the like. Driving means 30 constituted by an actuator or the like.
[0021]
  A support frame 31 is attached to an elevating frame 29 of the elevating device 25 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis Z. The detecting device 24 is attached to the support frame 31 in the left-right direction (in the vertical direction). It is mounted so as to be movable (in the orthogonal or horizontal direction).
  Therefore, the position of the detection device 24 can be adjusted around the axis Z, and the position can be adjusted in the left-right direction (lateral direction).
  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7, the detection device 24 is shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 (the upper side of the drawing is viewed from the front, and the lower side of the drawing is from the left side). A slider 33 supported on a guide rail 32 provided on the support frame 31 so as to be movable in the left-right direction, a support rod 34 fixed to the slider 33 so as to extend downward, A support body 72 suspended from the support rod 34, a detection body 44 provided on the support body 72, and a limit switch 53 attached to the slider 33 are included.
[0022]
  A cylindrical body 35 is fitted to the support rod 34 so as to be movable in the vertical direction (axial direction) and not rotatable around the axial center. The cylindrical body 35 is disposed below the support rod 34 on the lower end side of the support rod 34. A retaining member 36 for preventing the slipping off is fixed.
  Further, a flange member 37 is fixed to the cylindrical body 35, and a sensor cup 38 that can be fitted onto the handle 20 of the valve 10 of the cylinder 2 from above is disposed below the flange member 37 at a predetermined interval. ing.
  The sensor cup 38 is formed to open downward from a cylindrical side wall 38a and a substantially circular upper wall 38b. The upper wall 38b of the sensor cup 38 is connected to the flange member 37 via a plurality of connecting members 39. It is connected.
[0023]
  Further, on the center side of the upper wall 38 b of the sensor cup 38, a contact member 40 that comes into contact with the upper surface of the handle 20 of the valve 10 of the cylinder 2 is provided to be rotatable around a vertical axis through a bearing 41. It has been.
  A tapered guide surface 43 is formed on the lower inner peripheral surface side of the side wall 38a of the sensor cup 38 so as to expand downward.
  The support body 72 includes the cylindrical body 35, the flange member 37, the sensor cup 38, the connection 39, and the like.
[0024]
  The detection body 44 is pivotally supported on the upper surface of the sensor cup 38 and pivoted up and down.
  The detection body 44 includes a swing lever 47, a support arm 48, a holding member 49, a switch 50 held by the holding member 49, a pushing member 51, and a sensing member 52.
  The swing lever 47 is supported at the lower end side (the base side of the detection body 44) so as to be rotatable about a left-right axial center via a support shaft 46 on a bracket 45 fixed to the front upper portion of the sensor cup 38. Has been.
[0025]
  The support arm 48 is provided on the upper end side of the swing lever 47 so as to protrude rearward, and is located above the contact member 40.
  The holding member 49 has a base 49a on the front side fixed to the rear end side of the support arm 48, a middle portion extending rearward from the base to form a switch mounting portion 49b, and a rear portion from the middle. A sensing member holding portion 49c is formed extending downward.
  The swing lever 47, the support arm 48, and the holding member 49 may be integrally formed.
[0026]
  One end side of a suspension member 54 made of a tension coil spring or the like is engaged with the rear side of the detection body 44 (the base portion 49a of the holding member 49 in the illustrated example), and the other end side of the suspension member 54 is The detection member 44 is suspended by the suspension member 54. The rear portion of the detection body 44 is suspended by the suspension member 54.
  The holding member 49 is formed with a space portion 55 from the middle portion to the rear portion, and the switch 50 is attached to the switch holding portion 49b so that the contact 50a of the switch 50 protrudes into the space portion 55.
[0027]
  A pressing member 51 is accommodated in the space portion 55 so as to be movable up and down, and the contact member 50 a of the switch 50 can be pushed by the pressing member 51.
  The sensing member holding part 49c holds the sensing member 52 so as to be movable up and down, and the upper end side of the sensing member 52 is fixed to the pushing member 51. The lower end side of the sensing member 52 is the lower end of the sensing member holding part 49c. It protrudes from (the tip of the holding member 49).
  The sensor cup 38 is formed with a notch 56 for avoiding interference with the holding member 49.
[0028]
  The limit switch 53 includes a roller 53b that comes into contact with the flange member 37 on the lower end side of a lever 53a that can turn around the horizontal axis. The roller 53b comes into contact with the flange member 37 and the lever 53a turns. By doing so, the limit switch 53 is configured to be turned on.
  As shown in FIG. 3, the chucking device 26 includes a pair of left and right clamping bodies 57 that are positioned on both the left and right sides of the cylinder 2 and that rotatably clamp the cylinder 2 around the central axis Y.
[0029]
  The sandwiching body 57 includes a pair of front and rear rollers 59 provided on the opposite side of the cylinder 2 of the support frame 58, and each roller 59 is supported by the support frame 58 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. 58 is supported by a support body 60 fixed to the apparatus frame 23 so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and the sandwiching body 57 is movable toward and away from the cylinder 2.
  Each clamping body 57 is connected to the upper end side of the swing lever 62 via the link 61, and the middle portion of the swing lever 62 is moved back and forth via the support shaft 64 and the like to the frame 63 of the carry-in conveyor of the carry-in portion 4. One end side of the interlocking rod 65 is pivotally connected to the lower end side of the swing lever 62, and the other end side of the interlocking rod 65 is rotated about the vertical axis. It is pivotally connected to the outer peripheral side of the rotating body 66 that rotates.
[0030]
  In the chucking device 26, when the rotating body 66 is rotated by driving means such as a motor in a state where the holding body 57 shown in FIG. The lower end side of 62 is pushed in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 3, whereby the upper side of the rocking lever 62 is swung in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 3 and the holding body 57 is pushed through the link 61. The clamping body 57 approaches the cylinder 2 and the roller 59 comes into contact with the cylinder 2 so that the cylinder 2 is supported rotatably around the central axis Y.
[0031]
  When the rotating body 66 is rotated in the reverse direction, the holding body 57 is separated from the cylinder 2 by an operation opposite to the above operation.
  As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating device 27 is supported by a frame 63 of the carry-in conveyor of the carry-in section 4 via a support 69, and includes a lifter 67 such as an air cylinder that lifts the cylinder 2 from the carry-in conveyor. And a drive means 68 such as a motor for rotating the lifter 67 about the vertical axis.
  In the rotating device 27, the cylinder 2 is lifted by the lifter 67, and the driving means 68 is driven in the lifted state to rotate the cylinder 2 around the central axis Y.
[0032]
  In the orienteering device 21 configured as described above, when the detection device 24 is in the raised position (retracted position) located above the cylinder 2 as shown in FIG. 3, the solid line in FIG. 5, the lower end side of the cylindrical body 35 is in contact with the upper surface of the retaining member 36 at the lower end of the support rod 34, and the support body 72, that is, the sensor cup 38 and the detection body 44 are suspended from the support rod 34. Has been lowered.
  Further, the detection body 44 is in a state of being pulled up by the suspension member 54.
  In this state, when the cylinder 2 is transferred to the orienteering code reading unit 7, the cylinder 2 is lifted from the carry-in conveyor by the lifter 67 of the rotating device 27, and the cylinder 2 is moved left and right by the left and right clamping members 57 of the chucking device 26. It is restrained so that it cannot move and move back and forth, and is supported so as to be rotatable about the central axis Y.
[0033]
  Next, the elevating frame 29, the support frame 31, and the detection device 24 are lowered, the sensor cup 38 covers the handle 20 of the valve 10 of the cylinder 2 from above, and the contact member 40 of the sensor cup 38 contacts the upper surface of the handle 20. When the contact member 40 comes into contact with the upper surface of the handle 20, the lowering of the sensor cup 38 and the detection body 44 is restricted.
  In this state, the lower end portion of the sensing member holding portion 49c of the holding member 49 and the lower end portion of the sensing member 52 are located on the outer side in the cylinder 2 radial direction of the handle 20 of the valve 10, and the support rod 34 and the limit When the switch 53 is further lowered, the suspension member 54 that suspends the rear portion of the detection body 44 is also lowered. Therefore, as shown in the phantom line in FIG. 1 and FIGS. The lower end portion of the sensing member holding portion 49c enters the lower side of the handle 20 and swings downward.
[0034]
  On the other hand, the roller 53 of the limit switch 53 comes into contact with the flange member 37 on the upper surface, and the lower end F of the sensing member 52 is connected to the upper end G of the filling port 11 of the valve 10 and the upper end H of the safety valve 19 as shown in FIG. The limit switch 53 is turned on at a position between the two, and the driving means 30 of the elevating device 25 stops, and the lowering of the support rod 34 and the like stops.
  Next, the driving means 68 of the rotating device 27 is driven, and the cylinder 2 rotates around the central axis Y in one direction.
[0035]
  Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the filling port 11 contacts the lower end of the sensing member holding portion 49 c of the detection body 44, and the detection body 44 swings upward by being pressed by the filling port 11 to hold the detection member. The lower end of the portion 49 c moves to the top of the filling port 11, and the sensing member 52 is gradually pressed and pushed up by the filling port 11.
  Then, when the pushing member 51 is pushed up by the sensing member 52, the pushing member 51 presses the contact 50a of the switch 50, and the switch 50 is turned on, the filling port 11 faces backward. As a result, the driving means 68 of the rotating device 27 is stopped by the detection signal of the switch 50, and the cylinder 2 stops rotating.
[0036]
  Therefore, the lower end portion of the sensing member holding portion 49c and the sensing member 52 (the tip portion of the detection body 44) is in contact with the filling port 11 to detect the direction of the filling port 11.
  As described above, the cylinder 2 is positioned so that the direction of the filling port 11 of the valve 10 faces the predetermined direction (backward in the carry-in transfer direction A).
  When the cylinder 2 is positioned, the restraint by the holding body 57 of the cylinder 2 is released, the cylinder 2 is placed on the carry-in conveyor, and the detection device 24 is further raised.
[0037]
  Next, in this state, the cylinder 2 is transferred to the gas filling device 3 side.
  In the above configuration, the sensing member 52 is constituted by the switch 50, and the contact 50a of the switch 50 is projected from the lower end of the sensing member holding portion 49c. The filling port 11 may be detected.
  Further, in order to detect the direction of the filling port 11 of the valve 10 of the cylinder 2, for example, after the detection body is lowered and positioned in the vertical direction, the detection body is moved in the lateral direction, so that the front end of the detection body can be detected. A structure in which the detection unit is inserted below the handle may be adopted. However, in this case, a drive mechanism for laterally moving the detection body is required, which complicates the structure. In the present embodiment, the detection unit 70 of the detection body 44 can be positioned at the detection position on the lower side of the handle 20 only by the lowering operation of lowering the detection device 24 by the elevating device 25, which simplifies the structure and costs. Reduction and the like are attempted.
[0038]
  As shown in FIG. 3, the code reader 22 includes a code reader 71 that reads a bar code attached to the cylinder 2, the lifting device 25, the chucking device 26, the rotating device 27, and the like. It is composed of a height positioning mechanism composed of a limit switch 53 and a sensor cup 38, etc., and the lifting device 25, chucking device 26, rotating device 27, and height positioning mechanism are used in common with the orienteering device 21, Compared to the conventional case where a code reader (recognition number reader) and an orienteering device are separately provided, the system is made more compact, the structure is simplified and the cost is reduced.
[0039]
  The code reader is attached to an elevating frame 29 of the elevating device 25, and is configured to descend to a position where the barcode attached to the upper side of the cylinder 2 can be read together with the detecting device 24, The code is read while the cylinder 2 is rotating or positioned.
  If the position where the barcode is attached is determined so that the barcode can be read by the code reader 22 at the position where the cylinder 2 is positioned, the code can be read reliably, but the position where the barcode is attached is the position of the cylinder. In this embodiment, if the barcode is not read when the cylinder 2 is first positioned, the cylinder 2 is rotated once again around the central axis Y in this embodiment. Thus, the barcode is controlled so as to be read reliably.
[0040]
  In the present embodiment, the cylinder 2 is configured so that the filling port 11 faces rearward in the loading / transferring direction A. However, as shown in the conventional example, the filling nozzle of the filling machine 13 is used. Is configured such that the filling port 11 is positioned so as to face the front of the carry-in transfer direction A, and the direction of the filling port 11 is Oriented in a direction corresponding to the orientation of the filling nozzle of machine 13.
  In addition, the present invention is not limited to being employed in the high-pressure gas filling device in the above embodiment, and other fluids are used.CylinderIt can be used in a fluid filling system that fills the fluid.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
  According to the present invention,CylinderSo that the filling port faces the specified directionThe cylinderPositioningPositioning deviceAs a result, the reliability is improved and the maintenance is easy.
  Also,CylinderWhen the sensor is transferred to the positioning position or when it is moved after positioning, it will be an obstacle when the detection body is at the detection position. TheCylinderIs configured to be retractable to a raised position located above theCylinderA valve is provided on the upper surface of the valve, and when a cylinder is provided on the upper part of the valve so that a handle for opening and closing the valve covers the upper part of the filling port of the valve, the detector is simply attached. The detection part of the detection body cannot be positioned at the detection position on the lower side of the handle only by lowering.However, in the present invention, the direction of the filling port can be detected satisfactorily by the contact sensor.
[0042]
  In addition, the detection part of the detection body,CylinderIf it is possible to position it below the handle of the valve by a driving means different from the lifting device, the structure becomes complicatedHowever, in the present invention,It can be configured with a simple structure and can be provided at low cost.
  Also,CylinderThe positioning deviceCylinderWhen used in a high-pressure gas filling system that automatically fillsCylinderTo know the size and empty weight ofCylinderA code reader for reading the code attached to the upper part is provided. This code reader includes a code reader for reading the code, a lifting device for moving the code reader up and down,CylinderRotating device that rotates around the center axis is required,CylinderIf the determination device and the code reading device are provided separately, the system is increased in size and cost.
[0043]
  Therefore, the code reader can be moved up and down together with the detection body, so that the rotating device, the lifting device and the like can be used together, and the system can be made compact.
  Also, the above configurationCylinderIn the positioning device ofCylinderBefore it turns too much,CylinderHowever, if the code reader can be moved up and down together with the detection body, the code may not be read.
  That is,CylinderIf the position where the code is attached is determined so that the code can be read at the position where the is positioned, the code can be read reliably, but the position where the code is attached may vary,CylinderIf does not rotate too much, the code may not be read.
[0044]
  Therefore,CylinderIf the code is not read at the time of positioning, the cylinder is further rotated once, so that even if the code reader can be moved up and down together with the detector, the code can be read reliably. Can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a high-pressure gas filling system in which the present invention is employed.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of an orienteering code reading unit.
FIG. 4 is a composite diagram of a detection device in which the upper part shows the front and the lower part shows the side.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a detection device.
FIG. 6 is a composite diagram of a detection device in which the upper part shows the front and the lower part shows the side.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a detection device.
FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which a detection portion of the detection device is placed below the handle of the valve.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a process of detecting the direction of the filling port of the valve.
FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional high-pressure gas filling system.
[Explanation of symbols]
  1 High-pressure gas filling system
  2 cylinder (container)
10 Valve
11 Filling port
20 Handle
25 Lifting device
27 Rotating device
34 Support rod
44 Detector
54 Suspension member
70 detector
71 code reader
72 Support
  Y Center axis

Claims (4)

A cylinder positioning device for positioning a cylinder provided with a valve on the upper surface of the cylinder and a handle provided on the upper part of the valve so that a handle for opening and closing the valve covers the upper part of the filling port of the valve,
A rotating device for rotating the cylinder in the vertical direction of the central axis around a detecting member for detecting the direction of the filling opening of the valves, a support rod is raised and lowered by the lifting device, support suspended on the support rod The detection body is pivotally supported on the support body so that the detection body can swing up and down, and a detection section is provided on the front end side of the detection body, between the support rod and the detection body. A suspension member for suspending the front end side of the detection body is provided, the support rod is lowered from the raised position located above the cylinder, and the support body comes into contact with the handle of the valve so that the lowering of the support body is regulated. In this state, the detection unit is positioned on the outer side in the cylinder radial direction of the handle, and then the detection body swings downward by its own weight by further lowering the support rod and lowering the suspension member. Detected by swinging downward The detector is configured to move from a position on the outer side of the cylinder in the radial direction of the cylinder to a position that enters the lower side of the handle, and in a state in which the detection unit enters the lower side of the handle, By rotating the cylinder with the rotating device and bringing the filling port of the valve into contact with the detection unit, the orientation of the filling port is detected and the rotating device is stopped, so that the cylinder is positioned so that the filling port faces a predetermined direction. positioning device cylinder, characterized in that is carried out. To know the size and empty weight of the cylinder, comprising a code reader for reading a code attached to the cylinder top, the positioning of the cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that a vertically movable with this code reader with detection object apparatus. 3. The cylinder positioning device according to claim 2 , wherein the cylinder is further rotated once when the code is not read when the cylinder is initially positioned. After filling port of the valve positioning the cylinder so as to face the direction corresponding to the direction of the filling nozzle of the filling machine, the bomb was carried into the gas filling machine, inside the cylinder through the fill port from the filling nozzle of a filling machine The cylinder positioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the cylinder positioning device is used in a high-pressure gas filling system filled with gas.

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