JPH0797044A - Clamp arm for clamp type container conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely clamp a cylindrical or tapered container by means of a single arm by composing a pair of cramp arms of a freely oscillational arm part and a freely rotational grip part, and arranging a stopper mechanism for regulating the rotation of the grip part. CONSTITUTION:In a clamping device 5, a pair of clamp arms 27, 28 consist of arm parts 27A, 28A, which oscillate while interlocking with the rotational actions of clamp shafts 25A, 25B, and grip parts 27B, 28B arranged rotationally at the tips of these arm parts 27A, 28B. In the grip parts 27B, 28B, which are formed into L-shapes, respective contact faces 27b, 28b with a container are formed. In the clamp arms 27, 28, a stopper mechanism 44 for regulating the rotation of the grip parts 27B, 28B is arrange. The stopper mechanism 44 is constructed in such a way as arranging a fixing side stopper 46, which is fixed in the arm part 28A by means of a pin 45, and a rotating side stopper 48, which is fixed on the outer circumference of a supporting shaft 38 by means of a pin 47 while arranging two pistons 50, 51 between them.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clamp type container carrying device having a pair of clamp arms for holding a container.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a clamp type container transfer device,
A rotary body rotatably provided on the frame, a pair of clamp shafts that are pivotally supported at equally spaced positions in the circumferential direction of the rotary body and rotate in mutually opposite directions, and are provided on each clamp shaft,
There is known one provided with a pair of clamp arms that are opened and closed by the rotation operation to hold the container, and a drive mechanism that rotates the clamp shaft.

The clamp arm is generally manufactured so that the cylindrical body of the container can be reliably gripped, and the clamp arm has a tapered body or a cylindrical body. Even in the case of a container, if the tapered shoulder part is gripped, the contact part between the clamp arm and the container becomes a point contact or a line contact, so that there is a drawback in that a reliable grip cannot be performed. On the other hand, if the clamp arm is manufactured so that the tapered portion of the container can be reliably gripped, the contact portion between the clamp arm and the container becomes point contact or line contact when gripping the cylindrical body. However, there is a drawback that the grip cannot be surely performed. As a result, conventionally, there has been a drawback that a large number of dedicated clamp arms have to be prepared according to the shape of the gripped portion of the container. In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a clamp arm for a clamp-type container transfer device that can reliably grip a portion to be gripped, which is cylindrical or tapered.

That is, according to the present invention, the clamp arm includes an arm portion provided on the clamp shaft and oscillated by a rotating operation of the clamp shaft, and a tip portion of the arm portion. The clamp arm is provided with a grip portion rotatably mounted about the longitudinal direction as a rotation axis, and the clamp arm is provided with a stopper mechanism for restricting rotation of the grip portion.

According to the above construction, for example, when the tapered body of the container is gripped by the clamp arm, when the grip portion comes into contact with the tapered body, it follows the tapered shape with respect to the arm. When rotated, the contact surface of the grip portion becomes oblique, and the entire contact surface comes into contact with the tapered barrel portion most stably. Therefore, the container can be reliably gripped by the grip portion. On the other hand, even when the cylindrical body of the container is held by the clamp arm, the grip is rotatable with respect to the arm,
The entire contact surface of the grip portion can most stably contact the cylindrical body portion, and the container can be surely gripped.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a capper (see FIG. 2) for capping a container, and the container 3 conveyed by the conveyor 2 is a timing screw (not shown). Is synchronized with the rotation of the capper 1, is carried into the capper 1 by the supply side star wheel 4, and is clamped and fixed by the clamp device 5. The container 3 gripped by the clamp device 5 is conveyed as the rotating body 6 constituting the capper 1 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the container 3 is capped with the cap during that time. And the container 3 with the cap capped is the above-mentioned clamp device 5
After the grip by is released, it is discharged onto the conveyor 2 by the discharge side star wheel 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the capper 1 is provided with a fixed shaft 9 fixed to a frame 8 in the vertical direction, and a rotary shaft 10 is rotatably provided on the outer periphery of the fixed shaft 9 from an intermediate portion to a lower portion. The shaft is supported so that the rotating shaft 10 can be rotationally driven in one direction by a motor (not shown). The rotating body 6
Is a first disc 11 fixed above the rotary shaft 10, a rotary table 12 fixed below, and a second disc 15 connected above the first disc 11 via a plurality of rods 14.
The shaft portion of the second circular plate 15 is rotatably supported on the upper end portion of the fixed shaft 9. The first disc 1
A plurality of spindles 16 are arranged vertically at equal intervals on the outer periphery. Each spindle 16 includes a first spindle 16a having a spline formed on the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical body,
The first spindle 16a is provided with a second spindle 16b that is spline-fitted to each second spindle 16b.
Servo motor 17 with the upper end of b attached to the second disk 15
Are connected to each. On the other hand, the first spindle 16a
One end of the bracket 18 is rotatably attached to the axial central portion of the bracket 18 and the other end of the bracket 18 is rotatably attached to the adjacent rod 14 so that the bracket 18 does not rotate together with the first spindle 16a. There is. The cam follower 19 is attached to each bracket 18.
And each cam follower 19 is engaged with an elevating cam 21 fixed to the fixed shaft 9 through an inverted cup-shaped cover 20, so that the elevating cam 21 causes the first spindle 16a to rotate as the rotating shaft 10 rotates. It is possible to raise and lower. Further, a capping head 22 is attached to the lower end of the first spindle 16a, and the servomotor 18 drives the second spindle 16b.
When the cap is rotated, the capping head 22 is rotated through the first spindle 16a that is spline-fitted to the second spindle 16b, and the cap 24 held by the capping head 22 is capped in the container 3. I am able to The capping head 22 is composed of, for example, a conventionally known air chuck type capping head, and can hold the cap 24 when compressed air is supplied from a compressed air source (not shown) via an electromagnetic valve. You can do it. Next, the same number of the above-mentioned clamp devices 5 as the capping heads are provided at the outer peripheral portion of the lower rotary table 12 which constitutes the rotary body 6 at equal intervals, and each clamp device 5 is arranged vertically on the rotary table 12. A pair of clamp shafts 25A and 25B axially supported (see FIG. 3) and gears 26 and 26 attached to the respective clamp shafts 25A and 25B are provided. By engaging both gears 26 and 26 with each other, When the clamp shaft 25A is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the other clamp shaft 25B can be rotated in the reverse direction. The pair of clamp shafts 25A and 25B are provided with the pair of clamp arms 27 and 28 so as to swing and rotate integrally with the respective clamp shafts, and the pair of clamp shafts 25A and 25B are connected to the gears. Two
The pair of clamp arms 27 and 28 can be opened and closed by rotating them in the opposite directions via 6 and 26. At this time, one end of the swing arm 30 protruding outward in the radial direction is connected to the lower portion of each of the pair of clamp shafts 25A, 25B, and each clamp shaft 25A, 25B is connected to the tip of each swing arm 30.
The reinforcing rods 31A and 31B arranged in parallel with are fixed. And one clamp shaft 25A and the reinforcing rod 31
One clamp arm 27 is attached to A and the other clamp arm 28 is attached to the other clamp shaft 25A and the reinforcing rod 31B. The pair of clamp shafts 25
As shown in FIG. 2, one end of a swing lever 32 is fixed to the lower end of one clamp shaft 25A of A and 25B, and the other end of the swing lever 32 is a cam mechanism as a drive mechanism. A cam follower 34 forming a part of 33 is attached. Then, a return spring 35 is mounted between each swing lever 32 and the rotary table 12, and the return spring 35 causes the swing lever 32 to move in one direction, that is, via the clamp shafts 25A and 25B. It is rotationally urged in the direction of closing 28. The cam mechanism 33 includes a cam member 3 fixed to the frame 10.
6, the return spring 35 urges the swing lever 32 in the one direction described above, so that the cam follower 34 is engaged with the outer peripheral cam surface of the cam member 36. Therefore, the clamp arms 27 and 28 can be opened by moving the swing lever 32 in the opposite direction to the above-described direction against the return spring 35 by the cam member 36. 3 and 4
As shown in FIG. 7, the clamp arms 27 and 28 include arm portions 27A and 28A that swing in conjunction with the rotational movement of the clamp shafts 25A and 25B, and the arm portions 27A and 27A, respectively.
A grip portion 27B rotatably provided at the tip of 28A,
28B and two members. In this embodiment, the surfaces of the grip portions 27B and 28B facing each other are formed in a V shape, and the portions are contact surfaces 27b and 28b with the container 3.
I am trying. Since the clamp arms 27 and 28 have substantially the same structure, one clamp arm 28
The bottom end of the arm portion 28A of the clamp arm 28 is formed with a fitting hole 28a having a bottom in the axial direction, and the fitting hole 28a is supported via bearings 37, 37. The shaft 38 is rotatably supported. Then, the grip portion 2 is fixed to the tip portion of the support shaft 38 by the fixing pin 40.
By fixing 8B, the grip portion 28B can be rotated with the support shaft 38 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the arm portion 28A as the rotation shaft. A return spring 41 is provided between the arm portion 28A and the grip portion 28B, and the return spring 41 urges the grip portion 28B to rotate in one direction, that is, clockwise in FIG. An engaging portion 42 protruding toward the grip portion 28B is formed at the tip of the arm portion 28A, and an arcuate cutout portion 28c is formed in the grip portion 28B facing the engaging portion 42.
In the state where the engaging portion 42 and the end of the cutout portion 28c are brought into contact with each other by the return spring 41, the contact surface 2
8b is arranged in the vertical direction. A return spring (not shown) of the other clamp arm 27 is adapted to rotate the grip portion 27B in the direction opposite to that of the grip portion 28B, and as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. Mating part 42 and notch 28c
In the state in which the end portions of the two are in contact with each other, both grip portions 27B, 2
The contact surfaces 27b and 28b of 8B face each other in the vertical direction. Then, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5, when gripping the tapered shoulder portion of the container 3, it is possible to rotate in opposite directions against the return spring 41 following the shape of the shoulder portion. It has become.
Further, the clamp mechanism 27, 28 has a stopper mechanism 44 for restricting the rotation of the grip portions 27B, 28B.
Are provided respectively. The stopper mechanism 44 includes a fixed side stopper 46 fixed to the arm portion 28A by a fixing pin 45, and a rotation side stopper 48 fixed to the outer circumference of the support shaft 38 with a fixing pin 47. Two pistons 50 and 51 are arranged between the fixed side stopper 46 and the rotation side stopper 48, and both pistons 50 and 51 are arranged.
Since the spring 52 integrally urges the piston toward the fixed-side stopper 46, the piston 51 is normally prevented from contacting the rotation-side stopper 48. In this state, the grip portion 28B can rotate with respect to the arm portion 28A. As shown in FIG. 6, one of the pistons 50, 51 is a piston 50.
Has a projection 50a on the other side, and the other piston 51 has a recess 51a on the other side.
Are formed, and by engaging the protrusion 50a and the recess 51a with each other, the pistons 50, 51 are
They can move in the axial direction with respect to each other, but are connected so as to be integrated in the rotating direction. And both pistons 5
A pressure chamber is provided between 0 and 51, and the arm 2
8A is provided with an air hole 28e for supplying compressed air to its pressure chamber, and this air hole 28e is connected to a compressed air supply source via a conduit or solenoid valve not shown. Therefore, when compressed air is supplied to the pressure chamber between the pistons 50 and 51, the pistons 50 and 51 are moved in the directions in which they are separated from each other and are brought into pressure contact with the fixed side stopper 46 and the rotation side stopper 48, respectively. It is fixed by frictional force. Since both the pistons 50 and 51 are integrally connected in the rotational direction by the projection 50a and the recess 51a, the grip portion 28B is integrated with the arm portion 28A in this state,
It cannot rotate with respect to the arm portion 28A.
If the pressure in the pressure chamber is discharged from this state, the piston 51 pressed against the rotation-side stopper 48 is moved toward the other piston 50 by the spring 52, and the piston 48 is separated from the rotation-side stopper 48. Therefore, the grip portion 28B can rotate with respect to the arm portion 28A. In the above configuration, when the container 3 is loaded onto the rotary table 12 of the capper 1 via the supply side star wheel 4, the pair of clamp arms 2
7, 28 are fully opened by the cam mechanism 33 via a pair of clamp shafts 25A, 25B. In addition, compressed air is not introduced into the pressure chamber between the pistons 50 and 51, so that the grip portions 27B and 28B can rotate with respect to the arm portions 27A and 28A, and The contact surfaces 27b and 28b of the grip portions 27B and 28B face each other in the vertical direction. In this state, the pair of clamp arms 27,
When the container 3 is carried in between 28, the clamp arm 2
The return spring 35 swings 7 and 28 in the closing direction to grip the tapered shoulder portion of the container 3. At this time, when the lower end edges of the grip portions 27B and 28B come into contact with the shoulder portion of the container 3 first, the grip portions 27B and 28B are formed.
Is rotated and tilted against the return spring 41, and the entire contact surfaces 27b and 28b of the return spring 41 are in the most stable contact with the tapered shoulder portion. Accordingly, the container 3 can be reliably gripped by the grip portions 27B and 28B. In this state, compressed air is supplied to the pressure chamber between the pistons 50 and 51 that form the stopper mechanism 44, and as described above, the grip portions 27B and 28B are fixed to the arm portions 27A and 28A. On the other hand, the capping head 22 is held at the ascending end position by the elevating cam 21, and when the cap 24 is supplied and held by the cap supplying mechanism (not shown) in this state, the servo motor 17 causes the capping head 22 to hold. 22 is rotated and the elevating cam 2 is moved.
The cap 24 that is lowered and held by 1 is capped on the mouth of the container 3. At this time, the grip portion 27B,
28B uses the stopper mechanism 44 to connect the arm portions 27A, 28
Since it is fixed to A, the cap 24 is attached to the container 3
Depending on the torque when capping the mouth of the container,
Via the grip portions 27B and 28B to the arm portion 27A,
It is possible to perform reliable capping without being rotated with respect to 28A. After that, when the holding force of the cap 24 by the capping head 22 is released and the capping head 22 is raised, the clamp arms 27 and 28 are opened to release the grasping of the container 3, and the container 3 is released on the discharge side. It is discharged onto the conveyor 2 by the wheel 8. In addition, the compressed air supplied to the pressure chamber between the pistons 50 and 51 is discharged, whereby the grip portions 27B and 28B can rotate with respect to the arm portions 27A and 28A. The grip 27B,
It is clear that 28B allows the cylindrical barrel of the container to be gripped. Further, in the above embodiment, the stopper mechanism 44 is operated each time the container is grasped and released. However, when the container is manufactured with a predetermined accuracy, the grip portions 27B and 28B are first attached to the container. After conforming to the shape, the grip portion 2 is moved by the stopper mechanism 44.
7B and 28B may be always fixed to the arm portions 27A and 28A. Further, in the above embodiment, the grip portions 27B, 28B are rotationally biased by the return spring 41, but the present invention is not limited to this, and magnets of different polarities may be provided on the grip portion side and the arm portion side, Alternatively, the return spring 41 and the magnet may be omitted. Further, in the above embodiment, the longitudinal directions of the arm portions 27A and 28A are exactly the rotation axes of the grip portions 27B and 28B, but it is sufficient if they are substantially in the longitudinal direction.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably grasp the container without exchanging the clamp arm regardless of whether the container is cylindrical or tapered. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing enlarged clamp arms 27 and 28.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state in which the container is held.

6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

[Explanation of Reference Signs] 1 ... Capper 3 ... Container 5 ... Clamping device 6 ... Rotating body 11 ... First disc 12 ... Rotating table 15 ... Second disc 25A, 25B ... Clamp shaft 27, 28 ... Clamp arm 27A, 28A ... Arm parts 27B, 28B ... Grip part 33 ...
Cam mechanism 38 ... Support shaft

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rotating body rotatably provided on a frame,
A pair of clamp shafts that are pivotally supported at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating body and rotate in mutually opposite directions, and a pair of clamps that are provided on each clamp shaft and that are opened and closed by the rotating operation to grip the container. In a clamp-type container transfer device including an arm and a drive mechanism for rotating the clamp shaft, the clamp arm includes an arm portion provided on the clamp shaft and oscillated by a rotation operation of the clamp arm. It is characterized by comprising a grip portion rotatably attached to the distal end portion about the longitudinal direction of the arm portion as a rotation axis, and providing the clamp arm with a stopper mechanism for restricting rotation of the grip portion. Clamp arm for clamp type container transfer device.