JP2008120465A - Container transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container transfer device capable of conveying non-defective containers by a suction cup without causing defective suction, and capable of positively detaching defective containers from the suction cup. <P>SOLUTION: By rotating a rotation side member 23 to communicating an arced groove 3 of a fixed side member 22 with a first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23, a vacuum source 45 is communicated with the suction cup 9, and a container is sucked by the suction cup 9. By forming a communication hole 31 for compressed air connected to a compressed air source 46 in the fixed side member 22, forming a second communication hole 46 in a circumference side or an outer circumference side of the first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23, connecting the second communication hole 41 of the rotation side member 23 to the suction cup 9, and rotating the rotation side member 23 to communicate the communication hole 31 for compressed air of the fixed side member 22 with the second hole 41 of the rotation side member 23, the compressed air source is communicated with the suction cup 9, and a container is detached from the suction cup 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a suction cup for sucking a container, and a rotary valve having a fixed side member and a rotary side member that rotate relative to each other while being in sliding contact with each other, and a negative pressure from a vacuum source connected to the fixed side member. The present invention relates to a container transport device that supplies a suction cup connected to a rotation-side member and vacuum-sucks the container with the suction cup to transport the container.

  As a device for inspecting containers such as glass bottles by imaging, it is taken from a conveyor device such as a conveyor into the entrance star wheel device, images a predetermined part such as a mouth to judge whether it is good, and then taken into the main rotor and then the trunk There is a container inspection device that picks up a predetermined location such as a non-defective product and then determines whether the product is good or bad and then takes it into an exit star wheel device and discharges it for each good product and defective product.

  Each pocket of the outlet star wheel device is provided with a suction cup that vacuum-sucks the side surface (body portion) of the container, and is adjacent to the outlet star wheel device and has a first carry-out conveyor on the upstream side and a second second on the downstream side. A carry-out conveyor is provided. In the exit star wheel device, a non-defective container is sucked and held by a suction cup, passed through the first carry-out conveyor and then discharged to the second carry-out conveyor, and a defective product container is sucked and held by the suction cup and the first carry-out conveyor The vacuum is released at the position of the first carry-out conveyor and compressed air is supplied to the suction cup so that the defective container is separated from the suction cup and discharged to the first carry-out conveyor.

Each of the suction cups is connected to a vacuum source and a compressed air source via a rotary valve.
The rotary valve includes a stationary member and a rotating member that rotate relative to each other while being in sliding contact with each other, a plurality of suction cups are connected to the rotating member, and a vacuum source and a compressed air source are connected to the stationary member. Separately connected, the negative pressure from the vacuum source on the fixed side member side is supplied to the suction cup on the rotation side member side to adsorb the container, and the compressed air from the compressed air source connected to the fixed side member side is The container is detached by supplying the suction cup to the suction cup on the rotation side member side to make the suction cup positive pressure.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a rotary valve. Fig.7 (a) is a top view which shows the slidable contact surface side of a stationary-side member, FIG.7 (b) is a VII-VII sectional view taken on the line of Fig.7 (a). FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the rotation-side member. FIG. 8A is a plan view showing the slidable contact surface side of the rotation side member, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a first arcuate groove 101 and a second arcuate groove 102 are formed on the fixed side member 100 on the same circumference on the sliding surface side, and these two arcuate grooves 101 are formed. , 102 are formed with through holes 103, 104 at predetermined locations, respectively. The first arc-shaped groove 101 and the second arc-shaped groove 102 are separated from each other by a predetermined distance, and a communication hole 105 is formed between the two arc-shaped grooves 101 and 102 that are separated by a predetermined distance. The communication hole 105 is disposed on the same circumference as the first arcuate groove 101 and the second arcuate groove 102. A vacuum source (not shown) is connected to the through holes 103 and 104, and a compressed air source (not shown) is connected to the communication hole 105.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the rotation-side member 110 has a plurality of communication holes 111 formed on the same circumference, and one end of each of the communication holes 111 is formed by the two arc-shaped grooves 101 and 102 described above. It is opened at the sliding contact surface of the rotation side member so as to be able to face the surface. A suction cup (not shown) is connected to each communication hole 111.

  Under such a configuration, when the rotation-side member 110 and the fixed-side member 100 are relatively rotated while being in sliding contact, the communication hole 111 of the rotation-side member 110 becomes the first and second arc-shaped grooves 101 of the fixed-side member 100. , 102, the fluid can be exchanged between the vacuum source connected to the stationary member 100 and the suction cup connected to the rotating member 110 only from the vacuum source on the stationary member side. A negative pressure is supplied to the suction cup on the rotation side member side, and the container is sucked by the suction cup. When the open / close valve provided between the communication hole 105 and the compressed air source is opened and the communication hole 111 of the rotation side member 110 faces the communication hole 105 of the fixed side member 100, the fixed side member 100 is connected. The compressed air source and the suction cup connected to the rotation side member 110 communicate with each other, compressed air is supplied to the suction cup, and the container is detached from the suction cup.

  The non-defective container is sucked and transported by the suction cup with the negative pressure supplied from the first arc-shaped groove 101 and the second arc-shaped groove 102, passes through the first carry-out conveyor, and is carried out to the second carry-out conveyor. The The defective container is sucked and transported by the suction cup with the negative pressure supplied from the first arc-shaped groove 101, and the compressed air is supplied to the communication hole 105 from the compressed air source when it comes to the first carry-out conveyor. The suction cup becomes positive pressure, and the defective container is detached from the suction cup and carried out to the first carry-out conveyor. It is not possible to pick up a defective product container to the first delivery conveyor on the upstream side, and to pass the good product container through the first delivery conveyor to the second delivery conveyor on the downstream side due to some trouble. This is based on the fail-safe idea that sometimes both good and defective containers are carried out to the upstream first carry-out conveyor so that the defective second containers are not mixed into the downstream second carry-out conveyor.

  In the container transport device including the rotary valve described above, the first arc-shaped groove 101 and the second arc-shaped groove 102 for vacuum suction are arranged apart from each other in the rotation-side member 100, and these two arc-shaped grooves are arranged. Since the communication hole 105 is arranged between 101 and 102, it is connected to the suction cup when the non-defective container is sucked by the suction cup and passed through the first carry-out conveyor to the second carry-out conveyor. Since the communication hole 111 of the rotation side member 110 is located between the first arcuate groove 101 and the second arcuate groove 102 and does not oppose either the first arcuate groove 101 or the second arcuate groove 102, The cup cannot be evacuated. For this reason, there is a problem that while the vacuum cannot be drawn, the degree of vacuum in the suction cup is lowered and the container may be detached from the suction cup. In this case, when the operation of the container inspection apparatus has to be stopped due to a process downstream of the container inspection apparatus, the container transport apparatus has to be stopped, and the communication hole 111 of the rotation side member has the first hole. When it is located between the first arc-shaped groove 101 and the second arc-shaped groove 102, the suction cup connected to the communication hole 111 has a problem that the degree of vacuum is extremely lowered and the container is detached. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. A good container can be vacuum-sucked by a suction cup and transported to a predetermined position without causing suction failure, and the defective container is sucked at a discharge position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container transport device that can be reliably detached from a cup.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the container transport device of the present invention has a suction cup that sucks a container, a fixed member, and a rotating member, and rotates relative to each other while the fixed member and the rotating member are in sliding contact with each other. And a rotary valve configured to intermittently communicate the arc-shaped groove formed in the stationary member and the first communication hole formed in the rotating member, and the circle of the stationary member The arc-shaped groove is connected to a vacuum source, the first communication hole of the rotating side member is connected to the suction cup, and the rotating side member is rotated to rotate the arc-shaped groove of the fixed side member and the first of the rotating side member. The vacuum source and the suction cup are communicated by communicating with the communication hole, and the container is adsorbed by the suction cup, and the compressed air is applied to the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side of the arc-shaped groove of the fixed side member. Communicating hole for compressed air connected to the source Forming a second communication hole on a circumferential side or an outer peripheral side of the first communication hole of the rotation side member, connecting the second communication hole of the rotation side member to the suction cup, and The compressed air source and the suction cup are communicated by rotating and communicating the compressed air communication hole of the fixed side member and the second communication hole of the rotation side member, and the container is removed from the suction cup. It is characterized by being made to leave.

  According to the present invention, when the rotary side member of the rotary valve rotates while making sliding contact with the fixed side member, the first communication hole formed in the rotary side member faces the arcuate groove for vacuum formed in the fixed side member. While in this position, the negative pressure from the vacuum source is supplied to the suction cup via the arc-shaped groove and the first communication hole of the rotary member, and the container is vacuum-sucked by the suction cup. When the compressed air is supplied from the compressed air source to the compressed air communication hole of the rotating side member while the container is being vacuum-adsorbed and conveyed by the suction cup, the compressed air is opposed to the compressed air communication hole. Compressed air is supplied to the second communication hole of the rotation side member, and the compressed air is supplied to the suction cup from the second communication hole. Thereby, while the suction cup is vacuum-sucking the container, the inside of the suction cup becomes positive pressure, and the container is detached from the suction cup.

According to one aspect of the present invention, while the vacuum source and the suction cup are in communication, the compressed air source and the suction cup are connected to break the vacuum in the suction cup. It is characterized by that.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the first communication hole of the rotation side member and the suction cup are connected via a first pipe, and the second communication hole of the rotation side member and the suction cup are secondly connected. It is characterized by being connected through piping.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a nozzle is provided at the tip of the second pipe, and the tip of the nozzle is opened in the suction cup.
According to the present invention, since the positive pressure is applied to the suction cup in the immediate vicinity of the container contact portion of the suction cup, an operation of reliably removing the container from the suction cup can be performed.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the compressed air communication hole and the compressed air source are connected via an electromagnetic valve.
According to the present invention, since the switching operation for supplying compressed air to the suction cup can be realized only by the electromagnetic valve, it is possible to improve the durability and reliability of the apparatus.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the rotating side member is supported by a bearing, the fixed side member is formed of alumina ceramics, and the rotating side member is formed of carbon ceramics.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the bearing is a thrust bearing.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a star wheel having a pocket into which the container fits is provided, and the suction cup is disposed in the pocket of the star wheel to suck the side surface of the container.

  According to the present invention, while the vacuum source is connected to the suction cup and the container is vacuum-adsorbed by the suction cup, the compressed air source and the suction cup are connected to break the vacuum in the suction cup to perform the suction. The container can be removed from the cup. In other words, the vacuum suction of the container is released by applying positive pressure from another system while maintaining the vacuum suction state, instead of switching at the part where the vacuum and compressed air are combined into one system as in the past. Thus, the container can be detached from the suction cup. Therefore, a non-defective container can be vacuum-sucked by a suction cup and transported to a non-defective product unloading position without causing suction failure. It can be reliably detached from the suction cup.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a container transport device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a container inspection apparatus provided with a container transport device according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a container inspection apparatus provided with a container transport device according to this embodiment includes a carry-in conveyor 2 that carries a container 1 such as a basket to be inspected into the container inspection apparatus, and a container 1 from the carry-in conveyor 2. A receiving star wheel 3 that receives and carries in the container inspection unit 4, a container inspection unit 4 that inspects the container 1 received from the carrying star wheel 3, a container transport device 10 that unloads the container 1 that has been inspected, and a container 1 is provided with a first carry-out conveyor 6a and a second carry-out conveyor 6b.

  The carry-in conveyor 2 is arranged adjacent to the carry-in star wheel 3, and the first carry-out conveyor 6 a and the second carry-out conveyor 6 b are arranged adjacent to the container conveying device 10. An infeed screw 7 is provided adjacent to the carry-in star wheel 3 and parallel to the carry-in conveyor 2. The container 1 to be inspected is carried into the container inspection apparatus from the direction of arrow A by the carry-in conveyor 2, and a fixed interval is formed by the infeed screw 7 and is sequentially delivered to the carry-in star wheel 3. Thereafter, the container 1 is conveyed to the container inspection unit 4 by the carry-in star wheel 3 while being guided by the guide rail 8, and the container 1 is sequentially inspected by the imaging device 5 having a CCD camera. Then, the container 1 that has been inspected is transferred to the container transport device 10, and the container 1 that has been determined as a defective product by the container inspection unit 4 is transported by the container transport device 10 to the first carry-out conveyor 6 a and the first carry-out conveyor. The container 1 discharged to 6a and determined to be non-defective is passed through the first carry-out conveyor 6a, conveyed to the second carry-out conveyor 6b, and discharged to the second carry-out conveyor 6b.

Next, the container transport apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container transport device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3A is an enlarged sectional view of a portion III in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged sectional view showing a state immediately after the assembly of the rotary valve according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the container transport device 10 includes a main shaft 11 connected to a motor (not shown), a star wheel body 12 having a plurality of pockets 12 a on the circumference in which the container 1 is fitted, and each pocket 12 a. A suction cup 9 that sucks the side surface (body portion) of the container 1, a support member 13 that is fixed to the upper end of the main shaft 11 and supports the lower surface of the star wheel body 12, the suction cups 9, and a vacuum source The rotary valve 20 is connected to the rotary valve 20. The main shaft 11 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and the star wheel main body 12 is rotated.

  In this embodiment, a vacuum pump is used as the vacuum source 45 for adsorbing the container 1. Since this vacuum pump is fixedly installed, the rotary valve 20 according to this embodiment is used to supply negative pressure from the fixed side (vacuum pump side) to the rotating side (main rotor side). As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the rotary valve 20 includes a disk-shaped fixed side member 22 fixed to the fixed base 21 and a disk-shaped rotating side member 23 fixed to the cylindrical body 24. I have. The cylindrical body 24 and the main shaft 11 are connected via a key 26 (see FIG. 3) provided on the main shaft 11 so that the cylindrical body 24 and the rotation side member 23 and the main shaft 11 rotate integrally. ing. The fixed side member 22 and the rotation side member 23 have a sliding contact surface (seal surface) 25 that rotates while sliding on each other.

  4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams showing the fixed-side member, FIG. 4 (a) is a plan view showing the sliding surface side of the fixed-side member, and FIG. 4 (b) is FIG. It is the IV-IV sectional view taken on the line (a). As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the sliding contact surface 25 of the fixed side member 22 is for a vacuum extending at an angle of about 100 degrees from the center (O) of the fixed side member 22. An arc-shaped groove 30, a communication hole 31 for compressed air, and an arc-shaped groove 32 for compressed air extending at an angle of about 25 degrees are formed. The arcuate groove 30 for vacuum and the arcuate groove 32 for compressed air are arranged on the same circumference, but the communication hole 31 for compressed air is a circle in which the arcuate groove 30 and the arcuate groove 32 are arranged. It is not on the circumference but is arranged on the outer circumference side of the arc-shaped groove 30. The communication hole 31 for compressed air may be installed on the circumferential side of the arc-shaped groove 30. Two through holes 33 communicating with the arcuate groove 30 for vacuum are formed in the fixed side member 22, and the through holes 33 are connected to a vacuum source 45 including a vacuum pump via a pipe 34 (see FIG. 2). The communication hole 31 for compressed air is connected to a compressed air source 46 such as a compressor via a pipe 36 (see FIG. 2). An electromagnetic valve 60 is installed in the pipe 36 connecting the communication hole 31 for compressed air and the compressed air source 46. In addition, a through hole 35 communicating with the arcuate groove 32 for compressed air is formed in the fixed side member 22, and the through 35 is also connected to the compressed air source 46.

  5 (a) and 5 (b) are diagrams showing the rotation side member, FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view showing the sliding surface side of the rotation side member 23, and FIG. 5 (b) is a diagram. It is the VV sectional view taken on the line 5 (a). As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the sliding contact surface 25 of the rotation side member 23 is opened at a position facing the arcuate groove 30 for vacuum or the arcuate groove 32 for compressed air. A plurality of first communication holes 40 are formed on the same circumference. And each 1st communicating hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 is connected to each adsorption cup 9 via the piping 43 (refer FIG. 2). A plurality of second communication holes 41 are formed on the same circumference on the slidable contact surface 25 of the rotation side member 23 and open at positions facing the communication holes 31 for compressed air. The second communication hole 41 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the first communication hole 40. The second communication hole 41 may be arranged on the inner peripheral side of the first communication hole 40. And the 2nd communicating hole 41 of the rotation side member 23 is connected to each adsorption cup 9 via the piping 44 (refer FIG. 2).

The fixed-side member 22 is made of alumina ceramic. This alumina ceramic is a sintered body mainly composed of alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ), making use of high-density and high-hardness alumina, heat resistance and insulation. Resistance characteristics are better than other ceramics. On the other hand, the rotation-side member 23 is formed of carbon ceramics, and the carbon ceramics are produced by compounding semi-fine coke as a raw material base with extremely fine ceramics such as SiC and B ₄ C. It has various excellent properties as follows.

For example, in carbon ceramics, ceramics such as fine SiC and B ₄ C are grown and uniformly dispersed in a graphite matrix, and these ceramics react with oxygen in the atmosphere to form on the surface of the carbon ceramics. A glass layer (SiO ₂ · B ₂ O ₃ ) of about 70 μm is formed. And with this glass layer, good lubricity can be obtained on the surface of the carbon ceramics. The reaction formula for forming the glass layer is represented by the following formula.
SiC + B ₄ C + O ₂ → SiO ₂ .B ₂ O ₃ + CO ₂
Moreover, since carbon ceramics is excellent in machinability, it can be easily processed into a desired shape at low cost. In addition, it has excellent properties such as high strength, thermal shock resistance, and low water absorption.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the rotary valve 20 according to this embodiment includes a thrust bearing 51 for supporting the rotation side member 23. The thrust bearing 51 is installed on the fixed base 21 to which the fixed side member 22 is fixed, and supports the cylindrical body 24 to which the rotation side member 23 is fixed. That is, the rotation side member 23 is supported by the above-described sliding contact surface 25 and is also supported by the thrust bearing 51 via the cylindrical body 24.

  According to the rotary valve 20 configured as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, when the rotation side member 23 rotates while sliding on the fixed side member 22, the first communication hole 40 formed in the rotation side member 23 is fixed. While in a position facing the arcuate groove 30 for vacuum formed in the side member 22, negative pressure from the vacuum source 45 is adsorbed via the arcuate groove 30 and the first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23. It is supplied to the cup 9 and the container 1 is vacuum-sucked by the suction cup 9. The container 1 is conveyed by the star wheel main body 12 while being sucked and held by the suction cup 9. And if the 1st communicating hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 slip | deviates from the circular arc-shaped groove | channel 30 for vacuum, although the negative pressure from the vacuum source 45 will be interrupted | blocked, the negative pressure in the suction cup 9 will be maintained and the container 1 will be maintained. Continues to be sucked and held by the suction cup 9. Immediately thereafter, the first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 faces the arcuate groove 32 for compressed air formed in the fixed side member 22, and the compressed air from the compressed air source 46 such as a compressor receives the arcuate groove. 32 and the first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 are supplied to the suction cup 9, the inside of the suction cup 9 becomes positive pressure, and the container 1 is completely detached from the suction cup 9.

  On the other hand, the first communication hole 40 formed in the rotation side member 23 is at a position facing the arcuate groove 30 for vacuum formed in the stationary member 22, and the negative pressure from the vacuum source 45 is 30 and the first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 are supplied to the suction cup 9, and the electromagnetic valve 60 is operated while the container 1 is vacuum-sucked by the suction cup 9 and conveyed by the star wheel body 12. Thus, when compressed air is supplied from the compressed air source 46 to the communication hole 31 for compressed air, the compressed air is supplied to the second communication hole 41 of the rotation side member 23 facing the communication hole 31 for compressed air. Supplied. As a result, the compressed air is supplied to the suction cup 9 via the pipe 44 connected to the second communication hole 41. Thereby, while the suction cup 9 is vacuum-sucking the container 1, the inside of the suction cup 9 becomes positive pressure, and the container 1 is detached from the suction cup 9.

  Here, in the rotary valve, it is necessary to keep the stationary member 22 and the rotating member 23 in sliding contact with each other to ensure airtightness. For this reason, even when the rotation side member 23 is supported by the thrust bearing 51, it is necessary to prevent a gap from being generated between the fixed side member 22 and the rotation side member 23. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, as a configuration immediately after assembly, a clearance d of about 30 μm is provided between the thrust bearing 51 and the cylindrical body 24, and rotation is performed only by the sliding contact surface 25. The side member 23 is supported. When the rotation side member 23 rotates in this state, the fixed side member 22 and the rotation side member 23 slide, and the sliding contact surface 25 of the rotation side member 23 made of carbon ceramics gradually wears. By this wear, first, the surface accuracy of the sliding contact surface 25 of the rotation side member 23 formed of carbon ceramics can be obtained.

  As wear of the sliding contact surface 25 further proceeds, the cylindrical body 24 eventually comes into contact with the thrust bearing 51 and the load applied to the thrust bearing 51 gradually increases. Finally, the rotating side member 23 and the cylindrical body 24 are mostly supported by the thrust bearing 51, and the sliding contact surface 25 is merely familiar and in contact with each other. Wear does not progress. As the thrust bearing 51 to be used, a needle roller bearing is particularly suitable.

Next, the suction cup will be described.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a suction cup. As shown in FIG. 6, the suction cup 9 includes a suction cup body 52 made of rubber such as silicon rubber, a cylindrical support cylinder 53 that supports the suction cup body 52, and a nozzle 54 disposed in the support cylinder 53. The suction port 53a of the support cylinder 53 is connected to the first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 through the pipe joint 55 and the pipe 43 (see FIG. 2), and the nozzle 54 is connected to the pipe joint 56 and the pipe 44. It is connected to the 2nd communicating hole 41 of the rotation side member 23 via (refer FIG. 2). The nozzle 54 extends forward (container side) from the suction port 53 a of the support cylinder 53 and extends into the suction cup body 52.

  According to the suction cup 9 configured as shown in FIG. 6, when the suction cup body 52 and the vacuum source 45 communicate with each other via the rotary valve 20, negative pressure from the vacuum source 45 is supplied to the suction cup body 52. The container 1 is vacuum-sucked by the suction cup body 52. If the nozzle 54 and the compressed air source 46 communicate with each other via the rotary valve 20 while the suction cup body 52 and the vacuum source 45 communicate with each other via the rotary valve 20, the compressed air is supplied from the compressed air source 46 to the nozzle. The compressed air is ejected from the tip of the nozzle 54. As a result, the vacuum in the suction cup body 52 is broken, the pressure in the suction cup body 52 becomes positive, and the container 1 is detached from the suction cup body 52. Since the tip of the nozzle 54 has entered the suction cup body 52, the compressed air ejected from the suction cup body 52 not only acts to make the suction cup body 52 positive, but also presses the compressed air itself. The pressure acts on the container 1, and the container 1 is reliably detached from the suction cup body 52.

Next, operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus 10 comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
When the star wheel main body 12 rotates and approaches the position where the container 1 is delivered from the container inspection unit 4, the first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 that rotates integrally with the star wheel main body 12 is formed on the fixed side member 22. The arcuate groove 30 is approached. And immediately before the delivery position of the container 1, the first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 and the arc-shaped groove 30 of the fixed side member 22 face each other, and thereby, the first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 and The arcuate groove 30 of the fixed side member 22 communicates. That is, the negative pressure from the vacuum source 45 is supplied to the suction cup 9 so that the suction cup 9 can be sucked. In this state, the container 1 is transferred from the container inspection unit 4 to the star wheel main body 12, and at the same time, the body portion of the container 1 is vacuum-sucked by the suction cup 9.

  The container 1 sucked and held by the suction cup 9 is conveyed by the star wheel main body 12. When the container 1 is a non-defective product, the container 1 is vacuum-sucked by the suction cup 9 and is transported through the first carry-out conveyor 6a. And if the 1st communicating hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 shifts | deviates from the position facing the circular-arc-shaped groove | channel 30 of the fixed side member 22, the 1st communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 will be in the fixed side member 22 immediately after that. As a result, the compressed air is supplied to the suction cup 9 so that the pressure in the suction cup 9 is positive, and the container 1 is completely separated from the suction cup 9 and discharged to the second carry-out conveyor 6b. Is done.

  When the container 1 is a defective product, the first communication hole 40 of the rotation side member 23 is located at a position facing the arc-shaped groove 30 of the fixed side member 22, and the container 1 is vacuum-sucked by the suction cup 9 to be starwheel. While being transported by the main body 12, the electromagnetic valve 60 is operated so that compressed air is supplied from the compressed air source 46 to the communication hole 31 for compressed air, and the rotation facing the communication hole 31 for compressed air is performed. Compressed air is supplied to the second communication hole 41 of the side member 23. As a result, the compressed air is supplied to the suction cup 9 via the pipe 44 connected to the second communication hole 41, and the suction cup 9 is positively pressurized while the suction cup 9 is vacuum-sucking the container 1. Thus, the container 1 is completely detached from the suction cup 9 and discharged to the first carry-out conveyor 6a.

  Since the solenoid valve 60 employs a normally open solenoid valve, the solenoid valve 60 is closed by a non-defective signal and is opened by a defective product signal. However, when a signal abnormality occurs, the container 1 is opened. A fail-safe mechanism that is discharged to the first carry-out conveyor 6a regardless of whether the product is good or defective is realized. In addition, compressed air is supplied to the suction cup 9 via the pipe 44, and the inside of the suction cup 9 becomes positive pressure while the suction cup 9 vacuum-sucks the container 1. This positive pressure is supplied via the pipe 43. However, when the length of the pipe 43 and / or the diameter of the pipe 43 is sufficiently secured, the positive pressure in the suction cup 9 is increased. 23 so as not to reach the first communication hole 40. Therefore, the degree of vacuum of the arcuate groove 30 for vacuum of the fixed side member 22 does not decrease, and the degree of vacuum of the other suction cups 9 carrying the container 1 by vacuum suction does not decrease.

It is a top view of the container inspection apparatus provided with the container conveyance apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the container conveying apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 3A is an enlarged sectional view of a portion III in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged sectional view showing a state immediately after the assembly of the rotary valve according to the present embodiment. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams showing the fixed-side member, FIG. 4 (a) is a plan view showing the sliding surface side of the fixed-side member, and FIG. 4 (b) is FIG. It is the IV-IV sectional view taken on the line (a). 5 (a) and 5 (b) are diagrams showing the rotation side member, FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view showing the sliding surface side of the rotation side member, and FIG. 5 (b) is FIG. It is the VV sectional view taken on the line of (a). FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a suction cup. Fig.7 (a) is a top view which shows the slidable contact surface side of a stationary-side member, FIG.7 (b) is a VII-VII sectional view taken on the line of Fig.7 (a). FIG. 8A is a plan view showing the slidable contact surface side of the rotation side member, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Carry-in conveyor 3 Carry-in star wheel 4 Container test | inspection part 5 Imaging device 6a 1st carry-out conveyor 6b 2nd carry-out conveyor 7 Infeed screw 8 Guide rail 9 Adsorption cup 10 Container conveyance apparatus 11 Main axis | shaft 12 Starwheel main body 12a Pocket 13 Support Member 20 Rotary valve 21 Fixed base 22, 100 Fixed member 23, 110 Rotating member 24 Cylindrical body 25 Sliding contact surface 30, 32 Arc-shaped groove 31 Communicating holes 33, 35, 103, 104 for compressed air Through hole 34 , 36, 43, 44 Pipe 40 First communication hole 41 Second communication hole 45 Vacuum source 46 Compressed air source 51 Thrust bearing 52 Suction cup body 53 Support cylinder 53a Suction port 54 Nozzle 55, 56 Fitting 60 Solenoid valve 101 First Arc-shaped groove 102 Second arc-shaped groove 105, 111 Communication hole

Claims (8)

A suction cup for adsorbing the container;
A fixed side member and a rotary side member are provided, and the fixed side member and the rotary side member rotate relative to each other while being in sliding contact with each other, whereby an arc-shaped groove formed in the fixed side member and a first formed in the rotary side member A rotary valve configured to intermittently communicate with the communication hole,
The arcuate groove of the stationary member is connected to a vacuum source, the first communication hole of the rotating member is connected to the suction cup, and the rotating member is rotated to rotate the arcuate groove of the stationary member and the The vacuum source and the suction cup are communicated by communicating with the first communication hole of the rotation side member, and the container is adsorbed by the suction cup,
A communication hole for compressed air connected to a compressed air source is formed on the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side of the arc-shaped groove of the fixed side member, and on the circumferential side or the outer peripheral side of the first communication hole of the rotation side member. A second communication hole is formed, the second communication hole of the rotation side member is connected to the suction cup, the rotation side member is rotated, and the communication hole for compressed air of the fixed side member and the rotation side member A container transport device characterized in that the compressed air source and the suction cup are communicated by communicating with a second communication hole, and the container is detached from the suction cup.   2. The vacuum in the suction cup is broken by connecting the compressed air source and the suction cup while the vacuum source and the suction cup are in communication with each other. Container transport device.   The first communication hole of the rotation side member and the suction cup are connected via a first pipe, and the second communication hole of the rotation side member and the suction cup are connected via a second pipe. The container transport device according to claim 1 or 2.   The container transport device according to claim 3, wherein a nozzle is provided at a tip of the second pipe, and the tip of the nozzle is opened in the suction cup.   The container conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the compressed air communication hole and the compressed air source are connected via an electromagnetic valve. The rotating side member is supported by a bearing,
6. The container transport device according to claim 1, wherein the stationary member is made of alumina ceramics, and the rotating member is made of carbon ceramics.   The container transport device according to claim 6, wherein the bearing is a thrust bearing.   8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a star wheel having a pocket into which the container fits, wherein the suction cup is disposed in the pocket of the star wheel to suck a side surface of the container. Container transport device.

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