Container processing device

Abstract

A heating device (1) of a container processing device includes a main turret (2) which supplies a container (10) to high-frequency induction heating element (3) for providing a heat treatment to the container (10) so that the container (10) is sucked by bottom suction device (21), a container supply turret (5) which supplies the container (10) to the main turret (2); and an auxiliary turret (4) provided in a receiving area of the main turret (2). The auxiliary turret (4) is configured to center the container (10) towards the bottom suction device (21) in the receiving area.

Claims

1. A container processing device comprising: a main turret which supplies a container to a processing element for providing predetermined processing so that the container is sucked by a bottom suction device, and a container supply turret facing the main turret; and an auxiliary turret in a container receiving area of the main turret, wherein a pitch circle of the auxiliary turret is in contact with a pitch circle of the main turret, a circumferential velocity of the auxiliary turret is higher than a circumferential velocity of the main turret, and the auxiliary turret centers the container towards the bottom suction device in the container receiving area.

2. The container processing device according to claim 1, wherein a pocket of the auxiliary turret includes a container support arc surface, and an introduction surface extending on a rotation direction outer circumferential surface from the container support arc surface.

3. The container processing device according to claim 1, wherein the pitch circle of the auxiliary turret contacts the pitch circle of the main turret on the downstream side of a receipt start point of the main turret.

4. The container processing device according to claim 1, wherein a receiving guide member to guide the container is provided in the receiving area.

5. The container processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is a heat treatment before an embossing process of a can body, and a high-frequency induction heating element is disposed on an outer circumferential side and central side of the main turret.

6. The container processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is optical inspection processing to inspect a can body for a pinhole, and an illumination element is disposed on an outer circumferential side and central side of the main turret.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of essential parts for illustrating a container processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a front view, and (b) shows an A-A sectional view;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of essential parts for illustrating the operation of the container processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of essential parts for illustrating the operation of the container processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of essential parts for illustrating a container processing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a front view, and (b) shows a B-B sectional view;

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of essential parts for illustrating a container processing device according to a first typical example, wherein (a) shows a front view, and (b) shows a C-C sectional view; and

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of essential parts for illustrating the container processing device according to a second typical example, wherein (a) shows a front view, and (b) shows a D-D sectional view.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

(7) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of essential parts for illustrating a container processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a front view, and (b) shows an A-A sectional view.

(8) In FIG. 1, a can body heating device 1 as the container processing device according to the present embodiment includes a main turret 2, high-frequency induction heating means 3, an auxiliary turret 4, and a container supply turret 5. The auxiliary turret 4 is configured to center a can body 10 towards bottom suction means 21. The heating device 1 performs a high-frequency induction heat treatment as predetermined processing. This high-frequency induction heat treatment is performed to improve the processability of such as a polyester film or an organic coat of the can body 10 in the process of fabricating an embossed can.

(9) (Main Turret)

(10) The main turret 2 is an annular plate material attached to a rotation shaft, and has a plurality of bottom suction means 21 provided on the circumferential edge at equal intervals. The bottom suction means 21 each has a suction plate which sucks the bottom of the can body 10, and a motor which rotates the suction plate. The main turret 2 supplies the can body 10 to the high-frequency induction heating means 3 which provides a heat treatment to the can body 10 sucked by the bottom suction means 21.

(11) (High-Frequency Induction Heating Means)

(12) The high-frequency induction heating means 3 has a heating coil, and a ferrite case which houses the heating coil. The high-frequency induction heating means 3 is disposed on the outer circumferential side and central side of the main turret 2. Consequently, the high-frequency induction heating means 3 can heat, from the outer circumferential side and central side of the main turret 2, the can body 10 which is conveyed while rotating on its axis. It is thus possible to improve heating efficiency to reduce a heating time, and reduce the high-frequency induction heating means 3 in size and save the space of the heating device 1.

(13) (Auxiliary Turret)

(14) The auxiliary turret 4 is means for centering the can body 10. More specifically, the auxiliary turret 4 includes two annular plate materials attached to a rotation shaft in parallel, and has a plurality of pockets 41 provided on the circumferential edge at equal intervals. This auxiliary turret 4 is provided in a region of the main turret 2 to receive the can body 10. In this receiving area, the auxiliary turret 4 centers the can body 10 towards the bottom suction means 21.

(15) That is, in contrast with the heating device 101 according to the first typical example described above (see FIG. 5), the heating device 1 does not need the can body holding pockets 122, so that the high-frequency induction heating means 3 can be also disposed on the central side of the main turret 2.

(16) A gear is also attached to the rotation shaft, and the auxiliary turret 4 rotates synchronously with the main turret 2.

(17) The above-mentioned receiving area means a receiving area where the main turret 2 receives the can body 10 which is conveyed by the container supply turret 5.

(18) Here, it is preferable that receiving guide members 42 and 43 to guide the can body 10 are provided in the receiving area. That is, the receiving guide member 42 is provided inside a pitch circle of the main turret 2, and the receiving guide member 43 is provided outside the pitch circle of the main turret 2, so that the locus of the can body 10 is defined, which further ensures the can body 10 can be received.

(19) The above-mentioned pitch circle means a circle drawn by a referential point of centering when the can body 10 is conveyed in each turret.

(20) As shown in FIG. 2(a), it is preferable that the pockets 41 of the auxiliary turret 4 each has a container support arc surface 411, and an introduction surface 412 extending on a rotation direction outer circumferential surface from the container support arc surface 411, and that a pitch circle of the auxiliary turret 4 is in contact with a pitch circle of the main turret 2. In this way, the can body 10 is smoothly guided to the container support arc surface 411 by the introduction surface 412, and the centering can be accurately performed.

(21) (Container Supply Turret)

(22) The container supply turret 5 includes two annular plate materials attached to a pivotally supported rotation shaft in parallel, and has a plurality of pockets 51 provided on the circumferential edge at equal intervals. This container supply turret 5 is disposed to face the main turret 2, and supplies the can body 10 to the main turret 2.

(23) (Container Conveying Turret)

(24) The container conveying turret 6 includes two annular plate materials attached to a pivotally supported rotation shaft in parallel, and has a plurality of pockets provided on the circumferential edge at equal intervals. This container conveying turret 6 is disposed on the downstream side of the main turret 2, and receives the can body 10 from the main turret 2 and supplies the heated can body 10 to the above-mentioned embossing process (not shown).

(25) (Operation of Heating Device)

(26) Now, the operation of the heating device 1 having the above-mentioned configuration is described with reference to the drawings.

(27) FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of essential parts for illustrating the operation of the container processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(28) As shown in FIG. 2(a), at a receipt start point, the main turret 2 starts the receipt of the can body 10 which has been conveyed by the container supply turret 5 via the auxiliary turret 4. The receipt start point is a contact point between the pitch circle of the main turret 2 and the pitch circle of the container supply turret 5.

(29) That is, at the receipt start point, the can body 10 is put between the pocket 51 of the container supply turret 5 and the pocket 41 of the auxiliary turret 4, and is pressed by the pocket 51. The bottom suction means 21 is located under the bottom of the can body 10, and the bottom suction means 21 starts suction.

(30) Here, as shown in FIG. 2(a), it is preferable that the pitch circle of the auxiliary turret 4 contacts the pitch circle of the main turret 2 on the downstream side of the receipt start point of the main turret 2. In the present embodiment, the pitch circle of the auxiliary turret 4 is in contact with the pitch circle of the main turret 2 at a position where the main turret 2 has rotated a predetermined angle (e.g. ) from the receipt start point. In this way, the range (range from the receipt start point to ) in which the container supply turret 5 presses the can body 10 can be continuously connected to the range (range from to ) in which the auxiliary turret 4 presses the can body 10. Therefore, even when the can body 10 is conveyed at a high speed, the can body 10 can be stably received.

(31) The angle is not particularly limited to and shown in FIG. 2, and can be any angle depending on, for example, the shape of the can body 10 or the size of the pitch circle.

(32) It is preferable that the circumferential velocity of the auxiliary turret 4 is higher (e.g. 0.5% to 5%) than the circumferential velocity of the main turret 2. Consequently, the time in which the can body 10 is pressed by the auxiliary turret is slightly longer, the influence of the change in the traveling direction of the can body 10 is reduced, and the can body 10 can be smoothly received.

(33) In FIG. 2(b), the main turret 2 is then rotated a predetermined angle (e.g. about 0.5) from the receipt start point, and the can body 10 is put between the pocket 51 of the container supply turret 5 and the pocket 41 of the auxiliary turret 4, and is pressed by the pocket 51.

(34) In FIG. 2(c), the main turret 2 is then rotated a predetermined angle () from the receipt start point, and the can body 10 is put between the pocket 51 of the container supply turret 5 and the pocket 41 of the auxiliary turret 4, and reaches the limit of the pressure by the pocket 51. Instead, the pocket 41 of the auxiliary turret 4 starts to press the can body 10.

(35) In FIG. 3(a), the main turret 2 is then rotated a predetermined angle (e.g. about +0.5) from the receipt start point, the can body 10 is pressed by the pocket 41 inside the pocket 41, and the container supply turret 5 has escaped from the can body 10.

(36) In FIG. 3(b), the main turret 2 is then rotated a predetermined angle (e.g. about +) from the receipt start point, and reaches the limit of the pressure by the pocket 41. However, the can body 10 is sucked by the bottom suction means 21 during the period from the suction start to this point. That is, the can body 10 is held and centered at the same time by the auxiliary turret 4 during the period from the receipt start point to this point, and the bottom suction means 21 can suck the can body 10 in the centered state.

(37) In FIG. 3(c), the main turret 2 is rotated a predetermined angle (e.g. about +1.5) from the receipt start point, and the auxiliary turret 4 has escaped from the can body 10.

(38) The main turret 2 then rotates the can body 10 sucked by the bottom suction means 21, and supplies the rotated can body 10 to the high-frequency induction heating means 3. The high-frequency induction heating means 3 heats the can body 10 from the outer circumferential side and the central side of the main turret 2.

(39) The main turret 2 then stops the rotation of the can body 10 which has passed through the high-frequency induction heating means 3, conveys the can body 10 which has stopped rotating, and supplies the can body 10 to the embossing process via the container conveying turret 6.

(40) Thus, according to the heating device 1 in the present embodiment, the high-frequency induction heating means 3 can be also disposed on the central side of the main turret 2, uniform heating is possible, and the heating efficiency can be improved. Moreover, it is possible to reduce a heating time, and reduce the high-frequency induction heating means 3 in size and save the space of the heating device 1.

Second Embodiment

(41) FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of essential parts for illustrating a container processing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) shows a front view, and (b) shows a B-B sectional view.

(42) In FIG. 4, a can body pinhole inspection device 1a as the container processing device according to the present embodiment includes a main turret 2a, illumination means 3a, 31a, an auxiliary turret 4, and a container supply turret 5. The auxiliary turret 4 is configured to center a can body 10 towards bottom suction means 21a. As predetermined processing, the pinhole inspection device 1a performs optical inspection processing to inspect the can body 10 for a pinhole.

(43) Components in FIG. 4 similar to the components in FIG. 1 are provided with the same reference signs, and are not described in detail.

(44) Although not shown, the sealed ring plate and the camera obscura described in Patent Literature 2 are used in the pinhole inspection.

(45) (Main Turret)

(46) The main turret 2a is an annular plate material attached to a rotation shaft, and has a plurality of bottom suction means 21a provided on the circumferential edge at equal intervals. The bottom suction means 21a each has a suction plate which sucks the bottom of the can body 10, and a slide bar and a cam to reciprocate the suction plate. The main turret 2a supplies the can body 10 to the regions of the illumination means 3a and 31a to provide the optical inspection processing for the can body 10 sucked by the bottom suction means 21a.

(47) (Illumination Means)

(48) The illumination means 3a is disposed on the outer circumferential side of the main turret 2a, and the illumination means 31a is disposed on the central side of the main turret 2a. In contrast with the second typical example, the illumination means 31a is integrated illumination means, and is configured so as not to be adversely affected by can body holding pockets 122a. Thus, it is possible to uniformly and effectively apply light to the entire barrel of the can body 10, and improve the accuracy of the pinhole inspection.

(49) (Auxiliary Turret)

(50) The auxiliary turret 4 includes two annular plate materials attached to a pivotally supported rotation shaft in parallel, and has a plurality of pockets 41 provided on the circumferential edge at equal intervals. Since the pinhole inspection device 1a has a slide ring plate 123, a mechanism which pivotally supports the auxiliary turret 4 is put in the space between the slide ring plate 123 and the main turret 2a. The auxiliary turret 4 is substantially similar in configuration to the auxiliary turret 4 according to the first embodiment in other respects.

(51) Therefore, in contact with the pinhole inspection device 101a according to the second typical example, the pinhole inspection device 1a does not need the can body holding pockets 122a, so that the illumination means 31a can be also disposed on the central side of the main turret 2a.

(52) The pinhole inspection device 1a can receive the can body 10 from the container supply turret 5 substantially in the same manner as the heating device 1, and the configuration to detect pinholes is substantially similar to the configuration according to Patent Literature 2.

(53) In this way, according to the pinhole inspection device 1a in the present embodiment, it is possible to uniformly and effectively apply light to the entire barrel of the can body 10, improve the accuracy of the pinhole inspection, and reduce the pinhole inspection device 1a in size.

(54) While the preferred embodiments of the container processing device according to the present invention have been described above, it should be appreciated that the container processing device according to the present invention is not exclusively limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

(55) For example, the heating device 1 is configured to perform the high-frequency induction heat treatment as predetermined processing, and the pinhole inspection device 1a is configured to perform the optical inspection processing as predetermined processing. However, the predetermined processing is not limited to the above. The predetermined processing includes at least one of, for example, cooling processing, drying processing, cleaning processing, sterilizing processing, fabricating processing, printing processing, and coating processing.

(56) The conveyance direction of the can body 10 in the heating device 1 and the pinhole inspection device 1a is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a vertical direction or a horizontal direction. The operation may also be intermittent or continuous.

(57) Moreover, the container is not limited to the can body 10, and may be, for example, a container having a cylindrical portion.