BARREL UNBUNGING APPARATUS

Abstract

A barrel unbunging apparatus configured to pull out a barrel plug from a barrel placed in a laterally-oriented state on a conveyor of a conveyance line. The barrel unbunging apparatus includes a lifting-and-rotating unit, a barrel plug detection unit, and an unbunging unit. The lifting-and-rotating unit is configured to rotate the barrel in a state where the barrel has been lifted above the conveyor. The barrel plug detection unit is configured to detect a position of the barrel plug. The unbunging unit has an end provided with a drill configured to pull out the barrel plug.

Claims

1. A barrel unbunging apparatus configured to pull out a barrel plug from a barrel placed in a laterally-oriented state on a conveyor of a conveyance line, the barrel unbunging apparatus comprising: a lifting-and-rotating unit configured to rotate the barrel in a state where the barrel has been lifted above the conveyor; a barrel plug detection unit configured to detect a position of the barrel plug; and an unbunging unit having an end provided with a drill configured to pull out the barrel plug.

2. The barrel unbunging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing-and-holding unit configured to press the barrel to prevent the barrel from being lifted together with the drill when the barrel plug is being pulled out by the drill.

3. The barrel unbunging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a centering unit configured to detect a center in a lateral direction of the barrel and a center in a rotation direction of the barrel in a state where the lifting-and-rotating unit has lifted the barrel above the conveyor and has rotated the barrel.

4. The barrel unbunging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drill has a narrowing angle adjusted to 0 to 3.

5. The barrel unbunging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pressing-and-holding unit presses the barrel in a direction opposite to a direction in which the barrel plug is pulled out by the drill, the pressing inhibiting the barrel from being lifted.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is an explanatory view (plan view) illustrating a conveyance apparatus;

[0021] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view (left side view) illustrating an unbunging preparation device;

[0022] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view (left side view) illustrating a barrel plug pull-out device;

[0023] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view (front view) illustrating an end portion of an unbunging unit;

[0024] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view (left side view) illustrating details of operation of the unbunging preparation device;

[0025] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view (left side view) illustrating the details of the operation of the unbunging preparation device;

[0026] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view (rear view) illustrating the details of the operation of the unbunging preparation device; and

[0027] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view (front view) illustrating details of operation of the barrel plug pull-out device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

<Configuration of Conveyance Apparatus>

[0028] Hereinafter, one embodiment of an unbunging apparatus according to the present invention and a conveyance apparatus including the unbunging apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. If a liquor barrel for whiskey or the like is excessively dry, a gap is easily formed between staves thereof. Consequently, when whiskey or the like is barreled, the content easily leaks. Considering this, the liquor barrel is bunged and stored in a state where water or the like is poured therein to expand the staves and prevent formation of a gap. Thus, at the time of barreling whiskey or the like, the liquor barrel needs to be unbunged to discharge the internal water or the like, then filled with whiskey, and conveyed to a storage or the like for aging.

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the conveyance apparatus (conveyance apparatus for a liquor barrel for whiskey or the like) mounted with the unbunging apparatus. A liquor barrel B to be conveyed by a conveyance apparatus C is formed into a columnar shape with a central portion thereof being bulged outward by fitting staves together. The liquor barrel B has a side surface (also referred to as circumferential surface or bilge) substantially at the center thereof in a height direction. In the side surface, a barrel hole H (so-called bung hole) to be used for injecting and ejecting contents is drilled. Into the barrel hole H, a barrel plug T (also referred to as a bung plug or bung) made of wood or plastic is squeezed so that the inside of the barrel B is in a sealed state. The conveyance apparatus C is for: conveying each of such barrels (liquor barrels) B which are in laterally laid-down states; pulling out the barrel plug T at a predetermined place; then conveying the barrel to a different place; and injecting a liquid (newly-made liquor) into the barrel (or ejecting a liquid (aged liquor) from inside the barrel).

[0030] An unbunging apparatus M which removes the barrel plug T from the barrel B laterally laid down on conveyance lines L of a chain conveyor type (laterally laid down such that the height direction is orthogonal to a conveyance direction) is installed on an upstream side of the conveyance apparatus C. Also, an injecting/ejecting apparatus 1 which injects a liquid (newly-made liquor) into the barrel or ejects a liquid (aged liquor) from inside the barrel is installed on a downstream side of the unbunging apparatus M. The injecting/ejecting apparatus 1 is configured to actuate a four-axis articulated robot arm R based on control by a controller (not illustrated), thereby being able to: inject a liquid (newly-made liquor or the like) inside a filling liquid tank (not illustrated) into the barrel B; or eject a liquid (aged liquor or the like) inside the barrel B to a collection liquid tank (not illustrated).

[0031] The conveyance lines L are provided with reception claw members 31 for fixing the laterally laid-down barrels B. The reception claw members 31 are provided at an equal pitch along a longitudinal direction at predetermined intervals in front-rear and left-right directions such that every four of the reception claw members 31 correspond to one of the barrels B. The reception claw members 31 are grouped into sets each composed of two left reception claw members 31 and two right reception claw members 31. The left and right reception claw members 31 are in a state of being tilted downward from an outer side toward an inner side such that the upper surfaces thereof come into contact with the circumferential surface of the barrel B. Furthermore, among the reception claw members 31 composing each of the sets, reception claw members 31 located on the downstream side have front surfaces provided with respective positioning members 32.

[0032] Furthermore, an area of the conveyance lines L in which the unbunging apparatus M is installed. The area is divided into: a detection station S1 in which the position of the barrel plug T of the barrel B is detected, and the barrel B is subjected to position matching (position adjustment) while being rotated such that the barrel plug T faces directly upward; and an unbunging station S2 in which the barrel plug T of the barrel B subjected to position matching is pulled out.

<Configuration of Unbunging Apparatus>

[0033] As in FIG. 1, the unbunging apparatus M include: an unbunging preparation device M1 for fixing the barrel B in a state where the barrel hole H faces directly upward, and identifying the position of the barrel plug T; and a barrel plug pull-out device M2 for pulling out the barrel plug T from the barrel B fixed by the unbunging preparation device M1, on the upstream side. FIG. 2 illustrates the unbunging preparation device M1. The unbunging preparation device M1 includes: a lifting-and-rotating device (lifting-and-rotating unit) 33 which is a lifting/lowering device for lifting the barrel B placed on the conveyance lines L and rotating the lifted barrel B; a centering unit 34 which detects a center in a lateral direction (a width direction of the conveyance lines L) of the barrel B and a center in a height direction (a height direction of the barrel B in the laterally laid-down state) of the barrel B in a state where the lifting-and-rotating device 33 has lifted and rotated the barrel B; a barrel plug detection unit 35 which detects the barrel plug T; and the like.

[0034] The lifting-and-rotating device 33 is installed to be located substantially directly below the barrel B (the barrel B in the laterally laid-down state) conveyed on the conveyance lines L and is composed of: a fixed base 46; a rail 47 provided on the upper surface of the base 46 to extend along the longitudinal direction of the conveyance lines L; a movable member 48 provided on the rail 47 to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the conveyance lines L; and the like. The movable member 48 includes: a lift unit 44 which is elevated to lift the barrel B and is lowered; a cylinder 45 which is a drive device for elevating and lowering the lift unit 44; rotators 53 pivotally attached to the lift unit 44 in a rotatable manner in a state of being arranged in two front and rear rows and two left and right rows; and the like. The barrel plug detection unit 35 is configured to take, by using a camera having an image processing function, an image of the center in the lateral direction of the barrel B detected by the centering unit 34 and ascertain a difference in color between the barrel plug T and the body of the barrel B in the image, thereby being able to distinguish the barrel plug T and the body of the barrel B from each other and detect (identify the position of) the barrel plug T.

[0035] In addition, the lifting-and-rotating device 33 is mounted with a position correction unit U composed of: a positioning unit 51 which accurately positions the movable member 48 with respect to one of the sets of front and rear reception claw members 31 provided on the conveyance lines L of a chain conveyor type; a cylinder 49 which moves the movable member 48 rearward and frontward with respect to the conveyance lines L; and the like. The positioning unit 51 is located outward of a rotator 53 on the front side of the lift unit 44 and has an upper end on which a positioning protrusion 52 is provided to be protrusile and retractable in the vertical direction by an elastic member (not illustrated). The cylinder 49 is configured to be able to slide the movable member 48 rearward and frontward along the rail 47 provided on the base 46.

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates the barrel plug pull-out device M2. The barrel plug pull-out device M2 includes: an unbunging unit 37 including a vertically provided spindle 39 having an end provided with a drill 36 which sticks the barrel plug T; a drive device (motor) 41 which rotates the spindle 39 about a vertical axis; a cylinder 40 which moves the spindle 39 upward and downward; a pressing-and-holding unit 38 which presses the barrel B to prevent the barrel B from being lifted together with the drill 36 when being unbunged; and the like. FIG. 4 illustrates the drill 36. The drill 36 is of a screw type in which a substantially strip-shaped drill blade is helically wound along an axis such that the drill is tapered from the base end toward the point thereof. The drill 36 has a narrowing angle adjusted to a predetermined angle (about) 2.5. The pressing-and-holding unit 38 has: a pressing-and-holding member 42 having a bifurcated lower side for pressing and holding portions located leftward and rightward of the barrel plug T (upward and downward of the barrel plug T on the barrel B) during unbunging; and a cylinder 43 which applies downward pressure to the pressing-and-holding member 42.

<Details of Operation of Conveyance Apparatus for Barrel>

[Position Correction by Position Correction Unit]

[0037] In the conveyance apparatus C, as in FIG. 1, each of the barrels B is conveyed in a state of being laterally laid down on the conveyance lines L of a chain conveyor type (in a state where the height direction is orthogonal to a flow direction) and in a state of being fixed by one of the sets of reception claw members 31. When the barrel B is conveyed to the detection station S1 in the area in which the unbunging apparatus M is installed, the conveyance lines L are temporarily stopped and the laterally laid-down barrel B is placed on the lifting-and-rotating device 33 (on the four rotators 53 of the lift unit 44) of the unbunging preparation device M1 and is lifted above the conveyance lines L in order to perform preparatory work for unbunging.

[0038] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate states where the lifting-and-rotating device 33 (lift unit 44) lifts the barrel B. When the lifting-and-rotating device 33 lifts the barrel B, position correction for matching a center position A between the set of front and rear reception claw members 31 provided on the conveyance lines L and a center position A between the rotators 53 of the lifting-and-rotating device 33 is performed such that the barrel B is lifted in a stable state. The reason why such position correction is needed is because the center position A between the set of front and rear reception claw members 31 and the center position A between the rotators 53 of the lifting-and-rotating device 33 might be displaced from each other (a gap G might be formed therebetween) owing to, for example, elongation of chains constituting the conveyance lines L (elongation due to, for example, abrasion at a joint portion between the chains) (the state in FIG. 5).

[0039] The position correction unit U performs the position correction as follows. First, the cylinder 49 pushes the movable member 48 frontward (slides the movable member 48 frontward along the rail 47 provided on the base 46) such that the positioning protrusion 52 of the positioning unit 51 of the lifting-and-rotating device 33 is located downstream of the provision position of the positioning member 32 of a reception claw member 31 on the downstream side out of the set of front and rear reception claw members 31. When the movable member 48 is thus pushed frontward, the positioning protrusion 52 of the positioning unit 51 protrudes upward. Consequently, as in FIG. 6, the positioning protrusion 52 comes into contact with the positioning member 32 located frontward of the reception claw member 31 on the downstream side.

[0040] When the positioning protrusion 52 thus protrudes and comes into contact with the positioning member 32, the cylinder 49 stops operation, whereby the movable member 48 is stopped. The lifting-and-rotating device 33 is configured to allow the center position A between the rotators 53 to match the center position A between the set of front and rear reception claw members 31 at the front-rear position at which the positioning protrusion 52 having protruded comes into contact with the positioning member 32 of the reception claw member 31 on the downstream side. Therefore, the position correction is completed when the positioning protrusion 52 having protruded comes into contact with the positioning member 32 of the reception claw member 31 on the downstream side.

[0041] When the position correction is completed as described above, the cylinder 45 elevates the lift unit 44 of the lifting-and-rotating device 33 (i.e., lifts the barrel B) in a state where the laterally laid-down barrel B is placed on the four rotators 53 on the front, rear, left, and right sides. Thereafter, as in FIG. 7, while a drive device (not illustrated) is driving the rotators 53 to rotate the barrel B, the centering unit 34 positions the center in the lateral direction of the barrel B and the center in the rotation direction of the barrel B (i.e., performs centering) by fully utilizing a sensing technique and an image processing technique. Then, while the centering unit 34 is thus positioning the center in the lateral direction of the barrel B and the center in the rotation direction of the barrel B, the barrel plug detection unit 35 (the camera having an image processing function) detects the position of the barrel plug T, and the rotators 53 are driven via a controller, whereby the barrel plug T is located exactly at the top.

[0042] After the barrel plug T is located exactly at the top as described above, the cylinder 45 of the lifting-and-rotating device 33 is operated to lower the lift unit 44. Consequently, the barrel B is placed on the conveyance lines L to enter a state of being fixed by the set of reception claw members 31. As described above, the movable member 48 of the lifting-and-rotating device 33 has been accurately positioned with respect to the set of reception claw members 31 on the conveyance lines L. Therefore, the barrel B is placed on the conveyance lines L while being kept in a state where the barrel plug T is located exactly at the top. In addition, when the barrel B is placed on the conveyance lines L as described above, the cylinder 49 returns the movable member 48 rearward (slides the movable member 48 rearward along the rail 47 provided on the base 46) in order to prepare for detection of a barrel B to be conveyed next.

[Unbunging by Unbunging Apparatus]

[0043] After the barrel B is placed on the conveyance lines L in a state where the barrel plug T is located exactly at the top as described above, the conveyance lines L are moved to move the barrel B to the unbunging station S2 as in FIG. 8. When the barrel B arrives at the unbunging station S2, the cylinder 40 lowers the spindle 39 of the unbunging unit 37 of the barrel plug pull-out device M2 so that the drill 36 at the end approaches the barrel plug T. Thereafter, the drill 36 at the end is screwed into the barrel plug T while being rotated by the drive device 41.

[0044] After the drill 36 is sufficiently screwed into the barrel plug T (caused to penetrate the barrel plug T), the cylinder 40 elevates the spindle 39 of the unbunging unit 37 to pull out the barrel plug T. When the barrel plug T is thus pulled out with the barrel plug T being in close contact with the barrel B, the barrel B might also be lifted together with the spindle 39. In order to avoid such a situation, while the unbunging unit 37 is performing the unbunging, the cylinder 43 lowers the pressing-and-holding members 42 so that the pressing-and-holding unit 38 presses and holds portions located near (leftward and rightward of) the barrel plug T into which the drill 36 has bitten. Consequently, the situation in which barrel B is lifted is prevented. After the unbunging is performed as described above, the conveyance lines L are operated (moved) again to convey the barrel B to an injecting/ejecting station S3 in order for the injecting/ejecting apparatus 1 to inject a liquid (newly-made liquor) into the barrel B or eject a liquid (aged liquor) from inside the barrel B.

<Effects of Unbunging Apparatus>

[0045] As described above, the unbunging apparatus M includes: the lifting-and-rotating device (lifting-and-rotating unit) 33 which rotates the barrel B in a state where the barrel B has been lifted above the conveyor (the conveyance lines L of a chain conveyor type); the barrel plug detection unit 35 which detects the position of the barrel plug T; and the unbunging unit 37 having an end provided with the drill 36 which pulls out the barrel plug T. Consequently, the unbunging apparatus M makes it possible to automatically pull out the barrel plug T from the barrel B without need for hand work by a worker, whereby barreling work and draw-out work can be efficiently performed in a production process for whiskey or the like.

[0046] In addition, the unbunging apparatus M includes the pressing-and-holding unit 38 which presses the barrel B to prevent the barrel from being lifted together with the drill 36 when the barrel plug T is being pulled out by the drill 36. Consequently, the barrel plug T can be pulled out from the barrel B smoothly with high accuracy without allowing occurrence of, for example, displacement of the barrel B in association with unbunging work.

[0047] Furthermore, the unbunging apparatus M includes the centering unit 34 which detects the center in the lateral direction of the barrel B and the center in the rotation direction of the barrel B in a state where the lifting-and-rotating device (lifting-and-rotating unit) 33 has lifted the barrel B above the conveyor and has rotated the barrel B. Consequently, even in a case where the sizes differ among barrels B which are conveyed, the barrel plug detection unit 35 can considerably accurately detect the position of each of the barrel plugs T thereof, whereby the drill 36 can be assuredly stuck into (pressed against) the barrel plug T with higher accuracy.

[0048] Moreover, in the unbunging apparatus M, the drill 36 has a narrowing angle adjusted to a predetermined angle (about) 2.5. Consequently, the drill 36 can be smoothly caused to bite into the barrel plug T, whereby the barrel plug T can be assuredly pulled out from the barrel B with higher accuracy.

[0049] Also, in the unbunging apparatus M, the pressing-and-holding unit 38 presses the barrel B in a direction (downward direction) opposite to a direction (upward direction) in which the barrel plug T is pulled out by the drill 36, the pressing inhibiting the barrel B from being lifted. Consequently, the barrel plug can be assuredly pulled out smoothly with extremely high accuracy without allowing occurrence of, for example, displacement of the barrel in association with unbunging work. Therefore, automatic injection of a liquid (newly-made liquor) into the barrel B by the injecting/ejecting apparatus 1 and automatic ejection of a liquid (aged liquor) from inside the barrel B in a subsequent step are performed more smoothly by the unbunging apparatus M, whereby barreling work and draw-out work for whiskey or the like are performed extremely efficiently.

<Modification of Barrel Unbunging Apparatus>

[0050] The barrel unbunging apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the aspect of the above-described embodiment at all, and the configurations of the lifting-and-rotating unit, the centering unit, the barrel plug detection unit, the drill, the unbunging unit, the pressing-and-holding unit, and the like may be modified as necessary without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the pressing-and-holding unit is not limited to a pressing-and-holding unit for pressing and holding portions located leftward and rightward of the barrel plug of a barrel placed in a laterally-oriented state on the conveyor (upward and downward of the barrel plug on the barrel) as in the above-described embodiment. The pressing-and-holding unit may be modified to: a pressing-and-holding unit for pressing and holding portions located frontward and rearward of the barrel plug (leftward and rightward of the barrel plug on the barrel); a pressing-and-holding unit for pressing and holding portions located frontward, rearward, leftward, and rightward of the barrel plug; a pressing-and-holding unit for circumferentially pressing and holding a portion around the barrel plug; or the like.

[0051] Also, the drill of the unbunging unit is not limited to a drill of the screw type in which a substantially strip-shaped drill blade is helically wound along an axis such that the drill is tapered from the base end toward the point thereof as in the above-described embodiment. The drill may be of a different type such as a type in which a tapered wire is helically wound. However, in a case where the drill is of the screw type in which a substantially strip-shaped drill blade is helically wound along an axis such that the drill is tapered from the base end toward the point thereof, and the drill has a narrowing angle adjusted to 0 to 3, an advantage is obtained in that a satisfactory unbunging function is obtained. Table 1 indicates results of examinations conducted by the inventors in relation to the difference in the unbunging function among various narrowing angles of drills of the above-described screw type (results of performing evaluation in three grades through visual observation in relation to screwing ability and penetrating ability at the time of screwing these drills into the same barrel plug with the same rotational force). This table 1 provides a finding that adjustment of the narrowing angle to 0 to 3 leads to a satisfactory unbunging function.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Penetrating Overall Narrowing Angle Screwing Ability Ability Evaluation 5 Fair Poor Poor 4 Fair Poor Poor 3 Fair Good Fair 2 Good Good Good 1 Good Good Good

[0052] Meanwhile, the conveyance apparatus mounted with the unbunging apparatus is not limited to a conveyance apparatus in which preparatory work for unbunging, unbunging work, and content ejection/injection work are performed at different positions (stations). The conveyance apparatus may be modified to: a conveyance apparatus in which two or more of the preparatory work for unbunging, the unbunging work, and the content ejection/injection work are performed at the same position; or a conveyance apparatus in which all of the preparatory work for unbunging, the unbunging work, and the content ejection/injection work are performed at the same position.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0053] The barrel unbunging apparatus according to the present invention exhibits the excellent effects as described above, and thus is preferably usable as an apparatus for constructing automatic conveyance lines for whiskey barrels or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0054] 33: lifting-and-rotating device (lifting-and-rotating unit) [0055] 34: centering unit [0056] 35: barrel plug detection unit [0057] 36: drill [0058] 37: unbunging unit [0059] 38: pressing-and-holding unit [0060] L: conveyance line [0061] C: conveyance apparatus [0062] M: unbunging apparatus [0063] M.sub.1: unbunging preparation device [0064] M.sub.2 barrel plug pull-out device [0065] B: barrel [0066] T: barrel plug [0067] H: barrel hole