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(11) | EP 1 205 430 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Plural screwing-head capping apparatus and the method of capping |
| (57) A plural head type capping apparatus A comprises a moving body, a plurality of rotationally
tightening means 2 provided on the moving body 1, restricting means 12 for applying
a predetermined rotationally tightening torque, when the cap c is rotationally tightened,
to each of the rotationally tightening means 2, detection means 15 provided on each
restricting means 12 for detecting a rotationally tightening detection value in each
of the rotationally tightening means 2, radio transmitting means 16 connected to each
detection means 15 for sending the detected value, receiving means 18 provided outside
of the moving body 1 for receiving the detection value from the radio transmitting
means 16, and control means 19 for managing the rotationally tightening operation
of a capping operation based on the detection value, whereby, when the cap c is rotationally
tightened around the opening of the container b, the cap c is capped with an appropriate
torque, and the progressing state of the rotationally tightening operation can be
easily and reliably managed. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a plural head type capping apparatus and a method which is capable of tightening a cap with appropriate torque when the cap is put on an opening of a container and the cap is rotationally tightened, and capable of easily and reliably managing the rotationally tightening operation.
[0002] Conventionally, in a capping operation by a rotary machine which rotationally tightens a cap around a container, chuck heads rotated by a large number of (e.g., 12 to 18) main shafts are mounted to a disk-like rotation body, rotation means are connected to the main shafts, and rotationally tightening operation is started and then completed in a predetermined section where the rotation body is rotated and moved.
[0003] When the cap is rotationally tightened, it is necessary to determine whether the cap is rotationally tightened in a predetermined manner for each of the capping heads, and for the purpose of making this determination, a monitor is mounted to each of the capping heads.
[0004] Alternatively, when a servomotor is employed as the rotation means, output data of the servomotor is derived and managed.
[0005] However, when the above-mentioned monitor is employed, it is necessary to provide a monitor and torque detector for each of the capping heads, and electrical cable connections with this equipment are needed, and in the case of the rotary machine, this makes the rotation transmitting mechanism complicated, resulting in an increase in the manufacturing cost.
[0006] Further, in the case of analogue data transfer through a long distance, responding performance with respect to noise is low, and the data cannot be obtained with high precision and therefore, management of the rotationally tightening operation is insufficient.
[0007] When the servomotor is employed, since the data of its output torque which is to be monitored is an output current of the servomotor instead of torque applied to the cap and the container, mechanical loss from the motor and the capping head is included in this output. Therefore, like the former case, the data cannot be obtained with high precision, causing various problems, for example, of insufficient management of the rotationally tightening operation.
[0008] The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above problems, and according to a first aspect of the present invention a plural head type capping apparatus is provided, comprising restricting means for applying a predetermined rotationally tightening torque, when said cap is rotationally tightened, provided so as to be connected to each of said rotationally tightening means, radio transmitting means provided for each restricting means, each transmitting means having means for detecting a rotationally tightening detection value in each of said rotationally tightening means and means for transmitting the detection value, receiving means provided outside of said moving body for receiving the detection value from the transmitting means, and control means provided for managing the rotationally tightening operation of a capping operation based on the detection value.
[0009] Further, there is provided a capping method in a plural head type capping apparatus comprising a plurality of rotationally tightening means provided on a moving body for putting a cap on a container, while the moving body is moved, by each of the rotationally tightening means, when the cap is rotationally tightened, restricting means for applying a predetermined rotationally tightening torque is connected to each of the rotationally tightening means, a rotationally tightening detection value in each of the rotationally tightening means is sent from each of the restricting means through radio transmitting means, the rotationally tightening detection value is received by receiving means provided outside of the moving body, and rotationally tightening operation of a capping operation is managed based on this rotationally tightening detection value.
[0010] According to the above apparatus, when the cap is rotationally tightened around the opening of the container, the cap is capped with appropriate torque, and the progressing state of the rotationally tightening operation can be easily and reliably managed, i.e. since the rotation torque which rotationally tightens the cap is directly taken out as a signal as it is and formed into data, the mounting operation of the cap on the container can be managed with high precision, and it is possible to largely reduce the generation ratio of improperly rotationally tightened pieces which may be found during subsequent procedure.
[0011] The receiving means is adapted to receive the rotationally tightening detection value at a rotationally tightening ending position by the rotationally tightening means while the moving body is moving.
[0012] Further, the receiving means may be adapted to receive the rotationally tightening detection value at a position between a rotationally tightening starting position and a rotationally tightening ending position by the rotationally tightening means while the moving body is moving.
[0013] With such structure of the receiving means, the data concerning the rotationally tightening state can always be received during the rotationally tightening operation. Therefore, it is possible to confirm and monitor the rotationally tightening state externally of the rotationally tightening operation, and to instantaneously find defective pieces which do not fall within an allowable range of torque variation waveform, and such defective pieces can immediately be discharged from the conveying line.
[0014] The present invention is simple in structure and can be modified in such a manner as to meet the existing capping apparatus, and exhibits meritorious effect.
[0015] For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a front view showing an essential portion of an embodiment of a plural head type capping apparatus employing a capping method of the present invention,
Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the plural head type capping apparatus shown in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is an explanatory view showing other embodiment of the plural head type capping apparatus shown in Fig. 1,
Fig. 4 is an explanatory view showing a relation between restricting means and receiving means in Fig. 1,
Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view showing another example of the receiving means of the plural head type capping apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and
Fig. 6 is an explanatory view showing torque variation waveform of the rotationally tightening state of the plural head type capping apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
[0016] An embodiment of a plural head type capping apparatus and a method of capping of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanied drawings.
[0017] In Figs. 1 to 3 and 5, A indicates a plural head type capping apparatus used in fluid charging and packing industry, comprising a moving body 1 provided with rotationally tightening means 2 having plural heads, wherein a cap c is brought to be put on a container b with the female screw of the cap c in engagement with the male screw of the container b, while the moving body 1 is moving.
[0018] The moving body 1 is used in a rotary type capping apparatus as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, or in a straight type capping apparatus as shown in Fig. 3.
[0019] The moving body 1 in the rotary type capping apparatus A is of a disk-like shape mounted to a driving shaft 4 which is rotated at a predetermined speed by the driving means 3, and as shown in Fig. 2, rotationally tightening means 2 are mounted to plural heads around peripheral side portions thereof at distances from one another.
[0020] The containers b are continuously supplied onto a table 6 mounted to the driving shaft 4 through sequentially supplying means 5 such as a star wheel by a conveying line L, and when a predetermined rotationally tightening process is completed, the containers b are taken out by sequentially catching means 7 such as a star wheel and sent out to the conveying line L.
[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, the moving body 1 in the straight type capping apparatus A is a member which moves along a hoisting and lowering guide 8, many rotationally tightening means 2 are mounted to the moving body 1 at distances from one another, and containers b are supplied onto the conveying line L which moves synchronously with the moving body 1.
[0022] The rotationally tightening means 2 has a rotation shaft 9 rotatably mounted to the moving body 1 which is provided with a conventional grasping member 10 which is of mechanical type such as a link and a wedge, of vacuum type or air tube type, and the grasping member 10 grasps and releases the cap c appropriately.
[0023] Rotation means 11 such as a servomotor is connected to the rotation shaft 9, and the rotation shaft 9 is rotated for rotationally tightening the cap such that a predetermined rotationally tightening torque can be obtained from restricting means 12 which will be described later.
[0024] In the case of the rotary type capping apparatus A, as shown in Fig. 1, the rotation shaft 9 can be moved up and down through a predetermined stroke by hoisting and lowering means 13 such that the rotation of the rotation shaft 9 is not hindered. In the capping apparatus A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the cap c is rotationally tightened around the container b supplied from the sequentially supplying means 5 within a range R from a rotationally tightening starting position S to a rotationally tightening ending position E.
[0025] The restricting means 12 is provided for each of the rotationally tightening means 2 for applying a predetermined rotationally tightening torque, during the rotationally tightening operation of the cap c, that is to say, a clutch or the like is provided which releases the transmission of the rotation when a preset torque value is consumed, and this torque value can be arbitrarily adjusted by an adjusting member 14 which uses a spring or air pressure.
[0026] Radio transmitting means 17 having a rotationally tightening detecting member 15 and a transmitting member 16 is connected to the restricting means 12. The rotationally tightening detecting member 15 is adapted to measures a variation in distortion resistance with respect to the clutch transmitted in the restricting means 12 and to output the data as rotationally tightening detection value through a microprocessor system.
[0027] The transmitting member 16 is adapted to transmit voltage reference signals and current reference signals, which are amplified in the rotationally tightening detecting member 15, to the receiving means 18 through an oscillator or the like as inherent radio frequencies for each of the rotationally tightening means 2.
[0028] The receiving means 18 is disposed outside of the moving body 1 to receive signals from the radio transmitting means 17, i.e. disposed individually at positions where the receiving means 18 do not receive the moving motion of the moving body 1.
[0029] In the case of the rotary type capping apparatus A, the receiving means 18 is disposed at the rotationally tightening ending position E as shown in Fig. 2, or disposed at a rotationally tightening section R between the rotationally tightening starting position S and the rotationally tightening ending position E as shown in Fig. 5.
[0030] Similarly, in the case of the straight type capping apparatus A, the receiving means 18 is disposed at the rotationally tightening ending position E as Shown in Fig. 3, or disposed at a position between the rotationally tightening starting position S and the rotationally tightening ending position E as shown with phantom line in Fig. 3.
[0031] The signal received by the receiving means 18 is sent to the control means 19 and displayed on a monitor or the like through predetermined storing and arithmetic circuitry, so that an operator can grasp the rotationally tightening state of the cap c put on each of the containers b.
[0032] Any means can be used as the radio transmitting means 17 and the receiving means 18 other than means utilizing radio wave only if such means are information transmitting and receiving means utilizing wireless means such as infrared rays and laser beams.
[0033] Therefore, the plural head type capping apparatus A and a capping method according to the present invention have the following effects, an embodiment of the rotary type capping apparatus A will be described below.
[0034] A reference value of the rotationally tightening torque of the cap c is previously input to the control means 19. For example as shown in Fig. 6, if the cap c is rotationally tightened with such torque that falls in a given range of appropriate torque value T, it is judged that the rotationally tightening strength of the cap c put on the container b is appropriate, when the data indicating that the torque is out of the range is received, it is judged that rotationally tightening are not appropriate, and such cap and container are discharged from the conveying line L.
[0035] That is, the containers b are sequentially supplied onto the table 6 of the plural head type capping apparatus A from the conveying line L through the sequentially supplying means 5, and are stably held by the container grip (not shown).
[0036] The caps c are sent by cap supplying means 20, and grasped and held by the grasping member 10 in the capping means 2.
[0037] As the moving body 1 is rotated, the cap c is rotated and lowered toward the opening of the container which reaches the rotationally tightening starting position S, by the operations of the rotation means 11 and hoisting/lowering means 13 to lower the grasping member 10, and the female screw of the cap c begins to be engaged with the male screw of the container b.
[0038] Then, in the restricting means 12, the rotationally tightening detecting member 15 in the radio transmitting means 17 connected to the clutch of the restricting means 12 measures a variation in distortion resistance of the clutch.
[0039] As the moving body 1 is rotated, the rotationally tightening operation of the cap c by the capping means 2 is progressing, and when the rotationally tightening means 2 reaches the rotationally tightening ending position E, the transmitting member 16 in the radio transmitting means 17 sends radio signal of the predetermined frequency. That is, when it is judged in the control means 19 that the signals received by the receiving means 18 are the data indicating that the torque is within the range of appropriate torque value T, the capped container b is conveyed to the conveying line L as it is, and the container is sent to a next step by the conveying line L.
[0040] However, when it is judged that the radio signals received by the receiving means 18 from the rotationally tightening detection member 15 are the data indicating that the torque is out of the range of appropriate torque value T, the capped container b which is judged that the rotationally tightening operation was improper is taken out by the sequentially catching means 7 and then, such a container is sent to the discharge means 23 out from the conveying line L by taking-out means 22 provided in the conveying line L.
[0041] If the receiving means 18 are continuously disposed between the rotationally tightening starting position S and the rotationally tightening ending position E or intermittently disposed at a predetermined plurality of positions (not shown) as shown in Fig. 5, the rotationally tightening state of the cap c on the container b rotationally tightened by each of the rotationally tightening means 2 is received instantaneously (in real time) by the receiving means 18 every time and every section during which the rotationally tightening operations are progressing. Therefore, a11 the data in each of sections in the rotationally tightening section R can be obtained without omission.
[0042] In each of the rotationally tightening means 2, a frequency of a radio signal sent by the transmitting member 16 in each of the radio transmitting means 17 is set to an inherent frequency (different frequency) so that the signal of each of the rotationally tightening means 2 can be identified.
[0043] Therefore, it is possible to monitor from outside of the capping apparatus A whether the rotationally tightening state of one cap c faithfully traced or passed through a basic pattern shown with torque variation waveform as shown in Fig. 6, and even if the container b obtains the prescribed torque at the final portion of the rotationally tightening motion, it is possible to detect the improper rotationally tightening which is not easily checked visually such as failure that the container did not pass through the basic pattern or the cap c was put on the container improperly by some reason, or the cap c itself is improper.
1. A capping apparatus (A) comprising a plurality of rotational tightening means (2)
provided on a moving body (1) for putting a cap (c) on a container (b), while the
moving body (1) is moved, by each of said tightening means (2), characterized in that:
restricting means (12) for applying a predetermined tightening torque, when said cap (c) is tightened, is connected to each of said tightening means (2),
radio transmitting means (17) is provided for each restricting means (12), said radio transmitting means (17) having means (15) for detecting a tightening detection value in each of said tightening means (2) , and means (16) for transmitting the detection value,
receiving means (18) is provided externally of said moving body (1) for receiving the detection value from the transmitting means (17), and
control means (19) for managing the tightening operation of a capping operation based on the detection value.
2. A capping method in a capping apparatus (A) which is comprised of a plurality of rotational
tightening means (2) provided on a moving body (1) for putting a cap (c) on a container
(b), while the moving body (1) is moved, by each of the tightening means (2), characterized by:
applying a predetermined tightening torque when said cap (c) is tightened, to each of said tightening means (2),
detecting a tightening detection value in each of said tightening means (2),
transmitting the detection value through radio transmitting means (16) to receiving means (18) provided externally of said moving body (1), and
managing a tightening operation of a capping operation based on the detection value received by the receiving means (18).
3. A capping method in a plural head type capping apparatus (A) according to claim 2,
wherein said receiving means (18) receives said tightening detection value at a tightening
ending position by said tightening means (2) while said moving body (1) is moving.
4. A capping method in a plural head type capping apparatus (A) according to claim 2,
wherein said receiving means (18) receives said tightening detection value at a position
between a tightening starting position and a tightening ending position by said tightening
means (2) while said moving body (1) is moving.
5. A plural head type capping apparatus (A) comprising a plurality of rotationally tightening
means (2) provided on a moving body (1) for putting a cap (c) on a container (b),
while the moving body (1) is moved, by each of said rotationally tightening means
(2), characterized in that:
restricting means (12) for applying a predetermined rotationally tightening torque, when said cap (c) is rotationally tightened, is connected to each of said rotationally tightening means (2),
radio transmitting means (17) is provided for each restricting means (12), said radio transmitting means (17) having means (15) for detecting a rotationally tightening detection value in each of said rotationally tightening means (2), and means (16) for transmitting the detection value,
receiving means (18) is provided outside of said moving body (1) for receiving the detection value from the transmitting means (17), and
control means (19) for managing the rotationally tightening operation of a capping operation based on the detection value.
6. A capping method in a plural head type capping apparatus (A) which is comprised of
a plurality of rotationally tightening means (2) provided on a moving body (1) for
putting a cap (c) on a container (6), while the moving body (1) is moved, by each
of the rotationally tightening means (2), characterized by:
applying a predetermined rotationally tightening torque when said cap (c) is rotationally tightened, to each of said rotationally tightening means (2),
detecting a rotationally tightening detection value in each of said rotationally tightening means (2),
transmitting the detection value through radio transmitting means (16) to receiving means (18) provided outside of said moving body (1), and
managing a rotationally tightening operation of a capping operation based on the detection value received by the receiving means (18).