JP2002193454A - Article feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article feeder that can reduce a burden imposed on a worker and attain labor saving and efficiency improvement of supply work. SOLUTION: The specified number of containers B with field crops A stored in the specified quantity are loaded on a pallet C, and the pallet C is loaded onto a deck 5 of a transport vehicle 4 and transported to a load receiving part 2 of sorting facilities 1. The deck 5 of the transport vehicle 4 is brought close to an elevating base 7 of a reloading device 6, and the elevating base 7 is elevated to the height almost horizontal to the deck 5 of the transport vehicle 4. The pallet C loaded onto the deck 5 of the transport vehicle 4 is transferred to the elevating base 7 of the reloading device 6 by the worker's hands, and load receiving information on the field crops A is inputted with an input device 10 of an information processor 8. The elevating base 7 is elevated to the height almost horizontal to a load receiving conveyor 11, and then the pallet C finished with input is transferred to the load receiving conveyor 11 and conveyed and supplied to a storage part 21 in the sorting facilities 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a pallet on which articles such as crops (including fruits and vegetables and fruits and vegetables), marine products, foods, containers, medicines, electric products, textiles, parts, raw materials and the like are loaded, or The present invention relates to an article supply device used for supplying an article itself or a container (a case, a container, or the like) containing the article.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of transporting agricultural products in the above-described example, for example, a container containing a predetermined amount of agricultural products is loaded on a carrier of a truck (truck) or a pallet on which a predetermined number of such containers are loaded. Transport it by loading it into a transport vehicle. After moving the transport vehicle to the receiving section of the sorting facility, the containers loaded on the transport vehicle are separated one by one from the upper side, or the pallets loaded with the containers are removed from the transport vehicles and then loaded onto the pallets. There is a method in which separated containers are separated one by one from the upper stage side, and the containers are manually supplied one by one to a receiving conveyor of a receiving portion.

[0003]

However, if the height of the pallet lowered from the carrier or the pallet of the above-mentioned carrier is different from the height of the conveyer provided in the receiving part, the container is moved to the conveyer. Since direct supply is not possible, the containers loaded on the carrier or pallet of the transport vehicle must be separated by the operator's hand one by one and supplied to the receiving conveyor. Since the whole weight is heavy, there is a problem that not only a labor and a long time are required for a supply operation, but also a burden on an operator is large.

Further, when collecting empty containers from which agricultural products have been removed, if the height of the collection conveyor is different from that of a truck or pallet, one empty container conveyed by the collection conveyor is manually operated by the operator. It has to be loaded on a truck or pallet at a time, and there is a problem that it takes time and effort for the collection operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method for reloading a product itself or a pallet on which articles are loaded between the front and rear supply means by moving the reloading means up and down to a level substantially horizontal with the front and rear supply means. Another object of the present invention is to provide an article supply apparatus which can save labor and work of transshipping articles, reduce a burden on an operator, and save labor and efficiency of a supply operation.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Between the front supply means and the rear supply means for supplying the article,
An article supply apparatus provided with a transshipment means for transposing articles between the supply means, and an elevating means for vertically moving the transshipment means to a height substantially horizontal with respect to the supply means. Features.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transfer means for transferring pallets between the respective supply means between a front supply means and a rear supply means for supplying a pallet on which articles are loaded, The present invention is characterized in that the reloading means is an article supply device provided with an elevating means which moves up and down to a height substantially horizontal to the supply means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the reloading means includes a height detecting means for detecting a height of the supply means, and the height detecting means. The present invention is characterized in that the article supply apparatus is provided with control means for controlling driving and stopping of the elevating means based on the detection.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article supply apparatus in which a wheel for transferring the pallets in a transfer direction is arranged on a facing surface of the pallet and the supply means. There is a feature.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the reloading means is moved up and down to a level which is substantially horizontal with the front and rear supply means, and the article itself or a pallet on which the articles are loaded are collectively moved to either one of the supply means. Since the products are transshipped and supplied, the labor and work of separating or transshipping the products can be omitted, the work time required when supplying the products can be shortened, and the labor and efficiency of the supplying operation can be improved. In addition, the operation of moving or supplying one or a plurality of articles to a desired place can be performed easily and easily, and the burden on the worker can be reduced, so that the working environment and the working conditions can be improved.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawing shows an article supply device used for an operation of supplying a crop, which is an example of an article. In FIG. 5, this article supply apparatus 3 is distributed to a receiving section 2 of a sorting facility 1 for sorting crops A by item. For example, a predetermined number (for example, 24) containers B containing agricultural products A such as oranges and persimmons are stored on a pallet C, and the pallets C are placed on a carrier 5 of a transport vehicle 4 (for example, a truck). One or more are loaded and transported to the receiving section 2 of the sorting facility 1. In the receiving section 2, the pallet C loaded on the loading platform 5 of the transport vehicle 4 is transferred to the lifting platform 7 of the transshipment device 6 by the operator's hand, and the receiving information on the crop A is transferred to the information processing device 8. After input by the input device 10, the input pallet C is transferred to the receiving conveyor 11 and transported to the storage unit 21 in the sorting facility 1. Further, as another example of the transportation means instead of the transportation vehicle 4,
For example, the pallet C may be transported by a forklift, a crane, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the above-mentioned pallet C is formed of a material such as plastic, wood, metal or the like into a substantially square shape (or a substantially rectangular shape) when viewed from above. ) Of containers B are arranged in a desired state in the horizontal direction,
Are formed in a size and a shape that can be stacked in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction. In addition, a wheel Ca (e.g., a roller, a roller, a caster, or the like) mounted so as to protrude from four corners on the lower surface side of the pallet C is grounded to the loading surface of the loading platform 5 or the lifting platform 7 so that the pallet C is desired. Travel in the direction you want.

In addition, an insertion port Cb for inserting a fork of a transporter (for example, a forklift) is inserted into a pallet C
Are formed on the left, right, front and back of the vehicle. Further, the insertion port Cb may be formed on one of the left and right sides and the front and rear sides of the pallet C.

The above-mentioned transport vehicle 4 is stopped running by a stop member 12 installed on the running surface of the load receiving section 2, and the rear end of the loading platform 5 is spaced a predetermined distance from the end of the lifting platform 7 constituting the reloading device 6. (The interval at which the transfer is allowed).

As another example of the container which can be used in place of the container B, a case (box) made of paper (corrugated cardboard), resin, or metal may be loaded. Further, as another example of the article in place of the crop A, for example, a bag or a container filled with a predetermined amount of liquid or powdery raw material may be loaded, or the crop A may be directly loaded on the pallet C.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reloading device 6 stops the lifting platform 7 having a size and a shape on which one or a plurality of pallets C are to be loaded on the load receiving section 2. It is arranged between the loading platform 5 of the transport vehicle 4 and the receiving conveyor 10.

The two guide rails 13 laid on the upper surface of the elevating platform 7 are provided with a ring C attached to the lower surface of the pallet C.
The guide member 14, which guides the traveling of the pallet C in the feed direction and is provided on both sides of the upper surface of the elevator 7 in opposition to both ends of the pallet C (or the side surfaces of the container B), moves the pallet C in the feed direction. Guide the transport to the front facing position.

The hydraulic lifting cylinder 15 disposed below the lifting table 7 is raised and lowered by hydraulic pressure supplied from a hydraulic pump 16, and is provided with a height detection sensor 17 (for example, The photoelectric sensor, the proximity sensor, the limit switch, and the like) detect the height of the carrier 5 of the transport vehicle 4 stopped traveling by the cargo receiving unit 2 and output the detection signal to the control unit 18.

A link-type support mechanism 20 connected to both sides of the lower surface of the elevator 7 supports and guides the entire elevator 7 in a substantially horizontal posture. Further, the lift 7 may be guided by a support member such as a guide shaft or a rail.

On the other hand, the control unit 18 connected to the apparatus body 9
Drives and stops the hydraulic pump 16 based on the detection signal output from the height detection sensor 17, moves the lifting cylinder 15 up and down, and moves the lifting table 7 to a load receiving conveyor constituted by a wave chain conveyor, for example. On the basis of 10,
The transport vehicle 4 stops moving up and down to a raised position or a lowered position that is substantially horizontal with respect to the carrier 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, the support rail 13a (or support plate) connected to the front and rear ends of the guide rail 13 is turned up and down by turning means such as an air cylinder, a solenoid, and a motor. When the elevating platform 7 is lifted and stopped at a height that is substantially horizontal with the loading platform 5 of the transport vehicle 4 or the receiving conveyor 11, the support rail 13a connected to the opposite end is connected to (or closed by) the gap at the transfer portion. ) And a retracted posture (indicated by an imaginary line in the figure) that stands substantially vertically and is in a substantially vertical position where contact with the carrier 5 or the receiving conveyor 11 is avoided. Is rotated.

Further, as another example of the elevating means instead of the elevating cylinder 15, the elevating table 7 may be moved up and down by, for example, a screw feed mechanism, a chain mechanism, a cam mechanism, or the like.

The information processing device 8 (for example, a personal computer) includes a device main body 9 for managing the receiving information and the receiving status on the side of the receiving portion 2 and an input device 10 (for example, for inputting the receiving information on the crop A). The apparatus main body 9 controls the driving and stopping of the receiving conveyor 11, and is arranged on the operation panel 10a after the input by the input device 10 is completed. When the transport button 10b is turned on (pressed), the receiving conveyor 11 is driven to rotate in the feed direction, and the pallet C is transported to the storage unit 21.

In addition, the input device 10 receives, as the receipt information on the crop A, for example, the varieties, the production places, the producers, the quality (grade and sugar content) of the crop A, the harvest time (the harvest date and time), and the harvest time. Enter the weather, garden (status of production place), expiration date, number of lots, number of pallets, carrier number, introduction of producers, characteristics of agricultural products, etc.

The above-mentioned load receiving conveyor 11 is constituted by a roller conveyor in which a number of rollers (wheels) are arranged outside the wheel body Ca attached to the lower surface of the pallet C at intervals so that the pallet C is supported substantially horizontally. Is done. Further, as another example of the conveying means instead of the roller conveyor, for example, a chain conveyor, a belt conveyor, or the like may be used.

The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation of supplying the crop A by the article supply device 3 will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as many containers B and pallets C as required for transporting a predetermined amount of the crop A are handed to the producer, and the harvested crop A
Is transported to the sorting facility 1, a predetermined number of containers B in which the agricultural products A are stored are arranged in a desired state, and a predetermined number of the pallets C are loaded on the pallet C, and the predetermined number of the pallets C are loaded on the carrier 5 of the transport vehicle 4 ( (For example, two vehicles) and transported to the receiving section 2 of the sorting facility 1.

Next, after stopping the rear end of the carrier 5 of the transport vehicle 4 traveling to the load receiving section 2 close to the end of the lifting platform 7 of the transshipment device 6, based on the detection by the height detecting sensor 17, Then, the lifting platform 7 is lifted and stopped at a height that is substantially horizontal with the loading platform 5 of the transport vehicle 4.

Subsequently, the pallet C loaded on the loading platform 5 of the transport vehicle 4 is moved by the operator's hand and transferred to the lifting platform 7 of the transshipment device 6, and then the receiving information on the crop A is processed. Input by the input device 10 of the device 8
b is turned on (pressed). At the same time, as shown in FIG. 3, after the lifting platform 7 is lowered and stopped at a height that is substantially horizontal with the receiving conveyor 11, the pallet C is moved by the operator's hand,
It is transferred from the elevator 7 to the receiving conveyor 11.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5, the receiving conveyor 11 is driven to transport the pallets C to the storage section 21 in the sorting facility 1. The pallet C is driven by driving the sorting machine 22 disposed on the sending side of the storage unit 21.
Distribution is supplied to a plurality of stage lines 23.

By driving the delivery machine 24 arranged on the delivery side, the container B allocated to the stage line 23 is
It is supplied to a sorting line 25 connected to a sorting step (not shown) for sorting by item, and is conveyed to the sorting step via a known separation device (depalletizer). The pallet C from which the container B has been removed is collected via a collection line (not shown).

In the embodiment, the pallet C is transferred from the elevator 7 to the conveyer 11 by the operator's hand, but the pallet C is moved by a transfer means such as a chain mechanism, a screw feed mechanism, or a pusher mechanism. Then, the carrier 5 of the transport vehicle 4
From the elevator 7 of the reloading device 6 to the transfer conveyor 11 to transfer the goods from the elevator 7 to the receiving conveyor 11;
Alternatively, the supply operation for transferring to the lifting platform 7 and the loading platform 5 may be performed mechanically.

As described above, the elevator 7 of the transshipment device 6
Is moved up and down to a height that is substantially horizontal with respect to the loading platform 5 of the transport vehicle 4 and the receiving conveyor 11, and one or more containers B containing a predetermined amount of the crop A are loaded on the pallet C. The containers 5 loaded on the pallet C are separated from the pallet C, or the pallets C or the pallets C are separated.
Labor and work such as transshipping the container B loaded in the container to the receiving conveyor 11 can be omitted, the work time required when supplying the container B containing the crop A is shortened, and labor and efficiency of the supply operation are increased. Can be achieved. In addition, the operation of moving or supplying the plurality of containers B to a desired process or place can be performed easily and easily, and the burden on the worker can be reduced, and the working environment and working conditions can be improved.

As another mounting method of the above-mentioned ring body Ca, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the ring body Cd can be put in and out of the concave accommodating parts Ce formed at the four corners on the lower surface side of the pallet C. When the pallet C is traveled and moved, the wheel body Cd is pulled out to the state shown by the solid line in the figure and grounded. When placed in a fixed position or maintaining a stable posture, the ring Cd
May be stored in a state shown by a virtual line in the figure.

FIG. 8 shows another example of a transport method for transporting a pallet C not provided with a traveling function (caster), in which a plurality of rollers 19 (rings) are transported to the carrier 5 of the transport vehicle 4.
The rollers 19 are freely rotated in the feed direction (recovery direction), or are driven to rotate in the feed direction by a motor (not shown), and the like. Then, the pallet C is transferred to the receiving conveyor 11
May be provided, and the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

If there is a gap in the transition portion, an impact is applied when the wheel Ca of the pallet C passes.
The pallet C is loaded onto the loading platform 5, the lifting platform 7, the feed conveyor 1
Since it can be transferred on the roller 19 with the roller 1, there is almost no drop or step at the time of transfer, and it is possible to prevent the crop A from dropping and the direction and arrangement of the containers B from being displaced. It can be done smoothly. Since there is no need to mount the ring body Ca, a commercially available pallet C can be used for carrying work.

Further, instead of the above-mentioned rollers 19, for example, a conveying means such as a roller conveyor, a chain conveyor, a belt conveyor or the like may be provided on the upper surfaces of the loading platform 5 and the lifting platform 7, or Carrier 5 of carrier 4
A sliding member having a low contact resistance, such as a fluororesin (trade name: Teflon), may be attached to the upper surface and the upper surface of the lift 7.

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the article of the present invention corresponds to the agricultural product A and the container B of the embodiment, and similarly, the front supply means is a transport vehicle. 4, the rear supply means corresponds to the receiving conveyor 11, the transfer means corresponds to the transfer device 6 and the lifting platform 7, and the lifting means includes the lifting cylinder 15, the screw feed mechanism,
In correspondence with chain mechanism, cam mechanism, etc., height detection means
The control means corresponds to the height detection sensor 17 and the control unit 1
8, corresponding to the wheels Ca, Cd of the pallet C,
Although corresponding to the roller 19, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

The above-described article supply device 3 is, for example, a crop A
And a collection operation of loading the empty pallet C from which the container B has been removed into the transport vehicle 4, and a case (box) in which the sorted agricultural products A are packed in a box or the pallet C on which the case is loaded is transported by the transport vehicle 4. It can also be used for a shipping operation such as loading into a container, and the application is not limited to only the receiving operation of the embodiment.

Also, box type, silo type, tank type,
It can also be used for supplying a pallet having a basket type, a folding pallet, and the like, and the application is not limited to the pallet C of the above-described embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a supply operation by an article supply device.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an operation of transferring a pallet from a carrier to an elevator.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an operation of transferring a pallet from a lifting platform to a receiving conveyor.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which pallets are stacked on a lifting platform.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a receiving unit of a sorting facility provided with the article supply device.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view showing a transfer portion of the elevator.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing another attachment state of the wheel body.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing another method of transporting the pallet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Agricultural crops B: Containers C: Pallets Ca, Cd: Wheels 3 ... Article supply devices 4 ... Carriers 5 ... Carriers 6 ... Transshipment devices 7 ... Lifting platforms 8 ... Information processing devices 9 ... Device bodies 10 ... Input devices 11 ... Receiving conveyor 15 ... Lifting cylinder 17 ... Height detection sensor 18 ... Control unit 19 ... Roller

Claims (4)

[Claims] A transfer means for transferring goods between said supply means is provided between a front supply means and a rear supply means for supplying articles, and said transfer means is provided with respect to said supply means. An article supply device provided with elevating means that moves up and down to a substantially horizontal height. 2. A transfer means for transferring pallets between each of the supply means provided between a front supply means and a rear supply means for supplying a pallet on which articles are loaded. An article supply device provided with elevating means that moves up and down to a height that is substantially horizontal with respect to the supply means. 3. The reloading means includes a height detecting means for detecting a height of the supply means, and a control means for controlling driving and stopping of the elevating means based on the detection by the height detecting means. The article supply device according to claim 1, wherein the article supply device is provided. 4. The article supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a wheel for transferring the pallet in a transshipment direction is arranged on a surface facing the pallet and the supply means.