CN111655583A

CN111655583A - Transfer device for egg package

Info

Publication number: CN111655583A
Application number: CN201980010562.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 南部隆彦; 阿部圭介
Original assignee: NAPIER
Current assignee: NAPIER
Priority date: 2018-02-15
Filing date: 2019-02-06
Publication date: 2020-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-06
Also published as: EP3708504A4; JP2023162340A; JP7349152B2; EP3708504A1; JP7078290B2; JPWO2019159793A1; CN111655583B; WO2019159793A1; JP2021050045A

Abstract

The invention provides a transfer device (1) for egg packages, which is a transfer device (1) for egg packages transferring a plurality of egg packages (P) collected in a temporary standby area (21) to a containing space (A), and comprises a holding part (11) and a control part (3). The control unit (3) controls the following operations: the egg packaging device is characterized in that a plurality of egg packages (P) are held, after the state of holding one egg package (P) in the egg packages (P) is released at a 1 st position in a container (C) serving as a receiving space (A), a holding part (11) is moved, and the state of holding the other egg packages (P) in the egg packages (P) is released at a 2 nd position different from the 1 st position in the container (C).

Description

Transfer device for egg package

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a transfer device for egg packages, which transfers egg packages sequentially conveyed to an egg packaging container or a storage space provided in an inner ring of a roller.

Background

A boxing apparatus for packing eggs in an egg packing container or the like is known. In such a boxing apparatus for egg packages, egg packages corresponding to one layer of containers are arranged in the temporary waiting area. Thereafter, the egg packages are loaded into the container while maintaining the arrangement of the arranged egg packages.

Containers come in a variety of sizes and shapes. In addition, egg packages come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Thus, variations in the combination of containers and egg packages involve multiple aspects. In a boxing apparatus for packing eggs, it is required to cope with such a change. In a boxing apparatus for egg packages, it is assumed that, in order to cope with a change in combination of a container and an egg package, an increase in size of a temporary waiting area, an increase in size of a conveyor disposed upstream of the temporary waiting area, and a complication in an arrangement mechanism for egg packages occur. Further, it is assumed that the cost increases with the increase in size and complexity. Further, as a patent document disclosing a method of filling a container for packing eggs with egg packages, for example, patent document 1 is known.

As a countermeasure against such a problem, a boxing apparatus for egg packages has been developed, which performs boxing by setting the number of egg packages to be boxed by one boxing operation to be less than the number of egg packages of one layer. In the case packing device for egg packages, for example, an egg package stored as one layer in a container is stored by two case packing operations or 3 case packing operations using a conventional articulated robot whose head portion operates arbitrarily.

Specifically, when the number of egg packages per layer in the container is 5, the egg packages are packed in, for example, 3 egg packages and two egg packages. The 3 egg packages collected in the temporary standby area are held at the head. The head holding the 3 egg packages moves from the temporary standby area to the container, and the holding state is released and the head is stored in the container holding the 3 egg packages. The head portion from which the holding state is released moves from the container to the temporary standby area. Next, the two egg packages collected in the temporary standby area are held at the head. The head holding the two egg packages moves from the temporary waiting area to the container, and the holding state is released and the head is stored in the container holding the two egg packages. In this way, the first 5 egg packages in the container are received in the container. Thereafter, by repeating the same operation, the second tier of 5 egg packages is stored on the first tier of egg packages.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 5802932

Patent document 2: international publication No. 2011/162601

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In a conventional boxing device for egg packaging, when boxing operation is performed once, a head portion is moved back and forth between a temporary standby area and a container once. Therefore, when the container is filled with a single layer of eggs in the container by two or more boxing operations, the head is moved back and forth between the temporary waiting area and the container a plurality of times. As a result, the number of egg packages that can be stored in the container per unit time is limited.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a transfer device for egg packages, which can transfer more egg packages per unit time to a storage space including a container and the like.

Means for solving the problems

The egg package transfer device transfers a plurality of egg packages collected in a temporary standby area to a storage space, and the transfer device includes a holding unit and a control unit. The holding portion holds a plurality of egg packages including one egg package and other egg packages, and moves the held plurality of egg packages to the storage space. The control unit controls the operation of the holding unit, and the operation of the holding unit includes: the operation of holding the egg package, the operation of moving at least one of the held egg package and the storage space, and the operation of releasing the state of holding the egg package. The control unit controls the following operations: the egg packaging device is characterized in that a plurality of egg packages are held, after the state of holding one egg package is released at the 1 st position in the accommodating space, the holding part is moved, and the state of holding other egg packages is released at the 2 nd position different from the 1 st position in the accommodating space.

Preferably, the operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit includes an operation of releasing the state of holding the other egg package at a height position different from the height position of the 1 st position, which is the 2 nd position.

Preferably, the operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit includes an operation of releasing the state in which the other egg packages are held at a position where the other egg packages are stacked on one egg package, which is the 2 nd position.

Preferably, the operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit includes an operation of changing the direction of the held egg package.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the egg package transfer device of the present invention, the number of egg packages that can be stored in a container per unit time can be increased.

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view schematically showing a transfer device for egg packages according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a side view for explaining the operation of the egg package transfer device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view showing a step of the egg package transfer operation by the egg package transfer device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing a process performed after the process shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side view showing a process performed after the process shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side view showing a process performed after the process shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side view showing a step of an egg package transfer operation performed by the egg package transfer device according to modification 1 in the same embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a side view showing a process performed after the process shown in fig. 7 in the same embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a side view showing a process performed after the process shown in fig. 8 in the same embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a side view showing a process performed after the process shown in fig. 9 in the same embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a plan view schematically showing a transfer device for egg packages according to modification 2 in the same embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a side view showing one step of the egg package transfer operation by the egg package transfer device according to modification example 2 in the same embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a side view showing a step performed after the step shown in fig. 12 in the same embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a side view showing a process performed after the process shown in fig. 13 in the same embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a side view showing a process performed after the process shown in fig. 14 in the same embodiment.

Detailed Description

An example of the egg package transfer device according to the embodiment will be described. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the egg package transfer device 1 transfers a plurality of conveyed egg packages to a predetermined storage space a including a container. The egg package transfer device 1 transfers the egg packages P collected in the temporary standby area 21 to the egg package storage space a. The egg packing transfer device 1 includes a holding unit 11, a head unit 14, a releasing unit 12, a vacuum mechanism 13, and a control unit 3. Here, a housing space a for housing the egg package P is formed in the box-shaped container C.

The holding portion 11 holds a plurality of egg packages P. The holding portion 11 is composed of a 1 st suction member 15 and a 2 nd suction member. The 1 st adsorption member 15 can hold, for example, two adjacent egg packages P. The 2 nd adsorption member 16 can hold, for example, two egg packages P.

The 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 are connected to the vacuum mechanism 13. Between the 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 and the vacuum mechanism 13, a releasing holding portion 12 is provided. The releasing holding portion 12 includes a releasing holding portion 12a and a releasing holding portion 12 b. The 1 st suction member 15 is released from the holding state by the release holding portion 12 a. The holding state of the 2 nd suction member 16 is released by the releasing holding portion 12 b.

Both the 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 have bellows structures which are expandable and contractible in the vertical direction. In a state where the egg package is sucked, the 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 are contracted. On the other hand, in a state where no egg package is sucked, the 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 are in an extended state by gravity.

The holding portion 11 is attached to the head portion 14. The head 14 moves between the temporary standby area 21 and the container C. As the head 14, for example, a conventional articulated robot that operates arbitrarily, such as a 6-axis vertical articulated robot, can be applied. Various devices such as a robot and a device that can move arbitrarily with respect to the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis can be used as the head 14.

The egg package transfer device 1 and the conveyor device 2 together constitute an egg package transfer system 10. The conveyor 2 is, for example, a belt conveyor. A temporary standby area 21 is provided downstream of the conveyor 2. A packaging device (not shown) for storing eggs in packages is disposed upstream of the conveyor 2.

The egg packages in which the eggs are stored in the packages by the packaging device are conveyed to the temporary standby area 21 by the conveyor 2. The temporary waiting area 21 is provided with a stopper 22 for restricting the movement of the egg package. In a state where the predetermined number of egg packages set are accumulated in the temporary waiting area 21, the conveyor 2 is temporarily stopped, and the operation of transferring the egg packages is started. This operation (operation) will be described later.

The operation of the egg package transfer device 1 is controlled by the controller 3. The control unit 3 controls the holding state and movement of the egg package P held by the holding unit 11. The controller 3 controls one egg package P and the other egg packages P among the plurality of egg packages P held by the holding unit 11 so as to individually release the holding state. The control unit 3 performs control so that the state in which one egg package P is held is released and then the state in which the other egg packages P are held is released. The control unit 3 performs the following control: after the state in which the holding of one egg package P is released and before the state in which the holding of the other egg packages P is released, the other egg packages P are moved.

The controller 3 controls the egg packages P to be placed at a height position different from the height position of one egg package P placed in the container C. The controller 3 controls the egg packages P already stored in the storage space a to be placed one on the upper side S1 of the stage S formed by the egg packages P, and thereafter, controls the egg packages P to be placed on the lower side S2 of the stage S.

The control unit 3 includes a dedicated computer or a general-purpose computer such as a cpu (central Processing unit), an internal memory, an input/output interface, and an AD conversion unit. The CPU and its peripheral devices cooperate with each other according to a program stored in the internal memory, thereby functioning as the control unit 3.

Next, an example of the operation of the egg package transfer device 1 will be described.

The egg packages P conveyed from the upstream side are collected by the conveyor 2 into the temporary waiting area 21 located on the downstream side. For example, the transfer operation is started in a state where 4 egg packages P (two vertical and two horizontal) are collected in the temporary waiting area 21.

First, the head 14 moves above the collected egg package P. Next, the head 14 is lowered, the 1 st adsorption member 15 is in contact with two egg packages P among the 4 egg packages P, and the 2 nd adsorption member 16 is in contact with the remaining two egg packages P. Subsequently, the vacuum mechanism 13 is operated. By the vacuum mechanism 13, the 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 start vacuum suction, respectively. The 4 egg packages P are held by the holding portion 11.

Next, the holding portion 11 holding the egg package P moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the container C. Next, the head 14 is lowered, for example, to a position where the two egg packages P held by the 1 st adsorption member 15 are placed along the 1 st side wall C1 of the container C, and the holding release portion 12 is operated. The vacuum suction is stopped by releasing the holding portion 12. The 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 are released from their respective suction states, and the first 4 egg packages P are stored in the container C. The two near-front egg packages P are shown in the container C shown in fig. 3.

The holding portion 11 from which the egg package P is released moves from the container C to the temporary waiting area 21. For example, in a state where 4 egg packages P are stacked in the temporary waiting area 21, the holding portion 11 is lowered, the 1 st suction member 15 is brought into contact with two egg packages P, and the 2 nd suction member 16 is brought into contact with the remaining two egg packages P. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 starts vacuum suction by the 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16, respectively, and 4 egg packages P are held by the holding portion 11.

Next, as shown in fig. 4, the holding portion 11 holding the egg package P moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the container C. Then, the head 14 is lowered. The releasing portions 12a of the releasing portions 12 are operated at positions where the two egg packages P held by the 1 st adsorption member 15 are placed along the 1 st side wall C1. The 1 st suction member 15 is released from the suction state by the release holding portion 12a, and two egg packages P are further stored on the first stored egg package P along the 1 st side wall C1. In other words, two more egg packages P are placed on the upper layer side S1 of the step S formed by the first egg package P to be stored.

Next, as shown in fig. 5, the holding portion 11 holding the remaining two egg packages P moves to above the region S3 in the container C where the egg packages P are not yet placed. The releasing portions 12b of the releasing portions 12 are operated at positions where the two egg packages P held by the 2 nd adsorption member 16 are placed along the 2 nd side wall C2. The suction state of the 2 nd suction member is released by the release holding portion 12b, and two egg packages P are placed in the area S3 in the container C. In other words, two egg packages P are placed on the lower side S2 of the step S formed by the egg packages P already stored in the container C.

Next, as shown in fig. 6, the holding portion 11 holding the egg package P moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the container C. Then, the head 14 is lowered. The releasing holding portion 12 is operated at a position where the two egg packages P held by the 2 nd adsorption member 16 are placed along the 2 nd side wall C2. The vacuum suction is stopped by releasing the holding portion 12. The 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 are released from their respective suction states, and 4 egg packages P are placed on the 4 egg packages P already placed. In other words, 4 egg packages P are placed in the area S4 in the container C where no egg package P of the second tier has been placed. After the transfer operation of the egg package into the container C is completed, the holding unit 11 moves from the container C to the temporary waiting area 21.

The egg package transfer device 1 of the present embodiment includes a holding unit 11, a head unit 14, a holding release unit 12, a vacuum mechanism 13, and a control unit 3, and transfers the egg packages P collected in the temporary waiting area 21 to the container C as the storage space a. When transferring egg packages P to containers C, during 1 transfer operation, an operation of placing one egg package on the upper layer side S1 of a step S formed by egg packages P already stored in the container C and an operation of placing an egg package P on the lower layer side S2 of the step S are performed.

Thus, compared to a conventional boxing apparatus for egg packages, the number of times the head portion is reciprocated between the temporary waiting area and the container can be reduced in the operation of accommodating the egg packages P in the container C, and the number of egg packages which can be accommodated in the container C per unit time can be increased. In the conventional egg packing device, in the steps corresponding to the steps shown in fig. 3 to 6, in order to store the egg package P in the container C, the head portion needs to be reciprocated 4 times between the temporary waiting area and the container, whereas in the egg packing transfer device 1 according to the embodiment, the egg package P can be stored in the container C by 3 times of reciprocation of the head portion 14 between the temporary waiting area 21 and the container C.

Further, compared to a conventional boxing apparatus for egg packing, the present invention can cope with various changes without increasing the temporary waiting area 21 or the conveying apparatus 2 disposed upstream, and can be applied to an egg packing facility with a large limitation on a usable space.

The holding portion 11 is formed by a plurality of 1

st suction members

15 and 2 nd suction members 16 connected to the vacuum mechanism 13, respectively, and sucks the egg package P from above. Therefore, the holding portion 11 is less likely to interfere with the egg package P already stored in the container C, the 1 st side wall C1 or the 2 nd side wall C2 of the container C, than the holding portion that holds the egg package P from below or from the side.

The releasing portion 12a of the releasing portion 12 is operated at a position where one egg package P held by the 1 st adsorption member 15 is placed along the 1 st side wall C1, thereby releasing the state where one egg package is held. The holding release portion 12b of the holding release portion 12 is operated at a position where the other egg package P held by the 2 nd adsorption member 16 is placed along the 2 nd side wall C2, thereby releasing the holding state of the other egg package. Thus, the egg package P is disposed along the 1 st side wall C1 or the 2 nd side wall C2 of the container C, respectively, and positioning of the egg package P is facilitated.

(modification 1)

Next, a transfer device for egg packages according to modification 1 will be described. The egg package transfer device according to modification 1 has basically the same configuration as the egg package transfer device 1 shown in fig. 1. Therefore, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will not be repeated unless necessary. In the egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 1, the order of storing the egg packages in the storage space a is different from the order of storing the egg packages in the egg transfer device described above.

The egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 1 includes a holding unit 11 and a control unit 3, and transfers the egg packages P to the egg package storage spaces a (see fig. 7 and the like). The egg packing storage space a is formed inside a box-shaped container C.

The controller 3 controls the one egg package P and the other egg packages P held by the holding unit 11 to individually release the holding state. The control unit 3 performs the following control: after the state in which the holding of one egg package P is released and before the state in which the holding of the other egg packages P is released, the other egg packages P are moved. The control unit 3 controls to store another egg package P at a height position different from the height of one egg package P previously stored in the storage space a.

In the egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 1, the control unit 3 performs control so that one egg package P previously stored in the storage space a is stored with another egg package P. Further, the control unit 3 controls to change the direction of the other egg packages P after one egg package P is stored.

Next, an example of the operation of the egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 1 will be described.

For example, the transfer operation is started in a state where 4 egg packages P are collected in the temporary waiting area 21. First, the head 14 moves above the collected egg package P. Next, the head 14 is lowered, the 1 st adsorption member 15 is in contact with two egg packages P among the 4 egg packages P, and the 2 nd adsorption member 16 is in contact with the remaining two egg packages P. Subsequently, the vacuum mechanism 13 is operated. By the vacuum mechanism 13, the 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 start vacuum suction, respectively. The 4 egg packages P are held by the holding portion 11.

Next, the holding portion 11 holding the egg package P moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the container C. Next, as shown in fig. 7, the head 14 is lowered and 4 egg packages P are placed on the floor C3 of the receptacle C. Next, the release holding portion 12a of the release holding portion 12 is operated at a position where the two egg packages P held by the 1 st adsorption member 15 are placed along the 1 st side wall C1 of the container C (see fig. 1). The 1 st suction member 15 is released from the suction state by the release holding portion 12a, and two egg packages P are stored along the 1 st side wall C1.

Next, as shown in fig. 8, the holding portion 11 holding the remaining two egg packages P is moved upward and rotated substantially 180 degrees in the horizontal direction, thereby changing the direction of the head portion 14. Next, as shown in fig. 9, the head 14 is lowered. The releasing portions 12b of the releasing portions 12 are operated at positions where the two egg packages P held by the 2 nd adsorption member 16 are placed along the 1 st side wall C1.

The suction state of the 2 nd suction member is released by the release holding portion 12b, and two egg packages P are placed on the two egg packages P previously stored in the container C. The holding portion 11 from which the egg package P is released moves from the container C to the temporary waiting area 21. Next, 4 egg packages P are held in the holding portion 11 in a state where 4 egg packages P are stacked in the temporary waiting area 21. Thereafter, as shown in the 4 th diagram from the left in fig. 4, the following operations are performed: the holding portion 11 holding the egg package P moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the container C, and stores the egg package P in the remaining space in the container C.

In the egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 1, the same effect as or an effect based on the effect of the egg package transfer device 1 including the effect of increasing the number of egg packages that can be stored in the container C per unit time can be obtained.

(modification 2)

Next, a transfer device for egg packages according to modification 2 will be described. The egg package transfer device according to modification 2 has basically the same configuration as the egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 1. Therefore, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will not be repeated unless necessary. In the egg package transfer device according to modification 2, the shape of the storage space a and the manner of storing (arranging) the egg packages in the storage space a are different.

As shown in fig. 11, 12 and the like, in the egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 2, the storage space a is formed on the bottom plate of the roller inner ring R or on the shelf R1. The roller inner ring R is a carriage that can be transported and displayed in a shop. In fig. 11 and the like, only one layer of the roller inner ring R is shown for convenience of explanation. Further, the egg package P may be temporarily transferred to a tray or the like, for example, before the egg package P is placed in the roller inner ring R. In this case, the housing space a is formed on the tray.

The egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 2 includes a holding unit 11 and a control unit 3, and transfers the egg packages P to the egg package storage spaces a (see fig. 11, 12, and the like).

The controller 3 controls the one egg package P and the other egg packages P held by the holding unit 11 to individually release the holding state. The control unit 3 performs the following control: after the state in which the holding of one egg package P is released and before the state in which the holding of the other egg packages P is released, the other egg packages P are moved. The control unit 3 controls to store the other egg packages P at the same height position as the height position of one egg package P previously stored in the storage space a or at a height position different from the height position of the one egg package P. The control unit 3 controls to change the direction of the other egg packages P after one egg package P is stored.

Next, an example of the operation of the egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 2 will be described.

In the egg package transfer device 1, the egg packages are transferred a plurality of times, for example, 4 times, in order to place the egg packages in 1-stage amount in the storage space a. For example, the transfer operation is started in a state where a predetermined number of egg packages P such as 3 (3 rows by 1 row) are collected in the temporary waiting area 21. The 1 st adsorption member 15 corresponds to 1 egg package P at one end. The 2 nd adsorption member 16 corresponds to two egg packages P of 1 egg package at the other end and 1 egg package at the center between the one end and the other end. Further, a guide 23 is disposed in the temporary standby area 21.

In the 1 st transfer operation, first, the head 14 is moved above the collected egg packages P in a state where 3 egg packages P are collected in the temporary waiting area 21. Next, the head 14 is lowered, and the 1 st adsorption member 15 comes into contact with the egg package P located at one end. The 2 nd adsorption member 16 is in contact with the egg packages P located at the other end and the center, respectively. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 is operated, whereby 3 egg packages P are held by the holding portion 11. Next, the holding portion 11 holding the egg package P moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the storage space a.

Next, as shown in fig. 12, the holding portion 11 is lowered, and 3 egg packages P are placed on the shelf R1 of the roller inner ring R. Next, the release holding portion 12a corresponding to the 1 st suction member 15 is operated. The vacuum suction is stopped by the releasing holding portion 12a, and the suction state of the 1 st suction member 15 is released.

Next, as shown in fig. 13, the holding portion 11 holding the two egg packages P sucked by the 2 nd sucking member 16 moves upward. Then, the head 14 is rotated substantially 90 degrees in the horizontal direction, thereby changing the direction of the head 14 as shown in fig. 14. Next, as shown in fig. 15, the head 14 is lowered, and the holding release portion 12b corresponding to the 2 nd suction member 16 is operated at a position where the two egg packages P held by the head 14 are placed along the side wall R2 of the roller inner ring R. The suction state of the 2 nd suction member 16 is released by the release holding portion 12b, and two egg packages P are placed on the shelf R1 of the roller inner R. Thus, the 1 st transfer operation is ended.

When the 1 st transfer operation is completed, the holding unit 11 moves from the roller inner ring R to the temporary standby area 21, and then, the second transfer operation is performed. The second transfer operation is performed in accordance with the 1 st transfer operation. The transfer operation of the 3 rd and subsequent times is also performed in accordance with the transfer operation of the 1 st time. Fig. 11 shows an example of the arrangement of the egg packages P stored in the roller inner ring R by 4 transfer operations, for example. The egg package P1 among the egg packages P is an egg package P transferred by the 1 st transfer operation. The egg package P2 is an egg package P transferred by the second transfer operation. The egg package P3 is the egg package P transferred by the transfer operation of the 3 rd time. The egg package P4 is the egg package P transferred by the 4 th transfer operation.

In the egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 2, the same effect as that of the egg package transfer device 1 including the effect of increasing the number of egg packages that can be stored in the container C per unit time or the effect based on the effect can be obtained.

The egg package transfer device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

In the egg package transfer device, for example, the transfer operation for storing 1-stage egg packages P in the storage space a may be performed 3 times or more. The number of egg packages P to be transferred by 1 transfer operation is not limited to the number listed in the above embodiment.

The number of one egg package P may be the same as or different from the number of the other egg packages P. The number of each of the one egg package P and the other egg packages P may be 1 or more.

When eggs are stacked in multiple layers in the vertical direction in the storage space a and stored, the number of egg packages in each layer and the arrangement of the egg packages may be different. In order to accommodate such a storage form, it is preferable that the egg package transfer device be capable of setting the number and arrangement of egg packages stored in one layer to be different from those of egg packages stored in other layers. The number of layers of the egg packages P stacked in the accommodation space a is not limited to the illustrated number.

The temporary waiting area 21 may be, for example, a rack or the like that does not include a mechanism for conveying egg packages, but does not include a conveying device. When the conveying device is provided in the temporary waiting area 21, the conveying device is preferably operated according to the degree of stacking of the egg packages in the temporary waiting area 21, but this is not essential.

The holding portion 11 may include 1 pair of arm portions for supporting and holding the egg package from the side surface side and the bottom surface side, instead of the 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 or in addition to the 1 st suction member 15 and the like. Patent document 2 discloses an example of such an arm.

The size and shape of the egg package P can be appropriately selected according to the size of the egg, the number of eggs, and the like. As the egg package itself, besides flat packages, conventional packages or molded packages are also possible.

As the container forming the storage space for storing the egg package, any container may be used as long as it can store the egg package in which the eggs are placed, and a transport carton, a plastic box, or the like can be applied. The container may also have no lid.

In addition, the container or the like in which the storage space is formed may be moved without moving the holding portion between the operation of releasing the state in which one egg package is held and the operation of releasing the state in which the other egg package is held. In addition, two operations, i.e., an operation of moving the holding portion and an operation of moving the container or the like in which the storage space is formed, may be performed between an operation of releasing the state in which one egg package is held and an operation of releasing the state in which the other egg package is held.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not restrictive. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the scope of the above description but is to be defined by the claims, and includes meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

The egg package transfer device according to the embodiment includes the following configurations.

(supplementary notes 1)

A boxing apparatus for egg packages, which is a transfer apparatus for holding a plurality of egg packages collected in a temporary standby area and transferring the held egg packages to a storage space, the transfer apparatus for egg packages comprising: a holding unit that holds a plurality of egg packages including one egg package collected in the temporary standby area and another egg package, and moves the held plurality of egg packages to the storage space; and a releasing holding unit configured to release a holding state of the egg package held by the holding unit, wherein the releasing holding unit releases a state of holding the one egg package on an upper layer side of a step formed by another egg package accommodated in the accommodating space while all of the plurality of held egg packages are accommodated in the accommodating space, and releases a state of holding the other egg package on a lower layer side of the step after releasing the state of holding the one egg package.

(supplementary notes 2)

In the egg package transfer device according to supplementary note 1, the holding unit is an adsorption member connected to a vacuum mechanism for adsorbing the egg package from above.

(supplementary notes 3)

In the egg package transfer device according to

supplementary note

1 or 2, the storage space is formed by a container, and the releasing/holding unit releases the holding state of the one egg package at a position where the one egg package is made to be along one side wall of the container, and releases the holding state of the other egg package at a position where the other egg package is made to be along the other side wall of the container.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be used for a transfer device for egg packages that store egg packages containing eggs in a storage space.

Description of the reference numerals

1. A transfer device for egg packages; 3. a control unit; 11. a holding section; 12. 12a, 12b, a release holding part; 13. a vacuum mechanism; 14. a head portion; 15. 1 st adsorption member; 16. a 2 nd adsorption member; 21. a temporary standby area; p, P1, P2, P3, P4, egg package; C. a container; c1, No. 1 sidewall; c2, No. 2 side wall; s1, upper layer side; s2, lower layer side; A. a storage space.

Claims

1. A transfer device for egg packages, which transfers a plurality of egg packages collected in a temporary standby area to a storage space, wherein,

the egg package transfer device comprises:

a holding unit that holds a plurality of egg packages including one egg package and another egg package, and moves the plurality of held egg packages to the storage space; and

a control unit that controls an operation of the holding unit, the operation of the holding unit including: an operation of holding the egg package, an operation of moving at least one of the held egg package and the accommodating space, and an operation of releasing the state of holding the egg package,

the control unit controls the following operations: the method includes holding a plurality of egg packages, moving the holding portion after releasing a state of holding the one egg package at a 1 st position in the housing space, and releasing a state of holding the other egg packages at a 2 nd position different from the 1 st position in the housing space.

2. Transfer device for egg packages according to claim 1,

the operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit includes an operation of releasing the state in which the other egg package is held at a height position different from the height position of the 1 st position, which is the 2 nd position.

3. Transfer device for egg packages according to claim 1,

the operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit includes an operation of releasing the state in which the other egg package is held at the position where the other egg package is stacked on the one egg package, which is the 2 nd position.

4. Transfer device for egg packages according to claim 1,

the operation of the holding portion controlled by the control portion includes an operation of changing the direction of the held egg package.