CN111655583B

CN111655583B - Transfer device for egg package

Info

Publication number: CN111655583B
Application number: CN201980010562.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 南部隆彦; 阿部圭介
Original assignee: Nabel Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nabel Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-02-15
Filing date: 2019-02-06
Publication date: 2024-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-06
Also published as: EP3708504A4; JP7349152B2; JPWO2019159793A1; JP2023162340A; JP2021050045A; CN111655583A; EP3708504A1; JP7078290B2; WO2019159793A1

Abstract

The invention provides a transfer device (1) for egg packages, which is a transfer device (1) for egg packages, wherein a plurality of egg packages (P) collected in a temporary standby area (21) are transferred to a storage space (A), and the egg package transfer device is provided with a holding part (11) and a control part (3). The control unit (3) controls the following operations: the plurality of egg packages (P) are held, and after the state of holding one egg package (P) of the plurality of egg packages (P) is released at the 1 st position in a container (C) which is a storage space (A), the holding part (11) is moved, and the state of holding the other egg packages (P) of the plurality of egg packages (P) is released at the 2 nd position which is 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 transferring egg packages sequentially transferred to an egg packaging container or a storage space provided in a roll inner race.

Background

A boxing apparatus for packaging egg packages into egg packaging containers and the like is known. In this egg-packing boxing apparatus, a single layer of egg packages corresponding to a container are arranged in a temporary standby area. Thereafter, the egg packages are placed in the container while maintaining the arrangement relationship of the aligned 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 the container and the egg package are involved in many aspects. In a boxing apparatus for egg packaging, it is required to cope with such a change. In a case packing device 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 the size of a temporary standby area, an increase in the size of a conveyor disposed upstream of the temporary standby area, and an increase in the complexity of an arrangement mechanism of egg packages are generated. Further, it is assumed that the cost increases with the increase in size and complexity. Patent literature 1 discloses a method of filling an egg package into a container for egg packaging, for example.

As a countermeasure against such a problem, a boxing apparatus for boxing egg packages has been developed, in which the number of egg packages to be boxed by one boxing operation is set to be smaller than the number of egg packages in one layer. In this egg packaging boxing apparatus, for example, a conventional multi-joint robot having a head that is operated arbitrarily is used to store egg packages stored as one-layer amount in a container by two boxing operations or 3 boxing operations.

Specifically, in the case where the number of egg packages in one layer of the container is 5, for example, the egg packages are divided into 3 egg packages and two egg packages to be packaged. The 3 egg packages collected in the temporary standby area are held to the head. The head holding 3 egg packages moves from the temporary standby area to the container, and the holding state is released and accommodated in the container of 3 egg packages. The head portion, the holding state of which is released, moves from the container to the temporary standby area. Next, two egg packages collected in the temporary standby area are held to the head. The heads holding the two egg packages are moved from the temporary standby area to the container, and the held state is released and accommodated in the container of the two egg packages. Thus, the first tier of 5 egg packages in the container are received in the container. In the following, the same operation is repeated to store 5 egg packages of the second layer above the egg packages of the first layer.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

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 the conventional egg packaging device, when the packaging operation is performed once, the head moves back and forth between the temporary standby area and the container once. Therefore, when a single-layer egg package is stored in the container by a plurality of boxing operations at least two times, the head is moved back and forth between the temporary standby 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 of the present invention is to provide a transfer device for egg packages, which can transfer a larger number of egg packages to a storage space including a container or the like in a unit time.

Solution for solving the problem

The egg package transfer device of the present invention is a transfer device for transferring 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 unit holds a plurality of egg packages including one egg package and other egg packages, and moves the plurality of held egg packages to the storage space. The control unit controls the operation of the holding unit, and the operation of the holding unit includes: an operation of holding an egg package, an operation of moving at least one of the held egg package and the storage space, and an operation of releasing a state of holding the egg package. The control unit controls the following operations: the plurality of egg packages are held, and after the state of holding one egg package is released at the 1 st position in the storage space, the holding portion is moved, and the state of holding the other egg packages is released at the 2 nd position different from the 1 st position in the storage space.

Preferably, the operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit includes an operation of releasing a state in which the other egg packages are held at a height position different from a height position 1 as the position 2.

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

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

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the transfer device for egg packages 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 of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

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

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

Fig. 3 is a side view showing a step of transferring an egg package by the egg package transfer apparatus 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 single step of the egg package transfer operation performed by the egg package transfer apparatus 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 of the same embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a side view showing a single step of the egg package transfer operation performed by the egg package transfer apparatus according to modification 2 in the same embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a side view showing a process performed after the process 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 a transfer device for egg packaging according to an embodiment will be described. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the egg package transfer device 1 transfers a plurality of egg packages to be transferred 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 storage space a for egg packages. The transfer device 1 for egg packaging includes a holding unit 11, a head 14, a holding release unit 12, a vacuum mechanism 13, and a control unit 3. Here, the housing space a for housing the egg package P is formed in the box-shaped container C.

The holding unit 11 holds a plurality of egg packages P. The holding portion 11 is constituted by the 1 st adsorbing member 15 and the 2 nd adsorbing member. The 1 st adsorbing member 15 can hold, for example, two adjacent egg packages P. The 2 nd adsorbing member 16 can hold, for example, two egg packages P.

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

The 1 st adsorption member 15 and the 2 nd adsorption member 16 are bellows structures that can expand and contract in the up-down direction. In a state where the egg package is adsorbed, the 1 st adsorbing member 15 and the 2 nd adsorbing member 16 are contracted. On the other hand, in a state in which the egg package is not adsorbed, the 1 st adsorbing member 15 and the 2 nd adsorbing member 16 become elongated due to gravity.

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

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

For an egg package in which eggs are stored in packages by a packaging device, the eggs are transported to a temporary standby area 21 by a transport device 2. A stopper 22 for restricting movement of the egg package is provided in the temporary standby area 21. In a state where the predetermined number of egg packages set up are accumulated in the temporary standby area 21, the conveyor 2 is temporarily stopped, and the transfer operation of the egg packages is started. The operation (action) will be described later.

The operation of the transfer device 1 for egg packaging is controlled by the control unit 3. The control unit 3 controls the holding state and movement of the egg package P held by the holding unit 11. The control unit 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 to release the held state individually. The control unit 3 controls the state of holding one egg package P to be released after the state of holding the other egg package P is released. The control unit 3 performs the following control: after the state of holding one egg package P is released and before the state of holding the other egg package P is released, the other egg package P is moved.

The control unit 3 controls the placement of the other egg packages P at a height different from the height of one egg package P previously placed in the container C. The control unit 3 performs a control to perform an operation of placing one egg package on the upper side S1 of the step S formed by the egg packages P stored in the storage space a, and thereafter, performs an operation of placing another egg package P on the lower side S2 of the step S.

The control unit 3 includes a dedicated computer or a general-purpose computer such as 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 transfer device 1 for egg packaging will be described.

The egg packages P conveyed from the upstream side are gathered to a temporary standby area 21 located on the downstream side by the conveying device 2. For example, in a state where 4 egg packages P (two vertical by two horizontal) are gathered in the temporary standby area 21, the transfer operation is started.

First, the head 14 moves upward of the collected egg packages P. Next, the head 14 is lowered, the 1 st adsorbing member 15 is brought into contact with two egg packages P among the 4 egg packages P, and the 2 nd adsorbing member 16 is brought into contact with the remaining two egg packages P. Subsequently, the vacuum mechanism 13 is operated. The 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 start vacuum suction, respectively, by the vacuum mechanism 13. 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 standby area 21 to above the container C. Next, the head 14 is lowered, and the release holding portion 12 is operated, for example, at a position where the two egg packages P held by the 1 st adsorbing member 15 are placed along the 1 st side wall C1 of the container C. The vacuum suction is stopped by the release holding portion 12. The adsorption state of each of the 1 st adsorption member 15 and the 2 nd adsorption member 16 is released, and the first 4 egg packages P are stored in the container C. In the container C shown in fig. 3, two egg packages P are shown in front.

The holding portion 11 from which the egg package P is released moves from the container C to the temporary standby area 21. For example, in a state where 4 egg packages P are gathered in the temporary standby area 21, the holding section 11 is lowered, the 1 st adsorbing member 15 is in contact with two egg packages P, and the 2 nd adsorbing member 16 is in contact with the remaining two egg packages P. Next, the vacuum suction is started by the vacuum mechanism 13 on each of the 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16, and the 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 standby area 21 to above the container C. Then, the head 14 is lowered. 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 adsorbing member 15 are placed along the 1 st side wall C1. The suction state of the 1 st suction member 15 is released by the release holding portion 12a, and two egg packages P are further stored along the 1 st side wall C1 above the egg package P stored first. In other words, two egg packages P are further placed on the upper layer side S1 of the step S formed by the egg packages P that were initially stored.

Next, as shown in fig. 5, the holding portion 11 holding the remaining two egg packages P is moved to above the region S3 in the container C where the egg packages P are not yet placed. The release holding portion 12b of the release holding portion 12 is operated at a position where the two egg packages P held by the 2 nd adsorbing member 16 are placed along the 2 nd side wall C2. The adsorption state of the 2 nd adsorption member is released by the release holding portion 12b, and two egg packages P are placed in the region 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 standby area 21 to above the container C. Then, the head 14 is lowered. The release holding portion 12 is operated at a position where the two egg packages P held by the 2 nd adsorbing member 16 are placed along the 2 nd side wall C2. The vacuum suction is stopped by the release holding portion 12. The adsorption state of each of the 1 st adsorption member 15 and the 2 nd adsorption member 16 is released, and 4 egg packages P are placed on the 4 egg packages P that have been placed. In other words, 4 egg packages P are placed in the area S4 of the container C where the second tier of egg packages P has not 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 standby area 21.

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

Thus, compared to the conventional egg package boxing apparatus, the number of times the head moves back and forth between the temporary standby 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 that can be accommodated in the container C per unit time can be increased. In the conventional egg package boxing apparatus, in the steps corresponding to the steps shown in fig. 3 to 6, when the egg package P is to be stored in the container C, the head needs to be reciprocated 4 times between the temporary standby area and the container, whereas in the egg package transfer apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the head 14 can be reciprocated 3 times between the temporary standby area 21 and the container C, so that the egg package P can be stored in the container C.

Further, the present invention can cope with various changes without increasing the temporary standby area 21 or the conveyor 2 disposed on the upstream side as compared with the conventional egg packing box device, and can be applied to an egg packing facility in which a space available for use is limited more.

The holding portion 11 is a plurality of 1 st adsorbing members 15 and 2 nd adsorbing members 16 connected to the vacuum mechanism 13, respectively, and adsorbs the egg package P from above. Therefore, the holding portion 11 is less likely to interfere with the egg package P stored in the container C, the 1 st side wall C1 or the 2 nd side wall C2 of the container C, as compared with the holding portion for holding the egg package P from below or from the side.

The release holding portion 12a of the release holding portion 12 releases the state of holding one egg package P held by the 1 st adsorbing member 15 by operating at a position where the one egg package P is placed along the 1 st side wall C1. The release holding portion 12b of the release holding portion 12 is operated at a position where the other egg package P held by the 2 nd adsorbing member 16 is placed along the 2 nd side wall C2, so that the state of holding the other egg package is released. Accordingly, the egg packages P are arranged along the 1 st side wall C1 or the 2 nd side wall C2 of the container C, respectively, and positioning of the egg packages P is facilitated.

Modification 1

Next, a transfer apparatus for egg packages according to modification 1 will be described. The transfer device for egg packages according to modification 1 has a structure substantially identical to that of the transfer device 1 for egg packages shown in fig. 1. Therefore, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated unless necessary. In the egg package transfer device 1 according to modification 1, the order of storage of the egg packages in the storage space a is different from the order of storage of the egg packages in the transfer device.

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

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

In the transfer device 1 for egg packages according to modification 1, the control unit 3 controls to store one egg package P stored in the storage space a in advance with another egg package P. The control unit 3 controls the direction of the other egg packages P to be changed after one egg package P is stored.

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

For example, in a state where 4 egg packages P are accumulated in the temporary standby area 21, the transfer operation is started. First, the head 14 moves upward of the collected egg packages P. Next, the head 14 is lowered, the 1 st adsorbing member 15 is brought into contact with two egg packages P among the 4 egg packages P, and the 2 nd adsorbing member 16 is brought into contact with the remaining two egg packages P. Subsequently, the vacuum mechanism 13 is operated. The 1 st suction member 15 and the 2 nd suction member 16 start vacuum suction, respectively, by the vacuum mechanism 13. 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 standby 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 bottom plate C3 of the container 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 adsorbing member 15 are placed along the 1 st side wall C1 of the container C (see fig. 1). The suction state of the 1 st suction member 15 is released 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 approximately 180 degrees in the horizontal direction, thereby changing the direction of the head 14. Next, as shown in fig. 9, the head 14 is lowered. The release holding portion 12b of the release holding portion 12 is operated at a position where the two egg packages P held by the 2 nd adsorbing member 16 are placed along the 1 st side wall C1.

The release holding portion 12b releases the adsorption state of the 2 nd adsorption member, and the 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 standby area 21. Next, in a state where 4 egg packages P are gathered in the temporary standby area 21, the 4 egg packages are held by the holding portion 11. Thereafter, as shown in fig. 4 from the left, the following operations are performed: the holding portion 11 holding the egg package P moves from the temporary standby area 21 to above the container C, and stores the egg package P in the remaining space in the container C.

In the transfer device 1 for egg packages according to modification 1, the same or an effect based on the same as that of the transfer device 1 for egg packages 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 apparatus for egg packages according to modification 2 will be described. The transfer device for egg packages according to modification 2 has a structure substantially identical to that of the transfer device 1 for egg packages according to modification 1. Therefore, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated unless necessary. In the transfer device for egg packages according to modification 2, the shape of the storage space a is different from the manner in which egg packages are stored (placed) in the storage space a.

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

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

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

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

In the egg package transfer device 1, for example, the egg package is transferred 4 times or more times in order to place the egg package in the storage space a in 1-layer quantity. For example, in a state where a predetermined number of egg packages P such as 3 (vertical 3 rows×horizontal 1 row) are accumulated in the temporary standby area 21, the transfer operation is started. The 1 st adsorbing member 15 corresponds to 1 egg package P at one end. The 2 nd adsorbing 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 upward with the 3 egg packages P collected in the temporary standby area 21. Next, the head 14 is lowered, and the 1 st adsorbing member 15 is brought into contact with the egg package P at one end. The 2 nd adsorbing member 16 is in contact with the egg package P at the other end and the center, respectively. Subsequently, the vacuum mechanism 13 is operated, whereby the 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 standby 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 inner race R. Next, the release holding portion 12a corresponding to the 1 st adsorbing member 15 is operated. The suction of the vacuum is stopped by the release 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 adsorbed by the 2 nd adsorption member 16 moves upward. Then, the rotation is made approximately 90 degrees in the horizontal direction, whereby the direction of the head 14 is changed as shown in fig. 14. Next, as shown in fig. 15, the head 14 is lowered, and the release holding portion 12b corresponding to the 2 nd adsorbing 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 inner roll R. The adsorption state of the 2 nd adsorption member 16 is released by the release holding portion 12b, and two egg packages P are placed on the shelf R1 of the inner race R. Thus, the 1 st transfer operation is completed.

When the 1 st transfer operation is completed, the holding unit 11 moves from the inner roll 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 operations after the 3 rd time are also performed according to the 1 st transfer operation, respectively. Fig. 11 shows an example of the arrangement of egg packages P stored in the inner race R by, for example, 4 transfer operations. 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 an egg package P transferred by the 3 rd transfer operation. The egg package P4 is an egg package P transferred by the 4 th transfer operation.

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

The transfer device for egg packages according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

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

The number of one egg package P and the number of other egg packages P may be the same or different. The number of each of the one egg package P and the other egg packages P may be 1 or a plurality of egg packages P.

When the egg packages are stacked in a plurality of layers in the vertical direction in the storage space a and stored, the number of egg packages in each layer or the arrangement of egg packages may be different. In order to cope with such a storage form, the transfer device for egg packages preferably can set the number and arrangement of egg packages stored in one layer to be different from the number and arrangement of egg packages stored in another layer. The number of layers of the egg packages P stacked in the storage space a is not limited to the number of layers shown in the figure.

The temporary standby area 21 may be, for example, a rack or the like, which is not provided with a conveyor at the same time but does not have a mechanism for conveying egg packages. In the case where the conveying device is provided in the temporary standby area 21, it is preferable to perform the operation of the conveying device in accordance with the degree of accumulation of the egg package in the temporary standby area 21, but this is not essential.

The holding portion 11 may have 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 adsorbing member 15 and the 2 nd adsorbing member 16 or in addition to the 1 st adsorbing member 15 and the like. Patent literature 2 is a patent literature that discloses an example of such an arm.

The size and shape of the egg package P can be appropriately selected in accordance with the size of eggs, the number of eggs, and the like. As the egg package itself, a conventional package or a molded package may be used in addition to the flat package.

As the container forming the storage space for storing the egg package, any container capable of storing the egg package in which eggs are stored may be used, and a carton for transportation, a plastic box, or the like may be used. The container may also be without a lid.

Further, the container or the like having the storage space may be moved without moving the holding portion between the operation of releasing the state of holding one egg package and the operation of releasing the state of holding the other egg package. Further, the operation of moving the holding portion and the operation of moving the container or the like in which the storage space is formed may be performed 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.

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

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

(Supplementary notes 1)

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

(Supplementary notes 2)

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

(Supplementary notes 3)

In the transfer device for egg packages according to supplementary note 1 or 2, the storage space is formed by a container, and the holding release unit releases the holding state of the one egg package at a position along one side wall of the container, and releases the holding state of the other egg package at a position along the other side wall of the container.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be used for a transfer device for an egg package in which eggs are placed in an accommodating space.

Description of the reference numerals

1. A transfer device for egg packaging; 3. a control unit; 11. a holding section; 12. 12a, 12b, release holding portion; 13. a vacuum mechanism; 14. a head; 15. a 1 st adsorption member; 16. a 2 nd adsorption member; 21. a temporary standby area; p, P1, P2, P3, P4, egg packaging; C. a container; c1, the 1 st side wall; c2, the 2 nd side wall; s1, an upper layer side; s2, a lower layer side; A. and 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 transfer device for egg packages comprises:

A holding portion that 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; and

A control unit that controls the 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 storage space, and an operation of releasing a state of holding the egg package,

The control unit controls the following operations: in the one-time transfer process, a plurality of the egg packages are held, and after the state in which the one egg package is held in the holding portion is released from the 1 st position in the holding space while the other egg packages are held by the holding portion during one round trip between the temporary standby area and the holding space, the holding portion holding the other egg packages is moved, and the state in which the other egg packages are held in the 2 nd position different from the 1 st position in the holding space is released from the 2 nd position in the holding space, and the 1 st position and the 2 nd position are different positions in horizontal direction.

2. The transfer device for egg packages according to claim 1, wherein,

The operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit includes an operation of releasing the state of holding the other egg packages at a height position different from the height of the 1 st position as the 2 nd position.

3. The transfer device for egg packages according to claim 1, wherein,

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

4. The transfer device for egg packages according to claim 1, wherein,

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