JP2000043823A - Empty box supplying device in agricultural product sorting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To feed a predetermined kind of packaging boxes to the stage of a bagging-packaging machine promptly in the box-packaging work of sorted agricultural products by allowing a linking device and feeding device to be put in linking operation, and feeding a predetermined kind of packaging boxes to a box-packaging stage via an accommodation shelf. SOLUTION: Agricultural products W measured by a measuring device 7 and determined in their grade, class, or the like (assortment and classification) are fed onto collection conveyors 11 (11A-11C) of a predetermined branch line 5 through the operation of a discharge device 10 corresponding to assortment and classification to be put in a storage collection. On the other hand, several kinds of packaging boxes 16A-16E are transported on delivery-case conveyors 17..., and allowed to stop and wait by a stopper at the position of each dropping device 18. Then, by permitting several kinds of packaging boxes 16 to be housed in the empty box accommodation part of an empty box feeding device 13 for every collection conveyer 11, a feeding time of the packaging boxes 16 to a packaging table 29 is shortened by carrying out the packaging boxes 16 for every kind.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an empty box supply device used in an agricultural product sorting apparatus for sorting and packing agricultural products, and more particularly, a box packaging stage for packing and packaging agricultural products discharged from a sorting conveyor. In addition, the present invention relates to an empty box supply device in an agricultural product sorting apparatus capable of quickly supplying an empty packaging box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an agricultural product sorting apparatus, a method of supplying empty storage boxes, cardboard boxes, tray packs, and the like (hereinafter, collectively referred to as packaging boxes) to a packaging and packaging stage is known as box packaging. An empty box supply conveyor is provided near the stage in a direction parallel to the sorting conveyor, and an empty packaging box is taken out from the empty box supply conveyor and supplied by a boxing worker. In the case of changing the type of the packaging box in this way, it is necessary to remove the packaging boxes on the empty box supply conveyor or to supply another type of packaging boxes after all the boxes have been used.

[0003] In some cases, a worker who supplies an empty packaging box onto an empty box supply conveyor is supplied with a designated type of packaging box, and the user is taken out. However, in this method, switching of the type of packaging box requires labor and time, etc., and during switching of the packaging box, the packaging operation is interrupted and the operation efficiency is low. Was.

[0004] To solve such inconveniences, for example, a packaging apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-80123 has been proposed. This boxing device is provided with a multi-stage boxing conveyor capable of supplying different types of packing boxes of different heights, and takes out the packing boxes from the multistage boxing conveyor to perform box packing work. . According to this container distribution apparatus, although the above-mentioned disadvantages such as the time required for switching empty packaging boxes are slightly improved, the operator needs to take out the packaging boxes one by one from the multi-stage container conveyor, so that it still requires manual operation. And the efficiency of the operation is not improved, and it is difficult to automate the sorting and packaging work. In particular, since the container conveyor is formed in a multi-stage type, there is a disadvantage that the workability of taking out the packaging boxes from the uppermost stage or the lowermost stage is poor.

As a solution to the problem that automation is difficult and workability is poor, for example, Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 25
A box weighing device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 64915 is also proposed. This box weighing device is composed of a first boxing conveyor and a second boxing conveyor each having a plurality of supply devices, and is operated by outputting a switching signal from a switching means to a corresponding supply device. The type of the packaging box is automatically switched from the first or second container conveyor to the box weighing device.

[0006]

However, in this box weighing apparatus, although the supply switching operation of empty packaging boxes can be automated, a corresponding type of empty switching box is supplied by a switching signal from the switching means. This is a method to take out packing boxes directly from each shipping conveyor or via a lowering device and supply them.Therefore, when supplying the packing boxes of a shipping conveyor using a vertical lowering device, this packing box is packed and weighed. There is a problem that it takes a relatively long time to reach the section.

Further, the arrangement positions of the first and second shipping conveyors are different from each other, and the structure of the linking means provided on the path from each of the shipping conveyors to the box weighing section is provided. Because of the difference, the time from when the switching signal is input to when an empty packaging box is supplied differs depending on the type of the packaging box. That is, for example, the second packaging box on the second shipping conveyor is supplied between the shipping conveyor and the box weighing unit via an extrusion device, a vertical descent device, or the like. As compared with the first packaging box on the first packaging conveyor, it takes a longer time to reach the box weighing section.

[0008] Therefore, in the sorting packaging mode in which the type of the packaging box is frequently changed, since the supply time of the packaging box varies depending on the type of the packaging box, the switching operation time may be partially long. There is a problem that the work efficiency is low as a whole.
Since it is a stand, there is a problem that the types of packaging boxes that can be used are limited to two types.

Thus, the conventional sorting and packaging system is
It is not a system originally intended to change packaging boxes frequently, but for example, several cases of a certain type (by design and size) are made, and then several cases of another type are made. And in the conventional system where the manual work is the mainstream,
Once the agricultural products are pooled in a pool such as a receiving box, they are packed in a box.Therefore, the types of packaging boxes are not frequently changed and packed in boxes. Boxes are packed in boxes for a while, and when a certain amount of produce is accumulated on other types of pools, switching to another packaging box is started.

Therefore, the present invention is designed to improve the packaging robot so that the packaging operation is being processed at a high speed. If the packaging robot having such a high processing capacity is arranged for each sorting section, the operating rate is reduced. Although it is lowered, it was made in view of the fact that the operation rate of the boxing robot can be greatly increased if one boxing robot is assigned to packing operations of different sorting and classification. . An object of the invention of claim 1 of the present invention is to provide an empty product in an agricultural product sorting apparatus which can quickly supply a predetermined type of packaging box to a box packaging stage at the time of packing and packaging the selected agricultural products. An object of the present invention is to provide a box supply device.

[0011] Further, the object of the invention according to claim 2 is, in addition to the object of the invention according to claim 1, in an agricultural product sorting apparatus capable of quickly switching packaging boxes and easily coping with frequent switching operations. An object of the present invention described in claim 3 or 4 is to provide an empty box supply device, and in addition to the object of the invention described in claim 2, agricultural product sorting that can reliably carry in and send out a packaging box to a storage shelf. An object of the present invention is to provide an empty box supply device. The object of the invention described in claim 5 is, in addition to the object of the invention described in claims 1 to 4, an empty box in an agricultural product sorting apparatus that can efficiently supply and switch a packaging box by linking with a sorting conveyor or the like. To provide a supply device. An object of the invention according to claim 6 is to provide, in addition to the objects of the inventions according to claims 1 to 5, an empty box supply device in an agricultural product sorting device capable of improving the work efficiency of box packing work. Another object of the present invention is to provide, in addition to the object of the sixth aspect of the present invention, an empty box supply device in an agricultural product sorting apparatus that can supply packaging boxes more efficiently. An object of the invention described in claim 8 is to provide, in addition to the objects of the inventions described in claims 1 to 7, an empty box supply device in an agricultural product sorting device capable of effectively utilizing the installation space of the agricultural product sorting device. is there.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a plurality of box conveyors for respectively transporting a plurality of types of packaging boxes by type. In the agricultural product sorting device that supplies the packaging boxes of each type on the box conveyor to the box packaging stage and packs the agricultural products sorted into the packaging boxes, the packaging boxes on the predetermined shipping conveyor are taken out and loaded. A storage device that is provided near the packaging and packaging stage, temporarily stores the packaging boxes that are transported by the linkage device and carried in at the loading position, and a box that stores the packaging boxes stored in the storage shelves. A delivery device for delivering to a packing / packaging stage, wherein the linking device and the delivery device are operated in association with each other, whereby a predetermined type of packaging box is supplied to the box / packaging stage via a storage shelf. And it features.

[0013] With this configuration, the various packaging boxes conveyed by the respective conveyers are taken out of the conveyers by the operation of the linking device, transferred to the carry-in position of the storage shelves, and carried into the storage shelves. It is temporarily stored. The packaging box stored in the storage shelf is sent out by the operation of the sending device, and is supplied to the boxed packaging stage. The linking device and the sending device operate in association with each other based on various signals from the sorting conveyor or the like, whereby the agricultural products that are boxed by the box / packaging stage on the storage shelf provided near the box / packaging stage. The packaging boxes corresponding to the sorting classification are stored in advance, and the predetermined packaging boxes can be quickly and quickly supplied to the boxed packaging stage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the storage shelf has a plurality of shelves for storing a plurality of types of packaging boxes, and the packaging boxes in each of the shelves are selectively sent out by the sending device. It is supplied to a box packaging stage. With this configuration, a plurality of types of packaging boxes can be stored in advance on a plurality of shelves of the storage shelf, and a predetermined type of packaging box can be selectively supplied from the storage shelf to the box packaging stage. Is done. Thereby, the switching operation of the packaging boxes can be performed quickly, and frequent switching of the packaging boxes can be easily dealt with.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of shelves are vertically arranged, each of the shelves moves up and down integrally, and each of the shelves moves up and down. In which the packaging box can be stopped at the packaging box carry-in position and the packaging box delivery position. With this configuration, any one of the plurality of shelves can be stopped at the packaging box carry-in position or the packaging box sending position only by moving the storage shelf up and down. Carrying in and out of each of the storage shelves is assured.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the downstream side of the linking device is connected to the packaging box carry-in position, and the delivery device is provided at the packaging box delivery position. With this configuration, the predetermined type of packaging box transferred by the linking device is loaded into the storage shelf from the downstream side via the packaging box loading position, and the packaging box in the storage shelf is the packaging box. From the delivery position, it is delivered to the box packaging stage by the delivery device. In other words, a predetermined packing box is supplied to the box packing stage by the packing box carried in from the packing box carrying-in position being sent out from the packing box sending-out position. Is more certain.

Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the linking device and the sending-out device sort a predetermined number of agricultural products in the packaging unit according to the sorting and sorting by the sorting conveyor, the packing box according to the sorting and sorting is put into a box. It operates so that it can be supplied to the filling and packaging stage. With this configuration, when the number of agricultural products sorted into a predetermined sorting class by the sorting conveyor reaches the number of packaging units, a signal based on the sorting class information is output to the linking device or the sending device, and both devices are output. Is activated, and the packaging boxes of the type corresponding to the sorting classification are taken out of the distribution conveyor and temporarily stored in the storage shelves, and are supplied to the box packaging stage. Thereby, a predetermined type of packaging box can be temporarily stored in the storage shelf in advance in accordance with the sorting state of the sorting conveyor, and the supply operation and the switching operation of the packaging box can be efficiently performed.

Further, the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that a box robot is arranged on the box packaging stage. With this configuration, the agricultural products sorted by the sorting conveyor are packed by a boxing robot into a predetermined type of packing box to be supplied to a boxing and packing stage. It can be automated, and the efficiency of box packing can be improved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, during the packaging operation by the packaging robot, the linking device operates, and the next predetermined type of packaging box is stored in the empty storage shelf. Features. With this configuration, while the boxing robot is packing the agricultural products in the predetermined type of packaging box,
Since the linking device is activated and the next packaging box is stored in the empty storage shelf, a predetermined type of packaging box can always be stored in the storage shelf, and the supply operation of the packaging box is more efficient. Can be done

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that a plurality of boxing conveyors are provided at a slightly higher position in parallel with the sorting conveyor. With this configuration, since the height of the boxing conveyor and that of the sorting conveyor are different, effective use of the installation space in the sorting and packaging facility can be achieved.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 show an embodiment of an empty box supply device in the agricultural product sorting device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an agricultural product sorting device using the empty box supply device, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the empty box supply device, FIG. 5 is a side view of a main part thereof, and FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line AA of FIG. .

In FIG. 1, an agricultural product supply conveyor 2, a transport conveyor 3 and a sorting conveyor 4 are arranged in a continuous manner in an agricultural product sorting apparatus 1, and a sorting conveyor 4 is provided.
Are connected to a plurality of rows of branch transport lines 5 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. For example, the agricultural product supply conveyor 2 is provided in two rows, and the downstream side thereof is connected to the upstream side of the two rows of transport conveyors 3, respectively.
, The agricultural products W transported from the transporter 3 are placed on the corresponding trays 6 of the transport conveyor 3 (see FIG. 2) one by one.

The two rows of conveyors 3 are provided with a measuring device 7 such as a camera on the downstream side thereof.
And is connected to an upstream side of the sorting conveyor 4 in one row. The measuring device 7
A bar code reader 9 for reading a bar code (not shown) provided on, for example, the tray 6 is disposed on the downstream side of the sorting conveyor 4, respectively, and information (individually read by the bar code reader 9) is provided. The discharge device 10 provided between the sorting conveyor 4 and the branch transport line 5 operates based on the information on the tray 6 and the sorting and classification information of the agricultural products W placed on the tray 6).

The branch transport line 5 includes a sorting conveyor 4
Are arranged in a plurality of rows, and two pairs of storage and accumulation conveyors 11 are arranged on the branch transport line 5 of each row, and the sorted and classified agricultural products W are stored and accumulated on each of the storage and accumulation conveyors 11. Is done. In addition, the branch transport line 5
The discharge device 10 is disposed on the upstream side of the (storage accumulation conveyor 11), and the tray pack supply device 12, the empty box supply device 13, the boxing robot 14, and the like are disposed on the downstream side thereof. ing.

Further, below the branch transport line 5, a product transport conveyor 15 for transporting a packaging box 16 packed with agricultural products W in a state of crossing each branch transport line 5 is provided.
A plurality of rows of boxing conveyors 17 are arranged above the boxing robot 14 on the side opposite to the tray pack supply device 12 in parallel with the sorting conveyor 4. This shipping conveyor 1
7 is provided at a high position with respect to the sorting conveyor 4 as described later, and the empty box lowering device 1
8 are provided, and an empty box transport conveyor 19 is arranged below the empty box lowering device 18.

A return conveyor 20 for transporting empty trays 6 is disposed between the tray pack supply device 12 and the agricultural product supply conveyor 2, and in FIG. On the downstream side of the branch transport line 5 (the most downstream side of No. 4), a manual work table 21 that is manually packed in a box is provided corresponding to the classification in which the number of the agricultural products W to be sorted is small.

The above is the overall configuration of the agricultural product sorting device 1. Next, the configuration of the portion where the empty box supply device 13 according to the present invention is installed will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. First, a relay conveyor 23 is connected to the most downstream side of the storage accumulation conveyor 11 constituting the branch transport line 5, and the return conveyor 20 for transporting an empty tray 6 is connected to a downstream side of the relay conveyor 23. A box lane 24 where the sorted agricultural products W are on standby is formed in a straight line portion of the relay conveyor 23 perpendicular to the storage accumulation conveyor 11, and a stopper for stopping the tray 6 is provided downstream of the box lane 24. 25 is provided so that it can appear and disappear.

The tray pack supply device 12 is disposed in a portion located inside the relay conveyor 23. The tray pack supply device 12 has a turntable 26 that can be rotated, for example, by 90 degrees, and three types of tray packs 27 are placed on the turntable 26 at three circumferentially outer positions in a stacked state. At another location, an intermediate partition plate 28 made of thin paper or the like is placed in a stacked state. Further, a packing table 29 is provided between the packing lane 24 of the relay conveyor 23 and the packing robot 14, and the empty packing box 16 is provided on the packing table 29 from the empty box supply device 13 as described later. Is supplied.

The parts corresponding to the tray pack supply device 12 and the boxing robot 14 of the boxing conveyor 17 include:
An extruder 3 that supplies an empty packaging box 16 on each box conveyor 17 to the empty box lowering unit 18 between the box conveyors 17.
0 is provided, and each boxing conveyor 17 is arranged at a high position with respect to the sorting conveyor 4 such that an operator can walk under the boxing conveyor 17, for example. As shown in FIG. 3, the boxing robot 14 is formed by an articulated robot. At the tip of the arm, an adsorption board 31 for adsorbing and holding the agricultural product W, the tray pack 27, and the partition plate 28 is provided. , For example, are provided in a row.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the empty box supply device 13 has an empty box storage shelf 34 that is vertically movable on a frame 33. In the empty box storage shelf 34, three shelf portions 34a to 34c are formed in a vertical direction by a shelf frame 35 having left and right side surfaces and upper and lower surfaces formed of a plate body and opening front and rear. At the lower part of the body, there are provided guide portions 37 which slidably engage with vertical guide bars 36 provided on the frame body 33, respectively.

A U-shaped frame 38 is fixed to the uppermost plate of the shelf frame 35.
A guide roller mounting plate 39 having a U-shape in a plan view is fixed to the rear portion. Two guide rollers 40 are rotatably supported on inner surfaces on both sides of the guide roller mounting plate 39, and guides disposed between the guide rollers 40 by a predetermined length in the vertical direction of the frame 33. The side surface of the bar 41 is slidably engaged. The guide bar 41 is fixed to both sides of a rectangular column 42 fixed to the frame 33, and a balance weight 43 is disposed in the column 42 so as to be vertically movable.

The balance weight 43 has one end of a chain 44 locked on the upper surface thereof.
The motor 45 is fixedly wound on a sprocket 46 of the motor 45 fixed to the upper surface of the frame 33, and the other end is locked by a frame 38 on the upper surface of the shelf frame 35. Thus, when the motor 45 is rotated by a signal from the agricultural product sorting device 1 as described later, both ends of the chain 44 are raised or lowered via the sprocket 46, and the balance weight 43 is
2, the empty box storage shelf 34 (shelf frame 35) follows the up and down movement of the balance weight 43 along the guide bars 36 and 41, and the solid line position and the two-dot chain line position in FIG. Will move up and down.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, an extrusion roller 49 is provided downstream of the empty box transport conveyor 19 of the empty box supply device 13, and both ends of the extrusion roller 49 are attached to the support plate 50. It is rotatably supported, and a shaft of a cylinder 51 is connected to a substantially intermediate position of the support plate 50. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, when the empty packaging box 16 is transported on the empty box transport conveyor 19, as shown in FIG. The packaging box 16 is located below the upper surface of the empty-box transport conveyor 19 and the empty-box storage shelf 34 of the empty-box supply device 13.
In the case where the shaft is housed inside, the shaft moves forward by the operation of the cylinder 51, so that the shaft rotates as shown by the arrow A. A linking device 48 is formed by the pushing roller 49, the cylinder 51, the empty box transport conveyor 19, the empty box lowering device 18, the pushing device 30, and the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a delivery device 52 is provided at a portion of the lower portion of the frame 33 facing the packing table 29.
Is provided. The delivery device 52 includes a cylinder 53
And a delivery plate 54 fixed to the end of the shaft of the cylinder 53. When the cylinder 53 is operated (the shaft is moved forward) in connection with the operation of the motor 45, the three The empty packaging box 16 stored in any of the shelves 34a to 34c is
Feed it out as shown by arrow d above. The operation of the cylinder 51, the extruding device 30, and the empty box lowering device 18 forming the linking device 48 is also configured to operate in conjunction with the operation of the motor 45.

Next, an example of the operation of the empty box supply device 13 will be described. For convenience of description, three shelf portions 34a to 34a provided on the empty box storage shelf 34 of the empty box supply device 13 are described.
The position of 34c is from the top to the packaging box 16A, the packaging box 16
B, storage boxes 11A to 11C of two rows of branch boxing lines 5 located at the leftmost of the plurality of branch transport lines 5 in which the packaging boxes 16C are sequentially stored (see FIG. 1).
, Agricultural products W corresponding to three types of packaging boxes 16A to 16C
Are described as being stored and accumulated respectively.

First, the agricultural product W measured by the measuring device 7 shown in FIG. 1 and whose grade and the like are determined (sorted and classified).
Are supplied onto the storage and accumulation conveyors 11A to 11C of the predetermined branch conveyance line 5 by the operation of the corresponding discharge device 10 according to the sorting classification, and are conveyed downstream by the storage and accumulation conveyors 11A to 11C for storage. Be accumulated.
On the other hand, the five types of packaging boxes 16A to 16E are transported in a state where the packaging boxes 16A to 16E are formed (the upper surface is opened) on the five rows of the container conveyor 17 shown in FIG. , And is stopped by the stopper 55 (see FIG. 3) and waits.

In this state, the linking device 48 is operated on the three shelves 34a to 34c of the empty box storage shelf 34 of the empty box supply device 13 to store three types of packaging boxes 16A to 16C, respectively. This storage is performed, for example, by operating the extruder 30 of the distribution conveyor 17 to which the packaging box 16C is transported, and moving the packaging box 16C via the empty box lowering device 18 to the empty box transporting conveyor 1.
9 and transfer the packaging box 16C to the empty box conveyor 1
At 9, it is transported to the downstream side. At this time, the empty box storage shelf 34 of the empty box supply device 13 is positioned at the highest position (solid line position in FIG. 4), and the lower shelf 34c is located at the packaging box carry-in position, and is located on the downstream side of the empty box transport conveyor 19. Facing.

Then, the packaging box 1 is transported by the empty box transport conveyor 19.
When 6C is conveyed to the front of the extrusion roller 49, the cylinder 51 of the linking device 48 is operated to rotate the extrusion roller 49 in the direction of arrow A, and to place the packaging box 16C in the lower shelf portion 34c of the empty box storage shelf 34. Press Thereby, the packaging box 16C
Is stored in a predetermined shelf 34c, and this operation is similarly performed for the other shelves 34b and 34a of the empty box storage shelf 34.
In this case, the empty box storage shelf 34 stops the middle and upper shelf sections 34b and 34a at the packaging box carry-in position facing the downstream side of the empty box transport conveyor 19 by the operation of the motor 45,
In this state, the packaging boxes 16B and 16A are similar to the packaging box 16C.
Are stored in the predetermined shelves 34b and 34c.

In this manner, each shelf 3 of the empty box storage shelf 34
When three types of packaging boxes 16A to 16C are stored in 4a to 34c, any one of these packaging boxes 16A to 16C is supplied onto the packing table 29 by the operation of the motor 45 and the delivery device 52. . This supply is performed by, for example, the packaging box 16A.
Is to be supplied to the box 29, the empty box storage shelf 34
Is lowered to the lowest position (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4), and the upper shelf 34a is set to the packaging box delivery position. In this state, the delivery device 52 is operated, and
A is sent forward as indicated by the arrow D and supplied onto the box table 29.

When the packaging box 16A is supplied onto the packaging table 29, the packaging box 16A is moved on the packaging table 29 as shown by arrow B in FIG. In this state, the packaging robot 14 packs the agricultural products W on the tray 6 waiting on the packaging lane 24 of the relay conveyor 23 into the packaging box 16A. First, the box packing operation by the box packing robot 14 is performed.
When the packaging box 16A is set, a predetermined tray pack 27 on the tray pack supply device 12 is sucked and picked up by the suction board 31 of the boxing robot 14 at a position shown by a solid line in FIG. Is set by inserting it into the packaging box 16A as shown by the two-dot chain line a.

When the tray pack 27 is set in the packaging box 16A, the box robot 14 is operated, and a predetermined number of agricultural products W waiting on the box lane 24 as shown by a two-dot chain line b. Are sucked together by the suction disk 31 and taken up.
Each of the agricultural products W is stored in the recess of the tray pack 27 set in the packaging box 16A. By repeating this operation, when the agricultural products W are stored in all the recesses of one tray pack 27, the intermediate partition plate 28 placed on the tray pack supply device 12 is packed in the same manner as the tray pack 27. The agricultural products W that are sucked and picked up by the suction disk 31 of the robot 14 and stored in the packaging box 16A.
Place on top.

Then, the operation of setting the next tray pack 27 on the intermediate partition plate 28 and storing the agricultural products W is repeated, and when a predetermined number of the agricultural products W are stored in the packaging box 16A, one of the products is stored. The operation of storing the agricultural product W in the packaging box 16A, that is, the box packing operation is completed. This agricultural product W
Is packed in the packaging box 16A.
As shown by arrow C, the product is lowered by a descent device or the like (not shown) and transported to the downstream side by the product transport conveyor 15.

On the other hand, during the packing operation of the agricultural products W into the packaging box 16A, the empty box supply device 13 is operated to activate the next packaging box 16A.
A is filled in the empty box storage shelf 34. In other words, when the empty box storage shelf 34 of the empty box supply device 13 sends out the packaging box 16A onto the packing table 29 by the sending device 52, the upper shelf 34a is connected to the empty box transport conveyor 19 at the packaging box carry-in position. Ascends to the opposing position, and at this position the
The next packaging box 16A waiting on the top is taken out via the extruder 30 and the empty box lowering device 18, and
By the operation of No. 1, it is stored in the upper shelf 34a in the same manner as described above.

When the packing operation of the agricultural products W in the packaging box 16A is completed, the next packaging boxes 16A to 16C are supplied onto the packaging table 29 by the operation of the empty box supply device 13. At this time, if the agricultural product W waiting in the packaging lane 24 corresponds to the packaging box 16A, the packaging box 16A will be continuously supplied. When W corresponds to the packaging box 16C, the empty box supply device 13 supplies the packaging box 16C. The supply of the packaging box 16C is also performed by lowering the shelf 34c at the lower stage of the empty box storage shelf 34 to the packaging box delivery position opposed to the packing table 29, and operating the delivery device 52. The box 16 </ b> C is supplied on the packing table 29.

Then, the empty box storage shelf 34 is placed on the distribution conveyor 17 in the same manner as the packaging box 16A by raising the empty lower shelf 34c to the packaging box carry-in position facing the empty box transport conveyor 19. The next packaging box 16C waiting is
It is stored in the empty shelf 34c. Empty box storage shelf 3
The same applies to the delivery of the packaging box 16B from the middle shelf 34b and the supplement of the next packaging box 16B, whereby the three shelves 34a of the empty box storage shelf 34 of the empty box supply device 13 are provided. There are always three types of packaging boxes 16A-
16C is in a storage standby state.

That is, according to the empty box supply device 13, the three types of packaging boxes 16 A to 16 C are always stored in the empty box storage shelf 34 and kept in a standby state, and according to the sorting classification of the agricultural products W in the box lane 24. Thus, the predetermined packaging boxes 16A to 16C are alternatively supplied onto the packaging table 29. At this time, the packaging boxes 16A to 16C are emptied by the empty box supply device 13.
, The vertical movement of the empty box storage shelf 34 and the horizontal movement by the sending device 52 are performed at the shortest distance. Therefore, as compared with the time when each packaging box 16A to 16C is directly supplied to the packing table 29 from each boxing conveyor 17, the time is greatly reduced, and
The types of packaging boxes 16A to 16C are supplied while being switched quickly.

The operation of the motor 45 of the empty box supply device 13 is performed, for example, based on the measurement information of the measurement device 7 or a signal based on the detection signal of the bar code reader 9 or the storage / integration conveyor 11A to 11C.
A predetermined signal from the agricultural product sorting device 1 such as a counting signal of a counting sensor (not shown) disposed at a predetermined position of 11C is used, and in connection with the operation of the motor 45, a linking device 48 is used.
And the delivery device 52 and the like operate.

As described above, the empty box supply device 13 of the above embodiment
In each of the three types, there are three types of boxes near the boxing table 29 between each boxing conveyor 17 for transporting the packaging box 16 for each type and the boxing table 29 for packing the agricultural products W by the boxing robot 14. Since the empty box storage shelves 34 for storing the packaging boxes 16A to 16C are provided, the respective shelves 34a to 34c of the empty box storage shelves 34 are provided.
34c, the three types of packaging boxes 16A to 16C can be stored in advance and put on standby.
16C can be greatly reduced, and a predetermined type of packaging boxes 16A to 16C can be quickly supplied onto the packing table 29.

The empty box storage shelf 34 has three shelves 34a.
To the next packaging box 16A to 16C during the packaging operation by the packaging robot 14 on the empty shelves 34a to 34c. In addition, the predetermined packaging boxes 16A to 16C can be always stored in the respective shelves 34a to 34c so that the same packaging boxes 16A to 16C can be kept on standby. 16C can be performed quickly, and frequent switching of the packaging boxes 16A to 16C can be easily dealt with.

Further, the operation of the motor 45 for moving the empty box storage shelf 34 up and down operates in connection with the agricultural product sorting apparatus 1 and the operation of the motor 45 in connection with the operation of the motor 45.
A linking device 48 for storing A to 16C in each of the shelves 34a to 34c, and a packaging box 16A to 16 in each of the shelves 34a to 34c.
Since the delivery device 52 for delivering C onto the packing table 29 is operated, the predetermined packaging boxes 16A to 16A to 16C are interlocked with the agricultural product sorting device 1.
The 16C can be securely stored in the predetermined shelves 34a to 34c, and the packaging boxes 16A to 16C of the predetermined shelves 34a to 34c can be reliably supplied onto the packing table 29.

The packaging box 1 supplied on the packing table 29
6A to 16C, the packaging robot 14 packs the agricultural products W on the packaging lane 24, and also supplies the tray pack 27 and the partitioning plate 28 into the packaging boxes 16A to 16C by the packaging robot 14. Since it is performed, the boxing operation of the agricultural products W can be automated. From these facts, it is possible to greatly improve the efficiency of the packing operation of the agricultural products W.

Further, three types of packaging boxes 16A to 16
Since the empty box storage shelf 34 capable of storing C moves up and down in the frame 33, the outer shape of the empty box supply device 13 can be made as small as possible, and the empty box in the agricultural product sorting device 1 can be reduced. The installation space for the supply device 13 can be saved, and the existing agricultural product sorting device 1 can be easily installed without any major modification. In addition, since each box conveyor 17 is arranged at a position higher than the sorting conveyor 4 by a predetermined height, the box conveyor 1
7 itself can be efficiently arranged at the installation place, and the worker can walk under the shipping conveyer 17, so that the workability of the sorting operation of the agricultural products W can be improved.

The empty box storage shelf 34 is provided with a guide bar 36,
Each shelf 3 moves up and down while being guided by 41.
4a to 34c, relatively light packaging boxes 16A to 1
6C can be stably positioned, and the empty box storage shelf 34 itself can be moved up and down smoothly, so that the empty box storage shelf 34 can be reliably stopped at a predetermined packing box carry-in position or a packing box delivery position. Furthermore, the vertical mechanism of the empty box storage shelf 34 is
Since it is composed of the balance weight 43, the chain 44, the motor 45 and the like, the configuration of the empty box supply device 13 can be simplified, and the inexpensive and highly efficient empty box supply device 13 can be obtained. . Further, three or more types of packaging boxes 16A to 16C can be switched and supplied, and the empty box supply device 13 excellent in versatility can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the case where the empty box storage shelf 34 is provided with the three shelves 34a to 34c and the specific packaging boxes 16A to 16C are stored in the respective shelves 34a to 34c has been described. However, the invention is not limited to this, and one, two or four or more shelves can be provided, for example. In particular, one shelf
In the case of providing one, the various signals of the agricultural product sorting device 1 are effectively used, and the packaging box 16 according to the sorting classification of the next agricultural product W waiting on the packaging lane 24 during the packaging operation is placed on the shelf. Wait for storage. Thereby, the packaging box 16 can be supplied according to the produce W on the box lane 24,
The same operation and effect as the above embodiment can be obtained, and also the operation and effect that the configuration of the empty box supply device 13 can be further simplified can be obtained.

Further, even when a plurality of shelves are provided, the type of the packaging boxes (addresses) stored in each of the shelves can be related to the control signal of the agricultural product selection device 1 without specifying the type (address). Various storage modes are adopted in accordance with the sorting and classification status of the agricultural products W, such as storing a plurality of specific packaging boxes only (for example, the same packaging box 16A is stored in three shelves 34a to 34c). be able to. Further, in the above embodiment, the shape of the empty box storage shelf 34 and its vertical movement mechanism,
The configurations and the like of the linking device 48 and the sending device 52 are also examples, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of each invention according to the present invention.

[0056]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a linking device for taking out a predetermined type of packaging box from each boxing conveyor, transferring it to a predetermined position, and carrying it into a storage shelf. A delivery device is provided for sending the packaging boxes temporarily stored in the storage shelves to the packaging and packaging stage, and the two devices operate in conjunction with each other. Empty packaging boxes according to the sorting and classification of agricultural products packed in boxes can be stored in standby beforehand, shortening the supply time of the packaging boxes to the packaging and packaging stage, and promptly supplying empty packaging boxes. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect, a plurality of types of packaging boxes are previously stored in a plurality of shelves, and a predetermined type of packaging box is stored from the storage shelf. Can be alternatively supplied to the boxed packaging stage, so that the switching time of the packaging box is shortened, the switching operation can be performed quickly, and the frequent switching of the packaging box can be easily handled. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, each of the shelves moves up and down integrally to a predetermined packing box carry-in position and a predetermined packing box sending-out position. To stop, any one of the plurality of shelves can be stopped at each position simply by moving the storage shelf up and down, and the loading and unloading of the packaging box to the storage shelf can be reliably performed. The structure of the storage shelf itself and the structure of its moving mechanism can be simplified.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the third aspect, the downstream side of the linking device is connected to the packaging box carry-in position, and the delivery device is provided at the packaging box delivery position. Therefore, by sending out the packaging box delivered from the packaging box delivery position from the packaging box delivery position, a predetermined packaging box can be supplied to the boxed packaging stage, and the loading and delivery of the packaging box to the storage shelf can be performed. It can be performed more reliably.

In addition to the effects of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the invention according to the fifth aspect relates to the connection between the linking device and the sending device when the agricultural products of the packaging unit are sorted and sorted from the sorting conveyor. Since it operates, a predetermined type of packaging box can be temporarily stored in a storage shelf in advance according to the sorting condition of agricultural products, and the supply operation and the switching operation of the packaging box can be efficiently performed.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first to fifth aspects, since the boxing robot is provided on the boxing / packaging stage, the sorted agricultural products can be stored in this box. By the packing robot, it can be packed in a predetermined type of packaging box supplied to the box packaging stage,
The work efficiency of the box packing operation can be improved, for example, the packing box supply operation and the agricultural product box packing operation can be automated.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the sixth aspect, the linking device operates while the boxing robot packs the agricultural products in the predetermined type of packing box. Since the next packaging box is stored in the empty storage shelf, a predetermined type of packaging box can always be stored in the storage shelf, and the packaging box supply operation can be performed more efficiently. .

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first to seventh aspects, the height of the boxing conveyor and the sorting conveyor are different, so that the installation space in the sorting and packaging facility is effective. In addition to utilization, it is possible to provide an effect that, for example, an operator can walk under a shipping conveyer to improve workability of a sorting operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an agricultural product sorting device using an empty box supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the empty box supply device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the empty box supply device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the main part of the same.

FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Agricultural product sorting device 2. Agricultural product supply conveyor 3. Conveyor conveyor 4. ············································· Shunting line 7 ・ ···· Measuring device 11, 11A to 11C・ Storage conveyor 12 ・ ・ ・ Tray pack supply device 13 ・ ・ ・ Empty box supply device 14 ・ ・ ・ Box packing Robot 16, 16A to 16C: Packaging box 17: Conveyor conveyor 18: Empty box lowering device 19:・ ・ ・ ・ Empty box conveyor 24 ・ ・ ・ Packing lane 29 ・ ・ ・ Packing table 30 Extruder 34 ············ Empty box storage shelves 34a to 34c ········································· Guide bar 37 Guide section 40 Guide roller 43 Balance weight 44 Chain 45 ····· Motor 48 ··· Linking device 49 ··· Extrusion rollers 51 and 53 ······ Cylinder 52 ··· ........... Sending device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E028 AA02 BA01 BA06 CA03 EA01 GA01 GA02 GA04 GA08 HA02 3E030 AA03 BB05 DA06 EA01 FA02 GA01 GA04 GA05

Claims (8)

[Claims] The present invention has a plurality of box conveyors each of which transports a plurality of types of packaging boxes by type, and supplies the type-specific packaging boxes on the box conveyor to a box packing stage, and supplies the package boxes with the packaging boxes. In an agricultural product sorting device for packing sorted agricultural products into boxes, a linkage device that takes out a packaging box on the predetermined shipping conveyor and transfers it to a carry-in position, and a linkage device provided near the box packaging stage and the linkage device. A storage shelf for temporarily storing the transported packaging boxes transported at the loading position, and a delivery device for delivering the packaging boxes stored in the storage shelves to the box packaging stage; and the linking device and the delivery device. An empty box supply apparatus in an agricultural product sorting apparatus, wherein a predetermined type of packaging box is supplied to a box packaging stage via a storage shelf by operating in association with the apparatus. 2. The storage shelf has a plurality of shelves for accommodating a plurality of types of packaging boxes, and the packaging boxes in each of the shelves are selectively sent out by the sending device and sent to the box packaging stage. The empty box supply device in the agricultural product sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the supply device is supplied. 3. A plurality of shelves are arranged in the vertical direction, each of the shelves moves up and down integrally, and each of the shelves moves in the vertical direction so that a predetermined packing box loading position and a predetermined packing position are set. 3. The empty box supplying apparatus in the agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to stop at a box sending position. 4. The empty box in the agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a downstream side of the linking device is connected to the packing box loading position, and the sending device is provided at a packing box sending position. Feeding device. 5. The associating device and the sending device, when a predetermined number of agricultural products in a packaging unit are sorted by sorting and sorting by a sorting conveyor, supply a packing box according to the sorting and sorting to the boxed packing stage. The empty box supply device in the agricultural product sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the empty box supply device operates so as to obtain the same. 6. The empty box supply device in the agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a box packing robot is arranged on the box packing stage. 7. The packaging device according to claim 6, wherein the linking device is operated during the packaging operation by the packaging robot, and the next predetermined type of packaging box is stored in the empty storage shelf. An empty box supply device in the agricultural product sorting device described in the above. 8. An empty box supply apparatus in an agricultural product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of boxing conveyors are provided in parallel with the sorting conveyor and at a slightly higher position. .