JP2001063815A - Article transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To receive products continuously with a simpler structure than a conventional one even during intermittent operation. SOLUTION: This transfer device includes an article conveyor 7 for conveying articles, an endless conveyor 8 receiving a prescribed number of articles conveyed on the article conveyor 7 and transferring them to the next process intermittently, a detecting means 9 detecting the article supplied to the endless conveyor 8, and a stopper 10 stopping the article conveyed on the article conveyor 7 on the upstream side of the endless conveyor 8 when the detecting means 9 detects the prescribed number of articles, and the conveyor 8 includes a front engaging member 41 engaging with the front surface of the article, the rear engaging member 42 which engages with the rear surface of the article and is disposed so as to advance and retreat between a position where it engages with the article and a position where it does not engages with the article, and an advancing/retreating means advancing/retreating the rear engaging member 42. When it is detected that the article engages with the front engaging member 41 and the prescribed number of articles are collected, the rear engaging member 42 advances to the engagement position, and the endless conveyor 8 moves, thereby transferring the prescribed number of articles to the next process.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container transfer conveyor for continuously supplying a predetermined number of articles continuously supplied to a processing device such as a caser.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A transfer apparatus for continuously receiving a predetermined number of products continuously supplied and intermittently transferring the products to a processing station (Japanese Patent No. 2553999, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-2787).
No. 21). Each of them has two sets of attached chains for supporting the products, and by controlling these two sets of attached chains, the products can be continuously received even during the intermittent operation.

[0003]

The prior art described above is
Since two sets of attached chains are independently controlled by separate driving means, a plurality of driving means are always required. In addition, there is a problem that a control circuit for controlling the driving means becomes complicated.

[0004] In view of the circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a container transfer conveyor which has a simple structure and can receive articles continuously even during intermittent operation with a simple structure as compared with the prior art. It is assumed that.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an article conveyor for conveying articles, and an endless conveyor for receiving a predetermined number of articles conveyed on the article conveyor and intermittently transferring the articles to a next step. Conveyor, detecting means for detecting the articles supplied to the endless conveyor, and stopping the articles conveyed on the article conveyor upstream of the endless conveyor when the detecting means detects a predetermined number of articles. A stopper is provided, and the endless conveyor is provided movably at a front engagement member engaged with the front surface of the article and at a position engaged with the rear surface of the article and at a position not engaged with the article. A rear engaging member and an advancing / retracting means for moving the rear engaging member forward and backward, and when it is detected that a predetermined number of articles are engaged with the front engaging member and the articles are accumulated, the rear engaging member is moved to the engagement position. After having advanced to Employing the technical means of transferring articles of a predetermined number to the next step by moving the Jo conveyor.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an entire robot caser provided with a case transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic front view in FIG.

The robot caser 1 comprises a container transport conveyor 3 for continuously transporting the containers 2 in two rows, a robot 5 for holding the containers 2 and casing in a plastic case 4 supplied thereto, and a robot 5 in parallel with the container transport conveyor 3. A case transfer device (article transfer device) 6 is provided to transfer the plastic case 4 to the casing position by three cases. In this embodiment, the robot 5 grasps 12 containers 2 and performs four casings in each of the plastic cases 4 supplied by the case transfer device 6 in three cases. The case transfer device 6 includes a case conveyor 7 for conveying the plastic case 4 from the upstream, a chain conveyor (endless conveyor) 8 disposed below the case conveyor 7, and three plastic cases 4 supplied to the chain conveyor 8. And a case transport conveyor 7 based on a signal from the sensor 9.
And a stopper 10 for stopping the plastic case 4 conveyed above.

[0008] As shown in FIG.
Are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other, and are constantly rotated by driving means (not shown).

Next, the case transfer device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The chain conveyor 8 is disposed below the conveying surface of the case conveying conveyor 7 and
1, a first shaft 12 provided with driving sprockets 14, 15, 16, 17 and a driven sprocket 18,
The second shaft 13 provided with 19, 20, 21 is rotatably arranged. (See Fig. 2) Sprocket 1
4 and 17 are fixed to the first shaft 12 and rotate together with the first shaft 12, and the sprockets 15 and 16
2 and 23 are fixed and provided rotatably with respect to the first shaft 12. Also, sprockets 18, 19,
Reference numerals 20 and 21 are provided rotatably with respect to the second shaft 13.

A third shaft 24 to which gears 25 and 26 are fixed is disposed at a slight distance from the first shaft 12,
The gears 25 and 26 mesh with gears 22 and 23 rotatably provided on the first shaft 12, respectively.

A sprocket 27 and a gear 28 are fixed to the first shaft 12 outside the machine frame 11, and the sprocket 27 is connected to a sprocket 30 fixed to a rotating shaft of a motor 29 via a chain. The rotation of the drive motor 29 is transmitted to the first shaft 12.

The gear 28 meshes with a gear 31 rotatably disposed on the third shaft 24. A housing 32 is provided on the back surface of the gear 31 (lower side in FIG. 4, left side in FIG. 6). A worm gear 33 is fixed to the third shaft 24 outside the gear 31, and meshes with a gear 35 fixed to a shaft 34 that penetrates the housing 32. A handle 36 for adjusting the phase between the first shaft 12 and the third shaft 24 is detachably attached to the shaft 34.

When the first shaft 12 is rotated by the drive motor 29, the sprockets 14, 17 and the gear 28 are rotated together. Then, the rotation of the gear 28 is transmitted to the gear 31. When the gear 31 rotates, the housing 32 rotates,
The shaft 34 penetrating through the housing 32 also rotates. This rotation causes the worm gear 33 to rotate via the gear 35 fixed to the shaft 34, thereby rotating the third shaft 24. When the third shaft 24 rotates and the gear 2
5 and 26 rotate to rotate the gears 22 and 23 rotatably provided on the first shaft 12 so that the sprockets 15 and 1 are rotated.
Rotate 6.

A chain 37 is provided between the sprocket 14 and the sprocket 18, and the sprocket 15 and the sprocket 19
A chain 38 extends between the sprocket 16 and the sprocket 20, and a chain 40 extends between the sprocket 17 and the sprocket 21. The front attachment 41 (front engagement member) engaging with the front surface of the plastic case 4 is attached to the chains 37 and 40, and the rear attachment 42 (rear engagement member) engaging with the rear surface of the plastic case 4 is attached to the chains 38 and 39. ) Are provided at predetermined intervals.

The front attachment 41 is fixed to a support member 43 provided on the chain 37 and the chain 40, and the rear attachment 42 is swingable on a shaft 45 provided on the chain 38 and a support member 44 provided on the chain 39. Is provided.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Each of the chain 7 and the chain 40 and the chain 38 and the chain 39 is provided with four sets of front attachments 41 and rear attachments 42, and the front attachment 41 and the rear attachment 42 support three plastic cases 4. Further, three plastic cases 4 are supported by the front attachment 41 and the rear attachment 42. Further, the front attach 41 and the rear attach 42 are intermittently moved synchronously while maintaining the phase set by the drive motor 29, and sequentially move through the casing position, the stacking position, and the standby position.

A cam follower 46 is provided on the rear attachment 42 and is constantly urged to the cam 47 by urging means (not shown). The cam 47 is a fixed cam 48 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the plastic case 4 and a lifting cam 49 on the upstream side. The elevating cam 49 is connected to a rod of the elevating cylinder 50, and can be moved up and down by the operation of the elevating cylinder 50.

When the plastic case 4 is integrated, the rear attachment 42 is located below the transport surface of the case transport conveyor 7, and when the sensor 9 detects that three cases have been integrated from the front attachment 41, the rod of the lifting cylinder 50 is extended. The elevating cam 49 is raised to position the rear attachment 42 above the transport surface of the case transport conveyor 7.

A second sensor 51 is provided upstream of the sensor 9, and the stopper 10 is lowered by a signal from the second sensor 51 to stop the plastic case 4. When the size of the plastic case 4 to be transported is changed, the chains 37 and 40 and the chain 3
The intervals between the front attachment 41 and the rear attachment 42 are changed by adjusting the phases 8 and 39. Drive motor 29
When the handle 36 is attached to the shaft 34 and rotated while the first shaft 12 is stopped, the third shaft 24 is stopped while the first shaft 12 is stopped via the gear 35 and the worm gear 33.
Can be rotated so that the front attach 41
The distance between the rear case 42 and the rear attachment 42 is adjusted according to the size of the plastic case 4 to be changed.

The operation of the robot caser 1 according to the above configuration will be described. The robots 5 hold 12 containers 2 that are continuously transported in two rows on the container transport conveyor 3. On the other hand, the plastic case 4 is transferred to the casing position three cases at a time by the case
Plastic case 4 stopped at casing position by
After the casing is performed at the same time three cases in four each,
It is transported downstream.

Next, the operation of the case transfer device 6 will be described. When the case transfer device 6 receives the plastic case 4, the front attachment 41 is at a position above the transfer surface of the case transfer conveyor 7, and the rear attachment 42 is waiting at a position below the transfer surface of the case transfer conveyor 7.

The first plastic case 4 conveyed on the case conveyor 7 comes into contact with the front attachment 41 and stops at that position. At this time, the sensor 9 detects that the plastic case 4 has been conveyed, and sends a signal to a control device (not shown).
Is stored for one case. Subsequently, the plastic case 4 to be conveyed is also detected by the sensor 9 and stored in the control device, and comes into contact with the rear surface of the plastic case 4 which has been conveyed first and stops. The plastic case 4 transported to the third case is connected to the sensor 9.
Is detected, the control device extends the rod of the elevating cylinder 50 and raises the elevating cam 49 to position the rear attachment 42 above the conveying surface of the case conveying conveyor 7. Then, by rotating the motor 29, the chain conveyor 8 (chains 37 to 40) is rotated to transfer the three plastic cases 4 supported between the front attachment 41 and the rear attachment 42 to the casing position, and at the same time, to the next front. The attachment 41 and the rear attachment 42 are moved to the stacking position, the rod of the lifting cylinder 50 is contracted, and the lifting cam 49 is lowered.

A position detecting means (not shown) is connected to the second shaft 13 to check whether the rear attachment 42 has stopped at a fixed position when the chain conveyor 8 is moved. When the plastic case 4 is detected by the second sensor 51 during the movement of the chain conveyor 8, the stopper 10 is lowered to stop the plastic case 4. When the accumulated plastic case 4 is transferred to the casing position, the casing is performed by the robot 5, and at the same time, the stopper 10 is raised to start the accumulation of the plastic case 4 in the same manner as the above-described accumulation operation. Transfer to a location. At this time, the plastic case 4 where the casing is finished and is waiting at the casing position
Is transported downstream.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the casing is completed, the rear attachment 42 can be moved back and forth between the upper position and the lower position of the conveying surface on which the article (plastic case 4) is conveyed. At the same time, the stacked articles can be transferred, so that the capacity of the stacking operation can be improved, and the capacity of the casing operation can be improved. In the present invention, it is needless to say that the articles to be accumulated are not limited to the plastic case 4 but can be applied to various things such as a cardboard case and a container. An apparatus for processing the transferred articles may be an anchor or the like.

[0025]

According to the present invention, based on the above-mentioned structure, it is possible to continuously receive products even during intermittent operation with a simple structure as compared with the related art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic plan view showing an entire robot caser including a case transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a main part of the case transfer device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part of the case transfer device for explaining the phase adjustment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a main part of the case transfer device of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ‥‥ Robot Caser 2 ‥‥ Container 3 ‥‥ Container Conveyor 4 ‥‥ Plastic Case 5 ‥‥ Robot 6 移送 Case Transfer Device (Article Transfer Device) 7 ‥‥ Case Conveyor 8 ‥‥ Chain Conveyor (Bandless Conveyor) 9 ‥‥ Sensor 10 ‥‥ Stopper 11 ‥‥ Machine frame 12 ‥‥ First shaft 13 ‥‥ Second shaft 14-21 ‥‥ Sprocket 22, 23 ‥‥ Gear 24 ‥‥ Third shaft 25, 26 ‥‥ Gear 27 ‥‥ Sprocket 28 ‥‥ Gear 29 ‥‥ Motor 30 ‥‥ Sprocket 31 ‥‥ Gear 32 ‥‥ Housing 33 ‥‥ Worm gear 34 ‥‥ Shaft 35 ‥‥ Gear 36 ‥‥ Handle 37-40 ‥‥ Chain 41 ‥‥ Front attachment (front engagement member) 42 ‥‥ rear attachment (rear engagement member) 43, 44 ‥‥ support member 45 ‥‥ shaft 6 ‥‥ cam follower 47 ‥‥ cam 48 ‥‥ fixed cam 49 ‥‥ lifting cam 50 ‥‥ elevating cylinder 51 ‥‥ second sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E043 AA01 BA13 DA04 DB04 EA05 EA20 FA01 GA01 3F013 AA01 AA08 AB05 AC01 AD14 AE06 AF01 3F017 CA03 CC05 CD01 DA33 EA01 EB05 FA02 FE03 FG01

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An article conveyor for conveying articles, an endless conveyor for receiving a predetermined number of articles conveyed on the article conveyor and intermittently transferring the article to the next process, and a detection for detecting articles supplied to the endless conveyor. Means and a stopper for stopping articles conveyed on the article conveyor upstream of the endless conveyor when the detecting means detects a predetermined number of articles, wherein the endless conveyor engages with the front face of the articles. A front engagement member that engages with the rear surface of the article, and a rear engagement member that is provided to be able to advance and retreat at a position that engages with and does not engage with the article; Moving means, and when it is detected that a predetermined number of articles are engaged with the front engaging member and the rearward engaging member is advanced to the engaging position, the endless conveyor is moved to move the predetermined number of articles. Following goods An article transfer device for transferring to a process.