JP2001080736A - Article sending device and article one row delivery machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To treat articles for each row in a one row delivery device by sending orderly arranged articles for each specified number of rows and delivering in the direction of the rows. SOLUTION: This device is formed so that a plurality of articles 11 are transferred by a conveyor 40 in the state of being orderly arranged. The articles 11 are sent by sending means 24 to a delivery position 45 on a downstream side in transfer direction for each specified number of rows. The articles 11 for the amount of the specified number of rows sent by the sending means 24 are fed by feeding means 25 from the conveyor 40 in the direction of the rows. The articles 11 for the amount of the specified number of rows sent by the feeding means 25 are accepted and delivered sequentially by a one row delivery device 65 for each row.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article cutting apparatus for cutting out articles arranged in a plurality of rows for every predetermined number of rows, and using the article cutting apparatus to arrange articles arranged in a plurality of rows in a single row. The present invention relates to a single-row dispenser for dispensing articles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, when containers such as PET bottles, bottles, and cans are transported as articles, a plurality of articles are arranged in a plurality of rows in an aligned state, and the aligned articles are put on a pallet. They are stacked in multiple stages, and packed and transported in that state.

[0003] In order to unload articles stacked on such a pallet one by one and to pay them out in a single row, an article single-row dispenser is used. In this single-row dispensing machine, articles on a pallet are sequentially unloaded one by one by an unloading device, and one-stage articles unloaded by an accumulating conveyor are cross-conveyed by a single-row dispensing device at a time. The articles are gradually narrowed into one row and dispensed while disturbing the arrangement of the articles due to the speed difference of the top chain conveyors provided in multiple rows on the cross conveyor.

[0004]

However, in the conventional single-row dispensing machine, one stage of articles to be unloaded is sent to the single-row dispensing apparatus at a time, and the top chain conveyor of the single-row dispensing apparatus is used. Since the articles are gradually narrowed down to one row while breaking the alignment state of the articles due to the speed difference, when the articles are, for example, PET bottles, the PET bottles are pressed against each other when the PET bottles lose the alignment state, and the PET bottles are pressed. There is a problem that the bottle easily falls and clogging occurs.

[0005] Therefore, in order to reduce the overturn of articles in the single-row dispensing apparatus, it is preferable that the processing be performed in units of rows while maintaining the aligned state of the articles, instead of processing the articles in an aligned state. However, if the articles of one stage to be unloaded in sequence are sent to the single-row dispensing apparatus at a time, the processing in the single-row dispensing apparatus becomes complicated and complicated.
There is a possibility that the processing capacity is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the articles in an aligned state are cut out every predetermined number of rows and sent out in the row direction, so that the articles can be easily processed in row units in post-processing. The present invention provides an article extracting apparatus capable of performing the above-described operations and an article single-row dispensing machine capable of reliably dispensing aligned articles in a single row and improving dispensing ability by using the article extracting apparatus. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article cutting apparatus in which a plurality of articles are arranged in a plurality of rows in a conveying direction and a plurality of articles are arranged in a row direction along each row. Conveyor, and a cutting unit that cuts out the articles conveyed by the conveyor from the top row in the conveying direction to a sending position on the downstream side in the conveying direction for each predetermined number of rows, and the cutting unit cuts out the articles to be sent to the sending position. Sending means for sending out a predetermined number of rows of articles in a row direction along each row.

In this configuration, the cut-out means cuts out the aligned articles from the first row in the transport direction to a delivery position on the downstream side in the transport direction by a predetermined number of rows, and the predetermined number cut to the delivery position by the delivery means. By sending out the articles of the number of rows in the row direction, articles of the predetermined number of rows cut out in the post-processing can be processed in units of rows.

The article cutting device according to the second aspect is the first aspect.
In the article extracting apparatus according to the aspect, the extracting unit includes a cutting body that can enter between the rows of the aligned articles from above, and moves the cutting body up and down with respect to the conveyor and in the transport direction of the conveyor. A cutting body drive means for moving the cutting body along the cutting reference position of the cutting body, and positioning the leading position in the conveyance direction of the article at a predetermined number of rows from the cutting reference position. There is provided a cutout control means for entering between the rows of the corresponding articles and moving the predetermined number of rows of articles by the cutout body to the downstream side in the transport direction.

In this configuration, the leading position in the article conveying direction is positioned at the cutout reference position of the cut-out body, and the cut-out body is placed in a row of articles corresponding to a predetermined number of rows from the cutout reference position. By moving the predetermined number of articles to the downstream side in the transport direction with the cutting body, articles of the predetermined number of rows are reliably cut out.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article cutting apparatus.
In the article cutting device described above, the cutting means has first to fourth cutting bodies in order from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor, and the first to fourth cutting bodies are independently conveyed by the conveyor. It has first to fourth cutting body driving means for moving up and down and moving the conveyor along the conveying direction, and the first and second cutting bodies are supplied to the upstream side of the conveyor by the alignment. The articles in the state are sandwiched and moved on the conveyor, and the articles in the aligned state on the conveyor are sandwiched by the second and third cutting bodies and the third cutting body is downstream in the transport direction until the third cutting body reaches the cutting reference position. Side, and the third cut-out body is made to enter between rows of articles corresponding to a predetermined number of rows from the cut-out reference position, and the third and fourth cut-out bodies are used for a predetermined number of rows of articles. To the downstream in the transport direction toward the delivery position In which it has a clipping control means for moving.

In this configuration, the aligned articles supplied to the upstream side of the conveyor by the first and second cutouts are sandwiched and moved on the conveyor, and are then moved by the second and third cutouts. The third cut-out body is moved downstream in the transport direction until the third cut-out body reaches the cut-out reference position while sandwiching the aligned articles on the conveyor, and the third cut-out body is moved by a predetermined number of rows from the cut-out reference position. In the moving direction of the articles, a predetermined number of rows of articles are sandwiched by the third and fourth cutting bodies and moved downstream in the conveying direction toward the delivery position while the third and fourth cutouts interpose the articles. It moves while pressing the front and back to prevent it from overturning and reliably cuts out a predetermined number of rows of articles.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article cutting apparatus.
4. The article extracting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a falling detecting means for detecting a falling of the article on the first row side in a conveying direction of the article to be cut by the cutting means. Is detected, the top row including at least the overturned article is discharged downstream of the conveyor in the transport direction.

In this configuration, when the falling of the article is detected by the falling detecting means, the leading row including at least the fallen article is discharged to the downstream side of the conveyor in the conveying direction by the cutting-out means, so that the predetermined row is discharged. It is possible to accurately cut out several minutes of articles.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article cutting apparatus.
5. The article cutting device according to any one of the items 4 to 4, further comprising suction means for sucking and holding a lower portion of the article corresponding to a leading row side in a conveying direction of the article cut by the cutting means.

[0016] In this configuration, the suction means for sucking and holding the lower part of the article corresponding to the leading row in the conveying direction of the article cut by the cutting means is provided, so that the article may sway, fall or jump out. And so on, and a predetermined number of rows of articles can be accurately cut out.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article cutting apparatus.
6. The article extraction device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising: a jump detection unit configured to detect a jump of the article on a leading row side in a conveying direction of the article cut by the extraction unit, wherein the cutout unit includes the jump detection unit. When the jumping out of the article is detected, the jumping out article is moved to the upstream side in the transport direction.

In this configuration, when the jumping-out detecting means detects the jumping out of the article, the cutting-out means moves the jumped-out article to the upstream side in the transport direction, so that articles in a predetermined number of rows can be accurately detected. It can be cut out.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article single-row dispensing machine for unloading articles arranged in a plurality of stages on a pallet in order, one by one, and an unloading device. An article cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the articles in the aligned state are cut out in predetermined rows and sent out in the row direction, and articles in a predetermined number of rows sent out from the article cutting apparatus. And a single-row payout device that receives and pays out one row at a time.

In this configuration, claims 1 to 6
Any one of the article extraction devices described above cuts out the articles in the aligned state for each predetermined number of rows, sends out the articles in the row direction, receives one row of articles from the article extraction apparatus, and receives one article from the article extraction apparatus by one row dispensing apparatus. By paying out rows in order,
In the single-row dispensing apparatus, a predetermined number of rows of articles can be processed in row units, and the articles can be reliably dispensed in one row and the dispensing ability is improved.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 13 show an embodiment of an article extracting apparatus and an article single-row dispenser.

FIG. 13 shows an article 11 to be handled by the single-row dispenser, and the article 11 is a container such as a PET bottle for beverages.
And a neck ring 14 protruding from the periphery of the mouth 13. Container body 12
The shape of the peripheral surface includes a substantially circular shape, a substantially square shape, a substantially hexagonal shape, and the like.

When transporting a plurality of articles 11,
Separate sheets 16 and a plurality of aligned articles 11 are alternately stacked one by one on the pallet 15, and a top frame 17 is stacked on the uppermost stage and bound by a band 18.

Next, FIG. 1 shows an article single-row dispensing machine 21. The article single-row dispensing machine 21 includes a loading / unloading means 22, a transport means 23, a cutting means 24, and a sending means 25 as a loading / unloading device. , Expansion / reduction means 26, single-row payout means 27, and single-row transport means 28.

First, the unloading means 22 is for unloading the article 11 from the pallet 15, and the pallet on which the article 11 is loaded.
Hoist 31, which accepts and supports 15, top frame 17
Remove the separate sheet 16 and the side stacker
A transfer mechanism (not shown) for transferring the products to 32, a layer conveyor on the side portion while the articles 11 for the uppermost row are collectively aligned.
It has an unloading mechanism 34 for unloading to 33.

The unloading mechanism 34 is a layer conveyor with the uppermost one-stage article 11 sandwiched from four sides toward the center.
Transfer to 33 above.

The layer conveyor 33 is constituted by a belt conveyor, and the article 11 for one stage to be unloaded by the unloading mechanism 34.
Is transported to a predetermined supply position in the aligned state.

The transport means 23 includes a layer conveyor 33
From the side of the layer conveyor 33, and has an accumulator 40 as a conveyor arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the layer conveyor 33 from the side of the layer conveyor 33. And first to fourth pushers arranged in order from the upper region of the layer conveyor 33 to the upper region of the accumulator conveyor 40.
It has 41-44.

The accumulator 40 is constituted by a belt conveyor, and sequentially receives the articles 11 one by one from the layer conveyor 33, and carries the received articles 11 thereon.
The articles on the accumulator 40 are arranged in a plurality of rows along the transport direction, and are arranged in a plurality in a row direction (a direction orthogonal to the transport direction) along each row. They are staggered and arranged in contact with each other.

The first to fourth pushers 41 to 44 are configured to be moved in parallel with the transport direction of the accumulator 40 and to be moved up and down, so that the first pusher 41 and the second pusher 42 are connected to each other. The one-stage article 11 on the layer conveyor 33 is interposed therebetween and transferred onto the accumulation conveyor 40, between the second pusher 42 and the third pusher 43, and between the third pusher 43 and the fourth pusher 43. The article 11 on the accumulator 40 is sandwiched between the pusher 44 and the pusher 44 to be moved downstream in the transport direction. At this time, the transfer and movement of the article 11 are performed in cooperation with the accumulator 40, and the first to fourth pushers 41 to 44
The article 11 is supported in the front and rear directions in the transport direction to prevent the article 11 from tipping over.

The cut-out means 24 is constituted by a third pusher 43 and a fourth pusher 44. The cut-out means 24 is positioned above the accumulator 40 with respect to the delivery position 45 on the most downstream side in the transport direction of the accumulator 40. Among the articles 11 arranged in a row, a predetermined number of rows (the number of cutout rows, for example, 6 rows) of articles 11 are cut out (cut off) from the top row. That is, the third pusher 43 is inserted from above into a row corresponding to a predetermined number of rows from the top row, and a predetermined number of rows of articles are interposed between the third pusher 43 and the fourth pusher 44. 11 is sandwiched and cut out to the sending position 45.

The delivery means 25 includes an accumulator 40
A guide table 46 disposed along the side of the expansion / contraction means 26,
And a first sweeper 47 moved along the guide table 46, the first sweeper 47 being an accumulator conveyor.
It is configured to be able to advance and retreat with respect to 40 and the expansion / contraction means 26. Then, by moving from the accumulator 40 side to the expanding / contracting means 26 side along the guide table 46 of the first sweeper 47, the articles 11 of a predetermined number of rows cut out to the delivery position 45 are arranged along each row. It is pushed along the row direction (the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the accumulator 40) and is sent out to the enlarging / reducing means 26 in a lump.

The first sweeper 47 has an article at the end of each row.
A plurality of pushing portions 48 that come into contact with 11 are attached, and the amount of projection of each pushing portion 48 from the first sweeper 47 differs according to the end position of each row of the aligned articles 11. ing.

The transporting means 23, the cutting means 24, the sending means 25, and the like constitute an article cutting device 49 for cutting articles in a predetermined number of rows and sending the articles in the row direction.

The expanding / reducing means 26 receives a predetermined number of rows of articles 11 sent out in the row direction by the sending means 25 for each row, and expands the spacing between the articles 11 between rows to pay out one row. A plurality of rows of enlargement / reduction lanes 51 for receiving the articles 11 for each row, driving means 52 for performing the enlargement / reduction operation of these enlargement / reduction lanes 51, and the articles 11 received in the enlargement / reduction lanes 51 One row payout means after enlargement operation
27 has payout means 53 for paying out all at once.

The plurality of rows of expansion / reduction lanes 51 are supported in parallel so that the interval between them can be expanded / reduced. The row pitch of the expansion / reduction lane 51 is
When receiving the article 11 from one end of the
In order to pay out the articles 11 from the other end of the expansion / reduction lane 51, the space between the rows of the articles 11 is reduced so as to correspond to the row pitch of the aligned articles 11 sent out in the row direction.
The row dispensing means 27 enlarges each row in accordance with the row pitch received in the row direction.

The dispensing means 53 has a guide table 54 arranged along the side of the single-row dispensing means 27 from the expansion / contraction means 26, and a second sweeper 55 moved along the guide table 54. The second sweeper 55 is configured to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the expansion / contraction means 26 and the single-row payout means 27. And
After the article 11 is received in the enlargement / reduction lane 51, the second sweeper 55 is connected to one end of the enlargement / reduction means 26 (the accumulator 40).
Of the second sweeper 55 toward the single-row payout means 27 side, thereby moving the articles 11 in the expansion / reduction lane 51 in the row direction along each row. And pays out to the single-row payout means 27 in a lump.

The single-row payout means 27 receives the articles 11 sent in the row direction from the expansion / reduction means 26 for each row and pays out the articles 11 one by one in the row direction. A plurality of payout lanes 61 are provided, and a payout moved to a payout position 62 communicating with the drive means (not shown) and the one-row transport means 28 for integrally moving the payout lanes 61 in a direction orthogonal to the row direction of the articles 11. There is a payout unit 63 that pays out the articles 11 in the lane 61 to the single-row conveying means 28. Then, one end of each payout lane 61 is enlarged or reduced lane 51 in an enlarged state.
The payout lane 61 is moved to a continuous receiving position, and the articles 11 sent out in the column direction from the enlarging / reducing means 26 are received from one end of each payout lane 61 for each row.
61 are sequentially moved to the payout position 62, and the payout section 63 pays out the articles 11 in the payout lane 61 at the payout position 62 to the single-row conveying means 28.

Then, the enlarging / reducing means 26 and the single-row payout means 27
Thus, a single-row payout device 65 is configured to receive a predetermined number of rows of the articles 11 sent from the article extracting apparatus 49 and pay out the rows 11 in order.

The single-row conveying means 28 includes a single-row payout means 27.
Is configured to receive the articles 11 paid out from the company and transport them in a single row.

Next, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG.
23 and the cutting means 24 are shown, and a gantry 71 is installed above the layer conveyor 33 and the accumulator conveyor 40, and the gantry 71 supports first to fourth pushers 41 to 44. Each of the pushers 41 to 44 is a horizontally long and plate-shaped cutout 72 (first
To a fourth cutout 72), and cutout driving means 73 (first to fourth cutout drive) for independently moving the cutout 72 up and down and in the transport direction of the accumulator 40. Means 73).

Each cut-out body driving means 73 has a moving frame 74, and a driving mechanism 75 for independently moving the moving frame 74 along the transport direction of the accumulator 40 is provided on the gantry 71. A cylinder 76 is erected on the frame 74, and a cutout 72 is attached to a lower end of a rod 77 that advances and retreats from a lower part of the cylinder 76. The partition body 72 is moved up and down by the driving of the cylinder 76 to a retracted position that rises above the articles 11 on the accumulator 40 and an engagement position that can engage with the articles 11 on the accumulator 40.

Next, in FIGS. 2 and 4, at the delivery position 45 of the accumulator 40, there is provided a stopper means 81 for positioning and stopping the article 11 cut out at the delivery position 45 at the delivery position 45. The stopper means 81 has upper and lower stoppers 82 and 83.

The upper stopper 82 is supported by the tip of a rod 85 which is reciprocated from a plurality of cylinders 84 which are mounted on the gantry 71 in a substantially horizontal manner corresponding to the conveying direction of the accumulator 40. By the operation of the above, it is moved in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to a stop position where it advances on the accumulator 40 and stops the article 11 at the delivery position 45, and a discharge position where it is retracted from the accumulator 40 to the downstream side in the transport direction. You.

The lower stopper 83 is supported at both ends of the stopper 83 by the tip of a rod 87 which is advanced and retracted from the upper end of a lifting / lowering cylinder 86 which is disposed substantially perpendicular to the conveying surface of the accumulator 40. And this cylinder 86
, And is supported by a rod 89 which is advanced and retracted from an advance / retreat cylinder 88 which is attached to the accumulator 40 in a substantially horizontal shape corresponding to the transport direction thereof. And the stopper
83 is raised by the operation of the lifting / lowering cylinder 86 and is moved to the upstream side in the transport direction of the accumulator 40 by the operation of the advancing / retracting cylinder 88, so that it advances on the accumulator 40 and is at the delivery position 45. It is moved to a stop position for stopping the article 11, and is also moved to the downstream side in the transport direction of the accumulator 40 by the operation of the cylinder 88 for advancing and descending by the operation of the cylinder 86 for lifting and lowering,
It is moved to a retreat position where it is retreated from above the accumulator 40.

The first sweeper 47 moves between the upper and lower stoppers 82 and 83, and sends out the article 11 at the delivery position 45 to the expansion / contraction means 26.

Further, above the sending position 45, the sending position 45
To check the alignment of the articles 11
A photographing means 91 for photographing 11 from above is provided. The photographing means 91 has a plurality of cameras 92 such as CCD cameras arranged on the gantry 71 along the column direction of the articles 11, and illuminating means for illuminating the articles 11 on the sides of the cameras 92 from above. 93 are located.

When it is confirmed by the photographing means 91 that the articles 11 cut out to the delivery position 45 are out of alignment, the ejection means 95 ejects the articles 11 located at the delivery position 45. The discharging means 95 is constituted by the fourth pusher 44 and stoppers 82 and 83, and the fourth pusher 44 is kept in a state where the upper and lower stoppers 82 and 83 are respectively retracted to the retracted positions.
The article 11 at the delivery position 45 is moved by the operation of the accumulator conveyor 40.
It is paid out from the end. At the end of the accumulator 40, a chute 97 for guiding the discharged articles 11 to the collection box 96 is arranged.

Next, referring to FIG. 5 to FIG.
26, each expansion / reduction lane 51 of this expansion / contraction means 26
101 are slidably supported in a direction orthogonal to the row direction by a plurality of slide guides 102, and a connection 103 is connected between the slide guides 102.
A pair of drive means 52 is attached to the drive. Each of these driving means 52 is configured to move the half enlargement / reduction lane 51 at the center as a boundary, and as a whole each enlargement / reduction lane 51
It is configured to scale 51 at equal intervals.

As shown in FIG. 7, each of the expansion and contraction lanes 51 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section in which the mouth portion 13 of the article 11 opens downward so as to be able to enter and move. A neck guide 104 that engages with the lower side of the neck ring 14 of the article 11 and supports the article 11 in a suspended state is protrudingly provided.

In each of the expansion and contraction lanes 51, there is provided a pressing means 105 for pressing the mouth portion 13 engaged with the neck guide 104 from above to press and hold the neck ring 14 against the neck guide 104. The pressing means 105 is used to
Has a pressing body 106 formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens downward so as to be able to enter and move.
A rod that can be moved up and down within 51 and is advanced and retracted from the lower part of a plurality of cylinders 107 attached to the upper part of the expansion / reduction lane 51.
It is connected to the distal end of the cylinder 108 and is raised and lowered by the operation of a cylinder 107. The neck ring 14 is pressed against the neck guide 104 when the cylinder 107 is lowered, and the pressing is released when the cylinder ring is raised.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, below the enlargement / reduction lane 51, there is provided a guide means 111 for guiding the lower part of the article 11 to be sent or paid out to the enlargement / reduction lane 51. The guide means 111 includes a plurality of lane guides 11 that enter and guide between rows of the enlarged articles 11.
2, and side guides 113 for guiding the articles 11 located in the rows on both sides. The lane guides 112 and the side guides 113 are arranged on a machine stand 114.

A plurality of cylinders 115 are disposed on the upper surface of the machine base 114, and an elevating body 117 is attached to the upper end of a rod 116 which is advanced and retracted from the upper part of each cylinder 115, and a plurality of lanes are mounted on the elevating body 117. Guide 112 is attached. The lane guides 112 are erected substantially vertically upward from the upper surface of the elevating body 117, and are arranged at a pitch corresponding to the pitch between the rows of the articles 11 when the interval between the expansion and contraction lanes 51 is increased. .

Each end of the machine base 114 has side guides on both sides.
A pair of cylinders 118 are provided for the cylinders 113, and an arm 120 is attached to a tip of a rod 119 which advances and retreats from the outer surface of each of the cylinders 118, and a side guide 113 is attached to an upper end of the arm 120. Note that these side guides 113 and arms 120 are moved down the lane guide 112
It is configured not to interfere with

Then, the enlargement / reduction lane 51 is reduced and the sending position is reduced.
When receiving the article 11 sent out from 45, the lane guide 112 is lowered below the article 11 and retracted, and the interval between the side guides 113 on both sides is reduced,
The lower portions of the aligned articles 11 in a predetermined number of rows are received between the side guides 113 on both sides. When the space between the rows of the articles 11 is enlarged by enlarging the enlargement / reduction lane 51, the distance between the side guides 113 on both sides is enlarged, and after the enlargement / reduction lane 51 is enlarged and the space between the rows of the articles 11 is enlarged, Each lane guide 112 is raised between the rows of the enlarged articles 11.

10 and 11, a single-row payout means 27 is shown. The single-row payout means 27 has a machine base 121, and is provided on the lower surface of the machine base 121 in a direction perpendicular to the row direction. A plurality of guide rails 122 are mounted along the guide rails 122, a moving body 124 is mounted via a rail receiver 123 slidably engaged with the guide rails 122, and a plurality of payout lanes 61 are mounted on the lower surface of the moving body 124. ing. These payout lanes 61 are arranged corresponding to the pitch between the rows of the articles 11 whose intervals are enlarged, and are formed in a substantially U-shaped cross-section in which the mouth 13 of the article 11 opens downward so as to be able to enter and move. A neck guide 125 that engages with the lower side of the neck ring 14 of the article 11 and supports the article 11 in a suspended state is protrudingly provided inside the lower ends of both sides. The payout lane 61 is provided on the lower surface of the moving body 124.
A guide member 126 for guiding the lower side surfaces of the article 11 supported by the support member 11 is attached via a suspending member 127.

The dispensing section 63 has an endless body 132 that is rotatably extended along the column direction by rotating members 131 such as sprockets and timing rollers disposed at both ends in the column direction below the dispensing position 62. At two symmetrical positions in the circumferential direction of the endless body 132, there are attached payout members 133 which push out and pay out the articles 11 in the payout lane 61 located at the payout position 62. A drive mechanism (not shown) is connected to the rotating body 131, and the endless body 132 is rotated by the drive mechanism, with the upstream position of the payout position 62 being the payout standby position of the payout member 133.

Next, FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of the article cutting device 49. The control unit 141 controls the accumulator 40, the cutting body driving means 73 and the sending means 25. Is done.

Then, the control section 141 sandwiches the aligned articles 11 on the layer conveyor 33 by the first and second pushers 41 and 42 and moves the article 11 on the accumulator conveyor 40, and the second and third pushers 42. , 43 sandwiches the aligned articles 11 on the accumulator 40 and moves the third pusher 43 downstream in the transport direction until the third pusher 43 reaches a predetermined cutout reference position, and moves the third pusher 43 to the cutout reference position. , A plurality of articles 11 corresponding to a predetermined number of rows are inserted between the rows, and the articles 11 of a predetermined number of rows are moved to the downstream side in the transport direction by the third cutting body 43, so that the fourth cutting body 44 Has a function of a cutting-out control means for moving a predetermined number of rows of articles 11 to the delivery position 45.

Next, a single-row dispensing operation of the single-row dispenser 21 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hoist of the unloading means 22
The pallet 15 on which the articles 11 are loaded is received on the base 31, the top frame 17 and the separate sheet 16 at the top are removed by a transfer mechanism (not shown), and the top frame 17 and the separate sheet 16 are transferred to the side stacker 32. One-stage articles 11 are unloaded onto the side layer conveyor 33 in a lump state,
One layer of articles 11 is transported by the layer conveyor 33 to a predetermined supply position in an aligned state.

As shown in FIG. 3, the article extracting device 49 cuts out the articles 11 of one stage conveyed to the supply position by the layer conveyor 33 for every predetermined number of rows. That is, FIG.
As shown in (d), the one-stage article 11 conveyed to the supply position on the layer conveyor 33 is sandwiched between the first pusher 41 and the second pusher 42 and transferred onto the accumulator 40. Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 (e) to 3 (g), the article 11 of one stage on the accumulator 40 is sandwiched between the second pusher 42 and the third pusher 43, and 3 pushers 43
Are moved to the downstream side in the transporting direction until they reach the cut-out reference position. Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 (h) to (k), the third pusher 43 is moved a predetermined number of rows from the cut-out reference position. Goods corresponding to 11
Between the fourth row of pushers 44 and the third
A predetermined number of rows of articles 11 are interposed between the pushers 43 and the downstream side in the transport direction, and then, as shown in FIG. Is moved to the delivery position 45 in contact with the stoppers 82 and 83. Then, a predetermined number of rows of articles 11 at the sending position 45 are sent to the sending means 25.
Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 (m) and (n), the process proceeds to the operation of cutting out the subsequent article 11.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a predetermined number of rows of articles 11 cut out at the delivery position 45 are taken by the camera of the photographing means 91.
A photograph is taken at 92 and the alignment state of the articles 11 is confirmed.

If it is confirmed that the alignment of the articles 11 is normal, the first sweeper 47 of the sending means 25 collectively expands and contracts the articles 11 at the sending position 45 while keeping the aligned state.
Send to 26.

When the misalignment of the articles 11 is confirmed, the articles 11 located at the delivery position 45 are ejected by the ejection means 95. The discharging means 95 retracts the upper and lower stoppers 82 and 83 to the retracted position, respectively, and discharges the article 11 at the delivery position 45 from the end of the accumulator 40 by the fourth pusher 44. The dispensed article 11 is collected through a chute 97 into a collection box 96.
To be collected.

Further, as shown in FIG.
At the time of receiving the article 11 from the sending position 45 by the sending means 25, the enlargement / reduction lane 51 corresponds to the row pitch of the aligned articles 11 sent in the column direction from the sending position 45 by the sending means 25.
Is reduced, the lane guide 112 is lowered, and the interval between the side guides 113 on both sides is reduced.

For this reason, the aligned articles 11 sent out in the column direction from the delivery position 45 by the delivery means 25 are received in the respective expansion / reduction lanes 51 for each row, and the neck ring 14 of the mouth 13 of the article 11 is received.
Is supported by the neck guide 104, and the lower part of the aligned articles 11 in a predetermined number of rows is received between the side guides 113 on both sides.

After the articles 11 are received in the respective expansion / reduction lanes 51 for each row, as shown in FIG.
6 and lower the neck ring 14 of the article 11 to the neck guide.
The article 11 is held on the enlargement / reduction lane 51 by being pressed against the 104.

With the article 11 held in the scaling lane 51,
As shown in FIG. 9 (b), the interval between the side guides 113 on both sides is increased, and the row pitch of the expansion / reduction lane 51 is increased corresponding to the row pitch received in the row direction for each row by the single-row payout means 27. Thereafter, the respective lane guides 112 are raised to enter between the lower rows of the articles 11, and the pressing bodies 106 of the respective enlarged / reduced lanes 51 are raised to release the holding of the articles 11 with respect to the enlarged / reduced lanes 51.

In FIG. 1, the second sweeper 55 of the dispensing means 53 is moved between the enlarging / reducing means 26 and the delivery position 45 of the accumulator 40, and is moved toward the single-row dispensing means 27. The articles 11 in the inside are collectively paid out to the single-row payout means 27.

In the single-row payout means 27, each payout lane
The 61 is moved to a receiving position that is continuous with each of the enlargement / reduction lanes 51 in the enlarged state, and the articles 11 paid out from the respective enlargement / reduction lanes 51 of the enlargement / reduction means 26 are received in the respective payout lanes 61. After receiving the articles 11, each payout lane 61 is sequentially moved to the payout position 62, the endless body 132 of the payout section 63 is rotated, and the payout member 133 conveys the articles 11 in the payout lane 61 at the payout position 62 in one line. Pay out to means 28.

The single-row transport means 28 receives the articles 11 paid out from the single-row payout means 27 and transports them in a single row.

As described above, the pallet is
The articles 11 in the aligned state stacked in a plurality of stages on 15 are unloaded one by one sequentially to the transporting means 23, and the articles 11 in the aligned state are cut out by the cutout means 24 for every predetermined number of rows, and the sending means 25, a predetermined number of rows of the articles 11 are sent to the expansion / reduction means 26, and the expansion / reduction means 26 expands the interval between the articles 11 between the rows to eliminate interference between the rows and to the one row payout means 27,
Since the articles 11 are successively dispensed one by one in the column direction by the single-row dispensing means 27, the articles 11 can be surely processed in units of rows, and high-speed processing can be performed, thereby improving the dispensing ability.

The articles aligned by the cutting means 24
11 is cut out from the first row in the transport direction to a transport position 45 on the downstream side in the transport direction every predetermined number of rows, and the transport unit 25
Since a predetermined number of rows of articles 11 cut into 45 are sent out in the column direction, the predetermined number of rows of articles 11 cut out in the post-processing can be easily processed in row units. In other words, the post-processing single-row dispensing device 65 receives articles 11 in a predetermined number of rows sent from the delivery position 45 and pays out the articles 11 one by one in order. Can be easily processed in a row unit, and the articles 11 can be reliably dispensed in a single row, and the dispensing ability can be improved.

Further, the articles 11 aligned on the layer conveyor 33 are sandwiched by the first and second pushers 41 and 42 and moved onto the accumulator conveyor 40, and the second and third pushers 41 and 42 are moved.
The pushers 42, 43 sandwich the aligned articles 11 on the accumulator 40 and move the third pusher 43 downstream in the transport direction until the third pusher 43 reaches a predetermined cutout reference position. A third row and a fourth row are inserted between rows of articles 11 corresponding to a predetermined number of rows from the exit reference position.
The pushers 43 and 44 sandwich the article 11 in a predetermined number of rows and move the article 11 toward the delivery position 45 in the downstream direction in the transport direction. It is possible to reliably cut out the articles 11 in the number of rows.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, if there is provided a fall detecting means 151 for detecting a fall of the article 11 on the leading row side in the conveying direction of the article 11 cut by the cutting means 24,
When the overturning of the article 11 is detected by the overturning detecting means 151, the leading row side including at least the overturned article 11 is discharged to the downstream side of the accumulator 40 in the transport direction of the accumulator 40 by the cutting-out means 24, so that the processing in the middle of processing is performed. The clogging of the article 11 can be prevented.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, if a suction means 152 for sucking and holding the lower part of the article 11 corresponding to the top row in the conveying direction of the article 11 cut by the cutting means 24 is provided, The product 11 can be prevented from wobbling, jumping out, or falling.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, if there is provided a jumping-out detecting means 153 for detecting the jumping-out of the article 11 on the first row side in the conveying direction of the article 11 cut out by the cutting-out means 24, When the jumping-out of the article 11 is detected by the means 153, the cutting-out means 24 moves the article 11 which has jumped out to the upstream side in the transport direction and returns it, thereby preventing processing defects and clogging of the article 11 during processing.

The single-row payout device 65 is not limited to the enlargement / reduction means 26 and the single-row payout means 27, and other configurations may be used as long as the articles 11 can be separated in rows and paid out in a single row. Good.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the plastic bottle is shown as an article. However, the present invention is not limited to the plastic bottle, but may be a pin, a can, or other things. By doing so, the same function and effect can be obtained.

[0082]

According to the article cutting device of the first aspect,
Cutting out the aligned articles by the cutting means from the first row in the transport direction to the delivery position on the downstream side in the transport direction for each predetermined number of rows,
Since the predetermined number of rows of articles cut out to the sending position by the sending unit are sent out in the column direction, the predetermined number of rows of articles cut out in the post-processing can be easily processed in row units.

According to the article extracting apparatus of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the article extracting apparatus of the first aspect, the leading position of the article is positioned at the extraction reference position of the cut body, and this cutting is performed. The cutting body is made to enter between the rows of articles corresponding to the predetermined number of rows from the cutout reference position, and the predetermined number of rows of articles are moved to the downstream side in the transport direction by the cut body. It is possible to surely cut out the minute articles.

According to the article extracting apparatus of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the article extracting apparatus of the first aspect, the alignment supplied to the upstream side of the conveyor by the first and second cutting bodies. The articles in the state are sandwiched and moved on the conveyor, and the articles in the aligned state on the conveyor are sandwiched by the second and third cutting bodies and the third cutting body is downstream in the transport direction until the third cutting body reaches the cutting reference position. Side, and the third cut-out body is made to enter between rows of articles corresponding to a predetermined number of rows from the cut-out reference position, and the third and fourth cut-out bodies are used for a predetermined number of rows of articles. Is moved downstream in the transport direction toward the delivery position, the articles can be moved while pressing the front and rear of the articles in the moving direction to prevent the articles from falling down and to reliably cut out a predetermined number of rows of articles.

According to the article extracting device of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect of the article extracting device of any one of the first to third aspects, when the overturn detecting unit detects the falling of the article, the extracting unit As a result, since the top row including at least the overturned articles is discharged to the downstream side in the transport direction of the conveyor, articles in a predetermined number of rows can be accurately cut out.

According to the article extracting apparatus of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect of the article extracting apparatus of any one of the first to fourth aspects, in addition to the effect of the article extracting apparatus, the article extracting apparatus is provided with Correspondingly, since the suction means for sucking and holding the lower part of the article is provided, it is possible to prevent the article from swaying, falling down and jumping out, and to accurately cut out a predetermined number of rows of articles.

According to the article extracting apparatus of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect of the article extracting apparatus of any one of the first to fifth aspects, when the ejection detecting means detects that the article jumps out,
Since the articles ejected by the extracting means are moved to the upstream side in the transport direction, articles in a predetermined number of rows can be accurately extracted.

According to the article single-row dispenser of claim 7,
An article in an aligned state loaded on a pallet in a plurality of stages by an unloading device is unloaded onto a conveyor one by one in order, and the articles in a state of being aligned on the conveyor by an article extracting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Since the articles are cut out in a predetermined number of rows and sent out in the row direction, the one-row payout apparatus receives the predetermined number of rows of articles sent from the article picking-up apparatus and pays out one row at a time. Can easily process a predetermined number of rows of articles in row units, can reliably pay out articles in a single row, and can improve the payout capacity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an article cutting device and an article single-row dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the article cutting device;

FIG. 3 shows the cutting operation by the article cutting device (a) to (n).
FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a part of a stopper means and a discharge means of the article cutting device;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an enlarging / reducing means of the article single-row dispensing machine.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an enlarging / reducing means of the article single-row dispensing machine.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an enlargement / reduction lane of the article single-row dispensing machine.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a guide means of the article single-row dispensing machine.

9A and 9B show an enlargement / reduction means and a guide means of the same article single-row dispenser, wherein FIG. 9A is an explanatory view of a reduced state of an enlargement / reduction lane, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an enlarged state of an enlargement / reduction lane.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a single-row dispensing unit of the article single-row dispensing machine.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a single-row payout unit of the article single-row payout machine.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the article cutting device according to the second embodiment;

13A and 13B show articles to be dispensed by the article single-row dispensing machine, wherein FIG. 13A is a front view of the articles, and FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the articles loaded on a pallet in a plurality of stages.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing another embodiment of the article cutting device.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing still another embodiment of the article cutting device.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing still another embodiment of the article cutting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Articles 15 Pallets 21 Article single-row dispensing machine 22 Unloading means as unloading device 24 Extracting means 25 Sending means 40 Accum conveyor as conveyor 49 Article extracting device 65 Single-row dispensing device 72 Extracting body 73 Extracting body Driving unit 141 Control unit having the function of cutout control unit 151 Fallover detection unit 152 Suction unit 153 Protrusion detection unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A conveyor that conveys a plurality of articles in a plurality of rows in a conveying direction and a plurality of articles arranged in a row direction along each row, and conveys articles conveyed by the conveyor. Cutting means for cutting out a predetermined number of rows from the leading row in the direction to a delivery position on the downstream side in the transport direction, and a row of articles corresponding to a predetermined number of rows cut out to the delivery position by the cutting means along each row An article cutting device comprising: sending means for sending in an direction. 2. A cutting device, comprising: a cutting body which can enter between rows of articles in an aligned state from above; a cutting body which moves up and down with respect to a conveyor; and moves along a conveying direction of the conveyor. A cutting body driving means for causing the cutting body to position a leading position in the conveying direction of the article at the cutting reference position of the cutting body, and to position the cutting body at a predetermined number of rows from the cutting reference position. 2. An article cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising cutting control means for allowing the cutting body to enter between the rows and moving a predetermined number of rows of articles by the cut body toward the downstream side in the transport direction. 3. The cutting means has first to fourth cutting bodies in order from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor.
First to fourth cutting body driving means for vertically moving the first to fourth cutting bodies independently on the conveyor and moving the cutting bodies along the conveying direction of the conveyor; 2. The aligned articles supplied to the upstream side of the conveyor are sandwiched by the cutouts of No. 2 and moved on the conveyor, and the aligned articles on the conveyor are sandwiched by the second and third cutouts to form the third articles. The cut body is moved to the downstream side in the transport direction until the cut body reaches the cut reference position, and the third cut body is inserted between the rows of articles corresponding to a predetermined number of rows from the cut reference position and the third cut body is moved. 2. An article cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising cutting control means for sandwiching a predetermined number of rows of articles by the fourth cutting body and moving the articles to a downstream position in the transport direction toward the delivery position. Output device. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a fall detecting unit configured to detect a fall of the article on a first row side in a conveying direction of the article to be cut by the cutting unit. 4. The article cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least the top row including the overturned articles is discharged to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor. 5. An article cutting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising suction means for sucking and holding a lower portion of the article corresponding to a leading row of the article cut by the cutting means in a conveying direction. Output device. 6. An ejection detecting means for detecting a jump of an article on a leading row side in a conveying direction of an article to be cut by the cutting means, wherein the cutting means detects the jump of the article by the jump detecting means. 6. The article cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ejected article is moved to the upstream side in the transport direction. 7. An unloading device for sequentially unloading the aligned articles stacked in a plurality of stages on a pallet one by one, and a predetermined row of the aligned articles unloaded by the unloading apparatus. An article cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the articles are cut out every number and sent out in the row direction, and one row which receives a predetermined number of rows of articles sent from the article cutting apparatus and sequentially pays out one row at a time. An article single-row dispensing machine comprising a dispensing device.