JP2003020119A - Container feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container feeder capable of attaining labor saving and high efficiency by mechanically transferring and assembling a group of containers. SOLUTION: The group of containers B loaded onto a carriage 2 is lifted by a tranfer device 20 while being stacked straightly to be transferred onto a first conveyor 28. The group of containers B is once stored in a second conveyor 31 of a storage device 30 and is supplied to a separating device 40 group by group. One group of containers B is lifted by the separating device 40, the groups of containers B which are stacked on the second stage or higher from the lower position, separates the container A on the lowest stage and supplies it to an assembling device 50. A frame part Ab constructing a container A is raised by the assembling device 50, right and left wall parts Ac are raised roughly straightly, front and rear wall parts Ad are pushed and extended in the front/rear direction and assembled in a top opening form, and then the container A is transported to the next step.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container group in which a plurality of containers such as a plastic or metal container case, a paper (corrugated cardboard) or a wooden box are stacked, and the separated containers are separated. The present invention relates to a container supply device used for a work of assembling and supplying a predetermined shape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for transferring the above-mentioned container group, for example, a plurality of receiving claws are inserted on the lower surface side of the container group formed by stacking a plurality of containers such as a nursery box and a tray in the upper and lower stages. After that, there is a transfer device that presses a holding plate against the upper surface side of the container group and holds it up and down, and then lifts the container group held by the receiving claw and the pressing plate and moves it to a predetermined transfer place.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned device, since the plurality of receiving claws are formed in such a length that the entire lower surface of the container group is supported, the receiving claws can be inserted or removed. When doing so, it must be done slowly so that the containers do not roll over. In addition, since the pressing plate is pressed against the upper surface side of the container group after inserting the receiving claw, not only is it time-consuming and time-consuming to transfer the container group, but also the work efficiency of the entire device is deteriorated. Have a point.

In view of the above problems, the present invention lifts the container group while stacking them in a substantially straight line and transfers them to the container transfer section, and pulls up the frame part of the container separated from the lowermost stage of the container group to a predetermined form. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container supply device capable of mechanically performing the work of transferring and assembling the container group and the labor saving of work and an increase in efficiency because the assembling is performed in the above.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided container supply means for supplying a container group formed by stacking a plurality of containers vertically to a container supply section, and the lowest stage of the container group supplied to the container supply section. A pair of support members that are locked to both sides of the containers stacked in the above, and the pair of support members that are locked to the containers stacked at the bottom of the container group supplied to the container supply unit. And a container transfer means for moving to a transfer position where the container group in which the pair of support members are locked is transferred to the container transfer section while being stacked substantially straightly. It is a container supply device.

[0006] The above-mentioned container and container group can be constituted by, for example, a plastic or metal container, a paper or wooden box, or the like. The container supply means can be configured by a supply means such as a trolley, a conveyor, or a manual work.
The container supply unit can be configured by, for example, a trolley carry-in unit that carries in a trolley on which the container group is loaded, a container carry-in unit that directly carries in the container group, and the like. The container transfer section can be composed of, for example, a roller conveyor or a belt conveyor. The pair of support members can be configured by nails, plates, hooks, or the like, for example. The container transfer means can be composed of, for example, a parallel link mechanism, a loop-shaped orbiting mechanism, a cam mechanism, or the like.

That is, when the container group is supplied to the container supply section by the container supply means, the pair of support members are locked to both side parts of the containers stacked at the bottom of the container group. By driving the container transfer means, the container group is lifted upward and transferred to the container transfer section while being stacked substantially straight.

As an embodiment, after the container transfer means, the container elevating means for elevating the container group to the height at which the containers stacked at the bottom are separated, and the container group elevating by the container elevating means. Container separation in which a pair of locking members are locked to both sides of the containers stacked in the second stage from the bottom, and the lowermost container in which the locking members are not locked is lowered by the elevating means and separated. And means.

Further, a pair of locking members, which are locked to both side portions of the frame portion, and a pair of engaging members, when the wall portion forming the container is folded inward, at the subsequent stage of the container separating means. The stopper member may be provided with a container assembling means that moves up and down to a lowered position where it is locked to the frame portion and a raised position where the wall portion is erected substantially straight.

Further, a container storage means for temporarily stocking the next container group can be provided in the preceding stage of the container separating means until the container group separating operation by the container separating means is completed.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the pair of supporting members constituting the container transfer means are locked to the containers stacked at the bottom of the container group, and the container groups are stacked substantially straight. Since it is lifted and transferred to the container transfer unit, it is possible to transfer a large number of containers at once and to stably transfer the container group. In addition, since the transfer operation of the container group is mechanically performed, it is possible to save labor and improve efficiency.

Moreover, when the entire container group is lifted to a predetermined height by the container separating means, the pair of locking members are locked to the containers stacked in the second stage from the bottom, and the remaining upper container group is retained. After holding, only the containers stacked in the lowermost stage are lowered and separated, so that the work of separating the container groups one by one can be performed reliably and the containers can be stably supplied one by one.

Further, since the frame portion constituting the container is pulled up by the pair of locking members and the wall portions connected to the respective sides of the frame portion are pulled up in a substantially straight state, the container assembling work is simple and easy. Since it can be easily performed and the assembling work is performed mechanically, the labor can be saved and the efficiency can be improved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The drawing shows a container supply device used for the operation of supplying a container which is an example of a container. In FIG. 1, the container supply device 10 has a predetermined number of articles (for example, agricultural products) assembled in a top opening form. A transfer section a in which a container group B, which is arranged in the preceding stage of the accommodating step of accommodating in the container A and is formed by stacking a plurality of vertically foldable and assembled containers A, is set on the transport path.
, The storage section b, the separation section c, and the assembly section d to transfer the container group B loaded on the carriage 2 and to separate the container group B into upper and lower parts to separate the separated containers. A is assembled into a top opening form and supplied to the next step.

As shown in FIG. 10, the container A described above has a long side wall portion Ac formed so as to be foldable toward the inside.
The upper and lower ends are pivotally attached to the long side edge of the bottom Aa having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the bottom and the long side edge of the frame Ab having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the bottom, and the short side wall. The upper end of the portion Ad can be pivotally attached to the short side edge of the frame Ab, and the lower end of the wall Ad can be locked to the short side edge of the bottom Aa and the side edge of the wall Ac. And a recess A to which support pins 45 and 51 described later are locked.
e is formed at both ends of the frame portion Ab on the long side.

That is, the support pin 51, which will be described later, is formed in the recess Ae.
, The frame portion Ab is pulled upward to cause the wall portion Ac to be in a substantially straight state, and the wall portion Ad is spread in the front-rear direction and locked to the bottom portion Aa and the wall portion Ac. Can be assembled in the form of an open box. On the other hand, wall A
When d is pushed inward, the wall portion Ac is folded inward, and the frame portion Ab is pushed down, it can be transformed into a folded form.

The dolly 2 described above, as shown in FIG.
The receiving member 4 having a substantially triangular shape formed in a size and shape that supports the corners of the container A is attached to the four corners on the upper surface side of the carriage body 3 formed in a size substantially corresponding to the bottom surface of the container A. A support claw 21 of a transfer device 20 to be described later is formed between the opposite edges of the lower surface side of the containers A stacked in the lower stage and the trolley body 3 to form an allowable gap. and,
Traveling wheels 5 (for example, casters) that can swing freely in an arbitrary direction (for example, a direction of about 360 degrees) are attached to four corners on the lower surface side of the carriage main body 3, and a roller-shaped stopper 2 described later is provided.
Recesses 6 to which 9 is locked are formed at the front and rear ends of the lower surface of the truck 2.

The transfer device 20 disposed in the transfer section a described above.
As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, a substantially L-shaped supporting claw 21 is formed between the facing surfaces of the container A at the lowermost stage and the trolley 2 when viewed from the front. It is arranged on both sides of the conveying path so as to face the gap, and is formed to have a thickness and shape that can be inserted into the gap.

The advancing / retreating cylinders 23 attached to the left and right support frames 22 have the insertion direction in which the left and right support claws 21 are engaged with both edges of the lower surface side of the container A, and the engagement is released. It moves back and forth in the pulling direction. That is, when it is detected by the detection sensor (not shown) that the trolley 2 loaded with the container group B is stopped in the trolley loading section 27 at the front of the apparatus, the left and right support claws 21 are moved to the maximum based on the detection. It is close to the interval where it is locked to both edges on the lower surface side of the containers A stacked in the lower stage.

On the other hand, when the detection sensor (not shown) detects that the container group B has been transferred to the first conveyor 28, the left and right support claws 21 are moved to both sides of the lower surface of the container A based on the detection. The edge portions are separated from each other by an interval in which the locking is released or an interval in which the contact is avoided. In addition, the trolley 2
For example, it may be carried in by mechanical means such as being pulled by a chain or traveling by a motor.

The above-mentioned support frame 22 is installed between the swing arms 25, 25 of the parallel link mechanism 24 arranged on both sides of the apparatus, and the support claws 21, 21 are attached so that they are always kept horizontal. . In addition, the motor 26 with a reduction gear arranged in the lower part of the device has the swing arms 25, 25 forming the left and right parallel link mechanisms 24 in the front-rear direction via the connecting shaft 26a, the sprocket 26b, and the chain 26c. Support claws 21 and 21 attached to the left and right support frames 22 by interlocking swing
Is held between the carriage 2 carried into the carriage carry-in section 27 and the container A stacked at the bottom, and the container group B held by the supporting claws 21 on the left and right of the container group B is the first at the rear of the apparatus. It swings back and forth to the transfer position where it is transferred to the conveyor 28.

Also, as shown in FIG. 6, a roller-shaped stopper 29 is attached to the lower end of an arm 29a pivotally attached to the front frame of the carriage loading section 27 so as to face the front end of the carriage 2. Due to the elasticity of the coil spring 29b stretched over the upper end of the arm 29a, the stopper 29 is moved to the carriage 2
Is urged to rotate in a direction in which it is locked to the concave portion 6 formed at the front end portion on the lower surface side. The configuration of the transfer device 20 described above can also be applied to collectively transfer a plurality of container groups B, for example.

In addition, the guide frames 2 installed on both upper sides of the apparatus
0a guides the container group B held by the left and right support claws 21 in a state of being stacked substantially straight when being transferred to the first conveyor 28.

The storage device 30 arranged in the storage section b described above.
Installs the second conveyor 31 that aligns and conveys the above-mentioned container group B in the vicinity of the terminal end of the first conveyor 28, and continues until the separating operation of the container group B by the separating device 40 described later is completed. When the detection sensor (not shown) detects that the separation work of the previous container group B is completed by making the container group B of the next group stand by, the next container group B of the separation section c is detected based on the detection. The separation device 40 is conveyed and supplied (one group or a plurality of groups). In addition, the guide frames 32 installed on the upper sides of both sides of the device,
The conveyor 31 is conveyed and guided in a state of being stacked substantially straight from the start end side to the end end side.

Separation device 40 arranged in the aforementioned separation section c
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the third conveyor 41, which transports the above-mentioned container groups B arranged in one row, is installed near the end of the second conveyor 31. In addition, the elevating table 42 formed to have a length in which the entire length of the container A is supported substantially horizontally is provided on both sides of the third conveyor 41 so as to face both edges of the lower surface side of the container A which is stopped in the separation section c. The elevating table 42 is provided upright on the upper surface of a supporting table 43 which is installed below the third conveyor 41.

In addition, the lift cylinders 44 arranged on both sides of the lower part of the apparatus support the above-mentioned support base 43 by the recess A of the container A lifted by the lift base 42 or the second from the bottom.
With respect to e, the support pin 45 described later is moved up and down, and the elevating table 42 moves up and down to a lower position where the elevating table 42 is retracted below the conveying surface of the third conveyor 41.

The above-mentioned support pins 45 are arranged on both sides of the conveying path so as to face the concave portions Ae formed in the frame portion Ab of the container A whose conveyance is stopped in the separation section c, and the concave portions Ae.
It is formed in a length and shape that can be locked with respect to. In addition, the advancing / retreating cylinders 46 disposed on the upper sides of both sides of the device are arranged such that the left and right support pins 45 are inserted into the recess Ae of the container A lifted by the elevating table 42 and the engagement is released. It moves back and forth in the pulling direction. That is, when a detection sensor (not shown) detects that the container A has been stopped from being loaded into the assembling section d, the container group B is lifted to a predetermined height by the lifting table 42 based on the detection, and the support pin 45 is lifted. , The lowermost container A in which the support pins 45 are not locked is separated by being locked in the recess Ae of the containers A stacked in the second from the bottom and by the descending motion of the elevating table 42. The remaining container group B on the upper stage side is supported at a height at which the conveyance of the above is allowed. Also,
When the container group B is moved up and down, the container group B is separated from the container group B at an interval that avoids contact with the container group B.

On the other hand, the guide frames 4 installed on both upper sides of the apparatus
The 7 and the guide plate 48 guide the container group B which is lifted up and down by the lift table 42 and supported by the support pins 45 so as to be stacked substantially straight. In addition, a stopper 49 that temporarily stops the container A and the container group B is arranged so as to face the front end of the container A at the lowest stage conveyed to the separation section c.

As shown in FIG. 9, the assembling apparatus 50 arranged in the above-mentioned assembling section d has a folding mode in which the supporting pins 51, which are substantially the same as the above-mentioned supporting pins 45, are stopped in the assembling section d. The container A is provided on both sides of the transport path so as to face the recess Ae formed in the frame Ab of the container A.

The advancing / retreating cylinders 53 attached to the left and right support frames 52 have support pins 51 projecting from both ends of the movable frame 52a, and the insertion direction in which the support pins 51 are engaged with the recesses Ae of the frame Ab. It moves back and forth in the pull-out direction in which the lock is released. That is, when it is detected by the detection sensor (not shown) that the container A is stopped in the assembly section d,
Based on the detection, the left and right support pins 51 are brought close to the interval at which they are locked to the recess Ae of the frame Ab, and are separated at an interval at which they can avoid contact with the container A after assembly is completed. To be done.

Further, the motor 54 with a speed reducer arranged on the upper portion of the apparatus includes the sprockets 54a and 54b and the chain 5
4c, the rotating body 55 is rotated, and the rotating body 55 is rotated.
Crank motion of the connecting rod 56 connected to the support frame 5
2 is moved up and down, the lower position where the support pin 51 is locked in the recess Ae of the frame Ab, and the frame Ab holding the support pin 51 is pulled up, so that the walls Ac and Ad stand upright. Move up and down to the raised position. At this time, the bottom Aa
Is held in a fixed position by a holding means such as a claw, a plate, or an arm, and is prevented from being pulled up together with the frame portion Ab.

In addition, the rotating cylinder 58 disposed on the upper portion of the conveying path in the assembly section d raises the front and rear abutting plates 57 when the above-mentioned wall portion Ac is substantially straightened.
The wall portion Ad is brought into contact with the inner side surface of the wall portion Ad, and the wall portion Ad rotates in a direction in which the wall portion Ad is expanded in the front-rear direction. After the assembly is completed, the container A is pivotally returned to a height at which the container A is prevented from coming into contact with the container A. In addition, a stopper 59 for temporarily stopping the container A and the container group B is arranged so as to face the front end of the container A at the lowest stage conveyed to the separation section c.

The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation of transferring, separating and assembling the container A by the container supply device 10 will be described below.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the trolley 2 (see FIG. 11) on which the container group B for one group is loaded is manually moved and disposed in the transfer section a. After being carried into the carriage carrying-in section 27 of the transfer device 20, FIGS.
As also shown, the transfer device 20 is driven to lock the left and right support claws 21 on both side edge portions of the containers A stacked at the bottom.

Next, the support arm 24 is turned in the transfer direction, and the container group B is held by the left and right support claws 21 while being held in a substantially straight state of stacking, and the first conveyor 28 is moved.
Reprinted to. After that, the left and right support claws 21 are removed from both side edge portions of the containers A stacked at the bottom, and the transfer is completed.

On the other hand, the container group B is attached to the left and right supporting claws 21.
After lifting the container group B, the trolley 2 from which the container group B has been removed is removed from the trolley loading unit 27, the trolley 2 on which the next container group B is loaded is loaded, and the transfer operation of the container group B is continued. To do.

Next, the container group B placed on the first conveyor 28 is placed in the storage section b in the second storage device 30.
The third container of the separation device 40 in which the container group B for one group is conveyed and supplied to the conveyor 31 and temporarily stored, and is arranged in the separation section c.
It is conveyed and supplied to the conveyor 41.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the container group B is conveyed to the separation section c, the separating device 40 is driven and the entire container group B is moved to a predetermined height by the elevating table 42. And the left and right support pins 45 are temporarily lifted to the recess A formed in the frame portion Ab of the container A stacked in the second stage from the bottom.
Then, the remaining container group B on the upper side is temporarily held. Due to the descending operation of the lifting platform 42, the container A at the bottom stage
Are separated and placed on the third conveyor 41, and the container A placed on the third conveyor 41 is supplied to the assembling apparatus 50 in the assembling section d. In the same manner as described above, the remaining upper container group b held by the left and right support pins 45 is lifted again by the elevating table 42 to separate the lowermost container A.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the container A is conveyed to the assembling section d, the assembling apparatus 5 is used.
By driving 0, the left and right support pins 51 are locked in the recesses Ae formed in the frame portion Ab of the container A, the frame portion Ab is pulled up, and the wall portion Ac is raised substantially straightly, and then the front and rear The wall portion Ad is spread in the front-rear direction by the contact plate 57 and locked to the bottom portion Aa and the wall portion Ac, and assembled in a box shape with the upper surface side opened. After this, the left and right support pins 51 and the contact plate 57
And are returned to the initial position, and the container A assembled in the top opening form is conveyed to the next step (for example, the step of accommodating the contents). Hereinafter, in the same manner as described above, the separating work by the separating device 40 and the assembling work by the assembling device 50 are continuously performed.

As described above, the left and right support claws 21 constituting the transfer device 20 are locked to the container A stacked at the bottom of the container group B, and the entire container group B is stacked substantially straight. Since it is lifted as it is and transferred to the second conveyor 28, a large number of containers A can be transferred at one time, and the operation of transferring the container group B can be performed stably.
Moreover, since the transfer operation of the container group B is mechanically performed, it is possible to save labor and improve efficiency.

Moreover, the entire container group B is separated by the separating device 40.
When lifted by the lifting table 42 of the pair of support pins 45
Is retained in the recess Ae of the frame Ab constituting the containers A that are stacked in the second stage from the bottom, and the remaining upper container group B is held, and then the lowering stage 42 lowers the container to the lowermost stage. Since only the stacked containers A are separated, the work of separating the container group B step by step can be surely performed, and
The containers A can be stably supplied one by one.

Further, the left and right support pins 51 constituting the assembling device 50 are locked in the recesses Ae of the frame portion Ab constituting the container A, and only the frame portion Ab is pulled upward to form the left and right long side walls. Since the portion Ac is brought into a substantially straight state and the front and rear short side wall portions Ad are spread in the front-rear direction by the contact plate 57 to assemble in a top opening form, the container A can be assembled easily and easily, Since the assembling work is performed mechanically, the labor can be saved and the work efficiency can be improved.

In the correspondence between the structure of the present invention and the above-mentioned embodiment, the container of the present invention corresponds to the plastic or metal container A, the paper or wooden box of the embodiment, and so on. , The container group corresponds to the container group B, the container supply device corresponds to the container supply device 10, the container transfer means corresponds to the transfer device 20 and the parallel link mechanism 24, and the support member corresponds to the support claw 21. The container supply unit corresponds to the trolley carry-in unit 27, and the container transfer unit corresponds to the first conveyor 2
8, the container storage means corresponds to the storage device 30,
The container elevating means corresponds to the elevating table 42, the container separating means corresponds to the separating device 40, and the container assembling means includes the assembling device 50 and the motor 54, and the sprockets 54a, 54.
b, the chain 54c, the rotating body 55, and the connecting rod 56, and the locking members correspond to the support pins 45 and 51, but the present invention is limited to only the configuration of the above-described embodiment. Not a thing.

As another example of the driving means in place of the above-mentioned advancing / retreating cylinders 23, 46, 53, the elevating cylinder 44, and the rotating cylinder 58, for example, a solenoid, a motor, a cam mechanism or the like can be used.

In the embodiment, the first conveyor 28, the second conveyor 31, and the third conveyor 41 are roller conveyors, but they may be belt conveyors or chain conveyors.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing operations of transfer, separation, and assembly by a container supply device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the transfer operation of the container by the transfer device.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a transfer operation of the container by the transfer device.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which the left and right support claws are locked to the container.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state where the support claws are locked.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view showing a state in which the carriage is stopped at a fixed position.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the separating operation of the separating device and the assembling operation of the assembling device.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a separating operation of the container group by the separating device.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing the assembling operation of the container by the assembling apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a stacked state of the containers.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing how to fold and assemble a container.

[Explanation of symbols]

A ... Container Aa ... bottom Ab ... Frame part Ac, Ad ... Wall Ae ... recess B ... Containers 2 ... trolley 10 ... Container supply device 20 ... Transfer device 21 ... Support claw 30 ... Storage device 40 ... Separation device 42 ... Lifting platform 45 ... Support pin 50 ... Assembly device 51 ... Support pin 57 ... Contact plate

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A container supply means for supplying a container group formed by stacking a plurality of containers in the upper and lower stages to a container supply section, and both side parts of the containers stacked in the lowermost stage of the container group supplied to the container supply section. A pair of support members that are locked to each other, a holding position that locks the pair of support members to a container stacked at the bottom of the container group supplied to the container supply unit, and the pair of support members. And a container transfer device that moves to a transfer position where a container group in which the supporting member is locked is transferred to the container transfer unit while being stacked in a substantially straight line. 2. A container elevating means for elevating the container group to the height at which the containers stacked at the lowest stage are separated after the container transferring means, and a container group elevating by the container elevating means. A container in which a pair of locking members are locked to both side parts of the containers stacked in the second stage from the bottom, and the lowermost container in which the locking members are not locked is lowered by the container elevating means and separated. The container supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a separating means. 3. When the wall portion connected to the opposite side of the bottom portion and the frame portion constituting the container is folded inward at the rear stage of the container separating means, the wall portions are connected to both side portions of the frame portion. The pair of locking members to be locked, and the pair of locking members are moved up and down to a lowered position where they are locked to the frame portion and a raised position where the wall portion is erected substantially straight. The container supply device according to claim 2, further comprising container assembling means. 4. The container supply according to claim 2, further comprising a container storage means for temporarily stocking the next container group until the container separating operation by the container separating means is completed, before the container separating means. apparatus.