JP2003246445A - Triplex device for empty container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a triplex device for empty containers capable of setting the empty containers in a prescribed direction so as to be smoothly set as a triplex and shortening the machine length of the device itself to attain simplification of a process and cost reduction while improving capacity. <P>SOLUTION: This triplex device for the empty containers is provided with a container attitude control means for setting the first to the third empty containers conveyed in a prescribed direction, respectively into a direction in which the triplex can be set, and a container integrating means for lifting the first empty container supplied from the container attitude control means from a conveying face to maintain in a prescribed position higher than the second and third empty containers and rotating it by about 90° around a vertical axis to integrate the opening parts of the second and third empty containers into both end parts of the first empty container by horizontal displacement in an almost orthogonal direction to the conveying direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is preferably used in, for example, a facility for sorting agricultural products, and is an empty container for incorporating three containers such as empty containers and empty cardboard boxes after the agricultural products for sorting have been taken out. A container triad device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an agricultural product sorting facility, the agricultural products harvested by each producer are put into a container and carried into the sorting facility, where they are taken out of the container on the upstream side of the fruit selection line and subjected to predetermined sorting. It is supposed to be. The empty container from which the agricultural products have been taken out requires a large storage space when it is loaded and stored in the same manner as when the agricultural products were stored.
It is common practice to use the space of one container to pack it as compactly as possible, and to store it in a form called a triplet.

In this triplet, the opening edges of two containers are abutted with each other and the other container is incorporated therein. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the area of the storage place in the sorting facility. When returning a container to each producer, it can be compacted and loaded on a truck or the like. Conventionally, the three-group work of these three containers is usually performed manually, but for example, JP-A-7-291205 and JP-A-8-85621.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication, an apparatus for automatically performing a three-piece work has also been proposed.

The former (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-291205) discloses an apparatus for incorporating an empty box, which is provided at the end of a transfer means for transferring the first empty box whose upper surface is open to one side, and reverses the empty box. A rotating means for moving the second empty box whose upper surface is in the open state into the first empty box which has been inverted and rotated by the rotating means, and changes the direction by 90 degrees. The pushing means for pushing in, the reverse rotating means for rotating the third empty box whose upper surface is in the open state by rotating the third empty box by 180 degrees and changing the third empty box to the lower open attitude, and the reverse open attitude. A first empty box incorporating the third empty box and a covering means for covering the second empty box.

In the latter (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-85621), the empty box triplet apparatus is configured such that three empty boxes waiting in parallel in a predetermined posture are placed on a chute and transferred by an empty box transfer device. During transfer, the empty boxes on both sides are pushed laterally into the empty box in the center by guards (guide rails) to form three sets.

[0006]

However, in the former empty box assembling apparatus, the first empty box is turned sideways, and the second empty box whose direction is changed 90 degrees horizontally is pushed into this empty box. Since the pushed first empty box and the second empty box are raised in the vertical posture, and the third empty box whose direction is changed from the upper open posture to the lower open posture is placed on the both empty boxes, Three different assembling means, that is, the first assembling means including the rotating means, the second assembling means including the pushing means and the reverse rotating means, and the third assembling means including the covering means, are required. However, there is a problem that the mechanism of the device tends to be complicated.

The first empty box is turned sideways by the turning means, the second empty box is turned 90 degrees by the pushing means and pushed into the first empty box, and the third empty box is turned backward. Since the first and second empty boxes are covered by the means and the covering means, 3
Different forms of assembling means are required for assembling the three empty boxes, and it is necessary to operate them in order.
There is a problem that the built-in capacity is naturally limited and it is difficult to improve the capacity, and the cost tends to increase.

On the other hand, the latter three-box empty box apparatus can incorporate three empty boxes at a time and can solve the problems of the former apparatus which operates each process in order, but the following problems occur. have. That is, since the three empty boxes are installed in different stations where the standby position is different from the standby position and the positions where the three empty boxes are installed, and the three empty boxes are gradually moved apart by the guard during transfer, the captain of the device Tends to be long. In addition, in order to install the device, an empty box transfer device, a stepped chute, a guard that is gradually narrowed, and the like are required, which complicates the mechanism of the device, increases the cost, and makes the adjustment itself difficult.

Further, since the empty boxes on both sides are installed obliquely with respect to the central empty box, the openings of the empty boxes on both sides are substantially narrowed, and the inclination of the guard and the step of the stepped chute, or It is difficult to adjust the timing of the empty box carrier, and if the distance until the assembly is shortened, the angle of the guard becomes tight, which makes the assembly more difficult, and as a result, the smooth assembly work becomes difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to set a container in a predetermined direction so that three containers can be smoothly assembled, and shorten the machine length of the apparatus itself to simplify the process. Another object of the present invention is to provide a triple container device for empty containers, which can achieve cost reduction and improvement of processing capacity.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is to incorporate the openings of the second and third empty containers at both ends of the first empty container. It is a device for three sets of empty containers which makes three sets of three empty containers as one set, and is conveyed in a fixed predetermined direction.
~ Container attitude control means for setting the orientation of each of the three third empty containers possible, and the first empty container supplied from the container attitude control means is higher than the second and third empty containers by lifting from the transport surface. Maintains a predetermined position and is approximately 9 around the vertical axis.
Container assembly means which is rotated by 0 degree, and in which the opening portions of the second and third empty containers are installed at both ends of the first empty container by horizontal movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction thereof. To do.

With this configuration, the first to third empty containers conveyed in a fixed direction are first set in predetermined directions in which three sets can be set by the container attitude control means, and then set by the container mounting means. Three pairs are made. At this time, the container assembling means maintains the lifting surface at a position higher than the inner surfaces of the openings of the second and third empty containers by lifting the first empty container from the transport surface by a predetermined height. The container is rotated by 90 degrees about the vertical axis, and the second and third empty containers are installed at both ends of the first empty container by horizontal movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction. By setting the heights of the first empty container and the second and third empty containers, each empty container can be smoothly assembled, and by specifying the assembling direction, the machine length of the device can be shortened and the process can be simplified.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, the container attitude control means is a first empty container of the first to third empty containers which is sent with the opening portion either upward or downward. And a transporting device for arranging the second and third empty containers in a central position in a posture of being sent, and two reversing devices for laterally arranging the second and third empty containers so that their openings face the central position. It is characterized by being installed and prepared. With this configuration, the container attitude control means includes the transport device and the two reversing devices, so that the second and third empty containers can be individually reversed by the respective reversing devices, and the throughput of the three-group work can be increased. Can be improved.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, the container posture control means is sent by opening or closing the opening by the switching operation of the switchable reversing device. Of the three empty containers, the first empty container is placed in the center position while being fed, and the second and third empty containers are turned sideways so that their openings face the central position. It is characterized by With such a configuration, the container attitude control means includes the switchable reversing device that sets the first to third empty containers in the predetermined orientations, and thus one reversing device can be used as the first to third empty containers. Can be set in a predetermined direction, and the configuration of the apparatus itself can be simplified.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the container assembling means provides a second empty container to the first empty container which is lifted to a predetermined height.
A first width-shifting device that moves the opening portion of the third empty container to a predetermined distance from a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction to incorporate the first emptying device into the temporary assembly state, and an empty container that has been temporarily assembled by the first width-shifting device. Further, a second width aligning device that aligns the width to form three sets is provided. With this configuration, the container assembling means includes the two width-shifting devices.
In the temporary assembly state by the width aligning device, three empty containers in the temporary assembly state can be assembled by the second width aligning device, and the reliability of the assembling work is enhanced.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the second aspect.
The squeezing device is characterized in that the empty container in the temporarily assembled state that has been temporarily assembled by the first squeezing device is incorporated into the three-set state by the one-sided movement operation. With this configuration, the second width aligning device sets the three empty containers in the temporarily assembled state by the one-sided moving operation, so that the moving mechanism and the like can be simplified.

Further, the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the downstream side of the container assembling means is provided with an erecting means for erecting the three assembled empty containers in a vertical state. By configuring in this way, the three empty containers in the horizontal state are set in the vertical state by the erecting means by the movement in the direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction, so that the storage place of the three empty containers can be efficiently stored. It is possible to improve the usability of three empty containers, such as mounting on a truck or truck.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the empty container is a container for storing agricultural products or a cardboard box. With such a configuration, it is possible to efficiently store, for example, a container or the like used in a sorting and packaging facility for mandarin oranges and the like, and further improve the capability of sorting agricultural products.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of an empty container triplet device according to the present invention.
Is a plan view thereof, FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1, and FIG. The operation explanatory view, FIG. 6 is the DD line arrow view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is the EE line arrow view of FIG.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the triplet device 1 is
Inside the machine frame 2, a container attitude control means 3, a container width-shifting means 4, a container half-shifting means 5 and a container raising means 6 are provided in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction a. The movement of the container 7 among the respective means 3 to 6 in the transport direction B is performed by the plurality of transport rollers 8 forming the transport surface 8a.
The rotation of the container 7 (see FIG. 2) and the movement of the container 7 in the direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction B are performed by sliding on the plurality of transport rollers 8 in the axial direction, for example. .

The container attitude control means 3 has two reversing devices 9a and 9b arranged on both sides of the conveying direction a on the left and right sides (directions orthogonal to the conveying direction a). The reversing devices 9a and 9b, respectively. A standby unit 10 as a transfer device is provided at a central position between them. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, each reversing device 9a, 9b is provided with a rail 12 that is provided so as to be oriented toward a central standby portion 10 and an engagement piece 11 is movably arranged in the arrow Y direction, and a standby state. The inclined portion 13 is provided at the bottom of the portion 10 side.
Each has a guide plate 13 provided upright with a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the container attitude control means 3 includes an empty container carrying conveyor 14 for carrying an empty container 7 in a predetermined direction, for example, in a downward direction.
It is provided corresponding to one of the sending units 14a to 14c.
That is, the reversing devices 9a and 9b are provided on the sides corresponding to the stoppers 15b and 15c that can move up and down on the upstream side and the downstream side sending portions 14b and 14c of the empty container carrying conveyor 14 in the carrying direction (b). Sending section 1 in the middle of the conveying direction
A standby portion 10 is provided on the side of the stopper 15a that can move up and down.

Then, the vertical movement of the stoppers 15a to 15c of the respective feeding portions 14a to 14c of the empty container carrying conveyor 14 and the pushing device 16 provided in the respective feeding portions 14a to 14c.
The operations of a to 16c are controlled by a control device (not shown), so that the stoppers 15 of the respective sending parts 14a to 14c are stopped.
The empty containers 7 stopped at a to 15c are pushed out in the directions of arrow C in FIG. 1 and supplied to the reversing devices 9a and 9b of the container attitude control means 3 and the standby unit 10.

The opening 7 is formed in each of the reversing devices 9a and 9b.
The container 7 in which a is supplied downward is converted (turned over) into a direction in which the opening 7a is oriented in the standby portion 10 direction (hereinafter referred to as horizontal), and is vertically movable provided in the reversing devices 9a and 9b. Stoppers 17b and 17c are made to stand by at predetermined positions, and the container 7 supplied to the stand-by unit 10 can move up and down in the downward state.
It can be made to stand by at a predetermined position by a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the container width aligning means 4 (first width aligning device) corresponds to the reversing devices 9a and 9b of the container attitude control means 3 on both left and right sides in the transport direction a. Width aligning devices 19a and 19b provided in the
And a rotary table 20 provided at a central position between the width-shifting devices 19a and 19b so as to correspond to the standby portion 10 of the container attitude control means 3.

Each of the width-shifting devices 19a and 19b has a rail 21 oriented toward the central rotary table 20, and the rail 21 has a bottom surface of the container 7 which is horizontally laid down by the reversing devices 9a and 9b. The abutting plates 22 that move the laterally-oriented container 7 in the direction of the central rotary table 20 (direction of arrow E in FIG. 1) to bring the widths of the containers 7 into contact with the edges are movably arranged.

Further, the rotary table 20 is formed, for example, in a rectangular plate shape, and the convex shape 20 for guiding the side wall of the container 7 in the short side direction is provided at the upper surface edges of both ends in the longitudinal direction.
a is provided. A rotary actuator 23 (or a motor) is connected to the center of the rear surface of the rotary table 20, and the rotary actuator 23 is connected to an elevating cylinder 24 arranged below the rotary actuator 23.

The rotary actuator 23 and the elevating cylinder 24 are controlled by, for example, the above-mentioned control device so that the elevating cylinder 24 operates to turn the rotary table 20.
Is increased by a predetermined distance, and the rotary actuator 23 is operated to rotate the rotary table 20 about a vertical axis in the horizontal plane by about 90 degrees as indicated by an arrow D in FIG.

It should be noted that above the turntable 20 is shown in FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an upper guide 25 that is raised or lowered by the operation of the lifting cylinder 26 and has a convex shape 25a similar to that of the rotary table 20 is arranged. 10 containers 7 are surely carried in on the turntable 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a vertically movable stopper 27 is arranged on the downstream side of the rotary table 20 in the transport direction a, and a vertical movement is performed on the downstream side of each of the width-shifting devices 19a and 19b in the transport direction a. Immovable fixed stoppers 28, 29 are arranged.

Of the fixed stoppers 28 and 29, for example, the fixed stopper 28 on the left side in the conveying direction is formed in an L shape in plan view, and a stopper portion 28a for keeping the container 7 at a predetermined position when the width is adjusted. This width-aligned container 7
And a guide portion 28b for guiding the conveyance to the downstream side. Further, the fixed stopper 29 on the right side in the transport direction is
The container 7 is bent into a predetermined shape when viewed from the top and is moved to the width direction.
Has a stopper portion 29a for keeping the container 7 at a predetermined position, a guide portion 29b for guiding the widthwise-conveyed container 7 to the downstream side, and a later-described one-side shifting portion 29c functioning as a reference surface at the time of one-side shifting. ing. The fixed stopper 2
8, 29 stopper portions 28a, 29a and guide portion 28
The b, 29b or the biasing portion 29c is not limited to integral molding, but each portion may be formed individually and arranged at a predetermined position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the container biasing means 5 (second width aligning device) is provided so as to be directed from the left side in the carrying direction B corresponding to the one width aligning device 19a toward the center direction. The rail 31 is provided with a biasing plate 32 on which a biasing plate 32 is movably arranged. Further, the container biasing means 5 is provided with a fixed stopper 33 having an L-shaped plan view on the upstream side in the biasing direction (the left side in the transport direction a) and the downstream side in the transport direction, and the downstream side in the biasing direction. On the right side in the conveyance direction, a wide stopper 34 is arranged on the downstream side in the conveyance direction so as to be vertically movable, and on the downstream side in the displacement direction, the displacement portion 2 of the fixed stopper 29 is arranged.
9c is located.

As a result, the one-sided shifting plate 32 moves under the control of the control device as shown by the arrow in FIG.
The container 7 (referred to as a triplet container 7) thus assembled is pressed against the biasing portion 29c of 9 and is made to stand by at a predetermined position by the stopper 34.

The container standing means 6 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 7.
As shown in FIG. 3, a standing plate 35 having a substantially L-shape in side view that rotates about a shaft 36 and a cylinder 37 that rotates the standing plate 35 are provided, and a piston rod 37 a of the cylinder 37 forms a connecting plate 38. It is connected to the shaft 36 through. Further, on the left side of the machine frame 2 in the conveyance direction, which is the front side of the upright plate 35 in the upright direction, the delivery unit for sending out the triple container 7 to the outside of the machine frame 2 in the arrow direction (or predetermined direction) of FIG. 1, for example. 39 is provided. It should be noted that the standing plate 35 is provided at each end with a convex shape 35a for guiding the triplet container 7 so as not to come apart during rotation (standing).

In this container erection means 6, when the cylinder 37 is operated by the control device and the piston rod 37a thereof is advanced, the erection plate 35 is rotatably erected as shown by the arrow G in FIG. The container 7 is set in a predetermined state, and is sent out from the sending section 39 onto a three-set container carrying conveyor (not shown).

Next, an example of the operation of the above-mentioned triplet apparatus 1 will be described. For convenience of description, three containers to be set in three will be referred to as 7A to 7C, and the same reference numerals will be given to FIGS. First, the empty containers 7A to 7C which are conveyed by the empty container conveyer 14 in a state where the openings 7a face downward are arranged by the elevating operation of the stoppers 15a to 15c provided in the respective conveying units 14a to 14c. 1
4a to 14c, and is pushed out in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1 by the operation of the pushing devices 16a to 16c and supplied to the reversing devices 9a and 9b of the container attitude control means 3 and the waiting portion 10. At this time, the respective containers 7A to 7C can be delivered from the delivery units 14a to 14c substantially at the same time, or can be sequentially delivered from the delivery unit 14c on the downstream side to the upstream side.

The containers 7B and 7C as the second and third containers supplied to the reversing devices 9a and 9b of the container attitude control means 3 are, as shown in FIG.
Are moved along the rails 12 in the direction of the standby portion 10 (direction of arrow Y), so that the engagement piece 11 causes the container 7 to move.
B and 7C are pushed toward the guide 13. This engaging piece 11
With the pressing force of, the corners of the containers 7B and 7C are guided by the guide 13.
While being guided by the slanted portion 13a of the stopper, it gradually rises and is inverted by 90 degrees as shown by the arrow w, so that the openings 7a thereof are oriented in the sideways direction toward the standby portion 10, respectively.
7b, 17c, and the state of being held at that position is reached. On the other hand, the container 7A as the first container, which is supplied to the standby unit 10 of the container attitude control unit 3, is in the attitude in which it is supplied, that is, in the downward direction, that is, the stopper 17a.
Thus, the standby unit 10 is put in a standby state.

The containers 7A to 7C placed on standby on the container attitude control means 3 are provided with stoppers 17a to 1 respectively.
When 7c descends, it is transported in the transport direction a,
Containers 7B and 7C reversed by the respective reversing devices 9a and 9b
Are supplied to the width-shifting devices 19a and 19b, respectively, and the container 7A of the standby unit 10 is supplied onto the rotary table 20. At this time, the upper surface 20b of the rotary table 20 is set substantially flush with the transport surface 8a of the transport roller 8 by the control of the lifting cylinder 24 as shown in FIG. 20 is smoothly supplied (transferred), and the upper guide 25 is lowered by the elevating cylinder 26 so that the container 7A is turned on the rotary table 20.
I am trying to carry it in smoothly. Further, when the container 7A is positioned on the rotary table 20, the upper guide 25 is waited at a predetermined upper position by the elevating cylinder 26.

When the container 7A is supplied onto the rotary table 20 of the container width-shifting means 4, the elevating cylinder 24 operates and raises the rotary table 20 by a predetermined distance as shown in FIG. The rising distance of the rotary table 20 at this time is such that the upper surface 20b of the rotary table 20 (that is, the lifting surface of the container 7A by the rotary table 20) is placed on the transport surface 8a of the transport roller 8 in each of the width-shifting devices 19a and 19b. Side wall inner surface 7 of the removed container 7B, 7C
The value is set to a value slightly above b. afterwards,
The rotary table 20 is driven by the operation of the rotary actuator 23.
Rotates 90 degrees in a horizontal plane around the rotation axis (vertical axis) of the rotary actuator 23 to change the orientation (posture control) of the container 7A on the rotary table 20.

The containers 7B and 7C supplied to the width-shifting devices 19a and 19b are the rotary tables 20
In relation to the end of the rotation operation of the width adjusting devices 19a, 19
b operates to move the width-shifting plates 22 in the direction of the rotary table 20 (direction of arrow E in FIGS. 1 and 5) so that the space between them becomes narrow.
To a predetermined distance. The moving distance of the width-shifting plate 22 is, for example, to a position (position shown in FIG. 5) where the containers 7B and 7C are separated from the stopper portions 28a and 29a of the fixed stoppers 28 and 29 and guided by the guide portions 28b and 29b. With this setting, when the rotary table 20 descends, which will be described later, the edge of the table 20 comes into contact (interference) with the edge of the openings 7a of the containers 7B and 7C.
Will be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 5, the rotary table 20 is lifted and rotated, the width-shifting plate 22 is moved, and the size between the width-shifting devices 19a and 19b and the rotary table 20 is set. The openings 7a of both containers 7B and 7C that have been width-shifted by the width-shifting devices 19a and 19b are respectively incorporated at predetermined distances at both end portions of the container 7A, that is, three containers 7A to 7C are partially incorporated. It will be in a state (called a temporary assembly state).

At the time of this temporary assembly, as described above, the height position of the rotary table 20 and the width of the containers 7B, 7 are aligned.
By setting the height position of C to a predetermined value, the side walls of the containers 7B and 7C that have been width-wise aligned with both ends of the container 7A on the rotary table 20 are prevented from abutting, and the container 7A on the rotary table 20 is prevented. Further, the two containers 7B and 7C can be smoothly assembled from the left and right sides on a horizontal plane. Note that the rotary actuator 23, the lifting cylinder 24, and the width-shifting device 19 during the temporary assembly.
The operations a and 19b are performed independently or in parallel at a timing such that a smooth temporary assembly operation can be obtained.

When the three containers 7A to 7C are temporarily assembled, the width-shifting plate 22 is returned to its original position and the rotary table 20 is lowered by the elevating cylinder 24 to lower the temporarily assembled containers 7A to 7C. It is transferred onto the transport roller 8, and is transported downstream by the lowering of the stopper 27 and supplied to the container biasing means 5. Further, the lowered rotary table 20 returns to the original position. Container misalignment means 5
When the temporarily assembled containers 7A to 7C are supplied to the container 7, the container displacing means 5 operates to move the displacing plate 32,
The temporarily assembled containers 7A to 7C at the solid line position in FIG. 1 (and the two-dot chain line position in FIG. 6) are moved in the direction of the biasing portion 29c of the fixed stopper 29 as indicated by the arrow.

By this movement, the three temporarily assembled containers 7A to 7C are moved at the same time, and from the time when the downstream container 7C in the biasing direction comes into contact with the biasing portion 29c of the fixed stopper 29, another container The two containers 7A and 7B are further moved in the direction of the one-side shifting portion 29c, and the three containers 7A to 7C are completely assembled as shown by the solid line in FIG. ) Is obtained. The moving distance of the biasing plate 32 at this time is set to an appropriate distance that does not cause a large gap between the contact portions in the biasing direction of the three containers 7A to 7C according to the dimensions of the containers 7A to 7C. The biasing plate 32 that has moved a predetermined distance retracts and returns to the original position.

Three containers 7 by means of container shifting means 5
When the three sets of A to 7C are assembled, the three-set containers 7 in the horizontal state, three of which are assembled on the plane, are supplied to the container raising means 6 by the lowering of the stopper plate 34. In the three-set container 7 supplied to the container standing means 6, the cylinder 37 operates and the piston rod 37a thereof advances, so that the standing plate 35 rotates about the shaft 36 about 90 degrees via the connecting plate 38. Then, the three-way container 7 in the horizontal state is erected and the posture is changed to the three-way container 7 in the vertical state that is vertically installed.

The three-piece container 7 in the vertical state is transferred onto the carrying roller 8 of the sending section 39 at the same time as it stands, and is sent from the sending section 38 in the direction indicated by the arrow C, for example, on a three-piece container carrying conveyor (not shown). Supplied. Then, the three-set container 7 thus set in three is efficiently stored in threes in the storage place of the sorting facility, or efficiently loaded and transported on the truck or the like of the producer.

That is, in the case of the three-piece set device 1, the container 7A on the rotary table 20 is raised by the elevating cylinder 24 at a station where the container width aligning means 4 (first width aligning device) is installed, and the container 7A is rotated. The container 7 on the rotary table 20 is controlled by the actuator 23.
The direction of A is changed by 90 degrees, and the container 7A whose direction is changed includes two containers 7B on both sides in the transport direction a.
The container 7C is laterally oriented with the opening 7a facing the direction of the turntable 20 and is moved by a predetermined distance, so that the three containers 7A to 7C are
Make a temporary assembly of C.

When the containers 7A to 7C are temporarily assembled, the container 7A is raised by a predetermined distance and the
By properly setting the height positions of the two containers 7A to 7C, the two containers 7A to 7C can be attached to both ends of the central container 7A.
The openings 7a of B and 7C are easily inserted, and the three containers 7A to 7C are temporarily assembled without being completely assembled by the container width aligning means 4, and the container one side aligning means 5 (the first station) (2 width aligning device) is used to obtain a complete triplet state.

As described above, the three-piece device 1 of the above embodiment
In this case, the container width-adjusting means 4 including the two width-adjusting devices 19a and 19b and the rotary table 20 which can be vertically moved and rotated is provided in the same station.
The three containers 7A to 7C are temporarily assembled by the ascending / rotating operation of 0 and the width-adjusting operations of the width-adjusting devices 19a and 19b, and the temporarily-assembled containers 7A to 7C are moved to the container shifting means 5 of the next station. Since the structure is such that the complete three-piece container 7 is assembled by shifting to one side, the assembling work of the three containers 7A to 7C can be performed smoothly and surely.

In particular, the two containers 7B and 7C arranged on both the left and right sides of the carrying direction a are moved in the direction orthogonal to the carrying direction a, and the openings 7a are respectively provided at both ends of the container 7A arranged at the center. While inserting it and incorporating it,
At the time of this assembling, the container 7A at the center is lifted by the lifting cylinder
4 operation to raise a predetermined distance to the left and right containers 7B,
Since the end edge of the opening 7a of 7C and both ends of the central container 7A are prevented from interfering with each other,
The openings 7a of B and 7C can be easily incorporated into both ends of the central container 7A while using the openings 7a of the same size, and the three-piece work can be performed more smoothly.

Further, since the three containers 7A to 7C supplied from the empty container carrying conveyor 14 can be carried in the carrying direction B and can be assembled into three groups by moving in the direction orthogonal to the carrying direction B, the container width can be set. The movements of the moving means 4 and the container moving means 5 are simplified, the control by the control device can be easily performed, and the three containers 7A to 7A ...
7C can be temporarily assembled at the same station, and the number of steps can be reduced compared to the conventional case. Further, since the three containers 7A to 7C are supplied from the container attitude control means 3 to the container width aligning means 4 at substantially the same time, the supply work of the three containers 7A to 7C to be assembled in three can be performed quickly and smoothly. Or two reversing devices 9a, 9b
With this, the two containers 7B and 7C can be surely reversed independently of each other, and from these facts, it becomes possible to improve the capability of the triple set work as compared with the conventional one.

Furthermore, since the three containers 7A to 7C are temporarily assembled and then completely assembled into three sets, the strokes of the width aligning devices 19a and 19b can be set short, and the complete three-set work can be performed by the container one-side aligning means. 5 is performed in one direction, so that, for example, two width aligning devices 1
It is possible to simplify the moving mechanism and the like as compared with the case where 9a and 19b are completely set in three sets. In addition, since the three containers 7A to 7C are set in three in the transport direction B and in the direction orthogonal to this, the length of the machine casing 2 should be shortened as compared with the conventional case where three containers are moved diagonally. As a result, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the triplet apparatus 1 itself and save labor in the installation space in the sorting facility.

Further, since the containers 7B and 7C are reversed or moved by moving the engaging piece 11, the width-shifting plate 22 or the biasing plate 32 on each rail, the moving mechanism itself of the containers 7B and 7C. Is simplified, and a simple rotation operation and forward / backward movement are performed, so that the adjustment itself can be easily performed. From these things, it becomes possible to further simplify the configuration of the triplet apparatus 1 itself and to form it at low cost.

Further, since the container raising means 6 is provided on the downstream side of the container biasing means 5, it is possible to change the posture of the three-way container 7 in the horizontal state to the three-way container 7 in the vertical state and send it out from the sending section 39. The vertical triple container 7 can further save the storage space in the sorting facility and can be loaded on a truck as it is, which can improve the usability of the triple container 7. become.

Then, the three-set device 1 is arranged, for example, in a mandarin orange sorting and packaging facility (fruit sorting plant) so as to be connected to a container reversing damper for reversing the loaded tangerine-containing container and supplying it to the sorting plant line. As a result, the empty container resulting from the discharge of mandarin oranges can be automatically incorporated into the triplet state to improve the storage efficiency of the container, resulting in an improvement in the processing capacity of the mandarin orange sorting process. It will be possible.

8 to 10 show a second embodiment of the triplet device according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is its plan view, FIG. 9 is a view taken along the line FF of FIG. 8, and FIG. 8 is a view taken along line GG in FIG. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals. The feature of the triplet device 1 of the second embodiment is that one container 7 is sequentially supplied to the container attitude control means 3 and the container 7 is supplied one by one.
The container 7 is appropriately inverted by one inversion device 9, and the container 7 is distributed by the distribution device 40.

That is, one delivery unit (not shown) is provided on the empty container transport conveyor 14, and the reversing device 9 is connected to this delivery unit. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the reversing device 9 vertically installs the guide plates 13 having the inclined portions 13a at substantially right and left sides in the transport direction B, and also between the guide plates 13. The rail 12 is disposed below, and the engagement piece 11 is movably disposed on the rail 12.

In this reversing device 9, the downward-facing container 7 at the solid line position in FIG. 9 is moved from the solid line position of the engaging piece 11 in the direction of the solid line arrow to open the container 7 at the engaging piece 11. By pressing the edge of the portion 7a, the container 7
The container 7 is turned upside down along the inclined portion 13a of the guide 13 by raising the end edge of the opposite opening of the container 7 in the arrow direction of the solid line so that the opening 7a is in the lateral direction in which it is directed to the right in FIG. In addition, by moving the engaging piece 11 that has moved to the position of the chain double-dashed line by the reversing operation of the container 7 in the direction of arrow N, which is the opposite direction, the next-supplied container 7 is moved in the direction of the chain double-dashed line arrow. The opening 7a is turned upside down so that the opening 7a faces leftward in FIG.

The distribution device 40 is shown in FIG. 8 and FIG.
As shown in 0, there are three standby parts 41a to 41c having the same function as that of the standby part 10, and the standby parts 41b and 41c on both the left and right sides in the transport direction (i) are adjusted to the respective width adjustments of the container width adjustment means 4. Corresponding to the devices 19a and 19c, the central standby portion 41a has a rotary table 2 of the container width shifting means 4.
Corresponds to 0. A rail 42 is arranged between the respective standby parts 41a to 41c in a state of straddling them, and a distribution plate 43 is movably arranged on the rail 42, and
Fixed stoppers 44a and 44b for restricting movement of the container 7 are provided outside the standby portions 41b and 41c, respectively.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the distribution plate 43
By moving in the arrow direction, the container 7 supplied to the standby unit 41a is transferred to one standby unit 41b,
In addition, the distribution plate 43 moves in the direction of the arrow so that the container 7 supplied to the standby unit 41a can move to the other standby unit 41a.
It is designed to be transferred to c.

According to the triplet apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, the first container 7 of the three downward facing containers 7 supplied to the reversing device 9 one by one is opened by the reversing device 7. The portion 7a is inverted, for example, to a lateral state in which the portion 7a faces the right side with respect to the transport direction, is supplied to the standby portion 41a of the distribution device 40 when the stopper 45 is lowered, and is transferred to the standby portion 41b when the distribution plate 43 is moved. And is stopped by the stopper 46b.

The second container 7 is provided with a reversing device 9
Then, the opening 7a is inverted to, for example, a lateral state in which it faces the left side with respect to the transport direction, and is supplied to the standby portion 41a of the distribution device 40 when the stopper 45 descends, and the standby portion 41c when the distribution plate 43 moves. And is made to stand by by the stopper 46c. Further, the third container 7 is kept supplied to the reversing device 7, that is, in a downward state without being reversed, and the standby part 41 of the sorting device 40 is used.
It is supplied to a and is made to stand by by the stopper 46a.

In this way, the containers 7 waiting in the waiting portions 41a to 41c of the sorting apparatus 40 are placed in the stopper 4
6a to 46c are lowered and supplied to the respective width-shifting devices 19a and 19b of the container width-shifting means 4 and the rotary table 20 at appropriate timings, so that the container width-shifting means 4, the container partial-shifting means 5, and the container standing upright. The means 6 forms three sets as in the first embodiment.

Also in the second embodiment, substantially the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the use of the reversing device 9 and the sorting device 40 simplifies the structure of the reversing device 9 itself. Therefore, it is possible to achieve labor saving of the installation space, and it is possible to obtain an operational effect such that the empty container transporting conveyor 14 can be easily adapted to a conveyor configuration in which only one delivery section is provided.

The present invention is not limited to each of the above-described first and second embodiments,
For example, each part of each embodiment may be combined appropriately, and the following modifications may be included, for example. That is, in each of the above-described embodiments, the empty container 7 is supplied to the container attitude control means 3 in a downward state, but the container 7 may be supplied in an upward state. In this case, the engagement piece is supplied. The operation of 11 is set in reverse.

Further, the container raising means 6 and the container biasing means 5 in the above-described embodiment are not always necessary. For example, the container raising means 6 may be omitted and the standing operation may be performed manually, or the container biasing means 5 may be used.
It is also possible to complete the three containers 7 in a complete manner by taking measures such as increasing the length of the rail 21 of the container width-shifting means 4 by omitting the above, and to make the three-unit device 1 itself compact.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the container is the container 7 used in the agricultural product sorting facility has been described, but the container according to the present invention may be, for example, a corrugated cardboard box for agricultural products. The application place is not limited to the agricultural product selection facility, and can also be applied to an appropriate facility or factory that uses containers such as containers for storing various parts or the like and cardboard boxes.

[0067]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first assembling container is lifted by a predetermined height from the conveying surface by the container assembling means to raise the second lifting surface. , Maintaining a position higher than the inner surface of the opening of the third empty container, and rotating the first empty container approximately 90 degrees about the vertical axis,
Since the second and third empty containers are installed at both ends of the first empty container by horizontal movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction, each empty container can be installed reliably and smoothly, and the device can be installed. It is possible to shorten the machine length, simplify the process, and improve the processing capacity.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the container attitude control means sets the first empty container in a predetermined direction, and Since two reversing devices for setting the third empty container in a predetermined direction are provided, the second and third empty containers can be individually and, for example, simultaneously reversed by the respective reversing devices, thereby increasing the processing capacity of the triple set work. It can be further improved.

According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the container attitude control means is switchable to set the first to third empty containers in predetermined directions. Since the reversing device is provided, one reversing device is used for the first to third
The empty container can be set in a predetermined direction, and the configuration of the apparatus itself can be further simplified.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, in addition to the effects of the invention as set forth in claims 1 to 3, the container assembling means is provided with two width-adjusting devices, so that the first width-adjusting device is used. The first to third empty containers can be temporarily assembled, and three empty containers in the temporarily assembled state can be assembled by the second width aligning device, so that the reliability of the assembling work can be enhanced.

According to the invention described in claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 4, the second width aligning device moves the first to third empty containers in the temporarily assembled state by the one-sided moving operation. Since three sets are provided, the moving mechanism can be simplified and the configuration of the apparatus itself can be further simplified.

According to the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claims 1 to 5, the three sets of empty spaces are horizontally moved by the erecting means in the direction substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction. Since the containers are set in the vertical state, it is possible to improve the usability of the three empty containers, such as improving the efficiency of the storage space of the three empty containers and facilitating the mounting work on a truck or the like.

According to the invention described in claim 7, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claims 1 to 6, since the empty container is a container for storing agricultural products or a cardboard box,
For example, it is possible to efficiently store containers and the like used in a sorting and packaging facility for mandarin oranges and the like, and it is possible to further improve the processing capacity of the sorting work of agricultural products.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of an empty container triplet device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line C-C of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the same.

6 is a view taken along the line DD of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line EE of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of an empty container triad device according to the present invention.

9 is a view taken along the line FF of FIG.

10 is a view taken along the line GG in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 -------- Triad device 3 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Container attitude control means 4 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Container width adjusting means 5 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Container biasing means 6 ..... Container standing means 7, 7A-7C ... Container 7a ... Opening 7b ... Inside of the side wall 8 ····· Conveyor roller 8a ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Conveying surface 9, 9a, 9b ... Reversing device 10, 41a to 41c ... Standby unit 11 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Engagement pieces 19a, 19b ... Width adjustment device 20 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Rotary table 22 ... Width plate 23 ..... Rotary actuator 24 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Climbing cylinder 32 ... 40 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Distributor 43 ····· Distribution plate

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A triple container device for empty containers, wherein three empty containers are combined into a set by incorporating openings of the second and third empty containers at both ends of the first empty container, the device having a predetermined direction. A container attitude control unit that sets the first to third empty containers conveyed in three directions in directions that allow three sets, and a first empty container supplied from the container attitude control unit.
Lifted from above the transport surface and maintained at a predetermined position higher than the second and third empty containers, and rotated about 90 degrees around the vertical axis,
Three sets of empty containers, comprising container assembling means for incorporating the openings of the second and third empty containers into both ends of the first empty container by horizontal movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction. apparatus. 2. The container attitude control means maintains the attitude in which the first empty container is sent out of the first to third empty containers sent with the opening portion upward or downward. The transport device arranged at the central position and the second and third empty containers are arranged so as to be turned sideways so that their openings are directed to the central position.
The three-assembling device for empty containers according to claim 1, wherein the three reversing devices are provided in parallel. 3. The container attitude control means includes a first empty container of the first to third empty containers which is sent with the opening portion upward or downward by a switching operation of a switchable reversing device. The container is arranged at a central position in a posture in which it is sent, and the second and third empty containers are laterally arranged so that their openings face the central position. The described empty container triad device. 4. The container assembling means temporarily assembles the first empty container lifted to a predetermined height by bringing the openings of the second and third empty containers closer to each other by a predetermined distance from a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction. The first width aligning device to be incorporated in a state, and the second width aligning device for further widthwise aligning the empty containers temporarily assembled by the first width aligning device to form three sets. An empty container triplet device according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. The second width aligning device incorporates the empty container in the temporarily assembled state, which is temporarily assembled by the first width aligning device, into the three-set state by the one-side shifting operation.
The empty container triad device described in 1. 6. A triple set of empty containers according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising upright means for standing up the three empty containers in a vertical state on the downstream side of the container assembling means. apparatus. 7. The triple container device for empty containers according to claim 1, wherein the empty container is a container for containing agricultural products or a cardboard box.