JP2006131328A - Rotary type article separating device, and rotary type article separating and carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotary type article separating device, capable of separating packaged items being carried in contact with each other in a line, so as to have a prescribed distance therebetween regardless if carrying speed is high or not. <P>SOLUTION: In this rotary type article separating device 10, the packaged items 13 being carried in contact with each other in a line on a first carrying device 11 are received to be transferred to a second carrying device 12 having a lower carrying surface than a carrying surface 18 of the first carrying device as they are separated forward and backward. It is provided with a plurality of lower article support members 25 to revolve and move along a prescribed locus while supporting a lower surface of the packaged item, and a plurality of upper article presser members 26 to revolve and move along a prescribed locus while pressing an upper surface of the packaged item. The center of revolution of the lower article support member is disposed to be deflected from the center of revolution of the upper article presser member by a prescribed distance backward in an advance direction of the packaged item. A side surface 26b of the upper article presser member backward in the advance direction of the upper article presser member gets in contact with a front surface of the subsequent packaged item to restrict advancing move. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary type article separating apparatus and a rotary type article separating and conveying apparatus capable of separating an article to be packaged conveyed in a contact state before and after by a predetermined distance.

  An automatic packaging machine wraps an article to be packaged with a packaging film, and continuously supplies a belt-like packaging film to the packaging machine main body that manufactures a package by sealing and cutting predetermined portions. A film supply means and a package supply means for supplying the package with a predetermined timing to the packaging machine main body are provided.

  Generally as a packaged article supply apparatus, a finger conveyor apparatus and a belt conveyor apparatus are used. In the case of the finger conveyor device, the objects to be packaged are supplied to the packaging machine body at intervals defined by the finger pitch. In the case of a belt conveyor device, the article to be packaged is conveyed in a state where it is separated by a predetermined pitch back and forth on its conveyance surface, and is supplied to the packaging machine body.

  When the finger conveyor device is used, it is necessary to sequentially supply the packages between the front and rear fingers. For example, the supply is performed automatically by stacking and arranging a plurality of packages in the product temporary storage device and dropping the packages positioned at the lower end one by one between the front and rear fingers. There is something to supply. And if the finger located in the back side of the fallen to-be-packaged object moves forward, the said finger will contact the rear surface of the to-be-packaged object, and will convey it as it is.

  However, this method is limited to those in which the objects to be packaged can be stacked one above the other. Furthermore, it is also necessary to store the packages in the product temporary storage device in a stacked state. For example, the products to be transported in a contact state before and after are automatically set in the product temporary storage device to the finger conveyor device. It is difficult to supply.

In addition, when a belt conveyor device is used as an article supply device, a plurality of belt conveyors are arranged at the front and rear as described above, and the speed of the belt conveyor on the downstream side (packaging machine main body side) is increased, so that the upstream The objects to be packaged conveyed in the contact state from front to back can be sequentially separated from the top and separated at a predetermined interval. As an article separation and supply apparatus based on such a principle, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-104490

  However, as disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, in the case of an article separation and supply device including a plurality of belt conveyors having a difference in speed, the article to be packaged is transferred between the belts adjacent to each other before and after. The package is placed on both belt conveyors. Therefore, the packaged item in such a state is subjected to conveyance force at different conveyance speeds from both belt conveyors, causing slipping, and the packaged item is not located at a desired position on the downstream belt conveyor, and the subsequent stage There is a possibility that it cannot be supplied to the packaging machine body at a desired timing.

  When the conveyance speed of the article to be packaged in the article separation and supply apparatus is further increased, the article to be packaged in the middle of conveyance on one belt conveyor may slip as well as the delivery between both belts. . In addition, when a finger conveyor apparatus is used, although the problem of said sliding does not arise, the to-be-packaged material conveyed in contact back and forth cannot be automatically supplied between the fingers of a finger conveyor apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background. The object of the present invention is to provide a predetermined distance to the front and back of an article to be packaged conveyed in a contact state regardless of whether the conveyance speed is high. An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary type article separating apparatus and a rotary type article separating and conveying apparatus that can be separated.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the rotary type article separating apparatus according to the present invention receives a packaged article conveyed in a contact state on the first conveying means in the front-rear direction, and separates the first item in a state where the object is separated in the front-rear direction. It is a rotary type article separation device that transfers onto a second conveying means having a conveying surface lower than the conveying surface of one conveying means. And a plurality of lower article support members that revolve around a predetermined trajectory and support the lower surface of the packaging object, and a plurality of upper article restraining members that revolve around a predetermined trajectory and restrain the upper surface of the packaging object. The center of revolution of the lower article support member is arranged at a predetermined distance from the revolution center of the upper article restraining member at a rearward side in the traveling direction of the package, and the surface of the upper article restraining member on the rear side in the traveling direction is It comprised so that it had a function which contacts the front surface of a subsequent to-be-packaged object, and suppresses a forward movement.

  Further, as another solution means, a transport surface that is higher than the transport surface of the first transport means in a state in which the article to be packaged transported in contact with the first transport means is received back and forth. A rotary-type article separation device that transfers onto a second conveying means having a plurality of lower article support members that revolve around a predetermined locus and support the lower surface of the package, and revolve around a predetermined locus. A plurality of upper article restraining members that restrain the upper surface of the article to be packaged, and the revolution center of the lower article supporting member is shifted by a predetermined distance from the revolution center of the upper article restraining member to the front side in the traveling direction of the article to be packaged. It may be arranged so that the surface on the rear side in the traveling direction of the lower article support member has a function of contacting the front surface of the subsequent packaged object and suppressing forward movement.

  In each of the above inventions, a transition belt is provided for receiving and transporting the article to be packaged conveyed on the first conveying means, and the lower article support member supports the article to be packaged positioned on the transition belt. You can also.

  Moreover, the rotary type article separating and conveying apparatus according to the present invention includes a first conveying unit that conveys an object to be packaged in a front-and-rear contact state, and any one of the rotary types described above disposed on the downstream side of the first conveying unit. An article separating apparatus and a second conveying means arranged on the downstream side of the rotary separating apparatus are configured. In this case, the second conveying means may be a finger conveyor device.

  The present invention can separate and transport the articles to be packaged, which are conveyed in contact before and after a predetermined distance, regardless of whether the conveyance speed is high or not.

  1 to 4 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the rotary article separating device 10 is disposed between the first transport device 11 and the second transport device 12. The 1st conveying apparatus 11 is comprised from the belt conveyor apparatus which conveys the to-be-packaged item 13 in the state which contacted back and forth. The rotary type article separating apparatus 10, the first conveying apparatus 11 and the second conveying apparatus 12 constitute an article separating and conveying apparatus (article separating and conveying supply apparatus).

  The first conveying device 11 forms a belt conveyor by wrapping an endless belt 17 between a driving pulley 15 (rotated by a driving force from a driving motor (not shown)) and a driven pulley 16, and a conveying surface of the belt conveyor. 18 (region where the surface of the endless belt 17 faces upward) is provided with side wall guides 19 on both sides in the traveling direction, and a restraining member 20 is provided above the conveying surface.

  The 2nd conveying apparatus 12 is comprised from a finger conveyor apparatus. That is, although only the carry-in side is shown in the figure, the second transport device 12 transports the package 13 forward in relation to the transport path 21 that supports the package 13 in a free state and the package 13 on the transport path 21. Conveying means 23 for applying force. The conveying means 23 is configured by spanning an endless chain 25 to sprockets 24 arranged at the front and rear, and attaching push fingers 26 to the endless chain 25 at a predetermined pitch. Further, when the push finger 26 moves upward, the upper part projects upward from the transport path 21, and comes into contact with the rear surface of the article 13 to be packaged located on the transport path 21 to push forward. The transport path 21 of the second transport device 12 is set at a position one step lower than the transport surface 18 of the first transport device 11.

  The rotary type article separating apparatus 10 moves the articles 13 to be packaged conveyed in a state where they contact the first conveying apparatus 11 back and forth between the front and rear push fingers 26 of the second conveying apparatus 12 at the next stage one by one. It will be replaced.

  The rotary article separating apparatus 10 has two transition belts 30 on the carry-in side (upstream side). The transfer surface 30a of the transfer belt 30 is set to be substantially the same height as the transfer surface 18 of the first transfer device 11, and the article 13 to be packaged transferred on the first transfer device 11 can be smoothly transferred as it is. Move up. The transition bells 30 are arranged one by one on the left and right sides at a predetermined distance, and support the lower side portions of the article 13 to be packaged. The pushing finger 26 of the second transport device 12 can enter the space formed between the two transition belts 30. However, the upper end of the push finger 26 is set so as not to protrude upward from the transport surface 30a. In addition, a restraining rod 31 is disposed above each transition belt 30. Thereby, since the upper surface of the article 13 to be packaged conveyed on the transition belt 30 is in contact with or close to the rod 31, excessive lifting of the article 13 is suppressed and a stable horizontal posture is maintained. While being conveyed.

  A descending guide plate 32 is continuously arranged on the downstream side of the transition belt 30. The descending guide plate 32 has an inclined surface 32a whose upper surface on the front end side is inclined downward. The tip of the inclined surface 32 a is set to a height that is substantially equal to the conveyance path 21 of the second conveyance device 12. The article 13 to be packaged that has been conveyed on the transition belt 30 moves downward along the inclined surface 32 a of the lowering guide plate 32 and is transferred to the second conveying device 12. However, as will be described later, since the article to be packaged 13 moves downward while maintaining a horizontal state, the lower end edge on the rear side in the traveling direction of the article 13 being moved downward comes into contact with the inclined surface 32a. .

  A plurality of lower article support members 35 that revolve around a predetermined locus and a plurality of revolve around a predetermined locus between the descending guide plate 32 and the vicinity of the tip end of the lower guide plate 32. The upper article restraining member 36 is disposed. Two sets of lower article support members 35 are prepared, the upper surface 35a of the lower article support member 35 supports both sides of the lower surface of the article 13 to be packaged, and the lower surface 36a of the upper article holding member 36 is the center of the upper surface of the article 13 to be packaged. Hold down the site.

  The lower article support member 35 is located at the installation position of the inclined surface 32a of the lowering guide plate 32 when it reaches the uppermost position, and the upper surface 35a of the lower article supporting member 35 is substantially the same as the upper surface of the lowering guide plate 32. It is set to come to the height position.

  The revolution center of the lower article support member 35 and the revolution center of the upper article restraining member 36 are shifted by a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the revolution center of the lower article support member 35 is shifted to the upstream side. Thereby, when the lower article support member 35 comes to the uppermost position, the upper article holding member 36 that opposes the lower article support member 35 does not reach the lowermost position. When the lower article support member 35 that has come to the uppermost position further revolves and gradually moves downward, the opposing upper article holding member 36 moves downward. Accordingly, by appropriately setting the vertical relative positions of the two revolution centers, the lower article support member 35 and the upper article restraining member 36 can move the package 13 downward while sandwiching it from above and below.

  A drive mechanism for revolving these members 35 and 36 along a predetermined trajectory is as follows. First, the drive mechanism of the upper article restraining member 36 arranges the first and second disks 40 and 41 so as to sandwich the upper article restraining member 36 from both sides. The first and second discs 40 and 41 displace (eccentric) the center of rotation up and down by a predetermined distance. The first disk 40 and the upper article restraining member 36 are linked by a first pin 42, and the second disk 41 and the upper article restraining member 36 are linked by a second pin 43. The first pin 42 and the second pin 43 are fixed to the first disc 40 and the second disc 41, respectively, and the upper article restraining member 36 is rotatable around the axis of the pins 42 and 43. Further, the first pin 40 and the second pin 41 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Thereby, since the 1st pin 42 always revolves in a lower state, the upper article control member 36 can revolve while maintaining the same posture as shown.

  The first and second disks 40 and 41 have a rotation shaft 44 connected to the center of rotation. The rotating shaft 44 is rotatably supported by the machine frame 46 via a bearing portion 45. A pulley 47 is connected to the tip of the rotating shaft 44, and the pulley 47 is linked to a drive motor (servo motor) 50 via a power transmission belt 48 and other power transmission mechanisms 49, and the drive motor 50 rotates. Accordingly, the first and second disks 40 and 41 are also rotated, and the upper holding member 36 is revolved.

  The drive mechanism for the lower article support member 35 has substantially the same configuration as the drive mechanism for the upper article restraining member 36. That is, the third and fourth disks 51 and 52 are arranged so as to sandwich each lower article support member 35 from both sides. The third and fourth disks 51 and 52 are displaced (eccentric) by a predetermined distance in the vertical center. The third disk 51 and the lower article support member 35 are linked by a third pin 53, and the fourth disk 52 and the lower article support member 35 are linked by a fourth pin 54. The third pin 53 and the fourth pin 54 are fixed to the third disc 51 and the fourth disc 52, respectively, and the lower article support member 35 is around the axis with respect to the third and fourth pins 53 and 54. It can be rotated. Further, the third pin 51 and the fourth pin 52 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Since the third pin 53 always revolves in the upper state, the lower article support member 35 can revolve while maintaining the same posture as shown.

  Further, the fourth disks 52 are integrated with each other by being linked to a rotation shaft 55 connected to the center of rotation. The third disc 51 has a rotation shaft 56 connected to the center of rotation. The rotating shaft 56 is rotatably supported by the machine frame 46 via a bearing portion 57. A pulley 58 is connected to the tip of the rotating shaft 57, and the pulley 58 is linked to a drive motor (servo motor) 50 via a power transmission belt 48 and other power transmission mechanisms 49, and the drive motor 50 rotates. As a result, the third disk 51 and thus the fourth disk 52 also rotate, and the lower article support member 35 revolves.

  Further, the side surface of the upper article restraining member 36 on the rear side in the traveling direction constitutes a positioning part (stopper part) 36b. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the article 13 to be packaged conveyed on the first conveying device 11 and the transfer belt 30 always receives the conveying force forward (the first conveying device 11 and the transfer belt 30 are continuously connected). To move forward). Then, if the leading article 13 is left as it is, it further advances on the descending guide plate 32, but the positioning part 36b of the upper article restraining member 36 is located so as to block the advancement, and therefore the article to be packaged The front surface of 13 comes into contact with the positioning portion 36b, and the forward movement is restrained and positioned.

  Next, the specific operation of the transfer of the article 13 will be described based on FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the front surface of the article to be packaged 13 comes into contact with the positioning portion 36b of the upper article restraining member 36, further advancement is suppressed. Since the conveying means on the upstream side of the rotary type article separating apparatus 10 is the belt conveyor apparatus of the first conveying apparatus 11 and the transition belt 30, each packaged item 13 slides on the respective conveying surfaces 18 and 30a. be able to. That is, if the upper article holding member 36 is stopped at the position shown in FIG. 5A, the package 13 cannot move forward any further, so the first transport device 11 and the transition belt 30 are rotationally driven. Even so, the article 13 is kept stationary. Since the upper article restraining member 36 actually revolves and gradually moves forward (FIGS. 5A to 5B), the forward moving speed is determined by the first conveying device 11 and the transition belt 30. If set slower than the conveyance speed, each article 13 moves forward while sliding slightly on the first conveyance device 11 and the transition belt 30. Thereby, each packaged item 13 moves forward while maintaining a state in which the front and rear are in contact with each other, and the tip position thereof is accurately positioned by the positioning portion 36 b of the upper article holding member 36.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the lower article support member 35 located at the uppermost position revolves from the state in contact with the lower surface of the article 13 to be packaged, the lower article support member 35 gradually moves downward. (FIG. 5 (a) → (b) → FIG. 6 (a) → ...). Furthermore, since the lowering guide plate 32 is installed in accordance with the lowering movement position, the article 13 supported by the lower article support member 35 follows the lowering movement of the lower article support member 35 and moves forward. Move down while moving.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the article 13 is moved downward, the article 13 is sandwiched from above and below by the lower article support member 35 and the upper article restraining member 36 that are vertically opposed to each other. In addition, the positioning portion 36b of the upper article holding member 36 immediately before the upper article holding member 36 that holds the upper surface of the article 13 is in contact with the front surface of the article 13 to be packaged. That is, the article to be packaged 13 moves down in a stable state supported by three points by the two upper article holding members 36 and the one lower article support member 35.

  Thereafter, the positioning part (stopper part) 36 b of the upper article restraining member 36 that has been in contact with the front surface of the article to be packaged 13 moves upward while revolving and separates from the article to be packaged 13. Then, the article 13 to be packaged sandwiched between the upper article restraining member 36 and the lower article support member 35 receives the conveying force from the subsequent article 13 and further moves forward (FIG. 6A). )reference). However, when the succeeding article 13 comes into contact with the positioning part (stopper part) 36b of the upper article restraining member 36, further advancement is suppressed.

  Further, when the upper article holding member 36 and the lower article supporting member 35 revolve, the upper article holding member 36 holding the upper surface of the article 13 is separated from the article 13 and a positioning part (stopper part) 36b. Acts to deter the advance of the subsequent package 13 (see FIG. 6B)).

  When the upper article restraining member 36 and the lower article supporting member 35 revolve, the lower article supporting member 35 supporting the lower surface of the article to be packaged 13 is also separated from the article to be packaged 13. 2 It will be on the conveyance path 21 of the conveyance apparatus 12, and will be in the state which does not receive a conveyance force (refer Fig.7 (a)). Thereafter, the push finger 26 rotates and contacts the rear surface of the article 13 to be packaged placed on the conveyance path 21, and the push finger 26 rotates and conveys the article 13 to be forwarded (see FIG. 7 (b)). By making the moving speed of the pushing finger 26 faster than the moving speed of the upper article holding member 36 forward, the subsequent article 13 is positioned by the upper article holding member 36 as shown in FIG. Since the portion 36b is positioned (movement is suppressed), the article 13 to be packaged conveyed by the push finger 26 can be separated from the subsequent article 13 to be packaged.

  In the above-described embodiment, the transport path 21 of the second transport apparatus 12 is set one step lower than the transport surface 18 of the first transport apparatus 11. However, even if the transport path 21 of the second transport apparatus 12 is made higher. good. This case can be dealt with by reversing the longitudinal relationship between the lower article support member 35 and the upper article restraining member 36. In that case, the positioning part (stopper part) is provided on the lower article support member side.

It is a front view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows suitable one Embodiment of this invention. It is the sectional view on the aa line in FIG. It is the bb sectional view taken on the line in FIG. It is a figure (the 1) explaining an effect | action. It is FIG. (2) explaining an effect | action. It is FIG. (The 3) explaining an effect | action.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Rotary type | mold article separation apparatus 11 1st conveying apparatus 12 2nd conveying apparatus 13 Package 25 Lower article support member 26 Upper article suppression member 26b Positioning location

Claims (5)

The article to be packaged conveyed in contact with the first conveying means in the front-rear direction is received, and transferred to the second conveying means having a conveying surface lower than the conveying surface of the first conveying means in a state separated from the front and rear. A rotary type article separation device to be replaced,
A plurality of lower article support members that revolve around a predetermined trajectory and support the lower surface of the package;
A plurality of upper article restraining members that revolve around a predetermined trajectory and restrain the upper surface of the article to be wrapped;
The revolution center of the lower article support member is shifted by a predetermined distance from the revolution center of the upper article restraining member to the rear side in the traveling direction of the package,
A rotary article separating apparatus having a function in which the surface on the rear side in the advancing direction of the upper article holding member has a function of preventing forward movement by contacting the front surface of a subsequent package. The article to be packaged conveyed in contact with the first conveying means in the front-rear direction is received, and transferred to the second conveying means having a conveying surface higher than the conveying surface of the first conveying means in a state of being separated in the front-rear direction. A rotary type article separation device to be replaced,
A plurality of lower article support members that revolve around a predetermined trajectory and support the lower surface of the package;
A plurality of upper article restraining members that revolve around a predetermined trajectory and restrain the upper surface of the article to be wrapped;
The center of revolution of the lower article support member is shifted by a predetermined distance from the revolution center of the upper article restraining member to the front side in the traveling direction of the package,
The rotary article separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower article supporting member has a function in which a surface on the rear side in the advancing direction comes into contact with a front surface of a subsequent article to be packaged to suppress forward movement. A transition belt is provided for receiving and transporting an article to be packaged conveyed on the first conveying means,
The rotary-type article separation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower article support member supports an object to be packaged located on the transition belt. First conveying means for conveying an object to be packaged back and forth,
The rotary-type article separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is disposed on the downstream side of the first conveying means,
A rotary type article separating and conveying apparatus comprising: a second conveying means disposed on the downstream side of the rotary separating apparatus.   The rotary type article separating and conveying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second conveying means is a finger conveyor device.

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