JP2007106466A - String removing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a string removing device for removing a string binding a plurality of articles, which reliably collects the string binding the articles after the string is removed from the articles. <P>SOLUTION: The string removing device 100 comprises: a cutting mechanism 38 for cutting a string 12; a winding mechanism 70 for winding the cut string 12; and an air blowing unit 86 which blows air on the wound string 12 and feeds the string into a discharging chute 90. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a string removing device that removes a string that binds a plurality of articles.

  A plurality of keg containers such as beer keg can be conveyed in a state where a plurality of keg containers are aligned on a pallet and bound by a string. The plurality of barrel containers arranged on the pallet can be separated into individual barrel containers and then transported to a process such as cleaning, sterilization, and inspection.

In order to separate a plurality of barrel containers bound by a string into individual barrel containers, it is necessary to cut the strings. The string can be cut after the plurality of barrel containers arranged on the pallet are collectively moved to the conveyance path by the depalletizer, or on the pallet.
JP 2003-231513 A

  As an apparatus for cutting and removing a string that binds a plurality of articles, an apparatus that moves a cutter having a blade below is known (Patent Document 1). If the cut string is left unattended, it will be entangled with the mechanical elements of the article or apparatus, and the cut string should be collected by a collection container or the like. Patent Document 1 describes that after a cut string is taken up by a reel device, the reel device is moved onto a collection container and the string is dropped from the reel device.

  However, if a light string is dropped from the reel device, the string may flow in an unintended direction and may not enter the collection container.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of the above considerations. For example, it is an object of the present invention to more reliably recover a string that has bound an article after the string has been removed from the article.

  The string removing apparatus of the present invention is configured as a string removing apparatus that removes a string that binds a plurality of articles, and includes a cutting mechanism that cuts the string, a winding mechanism that winds the cut string, and a winding And an air injection unit that sprays air onto the string and sends it to the discharge chute.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the string removing device further includes a holding mechanism that holds the cut string, and an elevating mechanism that moves the holding mechanism up and down. A winding member, a rotation mechanism for rotating the winding member, and an advance / retreat mechanism for moving the winding member forward and backward, and after the holding mechanism has moved to a predetermined position above the winding position by the winding mechanism Preferably, the winding operation is performed by moving the winding member to the winding position by the advance / retreat mechanism and rotating the winding member by the rotating mechanism.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, prior to the movement of the holding mechanism, it is preferable to move the winding mechanism to a standby position that does not hinder the movement of the holding mechanism by the advance / retreat mechanism.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge chute opens a receiving port below the winding position when the string is collected, and the air injection unit injects air toward the receiving port. It is preferable.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cutting mechanism includes a scissors, a cutter that cuts the string, and a drive mechanism that pulls the scissors on the string so that the string is cut by the cutter. It is preferable to contain.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the cutting mechanism further includes a detection unit that detects that the string exists at a position where the string can be hooked on the string, and the drive mechanism includes It is preferable that the drive mechanism is operated in response to detection by the detection unit to cause the cutter to cut the string.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detecting unit detects that the rotating member is rotatably attached to the bag and that the rotating member is rotated due to the presence of the string. And a sensor for detecting the string.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the cutting mechanism further includes a scissor lifting mechanism that lifts and lowers the scissors, and the string is attached to the rotating member according to movement of the scissors by the scissors lifting mechanism. It is preferable that the rotating member is rotated by hitting.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the string removing device further includes a control unit that executes error processing when the string is not detected by the sensor in response to movement of the hook by the hook lifting mechanism. Is preferred.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cutter may include a rotary cutter.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the cutter is disposed at a position farther from a conveyance path for conveying the article than the bag, and a part thereof is covered with a cover.

  According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to more reliably collect the string that has bundled the article after the string has been removed from the article.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIGS. 1-6 is a figure which shows schematic structure and operation | movement of the string removal apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. In all the attached drawings, the horizontal plane is shown as the XY plane and the vertical direction as the Z direction.

  The string removing apparatus 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured as an apparatus that removes the string 12 that binds a plurality of barrel containers (articles) 10, for example. The string removing device 100 is provided with the barrel container 10 by, for example, a depalletizer. The depalletizer provides a plurality of barrel containers 10 aligned on the pallet and bound by the string 12 to the transport mechanism 40 in a bound state.

  The string removing device 100 includes a transport mechanism 40, a cutting device (cutting mechanism) 20 that cuts a string 12 that binds a plurality of barrel containers 10, and a recovery device that winds and collects the cut string 12 ( (Recovery mechanism) 60 and a transport mechanism 50 that transports the barrel container 10 from which the string 12 has been removed and separated from each other to a next process device (for example, a cleaning device, a sterilizer, an inspection device, etc.). The transport mechanism 50 can be configured to transport the barrel container 10 in a single row state, for example.

  The collection device 60 includes a holding mechanism 80 that holds the cut string 12, an elevating mechanism 82 that raises and lowers the holding mechanism 80, a winding mechanism 70 that winds the cut string 12, and a winding mechanism 70 that winds the string 12. An air injection unit 86 is provided for injecting air onto the string 12 and sending it to the discharge chute 90.

  The string removing device 100 cuts the string 12 that binds the plurality of barrel containers 10 by the cutting device 20, holds the string 12 by the holding mechanism 80, and lifts the string 12 upward. Then, air is blown onto the wound string 12 by the air injection unit 86 and sent to the discharge chute 90.

  The cutting device 20 and the collection device 60 can be disposed on the side of the transport mechanism 40. When the barrel container 10 provided as a unit from a depalletizer or the like moves to a cutting position on the transport path by the transport mechanism 40, the string 12 binding the plurality of barrel containers 10 is cut by the cutting device 20. Disconnected. Hereinafter, the plurality of barrel containers 10 bound by the string 12 are also referred to as a bound body.

  7-9 is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the cutting device 20 of suitable embodiment of this invention. The cutting device 20 includes, for example, a cutting head 38 and a lifting mechanism 36 that lifts and lowers the cutting head 38. The elevating mechanism 36 can be composed of, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism, a feed screw mechanism, or a linear motor.

  The cutting head 38 includes, for example, a hook 22 for hooking and pulling the string 12, a cutter 24 for cutting the string 12, and a driving mechanism for hooking and pulling the hook 22 on the string 12 so that the string 12 is cut by the cutter 24. 26. When the bound body is conveyed to the cutting work position, the controller 28 controls the elevating mechanism 36, the drive mechanism 26, and the cutter 24 to cause the cutter 24 to cut the string 12, for example.

  When the bundle is conveyed to the cutting work position, it is detected by a sensor (not shown) and notified to the controller 28. In response to this notification, the controller 28 operates the lifting mechanism 36 to lower the cutting head 38, as shown in FIG. At this time, the holding mechanism 80 is also lowered by the elevating mechanism 82, and the string 12 is held by the holding mechanism 80 prior to cutting.

  The cutting head 38 preferably includes a detection unit that detects the presence of the string 12 at a position where the hook 22 can be hooked on the string 12 (here, a relative position viewed from the cutting head 38).

  The detection unit detects that the rotation member 34 is rotatably attached to the rod 22 and the rotation member 34 is rotated by the presence of the string 12 in accordance with the lowering of the cutting head 38. And a sensor (for example, a reflective sensor) 32. As exemplarily shown in FIG. 8, when the cutting head 38 is lowered, the string 12 hits the lower end of the rotating member 34, whereby the rotating member 34 rotates about the rotating shaft 34a. When the string 12 does not exist, it can be understood that the string 12 does not exist because the rotation member 34 does not rotate.

  When the sensor 28 detects that the string 12 is present at a position where the hook 22 can be hooked on the string 12, the controller 28, as illustrated in FIG. 9, illustrates a drive mechanism (for example, an air cylinder). 26 is operated to pull the collar 22 and cause the cutter 24 to cut the string 12.

  By pulling the string 12 using the scissors 22 in the direction away from the conveyance path by the conveyance mechanism 40 (that is, the direction in which the string 12 binding the plurality of barrel containers 10 is stretched), and contacting the teeth of the cutter 24, The cutting failure due to the looseness of the string 12 can be prevented and the string 12 can be reliably cut. On the other hand, in the conventional apparatus for cutting the string by moving the cutter up and down, if the string is loose, the string may escape from the teeth of the cutter, and cutting failure may occur.

  The cutter 24 is preferably a rotary cutter, for example. The rotary cutter can be controlled, for example, so that the teeth are always rotating. However, the rotary cutter may be activated by the controller 28 when the presence of the string 12 is detected by the sensor 32 and stopped when the absence of the string 12 is detected by cutting the string 12. In the latter case, when the string 12 is not in the detection range by the detection unit, the teeth do not rotate, so that safety is higher.

  The cutter 24 is preferably disposed at a position farther from the conveyance path of the conveyance mechanism 40 than the rod 22. Moreover, it is preferable that a part of the cutter 24 (a part that does not affect the cutting of the string) is covered with the cover 25. According to such a configuration, the operator can be prevented from being injured by the cutter 24 during maintenance of the string removing device 100 or the like.

  When the string 12 is cut, the rotating member 34 returns to its original state by its own weight, and the output of the sensor 32 indicates a state where the string 12 does not exist. Thereby, the controller 28 can recognize that the string 12 has been cut.

  When the string 12 is cut, the controller 28 operates the drive mechanism 26 to return the collar 22 to the original position (the position illustrated in FIG. 7), and as illustrated in FIG. 4. Then, the lifting mechanism 36 is operated to retract the cutting head 38 to an upper position (a position that does not hinder the conveyance of the barrel container 10).

  Even if the cutting head 38 is lowered to a position (cutting height) where the string 12 can be hooked by the barb 22, the sensor 12 may not detect the string 12. The reason is that the string 12 that binds the barrel container 10 does not actually exist, the string 12 is not hung at an appropriate position of the barrel container 12, parts such as the sensor 32 are broken, and the like. Conceivable.

  Therefore, if the string 12 is not detected by the sensor 32 even when the cutting head 38 is lowered to a position where the string 12 can be hooked by the barb 22, the controller 28 can be used as necessary. It is preferable to execute error processing such as stopping the operation of other portions. Thereby, for example, when the string 12 is not hung at an appropriate position of the barrel container 12, it is possible to prevent the processing from proceeding without the string 12 being cut.

  In synchronization with the cutting of the string 12 by the cutting device 20, the collection device 60 also operates. Before the string 12 is cut by the cutting device 20, the string 12 is held by the holding mechanism 80. The holding mechanism 80 has, for example, a grip portion, and grips the string 12 by the grip portion.

  When the string 12 is cut by the cutting device 20, the controller 28 operates the lifting mechanism 82 to hold it to a predetermined position above the winding position by the winding mechanism 70 as shown in FIG. The mechanism 80 is moved. As a result, the cut string 12 hangs downward from the holding mechanism 80.

  Next, the controller 28 operates the advance / retreat mechanism 75 to push the take-up member (eg, take-up rod) 72 to the take-up position. The winding member 72 is connected to a control disk 73 having a through hole through which a rotary shaft 74 that is rotationally driven by a rotating machine 78 fixed to the frame 62 is passed, and an advance / retreat mechanism 75 fixed to the frame 62 is connected to the control disk 73. Advance and retreat by moving 73 forward and backward.

  When the holding mechanism 80 is moved so as to pass through the winding position, the winding member 72 is moved backward by the advance / retreat mechanism 75 so as not to hinder the movement of the holding mechanism 80.

  The winding member 72 extends through a through-hole provided in a rotating disk (rotating member) 76 fixed to the rotating shaft 74, and rotates when the rotating disk 76 is rotationally driven by a rotating machine 78.

  As exemplarily shown in FIG. 5, when the controller 28 operates the rotating machine 78, the winding member 72 is rotated, and the string 12 is wound by the winding member 72.

  When the winding of the string 12 is completed, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the controller 28 opens the receiving port 92 of the discharge chute 90 below the winding position, and causes the air injection unit 86 to inject air. The winding member 72 is retracted. When the winding member 72 is retracted, the string 12 is detached from the winding member 72 and is sent to the receiving port 92 and further to the discharge chute 90 by air.

  A pulley 98 is fixed to the receiving port 92. The receiving port 92 can be opened and closed by driving the pulley 98 from the pulley 96 fixed to the output shaft of the rotating machine 94 via the transmission belt 97.

  In this way, the string 12 taken up by the winding mechanism 70 is sent to the discharge chute 90 by air, so that the string 12 removed from the combined body can be reliably recovered. Thereby, the string 12 is prevented from falling or scattering on the barrel container 10, the transport mechanism 50, and other undesired parts or machine elements.

It is a top view which shows the structure of the string removal apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the string removal apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the string removal apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the string removal apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the string removal apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the string removal apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the cutting device of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the cutting device of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the cutting device of suitable embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 barrel container (article)
12 String 20 Cutting device 28 Controller 36 Elevating mechanism 38 Cutting head 40 Transport mechanism 50 Transport mechanism 60 Collection device 62 Frame 70 Winding mechanism 72 Winding member 73 Control disk 74 Rotating shaft 75 Retracting mechanism 76 Rotating disk 78 Rotating machine 80 Holding Mechanism 82 Elevating mechanism 86 Air injection unit 90 Discharge chute 92 Receiving port 94 Rotating machine 96 Pulley 97 Transmission belt 98 Pulley 100 String removing device

Claims (4)

A string removing device for removing a string that binds a plurality of articles,
A cutting mechanism for cutting the string;
A winding mechanism for winding the cut string;
An air injection unit that sprays air onto the wound string and sends it to the discharge chute;
A string removing device comprising: A holding mechanism for holding the cut string;
An elevating mechanism for elevating the holding mechanism;
The winding mechanism is
A winding member;
A rotation mechanism for rotating the winding member;
An advancing and retracting mechanism for advancing and retracting the winding member,
After the holding mechanism has moved to a predetermined position above the winding position by the winding mechanism, the winding member is moved to the winding position by the advance / retreat mechanism, and the winding member is rotated by the rotating mechanism. Take-up operation by
The string removing device according to claim 1.   The string removing device according to claim 2, wherein, prior to the movement of the holding mechanism, the retracting mechanism moves the winding mechanism to a standby position that does not hinder the movement of the holding mechanism.   The discharge chute opens a receiving port below the winding position when the string is collected, and the air injection unit injects air toward the receiving port. The string removal apparatus of any one of Claims.

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