JP2008013308A - Article receiving device and article processing facility - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article receiving device capable of reducing cost by simplifying its constitution. <P>SOLUTION: An article receiving tool 4 is provided, which is capable of changing the position to the article stop-operative position at which the tool is protruded above a conveyance-operative surface Z of a conveyor 1 for loading and conveying an article and for regulating the movement to the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the article passage permitting position at which the tool is retracted below the conveyance-operative surface. The article receiving tool 4 is supported in a position changing manner at the reception waiting position at which the tool is protruded above the conveyance-operative surface Z on the upstream side in the conveying direction from the article stop-operative position. An urging means F for return-urging the article receiving tool 4 to the reception waiting position is provided so that the tool is returned from the article stop-operative position to the reception waiting position, and returned from the article passage permitting position to the reception waiting position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an article stopping action position that protrudes above the conveying action surface of the conveyer that carries and conveys an article and that is restricted from moving on the lower side in the conveying direction, and an article passage allowable position that retreats below the conveying action surface. The present invention relates to an article receiving apparatus provided with an article receiving tool whose position is freely changeable, and an article processing facility provided with the article receiving apparatus.

  As an article receiving device of this type, conventionally, the article receiving device is configured to be provided in an article processing facility provided with a roller-type conveyor as a conveyor. It is configured to be retractable between an article stopping action position that protrudes upward and an article passage allowable position that retreats downward from the conveying action surface, and this article receiving tool is switched to the article stopping action position for conveyance. It is designed to receive and stop the articles placed on the conveyor and stop them, and stacks multiple articles. After that process is completed, the article receiver is allowed to pass through the articles. There is a configuration in which an article that has been processed by switching to a position is transported to the lower side in the transport direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Although there is no detailed description in Patent Document 1, the article receiving device is configured to switch the article receiving tool between an article stopping action position and an article passage allowable position in accordance with processing such as stacking processing. For example, it is necessary to perform a position changing operation based on a control command for driving, and a drive type lifting device using an actuator such as an electric motor or a fluid pressure cylinder in order to move the article receiving tool back and forth. It was the composition provided with.

  In addition, the article processing facility described in Patent Document 1 is a stacking process in which a plurality of articles conveyed one by one on a conveyor is stacked and conveyed to the lower side in the conveying direction, or in a stacked state. For example, a plurality of articles to be conveyed are separated into one article and conveyed to the lower side in the conveying direction to perform a separation process, and one article or stack placed on the conveyor An elevating-type article support means for supporting a plurality of articles in a state to perform a raising / lowering operation is in a state in which the article received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping action position is supported to be lifted, and In this configuration, the article that has been lifted is provided so as to be able to be lowered so as to overlap the article received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping position.

JP 2004-168440 A

  The conventional article receiving device requires a dedicated actuator such as an electric motor type lifting device or a lifting device using a fluid pressure cylinder in order to move the article receiving tool back and forth, and the configuration of the article receiving device is complicated. There was a disadvantage incurring high costs.

  In addition, the conventional article processing facility includes an article receiving device that has a complicated configuration and high cost, and thus has a disadvantage in that the configuration of the entire article processing facility is complicated and expensive.

  The article processing equipment provided with the article receiving device is not limited to the stacking process or the spreading process described in the cited document 1, but, for example, the article is placed and transported by a transport conveyor. Processing to raise the article stopped by the receiving device and branch to a different conveying path intersecting the conveying path of the conveying conveyor, or to lift the article that has been placed and conveyed by the conveying conveyor and stopped by the article receiving device There is an article processing facility that performs various processes such as a process of turning the article and changing the posture of the article in the conveyance direction.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an article receiving apparatus capable of reducing the cost by simplifying the configuration.

  Another object of the present invention is to simplify the configuration by using an article receiving apparatus having a simple configuration, and to effectively use the apparatus configuration originally provided. The present invention is to provide an article processing facility that can switch the position of the item.

The article receiving apparatus according to the present invention protrudes above the conveying action surface of the conveying conveyor for placing and conveying the article and is located below the conveying action face and the article stopping action position where movement on the lower side in the conveying direction is restricted. An article receiving tool whose position is freely changeable is provided at an article passage allowable position to be retired, and the first characteristic configuration thereof is:
The article receiving tool is supported at a receiving standby position that protrudes above the conveying action surface on the upper side in the conveying direction than the article stopping action position so as to be freely changeable in position.
The article receiving tool is urged to return to the receiving standby position so as to return to the receiving standby position from the article stopping operation position and to return to the receiving standby position from the article passage allowable position. The biasing means is provided.

  According to the first characteristic configuration, the article receiving tool configured to be freely changeable in the article stopping action position and the article passage allowing position is closer to the conveyance action surface than the article stopping action position on the upper side in the conveyance direction. Also, it is configured to be supported at a receiving standby position protruding upward so that its position can be freely changed. Then, the article receiving tool is moved back by the biasing means from the article stopping action position to the receiving standby position and from the article passage allowable position to the receiving standby position. Return to the receiving standby position is urged.

  That is, if the article receiving tool is in a free state where no external force is applied from the outside, the article receiving tool is positioned at the receiving standby position by the biasing force of the biasing means, and is positioned at the receiving standby position. Thus, it waits for an article to be conveyed. And when the article is placed and conveyed by the conveyor, the article contacts the article receiver located at the receiving standby position and is pressed toward the lower side in the conveying direction by the conveying force of the conveyor. The article receiver moves to the lower side in the conveying direction against the urging force of the urging means. When the article receiving tool moves to the article stopping action position, movement on the lower side in the transport direction is restricted, and the article is received and stopped.

  The article received and stopped by the article receiving tool in this way is lifted upward by another operation, for example, by an operation using an elevating-type article support means or a manual operation. Since the article receiving tool has no pressing action on the article, it is returned to the receiving standby position by the urging force of the urging means.

  For example, when the article is lifted upward and another process is performed and then the article returns onto the conveyor, the article catcher positioned at the receipt standby position is directed from the upper side to the lower side. When the article is lowered so as to be pressed, the article receiving tool moves downwardly against the urging force of the urging means and moves to the article passage allowable position. While the article is positioned on the upper side of the article receiver, the article receiver is maintained in the article passage allowable position. Articles can be transported by a transport conveyor. When the article is conveyed and the article is not pressed against the article receiving tool, the article receiving tool returns to the receiving standby position by the urging force of the urging means.

  Since the urging means can be constituted by a member having a simple structure such as a spring or rubber, for example, a dedicated actuator such as an electric motor type lifting device or a lifting device using a fluid pressure cylinder is used. It is possible to cope with a simple configuration without providing the.

  Therefore, it has become possible to provide an article receiving apparatus that can be switched between the article stopping action position and the article passage allowable position, but can be reduced in cost by simplifying the arrangement.

In addition to the first feature configuration, the second feature configuration of the present invention is the article receiving tool,
By swinging from the receiving standby position to the lower side in the conveying direction, the position is changed to the article stopping action position, and by swinging from the receiving standby position to the upper side in the conveying direction, it is retracted below the conveying action surface. Then, in a state where the position is changed to the article passage allowable position, is supported so as to be swingable around a horizontal axis that is located below the transfer action surface of the transfer conveyor,
The pressed portion on the upper end side of the article receiving tool is pushed downward by the article so as to swing from the receiving standby position toward the upper side in the conveying direction and change the position to the article passage allowable position. Further, it is configured to protrude toward the upper side in the transport direction than the horizontal axis at the receiving standby position,
There is a contact restricting body for restricting the swing of the article receiving tool at the article stop operating position toward the lower side in the conveying direction.

  According to the second characteristic configuration, around the horizontal axis that is positioned below the transfer action surface of the transfer conveyor in a state where the article receiving tool is urged back to the receiving standby position by the urging means. It is swingably supported. Then, in the state of being biased back to the receiving standby position, for example, when pressed by an article conveyed by a conveying conveyor, the article receiving tool swings around the horizontal axis and the receiving By swinging from the stop standby position to the lower side in the conveying direction, the position is changed to the article stop operating position. At this time, since the contact restricting body restricts the swing of the article receiving tool toward the lower side in the transport direction, the article receiving tool stops at the article stopping action position, and the article is It will be received and stopped by the article receiver.

  Further, when the pressed portion on the upper end side of the article receiving tool is pressed downward by the article in the state of being biased back to the receiving standby position, the article receiving tool is moved to the receiving standby state. By swinging from the position toward the upper side in the conveying direction, the position is changed to the article passage allowable position. That is, since the pressed portion on the upper end side of the article receiving tool is configured to protrude to the upper side in the transport direction from the horizontal axis core at the receiving standby position, the pressed portion is below the article. When it is pressed to the side, a component force that causes the article receiver to swing toward the upper side in the conveying direction is generated by the downward pressing force, so that the article receiver is pressed downward by the article. It is possible to change the position to the article passage allowable position by swinging toward the upper side in the conveying direction only by the action.

  Therefore, since the article receiving tool is configured to swingably support around the horizontal axis, the position of the article receiving tool is changed between the receiving standby position and the article passage allowable position, and A support structure for allowing a change in position between the receiving standby position and the article stopping action position can be simplified.

  For example, the article receiving tool is supported so as to be slidable in the vertical direction so that the position of the article receiving tool can be changed between the receiving standby position and the article passage allowable position. The position can be changed so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction so that the position of the article can be changed freely. However, in such a configuration, the slidably supported in the vertical direction is supported. A plurality of support structures, ie, a support structure for supporting slidable movement in the horizontal direction, and a structure for supporting the article catcher is complicated, but compared to such a structure. If the configuration is such that the article receiver is supported so as to be swingable around the horizontal axis, the support structure can be simplified, and the configuration of the urging means can be simplified.

  Therefore, according to the second feature structure, the structure of the article receiver can be simplified and the cost can be further reduced by simplifying the structure of the support structure and the biasing means. A stop device can be provided.

  According to a third feature configuration of the present invention, in addition to the second feature configuration, the pressed portion of the article receiving tool is a plane that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the transport action surface at the article stop action position. An article receiving surface configured to receive an article conveyed by the conveying conveyor in a state, and the conveying direction from the uppermost portion of the outer surface located on the upper side in the article passage allowable position The upper side portion is formed so as to be inclined downwardly toward the upper side in the transport direction.

  According to the third characteristic configuration, the article receiving surface for receiving the article at the article stopping action position is provided in a state where the article receiving surface is a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the conveying action surface of the conveyor at the article stopping action position. Therefore, the front side surface at the front end side in the conveyance direction of the article can be stably received and supported over a wide range in the vertical direction.

  In addition, when the article receiver is in the article passage allowable position, the article is positioned above the article receiver, but the lower surface of the article contacts the article passage allowable position. The upper part of the outer surface located on the upper side of the article receiving tool is configured so that the upper part of the conveyance direction is inclined so as to be located closer to the upper side of the conveyance direction. Therefore, when the article is conveyed by the conveyor, the lower surface of the article is caught on the outer surface located on the upper side of the article receiving tool and the conveyance is hindered such that the conveyance is hindered. Can move.

  Therefore, according to the third characteristic configuration, it is possible to satisfactorily support and receive the article when the article receiver is at the article passage allowable position, and to convey the article when the article receiver is at the article passage allowable position. Can be done.

  A fourth characteristic configuration of the present invention is an article processing facility including the article receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the article is placed on the conveyor or stacked. Ascending / descending article support means for supporting the plurality of articles in the state to lift and lower is supported in a state where the article received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping action position can be lifted and operated. The article receiver in the state in which the operated article can be lowered to overlap the article received by the article receiver in the article stopping action position, and the article that has been raised is in the reception standby position. Is pressed from above to switch to the article passage allowable position and is placed in a state where it can be lowered to be placed on the conveyor.

  According to the fourth characteristic configuration, there is provided an elevating-type article support means for supporting a single article or a plurality of stacked articles placed on the transport conveyor to perform the elevating operation. The article received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping action position is supported and lifted by the means, and the raised article is stacked on the article received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping action position. By performing the lowering operation, the articles can be stacked and stacked. In addition, the two-stage stacked article is supported and lifted, and the lifted article is lowered to overlap the article received by the article catcher at the article stopping position. Thus, the articles can be overlapped to form a three-stage stacked state. Then, by repeatedly executing such processing, a set number of articles can be stacked.

  The elevating-type article support means is capable of lowering the article to be moved up, pressing the article receiver in the standby position from the upper side, switching to the article passage allowable position, and placing it on the conveyor. As described above, the article in a stacked state in which a set number of articles are stacked is supported and lifted, and the lifted article is received and the article receiving tool in the standby position is pressed from above. When the lowering operation is performed to switch to the pass-permitted position and place it on the conveyor, the receiving action state by the article receiving tool is released, and the stacked article is lower than the installation position of the article receiving apparatus in the conveying direction. It can be transported toward.

  In other words, the article receiving device passes the article by effectively utilizing the configuration of the lifting and lowering article support means while receiving the article conveyed by the article conveyor by the article receiving device and performing the stacking process of the article well. By switching to the permissible position, the stacked articles can be conveyed toward the lower side in the conveying direction than the article receiver.

  Therefore, according to the fourth feature configuration, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the entire facility by using an article receiving device having a simple configuration, and an apparatus that is originally provided as a liftable article support means. It has become possible to provide an article processing facility that can switch the position of the article receiving device by effectively utilizing the configuration.

  A fifth characteristic configuration of the present invention is an article processing facility including the article receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of stacked stages are placed on the conveyor. Elevating-type article support means that can be selected between a state in which the article is supported and moved up and down, and a state in which the article on the upper side of the plurality of stacked stages is supported and moved up and down. The article receiving device at the receiving standby position is supported by the article receiving device at the article stopping operation position in a state in which the article in the stacked state is supported and can be lifted. It is pressed from above to switch to the article passage allowable position and can be lowered to be placed on the conveyor, and the article receiver is switched to the article passage allowable position and placed on the conveyor. Of stacked items placed In that provided in the elevated operational state supports the upper side of the article than the lower part.

  According to the fifth characteristic configuration, the elevating-type article support means is capable of performing a lifting operation while supporting the stacked articles received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping operation position, and has performed the lifting operation. Since the article receiving device in the standby position for receiving the article is pressed from above to switch to the article passage allowable position and can be lowered to be placed on the conveyor, the elevating article support means can be used as a conveyor conveyor. By supporting and lifting a plurality of stacked articles placed on the floor, and lowering the raised stacked articles, the article receiving device is pressed from above to allow passage of articles. Can be switched to position.

  Then, in the state where the article receiver is switched to the article passage permissible position, the elevating-type article support means selects the article above the lowest stage among the stacked articles placed on the conveyor. The article which is supported and raised and is left on the conveyor is conveyed toward the lower side in the conveying direction than the article receiving device. After that, when the article being raised is lowered onto the conveyor, the article receiving tool is pressed from the upper side and switched to the article passage allowable position, so that it is more than the lowest stage of the stacked articles. The upper article is supported and raised, and the article remaining on the conveyor is conveyed. By repeating such a process, the stacked articles can be separated one by one or more and conveyed toward the lower side in the conveying direction than the article receiving device.

  That is, it is possible to receive the stacked articles conveyed on the conveyor by the article receiving device and perform the article stacking process satisfactorily, and to effectively utilize the configuration of the lifting type article support means. Thus, the article receiving tool can be switched to the article passage allowable position, and the separated article can be conveyed toward the lower side in the conveying direction than the article receiving apparatus.

  Therefore, according to the fifth characteristic configuration, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the entire facility by using an article receiving device having a simple configuration, and an apparatus that is originally provided as an elevating type article support means. It has become possible to provide an article processing facility that can switch the position of the article receiving device by effectively utilizing the configuration.

  A sixth characteristic configuration of the present invention is an article processing facility provided with the article receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the article placed on the transport conveyor is supported for ascending and descending. An elevating-type article conveying means comprising a branch conveyance body that conveys an operable and raised article in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the conveyance conveyor so as to be switchable between a conveyance operation state and a conveyance stop state. The article received by the article receiving tool at the stop action position is supported and can be lifted, and the article receiving tool at the receiving standby position is pressed from above with the raised article being operated. Then, it is provided in a state where it can be lowered so as to switch to the article passage allowable position and place it on the conveyor.

  According to the sixth characteristic configuration, the elevating-type article conveying means supports the article received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping action position in a state where the branch conveyance body is switched to the conveyance stopped state. When the branching conveyance body is switched to the conveyance operation state by raising it, the raised article can be conveyed in a direction crossing the conveyance direction of the conveyance conveyor and branched from the conveyance conveyor. Then, after supporting and lifting the article, the article receiving tool at the receiving standby position is pressed from the upper side while the article that has been lifted is operated without switching the branch conveyance body to the conveying action state. By switching to the article passage permissible position and lowering the article to be placed on the conveyor, the article can be conveyed toward the lower side in the conveying direction of the conveyor than the article receiving device.

  That is, it is possible to satisfactorily perform the branch conveyance process by receiving the articles conveyed by the conveyance conveyor by the article receiving device, and to effectively use the configuration of the lifting and lowering type article conveying means. By switching to the article passage permissible position, the article can be conveyed toward the lower side in the conveying direction than the article receiving device in the conveying conveyor.

  Therefore, according to the sixth characteristic configuration, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the entire facility by using an article receiving device having a simple configuration, and an apparatus that is originally provided as an elevating-type article conveying means. It has become possible to provide an article processing facility that can switch the position of the article receiving device by effectively utilizing the configuration.

  A seventh characteristic configuration of the present invention is an article processing facility including the article receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the article placed on the transport conveyor is lifted and lowered. An elevating-type article turning means provided with a swiveling body for turning an article that can be operated and raised is switchable between a turning action state and a turning stop state, and is received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping action position. The transport conveyor is in a state where it can be lifted while supporting the stopped article, and the article that has been lifted is switched to the article passage permissible position by pressing the receiving tool at the receiving standby position from above. It is that it is provided in a state where it can be lowered.

  According to the seventh characteristic configuration, the lifting / lowering article turning means supports and lifts the article received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping action position in a state where the turning body is switched to the turning action state. Then, when the article that has been lifted is swiveled and the receiving tool at the receiving standby position is pressed from above to switch to the article passage allowable position and lowered to be placed on the transport conveyor, In a state where the transport posture is changed, the article can be transported toward the lower side in the transport direction of the transport conveyor rather than the article receiving device.

  Further, the lifting / lowering article turning means supports and lifts the article received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping operation position while the swinging body is switched to the turning stopped state, and the lifting operation is performed. Without turning the article, the article receiving tool at the receiving standby position is pressed from the upper side to switch to the article passage allowable position and lowered to be placed on the conveyor. It can be transported toward the lower side in the transport direction of the transport conveyor rather than the receiving device.

  In other words, it is possible to satisfactorily perform the processing for changing the posture of the article to be received by the article receiving device and to change the conveying posture by receiving the article conveyed by the conveyor, and the configuration of the lifting type article conveying means By effectively using the item receiver and switching the article receiving tool to the article passage allowable position, the article can be conveyed toward the lower side in the conveying direction than the article receiving device in the conveying conveyor.

  Therefore, according to the seventh characteristic configuration, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the entire facility by using an article receiving device having a simple configuration, and an apparatus that is originally provided as an elevating type article turning means. It has become possible to provide an article processing facility that can switch the position of the article receiving device by effectively utilizing the configuration.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an article receiving apparatus and an article processing facility including the article receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The article processing facility is shown in FIGS. This article processing facility is configured to transport articles on a roller-type transport conveyor 1 as an example of a transport conveyor, and in the article processing section 2 provided in the transport path, the transport conveyor 1 sets an interval. A stacking process in which articles C that are opened and transported one by one are received by the article receiving device 3 and stacked in a stacked state in which a set number of sheets are stacked, and transported to the lower side in the transport direction, and a plurality of stages are stacked in advance. A plurality of articles C conveyed in the state of being received are received by the article receiving device 3, the lower article C is separated, and the separated article C is conveyed to the lower side in the conveying direction. It is configured to be able to.

  An article receiving device 3 is provided for stopping an article placed and conveyed by the conveyor 1 in order to process the article processing unit 2. The article receiving device 3 protrudes above the conveying action surface Z of the conveying conveyor 1 on which the article C is placed and conveyed, and the article stopping action position where the movement on the lower side in the conveying direction is restricted, and the conveying action surface Z. An article receiving tool 4 whose position is freely changeable is provided at an article passage allowable position that retreats downward, and the article receiving tool 4 is located on the upper side of the article stopping action position from the conveying action surface Z on the upper side in the conveying direction. Is also supported at a receiving standby position projecting upward so that the position can be freely changed, and is returned to the receiving standby position from the article stop operating position and is returned to the receiving standby position from the article passage allowable position. A biasing means F for biasing the article receiver 4 back to the receiving standby position is provided.

  Then, the article receiving tool 4 changes its position to the article stopping action position by swinging from the receiving standby position to the lower side in the conveying direction, and swings from the receiving standby position to the upper side in the conveying direction. As a result, it can be swung around the horizontal axis X1 positioned below the transfer action surface Z of the transfer conveyor 1 in a state where it is retracted below the transfer action surface Z and changed to the article passage allowable position. 4A, the pressed portion 4A on the upper end side of the article receiving tool 4 is pressed downward by the article C, so that it swings from the receiving standby position toward the upper side in the conveying direction and passes through the article. The article receiving tool 4 in the conveyance direction in the article stop working position is configured to protrude to the upper side in the conveyance direction with respect to the horizontal axis X1 at the receiving standby position so as to change the position to the allowable position. Shaking down The restriction member 5 as abutment regulating member for abutment regulations are provided.

  In addition, the article conveyed by the conveyor 1 in a state where the pressed portion 4A of the article receiver 4 is a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the conveyance action surface Z at the article stop action position. The article receiving surface 6 for receiving C is provided, and the upper part in the conveying direction is positioned on the upper side in the conveying direction with respect to the uppermost part of the outer surface located on the upper side in the article passage allowable position. It is comprised so that it may form in the inclined shape located below.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the article receiving device 3 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the article receiver 4 is positioned between the transport rollers 7 in the transport conveyor 1 at a predetermined position for receiving corresponding to the article processing unit 2 in the transport conveyor 1. And is supported by the fixed portion so as to be swingable around the horizontal axis X1 located below the transfer action surface Z of the transfer conveyor 1. Specifically, it is supported by a bracket 10 fixed to a horizontal frame 9 extending over the left and right side frames 8 via a support shaft 11 so as to be swingable.

  Then, a tension spring 12 is stretched between a position below the horizontal axis X1 of the article receiver 4 and a position on the upper side in the transport direction of the bracket 10, and the horizontal position of the article receiver 4 is also set. In a free state in which a tension spring 13 is stretched between a location below the shaft core X1 and a location on the lower side in the conveying direction of the bracket 10, and the tensile force of the pair of tension springs 12 and 13 is balanced. The stopper 4 is configured to return to a receiving standby position (see FIG. 6) that protrudes upward from the conveying action surface Z of the conveying conveyor 1. Therefore, the biasing means F is constituted by a pair of tension springs 12 and 13.

  And in the state which is located in the said waiting position, the said article receiving tool 4 is in the state which protruded upwards rather than the mounting conveyance surface Z of the conveying conveyor 1, When the pressed portion 4A on the upper end side protrudes toward the upper side in the transport direction from the horizontal axis X1, and the pressed portion 4A is pressed from above by the article C, the article is received. A component force is applied so that the tool 4 swings toward the upper side in the transport direction, and swings from the receiving standby position toward the upper side in the transport direction to change the position to the article passage allowable position.

  A regulating member 5 as the contact regulating body is fixedly attached to the bracket 10 at a location on the lower side in the conveying direction of the article receiving device 4, and the article receiving device 4 is attached to the conveying conveyor 1. When the article C to be conveyed is swung to the upper side in the conveying direction by the pressing action and is received by the restricting member 5, further movement to the upper side in the conveying direction is restricted. Corresponds to the article stopping action position. The article receiving surface 6 that is located on the upper side in the conveying direction of the pressed portion 4A at the receiving standby position and that receives the article at the article stopping action position is the conveying action of the conveyor 1. It is configured to be a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface Z (see FIG. 7B).

  At the receiving standby position, on the outer surface located on the lower side in the conveyance direction of the pressed portion 4A, a first pressed surface 14 that has an inclined posture that is located lower toward the lower side in the conveyance direction, and the first inclination thereof. The second pressed surface 15 is formed in an inclined posture that is continuous with the surface 14 and is positioned downward toward the lower side in the transport direction, and the first pressed surface 14 is the second pressed surface 15 in the receiving standby position. Compared to the above, the lower side in the transport direction is formed in such a form that the slope located below becomes gentler. When the pressed part 4A is pressed from above by the article, the pressed surfaces 14 and 15 are sequentially pressed by the article and the article receiving tool 4 swings to the upper side in the transport direction. The component force effectively acts and swings toward the upper side in the transport direction (see FIG. 7D).

  Then, in a state where the pressed portion 4A is pressed from above by the article C and the article receiving tool 4 is swung to the article passage allowable position, as shown in FIG. The pressed surface 15 is in contact with the lower surface of the article, and the first pressed surface 14 is formed so as to be inclined such that the upper side portion in the transport direction is positioned closer to the upper side in the transport direction. . That is, the second pressed surface 15 corresponds to the uppermost portion of the outer surfaces located on the upper side in the article passage allowable position, and the first pressed surface 14 is closer to the upper side in the transport direction. This corresponds to the upper side portion in the transport direction formed in an inclined shape located below. Therefore, when the article C is transported by the transport conveyor 1 in a state where the pressed part 4A is pressed from above by the article C and the article receiver 4 is swinging to the article passage allowable position. In addition, the lower surface of the article can be satisfactorily conveyed without being caught by the article receiver 4.

The conveyor 1 has a plurality of conveying rollers 7 rotatably supported at a set interval in the conveying direction in a state of being laid over the left and right side frames 8 supported by the left and right leg members 16. The article C is placed and conveyed by rotationally driving the conveyance rollers 7 in the same direction via a power transmission mechanism (not shown) built in the side frame 8 by the power of the motor 17. Yes.
The article C is a tray formed in a substantially box shape with an upper surface opened, and a locking edge Cb protruding outward is formed around the opening. The article C is configured so that the locking edge portions Cb are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance even when stacked in the vertical direction.

The article processing unit 2 is provided with a liftable article support means 18 that supports a single article C placed on the transport conveyor 1 or a plurality of stacked articles C and moves up and down. .
The elevating-type article support means 18 supports the article C received by the article receiver 4 at the article stopping action position and is capable of raising the article C at the article stopping action position. In a state in which the article can be lowered to overlap the article C received by the article receiver 4, and the article C that has been lifted is pressed from the upper side by pressing the article receiver 4 in the standby position. It is provided in a state where it can be lowered to be placed on the conveyor 1 by switching to the permissible position.

  The elevating-type article support means 18 supports a plurality of stacked articles C placed on the conveyor 1 and moves up and down, and the lowest stage of the stacked articles C. It is configured to be able to select a state in which the article C on the upper side is supported and moved up and down, and supports the stacked articles received by the article receiving tool 4 at the article stopping action position. In a state where the ascending operation is possible, a state in which the ascending operation can be performed so as to place the article receiving tool 4 at the receiving standby position from the upper side by pressing the article receiving tool 4 to switch to the article passage allowable position and place it on the conveyor 1 And the state in which the article receiving device 4 is switched to the article passage permissible position and supported on the upper side of the lowermost stage among the stacked articles placed on the conveyor 1 and can be lifted. Is provided.

Next, a specific configuration of the liftable article support means 18 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the elevating-type article support means 18 includes a pair of locking members 19 that are arranged on both the left and right sides of the conveyor 1. And move in a direction approaching each other in a direction approaching each other and a direction separating from each other along the lateral width direction, and the pair of locking members 19 are moved in a direction approaching each other to be positioned on the conveyor 1 The article C can be moved up and down by moving the pair of locking members 19 up and down while being engaged with the lower side of the locking edge Cb of the article C in the vertical direction.

  That is, there is an operating mechanism for moving the locking members 19 on both the left and right sides separately and moving up and down while being supported by the support brackets 20 attached to the outer surfaces of the side frames 8 on the left and right sides of the conveyor 1. It is configured to be distributed on both the left and right sides of the conveyor 1. Since the left and right operating mechanisms are the same on the left and right, one of the configurations will be described below, and the description of the same configuration will be omitted.

  A support bracket 20 having a substantially L-shaped plate body is attached to the outer surface of the side frame 8, and a lift frame 23 is lifted and lowered by a pair of guide members 21 (linear bearings) via lift rails 22. The elevating frame 23 is driven up and down by a first elevating cylinder 24 that is freely arranged and includes an air cylinder installed in the support bracket 20. In addition, a second lifting cylinder 25 made of an air cylinder having a pair of front and rear guide rods 25a is disposed on the lifting frame 23 so as to be expandable and contractible upward. The piston rod 25a and the guide rod 25b of the second lifting cylinder are arranged. At the front end portion, a retracting cylinder 26 made of an air cylinder that can expand and contract in the width direction of the conveyor 1 is attached.

  The locking member 19 is attached to the front end of the piston rod 26a and the guide rod 26b of the retracting cylinder 26 on the side of the conveyor 1, and the piston rod 26b is expanded and contracted between the retracted position and the protruding position, thereby engaging the engagement. An engaging state in which the stop member 19 is engaged with the lower side of the locking edge Cb of the article positioned on the conveyor 1 and a vertical engagement with the locking edge Cb by retreating outward in the lateral width direction. It is configured to be switchable to a disengaged state in which the is released.

  When the first elevating cylinder 24 is expanded and contracted while the second elevating cylinder 25 is retracted, the locking member 19 is held at the holding position L1 capable of holding the article C on the conveyor 1 and on the conveyor 1 Among the plurality of stacked articles, the second stage C can be moved up and down over the loading position L2, and the first lifting cylinder 24 is in the extended state. 2 When the elevating cylinder 25 is expanded and contracted, the locking member 19 is moved up and down over the load position L2 described above and the separation position L3 for raising the upper article so that the lowermost article C can be separated and conveyed. It is configured to be able to. Moreover, when the 1st raising / lowering cylinder 24 and the 2nd raising / lowering cylinder 25 are expanded-contracted simultaneously, the latching member 19 can be raised / lowered across the holding position L1 and the separation position L3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of left and right support rods 27 are erected on the upper side in the transport direction from the mounting position of the support bracket 20 on the left and right side frames 8, and an upper limit for stacking is set on the upper portion of the support rod 27. A stacked state detection sensor 28 for detecting is provided, and a spread state detection sensor 29 for detecting the presence / absence of a second-stage article is installed in the lower part (see FIG. 4). Further, a guide member 30 is provided for restricting the placement position of the article C in the lateral width direction on the conveyor 1.

  The article processing facility controls the operation of the liftable article support means 18, specifically the operation of the cylinders 24, 25, and 26, and the operation by the conveyor 1, specifically the conveyance. A microcomputer-based operation control unit H1 is provided as an operation control means for controlling the operation of the motor 17, and the operation control unit H1 performs a stacking process and a step as will be described later based on the input command information. It is configured to control the operation of each unit so as to execute the disassembly process. Although not shown, a position detection sensor or the like that detects that the article C has been conveyed to the article processing unit 2 is also provided.

Next, the stacking process will be specifically described.
When the articles C are intermittently conveyed one by one in the state of being separated by the conveyor 1, and are conveyed to the article processing unit 2, the articles C are received as shown in FIGS. The article receiving tool 4 in the stop standby position is brought into contact with and pressed, and the article receiving tool 4 is moved to the article stopping action position, whereby the conveyance of the article C is stopped. Next, the cylinders 24, 25, and 26 are controlled to switch the locking members 19 from the non-engaged state to the engaged state in the holding position L1, as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. Then, the article C is raised from the holding position L1 to the separation position L3.

  Thereafter, the next article C is conveyed on the conveyor 1 while the article C is raised, and is received by the article receiver 4 in the same manner as the previous article (FIGS. 7A and 7B). When stopped, the respective locking members 19 are lowered to the load position described above and stacked on the subsequent article C in order to lower the article C being raised.

  Next, the entire article C stacked in two stages is raised to the separation position, and the next article C is conveyed on the conveyor 1. When the next article C is received and stopped by the article receiving apparatus 3, the pair of locking members 19 are lowered to the load position L2 to lower the raised article C, and the next article C Stack on. Then, the process of raising the whole articles | goods C piled up in multiple steps to the separation position L3, and stacking on the next article | item C conveyed with the conveyance conveyor 1 is repeated, and the some articles | goods C are stacked.

  When the stacking state detection sensor 28 detects that the uppermost article C has been stacked when the stacking process is completed, the stacking operation is stopped, and the stacked article C is stopped. The group will be carried out by the conveyor 1, but at that time, the article receiver 4 is in a state of receiving and stopping the last article C (see FIG. 7 (b)). It cannot be transported toward the lower side in the transport direction. Therefore, after the set number of stages are stacked, each locking member 19 switched to the engaged state at the holding position so as to raise the whole of the plurality of articles C is raised to the separation position L3, and then the holding position L1. To lower. As a result, the article receiving device 4 in the receiving standby position is pressed from above to switch the article receiving device 4 to the article passage allowable position (FIGS. 7C and 7D). The plurality of stacked articles C can be transported on the transport conveyor 1 to the lower side in the transport direction than the position where the articles are stopped (see FIG. 7E).

Next, the spreading process will be specifically described.
The set of articles C stacked in a set number of stages is conveyed by the conveyer 1, and the article receiver 4 moves from the receiving standby position to the article stopping position as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). If the receiving is stopped, the whole of the plurality of articles C is once raised to the separation position L3 and then lowered to switch the article receiving tool 4 to the article passage allowable position (FIG. 7). (See (c) and (d)).

  Then, each of the locking members 19 is switched from the non-engaged state to the engaged state in the loading position L2 and is raised to the separation position L3, and the upper article C group excluding the lowermost article C is raised. (See FIG. 4). At that time, the lowermost article C remaining on the transport conveyor 1 is transported to the lower side in the transport direction by the transport conveyor 1, and then the plurality of articles C being raised are lowered onto the transport conveyor 1. At that time, the article receiving tool 4 is returned to the receiving standby position, but the article receiving tool 4 is pressed from the upper side by the lowering operation of the plurality of articles C to be switched to the article passing allowable position. (See FIG. 7 (d)). By repeatedly executing such processing, the articles C can be conveyed from the article stopping action position to the lower side in the conveying direction with the articles C being separated one by one. Note that when the second stage article C is detected by the stage separation state detection sensor 29 without detecting the second stage article C, and the last article C is conveyed to the lower side in the conveyance direction, the separation process is performed. After that, the next set number of articles C to be distributed are conveyed.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The article processing facility in this embodiment is different in configuration in that an elevating-type article conveying means is provided instead of the elevating-type article support means 18 in the first embodiment, but the configuration of the article receiving apparatus 3 is the first. Since it is the same as the embodiment, only different configurations will be described below, and description of the same configurations will be omitted.

  That is, in the second embodiment, the branch C that supports the article C placed on the transport conveyor 1 and can be moved up and down and transports the raised article C in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the transport conveyor 1. A branching conveyor 40 as an elevating-type article conveying means provided with an endless rotating chain 41 as a conveying body, which can be switched between a conveying action state and a conveying stop state, is provided at the article receiving device 4 at the article stopping action position. The article C received in the above state is supported so that the article C can be lifted, and the article receiving tool 4 at the receiving standby position is pressed from the upper side while the article C that has been lifted is pressed. It is provided in a state where it can be lowered to be switched to a position and placed on the conveyor 1.

  A specific configuration will be described. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, a roller-type transport conveyor 1 is provided as a transport conveyor, and a branching conveyor 40 is provided as a liftable article transport means. The branching conveyor 40 is constituted by a chain conveyor including a pair of left and right frames 42 and a pair of left and right endless rotating chains 41 held rotatably on the left and right frames 42. A part of the branching conveyor 40 is a part of the branching conveyor 40. In the plan view, they are arranged so as to overlap the conveyor 1.

  The branching conveyor 40 is entirely framed by a pair of left and right side frames 42 and a plurality of auxiliary frames 43 connecting both side frames 42. The side frames 42 are integrated over the entire length in a seamless state. The drive sprocket 44 provided at the start end in the conveying direction and the idle sprocket 45 provided at the terminal end in the conveying direction are pivotally supported in a state of slightly protruding from the upper surface of the side frame 42. ing. An endless rotating chain 41 is wound and stretched between the drive sprocket 44 and the idle sprocket 45, and an electric chain drive motor 46 is interlocked and connected to the drive sprocket 44.

  The branching conveyor 40 is supported so as to be swingable around the horizontal axis X2 located on the start end side in the transport direction, and the overlapping conveyor 40 is disposed at the overlapping location. An eccentric cam mechanism 47 for forcibly driving the branching conveyor 40 and a lift motor 48 for driving the eccentric cam mechanism 47 are provided. By rotating the eccentric cam 49 forward and backward by the lifting motor 48, the entire branching conveyor 40 is swung around the horizontal axis X <b> 2, and a part of the transporting surface of the branching conveyor 40 overlapping the transporting conveyor 1 is transported. A transport posture (see FIG. 9 (a)) positioned above the loading / conveying surface Z of the conveyor 1 and a non-transporting posture (see FIG. 9 (b)).

  An operation control unit H2 is provided for controlling the switching of the posture of the branching conveyor 40 by the elevating motor 48 and the switching of the conveying state by the endless rotating chain 41. The operation control unit H2 switches the conveying state as described later. It is the structure to control. Although not shown, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the article C is also provided.

  This article processing facility is configured to be able to switch between a state where the article C conveyed by the conveyor 1 is branched and conveyed by the branching conveyor 40 and a state where the article C is conveyed to the lower side in the conveying direction as it is. ing. In other words, when the article C is conveyed to the article processing unit 2 by the conveyor 1, the article receiver 4 stops the article conveyance (see FIGS. 7A and 7B).

  At that time, when the article C stopped by the article receiver 4 is an article to be branched, the branching conveyor 40 is switched from the non-conveying posture to the conveying posture, and the endless rotating chain 41 is driven to drive the article C. For branching. When the article C stopped by the article receiver 4 is an article to be continuously conveyed without being branched, the branch conveyor 40 is switched from the non-conveying posture to the conveying posture. The branching conveyor 40 is switched from the transport posture to the non-transport posture without driving the endless rotating chain 41.

  As a result, the article C placed from above is pressed against the article receiver 4 in the receiving standby position to switch the article receiver 4 to the article passage allowable position (FIG. 7 (C) and (D)), the article C can be conveyed by the conveyor 1 to the lower side in the conveying direction than the article stopping position (see FIG. 7E).

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described. The article processing facility in this embodiment is different in configuration in that it is provided with a liftable article turning means having a different configuration instead of the liftable article support means 18 in the first embodiment, but the structure of the article receiving device 3 is different. Since this is the same as that of the first embodiment, only different configurations will be described below, and description of the same configurations will be omitted.

  That is, in the third embodiment, the swiveling body that supports the article C placed on the conveyor 1 and can be moved up and down and swivels the raised article C is switched between a turning action state and a turning stop state. A lifting / lowering article swiveling means that is freely provided supports the article C received by the article receiving tool 4 at the article stopping action position and is capable of raising and lowering the article. The article receiving tool 4 at the receiving standby position is pressed from above to be switched to the article passage allowing position and placed in a state where it can be lowered to be placed on the conveyor 1.

  That is, in this embodiment, as a lifting type article turning means, the stopped article 1 can be lifted after aligning the center position in the lateral width direction, and swung around the vertical axis in the lifted state and lowered. An elevating and turning device 50 is provided. That is, this article processing facility is configured to transport a plurality of types of articles C having different external dimensions, and the articles C are conveyed by the conveyor 1 in order to facilitate the subsequent processing. The article C to be moved is swiveled around the vertical axis to change the conveying posture and convey it to the lower side in the conveying direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, the lifting / lowering swivel device 50 is supported by a fixed frame body 51, and the fixed frame body 51 is arranged in a state of straddling the conveyance path by the conveyance conveyor 1. Column member 52 and an upper flat frame member 53 provided between the upper ends of these column members 52. The upper flat frame member 53 is provided with a swivel lift unit 55 that is supported by two lift cylinders 54 so as to be lifted and lowered. The swivel lift unit 55 is interlocked with the lift cylinder 54 and the guide body 56 is connected. The elevating body 57 is provided, and the revolving body 58 provided so as to be able to revolve around the vertical axis Y1 with respect to the elevating body 57.

  That is, a bearing 60 is provided at the central portion of the lifting body 57, and a vertical axis 61 that is supported by the bearing 60 and is rotatable around the vertical axis Y 1 is provided. It is connected. A turning cylinder 59 is provided between the arm 62 provided at the upper end of the vertical axis 61 and the elevating body 57. A contact member 63 is provided at the upper end of the vertical axis 61, and a restricting body 64 is provided on the elevating body 57 side. The contact member 63 contacts the restricting body 64, so that the turning cylinder 59 Further operation is restricted, and the turning body 58 is turned by a predetermined angle (90 °) by the operation of the turning cylinder 59.

  On the revolving body 58 side, a pair of left and right clamping portions 67 are provided that are movable in the direction of approaching and separating from each other by an upper ball screw type clamping device 65 and a lower ball screw type clamping device 66. It has been. Although not described in detail, each of the clamping devices 65 and 66 is configured to slide the clamping part 67 by driving by the electric motors 65A and 66A, respectively. A lifting action portion 68 for lifting the lower surface of the article C is provided at the lower portion of the both clamping portions 67. Both sandwiching portions 67 are configured to include arm portions 67A that are long in the vertical direction and are provided with four in the lateral direction. On the opposite side of the arm portion 67A, an elastic pressing portion 70 that is elastically projected and biased toward the opposite side by a spring cylinder 69 is provided.

  An elevating cylinder 54, a turning cylinder 59, an upper ball screw type clamping device 65, and an operation control unit H3 for controlling the operation of the clamping devices 65, 66, etc. are provided, and this operation control unit H3 will be described later. Each part is controlled to perform such posture change processing. Although not shown, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the article C is also provided.

Next, the posture change process in the article processing facility will be described.
When the article C is conveyed by the conveyor 1 and stopped at the position corresponding to the lifting / lowering swivel device 50 by the article receiving device 3 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B), the article C is clamped on the upper side. The holding device 67 is moved in the approaching direction by the synchronous operation of the moving device 65 and the holding device 66 on the lower side, and the both sides of the article C are pushed by the elastic pressing portions 70 of the holding portion 67 so that the article C is Align to the center in the width direction.

  Then, the swivel lift part 55 is raised by the expansion / contraction operation of the lift cylinder 54, the lifting action part 68 engages with the lower surface of the article C, and the article C is raised via the lifting action part 68 (FIG. 12). After lifting, the article C is swung around the vertical axis Y1 by a predetermined angle (90 °) by the extending operation of the swiveling cylinder 59 (see FIG. 13). When the article C is not required to change the transport posture, it can be lowered as it is without turning.

  Thereafter, the article C is lowered onto the conveying conveyor 1 and is conveyed to the lower side in the conveying direction by the conveying conveyor 1. At that time, the article C is lowered to receive the article at the receiving standby position. By pressing the tool 4 from above and switching the article receiving tool 4 to the article passage allowable position (see FIGS. 7 (C) and 7 (D)), the article C is conveyed by the conveyor 1 It can be transported to the lower side in the transport direction from the place where the receiving device 3 is arranged (see FIG. 7 (e)).

[Another embodiment]
Hereinafter, other embodiments are listed.

(1) In each of the above-described embodiments, the article receiving tool is configured to change its position to the article stopping action position, the receiving standby position, and the article passage allowable position by swinging around a horizontal axis. Instead of such a configuration, for example, an article receiving tool is supported so as to be slidable in the vertical direction so that its position can be changed between the receiving standby position and the article passage allowable position. The position is biased back to the position, and the position is freely slidable in the horizontal direction between the receiving standby position and the article stopping action position, and is slidably moved in the horizontal direction to return to the receiving standby position. It is good also as a structure.

(2) In each of the above embodiments, the article receiver is configured such that the article conveyed by the conveyor in a state of being a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the conveyance action surface at the article stop action position. However, instead of such an article receiving surface, a plurality of protrusions may be in contact with each other at the same time to stably receive the article. It may be received by two protrusions.

(3) In each of the above-described embodiments, as the configuration of the article receiver, the upper side part in the transport direction is positioned on the upper side in the transport direction with respect to the uppermost part of the outer surface located on the upper side in the article passage allowable position. However, it may be formed on a surface such that the upper side portion in the transport direction is substantially horizontal, and instead of such a configuration, for example, an article It is also possible to provide a guide means for smooth movement relative to the article, such as a roller that rolls and guides the article so that the article moves smoothly in the conveyance direction. Good.

(4) In each of the above embodiments, the biasing means for returning and biasing the article receiver to the standby position is provided with a tension spring that pulls toward the upper side in the transport direction and a tension spring that pulls toward the lower side in the transport direction. However, instead of this, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, the swinging shaft core is pulled in the direction opposite to the receiving standby position. The biasing means may be configured by a single tension spring to be biased. In addition to this structure, the biasing means may be biased by rubber instead of the spring, or it may be lower than the swing axis. It can be implemented in various configurations, such as increasing the weight on the side or oscillating and biasing by gravity with a weight.

(5) In the first embodiment, the elevating-type article support means supports the article C received by the article receiver 4 at the article stopping action position and is capable of raising operation. The article receiving device 4 at the standby position for receiving the raised article C in a state where it can be lowered and superimposed on the article C received by the article receiving device 4 at the article stopping action position. The first structure provided in a state in which it can be operated to be lowered so as to be pressed from the upper side and switched to the article passage allowable position and placed on the conveyor 1 and the elevating article support means are mounted on the conveyor 1. A state in which a plurality of stacked articles C are supported and moved up and down, and a state in which a plurality of articles C in a stacked state are supported and supported in a state higher than the lowermost stage C. Article configured to be freely selectable and in an article stop working position In a state in which the stacked articles received by the stopper 4 are supported and can be lifted, the lifted article C is pressed from the upper side by pressing the article receiving tool 4 at the receiving standby position. Of the stacked articles that can be lowered to be placed on the transport conveyor 1 by switching to the permissible position and that are placed on the transport conveyor 1 by switching the article receiver 4 to the permissible article passage position And a second configuration provided in a state in which it can be lifted and supported by supporting an article above the lowermost stage, instead of such a configuration, the first configuration is provided and An article processing facility that performs only stacking processing without the second configuration may be used, and an article processing facility that performs only stacking processing without the first configuration without the first configuration. It is good.

(6) In the first embodiment, when the spread processing is performed, the stacked articles are separated and conveyed one by one, but for example, every two or more articles are separated. It is good also as a structure to convey.

(7) In each of the above embodiments, the position of the article receiving apparatus is switched by effectively using the apparatus configuration originally provided in the article processing facility. After manually lifting an article received by the article receiving tool at the position, the article is lowered by pressing the article receiving tool at the receiving standby position from above. You may make it switch to a passage allowable position.

Front view of liftable article support means Plan view of elevating article support means Side view of liftable article support means Front view of the lifted state of the liftable article support means The perspective view which shows the structure of an article | item receiving apparatus. The perspective view which shows the structure of an article | item receiving apparatus. Explanatory drawing of the action of the liftable article support means Perspective view of elevating and lowering article conveying means Side view of elevating and lowering article conveying means Cross-sectional view of a lifting / lowering article conveying means Side view of elevating-type article turning means Side view of elevating-type article turning means Plan view of lifting and lowering type article turning means Side view of elevating-type article turning means The side view which shows the structure of the article | item receiving apparatus of another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyor 3 Article receiving apparatus 4 Article receiving tool 4A Pressed part 5 Contacting regulation body 18 Lifting-type article support means 40 Lifting-type article conveyance means 41 Branching-conveying body 50 Lifting-type article turning means 58 Turning body F Energizing means Z Transport surface

Claims (7)

The position can be freely changed to an article stopping action position that protrudes upward from the conveying action surface of the conveyer for placing and conveying the article and the movement on the lower side in the conveying direction is restricted, and an article passage allowable position that is retracted below the conveying action face. An article receiving device provided with a novel article receiving tool,
The article receiving tool is supported at a receiving standby position that protrudes above the conveying action surface on the upper side in the conveying direction than the article stopping action position so as to be freely changeable in position.
The article receiving tool is urged to return to the receiving standby position so as to return from the article stopping action position to the receiving standby position and return from the article passage allowable position to the receiving standby position. An article receiving apparatus provided with an urging means. The article receiver is
By swinging from the receiving standby position to the lower side in the conveying direction, the position is changed to the article stopping action position, and by swinging from the receiving standby position to the upper side in the conveying direction, it is retracted below the conveying action surface. Then, in a state where the position is changed to the article passage allowable position, is supported so as to be swingable around a horizontal axis that is located below the transfer action surface of the transfer conveyor,
The pressed portion on the upper end side of the article receiving tool is pushed downward by the article so as to swing from the receiving standby position toward the upper side in the conveying direction and change the position to the article passage allowable position. Further, it is configured to protrude toward the upper side in the transport direction than the horizontal axis at the receiving standby position,
The article receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a contact restricting body that restricts the swing of the article receiving tool at the article stopping operation position toward the lower side in the conveyance direction.   Article receiving device for receiving an article conveyed by the conveying conveyor in a state where the pressed portion of the article receiving tool is a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the conveying action surface at the article stopping action position. The upper part of the outer surface located on the upper side in the article passage permissible position, and the upper part of the conveyance direction is inclined downward toward the upper side of the conveyance direction. The article receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the article receiving apparatus is configured to be formed. An article processing facility comprising the article receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An elevating-type article support means for supporting a single article or a plurality of stacked articles placed on the conveyor is operated by the article receiving tool at the article stopping action position. In a state in which the article that has been lifted can be moved up and supported on the article received by the article receiving tool in the article stopping action position, and can be lifted. An article processing facility provided in a state in which the article can be lowered to press the receiving tool at the receiving standby position from above to switch to the article passing permission position and place the article on the conveyor. An article processing facility comprising the article receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A state in which the plurality of stacked articles placed on the conveyor are supported and moved up and down, and a plurality of articles in the stacked state are supported on the upper side of the lowermost stage, and the lifting operation is performed. The lifting and lowering-type article support means that is selectable to the state to be supported supports the stacked articles received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping action position and is capable of raising operation. The article receiving device is in a state where it can be lowered to press the article receiving tool at the receiving standby position from above to switch to the article passage allowable position and place it on the conveyor. Article processing provided in a state in which it can be lifted by supporting an article above the lowermost stage among the stacked articles placed on the transport conveyor by switching the tool to the article passage allowable position Facility. An article processing facility comprising the article receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A branching conveyance body that supports an article placed on the conveyance conveyor and can be moved up and down and conveys the raised article in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the conveyance conveyor is switched between a conveyance operation state and a conveyance stop state. A freely-movable lifting / lowering article conveying means supports the article received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping action position and is capable of being lifted and receives the lifted article. An article processing facility provided in a state in which the article receiving tool in the stop standby position is pressed from above to be switched to the article passage allowable position and can be lowered to be placed on the conveyor. An article processing facility comprising the article receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An elevating-type article turning means comprising a swiveling body that supports an article placed on the transfer conveyor and can be moved up and down and swivels the raised article so as to be switchable between a turning action state and a turning stop state. The article received by the article receiving tool at the article stopping operation position is supported and can be lifted, and the article receiving tool at the receiving standby position is moved upward with the article being lifted. An article processing facility that is provided in a state in which it can be lowered to be switched to the article passage allowable position and placed on the conveyor.

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