JP2010184752A - Article sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article sorter capable of reducing a size in nonuse. <P>SOLUTION: This article sorter 10 includes a carrying device 16, a pusher device 18, and a support device 20 for supporting the pusher device 18. The pusher device 18 has a casing 40, a pusher head 60 for applying pressing force to an article 14, and a moving mechanism arranged inside the casing 40 and reciprocating the pusher head 60 in the pushing-out direction. The support device 20 has front end support parts 100a and 100b for turnably supporting a front end part of the casing 40, pushing-out direction holding parts 102a and 102b, and screw members 104a and 104b as "a holding releasing mechanism". When releasing a holding state of the pushing-out direction holding parts 102a and 102b, the casing 40 is rotated around its front end part, and the length of the casing 40 in the pushing-out direction is shortened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pusher-type article distribution device that selectively discharges articles conveyed on a conveyance path from a conveyance path by a pusher device.

  An example of a conventional article sorting apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This article distribution device is provided with a discharge plate that can be reciprocated in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of an article above a conveyance conveyor placed on a frame, and a fluid as a drive device on the discharge plate. A cylinder (for example, an air cylinder) is attached, and when an abnormality is found in an article conveyed through the conveyance path, the article is pushed out of the conveyance path by driving a discharge plate with a fluid cylinder.

JP 2003-34424 A

  Although the conventional article distribution device (Patent Document 1) can be easily manufactured using a fluid cylinder, there are the following problems (a) to (e).

  That is, (a) even when not in use, since the fluid cylinder protrudes greatly from the conveyor, the packaging size during transportation increases and the transportation cost increases. (B) When the article sorting apparatus is installed in the factory, the fluid cylinder protrudes greatly into the passage and the like even when not in use, and the fluid cylinder may interfere with other operations. (C) Since the stroke cannot be adjusted due to the structure of the fluid cylinder, a fluid cylinder having a different specification has to be prepared every time the size of the article is changed. (D) The cost of peripheral equipment has become high because piping for supplying fluid, a flow rate adjusting valve for adjusting the flow rate of the fluid, a filter for removing foreign matter contained in the fluid, and the like are required. (E) Since the fluid may leak from the fluid cylinder, it could not be used in an environment that dislikes germs such as a pharmaceutical factory.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an article sorting apparatus that can be reduced in size when not in use. In addition, the present invention provides an article distribution apparatus that can be manufactured at low cost including peripheral equipment, can adjust the stroke, and can be used without problems even in an environment that dislikes germs. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an article sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes a transport device that applies a transport force to an article in the transport path of the article, and a pusher device that pushes the article transported through the transport path from the transport path. And a support device for supporting the pusher device, wherein the pusher device is provided inside the casing, a casing extending in the extrusion direction of the article, a pusher head for applying a pressing force to the article, and the pusher head And a moving mechanism for reciprocally moving the casing in the extruding direction, and the support device rotatably supports a front end supporting portion in the extruding direction of the casing, and the casing in the extruding direction. An extruding direction holding unit that holds the holding unit in parallel; and a holding release mechanism that releases the holding state of the extruding direction holding unit. Wherein when releasing the holding state of the extruding direction holding unit Ri, the casing is rotated about its front end, the length of the casing in the extrusion direction is shortened.

  In this configuration, when the article sorting apparatus is used, the casing is held in parallel with the extrusion direction by the extrusion direction holding unit. When the article is discharged from the conveyance path, the pusher head is reciprocated in the extrusion direction by the moving mechanism, the pusher head is pressed against the article, and the article is pushed out of the conveyance path. On the other hand, when the article distribution device is not used, the holding state of the pushing direction holding portion is released by the holding releasing mechanism, and the casing of the pusher device is rotated around its front end portion, and the length in the pushing direction is set. Is shortened. Thereby, it can prevent that a pusher apparatus protrudes largely from a conveying apparatus. Moreover, since the packing size at the time of transportation can be reduced, transportation cost can be reduced. Furthermore, even when the article distribution device is installed in the factory, the pusher device can be folded up when not in use, so that the pusher device can be prevented from greatly protruding into a passage or the like and interfering with other work. it can.

  When the holding state of the pushing direction holding portion is released by the holding release mechanism, the casing is rotated around its front end portion, and the rear end portion of the casing is positioned below the front end portion. There may be.

  The direction in which the casing is rotated around its front end may be any direction as long as the length of the casing in the extrusion direction can be shortened. It is specified in the “direction in which the rear end portion is positioned below the front end portion”.

  The pusher device has a biting prevention member that protrudes and retracts from the front end of the casing by the moving mechanism, and an upstream side surface of the biting prevention member in the article transport direction extends over the entire length in the extrusion direction. It may be formed on a flat flat surface, and the front end portion of the biting prevention member may be the pusher head.

  In this configuration, when the article is pushed out from the conveyance path by the pusher head, the biting prevention member crosses the conveyance path, so that the following article may be blocked by the biting prevention member. Therefore, if a protrusion is provided on the upstream side surface of the biting prevention member in the article conveyance direction, the protrusion is caught by the following article when the biting prevention member is retracted, and the " There is a risk of "biting". However, in this configuration, since the upstream side surface is formed as a flat flat surface over the entire length in the extrusion direction, the biting prevention member does not get caught in the subsequent article, and the article "biting" Can be prevented.

  The moving mechanism includes a moving body provided inside the casing so as to be capable of reciprocating in the extrusion direction, a driving device that drives the moving body, and a connecting portion that connects the moving body and the biting prevention member. You may have.

  In this configuration, since the movable body driven by the driving device and the biting prevention member having the pusher head are connected via the connecting portion, the length of the connecting portion is adjusted so as to bite the connecting portion. The position of the joint part that joins the prevention member can be adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to position the joining part outside the casing, and the joining part and the biting prevention member can be easily joined outside the casing.

  An attachment / detachment mechanism having an engagement protrusion provided on the connecting portion and an engagement member provided on the engagement prevention member and engaged with the engagement protrusion; The structure may be such that the biting prevention member is attached to the connecting portion by being locked to the locking protrusion.

  The biting prevention member (including the pusher head) is a member that directly contacts the article. Therefore, in order to prevent dirt from adhering to the article, it is necessary to periodically clean the article. In the configuration, by releasing the locking state of the locking member with respect to the locking protrusion, the biting prevention member can be easily removed from the connecting portion, and therefore the biting prevention member can be efficiently cleaned. Even when the initial position of the pusher head exists in the upper area of the conveyance path, the pusher head can be removed from the upper area by removing the biting prevention member from the connecting portion. Work can be done easily.

  The driving device includes a main driving pulley and a driven pulley arranged at an interval in the push-out direction, an annular timing belt stretched between these pulleys, and a motor for applying a rotational force to the main driving pulley. The movable body may be fixed to the timing belt.

  In this configuration, since a motor is used as a power source for driving the moving body, the initial position, push-out position, stroke, etc. of the pusher head can be easily adjusted by controlling the motor, the size of the article, etc. Even if is changed, the same pusher device can be used. Moreover, since the “piping”, “flow rate adjusting valve”, and “filter” that are necessary when using a fluid cylinder (Patent Document 1) are unnecessary, the cost of peripheral equipment can be greatly reduced. Furthermore, since there is no possibility that the fluid leaks as in the case of using a fluid cylinder (Patent Document 1), it can be used without problems even in an environment that dislikes germs such as a pharmaceutical factory.

  The driving device includes a detected portion provided in the moving body or the connecting portion, a sensor provided in the casing, and detecting the detected portion, and the motor based on a detection signal of the sensor. The structure which has the control apparatus which controls, and the sensor position adjustment mechanism which adjusts the position of the said sensor in the said extrusion direction may be sufficient.

  In this configuration, the motor is controlled by the control device based on the detection signal of the sensor arranged at a predetermined position. For example, when a sensor is arranged at a position corresponding to the detected portion when the pusher head is in the initial position, the sensor detects the detected portion, and the pusher head returns to the initial position. And the control device stops the rotation of the motor based on the detection signal of the sensor. In this case, when the sensor position is moved forward in the push-out direction by the sensor position adjusting mechanism, the timing at which the sensor detects the detected portion is advanced, the timing at which the sensor outputs a detection signal is advanced, and the control device is Since the timing to stop the operation becomes earlier, the initial position of the pusher head is moved forward in the extrusion direction. Conversely, if the position of the sensor is moved backward in the push-out direction, the timing at which the sensor detects the detected part is delayed, the timing at which the sensor outputs a detection signal is delayed, and the timing at which the control device stops the motor Since it becomes late, the initial position of the pusher head is moved backward in the extrusion direction.

  The sensor is disposed at a position corresponding to the detected portion when the pusher head is at the maximum pushed out position, and the control device rotates the motor based on a detection signal of the sensor. The structure which switches may be sufficient.

  In this configuration, since the rotation direction of the motor is switched based on the detection signal of the sensor, the position of the pusher head when the sensor outputs the detection signal, that is, when the sensor detects the detected portion, is the push-out position of the pusher head. It becomes. Therefore, when the sensor position is moved forward in the push-out direction by the sensor position adjusting mechanism, the push-out position of the pusher head is moved forward in the push-out direction, and when the sensor position is moved backward in the push-out direction, The extrusion position is moved backward in the extrusion direction.

  According to the article distribution device of the present invention, the casing length of the pusher device can be shortened in the extrusion direction of the article by rotating the casing of the pusher apparatus around the front end portion thereof. The size of the article sorting apparatus can be reduced. Therefore, the packing size at the time of transportation can be reduced, and transportation cost can be reduced. Even when the article distribution device is installed in the factory, the pusher device when not in use can be prevented from interfering with other work.

  When a motor is used as a power source for driving the moving body, the initial position, push-out position, stroke, etc. of the pusher head can be easily adjusted by controlling the motor. Even if it changes, it can respond using the same pusher device. Furthermore, when a motor is used, peripheral equipment related to the fluid cylinder is unnecessary, so the cost of the peripheral equipment can be greatly reduced, and even in an environment that dislikes germs such as pharmaceutical factories. Can be used without problems.

The front view which shows the structure of the article distribution apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The top view which shows the structure of the article distribution apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention The partial cross section front view which shows the structure of the pusher apparatus used with the article distribution apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention The partial cross section top view which shows the structure of the pusher apparatus used with the article distribution apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention The side view which shows the structure of the pusher apparatus used with the article distribution apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The front view which shows the state which folded the pusher apparatus in the article distribution apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The partial cross section top view which shows the state which moved the pusher head to the extrusion position in the pusher apparatus used with the article distribution apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of an article sorting apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of the article sorting apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the article sorting apparatus 10 includes a frame 12, a transport device 16 that applies a transport force to the article 14 in the transport path R of the article 14, and an article 14 that is transported through the transport path R. Are provided in a pushing direction Y that is orthogonal to the conveying direction X, and a support device 20 that supports the pusher device 18 is provided.

[Frame structure]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame 12 is a base that supports the entire conveying device 16, the pusher device 18, and the supporting device 20, and includes a mounting portion 22 on which the conveying device 16 is mounted, It has four leg portions 24 formed integrally with the placement portion 22.

  The mounting portion 22 is a frame body formed by joining a plurality of rod-shaped members 22a, and the two rod-shaped members 22a positioned at both ends of the mounting portion 22 in the transport direction X extend in the extrusion direction Y. A plurality (two in this embodiment) of fixing screws 22b (FIG. 1) for fixing the conveying device 16 so as to be adjustable in height are attached to the upper surfaces of these rod-shaped members 22a. It has been. And the leg part 24 which supports the mounting part 22 by predetermined height is provided in the longitudinal direction both ends of these rod-shaped members 22a. In addition, although the extrusion direction Y in this embodiment is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction X as shown in FIG. 2, the extrusion direction Y should just be a direction which cross | intersects the conveyance direction X, The intersection angle is not limited to 90 degrees.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the leg portion 24 has a cylindrical upper leg portion 24a having a substantially square cross section joined to the longitudinal end portion of the rod-like member 22a via an inclined portion 23, and an inner portion of the upper leg portion 24a. A cylindrical suspension leg 24b having a substantially square cross section inserted so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and a rod-shaped lower leg 24c having a substantially circular cross section joined to the lower end of the suspension leg 24b; A disc-shaped support plate 24d that is in contact with the floor surface is attached to the lower end of the lower leg portion 24c. And the fixing screw 24e which fixes the middle step leg part 24b with respect to the upper step leg part 24a is attached to the side surface of the upper step leg part 24a. Therefore, in the state where the fixing screw 24e is loosened, the middle leg portion 24b can be moved in the vertical direction with respect to the upper leg portion 24a, whereby the length of the leg portion 24 can be adjusted.

[Conveyor configuration]
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport device 16 can be rotated via a bearing portion 30 above both ends of the base portion 28 in the transport direction X in a housing shape in which a motor 26 and a control device 27 are incorporated. A pair of rotating rollers 32a and 32b, an annular conveying belt 34 stretched between the pair of rotating rollers 32a and 32b, and a gear unit for transmitting the rotational force of the motor 26 to one rotating roller 32a. 36. As shown in FIG. 1, the base portion 28 is placed on the placement portion 22 of the frame 12 via a plurality of (four in total in the present embodiment) fixing screws 22 b. Further, a discharge plate 38 for discharging the article 14 pressed in the extrusion direction Y by the pusher device 18 is provided on one end side in the width direction of the transport belt 34 from the substantially same height as the upper surface of the transport belt 34 downward. Inclined.

  The control device 27 includes a central processing unit (CPU) that executes various types of arithmetic processing and a storage device (ROM, RAM) that stores various types of data and programs. 16 motors 26 (FIGS. 1 and 2), a motor 88 (FIG. 4) of the pusher device 18, and an inspection device (measuring device, etc .: not shown) arranged on the upstream side of the conveying device 16 are electrically connected. Has been. The control device 27 generates a “control signal” based on the “abnormal signal” given from the inspection device, the “conveying speed signal” given from the motor 26, and the like, and the motor of the pusher device 18 is generated by the “control signal”. 88 is controlled.

[Configuration of pusher device]
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing the configuration of the pusher device 18 used in the article sorting apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing the configuration of the pusher device 18. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the pusher device 18. In the following description, the direction in which the article 14 is pushed out is called “front”, the opposite direction is called “rear”, the upstream side in the transport direction X is called “left side”, and the downstream side in the transport direction X Is referred to as “right”.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the pusher device 18 includes a casing 40, a biting prevention member 42 also serving as a “pusher head” disposed inside the casing 40, and a biting prevention member 42 in the extrusion direction Y. And a moving mechanism 44 that reciprocates linearly.

  The casing 40 (FIGS. 3 to 5) is configured in a casing shape extending in the extrusion direction Y by the cover member 46 and the substrate 48. The cover member 46 includes an upper plate 46a, a left plate 46b, a right plate 46c, and a rear plate 46d that constitute the “upper surface”, “left side surface”, “right side surface”, and “rear surface” of the casing 40. A pair of screw members 50a and 50b that constitute a part of the support device 20 are orthogonal to the extrusion direction Y in the vicinity of the lower edge at the outer surface of the front end portion of the plate 46b and the right side plate 46c (in this embodiment, the transport direction) X), and a pair of screw members 52a and 52b constituting a part of the support device 20 are provided in the extrusion direction Y in the vicinity of the lower end edge on the outer surface of the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the left side plate 46b and the right side plate 46c. Is attached so as to protrude in a direction perpendicular to the direction (the conveyance direction X in this embodiment).

  The substrate 48 (FIGS. 3 to 5) is formed by projecting upward from a lower plate 48 a constituting a “lower surface” of the casing 40 and having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the bottom, and one longitudinal edge (ie, front edge) of the lower plate 48 a. The front plate 48b, the rear plate 48c formed to protrude upward from the other longitudinal end edge (that is, the rear end edge) of the lower plate 48a, and the upper plate 48b and the rear plate 48c to protrude upward. From the formed intermediate plate 48d, the left side plate 48e formed to protrude upward from one width direction edge (that is, the left end edge) of the lower plate 48a, and the other width direction edge (that is, the right end edge) of the lower plate 48a. A right side plate 48f that protrudes upward.

  The distance between the outer surface of the left side plate 48e and the outer surface of the right side plate 48f in the substrate 48 is designed to be smaller than the distance between the outer surface of the left side plate 46b and the outer surface of the right side plate 46c in the cover member 46. Between the side plates 46b and 46c of the cover member 46 and the side plates 48e and 48f of the substrate 48, a gap S (FIG. 4) having a width slightly larger than the thickness of the biting prevention member 42 is formed. The front plate 48b is provided with two through holes 54a and 54b through which connecting rods 70a and 70b, which will be described later, are inserted, with an interval in the transport direction X, and the intermediate plate 48d has a connecting rod 70a. , 70b are inserted into the through hole 54a, 54b of the front plate 48b so that the connecting rods 70a, 70b are slid in the axial direction. Cylindrical members 58a and 58b that are movably received are attached.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the biting prevention member 42 is a member having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section formed extending in the extrusion direction Y, and has an upper plate 42a, a left side plate 42b, and a right side plate 42c. . The distance between the inner surface of the left side plate 42b and the inner side of the right side plate 42c is designed to be slightly larger than the width of the substrate 48 in order to arrange the left side plate 42b and the right side plate 42c in the gap S (FIG. 4). The lower ends of the left side plate 42b and the right side plate 42c are positioned higher than these in order to avoid interference with the screw members 50a, 50b, 52a, 52b (FIG. 4) protruding from the inner surface of the casing 40. Further, the upstream side surface (that is, the outer surface of the left side plate 42b) of the biting prevention member 42 in the transport direction X is flat and flat across the entire length in the extrusion direction Y in order to prevent the biting of the article 14. Formed on the surface. A front end surface (substantially reverse U-shaped end surface) 60a of the biting prevention member 42 is formed in parallel to a “plane” orthogonal to the extrusion direction Y, and includes a front end including the front end surface 60a. The portion is a pusher head 60 that applies a pressing force to the article 14.

  The material of the biting prevention member 42 is not particularly limited, but it is desirable to use a soft material (synthetic resin or the like) that does not damage the article 14. In this embodiment, the pusher head 60 is integrally provided on the biting prevention member 42, but these are formed separately and then joined using a joining material (screw or adhesive). Also good.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a through hole 62 a and a locking member 62 b constituting a part of the attachment / detachment mechanism 62 are provided at the front end portion of the upper plate 42 a in the biting prevention member 42. The attachment / detachment mechanism 62 is a so-called “patch-on lock” in which the biting prevention member 42 is detachably attached to the attachment member 68 of the moving mechanism 44, and includes a through hole 62a and a locking member 62b provided in the biting prevention member 42, A locking projection 62c provided on the mounting member 68, and the locking member 62b is locked to the locking projection 62c fitted in the through hole 62a. A biting prevention member 42 is attached.

  The moving mechanism 44 includes a moving body 64 that is reciprocated in the extrusion direction Y inside the casing 40, a guide bar 66 that guides the moving body 64 in a straight line, an attachment member 68 to which the biting prevention member 42 is attached, It has two connecting rods 70a and 70b for connecting the moving body 64 and the mounting member 68, and a driving device 72 for driving the moving body 64, and of these, the mounting member 68 and the connecting rods 70a and 70b. However, it is a “connecting portion” that connects the moving body 64 and the biting prevention member 42.

  The moving body 64 is a member to which power is directly transmitted from the driving device 72. As shown in FIG. 3, the pair of facing plates 64a and 64b and the pair of facing plates 64a and 64b facing each other in the extrusion direction Y are mutually connected. As shown in FIG. 4, a substantially rectangular mounting plate 64d joined to the connecting plate 64c and rising vertically from the front edge of the mounting plate 64d. And a formed rising portion 64e. Each of the opposing plates 64a and 64b is formed with a through hole (not shown) through which the guide rod 66 is inserted, and the guide rod 66 is axially inserted into the through hole as shown in FIG. Cylindrical members 74a and 74b that are slidably received are attached.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the guide rod 66 is a rod-shaped member having a substantially circular cross section inserted through the cylindrical members 74 a and 74 b of the moving body 64, and the front end portion of the guide rod 66 is opposed to the intermediate plate 48 d of the casing 40. The rear end portion of the guide rod 66 is fixed to the rear plate 48c of the casing 40 by the fixing screw 76b. Therefore, the moving range of the moving body 64 does not exceed the length of the guide bar 66, and the maximum moving range of the moving body 64 can be adjusted by changing the length of the guide bar 66.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the attachment member 68 includes a substantially square plate-like main body portion 68a and an attachment portion 68b formed to project forward from the upper end edge of the main body portion 68a in the extrusion direction Y. On the upper surface of the attachment portion 68b, a locking projection 62c constituting a part of the attachment / detachment mechanism 62 is provided. A positioning pin 78 for positioning the biting prevention member 42 with respect to the attachment member 68 is provided at the center of the main body 68a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting rods 70a and 70b are cross sections inserted into cylindrical members 58a and 58b attached to the front plate 48b of the casing 40 and through holes 56a and 56b provided in the intermediate plate 48d. It is a substantially circular rod-shaped member, the front ends of the connecting rods 70a and 70b are fixed to the main body 68a of the mounting member 68 by fixing screws 80a and 80b, and the rear ends of the connecting rods 70a and 70b are moving bodies. Fixed to the 64 rising portions 64e by fixing screws 82a and 82b.

  The position of the attachment member 68 when the pusher head 60 is in the initial position, that is, the “initial position P0 of the attachment member 68” exists outside the casing 40, and the movable body when the pusher head 60 is in the initial position. The position 64, that is, “the initial position P1 of the moving body 64” exists in the casing 40, and the lengths of the connecting rods 70a and 70b are the same as the mounting member 68 and the initial position P1 existing at the initial position P0. It is designed so that it can be connected to an existing moving body 64. Therefore, even when the moving body 64 is moved to the initial position P1, the attaching / detaching mechanism 62 provided on the moving body 64 can be positioned outside the casing 40, and the attaching / detaching operation of the attaching / detaching mechanism 62 is performed on the casing 40. It can be done easily outside.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the driving device 72 includes a main driving pulley 84a, a driven pulley 84b, a timing belt 86 stretched between them, and a motor 88 (which applies a rotational force to the main driving pulley 84a). 4), at least one detected portion (not shown) provided on the moving body 64, a sensor unit 90 that detects the position of the moving body 64 by detecting the detected portion, and a motor 88. And a control device 27 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main driving pulley 84 a is rotatably supported by a support portion 92 a disposed between the front plate 48 b and the intermediate plate 48 d of the substrate 48, and the driven pulley 84 b It is rotatably supported by a support portion 92b fixed to the rear plate 48c, and a rotating shaft of a motor 88 is attached to the main driving pulley 84a. A moving body 64 is fixed to a timing belt 86 that is stretched between the main pulley 84a and the driven pulley 84b. Therefore, when the main driving pulley 84a is rotated by the motor 88, the moving body 64 is reciprocated in the pushing direction Y along the guide rod 66, and the biting prevention member 42 connected to the moving body 64 is pushed in the pushing direction. It is reciprocated to Y. The type of the motor 88 is not particularly limited as long as it has a function of switching the rotation direction, and a DC motor or a servo motor can be arbitrarily selected and used.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor unit 90 includes two rails 94 arranged in parallel to the guide rod 66 and four sensors 96 a attached to the rails 94 so as to be movable in the pushing direction Y. The two rails 94 function as a “sensor position adjusting mechanism” that adjusts the positions of the sensors 96a to 96d in the push-out direction Y. Specifically, the four sensors 96a to 96d detect a detected portion (not shown) provided on the moving body 64 to thereby detect the “initial position P1”, “extrusion position P2”, and “rearward” of the moving body 64. The “initial position detection sensor 96a”, “extrusion position detection sensor 96b”, “rear limit position detection sensor 96c” and “front limit position detection sensor 96d” that detect the “limit position P3” and “front limit position P4”, respectively. In the present embodiment, “limit switches” that are actuated by protrusions or rod-shaped detection parts (not shown) are used as the sensors 96a to 96d.

  Here, the “initial position P1” of the moving body 64 means the position of the moving body 64 when the pusher head 60 is in the initial position, and the “extrusion position P2” of the moving body 64 means that the pusher head 60 is It means the position of the moving body 64 when it is in the extrusion position. Therefore, the initial position detection sensor 96a indirectly detects “the pusher head 60 is in the initial position” by detecting the “initial position P1”, and the push-out position detection sensor 96b detects the “push-out position P2”. By detecting, “the pusher head 60 is in the pushing position” is indirectly detected.

  When the detection signal is output from the extrusion position detection sensor 96b, the rotation direction of the motor 88 is switched by the control device 27, and when the detection signal is output from the initial position detection sensor 96a, the rotation of the motor 88 is performed by the control device 27. Stopped. Further, when detection signals are output from the rear limit position detection sensor 96c and the front limit position detection sensor 96d, the rotation of the motor 88 is stopped by the control device 27 and an alarm is issued from an alarm device (not shown). Accordingly, the “extrusion position”, “initial position”, “rear limit position”, and “front limit position” of the pusher head 60 are respectively “extrusion position detection sensor 96b” and “initial position detection sensor 96a” on the rail 94. The positions of the “rear limit position detection sensor 96c” and the “front limit position detection sensor 96d” are determined. By adjusting the positions of these sensors 96a to 96d in the push-out direction Y, the “push-out” of the pusher head 60 is determined. The “position”, “initial position”, “rear limit position” and “front limit position” can be adjusted.

  In the present embodiment, a detected portion (not shown) detected by each of the four sensors 96 a to 96 d is provided in the moving body 64, but the detected portion is integrated with the pusher head 60. For example, it may be provided on the attachment member 68 or the connecting rods 70a and 70b as the “connecting portion”. The types of the sensors 96a to 96d are not particularly limited, and a magnetic sensor, a photoelectric sensor, or the like may be used in addition to the limit switch, and the type of the detected portion is determined according to the types of the sensors 96a to 96d. May be changed.

[Configuration of support device]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support device 20 includes two fixing portions 98a and 98b, two front end support portions 100a and 100b, two pushing direction holding portions 102a and 102b, and a “holding release mechanism”. And two screw members 104a and 104b.

  The fixing portions 98a and 98b are rod-shaped (or plate-shaped) members that support the front end support portions 100a and 100b and the extrusion direction holding portions 102a and 102b, and are firmly attached to the frame 12 so as to extend in the extrusion direction Y. It is joined to. One end portions of the fixing portions 98a and 98b are disposed outside the transport path R, and the front end support portions 100a and 100b and the extrusion direction holding portions 102a and 102b are attached to the one end portion.

  The front end support portions 100a and 100b are rod-like members extending in the vertical direction, and the lower end portions of the front end support portions 100a and 100b are fixedly joined to one end portions of the fixing portions 98a and 98b. A through hole (not shown) extending in the transport direction X parallel to the horizontal direction is provided at the upper end of 100b. And the front-end part of the casing 40 in the pusher apparatus 18 is rotatably attached to the upper end part of the front-end support part 100a, 100b via the screw members 50a, 50b penetrated by the said through-hole. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the screw members 50 a and 50 b extending in the horizontal direction serve as “rotating shafts” of the casing 40. As shown in FIG. 1, the center of rotation of the casing 40 at the upper ends of the front end support portions 100 a and 100 b is disposed between two leg portions 24 that are spaced apart in the extrusion direction Y. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, when the casing 40 is rotated and the rear end portion of the casing 40 is disposed below the front end portion, most of the casing 40 is accommodated within the maximum width W of the frame 12. The pusher device 18 can be prevented from protruding greatly from the frame 12.

  The extrusion direction holding portions 102a and 102b are rod-like members that hold the casing 40 of the pusher device 18 in parallel with the extrusion direction Y (horizontal in the present embodiment), and the lower ends of the extrusion direction holding portions 102a and 102b are fixed portions 98a. , 98b are detachably attached via two screw members 104a, 104b as "holding release mechanisms", and the upper end portions of the pushing direction holding portions 102a, 102b are the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the casing 40. Are attached via two screw members 52a and 52b. Therefore, when the article sorting apparatus 10 is used, the casing 40 can be held in parallel with the pushing direction Y (horizontal in the present embodiment) by the pushing direction holding portions 102a and 102b, and the article sorting apparatus 10 is not used. Sometimes, the two screw members 104a and 104b are loosened and the lower end portions of the extrusion direction holding portions 102a and 102b are separated from the fixing portions 98a and 98b, thereby releasing the holding state of the extrusion direction holding portions 102a and 102b. . Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the casing 40 is rotated so that the rear end portion of the casing 40 is positioned below the front end portion, whereby the length of the casing 40 in the extrusion direction Y can be shortened. It is possible to prevent the device 18 from protruding greatly from the frame 12.

  In this embodiment, the screw members 104a and 104b are used as the “holding release mechanism”, but the screw members 52a and 52b may be used as the “holding release mechanism”. In this case, the holding state of the extrusion direction holding portions 102a and 102b can be released by loosening the screw members 52a and 52b and separating the upper ends of the extrusion direction holding portions 102a and 102b from the casing 40. In this embodiment, two “fixing portions”, “front end support portions”, “extrusion direction holding portions” and “holding release mechanisms” constituting the support device 20 are provided. For example, these may be provided one by one.

[Operation of article distribution device]
When the article sorting apparatus 10 is used, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper end portions of the extrusion direction holding portions 102 a and 102 b are attached to the longitudinal center portion of the casing 40 via the two screw members 52 a and 52 b. At the same time, the lower ends of the extrusion direction holding portions 102a and 102b are attached to the fixing portions 98a and 98b via two screw members 104a and 104b, and the casing 40 is held parallel to the extrusion direction (horizontal in this embodiment). Then, the positions of the initial position detection sensor 96a (FIG. 4) and the extrusion position detection sensor 96b (FIG. 4) are adjusted according to the size of the article 14 conveyed on the conveyance path R and the like.

  For example, when the size of the article 14 is small, the push-out position detection sensor 96b is moved forward to bring the “push-out position of the pusher head 60” closer to the discharge plate 38, and the initial position detection sensor 96a is moved forward to move the “pusher head 60”. The stroke of the ”is shortened, and the small article 14 can be reliably discharged by a highly responsive operation. On the other hand, when the size of the article 14 is large, the initial position detection sensor 96a is retracted to retract the “initial position of the pusher head 60” and the push-out position detection sensor 96b is retracted to reduce the “pusher” as compared with the case where the article 14 is small. This prevents the “stroke of the head 60” from becoming long, and allows the large article 14 to be reliably discharged by a highly responsive operation.

  After the operation of the article distribution device 10 is started, when an inspection device (such as a weighing device) arranged on the upstream side of the transport device 16 detects an abnormality of the article 14, an abnormality signal is given from the inspection device to the control device 27. It is done. Then, the control device 27 identifies the article 14 in which an abnormality has occurred based on an abnormality signal or the like, drives the pusher device 18, and pushes out the article 14 from the transport path R. When the article 14 is pushed out by the pusher device 18, as shown in FIG. 7, the biting prevention member 42 pushed out from the casing 40 crosses the conveyance path R, so that the following article 14 is blocked by the biting prevention member 42. Although there is a possibility, the side surface on the upstream side in the conveying direction X of the biting prevention member 42 is formed to be a flat flat surface over the entire length in the extrusion direction Y. Therefore, when the biting prevention member 42 is pulled back, Can be prevented from occurring.

  When the article sorting apparatus 10 is not used, as shown in FIG. 6, by loosening the two screw members 104a and 104b as "holding release mechanisms", the lower end portions of the pushing direction holding portions 102a and 102b are fixed to the fixing portion 98a. , 98b, and the holding state of the pushing direction holding portions 102a, 102b is released. Then, the casing 40 is rotated “manually” around the front end portion thereof, whereby the rear end portion of the casing 40 is positioned below the front end portion. In this state, since the casing 40 does not protrude greatly from the frame 12, when the article sorting apparatus 10 is installed in the factory, the casing 40 is prevented from interfering with other work. In addition, when the article sorting apparatus 10 is transported, the packaging can be reduced, so that the transportation cost can be reduced.

  When cleaning the biting prevention member 42, the locking state of the attaching / detaching mechanism 62 is released, whereby the biting prevention member 42 is detached from the mounting member 68, and the biting prevention member 42 is brought into the cleaning chamber or the like. Wash. When the cleaning is completed, the biting prevention member 42 is attached to the attachment member 68 by the reverse procedure of the removal.

  In the above-described embodiment, the casing 40 is rotated “manually”. However, the casing 40 is rotated “automatically” using a driving device such as an “air cylinder” or a “motor”. It may be. In this case, the driving device functions as an “extrusion direction holding portion” and a “holding release mechanism”.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the article sorting apparatus 10 is not used, the casing 40 is rotated in the “vertical plane” around the rotation axis extending in the “horizontal direction”. The direction in which the 40 rotation axes extend is not limited to the “horizontal direction”, and the surface on which the casing 40 is rotated is not limited to the “vertical surface”. For example, the casing 40 may be rotated in a “horizontal plane” about a rotation axis extending in the “vertical direction”.

R ... Conveyance path S ... Clearance X ... Conveyance direction Y ... Extrusion direction 10 ... Article distribution device 12 ... Frame 14 ... Article 16 ... Conveyance device 18 ... Pusher device 20 ... Support device 24 ... Leg 27 ... Control device 40 ... Casing 42 ... Biting prevention member 44 ... Moving mechanism 60 ... Pusher head 62 ... Detachable mechanism 64 ... Moving body 66 ... Guide bar 68 ... Mounting member (connecting portion)
70a, 70b ... Connecting rod (connecting part)
72 ... Drive device 90 ... Sensor units 96a to 96d ... Sensors 98a, 98b ... Fixing parts 100a, 100b ... Front end support parts 102a, 102b ... Extrusion direction holding parts 104a, 104b ... Screw members (holding release mechanism)

Claims (8)

A conveying device for applying a conveying force to the article in the article conveying path;
A pusher device that pushes out articles conveyed through the conveyance path from the conveyance path;
A support device for supporting the pusher device;
The pusher device includes a casing extending in the extrusion direction of the article, a pusher head that applies a pressing force to the article, and a moving mechanism that is provided inside the casing and reciprocates the pusher head in the extrusion direction. And
The support device includes a front end support portion that rotatably supports a front end portion of the casing in the extrusion direction, an extrusion direction holding portion that holds the casing parallel to the extrusion direction, and a holding of the extrusion direction holding portion. Holding release mechanism for releasing the state,
The article distribution device, wherein when the holding state of the pushing direction holding portion is released by the holding releasing mechanism, the casing is rotated around its front end, and the length of the casing in the pushing direction is shortened.   When the holding state of the pushing direction holding portion is released by the holding release mechanism, the casing is rotated around its front end portion, and the rear end portion of the casing is positioned below the front end portion. Item distribution device of item 1. The pusher device has a biting prevention member that is projected and retracted from the front end of the casing by the moving mechanism,
The side surface on the upstream side in the article conveying direction of the biting prevention member is formed as a flat flat surface over the entire length in the extrusion direction,
The article sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a front end portion of the biting prevention member is the pusher head.   The moving mechanism includes a moving body provided inside the casing so as to be capable of reciprocating in the extrusion direction, a driving device that drives the moving body, and a connecting portion that connects the moving body and the biting prevention member. The article distribution device according to claim 3, further comprising: An attachment / detachment mechanism having an engagement protrusion provided on the coupling portion and an engagement member provided on the biting prevention member and engaged with the engagement protrusion;
The article distribution device according to claim 4, wherein the biting prevention member is attached to the connecting portion by the locking member being locked to the locking protrusion. The driving device includes a main driving pulley and a driven pulley arranged at an interval in the push-out direction, an annular timing belt stretched between these pulleys, and a motor for applying a rotational force to the main driving pulley. Have
The article distribution device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the movable body is fixed to the timing belt.   The driving device includes a detected portion provided in the moving body or the connecting portion, a sensor provided in the casing, and detecting the detected portion, and the motor based on a detection signal of the sensor. The article distribution device according to claim 6, further comprising: a control device that controls the sensor; and a sensor position adjustment mechanism that adjusts a position of the sensor in the extrusion direction.   The sensor is disposed at a position corresponding to the detected portion when the pusher head is at the maximum pushed out position, and the control device rotates the motor based on a detection signal of the sensor. The article distribution apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the switching is performed.

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