JP2011084392A - Article carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform high-speed carrying without damaging an article. <P>SOLUTION: This article carrying device includes a first carrying device 11 being a finger conveyor having a plurality of push-sending fingers 14 and a supply belt conveyor 21 for supplying the article to the first carrying device. An angle formed by the carrying direction of the first carrying device and the carrying direction of the supply belt conveyor is set at an acute angle, and the article is supplied to the first carrying device in an obliquely inclined attitude in a carrying plane. An injection nozzle 31 for injecting air toward the first carrying device is arranged outside the carrying-out side of the supply belt conveyor and downstream in the carrying direction of the first carrying device. The air injected from its injection nozzle strikes on the article of an inclined attitude in the middle of carrying by the push-sending fingers 14, and is energized toward a carrying passage 13, and the article rotates and is positioned on the carrying passage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an article conveying apparatus, and more specifically, relates to an article conveying apparatus such as a finger conveyor that supplies articles to a packaging machine.

  The main body of the packaging machine receives the articles to be packaged delivered from the article transport and supply device arranged upstream thereof at regular intervals, wraps the received articles with a packaging film, and seals a predetermined position. By cutting, a package containing the article is manufactured. Since the article transport and supply apparatus supplies articles to the packaging machine main body side at regular intervals with good timing in accordance with the operation on the packaging machine main body side, a finger conveyor having a plurality of pushing fingers is used (Patent Document). 1).

  When this kind of finger conveyor is used, if the article is reliably supplied between the front and rear push fingers, the front and rear articles are conveyed at a pitch interval of the push fingers. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, on the upstream side of the finger conveyor 1, a supply device 3 that supplies articles 4 between the push fingers 2 is arranged. The supply device 3 is configured by, for example, a belt conveyor or the like that is on the same plane as the conveyance surface of the finger conveyor 1 and is disposed obliquely beside the finger conveyor 1. The conveyance direction (arrow A) of the supply device 3 composed of a belt conveyor and the like obliquely intersects with the conveyance direction (arrow B) of the finger conveyor, and the article 4 is in a state of contacting the front and rear on the supply device 3. One by one from the top of the article 4 to be conveyed is supplied between the push fingers 2 one by one.

  That is, since the conveyance direction of the supply device 3 and the finger conveyor 1 is inclined at a predetermined angle, the article 4 is supplied obliquely with respect to the finger conveyor 1, so when the article 4 is sequentially conveyed, One end of the leading article 4 (on the rear side in the conveyance direction of the finger conveyor 1) is in a state of protruding on the conveyance path of the finger conveyor 1, that is, on the passage of the push finger 2 (see FIG. 1A). In this state, the supply device 3 is temporarily stopped.

  Next, when the pushing finger 2 moves forward, it comes into contact with one end of the leading article 3 on the supply device 3 and is urged forward in the conveying direction of the finger conveyor 1. Thereby, as shown in FIG.1 (b), the top article | item 3 is pushed by the pushing finger 2, and moves to the front of the finger conveyor 1 (conveyance direction side of the supply apparatus 3) (FIG.1 (b)). ).

  By the way, when the article supply to the finger conveyor is performed from the lateral direction as described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the article receiving unit 6 of the finger conveyor 1 smoothly feeds the supplied article 4 by the pushing finger 2. In order to be pushed, the width of the side guide 5 is increased to the supply device side on the downstream side of the receiving port, and is inclined to the side guide 5 on the supply device side so as to gradually return to the set width toward the downstream side. A portion 5a is provided. Thereby, as shown to FIG.1 (c), (d), the trouble with which the supplied articles | goods 4 are pinched between the receiving port 6 and the pushing finger | toe 2 can be avoided.

JP 2009-203056 A

  However, the above-described conventional technology has the following problems. That is, normally, the article 4 supplied to the finger conveyor 1 is conveyed while being pushed by the pushing finger 2 from the rear and having the tip portion along the inclined portion 5 a of the side guide 5. Therefore, when the feeding speed of the pushing finger 2 is high, the article 4 is strongly pressed against the inclined portion 5a of the side guide 5, and thus the article 4 is easily damaged particularly when the article 4 is soft. For this reason, there are problems such as being restricted by the type of the article 4 to be processed and not being able to increase the processing speed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an article conveyance and supply apparatus according to the present invention includes (1) a finger conveyor provided with a plurality of push fingers, a supply conveyor that supplies articles between the push fingers of the finger conveyor, An angle formed by the conveyance direction of the finger conveyor and the conveyance direction of the supply conveyor is an acute angle, and the articles carried out of the supply conveyor are inclined obliquely in the conveyance plane, The finger pushes the end of the article located on the transport path and transports it forward in the transport direction of the finker, adjacent to the carry-out side of the supply conveyor, and on the downstream side in the transport direction of the finger conveyor The injection device for injecting gas toward the finger conveyor is provided, and the gas injected from the injection device is Serial strikes the article inclined posture being conveyed by pusher fingers, and to be set to bias toward the conveying path of the finger conveyor. The gas is air (air) in the embodiment, but may be other gas. The article in the inclined posture rotates so as to move to the finger conveyor side by the urging force of the jetted gas, and is finally located on the conveyance path of the finger conveyor. Since the posture of the article is converted by the gas injection pressure, the article can be smoothly rotated without being damaged even if the article is soft, and high-speed operation is possible. In the embodiment, the supply conveyor (supply belt conveyor) temporarily stops with the end of the article on the rear side in the direction of conveyance of the finger conveyor positioned on the conveyance path of the finger conveyor. It is not always necessary to pause. If the timing of feeding of the push finger matches the timing, the feed can be smoothly carried out, and the guide plate 15 is provided as in the embodiment, so that further advancement is suppressed when it hits there.

  (2) A plurality of injection ports of the injection device may be provided, and the injection pressure of the gas injected from some of the injection ports may be different from the others. By changing the injection pressure of the gas injected from the injection port, the direction of the article can be changed in stages, and damage caused by the collision with the side guide on the opposite side due to the wind pressure can be avoided.

  (3) The injection device may inject the gas from above the article. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the article from floating or jumping out.

(4) Adjacent to the carry-out side of the supply conveyor, on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the finger conveyor, is in contact with an inclined article in the middle of conveyance by a push finger and guides toward the conveyance path of the finger conveyor It is good to provide the article guide to do. For example, depending on the shape, weight, material, etc. of the article, it may not be possible to convert the posture of the article along the direction of conveyance of the finger conveyor within a certain time depending on the gas injection pressure alone. is there. In such a case, by providing the article guide, the posture of the article can be changed along the article guide. In this case, since a force for changing the posture of the article is applied by the gas injection pressure, even if the article comes into contact with the article guide, the impact at the time of contact can be reduced.
(5) The injection port of the injection device may be formed integrally with the article guide. The present invention is realized in the embodiment shown in FIG.

  The present invention can perform high-speed conveyance without damaging articles.

It is a figure explaining a prior art example. It is a top view which shows an example of the whole packaging machine in which the articles | goods conveyance apparatus of this invention is integrated. It is a top view which shows suitable one Embodiment of the article conveyance apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3. It is a figure explaining an effect | action. It is an enlarged view which shows the principal part of another embodiment.

  FIG. 2 shows the entire packaging machine including the article conveying device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the article transporting device 10 is arranged on the upstream side of the packaging machine body 7. The packaging machine body 7 uses a belt-like film continuously drawn from the raw fabric roll 8, wraps the articles sequentially supplied from the article transporting apparatus 10, and performs a sealing process / cut process at a predetermined position, thereby providing a packaging body. Manufacturing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the article transport apparatus 10 is arranged on the same straight line as the transport line of the packaging machine body 7, and the article 20 that is to be packaged with respect to the packaging machine body 7 (bag making device 9) A first transport device (article transport and supply device) 11 that supplies at intervals is provided, and a second transport device (supply device) 12 that supplies the articles 20 to the first transport device 11. The conveyance surfaces of the first conveyance device 11 and the second conveyance device 12 are (almost) within the same horizontal plane, and the angle formed by the conveyance direction of the first conveyance device 11 and the conveyance direction of the second conveyance device 12 is an acute angle. (Tilt at a predetermined angle). That is, the second transport device 12 is disposed beside the first transport device 11 and supplies the articles 20 one by one from the side (obliquely rearward) to the first transport device 11.

  The 1st conveying apparatus 11 is a finger conveyor, and is provided with many pushing fingers 14 which protrude upwards from the slit of the center of the conveyance path 13. FIG. The push finger 14 is connected to an endless chain 17 as shown in FIG. The push finger 14 is attached to the endless chain 17 at regular intervals. In addition, guide plates 15 are disposed on both sides of the upper surface of the conveyance path 13 to restrict the lateral movement of the article 20 supplied on the conveyance path 13. As a result, the article 20 supplied between the front and rear push fingers 14 on the transport path 13 is pushed forward by the push fingers 14 contacting the rear end.

  The second transport device 12 includes a supply belt conveyor 21 disposed on the first transport device 11 side, and a pool conveyor 22 disposed on the upstream side of the supply belt conveyor 21. Supply belt conveyor 21 and pool conveyor 22 are arranged on the same straight line. The supply belt conveyor 21 is conveyed in a state where the articles 20 are in contact with each other on the conveyance surface, and is supplied one by one between the push fingers 14 of the first conveying device 11 in order from the top of the continuous articles 20. That is, the reflective sensor 16 is disposed in the vicinity of the carry-out side of the supply belt conveyor 21 and at a predetermined position above the conveyance path 13 of the first conveyance device 11. The sensor 16 has a detection area below, and a detection signal is output when the article 20 is positioned within the detection area. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, adjustment is performed so that a detection signal is output when one end of the leading article 20 on the supply belt conveyor 21 is positioned on the conveyance path 13 of the first conveyance device 11. Has been. When this detection signal is output, the supply belt conveyor 21 is temporarily stopped.

  As a result, when the leading article 20 is transferred to the first conveying device 11 side, conveyed on the first conveying device 11 and away from the detection area of the sensor 16, the detection signal is not output, and the supply belt conveyor 21 resumes operation to move the article 20 forward and move. When the leading article 20 enters the detection region of the sensor 16, the supply belt conveyor 21 is temporarily stopped again. In this way, the supply belt conveyor 21 supplies articles to the first transport device 11 one by one.

  Further, the pool conveyor 22 stores articles, and when the articles 20 are unloaded from the supply belt conveyor 21 as described above and the articles 20 on the supply belt conveyor 21 are discharged, they are sequentially replenished.

  An article guide 30 is provided on the carry-out side of the supply belt conveyor 21 and on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the first conveyance device 11. In the article guide 30, the upstream end in the transport direction of the first transport device 11 is close to the supply belt conveyor 21, and the width (depth) of the upstream end is narrowed. The side surface of the article guide 30 on the first transport device 11 side is inclined such that the upstream end is farthest from a guide plate 15 (to be described later) of the first transport device 11 and gradually approaches the downstream side in the transport direction. Part 30a is formed. The straight portion 30b that is the side surface of the article guide 30 on the first conveying device 11 side following the inclined portion 30a is located at the side edge on the conveying path 13. That is, the straight portion 30b is formed on substantially the same plane as the guide plate 15 that restricts the lateral movement of the article 20 installed on the downstream side. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the article guide 30 is set at substantially the same height as the guide plate 15.

  By providing the inclined portion 30 a in the article guide 30, a predetermined space is secured between the inclined portion 30 a and the transport path 13 of the first transport device 11. Then, the space is used as a space for rotating the posture of the article 20 supplied obliquely with respect to the first conveying device 11 so that the direction of the article 20 coincides with the conveying direction of the first conveying device 11. The

  Here, in this invention, the injection nozzle 31 which comprises the air injection apparatus which injects air under the goods guide 30 was arrange | positioned. The injection nozzle 31 includes a nozzle hole 32 at a position facing the inclined portion 30a, and air is injected from the nozzle hole 32 toward the first transport device 11 side. Although not shown, the injection nozzle 31 is associated with a pump for supplying air, and the air is injected from the nozzle hole 32 continuously or at a predetermined timing.

  Next, the supply operation of the article 20 from the second transport device 12 (supply belt conveyor 21) to the first transport device 11 will be described with reference to FIG. First, since the conveyance direction of the supply belt conveyor 21 and the first conveying device 11 (finger conveyor) is inclined at a predetermined angle, the article 20 is supplied obliquely to the first conveying device 11 and the leading article One end of 20 (the rear side in the transport direction of the first transport device 11) protrudes onto the transport path 13 of the first transport device 11, that is, the path of the push finger 14 (see FIG. 5A). In this state, since a detection signal is output from the sensor 16, the supply belt conveyor 21 is temporarily stopped.

  Next, when the pushing finger 14 moves forward, it comes into contact with one end of the leading article 20 on the supply belt conveyor 21, and the pushing finger 14 urges the article 20 forward in the conveying direction of the first conveying device 11. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the leading article 20 is pushed by the push finger 14 and moves to the front of the first conveying device 11 (laterally in the conveying direction of the supply belt conveyor 21).

  Then, when the push finger 14 moves forward as it is, the article 20 pushed by the push finger 14 further moves to the front of the first transport device 11 (laterally in the transport direction of the supply belt conveyor 21). Then, it is urged | biased by the 1st conveying apparatus 11 side with the air injected from the nozzle hole 32 of the injection nozzle 31. FIG. As a result, the article 20 receives the urging force of the air so that the front side of the first transfer device 11 (the side of the supply device 3 in the transfer direction) moves to the guide plate 15 side of the first transfer device 11. As shown in FIGS. 5 (c) and 5 (d), it rotates along the transport direction of the first transport device 11 and is positioned on the transport path 13.

  Since the posture change (rotation) of the article 20 uses air jetted from the nozzle 30, the article 20 avoids contact with the article guide 30 (inclined portion 30 a) or has an impact when contacted. Is alleviated. Therefore, the article 20 can be reliably supplied to the first transfer device 11 side without being damaged.

  Further, when the article 20 moves on the first conveying device 11 in this way and no article exists in the detection region of the sensor 16, the supply belt conveyor 21 is restarted and one end of the next leading article 20. Is moved forward to the first transfer device 11 and temporarily stopped (FIGS. 5C and 5D).

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the supply of articles from the supply belt conveyor 21 is performed from an oblique rear direction with respect to the conveyance direction of the first conveyance device 11. Thus, when the article is substantially square, when the push finger 14 comes into contact with the rear corner of the rear part of the article, the next article can be supplied, so that high speed operation is possible. That is, as shown in FIG. 5C, the supply belt conveyor 21 is restarted before the entire article 20 immediately after the supply conveyed by the pushing finger 14 comes off from the front of the article on the supply belt conveyor 21. The article 20 on the supply belt conveyor 21 can be moved. If the article is supplied from a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, the position of the entire article 20 pushed by the pushing finger 14 is out of the extended area of the conveying surface on the supply belt conveyor 21 (for example, FIG. 5D). The next article cannot be supplied onto the first conveying device 11 until the position shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, two nozzle holes 32 are arranged along the transport direction of the first transport device 11. From these two nozzle holes 32, air of the same injection pressure may be injected, or the injection pressure of each injection nozzle may be made different. Particularly, it is preferable that the direction of the article is changed stepwise by avoiding the damage caused by the collision with the guide plate 15 on the opposite side due to the wind pressure. Further, the number of nozzle holes 32 may be set arbitrarily, and may be one or many. In particular, when the air injection pressure is varied, a more advantageous effect is obtained when the number of installations is larger.

  Moreover, it is good to adjust the direction of the nozzle hole 32 (injection nozzle 31) so that the air injected from the nozzle hole 32 may be injected from the some upwards of articles | goods, for example. Thereby, the floating and jumping of articles can be prevented.

  FIG. 6 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment, a plurality (many) of nozzle holes 32 are integrally provided in the article guide 30 '. Other configurations and operational effects are the same as those in the above embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Article conveying apparatus 11 1st conveying apparatus 12 2nd conveying apparatus 30, 30 'Article guide 31 Injection nozzle 32 Nozzle hole

Claims (5)

A finger conveyor with a plurality of feed fingers;
A supply conveyor for supplying articles between the feeding fingers of the finger conveyor,
The angle formed by the conveyance direction of the finger conveyor and the conveyance direction of the supply conveyor is an acute angle, and the articles carried out of the supply conveyor are inclined obliquely within the conveyance plane,
The pushing finger of the finger conveyor pushes the end of the article located on the conveying path and conveys it forward in the conveying direction of the finker.
Adjacent to the carry-out side of the supply conveyor, on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the finger conveyor, an injection device for injecting gas toward the finger conveyor is provided,
The article conveying apparatus, wherein the gas ejected from the ejecting apparatus hits an article in an inclined posture in the middle of conveyance by the push finger and is urged toward the conveyance path of the finger conveyor.   The article conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of injection ports of the injection device are provided, and an injection pressure of gas injected from some of the injection ports is different from others.   The article conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jetting apparatus jets the gas from above the article. Adjacent to the carry-out side of the supply conveyor, on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the finger conveyor,
The article conveyance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an article guide that contacts an article in an inclined posture in the middle of conveyance by a feeding finger and guides the article toward a conveyance path of the finger conveyor. apparatus.   The article conveying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an ejection port of the ejection apparatus is formed integrally with the article guide.

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