JP2013144591A - Article conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article conveyor capable of identifying a position of an article on each conveyor with high precision, while a sensor is unnecessary between the conveyors.SOLUTION: The article conveyor 5 includes: first to seventh conveyors 8A-8G which convey an article in a line; first to seventh inverters 13A-13G (conveyance amount detection means) which detect the conveyance amount of each conveyor; a shift register 14 which sets first to seventh sections SA-SG corresponding to each conveyor, respectively, in order to move position data of each section on the basis of the conveyance amount detected by each invertor; and a transfer determine means 15 which, when the position data is located in a storage block B at a downstream end of an upstream section corresponding to the conveyor on the upstream side, locates the position data in the storage block B at the upstream end of a downstream section corresponding to the conveyor on the downstream side.

Description

  The present invention relates to an article conveying apparatus, and more particularly to an article conveying apparatus that recognizes the position of an article on a conveyor by a shift register.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an article conveying apparatus configured by a plurality of conveying conveyors that convey articles in a row is known, and in such an article conveying apparatus, each conveying is performed according to the situation of a machine located upstream or downstream. Recognizing the position of the article on the conveyor is performed.
As such an article conveying apparatus, a section constituted by a conveying amount detecting means for detecting the conveying amount of the conveying conveyor and a plurality of storage blocks corresponding to each position of the conveying path of the conveying conveyor is set, and the article on the conveying conveyor is set. The position data regarding the presence or absence of articles is stored in the storage block corresponding to each position, and a shift command is issued at the timing when the conveyance amount detected by the conveyance amount detection means reaches a predetermined unit amount, and each section is stored. There is known an article conveying apparatus including a shift register that moves block position data to a downstream storage block (Patent Document 1).
In this Patent Document 1, the shift register sets one section so as to correspond to all of the plurality of transport conveyors, and when an article is transferred from the upstream transport conveyor to the downstream transport conveyor, the transport conveyor The article is detected by a sensor provided at a connecting portion between the conveyor and the conveyor, and the position data on the section is corrected to match the actual article position.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 49-68166

However, when a sensor is provided between the transport conveyor as in Patent Document 1, the wiring of the sensor becomes complicated, and the position of the sensor needs to be adjusted depending on the type of article. was there.
In view of such a problem, the present invention provides an article transport apparatus that can eliminate the need for a sensor between transport conveyors and can recognize the position of an article on each transport conveyor with high accuracy.

That is, the article conveying apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 corresponds to each position of a plurality of conveying conveyors that convey articles in a row, a conveying amount detecting means that detects the conveying amount of the conveying conveyor, and a conveying path of the conveying conveyor. A section composed of a plurality of storage blocks is set, position data regarding the presence / absence of articles is stored in a storage block corresponding to each position on the transfer conveyor, and the transfer amount of the transfer conveyor detected by the transfer amount detection means is predetermined. In an article conveying apparatus including a shift register that transmits a shift command at a timing when the unit amount is reached and moves position data of a storage block of each section to a downstream storage block,
While providing the transport amount detection means on each of the transport conveyors,
The shift register sets a section corresponding to each of the transfer conveyors, and moves position data of the section corresponding to each transfer conveyor based on the transfer amount detected by the transfer amount detection means of each transfer conveyor,
There is provided a transfer determination means for positioning the position data of the memory block at the downstream end of the upstream section corresponding to the upstream conveyor to the memory block at the upstream end of the downstream section corresponding to the downstream conveyor. It is a feature.

According to the above invention, the conveyance amount detection means is provided in each conveyance conveyor, and the shift register sets a section for each conveyance conveyor, so even if the conveyance speed or the like of each conveyance conveyor is changed, The position of the articles conveyed on the respective conveyors can be grasped with high accuracy by the shift register.
In addition, when an article is transferred from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor, the transfer determination unit refers to the position of the position data of the upstream section, and positions it in the downstream section. Sensors for detecting articles between these conveyors are not required.

The block diagram of the liquid filling line provided with the article conveyance apparatus concerning a present Example Diagram explaining the conveyor and the corresponding section The figure explaining operation | movement of a transfer determination means The figure explaining operation | movement of the transfer determination means provided with the memory block for buffers. The figure explaining operation | movement of the transfer determination means in the conveyance conveyor provided with the guide member. The figure explaining the operation | movement of the transfer determination means at the time of performing an accumulation operation The figure explaining operation | movement of the transfer determination means in the conveyance conveyor concerning 2nd Example.

The illustrated embodiment will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a part of a liquid filling line 2 for filling a container 1 as a product with a liquid. The liquid filling line 2 includes a labeler 3 for attaching a label to the container 1, and An appearance inspection machine 4 that performs an appearance inspection of the container 1 to which the labeler 3 is attached is provided, and an article conveyance device 5 that conveys the container 1 is provided between the labeler 3 and the appearance inspection machine 4.
The appearance inspection machine 4 and the labeler 3 are conventionally known and will not be described in detail. However, the article conveying device 5 conveys the container 1 from the labeler 3 to the appearance inspection machine 4 in a row. In addition, the container 1 is accumulated according to the situation of the labeler 3 and the appearance inspection machine 4.

The article conveying device 5 is composed of a plurality of conveyors. The labeler discharge conveyor 6 connected to the labeler 3, the appearance inspection machine introduction conveyor 7 connected to the appearance inspection machine 4, and these labeler discharge conveyors. 6 and the appearance inspection machine introduction conveyor 7, the first to seventh transfer conveyors 8 </ b> A to 8 </ b> G are provided.
Each of the labeler discharge conveyor 6, the appearance inspection machine introduction conveyor 7, and the first to seventh transfer conveyors 8A to 8G has a downstream portion of the conveyor located on the upstream side and an upstream portion of the conveyor located on the downstream side in parallel. Are arranged as follows.
Each of these conveyors is provided with a pair of guide members 9 that are arranged to face each other with the containers 1 interposed therebetween and guide the containers 1 conveyed on the respective conveyors. Are arranged so as to obliquely cross the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor (see FIG. 2).
Therefore, the container 1 transported on the upstream conveyor contacts one of the guide members 9 on the downstream side of the upstream conveyor, and then the container 1 moves to the downstream conveyor while moving obliquely by the guide member 9. It has come to change.

Next, the article conveying device 5 is operated by the control means 11 in conjunction with the labeler 3 and the appearance inspection machine 4.
Of these, the first to seventh conveyors 8A to 8G are individually driven by the first to seventh motors 12A to 12G, respectively, and the first to seventh motors 12A to 12G are respectively driven by the first to seventh motors 12A to 12G. First to seventh inverters 13A to 13G are provided.
The first to seventh inverters 13A to 13G transmit a predetermined frequency signal to the first to seventh motors 12A to 12G based on a command from the control means 11 to control the rotation speed. It is possible to individually control the transport amounts of the seven transport conveyors 8A to 8G.
On the other hand, the control means 11 receives the frequency signal transmitted from the inverters 13A to 13G, calculates the rotation speed of the first to seventh motors 12A to 12G from the frequency signal, and carries the container 1 in each conveyor. Is supposed to recognize. That is, the inverters 13A to 13G correspond to the conveyance amount detection means according to the present invention.
And since the said control means 11 always recognizes the position of the container 1 on the 1st-7th conveyance conveyors 8A-8G, the position of the container 1 on the said 1st-7th conveyance conveyors 8A-8G is assumed virtually. Based on the shift register 14 to be recognized and the position of the virtual container 1 recognized by the shift register 14, the transfer determination for transferring the virtual container 1 from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor And means 15.
An inlet sensor 16 for detecting the container 1 discharged from the labeler discharge conveyor 6 is provided at a position adjacent to the first conveyor 8A, and the appearance inspection machine is introduced at a position adjacent to the seventh transfer conveyor 8G. An outlet sensor 17 for detecting the containers 1 supplied to the conveyor 7 is provided.

Hereinafter, the shift register 14 and the transfer determination means 15 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the labeler discharge conveyor 6 and the first to fourth transfer conveyors 8A to 8D are shown in order from the left side of the drawing, so that the containers 1 are transferred from the first transfer conveyor 8A toward the fourth transfer conveyor 8D. It has become.
First, in the shift register 14, the first to fourth sections SA to SD configured by a plurality of storage blocks B corresponding to the positions of the first to fourth transport conveyors 8A to 8D are registered.
The first to fourth sections SA to SD are constituted by, for example, the number of storage blocks B obtained by dividing the total length of each of the first to fourth transport conveyors 8A to 8D by the length of the diameter of the container 1.
Here, in each storage block B, position data of either 0 indicating the absence of a container or 1 indicating the presence of a container is stored. This is called container position data 1 '.
In the following description, the storage blocks B are arranged in series like the conveyors, but this is for ease of explanation, and it is necessary to align the storage blocks B in the shift register 14 in this way. There is no.

First, the first section SA corresponding to the first transport conveyor 8A will be described. When the container 1 is transferred from the labeler discharge conveyor 6 to the first transport conveyor 8A, the inlet sensor 16 provided in the first transport conveyor 8A 1 is detected.
Then, the shift register 14 generates container position data 1 'in the storage block B located at the upstream end of the first section SA.
On the other hand, the control means 11 receives the frequency signal from the first inverter 13A of the first motor 12A provided on the first transport conveyor 8A, and calculates the transport amount of the first transport conveyor 8A.
The shift register 14 issues a shift command at the timing when the transport amount of the first transport conveyor 8A reaches one pitch of the container 1, and the storage block in which the container position data 1 is stored in the first section SA. The position data of B is moved while being rewritten as the data of the storage block B located downstream thereof.
For example, when the container 1 to be transported alone moves on the first transport conveyor 8A by one pitch and a shift command is transmitted, the position data of the storage block B corresponding to the portion where the container 1 has been located so far Is rewritten from 1 to 0, and the position data of the storage block B located downstream thereof is rewritten from 0 to 1.
That is, when the container 1 is transported on the actual first transport conveyor 8A, the shift register 14 transmits a shift command and the container position data 1 to 1 in the first section SA corresponding to the first transport conveyor 8A. By moving the pitch downstream, the actual position of the container 1 on the first conveyor 8A can be virtually recognized as the container position data 1 'in the first section SA.

When the container position data 1 'reaches the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA corresponding to the first transport conveyor 8A, the transfer determination means 15 uses the container position data 1' as the second transport conveyor. It is located in the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB corresponding to 8B.
Specifically, FIGS. 3A and 3B show enlarged views of the downstream end of the first transport conveyor 8A and the vicinity of the upstream end of the second transport conveyor 8B, and the downstream end of the first transport conveyor 8A. The state (a) in which the container 1 has reached and the state (b) in which the container 1 is transferred from the first transport conveyor 8A to the second transport conveyor 8B are shown.
In the state (a), in the shift register 14, the container position data 1 'is located in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA corresponding to the first transport conveyor 8A.
Thereafter, when the first and second conveyors 8A and 8B are operated by one pitch of the container 1, the containers 1 are transferred to the upstream end of the second conveyor 8B as shown in (b).
At this time, in the shift register 14 and the transfer determination means 15, first, when the transport amount of the first transport conveyor 8A reaches one pitch of the container 1 by the first inverter 13A provided in the first transport conveyor 8A, the shift register 14 A shift command is transmitted, and the position data 1 ′ of the container located in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA is deleted (rewritten from 1 to 0).
At the same time, the transfer determination means 15 generates the container position data 1 'in the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB (rewrites it from 0 to 1), and the shift register 14 thereafter stores the second transfer conveyor 8B. The position data 1 ′ of the container of the second section SB is moved to the downstream side based on the transport amount.

In this way, the shift register 14 thereafter moves the container position data 1 'in the second to seventh sections SB to SG corresponding to the second to seventh transport conveyors 8B to 8G, and the transfer determination means 15 is upstream. The container position data 1 'is transferred from the section corresponding to the transport conveyor on the side to the section corresponding to the transport conveyor on the downstream side.
When the container 1 reaches the downstream end of the seventh transport conveyor 8G, the container 1 is detected by an outlet sensor 17 provided on the seventh transport conveyor 8G.
Then, the control means 11 compares the position of the virtual container 1 recognized by the shift register 14 with the actual position of the container 1 recognized by the outlet sensor 17 to determine the position of the virtual container 1. If there is a gap, this is corrected.

As described above, when the container position data 1 ′ is located in the storage block B at the downstream end of the upstream section corresponding to the upstream conveyor, the transfer determination means 15 stores the container position data 1 ′ on the downstream side. The storage block B is moved to the upstream end of the downstream section corresponding to the transport conveyor.
Therefore, it is possible to recognize that the containers 1 have been transferred from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor without providing a sensor for detecting the containers 1 on these downstream conveyors.
As a result, the equipment cost can be suppressed, and the running cost can be reduced, such as the need to change the position and setting of the sensor each time the type of the container 1 conveyed by the article conveying device 5 is changed. .
And since the section corresponding to each conveyance conveyor is set in the shift register 14 and the conveyance amount of each conveyance conveyor is recognized by the inverter, even if the conveyance speed of each conveyance conveyor is changed, it corresponds to this. It is possible to accurately recognize the position of the container 1 in the section.

4 shows an enlarged view of the vicinity of the downstream end of the first transfer conveyor 8A and the vicinity of the upstream end of the second transfer conveyor 8B, as in FIG. 3. Here, in particular, the state in which two containers 1 are continuously transferred is shown. Show.
FIG. 4A shows a state in which the container 1 reaches the downstream end of the first transport conveyor 8A and the container 1 is positioned at the upstream end of the second transport conveyor 8B, and accordingly, the first section SA. The container position data 1 'is located in the storage block B at the downstream end and the upstream end of the second section SB.
4 (b) and 4 (c) show operations when the container position data 1 'is transferred by the transfer determination means 15 including the buffer storage block B described later, whereas FIG. 4 (d) ( e) shows the operation of the transfer determination means 15 when the buffer storage block B is not provided.

FIGS. 4B and 4D show the states at the same timing. Specifically, the container position data 1 ′ exists in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA, and the first section. When the shift register 14 transmits a shift command to SA, the position data 1 ′ of another container is present in the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB.
In other words, a shift command is transmitted to the first section SA between the shift command that the shift register 14 intermittently transmits to the second section SB, and at that time, the shift command of the first section SA is transmitted. The case where the container position data 1 'exists in the storage block B at the downstream end and the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB is shown.
As described above, in the actual article transporting device 5, the timing at which the shift register 14 receives the frequency signal from the first and second inverters 13A and 13B is different, and the shift register 14 is more than the case described with reference to FIG. In most cases, the shift command is transmitted to the first and second sections SA and SB at different timings.
Therefore, if the container position data 1 ′ located in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA is moved as it is to the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB as described in FIG. 4 (d) and 4 (e) occur.

4D and 4E are diagrams for explaining the operation of the transfer determination means 15 that does not include the buffer storage block B. The transfer determination means 15 is a container in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA. At the moment when the position data 1 'disappears (the moment when the shift command is transmitted), the container position data 1' is to be positioned in the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB (FIG. 4D). ).
On the other hand, the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB stores container position data 1 ′ corresponding to the container 1 positioned at the upstream end of the second transport conveyor 8B.
However, since a shift command has not yet been issued for the second section, the transfer determination means 15 directly positions the container position data 1 ′ in the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB.
Immediately thereafter, a shift command is transmitted to the second section SB, whereby the container position data 1 ′ stored in the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB moves to the downstream side. (FIG. 4 (e)).
That is, the position data 1 ′ of the container corresponding to the container 1 located on the downstream side of the two consecutive containers 1 is the position data 1 ′ of the container corresponding to the container 1 located on the upstream side. The position data of the container corresponding to one container 1 is lost.

In order to prevent such a problem, the transfer determination means 15 shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C according to the present embodiment is arranged so that the position data of one container is between the first section SA and the second section SB. Is temporarily stored. A buffer storage block B ′ is provided.
Also in FIG. 4B, the transfer determination means 15 stores the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB at the moment when the container position data 1 ′ disappears in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA. An attempt is made to position the container position data 1 '.
On the other hand, the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB stores container position data 1 ′ corresponding to the container 1 positioned at the upstream end of the second transport conveyor 8B, and the second section. No shift command has been issued yet.
Therefore, the transfer determination means 15 temporarily stores the container position data 1 'stored in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA in the buffer storage block B'.
Immediately thereafter, when the shift register 14 moves the position data located in the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB to the storage block B at the downstream side, the transfer determination means 15 causes the position of the buffer storage block B ′ to be changed. Data is moved to the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB.
By doing so, the actual position of the container 1 in the second conveyor 8B and the position data 1 'of the container in the second section SB coincide with each other, and the position of the container 1 can be accurately recognized. Is possible.

On the contrary, when the shift register 14 transmits a shift command to the first section SA, when the position data 1 ′ of another container does not exist in the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB. Thus, the disappearance of the container position data 1 ′ as shown in FIGS. 4D and 4E does not occur.
In such a case, the transfer determination means 15 does not store the position data 1 ′ of the container located in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA directly in the second section without storing it in the buffer storage block B ′. The storage block B is moved to the upstream end of the SB.
In other words, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the container position data 1 'is immediately moved from the first section SA to the second section SB.

Thus, even if the timing at which the shift command is transmitted to the first section SA and the second section SB is different by setting the buffer storage block B ′ in the transfer determination means 15. The loss of the container position data 1 'in the downstream section as described above can be prevented.
That is, the position of the container 1 on each conveyor can be accurately recognized without providing a sensor on the conveyor on the downstream side.
In FIG. 4, the buffer storage block B ′ is set separately from the first section SA and the second section SB. However, the buffer storage block B ′ is further added to the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA. The storage block B for the storage block B ′ may be set, and the buffer storage block B ′ is not necessarily set adjacent to the first and second sections SA and SB.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the shift register 14 and the transfer determination means 15 when the three containers 1 transferred on the first transfer conveyor 8A are transferred from the first transfer conveyor 8A to the second transfer conveyor 8B by the guide member 9. It is a figure explaining.
As described above with reference to FIG. 3, when the container position data 1 'is located in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA corresponding to the first transport conveyor 8A, the transfer determination means 15 performs the position data of the container. 1 ′ is to be located in the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB corresponding to the second conveyor 8B.
However, when the container 1 is transferred from the first transport conveyor 8A to the second transport conveyor 8B, the container 1 collides with the guide member 9 and may be decelerated due to friction generated between the container 1 and the guide member 9.
For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, if the container 1 data in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA is immediately moved to the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB, the speed is actually reduced. The position data of the container in the second section SB may advance further to the downstream side with respect to the position of the container 1 that is being operated.

Therefore, the article conveying device 5 is actually operated to measure in advance how much the container 1 is decelerated by the guide member 9, and this is registered in the transfer determining means 15.
In the following description, the description of the actual operation of the first transfer conveyor 8A or the second transfer conveyor 8B is omitted, and the first and second sections corresponding to the first and second transfer conveyors 8A and 8B. A description will be given using SA and SB.
As shown in (a), in the first section SA, position data 1 ′ of one container transported alone and position data 1 ′ of two containers transported in contact with the upstream side thereof are included. It is moving toward the downstream side.
First, when the position data 1 ′ of the container transported independently on the downstream side reaches the downstream end of the first section SA (b), the container 1 contacts the guide member 9 in the actual first transport conveyor 8A. To slow down.
Therefore, the transfer determination means 15 does not immediately move the position data 1 ′ of the container located at the downstream end of the first section SA to the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB, but the degree of deceleration obtained in the above experiment. Accordingly, the memory block B at the downstream end is maintained until a predetermined number of shift commands are transmitted to the first section SA (c).
In FIG. 5, when the container position data 1 ′ is stored in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA, the container block data is stored in the storage block B at the downstream end while a shift command is transmitted once thereafter. The position data 1 'is maintained.
When the predetermined number of shift commands are transmitted to the first section SA, the transfer determination means 15 uses the position data 1 ′ of the container located at the downstream end of the first section SA to the upstream end of the second section SB. The container is moved to the storage block B (d), and then the container position data 1 ′ moves the second section SB to the downstream side according to the conveying speed of the second conveying conveyor 8B (e) to (h).

On the other hand, when the position data 1 ′ of the plurality of containers conveyed in contact with each other reaches the downstream side of the first section SA, the container 1 positioned on the downstream side among the plurality of containers 1 is the upstream container. Therefore, even if the guide member 9 is touched, it hardly decelerates.
For this reason, when the position data 1 ′ of a plurality of consecutive containers is positioned at the downstream end of the first section SA in this way (e), the transfer determination means 15 uses the position data 1 ′ of the container positioned downstream thereof. Immediately moves it to the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB (f).
Among the position data 1 ′ of the plurality of containers, the position data 1 ′ of the container located at the upstream end has no position data 1 ′ of the container adjacent to the upstream side. As in the case of the position data 1 ′, the data is maintained in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA until a predetermined number of shift commands are transmitted to the first section SA (g). It is moved to the storage block B at the upstream end (h).

Thus, even when the container 1 is decelerated by the guide member 9 when the container 1 is transferred from the first transfer conveyor 8A to the second transfer conveyor 8B, the transfer determination means 15 is used for the container 1. Since the container position data 1 ′ is maintained in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA according to the degree of deceleration of the first section SA and then moved to the second section SB, the position of the container 1 can be accurately recognized. Can do.
That is, the position of the container 1 on each conveyor can be accurately recognized without providing a sensor on the conveyor on the downstream side.

FIG. 6 shows that in the sixth transfer conveyor 8F and the seventh transfer conveyor 8G, the seventh transfer conveyor 8G stops when the appearance inspection machine 4 stops abnormally, and the container 1 is accumulated on the seventh transfer conveyor 8G. It is a figure explaining the operation | movement of the said shift register 14 and the transfer determination means 15 at the time.
As described above with reference to FIG. 3, when the container position data 1 ′ is located in the storage block B at the downstream end of the sixth section SF corresponding to the upstream sixth transport conveyor 8 </ b> F, the transfer determination means 15 The position data 1 'is to be located in the storage block B at the upstream end of the seventh section SG corresponding to the seventh transport conveyor 8G on the downstream side.
However, since the seventh transfer conveyor 8G is stopped, the container 1 that has reached the downstream end of the sixth transfer conveyor 8F cannot immediately transfer to the seventh transfer conveyor 8G, and remains in the sixth transfer conveyor 8F. It will continue to be located at the downstream end.
Then, at least one container 1 transported by the sixth transport conveyor 8F collides with the upstream side of the container 1, and the force is a frictional force between the container 1 located at the downstream end and the seventh transport conveyor 8G. Is exceeded, the container 1 positioned at the downstream end is pushed out onto the seventh conveyor 8G.
Thereafter, the container 1 on the seventh transport conveyor 8G does not move, and the container 1 that newly arrives at the downstream end of the sixth transport conveyor 8F is still in contact with the container 1 of the seventh transport conveyor 8G. In order to push out these containers 1 to the downstream side of the seventh transport conveyor 8G, more containers 1 are required on the downstream side of the sixth transport conveyor 8F.

Therefore, the seventh transport conveyor 8G is actually stopped, and the number of containers 1 on the seventh transport conveyor 8G that are pushed downstream by the containers 1 positioned downstream of the sixth transport conveyor 8F is measured. This is registered in the transfer determination means 15.
In the following description, the description of the actual operation of the sixth conveyor 7F or the seventh conveyor 8G is omitted, and the sixth and seventh sections corresponding to the sixth and seventh conveyors 8F and 8G are omitted. Description will be made using SF and SG.
First, since the seventh conveyor 8G is stopped, there is no frequency signal from the seventh inverter 13G, and therefore the data in the storage block B of the seventh section SG is not rewritten. On the other hand, in the sixth section SF, the position data 1 'of the plurality of containers is moved to the downstream side while being separated from each other (a).
Among these, when the container position data 1 ′ arrives at the storage block B at the downstream end of the sixth section SF, the transfer determination means 15 stops the seventh transfer conveyor 8G. The position data 1 ′ is stopped at the downstream end of the sixth section SF (b).
Then, the position data 1 ′ of the container located on the upstream side approaches and adjoins from the rear, and in the actual sixth transport conveyor 8F, the container 1 located on the downstream end is transported from the upstream side. (C).

On the other hand, the transfer determination means 15 includes the quantity of the position data 1 'of the containers located in the storage block B at the upstream end of the seventh section SG and the storage block B continuous downstream thereof (hereinafter referred to as the number of extrusions) and the sixth section. The quantity (hereinafter referred to as the number of extrusions) of the position data 1 ′ of the containers located in the storage block B at the downstream end of the SF and the storage block B continuous on the upstream side is monitored.
In the present embodiment, as shown in (d), when the number of extruded seventh sections SG is 0 and the number of extruded sixth sections SF is 2, the transfer determining means 15 is placed at the downstream end of the sixth section SF. The position data 1 'of the positioned container is positioned in the storage block B at the upstream end of the seventh section SG, and the position data 1' of the container of the storage block B adjacent to the upstream side of the downstream end of the sixth section SF. Is moved to the storage block B at the downstream end.
During this time, the shift register 14 uses the container position data 1 ′ that is not continuous to the upstream side of the container position data 1 ′ located at the downstream end of the sixth section SF to the transport amount of the sixth transport conveyor 8F. Therefore, the movement is continued downstream.

Thereafter, the container position data 1 ′ of the sixth section SF is sequentially adjacent to the upstream side of the container position data 1 ′ at the downstream end of the sixth section SF, but at the upstream end of the seventh section SG. The container position data 1 'is located.
The transfer determination means 15 monitors the number of extrusions of the seventh section SG and the number of extrusions of the sixth section SF. When the number of extrusions is 1 and the number of extrusions is 1 to 3, The position data 1 ′ of the container at the downstream end of the sixth section SF is not moved to the seventh section SG (d) to (f).
When the number of extrusions is 1 while the number of extrusions is 4 (g), the transfer determination means 15 uses the seventh section to store the position data 1 ′ of the container located at the downstream end of the sixth section SF. The position data 1 ′ of the container which has been positioned in the storage block B at the upstream end of SG and has been positioned at the upstream end of the seventh section SG until then is moved downstream by one pitch (h).
Thereafter, when the number of extrusions reaches 6, when the number of extrusions is 2, the transfer determination means 15 (i), when the number of extrusions reaches 6, the position data 1 ′ of the container located at the downstream end of the sixth section SF. Is positioned in the storage block B at the upstream end of the seventh section SG, and the position data 1 ′ of the container that has been positioned at the upstream end of the seventh section SG is moved downstream by one pitch (j).
Finally, the container 1 is filled from the downstream end to the upstream end of the seventh transport conveyor 8G, and the container position data 1 ′ is located in all the storage blocks B of the seventh section SG. Become.
Then, the transfer determination means 15 does not move the container position data 1 ′ to the seventh section SG any more, no matter how many container position data 1 ′ are aligned in the sixth section SF. The means stops the sixth transport conveyor 8F, and the container 1 is accumulated on the sixth transport conveyor 8F.

Thus, even when the downstream seventh conveyor 8G stops and performs an accumulating operation, the transfer determination means 15 is located upstream of the seventh section SG corresponding to the seventh conveyor 8G. The number of extrusions and the number of extrusions located on the downstream side of the sixth section SF corresponding to the sixth transport conveyor 8F are monitored, and when these relationships become a predetermined relationship, the downstream end of the sixth section SF is stored. Since the position data 1 ′ of the container in the block B is moved to the seventh section SG, the position of the container 1 can be accurately recognized.
That is, the position of the container 1 on each conveyor can be accurately recognized without providing a sensor on the conveyor on the downstream side.
In this embodiment, the movement of the container position data 1 ′ between the upstream section and the downstream section during such an accumulating operation is expressed by the following relational expression when a shift command is transmitted to the upstream section. Based on that.
Number of extrusions = α x (1 + number of extrusions)
Here, α is a coefficient that changes depending on conditions such as the weight of the container 1 and the frictional force generated between the container 1 and the conveyor, and in the above-described example, α is 2.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the article transport apparatus 5 according to the second embodiment. Although the article transport apparatus 5 of the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the article transport apparatus 5 of the first embodiment, The first to seventh transfer conveyors 8A to 8G are provided in series in the transfer direction, and between the adjacent transfer conveyors, there is provided a transfer plate 21 on which the container 1 is placed at substantially the same height as the transfer surface. It has been.
In the following description, an enlarged view of the first transfer conveyor 8A and the second transfer conveyor 8B and the first and second sections SA and SB corresponding to the first and second transfer conveyors 8A and 8B will be described. It shall be.
Here, the shift register 14 in the present embodiment is configured to store the storage block B located at each downstream end in the first to seventh sections SA to SG corresponding to the first to seventh transport conveyors 8A to 8G with the transfer plate. Is recognized as a storage block B corresponding to 21.
First, as shown in (a), in the first section SA, position data 1 ′ of one container transported independently and position data 1 ′ of two containers transported in contact with the upstream side thereof. Is moving downstream.
In (a), the container 1 to be transported alone on the downstream side is transported to the downstream end of the first transport conveyor 8A, and then the container 1 is pushed out to the top of the transfer plate 21 by the first transport conveyor 8A. (B).
However, since the container 1 on the transfer plate 21 cannot move (c), the transfer determination means 15 moves the position data 1 ′ of the container corresponding to the container 1 on the transfer plate 21 to the second section SB. Instead, the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA is maintained.
When the container 1 transported upstream in the actual first transport conveyor 8A collides with the container 1 on the transfer plate 21 (d), the container 1 on the transfer plate 21 moves onto the second transport conveyor 8B. Therefore, the transfer determination means 15 moves the container position data 1 ′ corresponding to the container 1 on the transfer plate 21 to the storage block B at the upstream end of the second section SB (e).

On the other hand, the container 1 that has collided with the container 1 placed on the transfer plate 21 in (e) is then placed on the transfer plate 21, and the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA contains the container 1. The position data 1 ′ of the container corresponding to 1 is located.
However, since the adjacent container 1 exists on the upstream side of the container 1 newly placed on the transfer plate 21, the container 1 on the transfer plate 21 is immediately transferred to the second transfer conveyor by the container 1 on the upstream side. It will be pushed up 8B.
For this reason, when the container position data 1 ′ is continuous in this way, the transfer determination means 15 uses the downstream end of the first section SA for the position data 1 ′ of the container located downstream of the container position data 1 ′. The memory block B is not stopped but immediately moved to the second section SB (f).
On the other hand, the container 1 that has pushed out the container 1 that has been positioned on the transfer plate 21, that is, the container 1 that has been positioned on the most upstream side, is newly placed on the transfer plate 21. Since there is no adjacent container 1 on the side, the transfer determining means 15 stores the position data 1 ′ of the container corresponding to the newly positioned container 1 on the transfer plate 21 in the storage block B at the downstream end of the first section SA. (G) (h).

As described above, when the container 1 is transferred from the first conveyor 8A to the second conveyor 8B, the container 1 is placed on the transfer plate 21 provided between the first and second conveyors 8A and 8B. Even in such a case, the memory of the downstream end of the first section SA is kept until the transfer determination means 15 is positioned on the upstream side of the container 1 placed on the transfer plate 21. Since the block position data 1 ′ is stopped by the block B, the position of the container 1 can be accurately recognized.
That is, the position of the container 1 on each conveyor can be accurately recognized without providing a sensor on the conveyor on the downstream side.

In the above-described embodiment, the determination procedure for the transfer of the container 1 by the transfer determination unit 15 has been described individually. However, these determination procedures may be combined.
That is, it is possible to combine the determination procedure using the buffer storage block B ′ described in FIG. 4 with the determination procedure when the container 1 is decelerated by the guide member 9 described in FIG. When the seventh transport conveyors 8A to 8G combine the connection method using the guide member 9 as shown in FIG. 5 and the connection method using the transfer plate 21 as shown in FIG. The above determination procedure may be used.
Further, as the inverter as the conveyance amount detection means in the above embodiment, when the conveyance conveyor is driven by a servo motor, a servo mechanism that transmits a pulse signal according to the drive of the servo motor can be used. In addition, it is also possible to use a pulse generator or the like that transmits a pulse signal according to the transport amount of the transport conveyor.
Further, the inlet sensor 16 and the outlet sensor 17 may be omitted, and a sensor that detects the container 1 provided in the labeler 3 or the appearance inspection machine 4 may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 1 'Container position data 5 Article conveyance apparatus 8A-8G 1st-7th conveyance conveyor 9 Guide member 11 Control means 12A-12G 1st-7th motor 13A-13G 1st-7th inverter (conveyance amount detection) means)
14 Shift register 15 Transfer determination means 21 Transfer plate SA-AG First to seventh sections

Claims (6)

Set a section composed of a plurality of conveyors for conveying articles in a row, a conveyance amount detection means for detecting the conveyance amount of the conveyor, and a plurality of storage blocks corresponding to each position of the conveyance path of the conveyor, Store position data on the presence or absence of articles in the storage block corresponding to each position on the conveyor, and send a shift command at the timing when the conveyor amount detected by the conveyor amount detection means reaches a predetermined unit amount. In an article conveying apparatus comprising: a shift register that moves position data of a storage block of each section to a downstream storage block;
While providing the transport amount detection means on each of the transport conveyors,
The shift register sets a section corresponding to each of the transfer conveyors, and moves position data of the section corresponding to each transfer conveyor based on the transfer amount detected by the transfer amount detection means of each transfer conveyor,
There is provided a transfer determination means for positioning the position data of the memory block at the downstream end of the upstream section corresponding to the upstream conveyor to the memory block at the upstream end of the downstream section corresponding to the downstream conveyor. A featured article conveying apparatus. The transfer determination means has a buffer storage block for temporarily storing one position data between the upstream section and the downstream section,
In the above shift register, when there is position data of an article indicating that the article is located in the storage block at the downstream end of the upstream section, and when a shift command is transmitted to the upstream section, the downstream side If location data for other items exists in the storage block at the upstream end of the section,
The transfer determination means temporarily stores the position data of the article stored in the storage block at the downstream end of the upstream section in the buffer storage block in the buffer storage block. The article conveying apparatus according to claim 1. An upstream conveying conveyor and a downstream conveying conveyor are provided in parallel at adjacent positions, and a guide member is provided for guiding the article so as to obliquely cross these upstream and downstream conveying conveyors,
When the position data of the article indicating that the article is located reaches the storage block at the downstream end of the upstream section, the transfer determining means is configured to send a shift command to the upstream section. Even if the transmission is performed, the position data of the article in the storage block at the downstream end of the upstream section is not moved to the storage block at the upstream end of the downstream section, but is maintained in the storage block at the downstream end of the upstream section. The article conveying apparatus according to claim 1. When the position register of the article reaches the storage block at the downstream end of the upstream section continuously by the shift register,
For the position data of an article located on the downstream side among the plurality of articles, the transfer determination means is configured to detect the upstream end of the downstream section when the shift register transmits a shift command to the upstream section. The article conveying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the article conveying apparatus is moved to a storage block. In the state where the downstream conveyor is stopped, the article on the downstream conveyor is pushed downstream by the article conveyed by the upstream conveyor.
The transfer determination means includes an extruded number indicating the number of position data of articles in the upstream block of the downstream section and the storage block continuous downstream thereof, a storage block at the downstream end of the upstream section, and an upstream side thereof. And the number of extrusions indicating the number of position data of articles in successive storage blocks,
When the number of extrusions reaches a predetermined number with respect to the number of extrusions, the position data of the articles located in the upstream end storage block of the downstream section and the storage block continuous downstream thereof are stored in the downstream storage block. The article conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article conveying apparatus is moved. An upstream transport conveyor and a downstream transport conveyor are arranged in series in the transport direction, and the article is placed between the upstream and downstream transport conveyors according to the height of the transport surface of the transport conveyor. Provide a transfer board,
The transfer determination means recognizes the storage block at the downstream end of the upstream section as a storage block corresponding to the transfer plate,
When the position data of the article is independently located in the storage block corresponding to the transfer plate by the shift register,
The transfer determination means transfers the position data located in the storage block corresponding to the transfer plate to the downstream section until the position data of another article is located at a position adjacent to the upstream of the storage block corresponding to the transfer plate. The article conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article conveying apparatus is not moved.