JP2013163561A - Article transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To take out a plurality kinds of articles 2 (2A, 2B, 2C) conveyed in a plurality of lines and a plurality of rows by a tray supply/discharge conveyor 6, to bring them into a box pattern in which each kind of articles is mixed, and to place them on a placement stage 22.SOLUTION: A plurality kinds of articles 2 are formed in five lines and eight rows on a tray 4, where the articles of each row are the same kind. In a transfer means 24 having a plurality of holding members 28 arranged in five lines and four rows, the holding members (movable holding members 28B) of two lines (fourth and fifth lines) of two rows (fourth and sixth rows, or third and fifth rows) in the middle are movable in the row direction. When the articles 2 are taken out from the tray 4, the movable holding members 28B are moved in the row direction, thereby holding the articles 2 in the different rows on the tray 4. Holding them, the movable holding members 28B are returned to the initial row, so that the different articles 2 can be mixed in the row having the movable holding members 28B.

Description

  The present invention relates to an article transfer apparatus that selects and takes out a plurality of types of articles supplied in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns by an article conveying means, aligns them in a desired pattern, and places them at a predetermined position.

  For example, when a predetermined number of articles of a plurality of varieties are accommodated in a case in a caser, the articles of a plurality of varieties are mounted on a tray arranged for each kind (for example, different appearance colors) and supplied. . In the caser, a predetermined number of articles are taken out from the tray for each product type and boxed. When a plurality of types of articles are boxed in this way, it is necessary to visually inspect whether the number for each type matches the set quantity at the downstream position after boxing. For this purpose, it is preferable that the articles are stored together for each product type in the case.

  However, there are a plurality of patterns in the manner of boxing in the case (the number of each type), and there are a plurality of types of arrangement patterns of articles on the tray. In accordance with the arrangement pattern of the articles on the tray, a predetermined number for taking out the necessary number of each kind from the tray and packing in each kind together so that the goods can be packed together for each article of each kind. Place on the mounting table in alignment with the pattern.

  Conventionally, an apparatus for selecting and taking out a plurality of kinds of articles supplied in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on a tray conveyed by a conveying means as described above and arranging them so that they can be packed together for each kind is conventionally known. Does not exist.

  The present invention provides a transfer means having a plurality of holding members arranged in a matrix of m rows and n columns, an m row and n column article as a transfer unit, and two or more transfer unit articles as an m row and o column matrix. A plurality of types of articles arranged in a row so that the same type of articles are arranged in each row, and the transfer means holds n rows. An arbitrary holding member in at least one of the member rows can be moved in the row direction with respect to the other holding members, and when the article is taken out from the transport means by the transfer means, the movable holding member A first state in which the other holding member holds the same type in a required row on the transport unit, and the movable holding member and the other holding member hold different types on the transport unit. Characterized by being switchable to the second state A.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the second state of the first aspect of the invention, after the article is taken out from the conveying means by the transfer means, the movable holding member is placed in the same row as the other holding members. The article is placed at a predetermined position.

  Furthermore, a third invention provides the transfer device according to the first invention or the second invention, wherein a plurality of transfer means are provided, and the number of rows of articles conveyed by the transfer means is set to the number n of transfer units. A number obtained by multiplying the number of installed units is used, and articles of transfer units are sequentially taken out from the transport unit by the plurality of transfer units.

  In the first aspect of the invention, articles can be taken out in a state in which different varieties are mixed from the conveying means that conveys the articles of the same type in each row. Further, according to the second invention, an article group in which different varieties are mixed in a required row can be placed at a predetermined position, and the transfer unit by the conveying means can be boxed as it is as a packaging unit. . Furthermore, according to the third invention, the efficiency of the boxing process can be increased.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the article transfer device. (Example 1) FIG. 2 is a front view of the article transfer device. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing the pitch changing means of the article transfer device provided in the first caser, and FIG. 3B is a plan view showing different operating states of the pitch changing means. 4A is a plan view showing the pitch changing means of the article transfer device provided in the second caser, and FIG. 4B is a plan view showing different operating states of the pitch changing means. FIGS. 5A to 5H are explanatory views sequentially showing a state in which a plurality of types of articles conveyed by the conveying means are taken out by the transferring means and are arranged and placed in a boxing pattern. 6A to 6H are explanatory views showing examples of the arrangement of articles having a pattern different from that in FIG. 7A to 7H are explanatory views showing examples of the arrangement of articles having patterns different from those shown in FIGS.

  A tray on which a plurality of types of articles are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns (m rows and o columns) is conveyed by a tray supply / discharge conveyor. The articles on the tray are arranged with the same type for each row. The transfer means for picking up articles from the tray includes a plurality of holding members arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality (m rows and n columns), and is provided above the take-out position of the tray supply / discharge conveyor and at the placement position. It is possible to reciprocate between above the mounting stage. The transfer means has, for example, a holding member of 5 rows and 4 columns, and can take out articles of 5 rows and 4 columns at a time from the tray. Further, a plurality of articles as many as the number taken out by the transfer means are placed on the tray. For example, the articles are arranged in 5 rows and 8 columns. In the transfer means having the holding members of 5 rows and 4 columns, the holding members located in the 4th and 5th rows in the middle 2 columns can be moved in the column direction by the operation of the air cylinder. The two rows of holding members are different from each other in the first state in which the same type of articles in the same row are held in the same row, and the movable holding member and other holding members are located in different rows. It is possible to switch to the second state in which the varieties of articles are held. When taking out articles from the tray, the two rows of holding members on both sides are all fixed holding members and hold one row of articles on the tray, that is, articles of the same type. On the other hand, the holding members in the middle two rows hold the same article if the movable holding members are positioned in the same row as the other holding members, but if they are moved in the row direction, the holding members in the same row Can hold different varieties of articles on the tray.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. The article transfer apparatus according to this embodiment includes a tray supply / discharge conveyor 6 that transports a tray 4 on which an article 2 is placed, an empty case supply conveyor 10 that supplies an empty case 8 that stores the article 2, and an article 2. A case feed / conveyor 16 comprising a real case discharge conveyor 14 for discharging the actual case 12 packed in a box is arranged in parallel. A first caser 18 on the upstream side and a second caser 20 on the downstream side are disposed across the supply / discharge conveyors 6 and 16. The articles 2 placed and transported on the tray 4 at the intermediate position (stacking position B) of the feed / discharge conveyors 6 and 16 of each caser 18 and 20 are taken out from the tray 4 and boxed before packing. An integration stage 22 is provided for aligning with the desired pattern. Each caser 18, 20 is provided with a transfer means 24 that can reciprocate and move up and down between the upper position of the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6 and the upper position of the stacking stage 22. . Further, between the upper position of the accumulation stage 22 and the upper position of the case supply / discharge conveyor 16, a boxing device 26 that can reciprocate and that can be moved up and down is disposed.

  A plurality of rows and columns (m rows and o columns) of articles 2 are arranged on the tray 4 conveyed by the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6. In this embodiment, three types of articles 2 (2A, 2B, 2C) are placed in an array of 5 rows and 8 columns (see FIGS. 5 to 7). On the tray 4, articles 2 of the same type are arranged in each row, and a plurality of article arrangement patterns in which three types of articles 2A, 2B, and 2C are arranged in different numbers of rows from 2 to 4 (see FIG. 5). (A), FIG. 6 (a), and FIG. 7 (a)). The tray 4 on which the articles 2 are placed in such an arrangement is transported by the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6 and is placed at a position corresponding to the first caser 18 and the second caser 20 (item takeout position A) by a stopper (not shown). Stopped sequentially.

  The transfer means 24 that takes out the articles 2 on the tray 4 conveyed by the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6 and transfers them to the accumulation stage 22 has an arrangement of m rows and n columns (5 rows and 4 columns in this embodiment). A rod base 30 to which 20 article holding members 28 are attached is provided. The rod base 30 is a piston rod 40a of an air cylinder 40 which is vertically attached to an X beam 36 fixed via a fixing rod 34 between both side walls 32a and 32b of the machine frame 32 via a mounting base 38. It can be reciprocated in the direction (X direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction (Y direction) of the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6. The rod base 30 can be moved up and down (moved in the Z direction) as a whole by the operation of the air cylinder 40. When the rod base 30 is lowered on the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6, the rod base 30 holds the article 2 in the tray 4 and rises. These articles 2 are taken out from the tray 4. Further, the article 2 being held is placed on the accumulation stage 22 by moving and lowering on the accumulation stage 22.

  A total of 20 holding members 28 in 5 rows and 4 columns attached to the rod base 30 are spaced twice as long as the distance between the 8 columns of articles 2 placed in the tray 4 (they are placed in the tray 4). Arranged at intervals of every other row). Among these holding members 28, all the holding members 28 in the outer two rows (second row and eighth row in FIG. 3, first row and seventh row in FIG. 4) and two inner rows (in FIG. 3). The three holding members 28 from the first row to the third row of the holding members 28 in the fourth column and the sixth column (the third column and the fifth column in FIG. 4) are fixed to the rod base 30. (Hereinafter, these holding members 28 are referred to as fixed holding members 28A). The two holding members 28 in the fourth row and the fifth row in the inner two columns can move in the column direction (X direction, left and right direction in FIGS. 3 and 4) ( Hereinafter, these holding members 28 are referred to as movable holding members 28B). As shown in FIG. 3, each of the two movable holding members 28B in the fourth row and the fifth row in the inner two columns is movable by being supported by two parallel rails 42 arranged in the column direction. Is attached to a movable base 44. Each movement base 44 is connected to a piston rod 46a of a servo cylinder 46 arranged in the row direction, and can be moved in the row direction (X direction) by the operation of the servo cylinders 46.

  In this embodiment, two casers, the first caser 18 on the upstream side and the second caser 20 on the downstream side, are arranged, and the remaining of the articles 2 taken out by the transfer means 24 provided in the first caser 18 are arranged. The transfer means 24 provided in the second caser 20 for taking the article 2 (each member provided in both casers 18 and 20 has the same configuration and will be described with the same reference numerals) is taken out. . Accordingly, the transfer means 24 of the first caser 18 and the transfer means 24 of the second caser 20 are arranged so as to be shifted by one row in the row direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the holding member 28 provided in the transfer means 24 of the first caser 18 includes the second row, the fourth row, among the eight rows of articles 2 placed on the tray 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the holding members 28 arranged so as to correspond to the sixth row and the eighth row and provided in the transfer means 24 of the second caser 20 are placed on the tray 4. Of the articles 2 in the row, they are arranged so as to correspond to the first row, the third row, the fifth row, and the seventh row.

  The movable base 44 to which the fourth row and fifth row movable holding members 28B of the fourth column of the transfer means 24 provided in the first caser 18 are attached is an article arranged on the tray 4. The movable base 44 to which the movable holding members 28B in the fourth row and the fifth row in the sixth column of the transfer means 24 are attached is movable between the second third column to the sixth column. The article 2 arranged on the tray 4 is movable between the fourth row to the seventh row. Further, the moving base 44 to which the fourth and fifth rows of movable holding members 28 in the third column of the transfer means 24 of the second caser 20 are attached is the second of the articles 2 arranged on the tray 4. The movable base 44, which is movable between columns 5 to 5 and to which the movable holding members 28 in the fourth row and the fourth row are attached, is the article 2 arranged on the tray 4. It is possible to move between the third column to the sixth column.

  The case supply / discharge conveyor 16 includes an empty case supply conveyor 10 that supplies an empty case 8 and an actual case discharge conveyor 14 that discharges an actual case 12 in which articles 2 are packed. The empty case supply conveyor 10 is arranged in parallel with the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6, and conveys the case 8 from the same direction (see the arrow in FIG. 1) and supplies it to the first caser 18 and the second caser 20. A stopper (not shown) is provided at the boxing position C of each caser 18, 20 to stop the empty case 8. The actual case 12 in which the article 2 is boxed at the boxing position C where the case 8 is stopped is discharged from the boxing position C of each caser 18, 20 by the pusher (not shown) to the actual case discharge conveyor 14 disposed adjacent to the case. It is moved to position D and sent to a sealing machine (not shown) arranged downstream by the actual case discharge conveyor 14, and the case flap is folded and sealed. The worker 48 shown in FIG. 1 inspects whether or not the boxed article 2 is of a predetermined type.

  The boxing device 26 includes 20 articles 2 arranged on the stacking stage 22 installed at the stacking position B between the take-out position A of the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6 and the boxing position C of the empty case supply conveyor 10. 10 pieces in a case 8 in two stages, and two sets of 10 article holding means (suction pads 50) for holding a total of 10 articles 2 in 5 rows and 2 columns. (First head 52 and second head 54). The first head 52 for the first stage (the lower stage of the case 8) and the second head 54 for the second stage (the upper stage of the case 8) have the same basic structure, and each head 52, 54 is a pair. The suction pads 50 (two in each row) have five suction pad bases 60 and 62 provided so as to move in the X direction via the X beams 56 and 58 so as to be close to and away from each other. Further, the five suction pad bases 60 and 62 are attached to the rails 68 and 70 arranged in the Y direction via the sliders 64 and 66, and the interval between the suction pad bases 60 and 62 is set along the rails 68 and 70. Can be changed. Accordingly, the suction pads 50 of 5 rows and 2 columns can be expanded and contracted in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively.

The first head 52 and the second head 54 of the boxing device 26 are connected to a base 74 movable in the X direction via an X beam 72 fixed between both side walls 32a and 32b of the machine frame 32 by a fixing rod 71. They are mounted via vertical air cylinders 76 and 78, respectively, so that they can reciprocate between the stacking stage 22 installed at the stacking position B and the boxing position C of the empty case supply conveyor 14. It has become. The first head 52 and the second head 54 move to the accumulation stage 22 in a raised state, widen the interval in the X direction and the interval in the Y direction of each suction pad 50, and at a predetermined interval on the accumulation stage 22. After matching with the position of the article 2 placed, it descends and holds a total of 20 articles 2 by suction. Thereafter, the articles 2 are lifted to pick up the articles 2 from above the accumulation stage 22 and move toward the case supply / discharge conveyor 16. While the heads 52 and 54 are moved up or while moving toward the case supply / discharge conveyor 16, the suction pad 50 is brought close to both the X direction and the Y direction so that the article 2 is packed in both the column direction and the row direction. Make an interval.

  In the movement of the boxing device 26 toward the case supply / discharge conveyor 16, first, the first head 52 is stopped on the empty case supply conveyor 10 (boxing position C). At this position, the first head 52 is lowered by the air cylinder 76, and the article 2 held by the suction pad 50 is inserted to the bottom of the empty case 8. After the suction pad 50 of the first head 52 inserts the article 2 into the first stage in the empty case 8, the first head 52 is raised, and then the first head 52 and the second head 54 are further moved in the X direction. The second head 54 is stopped on the packing position C of the empty case supply conveyor 10 (in the state shown in FIG. 2, the first head 52 is stopped on the discharge position D of the actual case discharge conveyor 14). To do). At this position, the second head 54 is lowered by the air cylinder 78 and the second-stage article 2 is inserted above the first-stage article 2. After the first-stage and second-stage articles 2 are inserted into the empty case 8 and the second head 54 is raised, the empty case supply conveyor 10 is provided at the boxing position C as described above. The actual case 12 in which 20 articles 2 are stored is moved onto the actual case discharge conveyor 14 and discharged by a pusher (not shown).

  Next, the operation of selecting and taking out the articles 2 placed and supplied on the tray 4 by the article transfer device according to the present embodiment and changing the arrangement to a boxing pattern will be described with reference to a specific example. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of three types of articles 2A, 2B, and 2C arranged in 5 rows and 8 columns on the tray 4, and in this example, the first column and the second column are arranged. Articles 2A of the first kind in two rows, articles 2B of the second kind in two rows of the third row and the fourth row, and items 3C of the third kind in four rows from the fifth row to the eighth row. Are aligned.

  The tray 4 in which the three kinds of articles 2 are arranged in the arrangement is conveyed by the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6 and is first stopped at the take-out position A of the first caser 18 by a stopper (not shown). The transfer means 24 that reciprocates in the X direction between the take-out position A of the tray feeding / discharging conveyor 6 and the accumulation position B where the accumulation stage 22 is installed in the first caser 18 has an article holding member 28 as shown in FIG. As shown in (a), the articles 2 arranged on the tray 4 are arranged corresponding to the second row, the fourth row, the sixth row, and the eighth row, and the inner two rows (fourth row and The movable holding members 28B located in the fourth and fifth rows of the sixth column) are also located on the same column as the other fixed holding members 28A belonging to the same column. The rod base 30 of the transfer means 24 moves on the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6 along the X beam 36 and descends by the operation of the air cylinder 40 to hold the articles 2 in the tray 4 by suction. After the predetermined article 2 is sucked and held, the rod base 30 is raised by the air cylinder 40 and the article 2 held by the four rows of holding members 28 (28A, 28B) is taken out. FIG. 5 (c) shows the pattern of the articles 2 taken out by the transfer means 24 of the first caser 18, and the first type of articles 2 </ b> A corresponding to one row located in the second row in the tray 4. 5 pieces, 5 pieces for the 1st row where the second type articles were located in the 4th row, and 10 pieces for the 2nd row where the third kind items were located in the 6th and 8th rows Take out. FIG. 5B shows the arrangement of the articles 2 on the tray 4 after the articles 2 are taken out by the transfer means 24 in the first caser 18, and the first-type articles 2A in the first row on the tray 4 are shown. Then, the second row of second type articles 2B and the second row of third type articles 2C of the fifth row and the seventh row remain.

  As described above, the transfer means 24 of the first caser 18 that has taken out the articles 2 corresponding to the four rows moves onto the accumulation stage 22 while maintaining the arrangement of the holding members 28. After moving onto the accumulation stage 22, the rod base 30 is lowered by the air cylinder 40 to place the article 2 on the accumulation stage 22, and the article 2 is lifted apart. FIG. 5E shows a pattern of the article 2 placed on the accumulation stage 22 and has the same arrangement as the taken-out state.

  When the transfer means 24 moves up and moves toward the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6 after placing the articles 2 on the accumulation stage 22, the first head 52 and the second head 54 of the boxing device 26 are moved to the case supply / discharge conveyor 16. It moves on the accumulation stage 22 from above. The ten suction pads 50 of the first head 52 and the ten suction pads 50 of the second head 54 are moved in the X direction and the Y direction to widen the interval between the respective suction pads 50, and on the integration stage 22. After matching the interval between the articles 2 placed, the articles 2 are lowered to hold 20 articles 2. The article 2 is lifted after being sucked and held, and thereafter, the sucking heads 50 of the first head 52 and the second head 54 are brought close to the X direction and the Y direction, respectively, and the articles 2 are gathered in a boxed state. FIG. 5 (g) shows a pattern in a boxed state, and the right side of the figure shows a boxing pattern of the first-stage article 2 (third type article 2C) held by the first head 52. FIG. The left side shows the boxing pattern of the second-stage article 2 (first-type article 2A and second-type article 2B) held by the second head 54.

  After the first head 52 and the second head 54 of the boxing device 26 hold the article 2, they move toward the case supply / discharge conveyor 16, and first the first head 52 stops on the boxing position C of the empty case supply conveyor 10. Let Here, the first head 52 is lowered by the air cylinder 76, and the article 2 being held is inserted into the empty case 8. Subsequently, the second head 54 is stopped on the boxing position C of the same empty case supply conveyor 10 and inserted into the case 8 from above the first-stage article 2.

  As described above, the tray 4 from which the half of the articles 2 have been taken out by the first caser 18 reaches the second caser 20 with the remaining articles 2 (remaining in the arrangement shown in FIG. 5B) placed thereon. It is conveyed and stopped at the take-out position A of the second caser 20 by a stopper (not shown) (see FIG. 5D). The articles 2 arranged in the tray 4 are held and taken out by the transfer means 24 of the second caser 20 and placed on the accumulation stage 22. Subsequently, the adsorbing pads 50 provided on the first head 52 and the second head 54 of the boxing device 26 suck and hold the articles 2 in two adjacent rows (the first head 52 is shown in FIG. ) Of the right two rows of articles 2 (third type of articles 2C), and the second head 54 is arranged in the left two rows of articles 2 (first type of articles 2A and second type of articles 2B). ) Is moved onto the case supply / discharge conveyor 16 and sequentially boxed in the same manner as the first caser 18. In the example shown in FIG. 5, since both the first caser 18 and the second caser 30 take out the articles 2 for each row and pack them, the movable holding member 28B of the transfer device is not moved, and each row is integrated. It is moved with.

  In FIG. 6, a part of one row is taken out from the tray 4 in which the articles 2 are arranged in a different arrangement from that in FIG. In this example, on the tray 4, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the first product 2A in three rows from the first row to the third row, and the second row in the fourth and fifth rows. Two types of articles 2B and the third kind of articles 2C are arranged in three rows from the sixth row to the eighth row. In the first caser 18, the first caser 18 stores the 8th type 2 articles 2C and the 2nd type 2B, and the second stage has the 1st type article. Seven 2A and three second-type articles 2B are accommodated (see FIG. 6 (g)). In the second caser 20, the first stage has seven third-type articles 2C. , Three second-type articles 2B are stored, and the second stage stores eight first-type articles 2A and two second-type articles 2B (FIG. 6 (h)). )reference).

  In the example of FIG. 6, the movable holding member 28 </ b> B in the fourth row and the fifth row among the holding members 28 in the two columns (fourth column and sixth column) inside the transfer means 24 provided in the first caser 18. Are moved to the third row and the fourth row by the operation of the servo cylinder 46, respectively. In this state, the rod base 30 of the transfer means 24 is lowered to hold the articles 2 on the tray 4. The second row of fixed holding members 28 </ b> A holds the five first-type articles 2 </ b> A arranged in the second row on the tray 4. In the fourth row of holding members 28, three fixed holding members 28A hold three second-type articles 2B, and two movable holding members 28B have two first-type articles in the third row. Hold 2A. Further, the sixth row of fixed holding members 28A holds the three third-type articles 2C arranged in the sixth row on the tray 4, and the two movable holding members 28B have two second rows of the fourth row. The two kinds of articles 2B are held. The eighth row of fixed holding members 28A holds the fifth row of third type articles 2C on the tray 4 (see FIG. 6C). When the transfer means 24 of the first caser 18 takes out the article 2 shown in FIG. 6C from the tray 4, as shown in FIG. 6B, five pieces in the first row are placed on the tray 4. The first type article 2A, the three first type articles 2A from the first row to the third row in the third column, the five second type items 2B in the fifth column, and the fourth in the sixth column Two third-type articles 2C in the row and the fifth row and five third-type articles 2C in the seventh row are left and sent to the second caser 20.

  After the articles 2 shown in FIG. 6C are taken out from the tray 4 by the 20 holding members 28 of the transfer means 24 provided in the first caser 18, the inner two rows of movable holding members 28B are moved to the original positions. Return to column (4th and 6th columns respectively). Then, in the fourth column, three second-type articles 2B from the first row to the third row, and two first-type articles 2A in the fourth row and the fifth row are arranged. The three third-type articles 2C in the first to third rows and the two second-type articles 2B in the fourth and fifth rows are arranged. In this state, the article 2 is placed on the accumulation stage 22 (see FIG. 6E).

  Articles 2 arranged on the accumulation stage 22 in the pattern shown in FIG. 6E are sucked and held by the first head 52 and the second head 54 provided in the boxing device 26 of the first caser 18. The suction pads 50 of the first head 52 hold ten articles 2 in the pattern shown on the right side of FIG. 6G, and the suction pads 50 of the second head 54 have 10 patterns on the left side of the figure. The article 2 is held by suction. After the suction pads 50 of the heads 52 and 54 hold the article 2, they move to the boxing position C of the empty case supply conveyor 10 and descend into the empty case 8 in the order of the first head 52 and the second head 54. Insert the held article 2.

  The remaining articles 2 from which the articles 2 in FIG. 6C have been taken out by the first caser 18 are left on the tray 4 in the arrangement of FIG. 6B, and the tray 4 on which the articles 2 in this state are placed. Moves to the extraction position A of the second caser 20 and is stopped by a stopper (not shown). Also in the second caser 20, the movable holding member 28 </ b> B of the placement unit 24 is moved according to the arrangement of the articles 2 on the tray 4. As shown in FIG. 4A, the movable holding members 28B in the third and fifth rows on the inner side are arranged in the same row as the fixed holding member 28A in their original positions, but the servo cylinder for moving base operation 46, the third row of movable holding members 28B is moved to the fifth row, and the fifth row of movable holding members 28B is moved to the sixth row (see FIG. 4B).

  The holding member 28 of the transfer means 24 provided in the second caser 20 is set to the above state, and the article 2 on the tray 4 stopped at the take-out position A is held and taken out from the tray 4. When the article 2 is taken out from the tray 4, the article 2 is arranged as shown in FIG. After the removal, the movable holding members 28B in the third row and the fifth row that have moved to the fifth row and the sixth row are returned to the original third row and fifth row. The article 2 is placed in this state and placed on the accumulation stage 22 (see FIG. 6F). Thereafter, the first head 52 and the second head 54 of the boxing device 26 hold the articles 2 in the first row and the third row, and the articles 2 in the fifth row and the sixth row, respectively. The article 2 is contracted in the X direction and the Y direction, and the article 2 is placed in the state shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which the articles 2 are taken out from the tray 4 on which the articles 2 are arranged according to another pattern, and a predetermined number of the articles 2 are boxed. In the example of FIG. 7, the first type article 2A is in the first row and the second row, the second type article 2B is in the third row from the third row to the fifth row, and the sixth row to the eighth row. The three third-type articles 2C are arranged in each of the three rows (see FIG. 7A).

  The tray 4 transported by the tray supply / discharge conveyor 6 is first stopped at the take-out position A of the first caser 18. In the transfer means 24 of the first caser 18, two of the holding members 28 of 5 rows and 4 columns each include two columns in the fourth row and the fifth row in the inner two columns (fourth column and sixth column). The movable holding member 28B is moved to the position shown in FIG. 3B as in the case of the arrangement shown in FIG. In other words, the two movable holding members 28B in the fourth row are moved to the third row, and the movable holding members 28B in the sixth row are moved to the fourth row. The holding member 28 (28A, 28B) is arranged as described above to hold the article 2 on the tray 4. The fixed holding members 28A in the second row hold the five first-type articles 2A located in the second row of the tray 4, and the two movable holding members 28B moving in the third row serve as the tray 4. The two second-type articles 2B arranged in the third row, the three fixed holding members 28A in the fourth row, and the two movable holding members 28B moved from the sixth row The five second-type articles 2B located in the fourth row of 4 are held, and the three holding members in the sixth row hold the three third-type articles 2C in the sixth row on the tray 4. The eighth row of fixed holding members 28A holds and takes out the fifth type 3 articles 2C in the eighth row on the tray 4 (the articles 2 are pulled out in the arrangement shown in FIG. 7C). The article 2 is left in the arrangement shown in FIG. 7B on the tray 4 from which the article 2 has been extracted by the first caser 18, and the tray 4 is sent to the second caser 20 and stopped.

  After the articles 2 are taken out from the tray 4 by the first caser 18, the movable holding members 28B of the transfer means 24 are moved to the original row, that is, the two movable holding members 28B that have been moved to the fourth row are placed in the sixth row. The two movable holding members 28B that have been moved to the third row are returned to the fourth row. In this state, the article 2 held by the holding member 28 of the transfer means 24 is placed on the accumulation stage 22 (see FIG. 7E).

  The article 2 placed on the accumulation stage 22 of the first caser 18 is sucked and held by the suction pad 50 of the boxing device 26 and is placed in the empty case 8 stopped at the boxing position C of the empty case supply conveyor 10. insert. The second head 54 of the boxing device 26 sucks and holds the articles 2 arranged in the second and fourth rows in FIG. 7E, and the first head 52 has the sixth and eighth rows in the same figure. The articles 2 arranged on the head are respectively held, and the interval between the suction pads 50 of the heads 52 and 54 is reduced. As shown on the left side of FIG. 7G, the second head 54 holds five second-type articles 2B as well as five first-type articles 2A in a row, and the first head 52 has three pieces. The first type article 2C and the second type article 2B are held in a row and the third type article 2C is held in a row. After the articles 2 on the stacking stage 22 are sucked and held in this way by both the heads 52 and 54, they are moved onto the boxing position C of the empty case supply conveyor 10 and inserted into the stopped empty case 8.

  Further, in the second caser 20, in order to take out the articles 2 remaining in the tray 4 in the arrangement of FIG. 7B, the third row and the fifth row among the four rows of holding members 28 of the transfer means 24. The movable holding members 28B located in the fourth and fifth rows of the column are moved. Here, the third row of movable holding members 28B is moved to the fifth row, and the fifth row of movable holding members 28B is moved to the sixth row (the state shown in FIG. 4B). With the holding member 28 in this arrangement, the article 2 is taken out from the tray 4 stopped at the take-out position A of the second caser 20 (see FIG. 7D).

  The transfer means 24 rises after taking out the article 2, and returns the movable holding member 28B that has moved to the original row. That is, the two movable holding members 28B that have been moved to the fifth row are returned to the third row, and the two movable holding members 28B that have been moved to the sixth row are returned to the fifth row. Thus, by returning the movable holding member 28B to the original row, the state shown in FIG. The articles 2 in this arrangement are placed on the accumulation stage 22 at the accumulation position B.

  Thereafter, the boxing device 26 of the second caser 20 moves onto the stacking stage 22 and the first head 52 and the second head 54 suck and hold the articles 2 in the array. The second head 54 holds the articles 2 in the first row and the third row in FIG. 7F, and the first head 52 holds the articles 2 in the fifth row and the seventh row in FIG. After the heads 52 and 54 are lifted to pick up the article 2, the two heads of the suction pads 50 are brought close to each other so that the articles 2 can be packed (see FIG. 7 (h)). Then, the boxes are packed in the order of the second head 54. As described above, according to the apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to take out an arbitrary number of articles of a plurality of types and insert the products of each type together into the same case.

2 goods 2A goods (goods of the first type)
2B Goods (Goods of the second type)
2C goods (articles of the 3rd kind)
6 Transport means (tray supply / discharge conveyor)
24 transfer means 28 holding member 28A holding member (other holding member)
28B Holding member (movable holding member)

Claims (3)

Transfer means having a plurality of holding members arranged in a matrix of m rows and n columns and articles of m rows and n columns are arranged as transfer units, and articles of two or more transfer units are arranged in a matrix of m rows and o columns. A plurality of types of articles arranged and arranged so that the same type of articles are arranged in each row, and the transfer means is arranged in n rows of holding member rows. Arbitrary holding members in at least one row can be moved in the row direction with respect to other holding members,
A first state in which the movable holding member and the other holding member hold the same product in a required row on the conveying means when the article is taken out from the conveying means by the transfer means; and the movement An article transfer apparatus characterized in that a possible holding member and the other holding member can be switched to a second state in which different varieties on the conveying means are held.   In the second state, after the article is taken out from the conveying means by the transfer means, the movable holding member is placed in the same row as the other holding members, and the article is placed at a predetermined position. The article transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein   A plurality of transfer means are provided, and the number of rows of articles conveyed by the transfer means is set to a number obtained by multiplying the number n of transfer units by the number of installation of the transfer means, and the transfer means by the transfer means. The article transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein articles in a transfer unit are sequentially taken out from the article.

Images