JP2013189185A - Container conveyance device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container conveyance device capable of reducing labor of a worker when containers are conveyed from a conveyance origin to a conveyance destination.SOLUTION: A container conveyance device 1 includes: a collection device 10 with containers C storing fruit vegetables placed; a conveyance vehicle 30 receiving and conveying the containers C in the collection device 10; and a receiving device receiving the containers C in the conveyance vehicle 30. The collection device 10, the conveyance vehicle 30, and the receiving device are provided with conveyors 16, 40 capable of transferring the containers C, and the conveyors 16, 40 provided to the collection device 10 and the conveyance vehicle 30 are supported inclinably in a vertical direction. The inclinable conveyors 16, 40 are inclined and the conveyance vehicle 30 is moved between the collection device 10 and the receiving device, thereby conveying the containers C placed in the collection device 10 to the receiving device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a container transport device that transports a container containing fruit vegetables from a transport source to a transport destination.

  In institutional vegetable production, a lot of work is still done manually, the working hours are remarkably long, and labor saving is required by mechanization and equipment. For example, in cultivation of a large-scale tomato facility, a container for harvesting that contains harvested tomatoes is transported by using a manual lifter or a forklift with a plurality of containers loaded on a pallet placed in a passage (see Patent Document 1). It is currently transported to the preparation site.

  On the other hand, as a means for transporting containers containing fruit vegetables, there is one using a roller conveyor (see Patent Document 2). The transport means places the container placed on the pallet on the roller conveyor together with the pallet by a forklift and transports the container on the roller conveyor.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-139445 JP 7-41180 A

  When a container is transported to the preparation site by a manual lifter, the transport distance in a large facility may be 100 m or more, and the transport distance from the pallet placed in the passage to the preparation site is extended, which burdens the operator. There is a problem that it becomes large and the number of times it is carried increases.

  In addition, when a container is transported using the roller conveyor described in Patent Document 2, since the work of placing the container on the roller conveyor is performed using a forklift, an operator who can operate the forklift is required. The same applies when a container is transported using a forklift.

  This invention is made in view of such a problem, and it aims at providing the container conveying apparatus which can reduce an operator's labor, when conveying a container from a conveyance source to a conveyance destination. To do.

  In order to solve such a problem, the container transport device of the present invention includes a collection device in which a container for storing fruit vegetables is placed, a transport vehicle that receives and transports the container of the load collection device, and an acceptance that receives the container of the transport vehicle. The conveyor is capable of transporting containers (conveyors 16, 17, 40, 66, and 67 in the embodiment), and is provided in the collector and the transport vehicle. The conveyors (the conveyors 16, 17, and 40 in the embodiment) are supported so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction, and the tiltable conveyors (the conveyors 16, 17, and 40 in the embodiments) are tilted, so that the transport vehicle is a pickup device. The container is moved between the receiving device and the container placed in the collection device is transported to the receiving device.

  The present invention also includes a transport carriage having a movable vehicle body on which a container containing fruit vegetables is placed. The vehicle body is provided with a conveyor capable of moving the container, and collects the transport carriage on which the container is placed. The container is moved to the collection device via the conveyor by moving to the apparatus (claim 2).

  In addition, the vehicle body of the transport carriage according to the present invention is provided with an elevator capable of moving the transport carriage in the vertical direction with respect to the ground (Claim 3).

  Further, the vehicle body of the transport carriage according to the present invention is provided with a guard member surrounding the container placed on the vehicle body, and the guard member disposed on at least one side in the width direction of the vehicle body among the guard members (the embodiment) The guard member side portion 85c is provided so as to be retractable from a guard position surrounding the container (claim 4).

  In addition, the collection device of the present invention has a collection body that is hollow inside and has an opening formed at one end, and a conveyor provided in the collection device extends from the inside of the collection body to the outside through the opening. It is arranged and supported so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction around a fulcrum provided on one end side of the cargo collecting body (claim 5).

  Further, the transport vehicle of the present invention has a movable vehicle body, and the conveyor provided in the transport vehicle extends from the front side in the traveling direction of the vehicle body to the rear side, and is provided in the middle part in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. A lifting actuator (moving cylinder 43 in the embodiment) for moving the rear side of the conveyor in the vertical direction is provided on the rear side of the vehicle body. (Claim 6).

  In addition, the conveyor of the transport vehicle according to the present invention is arranged adjacent to the conveyor extending from the collection device when the front end of the transport vehicle moves to a position facing and opposed to one end side of the collection device, and substantially the same height as the conveyor. It is arrange | positioned in a vertical position (Claim 7).

  In addition, the lifting actuator of the present invention moves the one end side of the conveyor of the collection device downward and moves the conveyor to the conveyance vehicle side when the front end of the conveyance vehicle moves to a position facing and approaching one end side of the collection device. (Claim 8).

  In addition, the receiving device of the present invention has a receiving body that is hollow inside and has an opening formed at one end, and a conveyor provided in the receiving device extends from the inside of the receiving body to the outside through the opening. Further, at least one end side of the conveyor is inclined upward (claim 9).

  Further, the conveyor provided in the receiving device of the present invention is arranged adjacent to the conveyor of the transporting vehicle and is substantially the same as the conveyor when the front end of the transporting vehicle moves to a position facing and approaching one end of the receiving device. They are arranged at the same height (claim 10).

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the travel of the vehicle body of the transport vehicle and the operation of the lift actuator are automatically controlled by a control device provided in the transport vehicle.

  According to the container transport device according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container transport device that can reduce the labor of the operator when the container is transported from the transport source to the transport destination by having the above characteristics. .

It is a perspective view of the conveyance trolley of the container conveyance apparatus concerning one embodiment of the present invention. The container collection apparatus concerning one embodiment of this invention is shown, the figure (a) is a top view of the collection apparatus, the figure (b) is a side view of the collection apparatus, the figure (c) ) Is a front view of the pickup device, and FIG. 4D is a partial side sectional view of the pickup device. The conveyance vehicle of the container conveyance apparatus concerning one embodiment of this invention is shown, The figure (a) is a side view of a conveyance vehicle, The figure (b) is the part of the arrow A direction of the figure (a). A front view is shown. The operation | movement explanatory drawing of the raising / lowering cylinder provided in the conveyance vehicle concerning one embodiment of this invention is shown, The figure (a) is a partial side view of the B arrow direction of the figure (b), b) is a partial front view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3A, FIG. 4C is a partial side view in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4D, and FIG. It is a partial front view at the time of expansion | extension of the raising / lowering cylinder of figure (b). 1 shows a receiving device of a container transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view of the receiving device, FIG. 1 (b) is a side view of the receiving device, and FIG. ) Is a front view of the receiving device. The side surface side perspective view of the conveyance trolley which loaded the container is shown, The figure (a) is a side surface side perspective view of the conveyance trolley in the state where the container was enclosed by the guard member, The figure (b) is a vehicle body side side It is a side perspective view of a conveyance cart at the time of a state where the guard member side of this has moved to the retreat position. It is a perspective view for demonstrating a mode that a container moves to a collection apparatus from a conveyance trolley, The figure (a) is a perspective view of a conveyance trolley and a collection apparatus before a container is put into a collection apparatus, b) is a perspective view of the transport cart and the collection device after the container has been put into the collection device. It is explanatory drawing of a mode that a container moves to the conveyance vehicle from the collection apparatus concerning one embodiment of this invention, The figure (a) is a side view of the collection apparatus and conveyance vehicle before a container moves to the conveyance vehicle side. FIG. 4B is a side view of the collection device and the transport vehicle after the container has moved to the transport vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a top view for demonstrating the mode before and behind the collection apparatus and conveyance vehicle which concern on one embodiment of this invention approach, The figure (a) is a top view before a collection apparatus and a conveyance vehicle approach FIG. 4B is a plan view after the collection device and the transport vehicle approach and the container moves to the transport vehicle. It is a figure for demonstrating a mode that a container moves to the receiving apparatus from the conveyance vehicle concerning one embodiment of this invention, The figure (a) of the conveyance vehicle and receiving apparatus before a container moves to a receiving apparatus. It is a side view and the figure (b) is a side view of a conveyance vehicle and a receiving apparatus after a container moves to a receiving apparatus. It is a top view for demonstrating a mode that a container moves to the receiving apparatus from the conveyance vehicle concerning one embodiment of this invention, The figure (a) is a conveyance vehicle before a container moves to a receiving apparatus, and a receiving apparatus. FIG. 5B is a plan view of the transport vehicle and the receiving device after the container has moved to the receiving device.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a container transport device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a container transport device that transports containers that contain fruit vegetables (tomatoes) grown in a large facility will be described as an example. In addition, the container conveying apparatus of this invention is applicable also to the container which accommodates industrial parts other than fruit vegetables.

  First, the overall configuration of the container transport device will be described. As shown in FIG. 1 (perspective view), FIG. 8 (a) (side view), and FIG. 10 (a) (side view), the container transfer device 1 has a transfer carriage 70 on which a container C that stores fruit vegetables is placed. And a collection device 10 in which the container C is placed, a conveyance vehicle 30 that receives and conveys the container C of the collection device 10, and a reception device 60 that receives the container C of the conveyance vehicle 30.

  First, the conveyance carriage 70 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport carriage 70 can travel with a front wheel 78 and a rear wheel 79 before and after a vehicle body 71, a conveyor 80 that moves the container C, and a guard member 85 that prevents the container C from falling. Is provided on the vehicle body 71. The vehicle body 71 has a vehicle body main body 72 formed in a rectangular shape in plan view by continuously connecting pipes 72a made of a metal material (for example, iron). In the vehicle body 72, a pair of pipes 72a continuously extending in the front-rear direction are arranged in parallel with a predetermined interval in the vehicle body width direction, and a plurality of reinforcements are provided with a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction between the pair of pipes 72a. A member 73 is attached.

  A support frame 74 formed in a U shape in side view is connected to the lower side of the pipe 72a. The front wheel 78 and the rear wheel 79 described above are rotatably provided on the front side and the rear side of the support frame 74.

  Between the front end portions of the pair of pipes 72a, a bumper portion 75 connected to these pipes 72a and bent upward is provided. The bumper portion 75 is formed by bending the same pipe 72b as the pipe 72a. Further, between the rear end portions of the pair of pipes 72a, there is provided a handle portion 76 that is connected to these pipes 72a and is bent upwardly in a convex shape. The handle portion 76 is formed by bending the same pipe 72 c as the pipe 72 a and extends upward from the bumper portion 75.

  A plurality of (three in the drawing) conveyors 80 arranged in the front-rear direction with a predetermined interval extend in the vehicle body width direction on the pair of pipes 72a forming the vehicle body main body 72 configured as described above. is set up. The upper and lower positions of the conveyor 80 are disposed at substantially the same positions as the conveyors 16 and 17 (see FIG. 2A) provided in the collection device 10 described later. Containers C containing fruit and vegetables are placed on these conveyors 80, and the containers C move on the conveyor 80 of the vehicle body main body 72 and are carried into the collection device 10.

  A guard member 85 for preventing the container C placed on the conveyor 80 from dropping from the vehicle body main body 72 is provided above the vehicle body main body 72. The guard member 85 includes a guard member front portion 85a attached between the lower portions on both sides in the width direction inside the bumper portion 75, a guard member rear portion 85b attached between the lower portions on both sides in the width direction of the handle portion 76, and a guard member. It has a pair of guard member side parts 85c attached between the width direction both ends of the front part 85a and the guard member rear part 85b.

  The guard member side portion 85c has a rear end portion rotatably connected to a longitudinal end portion of the guard member rear portion 85b, and a front end portion is supported by being in contact with the guard member front portion 85a. For this reason, the guard member side portion 85c is rotatable in the vertical direction with the guard member rear portion 85b as a rotation fulcrum, and the guard position Pg where the front end portion of the guard member side portion 85c contacts the guard member front portion 85a; The guard member side portion 85c is rotatable between a retracted position Pk (see FIG. 6B) extending upward along the handle portion 76.

  The guard member 85 can put the container C on the inner side surrounded by the guard member front part 85a, the guard member rear part 85b, and the pair of guard member side parts 85c with the guard member side part 85c moved to the guard position Pg. A space portion 87 having a rectangular shape in plan view is formed. Moreover, the guard member front part 85a and the guard member rear part 85b are arrange | positioned in the intermediate position of the height direction of the 1st-stage container C mounted on the conveyor 80 among the guard members 85, and the guard member side part 85c is With this moved to the guard position Pg, the first stage container C placed on the conveyor 80 is disposed at an intermediate position in the height direction. For this reason, when the guard member side portion 85c moves to the guard position Pg, since the periphery of the container C is surrounded by the guard member 85, there is a risk that the container C placed on the conveyor 80 may fall from the vehicle body main body 72. Can be prevented.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2 (a) (plan view), FIG. 2 (b) (side view), FIG. 2 (c) (front view), and FIG. I will explain. The collection device 10 includes a collection body 11 formed in a frame shape by combining pipes 11a made of metal material (for example, iron). The collection body 11 is installed in a passage in a large facility for tomatoes. The collection body 11 may be movable by providing a caster at the bottom.

  A space 12 capable of accommodating a plurality of stacked containers C is formed in the collection body 11, and openings 11 b through which the containers C can be taken in and out are formed at the upper part of the collection body 11 and both ends in the front-rear direction. Has been. A pair of support pipes 14 extending in the width direction of the collection body are provided at the front and rear end portions on the lower side of the collection body 11. Conveyors 16 and 17 are installed on the pair of support pipes 14.

  Three conveyors 16 and 17 are installed on the pair of support pipes 14 with a predetermined interval in the collection device width direction, and two of the three conveyors 16 are installed on both sides in the collection device width direction, and the rest One conveyor 17 is installed in the central portion of the collection device width direction. The conveyors 16 installed on both sides in the width direction of the collecting device extend from the rear side in the front-rear direction of the collecting device 10 to the front side and extend greatly through the opening 11b that opens at the front end of the collecting device 10. The conveyor 17 installed in the central portion in the width direction of the collector is slightly extended outward from the rear side of the collector 10 through the front opening 11b.

  These three conveyors 16 and 17 are integrally connected via a connecting pipe 19 whose lower ends of the rear end portions extend in a direction perpendicular to the conveyors 16 and 17 and are arranged in the same plane. Yes. A cap 20 (see FIG. 2 (d)) is attached to the lower part of the conveyors 16, 17 on the support pipe 14 disposed on the front side. The three conveyors 16 and 17 are movably mounted, and are rotatable in the vertical direction with the support pipe 14 as a rotation fulcrum. For this reason, when the front end of the conveyor 16 provided on both sides in the width direction of the collection device 10 is pushed downward (see FIG. 2B), the three conveyors 16 and 17 turn the support pipe 14 around the pivot. Simultaneously rotate downward.

  The conveyors 16 and 17 include holding bodies 16a and 17a extending in a long shape, and a large number of rollers 16b and 17b rotatably supported in the holding bodies 16a and 17a. Details of the lengths of the two conveyors 16 extending from the collection body 11 will be described later.

  On both sides in the width direction of the collection body 11, guide conveyors 22 that linearly guide the movement of the containers C placed on the conveyors 16 and 17 extend from the rear side to the front side of the collection body 11, and have two stages in the vertical direction. Is provided. In addition, a container detection sensor 23 capable of detecting the presence or absence of the container C placed on the conveyors 16 and 17 is attached to the lower guide conveyor 22 of the upper and lower stages. The container detection sensor 23 is a photoelectric sensor, and this photoelectric sensor is integrated with a light projecting / receiving device. When light emitted from the sensor hits the container C, the presence of the container C is detected by receiving reflected light from the container C. In this embodiment, two container detection sensors 23 are attached to the guide conveyor 22 with a predetermined interval in the direction in which the conveyors 16 and 17 extend. The detection signal of the container detection sensor 23 is sent to a receiving device provided in a transport vehicle 30 described later by a wireless transmission device 25 provided in the lower part of the collection body 11, and the detection signal is sent to the control device 50. .

  In addition, a part of an approach sensor 52 (see FIG. 9A) for detecting that a transport vehicle 30 described later approaches the collection device 10 side is formed below the support pipe 14 on the front side of the collection device 10. A light reflecting mirror 53 is provided. Details of the proximity sensor 52 will be described later.

  Next, about the conveyance vehicle 30, Fig.3 (a) (side view), FIG.3 (b) (partial front view), FIG.4 (a)-FIG.4 (d), FIG.9 (a) (plan view) This will be described with reference to FIG. 9B (plan view). As shown in FIG. 3A, the transport vehicle 30 is a frame-shaped frame body portion 37 in which a travelable vehicle body 31 and a metal material (for example, iron) pipe 37 a provided on the vehicle body 31 are combined. And a conveyor 40 provided on the vehicle body 31 and a control device 50 for controlling the running of the vehicle body 31 and the operation of a lifting cylinder 43 described later.

  The vehicle body 31 has a caster 32 at the lower part of both front and rear end portions in the traveling direction, and can travel. The casters 32 are provided at the four corners of the front and rear ends of the vehicle body 31 in the traveling direction. A steering drive unit 33 that performs traveling and steering of the vehicle body 31 is provided in a middle portion in the front-rear direction of the lower portion of the vehicle body 31.

  The steering drive unit 33 includes two drive wheels 34 disposed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, a motor that transmits power to the drive wheels 34, and an automatic steering device for the drive wheels 34. Magnetic sensors 35 capable of detecting magnetism generated by a magnetic tape T (see FIG. 9A) affixed to a guideway in a large facility are provided at positions on both front and rear sides of each drive wheel 34. Each magnetic sensor 35 of the steering drive unit 33 individually detects the magnetic tape T, and is configured to be able to run by performing a synchronous operation of running and stopping of each driving wheel 34.

  Further, the steering drive unit 33 is started by the ON operation of the operator of the operation switch described later, and is controlled by the control device 50 so that the unmanned operation is repeated as described later until the OFF operation by the operator of the operation switch is pressed. Operation is controlled.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 9A, the conveyor 40 provided on the vehicle body 31 has a predetermined interval in the vehicle body width direction at the middle portion of the vehicle body 31 in the width direction. And three are installed. These conveyors 40 extend from the front end in the traveling direction of the vehicle body 31 to the rear side, and the rear end portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 31 is integrally connected via the connection pipe 41 and the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 31. The fulcrum pipe 42 provided in the vehicle body width direction is supported so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction.

  The above-described receiving bracket 20 (see FIG. 2D) is provided on the fulcrum pipe 42, and the receiving bracket 20 is rotatably attached to the fulcrum pipe 42. The three conveyors 40 are connected to the fulcrum pipe 42. Is pivotable in the vertical direction. In addition, description of the receiving metal fitting 20 is abbreviate | omitted in Fig.3 (a).

  A support plate 44 extending in the frame body width direction is supported on the rear upper part of the frame body portion 37, and a pair of lifting cylinders whose rod side end portions are directed downward on both sides of the support plate 44 in the frame body width direction. 43 is connected with the attitude | position extended in the up-down direction. The rod side ends of the pair of elevating cylinders 43 are rotatably connected to the axial direction ends of the connecting pipe 41. For this reason, when the pair of lifting cylinders 43 are extended, the rear sides of the three conveyors 40 can be rotated downward to bring the three conveyors 40 into a forwardly rising posture, while the pair of lifting cylinders 43 are When the size is reduced, the rear side of the three conveyors 40 is rotated upward, so that the three conveyors 40 can be in a forward-downward posture.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the three conveyors 40 of the transport vehicle 30 move to a position where the front end portion of the transport vehicle 30 approaches and approaches the front end portion of the cargo collection device 10. They are inserted between two long conveyors 16 extending from the collection device 10 and are arranged adjacent to each other and arranged at substantially the same height as the two conveyors 16.

  Further, the width W of the frame body portion 37 of the transport vehicle 30 has such a size that the three conveyors 40 of the transport vehicle 30 and the two long conveyors 16 of the cargo collection device 10 can be arranged, The container C has a movable size. For this reason, when the front end of the transport vehicle 30 moves to a position where it approaches and approaches the front side of the collection device 10, the two long conveyors 16 of the collection device 10 are moved to the three conveyors 40 of the transport vehicle 30. Can be inserted outside.

  Further, when the two long conveyors 16 of the collection device 10 are inserted into the frame body portion 37 of the transport vehicle 30, FIG. 4 (b) (partial front view) and FIG. 4 (d) (partial front view). ), The length of the conveyor 16 is set so that the front ends of these conveyors 16 are located below both ends of the connection pipe 41 to which the elevating cylinder 43 is connected. For this reason, when the elevating cylinder 43 is extended, the three conveyors 40 of the transport vehicle can be brought to a forwardly raised posture as described above, and both ends of the connecting pipe 41 are pushed downward by the elevating cylinder 43. (Refer FIG.4 (d)), the conveyor 16 of the collection apparatus 10 can be made into the attitude | position which faced the diagonally downward toward the conveyance vehicle 30 side. Therefore, the container C in the collection device 10 can be automatically moved to the conveyor 40 side of the transport vehicle 30 (see FIG. 8B).

  As shown in FIG. 3A, FIG. 4A (partial front view), and FIG. 4C (partial front view), a conveyor of the transport vehicle 30 is provided at the rear of the frame portion 37 of the transport vehicle 30. An extruding member 45 for extruding the container C placed on 40 to the front side of the conveying vehicle is provided so as to protrude in the front-rear direction. The pushing member 45 is disposed at an upper position on the rear side of the three conveyors 40 so as to extend in the frame body width direction. Arm portions 45a extending rearward are connected to both ends of the pushing member 45, and the rear end portions of these arm portions 45a are turnable in the vertical direction to a connecting pipe 46 provided at the rear portion of the frame body portion 37. For this reason, the pushing member 45 is rotatable in the vertical direction with the connecting pipe 46 as a rotation fulcrum.

  Further, the arm portion 45 a of the pushing member 45 is supported in contact with a moving member 47 that moves as the elevating cylinder 43 expands and contracts. The moving member 47 is attached to the tip of the cylinder rod 43a of the elevating cylinder 43. When the elevating cylinder 43 is extended (see FIG. 4C), the arm portion 45a is rotated downward and the pushing member 45 is conveyed. When the rearward side of the vehicle 30 is retracted and the elevating cylinder 43 is reduced (see FIG. 4A), the arm portion 45a is rotated upward, and the pushing member 45 is projected to the front side of the conveyance vehicle. The container C placed on the conveyor 40 is pushed forward.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, a frame-shaped shock absorber that receives a shock from a container C that is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front is provided on the rear side in the frame portion 37 of the transport vehicle 30. A body 48 is provided to be movable in the front-rear direction. The shock absorber 48 is supported by the frame body portion 37 via a compression spring 48a or a shock absorber 48a provided at the lower portion. For this reason, when the container C collides with the shock absorber 48, the compression spring 48a or the shock absorber 48a contracts to absorb the shock and protect the container C and the fruits and vegetables contained in the container C. Note that a cushion capable of absorbing an impact may be further provided on the front side of the impact absorber 48.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, a container detection sensor 51 that detects whether or not the container C is carried in or out is provided between the conveyors 40 of the transport vehicle 30. In the present embodiment, two container detection sensors 51 are provided with an interval in the front-rear direction of the transport vehicle 30. Further, an obstacle sensor 54 capable of detecting an object is provided on the central side of the conveyance vehicle below the conveyor 40 on the front side of the conveyance vehicle 30, and provided on the collection device 10 or the receiving device 60 on one side in the conveyance vehicle width direction. The proximity sensor 52 described above that receives the light from the light reflecting mirror 53 and detects that the transport vehicle 30 has approached the collection device 10 or the receiving device 60 is provided. These obstacle sensor 54, container detection sensor 51, and proximity sensor 52 are electrically connected to the control device 50.

  On both sides in the width direction of the frame body portion 37, guide conveyors 56 that linearly guide the movement of the containers C placed on the conveyor 40 extend from the front side to the rear side of the frame body portion 37, and have two stages in the vertical direction. Is provided. A control device 50 that controls the operation of the steering drive unit 33 and the lifting cylinder 43 according to detection signals from the container detection sensors 23 and 51, the approach sensor 52, and the obstacle sensor 54, is provided at the rear of the transport vehicle 30. A battery 57 for supplying electric power to the control device 50 and the steering drive unit 33 is provided.

  Next, the receiving device 60 will be described with reference to FIG. 5A (plan view), FIG. 5B (side view), and FIG. 5C (front view). The receiving device 60 has a receiving body 61 formed in a frame shape by combining pipes 61a made of metal material (for example, iron). The receiving body 61 is installed in a preparation and selection facility adjacent to the cultivation space for tomatoes.

  A long space 62 extending in the front-rear direction capable of accommodating a plurality of stacked containers C is formed in the receiving body 61, and the container C can be taken in and out at the upper part and both front and rear ends of the receiving body 61. An opening 61b is formed. Support pipes 64 extending in the width direction of the receiving body are provided at both the front and rear end portions and the front and rear intermediate portion of the receiving body 61. Conveyors 66 and 67 are installed on these support pipes 64.

  Three conveyors 66 and 67 are installed on the support pipe 64 at a predetermined interval in the receiving device width direction, and two of the three conveyors 66 are installed on both sides of the receiving device width direction, and the remaining one The conveyor 67 is installed at the center in the width direction of the receiving device. The conveyors 66 installed on both sides of the receiving device width direction extend from the rear side in the front-rear direction of the receiving device 60 to the front side and extend greatly through the opening 61 b that opens at the front end of the receiving device 60. The conveyor 67 installed at the center in the width direction of the receiving device slightly extends outward from the rear end in the front-rear direction of the receiving device 60 through the opening 61b at the front end.

  These three conveyors 66 and 67 are arranged in substantially the same plane, and the front side of these conveyors 66 and 67 is inclined upward as it advances to the front side. In addition, you may make it incline upward as these three conveyors 66 and 67 whole progress to the front side. Since the relationship between the protruding lengths of the three conveyors 66 and 67 and the arrangement in the width direction is the same as that of the three conveyors 16 and 17 provided in the above-described collection device 10, the description thereof is omitted.

  On both sides in the width direction of the receiving body 61, guide conveyors 69 that linearly guide the movement of the containers C placed on the conveyors 66 and 67 extend from the rear side to the front side of the receiving body 61, and have two stages in the vertical direction. Is provided. Further, below the support pipe 64 on the front side of the receiving device, light reflection that constitutes a part of the proximity sensor 52 (see FIG. 9A) for detecting that the transport vehicle 30 has approached the receiving device 60 side. A mirror 53 is provided.

  Next, a method for transporting the container C to the collection device 10 by the transport carriage 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a), 6 (b), 7 (a), and 7 (b). At the time of harvesting fruits and vegetables, as shown in FIG. 6A, the transport carriage 70 places the container C on the vehicle body main body 72, and rotates the guard member side portion 85c of the guard member 85 to the guard position Pg. C is surrounded by a guard member 85. When the harvest of fruits and vegetables is completed, an operator (not shown) grips the handle portion 76 of the transport carriage 70 and moves the transport carriage 70 to a front position on the front side of the collection device (see FIG. 7A).

  As shown in FIGS. 6 (b) and 7 (a), when the transporting truck 70 moves the collection device 10 to the front position, the front opening 11b (see FIG. 7 (a)) of the collection device 10 is used. On the other hand, the conveyance carriage 70 is moved to the front position of the opening 11b so that the right side surface of the conveyance carriage 70 is opposed. When the transport carriage 70 moves to a position in front of the opening portion 11b, the worker rotates the guard member side portion 85c disposed on the right side of the vehicle body among the guard members 85 from the guard position Pg to the retracted position Pk, and the container C The vehicle can move to the right side of the vehicle.

  When the guard member side portion 85c on the right side of the vehicle body main body moves to the retracted position Pk, as shown in FIG. 7B, an operator (not shown) pushes the container C placed on the transport carriage 70 toward the collection device 10 side, Container C is put into the collection device 10.

  Next, the operation content of the control device 50 provided in the transport vehicle 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2B, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, and 10. This will be described with reference to (a), FIG. 10 (b), FIG. 11 (a), and FIG. 11 (b). As shown in FIG. 2B, the control device 50 receives the detection signal from the transmission device 25 that the container C of the collection device 10 has been detected by the container detection sensor 23, and the steering drive unit 33 (FIG. 3A). (See FIG. 9), and the transport vehicle 30 travels along the magnetic tape T to the collection device 10 (see FIG. 9A). The transport vehicle 30 is installed at a predetermined home position. When the conveyance vehicle 30 approaches the collection device 10 and the collection device 10 is detected by the obstacle sensor 54 and the proximity sensor 52, the control device 50 stops the operation of the steering drive unit 33, and the conveyance vehicle 30. Stop running.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 9B, the two long conveyors 16 of the cargo collection device 10 are inserted into positions on the outer side in the width direction of the three conveyors 40 of the transport vehicle 30. When the control device 50 extends the lifting cylinder 43 as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the two long conveyors 16 of the cargo collection device 10 are moved downward toward the transport vehicle 30. The container C placed on the collection device 10 moves on the conveyor 40 of the transport vehicle 30 and is carried into the transport vehicle 30 (see FIGS. 8B and 9B).

  When the container detection sensor 51 (see FIG. 9A) of the transport vehicle 30 detects that the container C has been loaded into the transport vehicle 30, the control device 50 operates the steering drive unit 33 to transport the container C. The vehicle 30 is moved along the magnetic tape T and moved to the receiving device 60 (see FIG. 10A). When the transport vehicle 30 approaches the receiving device 60 and the receiving device 60 is detected by the obstacle sensor 54 and the approach sensor 52, the control device 50, as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 11 (a). Then, the operation of the steering drive unit 33 is stopped, and the transport vehicle 30 is stopped.

  Accordingly, the two long conveyors 66 of the receiving device 60 are inserted at positions outside the width direction of the three conveyors 40 of the transport vehicle 30 (see FIG. 11A). Then, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 11B, the control device 50 reduces the lifting cylinder 43 and tilts the three conveyors 40 of the transport vehicle 30 toward the receiving device 60. Therefore, the container C carried into the transport vehicle 30 moves on the conveyors 66 and 67 of the receiving device 60 and is carried into the receiving device 60. And the control apparatus 50 is that all the containers C mounted in the conveyance vehicle 30 are carried in to the acceptance apparatus 60, and there is no container C by the container detection sensor 51 (refer Fig.9 (a)) of the conveyance vehicle 30. Is detected, the steering drive unit 33 is operated to cause the transport vehicle 30 to travel along the magnetic tape T and return to the home position.

  In addition, the control apparatus 50 will be in an operation state or a stop state, when the operation switch (not shown) provided in the conveyance vehicle 30 is turned ON operation or OFF operation. The operation switch may be a wireless remote control capable of turning on and off the operation of the control device 50 at a location away from the transport vehicle 30.

  Moreover, although the case where the receiving apparatus 60 was installed in one place was shown in the Example mentioned above, the color of the tape which put the color on the container C or stuck on a part of the container C was detected, and the container C's You may make it change the receiving place. In this case, the receiving devices 60 corresponding to the colors are prepared for the number of colors, and a magnetic tape is attached to the moving path from the home position to each receiving device 60. Moreover, the control apparatus 50 is comprised so that the conveyance vehicle 30 drive | works the movement route according to a color. Further, the conveyance vehicle 30 is provided with a color discrimination sensor capable of discriminating colors.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the container C is automatically transported by the container transport device 1 is described. However, the container C can also be used for periodic work (leaf removal, stock removal work, etc.). In this case, the container C can be carried to the receiving device 60 by providing a receiving place other than the preparation facility.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the number of the collection devices 10 is one is described. However, in a large-scale facility, a plurality of collection devices 10 may be necessary. In this case, an ID number may be assigned to each of the plurality of collection devices 10 and the transport vehicle 30 may be moved to the collection device 10 with the ID number in response to the call.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the container transport device 1 of the present invention performs the harvesting operation while accommodating the fruits and vegetables in the container C placed on the transport carriage 70 when harvesting the fruits and vegetables. When the harvesting is completed, as shown in FIG. 7B, the transport carriage 70 is moved to the collection device 10, and the container C is manually placed in the collection device 10 via the conveyor 80. For this reason, the operation | work which transfers the container C in which fruit vegetables are accommodated from the harvesting work site of fruit vegetables to the collection apparatus 10 can be performed easily. Moreover, as shown in FIG.8 (b), the container conveyance apparatus 1 of this invention automatically moves the conveyance vehicle 30 to the collection apparatus 10 with which the container C was mounted, and the container C of the collection apparatus 10 is automatically made. As shown in FIG. 10B, the transport vehicle 30 loaded with the container C automatically moves to the receiving device 60, and the container C of the transport vehicle 30 is automatically moved. Then, it is carried into the receiving device 60. For this reason, an operator is not involved when the container C is carried into the transport vehicle 30 from the collection device 10 and the container C is carried into the receiving device 60 from the transport vehicle 30. Also, the operator is not involved in moving the transport vehicle 30 loaded with the container C to the receiving device 60. That is, the container transport apparatus 1 performs all the operations for transporting the container C from the transport source to the transport destination, and the container C is transported unattended. For this reason, the container conveying apparatus 1 of this invention can reduce the labor of the operator who performs the conveyance work of a container.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the obstacle collecting device 10 or the receiving device 60 is detected by the obstacle sensor 54 and the proximity sensor 52 has been described, but the light reflecting mirror 53 is disposed at the stop position of the collecting device 10 and the receiving device 60. Instead, a magnetic tape may be applied to the road surface and detected by a magnetic detection sensor (not shown) of the transport vehicle 30.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the container C (not shown) placed on the transport carriage 70 is placed on the container C put in the collection device 10, the transport carriage 70. If the container C inside is not lifted, it cannot be placed on the container C in the collection device 10. Therefore, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6A, an elevator 90 that can raise and lower the transport carriage 70 itself may be provided below the vehicle body main body 72 of the transport carriage 70.

  The elevator 90 includes a jack 91 that is attached to the lower center of the vehicle body main body 72 and extends downward, and a grounding plate 92 provided at the lower end of the jack 91. The jack 91 may be either a hydraulic type or an electric type. When the elevator 90 is provided on the transport carriage 70 in this way, the container of the transport carriage 70 can be easily placed on the container C already placed in the collection device 10.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container conveyance apparatus 10 Collection apparatus 11 Collection main body 16, 17, 40, 66, 67, 80 Conveyor 30 Conveyance vehicle 31 Car body 43 Lift cylinder (lift actuator)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Control apparatus 60 Receiving apparatus 61 Receiving main body 70 Conveying cart 71 Car body 85 Guard member 85c Guard member side part (guard member)
90 Elevator C Container

Claims (11)

A collection device for storing containers for fruit and vegetables;
A transport vehicle for receiving and transporting the container of the collection device;
A receiving device for receiving a container of the transport vehicle,
The collection device, the transport vehicle, and the receiving device are provided with a conveyor capable of transferring the container,
A conveyor provided in the collection device and the transport vehicle is supported so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction,
Inclining the tiltable conveyor, moving the transport vehicle between the collection device and the receiving device, and transporting a container placed in the collection device to the receiving device. apparatus. It is equipped with a transport cart with a movable body that carries containers that contain fruit and vegetables,
The vehicle body is provided with a conveyor capable of moving the container,
The container transport device according to claim 1, wherein the transport carriage on which the container is placed is moved to the collection device, and the container is moved to the collection device via the conveyor. The container conveyance device according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle body of the conveyance carriage is provided with an elevator capable of moving the conveyance carriage in the vertical direction with respect to the ground. The vehicle body of the transport carriage is provided with a guard member surrounding the container placed on the vehicle body,
The container transport according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a guard member disposed on at least one side in the width direction of the vehicle body among the guard members is provided so as to be retractable from a guard position surrounding the container. apparatus. The collection device has a collection body having a hollow inside and an opening formed on one end side,
A conveyor provided in the collection device extends from the inside of the collection body to the outside through the opening, and can be tilted up and down around a fulcrum provided on one end side of the collection body. The container transport device according to claim 1, wherein the container transport device is supported by the container. The transport vehicle has a movable vehicle body,
A conveyor provided in the transport vehicle extends from the front side to the rear side in the traveling direction of the vehicle body, and is supported so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction around a fulcrum provided in a front-rear direction intermediate portion of the vehicle body,
The container conveying device according to claim 1, wherein a lifting actuator for moving the rear side of the conveyor in the vertical direction is provided on the rear side of the vehicle body. When the transport vehicle conveyor moves to a position where the front end of the transport vehicle approaches and opposes one end side of the collection device, the conveyor is arranged adjacent to the conveyor extending from the collection device and substantially the same height as the conveyor. The container transport device according to claim 6, wherein the container transport device is disposed at a position. When the lifting actuator moves to a position where the front end of the transport vehicle approaches and approaches one end side of the collection device, the lift actuator moves the one end side of the conveyor of the collection device downward to move the conveyor to the transport vehicle side. The container transport device according to claim 7, wherein the container transport device is tilted toward the center. The receiving device has a receiving body that is hollow inside and has an opening formed on one end side,
The conveyor provided in the receiving device extends outward from the inside of the receiving body through the opening, and at least one end side of the conveyor is inclined upward. Container transport device. The conveyor provided in the receiving device is arranged adjacent to the conveyor of the transport vehicle and is substantially the same as the conveyor when the front end of the transport vehicle moves to a position facing and approaching one end of the receiving device. It is arrange | positioned in the height position. The container conveying apparatus of Claim 9 characterized by the above-mentioned. The container transport device according to claim 7, wherein the travel of the vehicle body of the transport vehicle and the operation of the lifting actuator are automatically controlled by a control device provided in the transport vehicle.

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