JP2014189369A - Container conveyer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container conveyer capable of efficiently conveying a container by a simple structure.SOLUTION: A container conveyer 3 includes a conveyance body 16, a table 9, an elevating unit 17 and a pusher unit 10. The elevating unit 17 shifts the height of the conveyance surface of the conveyance body 16. The pusher unit 10 pushes a vial 4 from the side to move the vial 4. The elevating unit 17 places the conveyance surface of the conveyance body 16 at a position higher than the upper surface of the table 9 when the pusher unit 10 moves the vial 4 to the table 9 from the conveyance body 16. The elevating unit 17 places the conveyance surface of the conveyance body 16 at a position lower than the upper surface of the table 9 when the pusher unit 10 moves the vial 4 to the conveyance body 16 from the table 9.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for transporting a container.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus for feeding vials placed on a table to a conveyor. In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a vial on a table is pushed by a pusher, and the vial is moved to a conveyor.

JP 2002-37444 A

  FIG. 17 is a side view showing a main part of a conventional apparatus for conveying a vial. FIG. 17 shows a state in which the vial 4 placed on the table 35 is pushed by the pusher 36 and the vial 4 is moved to the conveyor 37. If the upper surface of the conveyor 37 is arranged at a position higher than the upper surface of the table 35 as shown by reference numeral J in FIG. 17, the vial 4 falls when the vial 4 is moved to the conveyor 37.

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the vial is pressed from the opposite side of the pusher when the vial is moved to the conveyor. Although the vial can be prevented from overturning, a member for holding the vial is required. Moreover, time for moving this member is required at the time of conveyance of a vial. There has been a problem that the configuration of the apparatus becomes complicated and the conveyance efficiency of the vial is lowered.

  Such a problem can occur not only when a small bottle such as a vial is transported but also when another container is transported.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a container transport device capable of efficiently transporting a container with a simple configuration.

  A container transport device according to the present invention includes a transport body that transports a container placed on a transport surface, a table provided on a side of the transport body, a lifting unit for changing the height of the transport surface of the transport body, A pusher unit that moves the container placed on the transport surface of the transport body to the upper surface of the table by pushing the container from the side, and moves the container placed on the upper surface of the table to the transport surface of the transport body. The elevating unit places the transport surface of the transport body higher than the upper surface of the table when the pusher unit moves the container from the transport body to the table, and transports when the pusher unit moves the container from the table to the transport body. The body conveyance surface is arranged at a position lower than the upper surface of the table.

  If it is a container conveyance apparatus concerning this invention, a container can be efficiently conveyed by simple structure.

It is a figure which shows the conveyance system provided with the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of the conveyance system provided with the container conveying apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the principal part of the conventional apparatus which conveys a vial.

  The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The overlapping description will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a transport system including a container transport device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a freeze-drying device, 2 is a transport cart, and 3 is a container transport device.

  The freeze-drying apparatus 1 is an apparatus for freeze-drying the chemical solution filled in the vial 4. The transport carriage 2 transports the vial 4 between the container transport device 3 and the freeze-drying device 1. The transport carriage 2 receives a number of vials 4 filled with a chemical solution from the container transport device 3. The transport carriage 2 moves the vial 4 received from the container transport device 3 to the freeze-drying device 1. In addition, the transport carriage 2 receives a number of vials 4 that have been subjected to freeze-drying processing from the freeze-drying apparatus 1. The transport carriage 2 moves the vial 4 received from the freeze-drying apparatus 1 to the container transport apparatus 3. For example, the transport carriage 2 moves along the rail 5 and stops at a position facing the container transport device 3 and a position facing each freeze-drying device 1.

  The container transfer device 3 collects the vials 4 flowing from the upstream device (not shown) and moves them to the transfer carriage 2. In addition, the container transport device 3 sends the vial 4 received from the transport cart 2 to a downstream device (not shown). Conventionally, the transport system includes both an apparatus (collecting machine) for collecting and transferring the vials 4 to the transport carriage 2 and an apparatus (dispensing machine) for flowing the vials 4 received from the transport carriage 2 downstream. It was done. In this transport system, the container transport device 3 has the functions of both the above devices. With this transport system, the system can be configured easily and inexpensively. Moreover, if it is this conveyance system, the area which a system occupies can be made small.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the container transport device 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the container transport device 3 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the container transport device 3 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the container transport device 3 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The container transport device 3 includes a carry-in conveyor 6, a central conveyor 7, a carry-out conveyor 8, a table 9, a pusher unit 10, an alignment unit 11, a sensor 12, and a control device 13.

  The carry-in conveyor 6, the central conveyor 7, and the carry-out conveyor 8 are devices for carrying the vials 4. The carry-in conveyor 6 has a downstream end connected to an upstream end of the central conveyor 7. The carry-out conveyor 8 has an upstream end connected to a downstream end of the central conveyor 7. That is, the central conveyor 7 is disposed between the carry-in conveyor 6 and the carry-out conveyor 8.

  The central conveyor 7 includes, for example, a driving roller 14, a driven roller 15, a transport body 16, and a lifting unit 17. The transport body 16 is a member for placing the vial 4 on the upper surface and actually transporting the vial 4. The transport body 16 is made of, for example, an endless top chain or a belt. The conveyance body 16 is wound around the driving roller 14 and the driven roller 15. As the driving roller 14 rotates, the transport body 16 moves, and the vial 4 placed on the upper surface of the transport body 16 moves horizontally in one direction. The movement of the carrier 16, that is, the rotation of the driving roller 14 is controlled by the control device 13.

  The driving roller 14 is an example of a driving device that drives the conveyance body 16. When the carrier 16 has another shape, an appropriate driving device is used according to the shape. Hereinafter, the upper surface of the transport body 16 on which the vial 4 is placed is also referred to as a surface for transporting the vial 4, that is, a transport surface.

  The elevating unit 17 is a device for changing the height of the transport surface of the transport body 16. The elevating unit 17 is configured so that the height of the portion adjacent to the table 9 on the transport surface of the transport body 16 is slightly higher (first height) than the top surface of the table 9 and slightly lower (second height). ) And place. The first height is set, for example, at a position about 0.5 mm higher than the upper surface of the table 9. The second height is set, for example, at a position lower by about 0.5 mm than the upper surface of the table 9. The first height and the second height are not limited to the above positions.

  The elevating unit 17 includes, for example, a support plate 18 and a drive device 19. The support plate 18 supports the transport body 16 from below. In the present embodiment, the table 9 is adjacent only to the central portion of the carrier 16. The table 9 is not adjacent to a portion of the transport body 16 that forms the downstream end and the upstream end of the transport surface. For this reason, the support plate 18 opposes the center part of the part which forms a conveyance surface among the conveyance bodies 16 from below, and supports the said center part from the downward direction. The member that supports the carrier 16 from below does not have to have a plate shape.

  The conveyance body 16 moves so as to slide on the upper surface of the support plate 18. The drive device 19 moves the support plate 18 up and down to change the height of the transport surface of the transport body 16. When the height of the support plate 18 is appropriately adjusted by the driving device 19, the transport surface of the transport body 16 is disposed at the first height and the second height. 3 and 4, the drive device 19 is constituted by a solenoid. The drive device 19 may be constituted by a motor and a cam. The operation of the lifting unit 17 is controlled by the control device 13.

  The elevating unit 17 is not limited to the above configuration. However, by employing the lifting unit 17 configured as described above, a desired portion of the transport body 16 can be easily arranged at the first height and the second height.

  The table 9 is a table on which the vial 4 is placed. The table 9 is provided on the side of the transport body 16. A constant interval is formed between the table 9 and the transport body 16. When the vial 4 is transferred from the container transfer device 3 to the transfer carriage 2 and when the vial 4 is transferred from the transfer carriage 2 to the container transfer device 3, the vials 4 are aligned on the upper surface of the table 9 in a dense state. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the vials 4 are arranged in a staggered pattern on the upper surface of the table 9.

  The pusher unit 10 is a device for moving the vial 4 in the horizontal direction by pushing the side surface of the vial 4 from the side. The direction in which the pusher unit 10 moves the vial 4 is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the transport body 16 of the central conveyor 7 moves. That is, the moving direction of the vial 4 by the pusher unit 10 is substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the vial 4 by the transport body 16. The operation of the pusher unit 10 is controlled by the control device 13.

  For example, when the vial 4 placed on the transport surface of the transport body 16 is moved to the upper surface of the table 9, the vial 4 is moved by the pusher unit 10. Further, when the vial 4 placed on the upper surface of the table 9 is moved to the transport carriage 2, the vial 4 is moved by the pusher unit 10. When the vial 4 placed on the upper surface of the table 9 is moved to the transfer surface of the transfer body 16, the vial 4 is moved by the pusher unit 10.

  The alignment unit 11 is a device for aligning the vials 4 in a row. The alignment unit 11 aligns the vials 4 flowing from the carry-in conveyor 6 in a line on the transport surface of the transport body 16. The pusher unit 10 pushes the vials 4 aligned in a row by the alignment unit 11 from the opposite side of the table 9 (the side opposite to the table 9), and moves the vial 4 from the conveyance surface of the conveyance body 16 to the upper surface of the table 9.

  The alignment unit 11 aligns the vials 4 in a specific area on the transport surface of the transport body 16. Hereinafter, an area for the alignment unit 11 to align the vials 4 in a row is referred to as an alignment area. In FIG. 2, the alignment region is indicated by the symbol A. The alignment region is arranged along the conveyance direction of the vial 4 by the conveyance body 16. The alignment region has a width slightly larger than the width of the vial 4 and has the same length as the width of the table 9 or slightly shorter than the width of the table 9.

  The central conveyor 7 includes guides 20 and 21. The guides 20 and 21 are for guiding the movement of the vial 4 placed on the transport surface of the transport body 16. The guide 20 guides the vial 4 flowing from the carry-in conveyor 6 to the alignment region. The guide 21 guides the vial 4 placed on the transport surface of the transport body 16 to the carry-out conveyor 8.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the alignment unit 11 aligns the vial 4 in the alignment region using a part of the pusher unit 10 is shown as an example. The alignment unit 11 includes, for example, an alignment guide 22, an inlet stopper 23, and an outlet stopper 24. The operation of the alignment unit 11 is controlled by the control device 13.

  The alignment guide 22 is disposed between the table 9 and the central conveyor 7. The alignment guide 22 includes a rod-like member 25 and a driving device 26. The rod-shaped member 25 has, for example, a quadrangular cross section and a flat upper surface and both side surfaces. The rod-shaped member 25 has a length substantially the same as the width of the table 9 and is disposed horizontally.

  The driving device 26 is a device for changing the height of the rod-shaped member 25 by moving the rod-shaped member 25 up and down. When the height of the rod-shaped member 25 is appropriately adjusted by the driving device 26, the upper surface of the rod-shaped member 25 is the same height (third height) as the upper surface of the table 9, and is higher than the upper surface of the table 9 (fourth). Height). When the rod-shaped member 25 is disposed at the third height, one side surface (side surface facing the table 9 side) of the rod-shaped member 25 faces one end surface of the table 9. When the rod-shaped member 25 is arranged at the fourth height, the other side surface (the side surface facing the side opposite to the one side surface) of the rod-shaped member 25 faces the side surface of the vial 4 that has entered the alignment region.

  When the vials 4 are aligned in a line in the alignment region, the rod-like member 25 is disposed at the fourth height. The vial 4 that has entered the alignment region is aligned at the table 9 side by the other side surface of the rod-shaped member 25. In the present embodiment, the alignment region includes a space formed between the alignment guide 22 and the pusher 27 of the pusher unit 10. The vials 4 that have entered the alignment region are aligned on the side opposite to the table 9 by the pusher 27. The pusher 27 will be described later.

  The inlet stopper 23 is for preventing the vial 4 from entering the alignment region. The inlet stopper 23 is arranged at the inlet of the alignment area. The inlet stopper 23 closes the inlet of the alignment area by the restriction member, and prevents the vial 4 from entering the alignment area. For example, when the fences 28 are provided on both sides of the table 9 to prevent the vial 4 from dropping, the inlet stopper 23 is arranged so that the regulating member is aligned with the fence 28 on the carry-in conveyor 6 side, Prevent entry of vial 4 into the alignment area. When it is not necessary to prevent the vial 4 from entering the alignment region, the restricting member of the inlet stopper 23 is disposed at a position that does not block the inlet of the alignment region.

  The outlet stopper 24 is for preventing the vial 4 from flowing downstream from the alignment region. The outlet stopper 24 is arranged at the outlet of the alignment area. The outlet stopper 24 blocks the outlet of the alignment area by the restriction member, and prevents the vial 4 from flowing downstream from the alignment area. For example, the outlet stopper 24 arranges the regulating member so as to be in a straight line with the rail 28 on the carry-out conveyor 8 side, and prevents the vial 4 from flowing out of the alignment region. When it is not necessary to prevent the vial 4 from flowing out from the alignment region, the restricting member of the outlet stopper 24 is disposed at a position that does not block the outlet of the alignment region.

The pusher unit 10 includes a drive device 29 in addition to the pusher 27, for example. The operation of the pusher unit 10 is controlled by the control device 13.
The pusher 27 is a member for actually pushing the side surface of the vial 4 from the side. The pusher 27 is made of, for example, a rod-shaped member having a square cross section. The pusher 27 has a length slightly shorter than the width of the table 9 and is disposed horizontally.

  The drive device 29 is a device for moving the pusher 27. The drive device 29 includes an elevating unit 30 and a traveling unit 31. The lifting / lowering unit 30 moves the pusher 27 in the vertical direction (the B direction shown in FIG. 3). For example, the elevating unit 30 arranges the pusher 27 so that the side surface of the pusher 27 faces the side surface of the vial 4 placed on the transport surface of the transport body 16. Further, the lifting unit 30 arranges the pusher 27 so that the side surface of the pusher 27 faces the side surface of the vial 4 placed on the upper surface of the table 9. The lift unit 30 has a pusher 27 disposed above the vial 4 placed on the transport surface of the transport body 16 and the upper surface of the table 9.

  The traveling unit 31 horizontally moves the pusher 27 in a direction (C direction shown in FIG. 2) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the vial 4 by the conveyance body 16. For example, the traveling unit 31 arranges the pusher 27 at a position farther from the table 9 than the rod-like member 25 of the alignment guide 22. Further, the traveling unit 31 arranges the pusher 27 so that the pusher 27 approaches the transport carriage 2 from the table 9.

  In this Embodiment, the case where the traveling unit 31 is arrange | positioned on both sides of the table 9 seeing from the upper side is shown as an example. The elevating unit 30 is supported by each traveling unit 31 and moves horizontally together with the pusher 27. Reference numeral 32 denotes a support arm that supports the pusher 27. An end of the support arm 32 is fixed to the lifting unit 30. The support arm 32 supports the pusher 27 on the transport body 16 side from the lifting unit 30 when viewed from above.

  The sensor 12 detects the presence of the vial 4 in the detection area 12a (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4). The detection area 12 a is set in advance above the conveyance surface of the conveyance body 16. The sensor 12 detects the presence or absence of the vial 4 when the vial 4 placed on the table 9 is transferred to the carry-out conveyor 8 via the carrier 16. The detection area 12 a is set to a position where the vial 4 transferred from the table 9 to the transport body 16 always passes before reaching the carry-out conveyor 8.

In the present embodiment, a photoelectric transmission type sensor is shown as an example of the sensor 12. The sensor 12 includes a projector 33 that emits light and a light receiver 34 that receives the light. The projector 33 is provided in the guide 21, for example. The projector 33 irradiates light parallel to the direction in which the transport body 16 moves. The light emitted from the projector 33 passes horizontally above the carrier 16 so as to cross the table 9. The light receiver 34 is provided in the guide 20, for example. If the vial 4 is not present on the transport surface of the transport body 16, the light irradiated from the projector 33 is received by the light receiver 34 after passing over the transport surface of the transport body 16.
The arrangement of the projector 33 and the light receiver 34 may be reversed.

  Next, the operation of the container transport device 3 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 15 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the container transport device 3.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show the operation (stacking operation) until the vial 4 flowing from the upstream apparatus is transferred to the transport carriage 2.
In the state shown in FIG. 5, the transport body of the carry-in conveyor 6 and the transport body 16 of the central conveyor 7 are driven. The vial 4 flowing from the upstream apparatus is carried by the carry-in conveyor 6 and transferred to the conveyance surface of the conveyance body 16. The vial 4 transferred to the carrier 16 is guided to the alignment region by the guide 20.

  The rod-like member 25 of the alignment guide 22 is arranged at the fourth height by the driving device 26. The pusher 27 of the pusher unit 10 is arranged on the side opposite to the table 9 of the rod-shaped member 25 by the driving device 29. The pusher 27 is disposed at substantially the same height as the rod-like member 25. Thereby, a gap having a width slightly larger than the width of the vial 4 is formed between the rod-shaped member 25 and the pusher 27. This gap is the alignment region. Further, in order to prevent the vial 4 from flowing downstream from the alignment region, the restricting member of the outlet stopper 24 is disposed at a position where the outlet of the alignment region is blocked. In order to allow the vial 4 to enter the alignment region, the restriction member of the inlet stopper 23 is disposed at a position that does not block the inlet of the alignment region.

  The vials 4 that have entered the alignment region are guided by the rod-like member 25 and the pusher 27 and are aligned in a row in front of the table 9. When the prescribed number of vials 4 enter the alignment area, the inlet stopper 23 closes the inlet of the alignment area. Moreover, the conveyance body 16 stops. FIG. 6 shows this state.

Next, an operation for moving the plurality of vials 4 arranged in a line in the alignment region to the table 9 is performed.
First, the driving device 26 of the alignment guide 22 moves the rod-shaped member 25 downward. Thereby, the upper surface of the rod-shaped member 25 is disposed at the same height as the upper surface of the table 9. Thereafter, the traveling unit 31 of the driving device 29 moves along the table 9, and the pusher 27 moves horizontally so as to approach the table 9. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the vials 4 arranged in a line in the alignment region are pushed by the pusher 27, passed over the bar-like member 25, and transferred to the upper surface of the table 9.

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which the vial 4 is moved from the transport surface of the transport body 16 to the upper surface of the table 9. (A) of FIG. 8 has shown the state which looked at the principal part of the container conveying apparatus 3 from the front. (B) of FIG. 8 has shown the state which looked at the principal part of the container conveying apparatus 3 from the side.

  When the vial 4 is moved from the carrier 16 to the table 9, the support plate 18 of the elevating unit 17 is disposed at the raised position by the drive device 19. Thereby, the height of the upper surface of the portion adjacent to the table 9 in the transport body 16 (the portion indicated by the symbol D in FIG. 8) is arranged at the first height. In addition, as for each conveyance body of the carrying-in conveyor 6 and the carrying-out conveyor 8, and the table 9, each upper surface is arrange | positioned at the same height (pass line). Even when the support plate 18 is disposed at the raised position, the upper surface of the portion of the transport body 16 that forms the downstream end and the upstream end of the transport surface is disposed at the same height as the pass line.

  When the vial 4 is transferred from the transport body 16 to the table 9, a step is formed between the transport surface of the transport body 16 and the upper surface of the table 9 such that the transport surface is higher. In FIG. 8, this step is indicated by a symbol E. This step is set to about 0.5 mm, for example. Since the transport surface of the transport body 16 is higher than the upper surface of the table 9, the vial 4 does not fall when the vial 4 is transferred from the transport body 16 to the table 9.

  When the vial 4 is moved from the carrier 16 to the table 9, the traveling unit 31 of the driving device 29 moves along the table 9. As a result, the pusher 27 moves horizontally so as to move away from the table 9. Further, the driving device 26 of the alignment guide 22 moves the rod-shaped member 25 upward. Thereby, the rod-shaped member 25 is arrange | positioned at 4th height. The pusher 27 stops at a position facing the rod-shaped member 25 so that an alignment region is formed between the pusher 27 and the rod-shaped member 25. Further, the inlet of the alignment area is opened by the inlet stopper 23. During the above operation, the restricting member of the outlet stopper 24 is arranged at a position that closes the outlet of the alignment region.

  When the alignment region is formed above the transport body 16 and the entrance of the alignment region is opened, the operation for moving the vials 4 in a line in the alignment region to the table 9 is resumed. Then, by repeatedly performing the above operation, the vials 4 are transferred to the table 9 one by one, and a large number of vials 4 are arranged on the upper surface of the table 9 in a dense state.

9 to 14 show an operation (dispensing operation) for sending the vial 4 received from the transport carriage 2 to the carry-out conveyor 8.
FIG. 9 shows a state when the vial 4 is moved from the transport carriage 2 to the table 9. In the state shown in FIG. 9, the transport body 16 of the central conveyor 7 and the transport body of the carry-out conveyor 8 are driven. The rod-like member 25 of the alignment guide 22 is arranged at the third height by the driving device 26. The pusher 27 of the pusher unit 10 is arranged on the side of the vial 4 placed on the table 9 on the side opposite to the carrier 16. The inlet stopper 23 is closed and the outlet stopper 24 is opened. The light projector 33 of the sensor 12 irradiates light toward the light receiver 34. The light irradiated from the projector 33 is received by the light receiver 34 unless blocked by an obstacle.

  The drive device 29 of the pusher unit 10 drives the pusher 27 on the condition that the presence of the vial 4 is not detected by the sensor 12. In the state shown in FIG. 9, all the vials 4 are placed on the upper surface of the table 9. For this reason, the light irradiated from the light projector 33 is received by the light receiver 34. That is, the presence of the vial 4 is not detected by the sensor 12. If the presence of the vial 4 is not detected by the sensor 12, the traveling unit 31 of the driving device 29 moves along the table 9, and the pusher 27 moves horizontally so as to approach the carrier 16. As a result, among the vials 4 placed on the upper surface of the table 9, the vials 4 arranged in the position farthest from the carrier 16 are pushed by the pusher 27, and the entire vial 4 placed on the upper surface of the table 9 is Move to the carrier 16 side.

  When the vial 4 is pushed by the pusher 27, among the vials 4 placed on the upper surface of the table 9, the vial 4 arranged closest to the carrier 16 passes over the bar-like member 25 and passes through the carrier 16. Moved to the top surface.

  In the following description of the operation, among the vials 4 placed on the upper surface of the table 9, the vial 4 arranged closest to the carrier 16 is referred to as the first row of vials 4. Similarly, the vials 4 arranged next to the first row of vials 4 at a position close to the carrier 16 are referred to as second row vials 4.

  FIG. 10 shows a state where the vial 4 is moved from the upper surface of the table 9 to the transport surface of the transport body 16. (A) of FIG. 10 has shown the state which looked at the principal part of the container conveying apparatus 3 from the front. (B) of FIG. 10 has shown the state which looked at the principal part of the container conveying apparatus 3 from the side.

  When the vial 4 is moved from the table 9 to the carrier 16, the support plate 18 of the elevating unit 17 is disposed at the lowered position by the driving device 19. Thereby, the height of the upper surface of the portion adjacent to the table 9 in the transport body 16 (the portion indicated by the symbol F in FIG. 10) is arranged at the second height. Even when the support plate 18 is disposed at the lowered position, the upper surface of the transport body 16 that forms the downstream end and the upstream end of the transport surface is disposed at the same height as the pass line.

  When the vial 4 is transferred from the table 9 to the transport body 16, a step is formed between the upper surface of the table 9 and the transport surface of the transport body 16 such that the upper surface of the table 9 is higher. In FIG. 10, this step is indicated by a symbol G. This step is set to about 0.5 mm, for example. Since the upper surface of the table 9 is higher than the transport surface of the transport body 16, the vial 4 does not fall when the vial 4 is transferred from the table 9 to the transport body 16.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the first row of vials 4 moves to the transport surface of the transport body 16, the light irradiated from the projector 33 is blocked by the vials 4. Thereby, the presence of the vial 4 is detected by the sensor 12. When the presence of the vial 4 is detected by the sensor 12, the driving device 29 stops the operation of pushing the vial 4 by the pusher 27. That is, the movement of the traveling unit 31 is stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the detection area 12 a of the sensor 12 is set in advance so that the presence of the vial 4 is detected by the sensor 12 immediately after the vials 4 in the first row are transferred to the transport surface of the transport body 16. In the present embodiment, the rod-shaped member 25 of the alignment guide 22 is arranged on the side of the table 16 on the transport body 16 side. For this reason, the projector 33 irradiates the light horizontally so that the light passes through a position away from the rod-like member 25 by the distance H when viewed from above. The distance H is set to a value slightly larger than the width (diameter) of the vial 4, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the vial 4 that has moved from the table 9 to the transport body 16 is sent downstream as the transport body 16 moves. When the first row of vials 4 reaches the detection area 12a, the second row of vials 4 is placed on the upper surface of the table 9 (the upper surface of the rod-shaped member 25). For this reason, the vials 4 placed on the upper surface of the table 9 are sent to the downstream side one by one. While the presence of the vial 4 is detected by the sensor 12, the vial 4 placed on the table 9 is not pushed out of the table 9 by the carrier 16.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the vial 4 is sent downstream by the carrier 16 and the presence of the vial 4 is no longer detected by the sensor 12, the driving device 29 resumes the operation of pushing the vial 4 by the pusher 27. That is, the traveling unit 31 moves along the table 9, and the pusher 27 moves horizontally so as to approach the transport body 16. The above operation is repeated until all the vials 4 placed on the upper surface of the table 9 are transported by the transport conveyor 8.

  FIG. 15 shows a state when shifting from the stacking operation to the payout operation and when shifting from the payout operation to the stacking operation. As described above, the container transport device 3 has both the function of a conventional stacking machine and the function of a dispenser. For this reason, it is necessary to arrange the pusher 27 at an appropriate position in accordance with the operation to be performed at the time of the transition. At the time of the transition, the driving device 29 of the pusher unit 10 arranges the pusher 27 at a position higher than the vial 4 placed on the table 9 and then moves the pusher 27 horizontally.

  For example, when shifting from the dispensing operation to the accumulation operation, the pusher 27 is moved upward by the elevating unit 30 and placed at a position higher than the vial 4 placed on the table 9. Next, the pusher 27 is moved in the horizontal direction so as to approach the transport body 16 by the traveling unit 31. Thereafter, the pusher 27 is moved downward by the elevating unit 30 and is disposed at a position facing the alignment guide 22 disposed at the fourth height.

  When shifting from the accumulation operation to the dispensing operation, the pusher 27 is moved upward by the elevating unit 30 and is disposed at a position higher than the vial 4 placed on the table 9. Next, the pusher 27 is moved in the horizontal direction so as to be separated from the carrier 16 by the traveling unit 31. Thereafter, the pusher 27 is moved downward by the elevating unit 30 and is arranged on the side of the vial 4 placed on the table 9 on the side opposite to the carrier 16.

  If it is the container conveying apparatus 3 which has the said structure, the vial 4 can be efficiently conveyed with a simple structure.

  In other words, when the vial 4 is moved from the transport body 16 to the table 9, a step indicated by the symbol E is formed between the transport surface of the transport body 16 and the upper surface of the table 9. Further, when the vial 4 is moved from the table 9 to the transport body 16, a step indicated by a symbol G is formed between the upper surface of the table 9 and the transport surface of the transport body 16. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the vial 4 from falling over both when the vial 4 is accumulated on the table 9 and when the vial 4 is dispensed from the table 9.

  For example, when the transport body 16 is formed of an endless belt, a seam is always formed on a part of the transport body 16. In the joint portion, the flatness of the transport surface is poor. With the container transport device 3 having the above-described configuration, even when such a transport body 16 is used, the stacking operation and the dispensing operation are stably performed without pressing the vial 4 from the opposite side of the pusher 27. be able to. Since a pressing member for pressing the vial 4 is not required, the configuration of the container transport device 3 can be simplified. Moreover, the time for moving the pressing member is unnecessary, and the conveyance efficiency of the vial 4 can be greatly improved. There is no problem that the vial 4 is excessively sandwiched between the pusher 27 and the pressing member and the vial 4 is broken.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating another example of the transport system including the container transport device 3. In the transfer system shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of freeze-drying apparatuses 1 are provided for one container transfer apparatus 3. For this reason, it is necessary to provide the transport carriage 2 for transporting the vial 4 between the container transport device 3 and the freeze-drying device 1. The transport system shown in FIG. 16 does not include the transport carriage 2. That is, the transport system shown in FIG. 16 includes one container transport device 3 for one freeze-drying device 1. The container transfer device 3 can also be applied to such a transfer system.

  In the present embodiment, the system for transporting a small bottle such as the vial 4 has been described. This is an example. The container transport device 3 can be applied to a system for transporting various containers. For example, the container transport device 3 configured as described above may be applied to a system for transporting beer bottles, a system for transporting canned cans, a system for transporting PET bottles, and the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Freeze drying apparatus, 2 Conveying cart, 3 Container conveying apparatus, 4 Vials, 5 Rail, 6 Carrying conveyor, 7 Central conveyor, 8 Unloading conveyor, 9 Table, 10 Pusher unit, 11 Alignment unit, 12 Sensor, 12a Detection area, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Control apparatus, 14 Drive roller, 15 Drive roller, 16 Conveyance body, 17 Lifting unit, 18 Support plate, 19 Drive apparatus, 20 Guide, 21 Guide, 22 Alignment guide, 23 Inlet stopper, 24 Outlet stopper, 25 Bar-shaped member, 26 Drive unit, 27 Pusher, 28 Fence, 29 Drive unit, 30 Lifting unit, 31 Traveling unit, 32 Support arm, 33 Projector, 34 Receiver, 35 Table, 36 Pusher, 37 Conveyor

Claims (6)

A transport body for transporting the container on the transport surface;
A table provided on the side of the carrier;
A lifting unit for changing the height of the transport surface of the transport body;
A pusher unit that moves the container placed on the transport surface of the transport body to the upper surface of the table and moves the container placed on the upper surface of the table to the transport surface of the transport body by pushing the container from the side. When,
With
When the pusher unit moves the container from the transport body to the table, the elevating unit arranges the transport surface of the transport body at a position higher than the upper surface of the table, and the pusher unit removes the container from the table. A container transport device in which the transport surface of the transport body is arranged at a position lower than the upper surface of the table when moved to the transport body. The lifting unit is
Support means for supporting the carrier from below;
A drive device for moving the support means up and down to change the height of the transport surface of the transport body;
With
The container transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport body moves so as to slide on an upper surface of the support means. The table is adjacent only to a part of the transport body, and is not adjacent to a part of the transport body that forms the downstream end and the upstream end of the transport surface,
The container transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support means is disposed so as to face the part of the transport body from below. The pusher unit is
A pusher to push the container,
A drive device for moving the pusher in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the container by the conveyance body and in the vertical direction;
The container conveyance apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3 provided with. A sensor for detecting the presence of a container in a detection area set above the transport surface of the transport body;
With
5. The container transport device according to claim 4, wherein when the container is moved from the table to the transport body, the drive device stops the operation of pushing the container by the pusher when the sensor detects the presence of the container. . The sensor is
A projector that emits light;
A receiver that receives the light;
With
The container transport device according to claim 5, wherein the light irradiated from the projector is received by the light receiver after passing over a transport surface of the transport body.

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