JP2015160739A - Vessel alignment/posture control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the alignment and a posture of a vessel, and to prevent an excessive turn of the vessel by simple and low-cost means, related to the vessel having a rectangular form or an elliptical form in a plane view.SOLUTION: A vessel alignment/posture control device is constituted of conveyors 16 and 18 arranged in a conveyor width direction and having continuous conveyor faces, and the conveyor 18 is constituted of a conveyor 19 arranged at an upstream side in a conveyor progress direction, and a conveyor 20 arranged at a downstream side of the conveyor 19. A tilt guide 28 is arranged obliquely with respect to a conveyor progress direction so as to progress to the conveyor 19 from an upstream end of the conveyor 16, passes through a boundary region between the conveyors 16, 19 and 20, and is arranged obliquely with respect to the progress direction toward the conveyor 20. The conveyors 16, 19 and 20 are constituted so that their progress speeds become 16<19<20 in the conveyors.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for aligning and controlling the posture of a container containing frozen food while moving on a conveyor.

Since frozen foods have been cooked or prepared, they are widely used from restaurants to ordinary households because they help save labor in cooking. Moreover, the freshness of food can be maintained for a long time by quick freezing during freezing.
In the freezing process of frozen food, food is usually put in a container such as a tray, and the container containing the food is placed on a conveyor and carried into a freezer. The food in the container is quickly frozen to -20 ° C. or lower inside the freezer and then carried out of the freezer. When carrying containers into a freezer, it may be necessary to arrange the containers in a single row. Moreover, the frozen foods carried out of the freezer need to be aligned and aligned in a row on a conveyor for packaging and boxing.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus that aligns a number of upright containers such as bottles and cans that are randomly placed on a conveyor and conveyed on the conveyor in a row. This apparatus is arranged in the width direction of the conveyor to form a continuous conveyor surface, and a plurality of conveyors driven at different traveling speeds in the same direction and on the conveyor so as to cross obliquely with respect to the traveling direction of the conveyor. And an oblique guide provided on the head. A large number of upright containers conveyed by the conveyor are arranged along the oblique guides, and the movement of the upright containers in the conveyor width direction is regulated so that the upright containers are aligned in a row.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a container attitude control device that can control the direction of a container made of a rectangular parallelepiped that moves on a conveyor. Similar to the alignment device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the posture control device forms a continuous conveyor surface arranged in the conveyor width direction, and a plurality of conveyors driven at different traveling speeds in the same direction, An oblique guide provided on the conveyor so as to cross obliquely with respect to the traveling direction of the conveyor.

In this attitude control device, the containers conveyed along the oblique guide are given a rotational force on the conveyor due to the difference in the traveling speed of the plurality of conveyors arranged in parallel, and the long side of the container becomes the oblique guide. It becomes the direction along.
Further, this attitude control device adjusts the traveling speed of each conveyor and the angle of the oblique guide with respect to the conveyor traveling direction, so that the container whose long side is once subjected to the attitude control in the direction along the oblique guide is not further rotated. Has a posture maintenance function.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-15315 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-247536

  In the apparatuses disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is necessary to arrange a large number of conveyors in the conveyor width direction and control the conveyors so that the traveling speeds of the conveyors are different. Therefore, the apparatus configuration and the control mechanism are complicated and expensive. There is a problem of becoming.

In addition, the alignment device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not a container having a circular shape in a plan view such as a can or a bottle, but a container having a rectangular shape or an elliptical shape in a plan view is conveyed by a conveyor. It is considered to have a control function. However, unlike the posture control device disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the posture holding function is not provided, the container holds its posture after the long side is once posture-controlled in the direction along the oblique guide. There is a risk that it will not be able to rotate and will rotate further.
Furthermore, the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a problem that the speed control mechanism of each conveyor for providing the posture maintaining function is complicated and expensive.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is intended for a container having a rectangular or elliptical shape in plan view. The container is aligned and posture-controlled by simple and low-cost means, and the container An object of the present invention is to realize an alignment and attitude control device capable of preventing over-rotation.

In order to achieve the above object, the alignment and posture control device of the present invention has an oblique guide provided on the conveyor so as to cross obliquely with respect to the conveyor traveling direction, and is viewed in a plan view conveyed by the conveyor. A plurality of containers having a rectangular shape or an elliptical shape are aligned and controlled in posture along the oblique guide.
The conveyor is composed of a first conveyor and a second conveyor which are arranged in the conveyor width direction to form a continuous conveyor surface, and the second conveyor is arranged upstream of the conveyor traveling direction. 2 upstream conveyors, and a second downstream conveyor disposed downstream of the second upstream conveyor.

The oblique guide is provided obliquely with respect to the conveyor traveling direction so as to go from the upstream end of the first conveyor to the second upstream conveyor, and the first conveyor, the second upstream conveyor, and the second downstream conveyor. Is provided obliquely with respect to the traveling direction toward the second downstream conveyor.
In addition, the first conveyor, the second upstream conveyor, and the second downstream conveyor are configured such that the traveling speeds are as follows: first conveyor <second upstream conveyor <second downstream conveyor.

  With this configuration, the container in the shape that moves in the traveling direction of the conveyor on the conveyor is restricted in position in the conveyor width direction by the oblique guide. That is, the container that has entered from the upstream end of the first conveyor along the oblique guide gradually moves toward the second upstream conveyor. Thereafter, the containers are moved along the oblique guides arranged in the boundary area (the boundary point and the vicinity area of the boundary point) of the first conveyor, the second upstream conveyor, and the second downstream conveyor. The upstream conveyor and the second downstream conveyor are sequentially moved.

  Since the traveling speed of each conveyor is 1st conveyor <2nd upstream conveyor <2nd downstream conveyor, the plurality of containers are spaced between the conveyor traveling directions while moving between the conveyors and are in contact with the oblique guide. The conveyance speed of the container is reduced by the frictional force. As a result, a moving speed difference is generated between the containers not in contact with the oblique guide, the arrangement of the containers in the conveyor width direction is eliminated, and the containers are aligned in a line along the oblique guide.

In addition, the container that is in contact with the oblique guide is given a rotational force that rotates on the conveyor surface due to the frictional force generated between the contacting surface and the oblique guide, and the posture is controlled so that the long side is directed in the traveling direction. Is done.
Moreover, when each container moves between conveyors, the space | interval of the front-back direction spreads with the advancing speed difference between conveyors. This facilitates container movement for alignment and attitude control.

In addition, when the container straddles the first conveyor and the second conveyor in the width direction of the conveyor, a rotational force is added on the conveyor surface due to the difference in the traveling speed between the conveyors, so that the longer side advances by rotating. The posture is controlled so as to face the direction.
On the other hand, since a large rotational force is not applied to the container whose long side has already been oriented along the oblique guide, the container maintains its posture without rotating.

Thus, while moving between the three conveyors, the containers are aligned and the posture is controlled so that the long sides are directed in the direction of travel.
Furthermore, since only two rows of conveyors are arranged in the direction intersecting the conveyor traveling direction, the rotational force that further rotates the container once with respect to the container whose posture has been controlled is reduced. Can be suppressed.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the third conveyor and the fourth conveyor disposed upstream of the first conveyor and the second upstream conveyor, and the boundary between the third conveyor and the fourth conveyor are straddled. And an oblique guide arranged obliquely with respect to the conveyor traveling direction on the third conveyor and the fourth conveyor, and the upstream end of the fourth conveyor is connected to the downstream end of the third conveyor. Adjacently arranged to form a conveyor surface, the third conveyor and the fourth conveyor are configured such that the traveling speed is such that the third conveyor <the fourth conveyor.

In the above-described embodiment, when the containers are transferred from the third conveyor to the fourth conveyor, the alignment action similar to the alignment action and the attitude control action described above is caused by the friction between the containers and the oblique guide and the traveling speed difference between the conveyors. In addition, the posture control action occurs.
Therefore, by combining the first conveyor, the second conveyor, the third conveyor, and the fourth conveyor, the container alignment and posture control can be performed in two stages, and the container alignment function and posture control function are provided. It can be further improved.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the downstream end of the fourth conveyor is disposed adjacent to the upstream ends of the first conveyor and the second upstream conveyor to form a continuous conveyor surface, and the first conveyor and the fourth conveyor The conveyor is configured such that the traveling speed is the fourth conveyor <the first conveyor.
According to the above-described embodiment, the alignment operation and the posture control operation similar to the boundary between the third conveyor and the fourth conveyor are performed at the boundary between the downstream end of the fourth conveyor and the first conveyor and the second downstream conveyor. Can wake up.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the oblique guide is disposed so as to pass through the boundary point of the first conveyor, the second upstream conveyor, and the second downstream conveyor.
As a result, the containers can move in order in the order of the first conveyor → the second upstream conveyor → the second downstream conveyor, and can be transferred between the conveyors. Therefore, the alignment effect and the attitude control effect on the container can be most effectively exhibited.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the oblique guide is disposed with an inclination of 8 to 15 ° with respect to the conveyor traveling direction.
The oblique guide has a role of regulating the movement of the container in the conveyor width direction. By setting the inclination guide to the inclination angle, the frictional force and the reaction force generated between the inclination guide and the container can be appropriately adjusted in the fast traveling speed range of the conveyor while sufficiently exerting the regulation action. Therefore, the alignment function and the posture control function can be exhibited while exhibiting the action of regulating the movement of the container under the high traveling speed of the conveyor.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the above structure, the oblique guide is made of a resin having a dynamic friction coefficient smaller than that of stainless steel and larger than that of a fluororesin.
By constituting the material of the oblique guide having the inclination angle with the resin having the dynamic friction coefficient, it is possible to suppress an increase in frictional force and reaction force generated between the oblique guide and the container. For this reason, it is possible to effectively prevent the container whose posture has been controlled once from being excessively rotated by increasing the frictional force and the reaction force.
On the other hand, when the dynamic friction coefficient of the oblique guide is as small as that of the fluororesin, no frictional force or reaction force is generated between the container and the container, so that a rotational force cannot be generated in the container.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of containers having a rectangular shape or an elliptical shape in a plan view are conveyed by a conveyor, the container can be aligned and posture-controlled with simple and low-cost means, and once a long side is formed. It is possible to suppress the overturning of the container facing in the traveling direction.

It is a top view of the alignment and attitude | position control apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the behavior of a container in the said 1st Embodiment. It is a top view of the alignment and attitude | position control apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the alignment and attitude control device shown in FIG. 3. It is explanatory drawing which shows the behavior of a container in the said 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the component parts described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to that unless otherwise specified.

(Embodiment 1)
Next, the alignment and posture control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, the alignment and posture control apparatus 10 </ b> A according to this embodiment includes five conveyors 12, 14, 16, 19, and 20 that form a horizontal conveyor surface. The conveyor surfaces of these conveyors have the same height and form a continuous conveyor surface.
A conveyor 22 is provided further upstream of the conveyor 12 arranged in the uppermost stream. The conveyor 22 has the same height as the conveyor 12, the downstream end of the conveyor 22 is disposed adjacent to the upstream end of the conveyor 12, and both conveyors form a continuous conveyor surface.

The upstream portion of the conveyor 22 is led inside a freezer (not shown), and the upstream end of the conveyor 22 is led out of the freezer. A tray with ingredients is placed on the conveyor 22 at the upstream end of the conveyor 22 and carried into the freezer. The inside of the freezer is cooled to, for example, −20 ° C. or lower, and the food is frozen inside the freezer and is carried out from the outlet of the freezer in the conveyor traveling direction (direction of arrow a).
As shown in FIG. 1, the tray has a rectangular shape having a short side s and a long side r in a plan view, and forms a rectangular parallelepiped with a small height. The trays are carried out in a plurality of rows from the exit of the freezer, move on the conveyor 22 while being in a plurality of rows, and are transferred from the conveyor 22 to the conveyor 12.

  The upstream end of the conveyor 14 is disposed adjacent to the downstream end of the conveyor 12, and these conveyors form a continuous conveyor surface. A conveyor 16 and a conveyor 18 are provided downstream of the conveyor 14. The conveyor 16 and the conveyor 18 are juxtaposed in the conveyor width direction, and the upstream ends of these conveyors are disposed adjacent to the downstream end of the conveyor 14. The conveyor 18 includes a conveyor 19 disposed upstream and a conveyor 20 disposed downstream. The upstream end of the conveyor 20 is disposed adjacent to the downstream end of the conveyor 19, and these conveyors form a continuous conveyor surface.

As shown in FIG. 1, oblique guides 24 are provided on the conveyor surfaces of the conveyor 22 and the conveyor 12 so as to straddle these conveyors. Further, an oblique guide 26 is provided on the conveyor surfaces of the conveyor 12 and the conveyor 14 so as to straddle the conveyors. Further, oblique guides 28 are provided on the conveyor surfaces of the conveyor 14, the conveyor 16, the conveyor 19, and the conveyor 20 so as to straddle the conveyor surfaces of these conveyors.
The oblique guides 24, 26, and 28 are arranged along the conveyor surface, and are configured by linear strips having a height that can regulate the movement of the containers in the conveyor width direction.

The oblique guides 24, 26 and 28 are arranged so as to be inclined by an angle A with respect to the conveyor traveling direction. The angle A is set in the range of 8 to 15 °.
The oblique guide 24 is disposed so as to be inclined obliquely from the side 22a of the conveyor 22 (on the right side in the conveyor traveling direction) toward the center of the conveyor 12 in the conveyor width direction. The oblique guide 26 is disposed so as to be obliquely directed from the position near the side 12b of the conveyor 12 (left side in the conveyor traveling direction) toward the center of the conveyor 14 in the conveyor width direction.

The oblique guide 28 is disposed so as to be inclined obliquely from the side 14a (right side in the direction of travel of the conveyor) of the conveyor 14 toward the center of the conveyor width direction, passes over the conveyor 16, and then borders of the conveyors 16, 19, and 20 It arrange | positions so that it may pass through the area | region of the vicinity of the point B, and is arrange | positioned from the vicinity of the boundary point B toward the center part of the conveyor 20.
The oblique guides 24, 26 and 28 are made of a resin having a smaller dynamic friction coefficient than stainless steel and larger than a fluororesin, such as polyacetal (POM), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW), and the like.

  The advancing speed of each conveyor is controlled so that V1 <V2 <V3 <V4 <V5, where the advancing speeds of conveyors 12, 14, 16, 19 and 20 are V1, V2, V3, V4 and V5, respectively. ing. As an example, V1 = 45 m / min, V2 = 50 m / min, V3 = 60 m / min, V4 = 65 m / min, and V5 = 70 m / min.

  A conveyor 23 is provided downstream of the conveyor 20, and the conveyors 20 and 23 form a continuous conveyor surface. A device for packaging the tray and a device for packaging the tray (not shown) are provided downstream of the conveyor 23. At the entrance of these packaging devices and packaging devices, the trays need to be arranged in a row at intervals and the posture controlled so that the long side is along the direction of travel of the conveyor.

  In such a configuration, the trays t1 and t2 that are refrigerated from the freezer and transported to the conveyor 22 in a plurality of rows are transferred from the conveyor 22 to the conveyor 12 in a random arrangement. At this time, the position in the conveyor width direction is regulated by the oblique guide 24 so that the trays t1 and t2 are directed from the side 12a toward the side 12b. Further, since a frictional force is generated between the tray t1 contacting the oblique guide 24 and the oblique guide 24, the tray t1 decelerates compared to the tray t2 not contacting the oblique guide 24, and the tray t1 and the tray t2 move. A difference occurs in the position of the direction.

At the boundary between the conveyor 12 and the conveyor 14, the positions of the trays t <b> 1 and t <b> 2 are regulated by the oblique guide 26 so as to go from the side edge 14 b to the side edge 14 a (right side toward the conveyor traveling direction). Further, the posture of the tray t <b> 2 is controlled along the oblique guide 26 by the frictional force generated between the oblique guide 26 and the tray t <b> 2 in contact with the oblique guide 26.
Further, the difference between the traveling speeds of the conveyor 12 and the conveyor 14 (V1 <V2) causes a gap between the tray on the conveyor 12 and the tray on the conveyor 14 in the traveling direction of the conveyor. Through the movement path as described above, the trays t1 and t2 are gradually aligned in one row.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tray t3 whose short side s is in contact with the oblique guides 24, 26, or 28 receives frictional force from the oblique guide on the conveyor surface. Rotational moment M that rotates is generated. Therefore, the tray t3 rotates so that the long side r faces the direction along the oblique guide.

Further, at the boundary between the conveyor 14 and the conveyors 16 and 18, the distance in the conveyor traveling direction of each tray further increases due to the difference in the traveling speed of these conveyors (V2 <V3 <V4).
Further, for the tray t3 in which the short side s is in contact with the oblique guide 28, a rotational moment M is generated by the traveling speed difference (V3 <V4) between the conveyor 16 and the conveyor 19, and the tray t3 has a long side. Rotate so that r is in a direction along the oblique guide 28.

Further, at the boundary between the conveyor 19 and the conveyor 20, the difference in the traveling speed of these conveyors (V4 <V5) further increases the interval in the conveyor traveling direction of each tray, and the short side s still contacts the oblique guide 28. A rotational moment M is generated with respect to the tray t4 in the direction, and the tray t4 rotates so that the long side r faces the direction along the oblique guide 28. Moreover, rotation of the tray t4 is facilitated by increasing the interval in the conveyor traveling direction between the trays.
Note that since a large rotational moment does not occur in the tray whose long side r is in the direction along the oblique guide, the tray does not rotate and maintains its posture.

In this way, at the entrances of the packaging device and the packaging device (not shown), the intervals in the conveyor direction between all trays are aligned in a row at intervals suitable for packaging and packaging, and the long side r of all trays moves. The posture is controlled along the direction.
In addition, since only two rows of conveyors 16 and 18 are arranged in the conveyor width direction, the rotational moment that further rotates the tray whose long side r is once in the traveling direction does not work. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tray having the long side r once in the traveling direction from being excessively rotated.

  Further, the oblique guides 24, 26 and 28 have an inclination of 8 to 15 ° with respect to the moving direction of the conveyor and are made of a resin having a coefficient of dynamic friction smaller than that of stainless steel and larger than that of fluororesin. The frictional force and reaction force generated between the oblique guide and the tray can be appropriately adjusted at a large traveling speed of each conveyor while sufficiently exerting the effect of restricting the movement in the conveyor width direction. That is, if the dynamic friction coefficient is the same as that of stainless steel, the frictional force and reaction force generated between the tray and the tray are too large. The magnitude of the rotational moment M is not generated.

  Therefore, the alignment and posture control apparatus 10A of the present embodiment can exhibit a sufficient alignment action and posture control action under a large traveling speed of the conveyor, and a tray whose long side r once faces the conveyor traveling direction is It is possible to effectively suppress the excessive rotation.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, an alignment and posture control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 3, the alignment and posture control apparatus 10B according to the present embodiment forms a continuous horizontal conveyor surface, and five conveyors 32 are sequentially arranged from the upstream side in the conveyor traveling direction (arrow a direction). , 34, 36, 39 and 40. The conveyor surfaces of these conveyors have the same height and form a continuous conveyor surface.
The tray t5 conveyed by the conveyor is a container made of a rectangular parallelepiped having a long side r and a short side s and forming a rectangle in a plan view, as in the first embodiment.

A freezer 42 is provided on the upstream side of the conveyor 32 arranged at the most upstream of the five conveyors. A conveyor 46 having an arcuate conveyance path is provided between the conveyor 44 and the conveyor 32 provided at the exit of the freezer 42. The conveyors 44 and 46 have the same height as the five conveyor groups, and form a continuous conveyor surface from the conveyor 44 to the conveyor 32.
While the plurality of trays t5 containing the ingredients are transported inside the freezer 42, the ingredients are frozen. The trays t <b> 5 having a rectangular top surface and a bottom surface and having a rectangular parallelepiped shape are transported to the conveyor 44 in a plurality of rows from the outlet of the freezer 42. The tray t <b> 5 is transferred from the conveyor 44 to the conveyor 46, conveyed on the conveyor 46 in a plurality of rows, and transferred to the conveyor 32.

  A conveyor 34 is disposed adjacent to the downstream of the conveyor 32, and a conveyor 36 and a conveyor 38 are provided downstream of the conveyor 34. The conveyor 36 and the conveyor 38 are arranged side by side in the conveyor width direction. The conveyor 38 includes a conveyor 39 disposed upstream and a conveyor 40 disposed downstream. The upstream end of the conveyor 40 is disposed adjacent to the downstream end of the conveyor 39. All the above conveyors form a continuous conveyor surface.

As shown in FIG. 3, oblique guides 50 are provided on the conveyor surfaces of the conveyor 46 and the conveyor 32 so as to straddle these conveyors. Further, oblique guides 52 are provided on the conveyor surfaces of the conveyor 32 and the conveyor 34 so as to straddle the conveyors. Further, an oblique guide 54 is provided on the conveyor surfaces of the conveyor 34, the conveyor 36, the conveyor 39, and the conveyor 40 so as to straddle the conveyor surfaces of these conveyors.
The oblique guides 50, 52, and 54 are arranged along the conveyor surface, and are configured by strips as in the first embodiment, and are only at an angle A (8 to 15 °) with respect to the conveyor traveling direction. It is arranged to incline.

The oblique guide 50 is disposed so as to be inclined obliquely from the side 46b (left side in the direction of travel of the conveyor) of the conveyor 46 toward the central portion in the conveyor width direction of the conveyor 32. The oblique guide 52 is disposed so as to be inclined obliquely from the side 32a of the conveyor 32 (on the right side in the conveyor traveling direction) toward the center of the conveyor 34 in the conveyor width direction.
The oblique guide 54 is disposed so as to be inclined obliquely from the vicinity of the side 34b (left side in the direction of travel of the conveyor) of the conveyor 34 toward the center of the conveyor width direction, passes over the conveyor 36, and thereafter the conveyors 36, 39, and 40. Are arranged so as to pass through the boundary point B, and are arranged so as to go from the boundary point B toward the center of the conveyor 40.
The oblique guides 50, 52 and 54 are made of the same material as the oblique guides 24, 26 and 28 of the first embodiment.

The advancing speed of each conveyor is controlled such that V1 <V2 <V3 <V4 <V5, where the advancing speeds of the conveyors 32, 34, 36, 39 and 40 are V1, V2, V3, V4 and V5, respectively. ing.
A conveyor 48 is provided downstream of the conveyor 40, the conveyors 40 and 48 form a continuous conveyor surface, and a device for packing the tray and a device for packing the tray (not shown) are provided downstream of the conveyor 48. .

In such a configuration, the tray t5 transferred from the conveyor 46 to the conveyor 32 exhibits the same behavior as that shown during the transfer of the trays t1 to t4 from the conveyor 12 to the conveyor 20 in the first embodiment, and is aligned. And attitude control.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the oblique guide 54 is disposed so as to pass through the boundary point B. Therefore, the tray t5 is transferred in order from the conveyor 36 to the conveyor 39 to the conveyor 40 as shown in FIG. Can be made. An appropriate rotational moment M can be generated by the difference in travel speed between the conveyor 36 and the conveyor 39 (V3 <V4), and therefore posture control can be performed more smoothly.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, when the tray t6 exists immediately before the tray t5, even if the rotational moment M is generated in the tray t5, the tray t5 cannot hit the tray t6 and rotate. However, since there is a traveling speed difference (V4 <V5) between the conveyor 39 and the conveyor 40, the time difference when the trays t5 and t6 are transferred from the conveyor 39 to the conveyor 40 increases the distance between the conveyors in the traveling direction. Therefore, the tray t5 can be rotated smoothly without being obstructed by the tray t6, and the posture can be easily controlled so that the long side r faces the traveling direction.
In the first embodiment, this operational effect can be obtained in the same way when transferring from a conveyor provided upstream to a conveyor provided downstream.

  All of the above embodiments are applied to transporting a container having a rectangle in plan view, but the present invention can also be applied to a container having an oval shape in plan view.

  According to the present invention, alignment and posture control can be performed on a plurality of containers having a rectangular shape or an elliptical shape in a plan view with simple and low-cost means, and the containers can be prevented from being rotated too much.

10A, 10B Alignment and attitude control device 12, 32 Conveyor (third conveyor)
12a, 12b, 14a, 14b, 22a, 32a, 34b, 46b Sides 14, 34 Conveyor (fourth conveyor)
16, 36 conveyor (first conveyor)
18, 38 conveyor (second conveyor)
19, 39 Conveyor (second upstream conveyor)
20, 40 conveyor (second downstream conveyor)
22, 23, 44, 46, 48 Conveyor 24, 26, 28, 50, 52, 54 Diagonal guide 42 Freezer B Boundary point M Rotational moment t1, t2, t3, t4, t5, t6 Tray r Long side s Short side

Claims (6)

A diagonal guide provided on the conveyor so as to cross obliquely with respect to the conveyor traveling direction, and a plurality of containers having a rectangular shape or an elliptical shape in plan view conveyed by the conveyor are arranged along the diagonal guide. In the container alignment and attitude control device for aligning and attitude control,
The conveyor is composed of a first conveyor and a second conveyor that are arranged in the conveyor width direction to form a continuous conveyor surface, and
The second conveyor is composed of a second upstream conveyor disposed upstream of the conveyor traveling direction, and a second downstream conveyor disposed downstream of the second upstream conveyor,
The oblique guide is provided obliquely with respect to the conveyor traveling direction from the upstream end of the first conveyor toward the second upstream conveyor, and the first conveyor, the second upstream conveyor, and the first conveyor 2 It passes through the boundary area of the downstream conveyor and is provided obliquely with respect to the traveling direction toward the second downstream conveyor,
The first conveyor, the second upstream conveyor, and the second downstream conveyor are configured such that the traveling speeds of the first conveyor, the second upstream conveyor, and the second downstream conveyor are satisfied. Alignment and attitude control device. A third conveyor and a fourth conveyor disposed upstream of the first conveyor and the second upstream conveyor;
An oblique guide provided so as to straddle the boundary between the third conveyor and the fourth conveyor, and disposed obliquely with respect to the conveyor traveling direction on the third conveyor and the fourth conveyor. Prepared,
The upstream end of the fourth conveyor is adjacent to the downstream end of the third conveyor so as to form a continuous conveyor surface,
2. The container alignment and posture control according to claim 1, wherein the third conveyor and the fourth conveyor are configured such that the traveling speed is the third conveyor <the fourth conveyor. apparatus. The downstream end of the fourth conveyor is disposed adjacent to the upstream end of the first conveyor and the second upstream conveyor to form a continuous conveyor surface,
The container alignment and posture control according to claim 2, wherein the first conveyor and the fourth conveyor are configured such that the traveling speed is the fourth conveyor <the first conveyor. apparatus.   2. The container alignment and posture according to claim 1, wherein the oblique guide is disposed so as to pass through a boundary point of the first conveyor, the second upstream conveyor, and the second downstream conveyor. Control device.   5. The container alignment and posture control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oblique guide is disposed with an inclination of 8 to 15 ° with respect to a moving direction of the conveyor. .   6. The container alignment and posture control device according to claim 5, wherein the oblique guide is made of a resin having a dynamic friction coefficient smaller than that of stainless steel and larger than that of a fluororesin.

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