JP2016137916A - Article distribution/loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article distribution/loading device for loading articles in containers supplied in multi-lines while distributing them, the article distribution/loading device being capable of recovering articles before loading them in the containers if the containers are not present.SOLUTION: Containers V are conveyed by a container conveyance conveyor 12 in multi-lines. Various articles M are supplied from each feeder to a distribution chute 20. The articles M are distributed by the distribution chute 20 uniformly, and loaded in a plurality of individual chutes 22 disposed in correspondence with the containers V conveyed in multi-lines. The invention is provided with a discharge mechanism 36 for discharging the articles M dropping in passages of the individual chutes 22, a control device 43 for controlling the operation of the discharge mechanism 36, and a container presence/absence sensor 35 for detecting the presence/absence of the containers V conveyed in each line. The discharge mechanism 36 of the individual chute 22 corresponding to the line for which it is determined that there are no containers present is caused to be operated, and the articles M distributed/loaded to the individual chute 22 are discharged outside the individual chute 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an article dispensing input device that fills containers such as foods while dispensing them in containers supplied in multiple rows.

  As an apparatus for distributing and filling articles such as food in containers supplied in multiple rows, an article supply / distribution apparatus that distributes articles supplied from a feeder by a chute rotating at a constant speed and fills the containers is known. (See Patent Document 1). In the article supply / distribution apparatus as in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to discharge the articles until the feeder supply is stabilized at the start of production. Therefore, the articles discharged during this time fall below the transport conveyor without being filled into the containers, and are collected below the transport conveyor. Further, in the article supply / distribution device as in Patent Document 1, even if a so-called tooth-missing state in which the containers are not supplied in some of the multiple rows occurs, the articles are discharged to all the rows. Articles discharged to a row to which no is supplied fall below the conveyor and are collected below the conveyor.

  That is, in the article supply / distribution device of Patent Document 1, articles that have not been filled in the containers are collected below the conveyor. For this reason, dust and the like are easily mixed in the collected article, and the collected article is discarded without being reused. On the other hand, the structure which collect | recovers the articles | goods discharged | emitted at the time of a production start upstream of a chute | shoot and reuses is also proposed (refer patent document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 3712172 JP 2014-151964 A

  However, even in the configuration of Patent Document 2, it is not possible to cope with a missing tooth state. In the missing tooth state, the supplied article is collected below the conveyor.

  The present invention is an article distribution and loading device that fills and distributes articles into containers supplied in multiple rows. When there is no need to load articles, such as when no containers are present, it is possible to collect without loading articles. The problem is to do.

  The article distribution and input device of the present invention corresponds to a container transporting means that transports while holding a plurality of rows of containers, a feeder that supplies articles, a distribution chute that receives articles from the feeder, and a plurality of rows of containers that are transported. A plurality of individual chutes and drive means for moving the distribution chutes above the individual chutes, and by moving the distribution chutes, the articles are distributed to the plurality of individual chutes via the distribution chutes. In the article distributing and feeding apparatus to be thrown in, it is provided on the individual chute and is disposed upstream of the individual chute in the conveyance direction of the container and transported, the discharge mechanism for discharging the articles falling in the path of the individual chute to the outside of the path. Detecting means for detecting the presence or absence or abnormality of the containers in each row, and a control for controlling the operation of the discharging mechanism in response to a signal from the detecting means. Means for discharging the articles distributed to the individual chutes out of the individual chutes by operating the discharge mechanism of the individual chutes corresponding to the row determined as having no container or abnormal by the control means. It is said.

  The discharge mechanism has, for example, a discharge chute and a collection box, and collects discharged articles using the collection box.

  According to the present invention, in an article dispensing and loading apparatus that fills and distributes articles into containers that are supplied in multiple rows, when it is not necessary to load articles, such as when there is no container, without loading articles. It can be recoverable.

It is the front view seen from the container conveyance direction of the article distribution input device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the goods distribution input apparatus of FIG. 1 except a feeder. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the upper opening part and lower discharge port of a distribution chute. It is a side view of the article | item distribution input device of FIG. 1 except a feeder. It is a front view which shows the structure of a distribution chute drive part. It is an expanded sectional side view of a discharge mechanism. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of 20 2nd separate chute | shoots in this embodiment. It is a side view which shows the structure of the drive mechanism of the lower half part of a 2nd separate chute and an opening-and-closing lid. It is an enlarged side view of the article conveyance conveyor which shows the structure and arrangement | positioning of the detection means of 2nd Embodiment. It is an enlarged side view of the article conveyance conveyor which shows a structure and arrangement | positioning of the detection means of 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the article dispensing and feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from the container transport direction. 2 is a plan view showing a planar arrangement of the article dispensing and feeding apparatus of FIG. 1 (however, the feeder is not shown), and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the upper opening and the lower outlet of the dispensing chute. is there. FIG. 4 is a side view of the article distribution and input device (however, the feeder is not shown).

  The article distribution and input device 10 of this embodiment is an apparatus that inputs ingredients such as dried eggs, dried shrimp, dried meat, and salmon, and articles such as powdered soup into a container V in which noodles are stored. The article distribution and input device 10 distributes the articles V intermittently in a predetermined direction in a plurality of rows to a container transport conveyor (container transport means) 12, and distributes the articles M to each of the containers V transported by the container transport conveyor 12. A distribution input unit (distribution input means) 14 for input is provided. In FIG. 1, the conveyance direction of the container V is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the container V is a cup having a truncated cone shape whose diameter increases toward an opening, for example, and is formed by, for example, ten rows along the transport direction (vertical direction) by the container transport conveyor 12. Be transported. The container transfer conveyor 12 is an endless transfer conveyor in which a large number of plate-like retainers 16 (long in the direction perpendicular to the transfer direction), for example, are arranged in a predetermined interval in the transfer direction. The retainer 16 is formed by a transfer chain (not shown). Be transported. Each retainer 16 is provided with accommodation holes for holding the containers V corresponding to a plurality of rows of the containers V, and in this embodiment, ten accommodation holes are provided. The inner diameter of the accommodation hole of the retainer 16 is slightly narrower than the outer diameter (maximum outer diameter) of the opening of the container V, and the outer circumference of the container V inserted into these accommodation holes from above is the inner circumference of the accommodation hole. Is engaged and held.

  The distribution input unit 14 guides the distributed articles to the containers V, a plurality of feeders 18 that supply the articles, a distribution chute 20 that distributes the articles supplied from the feeders 18 approximately evenly according to the number of containers V, and the like. An individual chute 22 is provided. Each feeder 18 includes, for example, a vibrating conveyor 24 for supplying one type of article and conveying the supplied article while being uniformly dispersed by vibration.

  The distribution chute 20 includes a funnel-like hopper 26 and a chute 28 that is provided at a discharge port of the hopper 26 and that can rotate at a constant speed (moves at a constant speed). The downstream end of each oscillating conveyor 24 is disposed above the hopper 26 along the circumference of the hopper 26, and articles supplied from each feeder 18 fall from the downstream end of the oscillating conveyor 24, and are funnel-shaped hoppers 26. It is accepted. The articles that have fallen on the hopper 26 are gathered together and supplied to the chute 28 from the outlet of the hopper 26.

  The chute 28 extends obliquely downward from the discharge port of the hopper 26, and is driven to rotate at a constant speed by a distribution chute drive unit (distribution chute drive means) 28D around the discharge port. That is, the lower end discharge port 32 of the chute 28 moves along an arcuate locus.

  FIG. 5 is a front view showing the configuration of the distribution chute drive unit 28D. In the present embodiment, for example, two distribution input units 14 are used and arranged side by side in the width direction of the container transport conveyor 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the chute 28 of each dispensing input portion 14 is connected to a rotary shaft 280 extending vertically below the chute 28, and the lower ends of the rotary shafts 280 are respectively coupled to the gear box 282. . The gear box 282 connects the rotary shaft 280 to the horizontally arranged rotary shaft 284 via, for example, a gear train, and one end of the rotary shaft 284 is connected to the rotary motor 286. That is, the rotational force of the rotary motor 286 is transmitted to the two rotary shafts 280 via the rotary shaft 284 and the two gear boxes 282, whereby the chutes 28 are rotated in synchronization.

  One individual chute 22 is arranged below each distribution chute 20. The individual chutes 22 include a large number of first individual chutes 22A and second individual chutes 22B disposed below the first individual sheets 22A corresponding to the first individual sheets 22A. In the article distribution and input device 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the distribution input unit 14 includes 10 individual chutes 22 in total, 10 in total. Ten of them (five of each distribution input unit 14) are arranged along one retainer 16 located below the distribution input unit 14 and positioned at the input position upstream of the container transport conveyor 12. That is, the articles are placed in each of ten containers V per row held by the retainer 16. On the other hand, the remaining 10 individual chute 22 (the remaining 5 of each distribution input unit 14) are located below the distribution input unit 14 and are located at the input position downstream of the container transport conveyor 12. Are arranged so as to put articles into each of the 10 rows of containers V held by the retainer 16.

  In the present embodiment, one retainer 16 is disposed between the retainer 16 at the upstream loading position and the retainer 16 at the downstream loading position, but two sheets at the upstream and downstream loading positions. The retainers 16 and 16 may be adjacent to each other, or may be disposed with a plurality of retainers 16 interposed therebetween.

  In each individual chute 22, the upper opening 30 of the first individual chute 22 </ b> A is arranged in a circular arc along the locus of the lower end discharge port 32 of the rotating chute 28 and is supplied from the chute 28 rotating at a constant speed. The articles to be processed are thrown into each of the first individual chutes 22A substantially evenly. On the other hand, the lower end discharge ports 34 of the first individual chute 22A are arranged along the two rows of containers V located at the upstream and downstream article input positions described above. That is, the lower end discharge port 34 of the first individual chute 22A in which the upper opening 30 is located on the upstream side in the transport direction is linearly arranged along one row of the upstream loading position, and the upper opening 30 is located on the downstream side. The lower end discharge ports 34 of the first individual chute 22A positioned are arranged linearly along one row of the downstream side input positions.

  Further, the second individual chutes 22B are arranged substantially vertically below the respective lower end discharge ports 34 of the first individual chutes 22A arranged in a straight line. That is, the second individual chute 22B is disposed substantially upright at the upstream article input position and the downstream article input position.

  Therefore, when the chute 28 rotates once, the articles are distributed to the first and second individual chutes 22A and 22B on the upstream side while the chute 28 moves halfway on the upstream side in the article conveying direction, and moves halfway on the downstream side. In the meantime, articles are distributed to the first and second individual chutes 22A and 22B on the downstream side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the container transport device 12 according to the present embodiment detects whether or not the container V is stored in the storage hole of the retainer 16 at a predetermined position upstream of the dispensing input unit 14. A container presence / absence sensor (detection means) 35 is provided. The container presence / absence sensor 35 detects the presence / absence of the container V in each column, for example, in units of one row corresponding to one retainer 16. Further, the second individual chute 22B of the present embodiment includes a discharge mechanism 36 for discharging the input article and an opening / closing lid 38 for closing the outlet of the second individual chute 22B, as will be described later.

  The discharge mechanism 36 is provided near the upper opening 40 of the second individual chute 22B, for example. Based on the signal from the container presence / absence sensor 35, the discharge mechanism 36, when the retainer 16 in a row where a container V is not set comes to the article input position, inputs from the second individual chute 22B corresponding to that column. Discharging the finished goods. The discharged articles are collected in the collection box 39 and returned to the feeder 18 for reuse. On the other hand, the open / close lid 38 is an open / close lid capable of closing the lower end discharge port 42 of the second individual chute 22B, and is opened and closed in accordance with the timing at which the intermittently moved retainer 16 is stopped at the article loading position. A signal from the container presence / absence sensor 35 is input to the control device (control means) 43. The control device 43 includes a command unit 43A and a determination unit 43B, receives the signal from the container presence / absence sensor 35, determines the presence / absence of the container, and drives the discharge mechanism 36, the opening / closing lid 38, the container transport conveyor 12, and the like. To control.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged side sectional view of the discharge mechanism 36. FIG. 6 (a) shows a state in which the article M put in from the first individual chute 22A is discharged into the container V through the second individual chute 22B. On the other hand, FIG. 6B shows a state in which the article M that is thrown in from the first individual chute 22A is discharged from the second individual chute 22B to the collection box 39 by the discharge mechanism 36.

  The discharge mechanism 36 includes an air cylinder 360 and a discharge chute 364 attached to the rod 362 of the air cylinder 360. The discharge chute 364 has a vertical surface 366 and an inclined surface 368, and can be advanced and retracted toward the second individual chute 22B by an air cylinder 360.

  The upper half of the second individual chute 22B has, for example, a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, and a side opening 41 is provided on one side wall thereof. The discharge chute 364 is inserted into the second individual chute 22B or pulled out from the individual chute 22 through the side opening 41, and a collection box 39 is disposed below the drawn discharge chute 364.

  When it is determined that the container V is accommodated in the accommodation hole of the retainer 16 below the individual chute 22 based on the signal from the container presence / absence sensor 35, as shown in FIG. The 360 rod 362 is retracted, and the discharge chute 364 is pulled out from the second individual chute 22B. At this time, the vertical surface 366 provided on the distal end side of the discharge chute 364 closes the side opening 41 and forms a passage for the second individual chute 22. That is, in the normal state, the vertical surface 366 constitutes a part of the wall surface of the second individual chute.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the container V is not accommodated in the accommodation hole of the retainer 16 below the individual chute 22 based on the signal from the container presence / absence sensor 35, as shown in FIG. The rod 362 of the cylinder 360 is pulled out, and the discharge chute 364 is inserted into the second individual chute 22B. At this time, the vertical surface 366 provided on the distal end side of the discharge chute 364 contacts the side wall of the second individual chute 22B that faces the vertical surface 366, and the inclined surface 368 blocks the passage of the second individual chute 22B. At this time, the lower end side of the inclined surface 368 is positioned above the collection box 39, and the article M falling on the inclined surface 368 blocking the passage of the second individual chute 22B is guided to the collection box 39, and the second individual chute It is discharged from 22B.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the 20 second individual chutes 22B in the present embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the discharge mechanisms 36 provided on the second individual chutes 22B are alternately inserted into the second individual chutes 22B or retracted from the second individual chutes 22B.

  Next, the configuration of the open / close lid 38 employed in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the configuration of the drive mechanism 380 of the lower half of the second individual chute 22B and the opening / closing lid 38. As shown in FIG.

  A lower end discharge port 42 is formed obliquely at the lower end of the second individual chute 22B. The open / close lid 38 is pivotally supported around a pivot 382 provided on the second individual chute 22B. One end of a rod 384 is pivotally supported on the opening / closing lid 38, and the other end of the rod 384 is pivotally supported on one end of a link member 386. The link member 386 is pivotally supported by the fixed portion, and the other end is pivoted by a biasing member 388 such as a spring through the rod 384 so that the opening / closing lid 38 rotates in a direction to close the lower end discharge port 42. Be energized. Further, the end of the link member 386 with which the biasing member 388 engages is also engaged with a lever 392 that is rotated by the motor drive unit 390, and the biasing member 388 biases the end toward the lever 392. Rush. FIG. 8A shows a state where the lower end discharge port 42 is blocked by the opening / closing lid 38. When the lever 392 is rotated clockwise from the state of FIG. 8A, the link member 386 is rotated counterclockwise against the biasing member 388, and the opening / closing lid 38 is pivoted via the rod 384. It is rotated counterclockwise about 382. Thereby, the lower end discharge port 42 is opened as shown in FIG. When closing the opening / closing lid 38, the lever 392 is rotated counterclockwise, and the link member 386 is rotated clockwise by the biasing member 388.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 1-8, the operation | movement of the goods distribution input device 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated. When the production of the product is started, for example, the container V in which noodles are stored is held by the retainer 16 and is intermittently conveyed in multiple rows toward the article distribution input device 10, and the leading container is received by the container presence / absence sensor 35. Detected. When the container presence signal is input to the control device 43, the control device 43 starts the operation of the feeder 18 and the distribution chute 20, and inserts all the discharge chutes 364 into the second individual chute 22B. That is, since the supply of the article M from the feeder 18 is not stable at the start of operation, the article to the container V is determined for a predetermined time from the start of operation until the top container V is transported below the second individual chute 22B. M is not thrown in, and all articles M thrown into the dispensing slot 14 are discharged into the collection box 39 by the discharge chute 364.

  When the leading container V is transported below the second individual chute 22B, the discharge chute 364 is retracted from the second individual chute 22B, and the operation of putting the article M into the container V is started. In addition, when the no-container signal is input in any column of the top container V, the discharge chute 364 corresponding to that column is kept inserted in the second individual chute 22B, and The discharge of the article M is avoided. After that, based on the signal from the container presence / absence sensor 35, the advance / retreat of each discharge chute 364 with respect to the second individual chute 22B is controlled, and the discharge of the article M to the row where the container V does not exist is avoided. Then, the article M put into the second individual chute 22B corresponding to the same row is collected in the collection box 39. The supply of the article M from the feeder 18 and the rotation of the distribution chute 20 are continued at a constant speed.

  On the other hand, when some trouble occurs and the container transport conveyor 12 stops, the operations of the feeder 18 and the distribution chute 20 are also stopped. The feeder 18 and the distribution chute 20 are stopped when the distribution chute 20 reaches a predetermined origin position. In the present embodiment, the distribution chute 20 is located at the origin position when the discharge port of the distribution chute 20 is positioned above the container V at one end of one row of the containers V conveyed in multiple rows by the container conveying conveyor 12. Is considered to have reached

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the article dispensing and charging apparatus that fills the containers while distributing the articles in the containers supplied in multiple rows, when the containers are not present, the containers are charged into the containers. The article can be collected before. As a result, the collected articles can be reused, and it is possible to cope with the case where the container is supplied in a tooth-missed state.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9, an article distribution and feeding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, a weight checker is used as detection means instead of the container presence sensor of the first embodiment. In addition, about another structure, it is the same as that of 1st Embodiment, About the same structure, the description is abbreviate | omitted using the same referential mark.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the second embodiment, a plurality of load cells corresponding to the containers V in each row are provided below the retainer 16 at a predetermined position on the upstream side of the dispensing input portion 14 of the container transport device 12. ((Weight) detection means) 46 is arranged. The load cell 46 can be moved up and down by, for example, an elevating mechanism 48. When the retainer 16 holding the intermittently transported container V is stopped above the load cell 46, the load cell 46 is lifted, and each container V is lifted slightly to measure its weight. To do.

  A signal from each load cell 46 is sent to the control device 43, and the determination unit 43B determines the state of each row from the weight. Based on the determination, the command unit 43A controls driving of the discharge mechanism 36, the opening / closing lid 38, and the like shown in FIGS. That is, when the weight is 0, it is determined that there is no container in the row, and when only the weight of the container V is detected, it is determined that the noodles are not properly filled. If the detected weight is lighter than the specified weight (the total weight of the container and the noodle), the discharge mechanism 36 is driven to stop the supply of the articles M to the same row as in the first embodiment, and the same row is handled. The article M put into the individual chute 22 is collected in the collection box 39.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 10, an article distribution input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In 3rd Embodiment, it replaces with the container presence sensor of 1st Embodiment, and a camera is used as a detection means. In addition, about another structure, it is the same as that of 1st Embodiment, About the same structure, the description is abbreviate | omitted using the same referential mark.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the third embodiment, a plurality of cameras corresponding to the containers V in each row is disposed above the retainer 16 at a predetermined position upstream of the dispensing input unit 14 of the container transport device 12. ((Image) detection means) 50 is arranged. When the retainer 16 that holds the intermittently transported container V stops below the camera 50, the camera 50 photographs each container V held by the retainer 16 from above.

  Images taken by each camera 50 are sent to the control device 43, and in the determination unit 43B, in addition to the presence / absence of containers in each row, the presence / absence of noodles in the containers, foreign matter mixed in the containers, and scratches on the noodles Abnormality such as presence or absence is determined through image processing. Then, when it is determined from the image that there is no container in the same row, or there is an abnormality in the same row of containers, the supply of the articles M to the same row is stopped by driving the discharge mechanism 36 as in the first embodiment, The articles M put into the individual chutes 22 corresponding to the same row are collected in the collection box 39.

  As described above, also in the second and third embodiments, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained, and more detailed states of the containers to be conveyed can be grasped and dealt with.

  In this embodiment, the container transport conveyor is intermittently operated. However, the container transport conveyor may be continuously operated. In this embodiment, two sets (two rows) of distribution chutes and individual chutes are provided. However, one set may be used when the number of columns is small, and three or more sets may be prepared when the number of columns is large. In the present embodiment, the distribution chute is rotated at a constant speed to distribute the articles uniformly. However, the distribution chute may be reciprocated at a constant speed to distribute the articles. Further, the distribution chute can be moved intermittently in units of individual chutes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Article distribution input device 12 Container conveyance conveyor 14 Distribution input part 16 Retainer 18 Feeder 20 Distribution chute 22 Individual chute 22A 1st individual chute 22B 2nd individual chute 24 Vibrating conveyor 28 Chute 35 Container presence sensor 36 Discharge mechanism 38 Opening lid 39 Recovery Box 43 Control device 43A Command unit 43B Judgment unit 46 Load cell 48 Lifting mechanism 50 Camera 364 Discharge chute 366 Vertical surface 368 Inclined surface M Article (material)
V container

Claims (2)

Container transport means for transporting while holding a plurality of rows of containers;
A feeder for supplying articles;
A distribution chute for receiving articles from the feeder;
A plurality of individual chutes arranged corresponding to the plurality of rows of containers to be conveyed;
Driving means for moving the distribution chute above the individual chute,
In the article distribution and input device that distributes the articles to the plurality of individual chutes through the distribution chute and inputs the articles into the container by moving the distribution chute,
A discharge mechanism that is provided in the individual chute and that discharges the article falling in the passage of the individual chute out of the passage;
A detecting means that is arranged upstream of the individual chute in the transport direction of the container and detects the presence or absence of the container in each row to be transported;
A control means for controlling the operation of the discharge mechanism in response to a signal from the detection means;
Discharging the articles distributed to the individual chutes out of the individual chutes by operating the discharge mechanism of the individual chutes corresponding to the row determined to have no container or abnormal by the control means. An article distribution and input device.   2. The article distribution and input device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge mechanism includes a discharge chute and a collection box, and the discharged article is collected by the collection box.

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