JP2019051941A - Head of transfer device, transfer method of eggboxes - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a head of transfer device and a transfer method which enables firm transfer of eggboxes with its absorption members firmly sticking fast to box lids.SOLUTION: A head of transfer device consists of multiple absorption members, which hang and hold eggboxes by sticking fast with negative pressures, and a base part to which absorption members are installed. The absorption members are horizontally movable along the base part. A transfer method using the head of transfer device has three steps. Firstly, the absorption members come down to the upper part of eggboxes. Secondly, the inner surfaces of absorption members contact surfaces of protrusions formed on the lids of eggboxes, and then move horizontally for engagement. Thirdly, the device holds up eggboxes with the absorption members engaged with the protrusions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a head portion of a transfer device for packing an egg pack in a storage container and an egg pack transfer method using the same.

As this type of transfer device, a device for storing packed eggs in a cardboard box or container for transportation is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). This transfer device includes a holding mechanism that lifts from above by a plurality of adsorbing members that can be adsorbed to the lid of the egg pack.

Egg packs come in various sizes and shapes. Specifically, those that can accommodate 10 eggs in the pack and those that can accommodate 6 eggs, such as those that can accommodate different sizes, those that can accommodate L size eggs in the pack, and those of S size Eggs that can be accommodated, such as those that differ in the size of the eggs that can be accommodated (there are different hole pitches), a flat pack with a flat top surface, and unevenness along the egg shape is formed on the lid There are a wide variety of types, such as “regular packs” that have different lid shapes. However, there is currently no holding mechanism that can handle all of these.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-196522 JP 2010-1000029 A JP 2006-188267 A

Among the egg packs described above, what is called a regular pack individually covers an egg in a container body provided with a plurality of recesses for individually storing eggs, and in a position facing the recesses with the lid closed. And a lid provided with a plurality of protrusions. The curved surface shape of the concave portion and the projecting portion is for tightly accommodating the egg having a curved structure, and normally, the concave portion and the projecting portion are provided to reinforce the concave portion or the projecting portion that accommodates a fragile egg. Ribs are provided.

Regarding the arrangement and shape of the protrusions formed on the lid of the egg pack and / or the arrangement and shape of the ribs, there are various types (see, for example, Patent Document 2 or 3). For this reason, in the transfer device that sucks and holds the egg pack using negative pressure, it is difficult to bring the suction member into close contact with the desired position of the protruding portion of all types of egg packs. there were.

In addition, the same problem may arise with egg packs other than the regular pack depending on the shape of the top surface and the arrangement and shape of the ribs formed on the top surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a head unit of a transfer device and an egg pack transfer method that can securely transfer and transfer an egg pack with an adsorption member.

The head unit of the transfer device of the present invention includes a plurality of suction members that can suck and hold the egg pack by using negative pressure and a base to which these suction members are attached. And each said adsorption | suction member was provided so that a movement in the horizontal direction was possible with respect to the said base.

An egg pack transfer method using the head of the transfer device of the present invention includes a step of lowering the adsorption member toward the upper side of the egg pack, and an inner surface of the adsorption member is formed on the lid side of the egg pack Moving the suction member in a horizontal direction by bringing it into contact with the outer surface of the protruding portion, and lifting the egg pack after the suction member is fitted into the protruding portion.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the head part of the transfer apparatus which can adsorb | suck and transfer an egg pack reliably with an adsorption | suction member, and the transfer method of an egg pack can be provided.

The schematic side view which shows the transfer apparatus of the egg pack concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The schematic bottom view which shows the head part of the transfer apparatus of the embodiment. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows typically the transfer method of the egg pack of the embodiment. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows typically the transfer method of the egg pack of the embodiment. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows typically the transfer method of the egg pack of the embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment when the transfer device of the present invention is applied to a boxing system will be described with reference to the drawings.

A boxing system 1 according to the present embodiment collects a plurality of egg packs P each having a plurality of eggs arranged in a vertical and horizontal direction in a container having a plurality of egg seats P3 to facilitate transportation and management. Or a container such as a synthetic resin container. The boxing system 1 is mainly composed of a transfer device 2, a transfer device 3, and a control device (only a control device 4 that controls the transfer device 2 is shown in the figure).

The transfer device 2 includes a head unit 21 and an arm unit 22. The transfer device 2 packs the egg pack P in the container C, and transfers the egg pack P from the temporary standby area 5 into the container C to be stored. Specifically, the transfer device 2 transfers the egg pack P from the predetermined temporary waiting area 5 into the storage container C to be stored, and includes a head portion 21, an arm portion 22, and a control device. 4 is mainly configured. In the present embodiment, a conventional articulated robot (for example, a 6-axis vertical articulated robot) in which the head unit 21 is arbitrarily operated is used as the transfer device 2, but the head unit 21 is in the X, Y, and Z axes. Various robots and devices that can move arbitrarily can be adopted. The arm portion 22 has a head portion 21 attached to a tip 24 thereof.

The head portion 21 is provided with a mechanism for lifting the egg pack P from the predetermined temporary standby area 5, and is mainly composed of a plurality of suction members 25 and a base 23.

The adsorbing member 25 can adsorb and hold the egg pack P by using negative pressure. The adsorbing member 25 can be adsorbed to the lid P2 of the egg pack P. Specifically, the adsorbing member 25 is disposed at a position corresponding to the plurality of protrusions P5 formed on the lid P2 of the egg pack P, and is vertically and horizontally oriented. It is a plurality of suction pads arranged side by side. Each suction member 25 is connected to a vacuum mechanism (not shown) so that the lid P2 of the egg pack P can be sucked. Each adsorbing member 25 is formed with a tapered surface 27 so that the opening becomes smaller toward the base 23. Each adsorption member 25 is formed on the lid P2 side of the egg pack P, and is positioned by being fitted to a protruding portion P5 whose outer periphery becomes smaller as it approaches the top surface P4 side of the egg pack P. . In other words, the diameter of the opening end of each adsorption member 25 is set larger than the outer periphery of the top surface P4 of the egg pack P. 3 to 5, a part of one adsorbing member 25 is broken and the internal structure is schematically shown, but the other adsorbing members 25 have the same structure.

The base 23 has a plurality of suction members 25 attached thereto. In the present embodiment, each suction member 25 is provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction with respect to the base 23.

The control device 4 is configured by a dedicated or general-purpose computer such as a CPU, an internal memory, an input / output interface, and an AD conversion unit. Then, the function as the control device 4 is exhibited by the cooperation of the CPU and other peripheral devices according to the program stored in the internal memory.

The transport device 3 is a conveyor for transporting the egg pack P. The conveying apparatus 3 can convey a plurality of types of egg packs P having different external shapes and materials. A temporary standby area 5 is set on the downstream side of the transport apparatus 3, and the transport apparatus 3 is also disposed in the temporary standby area 5 in the present embodiment. The temporary standby area 5 is a place where the movement of the egg pack P is restricted. Specifically, the egg pack P that is successively conveyed is a stopper or guide (not shown) provided on the conveyance device 3. ).

Next, an example of the operation of the boxing system 1 will be described.

With the predetermined number of egg packs P being transported to the temporary standby area 5, the head portion 21 of the transfer device 2 is positioned above the egg pack P (step S1). Thereafter, the control device 4 controls the transfer device 2 so as to evacuate the suction member 25 (step S2). Then, while maintaining the evacuated state, it is lifted from the temporary standby area 5 and is carried into the storage container C placed on the transfer device 7 provided adjacent to the temporary standby area 5 (step S3). . Thereafter, after the suction state of the suction member 25 is released in the storage container C, the head portion 21 moves out of the storage container C (step S4). Repeat the above work.

The transfer method of the egg pack P of the present embodiment, which is executed between step S1 and step S2 of the series of operations, includes the step of lowering the adsorption member 25 toward the upper side of the egg pack P, Moving the suction member 25 in the horizontal direction by bringing the inner surface 26 of the suction member 25 into contact with the outer surface P6 of the protrusion P5 formed on the lid P2 side of the egg pack P; And lifting the egg pack P after being fitted into the part P5.

Specifically, after step S1, as shown in FIG. 3, the control device 4 controls the transfer device 2 to lower the head portion 21 including the suction member 25 toward the upper side of the egg pack P. . As the head portion 21 gradually approaches the top of the lid P2 of the egg pack P, the inner surface 26 of the adsorption member 25 and the outer surface P6 of the protruding portion P5 of the lid P2 of the egg pack P come into contact. In this embodiment, the taper surface P7 is provided on the outer surface P6 side of the protrusion P5 of the lid P2 of the egg pack P, and the taper surface 27 inclined in the same direction as the taper surface P7 is provided on the inner surface 26 of the suction member 25. ing. And since each adsorption | suction member 25 is provided so that a movement in a horizontal direction is possible with respect to the base 23, as shown in FIG. 26, the suction member 25 is moved in a direction positioned just above the projection P5 by the force received by the suction member 25 from the projection P5.

After that, as shown in FIG. 5, the head portion 21 is lowered to a position where the entire tapered surface 27 of each suction member 25 is fitted to the tapered surface P7 of the protruding portion P5 of the egg pack P, and the process proceeds to step S2. And migrate. That is, after the adsorbing members 25 are fitted into the protrusions P <b> 5, each adsorbing member 25 is evacuated to lift the egg pack P from the temporary standby area 54.

As described above, the transfer device 2 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of head units 21 that can adsorb and hold the egg pack P by using negative pressure. The head unit 21 of the transfer apparatus 2 includes an adsorbing member 25 and a base 23 to which the adsorbing members 25 are attached. The adsorbing members 25 are provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction with respect to the base 23. It has been. Therefore, the adsorption member 25 can be brought into close contact with various types of egg packs P, that is, with various types of protrusions P5 and / or rib arrangements and shapes. In other words, the adsorption member 25 can be easily aligned with the egg pack P having a different outer shape. Therefore, it is possible to reliably hold the egg pack P in which eggs that are easy to break are arranged, and it is possible to improve work efficiency.

Since the suction member 25 is formed with a tapered surface 27 so that the opening becomes smaller as it approaches the base 23, the protrusion P 5 is smoothly guided to the base 23 side and the force received by the tapered surface 27. Can be converted into a force that moves the suction member 25 in the horizontal direction.

The adsorbing member 25 is formed on the lid P2 side of the egg pack P and is positioned by fitting into the protruding portion P5 whose outer periphery becomes smaller as it approaches the top surface P4 side of the egg pack P. Regardless of the shape of the apex and the shape of the rib formed on the protrusion P5, the protrusion P5 can be reliably adsorbed.

The transfer method of the egg pack P of this embodiment is a transfer method of the egg pack P using the head part 21 of the transfer device 2, and the adsorbing member 25 is lowered toward the upper side of the egg pack P. Moving the suction member 25 in the horizontal direction by bringing the inner surface 26 of the suction member 25 into contact with the outer surface P6 of the protrusion P5 formed on the lid P2 side of the egg pack P; Lifting the egg pack P after the member 25 is fitted into the protrusion P5. Therefore, it is possible to easily align the suction member 25 with respect to the egg pack P having a different outer shape. Therefore, it is possible to reliably hold the egg pack P in which eggs that are easily broken are arranged, and it is possible to improve work efficiency.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

The container may have any size and shape as long as it has a plurality of constellations, and various changes such as a tray shape and a pack shape can be made. Further, it may be made of paper or plastic. It goes without saying that the number of constellations in the container is not limited to the number described in the embodiment.

In addition to the regular pack shown in the figure, the head unit is a flat pack (a container body having a plurality of recesses for individually accommodating the lower half of the egg, and a plurality of eggs in a state where the lid is closed. Of course, it is possible to adsorb a container provided with a cover body covering the entire surface. In this case, after the step of lowering the adsorption member toward the upper side of the egg pack, the egg pack may be lifted after the end of the adsorption member is brought into contact with the upper surface of the lid of the egg pack.

In the transfer device, the number of objects to be transferred in one transfer operation may be one or plural. Further, the head unit may be replaceable with the transfer device main body.

The adsorbing member may have any shape, size, material, etc. Also, the number of suction members and the arrangement method on the base can be variously changed. Further, the moving horizontal direction may be any of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal directions. The adsorbing member may not have a tapered surface.

The embodiment disclosed this time is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the scope described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a transfer device for packing egg packs in a box and an egg pack transfer method using the transfer device.

2 ... Transfer device 21 ... Head part 23 ... Base 25 ... Adsorption member 26 ... Inner surface 27 ... Tapered surface P ... Egg pack P2 ... Lid P4 ... Top surface P5 ... Projection P6 ... Outer surface

Claims (4)

A plurality of adsorbing members capable of adsorbing and holding the egg pack using negative pressure;
A head portion of a transfer device provided with a base to which these adsorption members are attached,
Each of the adsorbing members is provided so as to be movable in a horizontal direction with respect to the base. The head part of the transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction member is formed with a tapered surface such that an opening becomes smaller as the base member approaches the base. 3. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the adsorption member is positioned on a protruding portion that is formed on a lid side of the egg pack and has a smaller outer periphery as it approaches the top surface side of the egg pack. Head part. It is the transfer method of the egg pack using the head part of the transfer apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3,
Lowering the adsorbing member upward of the egg pack;
Moving the suction member in the horizontal direction by bringing the inner surface of the suction member into contact with the outer surface of the protrusion formed on the lid side of the egg pack;
A method for transferring an egg pack, comprising: lifting the egg pack after the adsorbing member is fitted into the protrusion.

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