JP2019214441A - Food raising device and food transport system with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a food transport apparatus capable of transporting a food transported in a horizontal state while raising it with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A food transport apparatus of this invention comprises: an inclined plate main body 41 on which the food 100 conveyed from the upstream conveying device 10 is placed on the upper surface in a horizontal state; a swing mechanism 50 for causing the inclined plate main body 41 to swing so as to change the inclination angle of the inclined plate main body 41 with respect to the horizontal plane. The swing mechanism 50 includes an urging portion 53 that urges the tilting plate main body 41 in the direction in which the tilt angle becomes smaller and allows the tilting angle to increase when gravity of the food acts on the tilt plate main body 41, and drive units 52 and 56 which are provided to jump up the inclined plate main body 41 and reduce the inclination angle when the inclination angle of the inclined plate main body 41 increases due to the gravity of the food and in which the inclined plate main body 41 is arranged such that the lower end portion is located above the transport surface of a downstream transport device 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention is provided between an upstream transport device and a downstream transport device arranged in series along a predetermined transport direction, and vertically transports food that has been transported horizontally from the upstream transport device. The present invention relates to a food raising device which transfers the food to a downstream-side transport device while displacing the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the next operation performed in a food processing factory or the like, that is, transporting an object such as manufactured food along a predetermined transport path, taking out the object from the transport path, and performing other operations such as a storage box. It is being studied to automate the work of transporting to a location.

  Here, in the case of foods such as rice balls and sandwiches, the food is discharged from the manufacturing device in a state of being placed horizontally, while the food is required to be stored in a storage box or the like in a state where the food is placed vertically. There is. In this case, it is necessary to raise the food conveyed in a horizontal state while transferring it to another place such as a storage box.

  On the other hand, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an apparatus including a robot that grasps a sandwich that is conveyed in a horizontal state by a conveyor belt and raises the sandwich.

  Specifically, the robot disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes an arm having two plate-shaped members at its ends extending parallel to the conveyor belt, a driving unit such as a motor for driving the arm, and a control device for controlling the arm. Have. This robot is controlled as follows. First, the arm is driven so that the two plate members are located beside the conveyor belt. Next, one plate-like member is extended toward the conveyor belt and is placed on the upper surface of the sandwich on the conveyor belt. Next, the other plate member is inserted between the sandwich and the conveyor belt. As a result, the sandwich is sandwiched between the plate members from both the upper and lower sides. Next, the arm is driven so that the plate-like member sandwiching the sandwich moves upward. Then, the plate member and the sandwich are rotated above the conveyor belt. This changes the orientation of the sandwich. Next, the plate-shaped member is moved downward, and the sandwich is placed on the conveyor belt in a state where it is raised. Finally, the plate member is driven so that the plate member is separated from the sandwich.

JP 2014-198571 A

  In the device of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to move the plate-like member (arm) to a position where the sandwich in the middle of the conveyance can be sandwiched, and various sensors for accurately detecting the position of the sandwich are required. Further, as described above, it is necessary to control the plate-like member very finely, and a high-precision robot is required. Therefore, there is a problem that the configuration of the device becomes complicated and a problem that the cost increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a food transport apparatus that can transport a food product that is transported in a horizontal state while raising it with a simple configuration.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is provided between an upstream transport device and a downstream transport device that are arranged in series along a predetermined transport direction, and is transported in a horizontal state from the upstream transport device. A food raising device for transferring the prepared food to the downstream transport device while displacing the food product in a vertically placed state, wherein the food raising device is disposed adjacent to a downstream end of the upstream transport device in a transport direction, and the upstream transport device is provided. An inclined plate on which the food conveyed from the device is placed on the upper surface in a horizontal state, and a swing mechanism that changes the inclination angle while supporting the inclined plate in a state in which the inclined plate can be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. When the transport direction of the upstream transport device is a first direction, and a direction orthogonal to the first direction is a second direction, the inclined plate is higher in height from one side to the other side in the second direction. Lower It is possible to tilt the tilting plate, the swinging mechanism, a supporting portion for supporting the tilt plate so that the tilt angle of the tilt plate can be changed, and the tilt plate in a direction in which the tilt angle is reduced. An urging portion that urges the inclination plate to allow the inclination angle to increase when gravity of the food acts on the inclination plate, and bounces the inclination plate when the inclination angle of the inclination plate increases due to the gravity of the food. A drive unit that raises the inclination angle to reduce the inclination angle, so that the food that has moved to the other side in the second direction along the inclination of the inclination plate is transferred to the downstream-side conveying device, Is disposed so that the other end in the second direction is located above the transport surface of the downstream transport device. To.

  According to this apparatus, the inclined plate configured as described above is provided, and the food is transferred from the upstream transport device to the downstream transport device while standing up with a simple configuration of swinging the inclined plate. Can be done.

  Specifically, in this device, the inclined plate on which the food conveyed from the upstream conveying device is placed on the upper surface is moved at least when the gravity of the food acts on the conveying direction of the upstream conveying device (first direction). ) Are supported such that the height decreases from one side to the other side in the second direction orthogonal to the second direction. Further, the other end in the second direction is provided on the transfer surface of the downstream transfer device so that the inclined plate is transferred to the downstream transfer device in such a manner that the food moved to the other side in the second direction along the slope is transferred to the downstream transfer device. It is configured to be located above. Therefore, the food can be easily transferred to the downstream-side transport device by utilizing the weight of the food. In addition, when the inclination angle of the inclined plate increases due to the gravity of the food, the inclined plate is flipped up by the driving unit. Therefore, it is possible to apply a force in an upright direction to the food flowing down toward the downstream transport device, and to deliver the food to the downstream transport device in an upright state.

  In the configuration, the support portion includes a support shaft portion extending in the first direction and functioning as a swing fulcrum of the tilt plate, and the biasing portion moves the tilt plate at an inclination angle by a resilient force. It is preferable to include an elastic member that urges in a direction to decrease the size (claim 2).

  According to this configuration, the tilt plate can be configured to be swingable, and an elastic member is used, with a simple configuration in which the tilt plate is rotatably supported around an axis extending in the first direction by the support portion. With this simple configuration, the biasing portion (elastic member) can bias the inclined plate in a direction in which the inclination angle decreases.

  In the configuration, the swing mechanism detects a tilt angle of the tilt plate that exceeds a predetermined reference value, and the detection unit detects that the tilt angle exceeds the reference value. Then, when the drive unit is driven, and the detection unit does not detect that the inclination angle exceeds the reference value, the control unit controls the drive unit so that the drive unit is stopped. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a device (claim 3).

  According to this configuration, when the inclination angle of the inclined plate increases due to the gravity of the food, the inclined plate can be more reliably flipped up. For this reason, it is possible to more reliably apply a force in a direction in which the food placed on the inclined plate stands. In particular, in this configuration, after the tilt plate is flipped up, the tilt plate will be flipped up again when food is still present on the tilt plate. Therefore, the inclined plate can be repeatedly swung until the food moves to the downstream transport device, and the food can be more reliably transported to the downstream transport device.

  In the above configuration, the swing mechanism may include a first restricting unit that restricts the inclination angle of the inclined plate from being greater than a predetermined first restriction value, and an inclination angle of the inclination plate that is smaller than a predetermined second restriction value. It is preferable to further include a second restricting portion that restricts the size from becoming smaller (claim 4).

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the inclination angle of the inclination plate from becoming excessively small or large.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the tilt plate further includes a guide portion extending in the first direction so as to face the other end of the inclined plate in the second direction (claim 5).

  According to this configuration, the guide portion can restrict the food flowing down from the inclined plate from moving to the other side in the second direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the food from sliding down from the inclined plate toward the downstream-side transport device without standing up. Further, it is possible to prevent the food from falling to the other side in the second direction, and to surely raise the food.

  Further, the present invention is a food transport system for transporting a plurality of foods, wherein an upstream transport device that transports the food in a horizontal state along a predetermined transport direction, and a transport of the upstream transport device. A downstream transport device that transports the food in a vertically placed state along the same direction as the direction, provided between the upstream transport device and the downstream transport device, and in a horizontal state from the upstream transport device. A food raising device that transfers the food conveyed to the downstream conveying device while displacing the food conveyed in the vertical position, is disposed adjacent to a downstream end of the upstream conveying device in the conveying direction, and the upstream An inclined plate on which the food conveyed from the side conveying device is placed on the upper surface in a horizontal state, and a swing mechanism for changing the angle of inclination while supporting the inclined plate so as to be able to incline with respect to a horizontal plane With When the transport direction of the upstream transport device is a first direction and a direction orthogonal to the first direction is a second direction, the height of the inclined plate increases from one side to the other side in the second direction. It is possible to incline so that the inclination angle is lowered, the swing mechanism is a supporting portion that supports the inclination plate so that the inclination angle of the inclination plate can be changed, and the inclination angle of the inclination plate is small. An urging portion that urges in a certain direction and allows the inclination angle to increase when gravity of the food acts on the inclined plate, and the inclination when the inclination angle of the inclination plate increases due to the gravity of the food. A drive unit for flipping up the plate to reduce its inclination angle, wherein the food that has moved to the other side in the second direction along the inclination of the inclination plate is the downstream side Wherein the inclined plate is disposed such that the other end of the inclined plate in the second direction is located above a transport surface of the downstream transport device so as to be delivered to the transport device. Provide system.

  According to this system, it is possible to use the food raising device having the simple configuration as described above to transfer the food discharged in a horizontal state from the manufacturing device or the like in a predetermined transport direction while appropriately standing up. it can.

  As described above, according to the food raising device and the food transport system of the present invention, the food transported in the horizontal state can be transported while being raised with a relatively simple configuration.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a transport system including a food transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the transport system viewed from a direction different from FIG. 1. It is the figure which expanded and showed a part of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a portion of the transport system including a cut surface of the transport system cut in a vertical plane through line IV-IV of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a portion of the transport system including a cut surface of the transport system taken along a vertical plane passing through line VV of FIG. 3. It is a schematic side view for explaining movement of an inclined part. It is the figure which showed a mode that a foodstuff was made into an upright state, and (a)-(d) is a figure in each time which passes in this order.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a food transport system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from different directions. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically illustrating a part of the transport system 1 including a cut surface obtained by cutting the transport system 1 along a vertical plane passing through line IV-IV of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a part of the transport system including a cut surface obtained by cutting the transport system 1 along a vertical plane passing through line VV in FIG. 3.

(1) Configuration The transport system 1 is a system for transporting food. Here, a case where the food is a rice ball 100 having a triangular shape will be described. However, the food transported by the transport system 1 is not limited to such rice balls 100.

  The rice ball 100 has a substantially triangular prism shape, and has substantially triangular lateral sides 101, 101 and substantially square peripheral sides 103, 103, 103 (see FIG. 3).

  The transport system 1 includes a first transport device 10, a second transport device 20, and a food raising device 30. The first transport device 10 corresponds to an “upstream transport device” in the claims. The second transport device 20 corresponds to a “downstream transport device” in the claims.

  The first transport device 10 is a device that receives and transports the rice balls 100 discharged from a manufacturing device (not shown).

  The first transport device 10 includes a first conveyor belt 11 and a first conveyor motor 12 that drives the first conveyor belt 11 (specifically, the reference numeral 12 in the drawing indicates an accommodation case that accommodates the first conveyor motor 12). And a first conveyor supporter 13 for supporting the first conveyor. The first conveyor belt 11 is made of an endless belt, and carries the rice balls 100 on the upper surface thereof.

  From the manufacturing apparatus, the rice balls 100 are sequentially discharged onto the upper surface of the first conveyor belt 11, and as shown in FIG. In the example shown, two rice balls 100 are conveyed in a state where they are arranged at predetermined intervals.

  Onigiri 100 is discharged from the manufacturing apparatus to the upper surface of the first conveyor belt 11 with one side surface 101 facing downward. Along with this, the first transport device 10 transports the rice ball 100 in a horizontal state in which the lateral side surface 101 is the lower surface.

  The second transport device 20 is a device for transporting the rice balls 100 transported by the first transport device 10 further downstream of the transport path.

  The second transport device 20 includes a second conveyor belt 21, a second conveyor motor 22 for driving the second conveyor belt 21, and a second conveyor support unit 23 for supporting these. The second conveyor belt 21 is made of an endless belt, and carries the rice balls 100 on the upper surface thereof.

  The second transport device 20 is arranged in series with the first transport device 10 along the transport direction (first direction) X1 of the first transport device 10. Specifically, the second conveyor belt 21 extends from near the downstream end of the first conveyor belt 11 in the transport direction X1 toward the downstream side in the transport direction X1. The rice balls 100 are transported in the same direction.

  As shown in FIG. 7 and the like described later, the second conveyor belt 21 is arranged such that the height position of the upper surface thereof is lower than the height position of the first conveyor belt 11.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the second conveyor belt 21 is configured such that the second conveyor belt 21 is viewed in a direction along the transport direction X1 of the second transport device 20 and is in the width direction of the first conveyor belt 11 (the transport direction X1). (A direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane and along the horizontal plane, the second direction).

  Hereinafter, the transport direction X1 of the first conveyor belt 11 is appropriately referred to as the front-rear direction, the downstream side in the transport direction X1 is referred to as the front side, and the upstream side is referred to as the rear side. The width direction of the first conveyor belt 11 (the second conveyor belt 21), which is orthogonal to the front-rear direction and along the horizontal plane, is referred to as the left-right direction, with respect to the center of the first conveyor belt 11 in the width direction. The side on which the second conveyor belt 21 is disposed is described as a right side. That is, the left-right direction in FIG. 4 will be described as the left-right direction.

  In the present embodiment, as the second conveyor belt 21, one having a smaller dimension (width dimension) in the left-right direction than the first conveyor belt 11 is used. The first conveyor belt 11 is disposed between a position on the right side of the center of the belt 11 and a position near the right end of the first conveyor belt 11.

  The second conveyor support portions 23 are located on both sides in the width direction (left-right direction) of the second conveyor belt 21, and a pair of second conveyor side wall portions 23 a, 23 a extending in the first direction, and the second conveyor belt 21. And a second conveyor lateral wall portion 23b extending between the second conveyor side wall portions 23a and 23a. Further, the second conveyor support portion 23 is connected to the second conveyor side wall portions 23a, 23a and extends in the up-down direction, and installs the second conveyor side wall portions 23a, 23a and the second conveyor belt 21 on the second conveyor 20. It has a leg 23c that is supported at a position above the surface. The second transport device 20 further includes a pair of second guide members 24, 24.

  As described later, the rice ball 100 is delivered to the second conveyor belt 21 in a vertically placed state in which one peripheral side surface 103 is a lower surface. Then, the second conveyor belt 21 conveys the rice balls 100 in a vertically placed state. The second guide member 24 is for guiding the rice balls 100 to the downstream side in the transport direction X1 of the second conveyor belt 21 while maintaining the rice balls 100 in the vertical position.

  The second guide members 24 each have a plate shape extending in the up-down direction and the front-back direction, and are disposed at a position slightly above the upper surface of the second conveyor belt 21. The two second guide members 24, 24 are disposed so as to be separated from each other by a distance slightly larger than the thickness dimension of the rice ball 100 (the distance between the two lateral side surfaces 101, 101) in the left-right direction. As a result, in the second conveyor belt 21, a transport area having a width slightly larger than the thickness of the rice ball 100 is defined between the second guide members 24, 24, and the rice ball 100 passes through the transport area. It is supposed to. Each second guide member 24 abuts the lateral side surface 101 of the rice ball 100 from the outside in the left-right direction, so that the rice ball 100 does not fall. In the present embodiment, the second guide members 24 are supported by the guide support members 29 fixed to the second conveyor lateral wall portion 23b so as to have the above-described arrangement.

  The food raising device 30 is a device for changing the posture of the rice ball 100 from the horizontal position to the vertical position in which one peripheral side surface 103 is a lower surface.

  Specifically, a box packing device (not shown) is provided downstream of the second transfer device 20 in the transfer direction X1. The box packing device is a device for storing a plurality of rice balls 100 in a tray. The rice ball 100 is accommodated in a tray in a vertically placed state in which one peripheral side surface 103 is a lower surface. This is for storing more rice balls 100 in the tray without being crushed. Therefore, it is necessary to transfer the rice ball 100 from the second transport device 20 to the box packing device in a vertically placed state. On the other hand, as described above, the rice ball 100 is transported by the first transport device 10 in a horizontal state. Therefore, it is necessary to change the posture of the rice ball 100 to the vertical position between the time when the rice ball 100 is discharged from the first transport device 10 and the time when the rice ball 100 is discharged from the second transport device 20 to the box packing device. The food raising device 30 is provided for this purpose, is interposed between the first transport device 10 and the second transport device 20 on the transport path of the rice ball 100, and is placed in a horizontal state by the first transport device 10. The conveyed rice balls 100 are transferred to the second conveying device 20 in a vertically placed state.

  The food raising device 30 includes a main body 31 and a first guide member 70. The first guide member 70 corresponds to a “guide unit” in the claims.

  The main body 31 of the food raising device 30 includes an inclined plate 40 and a swing mechanism 50 connected to the inclined plate 40 to swing the inclined plate 40.

  The inclined plate main body 41, which is the main body of the inclined plate 40, has a plate shape that extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction and that is inclined obliquely right and downward in a side view.

  In the present embodiment, ribs 41a extending downward are formed on the rear edge, front edge, and left edge of the inclined plate main body 41. Further, a projecting wall 42 extending downward from the right edge of the inclined plate main body 41 is formed. The protruding wall 42, the inclined plate main body 41, and the rib 41a are formed by bending a single plate-shaped member. The protruding wall 42 extends downward from substantially the entire right edge of the inclined plate main body 41. In the state shown in FIG. 4 (a first state described later), the protruding wall 42 (excluding the distal end portion) is substantially straight in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the tip of the protruding wall 42 is bent to the left.

  The inclined plate main body 41 is a portion on its upper surface that receives the rice balls 100 that have been carried by the first conveyor belt 11 and have dropped from the downstream end of the first conveyor belt 11 in the transport direction X1, and the first conveyor belt 11 (first The transfer device 10) is disposed adjacent to the downstream end in the transfer direction X1.

  Specifically, the inclined plate main body 41 is disposed so as to extend from near the downstream end of the first conveyor belt 11 toward the downstream side in the transport direction X1 of the first conveyor belt 11 (the first transport device 10). I have. Further, the inclined plate main body 41 is disposed so as to extend rightward from near the left end of the first conveyor belt 11 in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the inclined plate main body 41 is disposed in a region between the left end and the right end of the first conveyor belt 11 in the left-right direction. It extends to a position on the right side of the center of the conveyor belt 11. Further, the inclined plate main body 41 is arranged such that the height position of the upper end in the vertical direction is slightly lower than the height of the upper surface of the first conveyor belt 11.

  Further, the inclined plate main body 41 functions as a portion for transferring the rice balls 100 to the second conveyor belt 21, and the right end thereof is located above the upper surface of the second conveyor belt 21 constituting the transfer surface of the second transfer device 20. It is arranged to be located at.

  That is, in the vertical direction, the inclined plate main body 41 is disposed between the upper surface of the first conveyor belt 11 and the upper surface of the second conveyor belt 21. The inclined plate body 41 extends downstream from the upstream end of the second conveyor belt 21 in the transport direction X1 of the second conveyor belt 21. In the present embodiment, as described above, the second conveyor belt 21 moves from near the downstream end of the first conveyor belt 11 to the downstream side of the first conveyor belt 11 (the first transport device 10) in the transport direction X1. It is arranged to extend. Accordingly, the inclined plate main body 41 extends downstream from a position near the upstream end of the second conveyor belt 21 in the transport direction X1 of the second conveyor belt 21.

  The inclined plate 40 further includes a connecting wall 43 extending downward from the left edge of the inclined plate main body 41, and a first supported wall 44 and a second supported wall 45 extending downward from the lower surface of the inclined plate main body 41, respectively. Is provided.

  The connecting wall 43 extends downward from substantially the center of the inclined plate main body 41 in the front-rear direction, and has a plate shape extending in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. The connecting wall 43 is fixed to the inclined plate main body 41 by bolts or the like (not shown). A coil spring 53 described later is connected to the connection wall 43.

  The first supported wall 44 extends downward from near the left end of the rear end of the inclined plate body 41, and has a plate shape extending in the left-right direction and the up-down direction. The second supported wall 45 extends downward from near the left end of the front end of the inclined plate main body 41 and has a plate shape extending in the left-right direction and the up-down direction. These supported walls 44 and 45 are fixed to the inclined plate main body 41 by welding or the like.

  The swing mechanism 50 swings the tilt plate main body 41 so as to change the tilt angle θ of the tilt plate main body 41 with respect to the horizontal plane C1.

  The swing mechanism 50 includes a support portion 51 for supporting the inclined plate 40 including the inclined plate main body 41, an air cylinder 52, a coil spring 53, a first regulating portion 54, and a second regulating portion 55. . The swing mechanism 50 further includes an air pump 56 connected to and supplying air to the air cylinder 52, a control device 57 for controlling the air pump 56, and a position detection device for detecting the position of a piston 52 b of the air cylinder 52, which will be described later. And a sensor 52s. The sensor 52s is electrically connected to the control device 57. The coil spring 53 corresponds to a “biasing section” in the claims, the air cylinder 52 and the air pump 56 correspond to a “driving section” in the claims, and the sensor 52s corresponds to a “claims” in the claims. Detection unit ”.

  In the present embodiment, the support portion 51 is fixed to the second conveyor side wall portion 23a on the left side, and supports the inclined plate 40 via this. The support part 51 is arranged below the inclined plate main body 41.

  The support portion 51 includes a rotation shaft 46 extending in the front-rear direction and functioning as a swing fulcrum of the inclined plate 40. The rotation shaft 46 corresponds to a “support shaft portion” in the claims.

  The rotation shaft 46 is fixed to the supported walls 44, 45 of the inclined plate 40 so as to extend in the front-rear direction between the supported walls 44, 45. The rotation shaft 46 is disposed below the inclined plate main body 41 and at a position closer to the left than the left and right center of the inclined plate main body 41. As will be described later, the inclined plate 40 is rotatably supported by the fifth support walls 51e, 51e around the central axis of the rotary shaft 46 via the rotary shaft 46.

  The support portion 51 further includes a first support wall 51a extending leftward from the second conveyor side wall portion 23a, a second support wall 51b extending upward therefrom, and a third support wall 51c fixed to the second support wall 51b. , A fourth support wall 51d fixed to the third support wall 51c, and a pair of fifth support walls 51e, 51e fixed to the third support wall 51c.

  The third support wall 51c extends in the front-rear direction. The third support wall 51c includes a horizontal plate portion 51c_1 extending below the inclined plate main body 41 and substantially in parallel with the inclined plate main body 41, and a vertical plate portion 51c_2 extending upward from the left end of the horizontal plate portion 51c_1. The fourth support wall 51d extends downward from the horizontal plate portion 51c_1 of the third support wall 51c. Each of the fifth support walls 51e, 51e extends to the left from the vertical plate portion 51c_2 of the third support wall 51c.

  The fifth support walls 51e, 51e are arranged at positions separated in the front-rear direction. The fifth support walls 51e, 51e are respectively formed with through holes 51e_h penetrating the front and back surfaces thereof in the front-rear direction. The rotation shaft 46 of the receiving plate 40 is inserted into these two through holes 51e_h. In the illustrated example, one fifth support wall 51e is disposed in front of and close to the first supported wall 44, and the other fifth support wall is provided in close proximity to the rear of the second supported wall 46. 51e is arranged, and the rotating shaft 46 is inserted through each through hole 52e_h of the fifth support walls 51e, 51e.

  Each of the through holes 52e_h of the fifth support walls 51e, 51e is a round hole having substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 46, and the rotating shaft 46 rotates around its central axis in each of the through holes 52e_h. Thereby, the inclined plate main body 41 is rotatably supported around the central axis of the rotating shaft 46 by the fifth support walls 51e, 51e, and furthermore, the support portion 51, that is, is supported to be swingable. Have been.

  The first restricting portion 54 and the second restricting portion 55 are for restricting rotation of the inclined plate main body 41 and the receiving plate 40.

  The first restricting portion 54 extends upward from the horizontal plate portion 51c_1 of the third support wall 51c below the inclined plate main body 41. The first restricting portion 54 is located on the right side of the rotation shaft 46. The inclined plate main body 41 abuts on the upper end of the first restricting portion 54 from above, so that it cannot rotate (swing) further downward. The first restricting portion 54 is located on the right side of the rotation shaft 46 in the left-right direction, and is inclined in a direction in which the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate main body 41 with respect to the horizontal plane C1 becomes larger than a predetermined first restriction value. 41 is restricted from rotating (swinging).

  The second restricting portion 55 extends leftward from the vertical plate portion 51c_2 of the third support wall 51c on the right side of the second supported wall 45 of the receiving plate 40. The second restricting portion 55 faces a portion of the second supported wall 45 below the rotation shaft 46 and is located below the rotation shaft 46. The second restricting portion 55 is disposed so as to be able to abut on a portion of the second supported wall 45 below the rotation shaft 46 from the right. The second supported wall 45 is in contact with the left end of the second restricting portion 55 from the left, so that it cannot be further rotated to the right. Along with this, the inclined plate main body 41 can no longer rotate (swing) counterclockwise in FIG. 4 than the position where the second supported wall 45 and the left end of the second restricting portion 55 abut. The second restricting portion 55 rotates the tilt plate main body 41 in a direction in which the tilt angle θ of the tilt plate main body 41 with respect to the horizontal plane C1 becomes smaller than a predetermined second restriction value (an angle smaller than the first restriction value). Movement).

  Both ends of the coil spring 53 are fixed to the vertical plate portion 51c_2 of the third support wall 51c and the connecting wall 43, respectively, and the coil spring 53 is disposed between them so as to be able to expand and contract in the left-right direction. I have. In the present embodiment, the left end of the coil spring 53 is fixed near the lower end of the spring connection wall 43, and extends in the left-right direction below the rotating shaft 46.

  The natural length of the coil spring 53 is set to be equal to or less than the length of the coil spring 53 realized when the left end of the second restricting portion 55 and the second supported wall 45 are in contact with each other. Accordingly, from the state where the left end portion of the second regulating portion 55 and the second supported wall 45 are in contact with each other, the receiving plate 50 rotates (oscillates) in a direction in which the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate main body 41 increases, and the receiving plate 50 extends vertically When the separation distance between the plate portion 51c_2 and the connection wall 43 increases, the coil spring 53 urges the connection wall 43 toward the vertical plate portion 51c_2, that is, to the right side by its elastic force. The direction in which the spring connecting wall 43 is directed toward the vertical plate portion 51c_2, that is, the direction in which the tilt angle θ of the tilt plate body 41 decreases, is such that the coil spring 53 moves the tilt plate body 41 through the vertical plate portion 51c_2. It is urged in a direction in which the inclination angle θ decreases.

  The air cylinder 52 includes a cylinder 52a in which an air chamber into which air is introduced from an air pump 56 is formed, and a piston 52b held in the cylinder 52a so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the cylinder 52a. The air cylinder 52 is fixed to the fourth support wall 51d such that the piston 52b projects leftward from the cylinder 52a and slides in the left-right direction.

  The distal end of the piston 52b is connected to a portion of the second supported wall 45 below the rotation shaft 46 via a connecting member 52c and a cylindrical pin 52d extending in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the tip of the piston 52b is connected to the lower end of the second supported wall 45. The piston 52b, the connecting member 52c, and the second supported wall 45 are connected so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-rear direction relatively. Specifically, a through-hole is formed in the lower end portion of the second supported wall 45 and the connecting member 52c so as to penetrate the front and back sides thereof in the front-rear direction, and the pin 52d is inserted into the through-hole. The lower end of the second supported wall 45 and the connecting member 52c are connected so as to be relatively rotatable around the center axis of the pin 52d.

  The piston 52b can freely move in a state where air is not supplied from the air pump 56 into the cylinder 52a, and when air is supplied from the air pump 56 into the cylinder 52a, the amount of protrusion of the piston 52b from the cylinder 52a decreases. It is configured to

  The air cylinder 52 is provided with a sensor 52s for detecting that the amount of protrusion of the piston 52 from the cylinder 52a has reached a predetermined amount. Specifically, a detected portion 52g is attached to a predetermined position of the piston 52, and when the detected portion 52 reaches before the sensor 52s, a predetermined signal is output from the sensor 52s. The detected portion 52 and the sensor 52s are arranged such that the detected portion 52g is located in front of the sensor 52s when the inclined plate main body 41 is disposed at a position slightly higher than the upper end portion a of the first restricting portion 54. Are located in

  As described above, the sensor 52s is electrically connected to the control device 57, and a signal output from the sensor 52s is sent to the control device 57. The controller 57 outputs a control signal to the air pump 56 when a predetermined signal is output from the sensor 52s. Upon receiving the control signal, the air pump 56 supplies air to the cylinder 52a.

  With this configuration, the inclined plate main body 41 is moved from the first state shown by the broken line in FIG. 6, that is, from the state where the second supported wall 45 and the left end of the second restricting portion 55 are in contact with each other. In the second state shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, that is, when the inclination plate body 41 rotates (oscillates) and the inclination angle θ increases, the piston 52b moves to the left. When the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate body 41 increases to a predetermined angle, the amount of movement of the piston 52b reaches a predetermined amount and the amount of protrusion of the piston 52 from the cylinder 52a reaches the predetermined amount, a signal is output from the sensor 52s. Then, the air pump 56 is driven. As a result, the piston 52b moves rightward, and the tilt plate body 41 rotates (swings) in a direction in which the tilt angle θ decreases. When the piston 52b moves rightward, the output of the signal from the sensor 52s is stopped, and accordingly, the driving of the air pump 56 is stopped. When the driving of the air pump 56 is stopped, the force of the piston 52b pulling the second supported wall 45 rightward is eliminated. However, as described above, the coil spring 53 urges the inclined plate main body 41 so that the inclination angle θ decreases, and the inclined plate main body 41 returns to the first state by this urging force.

  The first guide member 70 has a plate shape, and is arranged to extend in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction in opposition to the right edge of the inclined plate main body 41 and the protruding wall 42 extending downward from the right edge. The first guide member 70 is supported on the right side of the inclined plate main body 41 and the protruding wall 42 at a predetermined distance from the right edge. In the present embodiment, the first guide member 70 is supported by the second conveyor side wall 23 a of the second transport device 20. The distance between the first guide member 70 and the right edge of the inclined plate main body 41 is slightly longer than the width dimension of the rice ball 100, and the distance between the first guide member 70 and the right side of the inclined plate main body 41. A space through which the rice ball 100 can pass is defined between the edge and the protruding wall 42. In the present embodiment, the first guide member 70 is bent such that its upper edge extends obliquely to the upper right.

(2) Operation of Food Raising Apparatus The operation of the food raising apparatus 30 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the rice ball 100 is not placed on the inclined plate main body 41, the inclined plate main body 41 is in the first state (the second supported wall 45 and the left end of the second regulating portion 55). Is in contact with the

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the rice ball 100 conveyed by the first conveyor belt 11 falls on the upper surface of the inclined plate main body 41 from the downstream end of the first conveyor belt 11 in the conveying direction X1. At this time, the rice ball 100 moves to the upper surface of the inclined plate main body 41 in the horizontal state in accordance with the fact that the inclined plate main body 41 is located near the downstream end of the first conveyor belt 11 in the transport direction X1. When the rice ball 100 falls on the inclined plate main body 41, the weight of the rice ball 100 causes the inclined plate main body 41 to rotate (oscillate) in a direction in which the inclination angle θ increases against the urging force of the coil spring 53. As described above, the coil spring 53 is configured so that when the load of the rice ball 100 is applied to the inclined plate main body 41, the inclined plate main body 41 can rotate (swing) in a direction in which the inclination angle θ increases. It is connected to the inclined plate main body 41.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, the onigiri rice ball 100 is tilted obliquely downward to the right, and the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate main body 41 is increased as described above. It falls to the right under its own weight.

  Further, as the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate main body 41 increases, the piston 52b moves to the left. When the amount of protrusion of the piston 52b from the cylinder 52a exceeds the predetermined amount, a signal is output from the sensor 52s, and the air pump 56 is driven as described above to return the piston 52b to the left. Accordingly, the inclined plate main body 41 rotates (oscillates) in a direction in which the inclination angle θ decreases from the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 7D to the state shown by the solid line. That is, the inclined plate main body 41 is flipped up.

  When the inclined plate main body 41 is flipped up and the rice ball 100 has reached a position where the rice ball 100 sufficiently projects rightward from the right end of the inclined plate main body 41 as shown by the broken line in FIG. , An upward force is applied from the inclined plate main body 41. As a result, the rice ball 100 is placed in a state where the left end in the horizontal state is the upper end, that is, in the vertical state. At this time, there is a possibility that the rice ball 100 may fall rightward due to the force of the inclined plate main body 41, but in the present embodiment, as described above, the first guide member 70 is located at a position facing the right edge of the inclined plate main body 41. The rice balls 100 are prevented from falling down, and the rice balls 100 are transferred to the upper surface of the second conveyor belt 11 in a vertically placed state.

  Here, when the inclined plate body 41 is flipped up, if the rice ball 100 has not yet protruded from the right end of the inclined plate body 41, etc., the rice ball 100 is in a vertically placed state even if the inclined plate body 41 is flipped up. May not be possible.

  However, even in this case, since the load of the onigiri 100 is applied to the inclined plate main body 41, the inclined plate main body 41 is flipped up and then pivots again in a direction in which the inclination angle θ increases. . When the inclination angle θ becomes a predetermined angle and the amount of protrusion of the piston 52b from the cylinder 52a becomes a predetermined amount, the inclined plate body 41 is flipped up again. Thus, in the present embodiment, the inclined plate main body 41 is repeatedly flipped up until the rice ball 100 moves from the inclined plate main body 41 to the second conveyor belt 21. Therefore, the rice balls 100 are transported to the second conveyor belt 21 while being placed vertically.

  The rice balls 100 transported to the second conveyor belt 21 are transported downstream in a vertically placed state. At this time, the rice ball 100 is transported through the second guide members 24 while maintaining the vertically placed state.

(3) Function As described above, according to the food raising device 30 according to the present embodiment, the inclined plate main body 41 is provided, and the coil spring 53 and the air cylinder 52 are connected to the inclined plate main body 41, thereby forming the inclined plate main body. With the simple configuration that the body 41 is urged by the air cylinder 52 when the gravity of the rice ball 100 acts on the inclined plate body 41 while urging the body 41 in the direction in which the inclination angle θ is reduced, The rice balls 100 transported in the placed state can be changed to the vertically placed state and delivered to the second transport device 20. Therefore, the cost can be significantly reduced and the structure of the entire transport system 1 can be simplified as compared with a configuration in which a robot is provided to grip the rice ball 100 being transported and change its posture. . Further, maintenance can be facilitated.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the tilt plate body 41 is supported so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis 46, and the tilt angle θ of the tilt plate body 41 is freely changeable. Can be simplified. Further, the coil spring 53 is used as an urging portion for urging the inclined plate main body 41 in a direction in which the inclination angle θ is reduced, whereby the configuration of the device can be reliably simplified. The urging portion may be other than the coil spring 53. However, if an elastic member such as the coil spring 53 is used as the urging portion, the configuration can be simplified.

  Further, in this embodiment, the sensor 52s detects that the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate main body 41 exceeds a predetermined angle, and when this detection is performed, the inclined plate main body 41 is flipped up, and when this detection is not performed. The tilt plate main body 41 is configured to stop jumping up. Therefore, when the gravity of the rice ball 100 acts on the inclined plate main body 41, the inclined plate main body 41 can be surely flipped up. Further, as described above, since the inclined plate main body 41 can be repeatedly flipped up until the rice balls 100 move to the second conveyor belt 21, the rice balls 100 can be more reliably placed vertically in the second conveyor belt 21. Can be passed to

  In the present embodiment, the first regulating portion 54 and the second regulating portion 55 are provided so that the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate main body 41 falls within a predetermined range. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate main body 41 from being excessively small or large. Then, the inclined plate main body 41 can be maintained in a posture inclined obliquely downward and rightward with respect to the horizontal plane C1, and the inclined plate main body 41 can be prevented from contacting the second conveyor belt 21 or the like.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, since the first guide member 70 is provided, it is possible to prevent the rice balls 100 from falling down at the time of delivery to the second conveyor belt 21 as described above.

  Similarly, since the second guide member 24 is provided, the rice balls 100 can be transported by the second conveyor belt 21 without falling down, that is, while maintaining the vertically placed state.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the food raising device 30 is configured as described above, the transport direction of the second conveyor belt 21 can be the same as the transport direction of the first conveyor belt 11, and The dimension of the system 1 in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the first conveyor belt 11 can be reduced.

(4) Modification In the above embodiment, the case where the conveyed food is the onigiri 100 is described, but the type of the food is not limited to the onigiri 100 as described above.

  Further, as described above, the urging portion for urging the inclined plate main body 41 in the direction in which the inclination angle θ is reduced is not limited to the coil spring 53.

  Further, the tilt plate body 41 may be supported so that the tilt angle θ can be changed, and the support structure is not limited to the above.

  The means for flipping up the inclined plate main body 41 is not limited to the air cylinder 52.

  Further, the position of the second conveyor belt 21 in the left-right direction is not limited to the above. For example, the second conveyor belt 21 may be provided on the left side of the food raising device 30. In this case, the food raising device 30 may be arranged and configured so that the inclined plate body 41 is inclined diagonally downward and leftward. Further, the second conveyor belt 21 may be arranged at a position separated from the first conveyor belt 11 in the left-right direction.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the inclined plate main body 41 is supported so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane C1 (so that the inclination angle is larger than 0) even when the rice ball 41 is not placed on the inclined plate main body 41. As described above, the inclined plate main body 41 may be supported such that the rice ball 41 is in a posture extending along the horizontal plane C1 (when the inclination angle θ is zero) when the rice ball 41 is not placed. That is, the inclined plate main body 41 is supported so that at least the rice ball 100 is placed on the upper surface thereof and inclined with respect to the horizontal plane C1 when the gravity of the rice ball 100 acts (so that the inclination angle is larger than 0). It should just be.

1 Food Transport System 10 1st Transport Device (Upstream Transport Device)
20 Second transport device (downstream transport device)
Reference Signs List 30 Food raising device 40 Inclined plate 41 Inclined plate main body 46 Rotating shaft (support shaft portion)
Reference Signs List 50 swing mechanism 51 support section 52 air cylinder (drive section)
53 Coil spring (biasing part)
56 air pump (drive unit)
52s sensor (detection unit)
57 control device 70 first guide member (guide portion)

Claims (6)

Provided between an upstream transport device and a downstream transport device that are arranged in series along a predetermined transport direction, and displaces a food that has been transported in a horizontal position from the upstream transport device to a vertical position. A food raising device that transfers the food to the downstream-side transport device,
An inclined plate that is disposed adjacent to the downstream end in the transport direction of the upstream transport device, and the food that has been transported from the upstream transport device is placed on the upper surface in a horizontal state,
A swing mechanism that changes the angle of inclination while supporting the inclined plate in a state in which it can be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane,
When the transport direction of the upstream transport device is a first direction and a direction orthogonal to the first direction is a second direction, the height of the inclined plate increases from one side to the other side in the second direction. It is possible to incline to be lower,
The swing mechanism is configured to support the tilt plate so that the tilt angle of the tilt plate can be changed, and to urge the tilt plate in a direction in which the tilt angle decreases, and to the tilt plate. A biasing portion that allows the inclination angle to increase when the gravity of the food acts, and a drive that jumps up the inclination plate to reduce the inclination angle when the inclination angle of the inclination plate increases due to the gravity of the food. Department and
The inclined plate has the other end in the second direction on the downstream side so that the food that has moved to the other side in the second direction along the inclination of the inclined plate is transferred to the downstream-side transport device. A food raising device, which is disposed above a transport surface of a transport device. The food raising device according to claim 1,
The support portion includes a support shaft portion extending in the first direction and functioning as a swing fulcrum of the inclined plate,
The food raising device according to claim 1, wherein the urging portion includes an elastic member that urges the inclined plate in a direction in which the inclination angle is reduced by a resilient force. The food raising device according to claim 1 or 2,
The swing mechanism,
A detection unit that detects that the inclination angle of the inclination plate has exceeded a predetermined reference value,
When the detection section detects that the inclination angle exceeds the reference value, the drive section drives, and when the detection section does not detect that the inclination angle exceeds the reference value, A control device for controlling the driving unit such that the driving of the driving unit is stopped. The food raising device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The swing mechanism,
A first restricting portion that restricts the inclination angle of the inclined plate from becoming larger than a predetermined first restriction value;
A second restricting portion for restricting the inclination angle of the inclined plate from becoming smaller than a predetermined second restriction value. In the food raising device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The food raising apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide portion extending in the first direction opposite to the other end of the inclined plate in the second direction. A food transport system for transporting a plurality of foods,
An upstream-side transport device that transports the food in a horizontal state along a predetermined transport direction,
A downstream transport device that transports the food in a vertically placed state along the same direction as the transport direction of the upstream transport device,
It is provided between the upstream transport device and the downstream transport device, and transfers the food transported from the upstream transport device in a horizontal state to the downstream transport device while displacing the food in a vertical position. With a food raising device,
An inclined plate that is disposed adjacent to the downstream end in the transport direction of the upstream transport device, and the food that has been transported from the upstream transport device is placed on the upper surface in a horizontal state,
A swing mechanism that changes the angle of inclination while supporting the inclined plate in a state in which it can be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane,
When the transport direction of the upstream transport device is a first direction and a direction orthogonal to the first direction is a second direction, the height of the inclined plate increases from one side to the other side in the second direction. It is possible to incline to be lower,
The swing mechanism is configured to support the tilt plate so that the tilt angle of the tilt plate can be changed, and to urge the tilt plate in a direction in which the tilt angle decreases, and to the tilt plate. A biasing portion that allows the inclination angle to increase when the gravity of the food acts, and a drive that jumps up the inclination plate to reduce the inclination angle when the inclination angle of the inclination plate increases due to the gravity of the food. Department and
The inclined plate has the other end in the second direction on the downstream side so that the food that has moved to the other side in the second direction along the inclination of the inclined plate is transferred to the downstream-side transport device. A food transport system, wherein the food transport system is disposed above a transport surface of a transport device.

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