JP2021130551A - Conveying device and conveying method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a conveying device and a conveying method which makes it possible to reduce the number of rows of articles such as containers and stably line them up in a single row.SOLUTION: A conveying device includes an upstream conveying part that conveys densely arranged articles in a predetermined conveying direction, a downstream conveying part that is connected in parallel to the upstream conveying part and on which articles are transferred from the upstream conveying part and an alignment guide part that is inclined in a plan view with respect to the conveying direction and points to the downstream in the conveying direction as it gets closer to the boundary along the conveying direction of the upstream conveying part and the downstream conveying part. The alignment guide part forms a regular article group consisting of multiple articles arranged in a certain shape at the end part of the article trajectory in the upstream conveying part. The downstream conveying part includes a centrifugal force applying part that gives articles a curved trajectory.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for transporting articles.

In the line for manufacturing beverage products in containers, the state of the arrangement of containers conveyed by the conveyor is changed according to the downstream processing. For example, a multi-row container that is discharged from a storage conveyor that stores a large number of containers to a conveyor downstream has a guide that is inclined with respect to the transport direction and a conveyor that runs in parallel in the transport direction with a speed difference (parallel conveyor). And can be used to reduce the number of columns. In Patent Document 1, by introducing a container from a storage conveyor to a curved conveyor via a parallel conveyor and an inclined guide portion, the containers are arranged in a single row by utilizing centrifugal force.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-050094

Even if a guide inclined with respect to the transport direction and a parallel conveyor having a speed difference are used, the number of rows of containers may not be sufficiently reduced due to disturbance or the like. In particular, as the speed of the conveyor increases, the row reduction process by the inclined guide portion and the parallel conveyor having a speed difference tends to be unstable.
Even if the containers are introduced into a curved conveyor and centrifugal force is applied without the number of rows being sufficiently reduced, it is difficult to arrange the containers in a single row.

Based on the above, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a transport device and a transport method capable of stably realizing a reduction in the number of rows of articles such as containers and arranging them in a single row.

The transport device of the present disclosure includes an upstream transport unit that transports articles in a densely packed state in a predetermined transport direction, and a downstream transport unit that is connected in parallel to the upstream transport unit and transfers articles from the upstream transport unit. It is provided with an alignment guide unit that is inclined in a plan view with respect to the transport direction and points downstream in the transport direction as it approaches the boundary along the transport direction of the upstream transport section and the downstream transport section from the upstream transport section side.
The alignment guide section forms a group of standard articles composed of a plurality of articles arranged in a certain shape at the end of the trajectory of the articles in the upstream transport section.
The downstream transport section includes a centrifugal force applying section that gives the article a curved trajectory.

Further, in the present disclosure, articles transported in a predetermined transport direction in a dense state are transferred from an upstream transport section to a downstream transport section connected in parallel to the upstream transport section, and the articles are transferred in the downstream transport section. This is a transport method for transporting articles while reducing the number of rows of articles, and is arranged in a fixed shape at the end of the trajectory of the articles in the upstream transport section by an alignment guide section that is inclined in a plan view with respect to the transport direction. A step of transferring a row of articles along the boundary along the transport direction of the upstream transport section and the downstream transport section to the downstream transport section while forming a standard article group consisting of a plurality of articles. A step of reducing the number of rows of articles while applying centrifugal force to the articles at least in a part of the downstream transport section.

According to the transport device and the transport method of the present disclosure, the containers are evenly transferred from the standard container group that holds a constant shape at the end of the upstream transport section to the downstream transport section by the alignment guide section, so that the containers are downstream. As a result of the behavior of the container in the transport section being stable against disturbance, the row reduction process in the downstream transport section can be stably performed.

It is a top view which shows typically the transport device which concerns on embodiment of this disclosure. It is a figure which shows the part of FIG. 1 enlarged. It is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the linear 1st conveyor shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows typically the transport device which concerns on the modification of this disclosure.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a part of a line for manufacturing a beverage product in a container. The container 2 (FIG. 2) stored in the storage conveyor 1 from equipment such as sterilization and filling (not shown) and discharged downstream from the storage conveyor 1 passes through the transport device 10 to downstream equipment such as an inspection device (not shown). It is transported toward.
The container 2 corresponds to an article having a circular or substantially circular cross section. The container 2 is, for example, a can or a bottle, and is conveyed by the conveyor 10 in an upright state on a conveyor.

[Outline configuration and function of transport device]
1 and 2 show an example of the configuration of the transport device 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport device 10 is connected in parallel to the upstream transport unit 11 that transports the container 2 in the first direction D1 (transport direction) in a dense state, and is connected in parallel to the upstream transport unit 11 for upstream transport. A downstream transport unit 12 on which the container 2 is transferred from the unit 11 and an alignment guide 32 for aligning the container 2 at the terminal portion 11E of the upstream transport unit 11 are provided.
The terminal portion 11E of the upstream transport unit 11 corresponds to the terminal portion of the orbit of the container 2 on the conveyor constituting the upstream transport unit 11, unlike the terminal portion 11F of the upstream transport unit 11.

By appropriately combining a plurality of conveyors, each of the upstream transport unit 11 and the downstream transport unit 12 can be configured. For example, the upstream transfer unit 11 may be composed of a plurality of conveyors connected in series. The downstream transfer unit 12 includes a first conveyor 121 and a second conveyor 122 connected in series. It is also permissible to interpose a transfer plate between conveyors connected in series.
Further, a transfer plate may be interposed between the upstream transport unit 11 and the downstream transport unit 12.

The transport device 10 forms a standard container group 20 composed of a plurality of containers 2 arranged in a fixed shape at the terminal portion 11E of the upstream transport portion 11 by an alignment guide 32, whereby the standard container group 20 to the downstream transport portion 12 Container 2 is evenly supplied to. By doing so, the number of rows of the containers 2 in the downstream transport unit 12 can be stably reduced against disturbance. In at least a part of the downstream transport unit 12, the number of rows is surely reduced while applying centrifugal force to the container 2. The transfer device 10 can reduce the number of rows of the containers 2 to a single row and supply the containers 2 arranged in a single row to the single row conveyor 6 (FIG. 1) further downstream.

The transport device 10 is required to have a transport capacity corresponding to the processing capacity of a processing device (inspection device, labeler, etc.) (not shown) in which the containers 2 are supplied in a single row via the single-row conveyor 6. Such "capacity" is expressed by the number of containers 2 processed or transported per unit time, for example, BPM (Bottle Per Minute).
The conveyor that receives the container 2 from the transport device 10 and transports it to the processing device is given a transport speed that allows the required transport capacity to be achieved by the single-row container 2. Further, the transport device 10 is given a transport speed according to the number of rows of the containers 2.

[Upstream carrier and guide]
The upstream transport unit 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2) transports the containers 2 supplied from the storage conveyor 1 via the plurality of conveyors 3 to 5 in a dense state in the first direction D1.
The upstream transfer unit 11 corresponds to a known conveyor device such as a chain 11A, a sprocket (not shown), and a chain conveyor provided with a motor 11B as a drive source. At least the terminal portion 11E of the upstream transport portion 11 uses a chain conveyor having a smaller friction with the container 2 than the belt conveyor in order to align the containers 2.

The upstream transport unit 11 is provided with guides 31 and 41 for guiding the container 2 on both sides of the second direction D2, which is the width direction of the upstream transport unit 11, and an alignment guide 32. The second direction D2 is orthogonal to the first direction D1.
Although not shown in detail, the upstream transfer unit 11 may include a plurality of conveyors (parallel conveyors) running in parallel in the first direction D1. In that case, it is preferably driven in the first direction D1 at any rate equal v ₀ of the parallel conveyors.

Since the containers 2 having the same shape and the same diameter are densely packed, the containers 2 on the upstream transport unit 11 alternately upstream and downstream with respect to the virtual line L1 (FIG. 3) along the second direction D2. , N rows (6 rows in the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). That is, in the upstream transport unit 11, the containers 2 are arranged in n rows in a staggered pattern.
Here, it is preferable that the container 2 has a circular cross section so that the container 2 is surely arranged in a staggered pattern. However, the shape of the cross section of the container 2 does not have to be strictly circular, and it is a substantially circular shape that approximates a circular shape, for example, a polygon with a sufficiently large number of vertices (for example, 10 to 20 polygons). All you need is.

The space between the guides 31 and 41 is set to a dimension corresponding to the total length (nd) of the respective diameters d of the n containers 2.
Of the guides 31 and 41, the guide 31 far from the boundary B1 between the upstream transport portion 11 and the downstream transport portion 12 in the second direction D2 is smoothly continuous with the alignment guide 32.
The guide 31, the alignment guide 32, and the guides 33 and 34 described later of the downstream transport unit 12 are continuous in this order, and all of them come into contact with the container 2. The guides 31 to 34 can be configured from a single member or appropriately divided into two or more members. The guide material is installed at a predetermined position by the support member 30.

On the other hand, the guide 41 (opposing guide) is connected to the separation guide 43 described later of the downstream transport unit 12 at or near the position of the boundary B1 along the first direction D1 between the upstream transport unit 11 and the downstream transport unit 12. ing. The guides 41, 43, and 44 shown in FIG. 2 can also be configured from a single member or appropriately divided into two or more members.

[Alignment guide]
The alignment guide 32 is arranged so as to be inclined in a plan view with respect to the first direction D1 on the extension of the course of the container 2 transported in the first direction D1 by the upstream transport portion 11, and the container 2 is arranged at the terminal portion 11E. By aligning them, the standard container group 20 is formed. The alignment guide 32 points downstream in the first direction D1 as it approaches the boundary B1 from the upstream transport portion 11 side.

As shown in FIG. 3 where a triangle T (equilateral triangle) is drawn on the standard container group 20 with a broken line, the containers 2 constituting the standard container group 20 are arranged in a dense state with a substantially triangular outer shape. N containers 2 are arranged on each of the three sides of the triangle T.
One vertex T1 of the triangle T corresponds to the end point 41B of the opposing guide 41. The remaining two vertices T2 and T3 of the triangle T correspond to the start point 32A and the end point 32B of the alignment guide 32, respectively. Both the end point 32B and the end point 41B are located at or near the boundary B1. Therefore, between the end point 32B and the end point 41B, the containers 2 of the standard container group 20 are arranged in a row A in the first direction D1. Column A is located upstream of boundary B1 in the example shown in FIG. The standard container group 20 may be formed so that the row A is located on the boundary B1.

A dimension corresponding to the length nd is set between the start point 32A of the alignment guide 32 and the end point 41B (start point of the separation guide 43) of the opposite guide 41.
Further, a dimension corresponding to the length nd is also set between the end point 32B of the alignment guide 32 and the end point 41B of the opposite guide 41.

The container 2 transported in the first direction D1 is guided by the alignment guide 32, and while sliding in the second direction D2 on the chain of the terminal portion 11E having a smaller friction coefficient than the belt of the belt conveyor, is always present. It is aligned in a certain shape in the alignment region (terminal portion 11E) indicated by the triangle T. As an example, in FIG. 3, the containers 2 in the second and fourth rows from the left move in the direction of the arrow along the alignment guide 32, respectively. The containers 2 in the other rows move in the same manner.
Due to the disorder of the staggered arrangement of the container 2, even if there is a gap corresponding to one of the containers 2 upstream of the alignment guide 32, the containers 2 are densely arranged along the alignment guide 32. , A fixed container group 20 having a certain shape is formed at the terminal portion 11E.

In FIG. 3, the container 2 is shown separately for each row in the upstream of the terminal portion 11E and the downstream of the terminal portion 11E. For example, a dot-shaped pattern is attached to the container 2 in the upstream rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.

As the containers 2 forming the row A along the boundary B1 are transferred beyond the boundary B1 to the downstream transport unit 12, the container 2 moves to the position of the row A. From the standard container group 20 maintained at the terminal portion 11E in this way, the containers 2 are transferred one row at a time, that is, n containers 2 are simultaneously transferred to the downstream transport unit 12. By simultaneously transferring the containers 2 in the same row from the fixed container group 20 arranged in a fixed shape at a fixed position (terminal portion 11E) one row at a time, the containers 2 in the same row are simultaneously transferred from the upstream transport unit 11 to the downstream transport unit 12. And container 2 are evenly supplied in both time and space.

“Equal” here means that, unlike the fact that the average supply amount per unit time is uniform, a fixed number of containers 2 are simultaneously supplied from the upstream transport section 11 to the downstream transport section 12 from a fixed position. Means that. That is, the supply amount of the container 2 from the upstream transport unit 11 to the downstream transport unit 12 does not change with time. This leads to uniform distribution of the container 2 in the downstream transport unit 12. Since all of the container rows transferred to the downstream transport unit 12 exhibit the same behavior in terms of time and space, it is possible to obtain the effect of stably reducing the number of rows of the containers 2 in the downstream transport unit 12. ..

_{The acute angle θ 1} formed by the alignment guide 32 of the present embodiment with respect to the boundary B1 corresponds to 60 °. However, as long as the fixed container group 20 having a certain shape is formed, θ ₁ does not have to be exactly 60 °, and it is sufficient if it is approximately 60 °. θ ₁ may be, for example, 55 to 65 °.

[Downstream transport section]
The downstream transport section 12 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5) has at least a centrifugal force having a support guide 34 that provides the container 2 with a curved trajectory and supports the container 2 on which the centrifugal force acts. The granting portion (122) is included.
The downstream transport section 12 of the present embodiment is connected in parallel to the upstream transport section 11 and extends in series with the first conveyor 121 extending along the first direction D1 and the parallel section 121C of the first conveyor 121. It includes a second conveyor 122 as a connected centrifugal force applying portion.
Here, the parallel portion 121C and the second conveyor 122 do not necessarily have to be connected by series connection, and they may be connected with the same transport belt.

The downstream transport unit 12 supports the container 2 from one side of the second direction D2 by the guides 33 and 34 connected to the alignment guide 32, and utilizes the speed difference between the conveyors and the centrifugal force acting on the container 2 to support the container 2. The number of rows of the container 2 is gradually reduced so that the containers are arranged in a single row along the guides 33 and 34.

(1st conveyor)
As shown in FIG. 2, the first conveyor 121 includes a plurality of parallel portions 121A, 121B, 121C parallel to the first direction D1.
Each of the parallel portions 121A, 121B, 121C corresponds to a conveyor device including a chain, a sprocket, and a motor 121M as a drive source.

A speed difference is given to the parallel portion 121A, the parallel portion 121B, and the parallel portion 121C. The speed at which the chain moves by the drive source of the parallel portion 121A adjacent to the upstream transport portion 11 is v _A , the speed at which the chain moves by the drive source of _{the parallel portion 121 B} is v B, and the chain moves by the drive source of the parallel portion 121 C. If the velocity is v _C , then v _A <v _B <v _C. The speed v _A is faster than _{the speed v 0} of the upstream transport unit 11. _{Further, the speed v D} of the second conveyor 122 is faster than the speed v _C.

The first conveyor 121 is provided with an inclination guide 33 for guiding the container 2 in a direction inclined in a plan view with respect to the first direction D1 and a separation guide 43.

The separation guide 43 extends in the first direction D1 at a position sufficiently distant from the boundary B1 in the second direction D2 from the portion 43A extending from the facing guide 41 in the second direction D2, and the separation guide 44 of the second conveyor 122. It is provided with a portion 43B connected to the above.
The separation guides 43 and 44 prevent the container 2 from colliding with the other container 2 and the guides 33 and 34 on the opposite side and jumping out of the conveyor. Basically, the container 2 does not come into contact with the separation guides 43 and 44. The separation guides 43 and 44 may be provided in the downstream transport unit 12 as needed.

The tilt guide 33 is tilted in a direction pointing downstream in the transport direction (D1) as it approaches the boundary B1 in the width direction (second direction D2) of the first conveyor 121 from the upstream transport portion 11 side.
That is, the tilt guide 33 is tilted in the same direction as the alignment guide 32. _{However, the angle θ 2,} which is an acute angle formed by the tilt guide 33 with respect to the first direction D1, is larger than _{the angle θ 1} of the alignment guide 32.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the upstream side of the parallel portion 121A, the containers 2 sequentially transferred from the standard container group 20 in the second direction D2 one by one while substantially maintaining the shape of the row. It is guided by the inclination guide 33. Therefore, a plurality of containers 2 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the inclination guide 33. At this time, for example, the number of rows of the containers 2 when the containers 2 arranged in a staggered manner in the orthogonal direction from the inclination guide 33 at the position shown by P1 in FIG. 3 is counted is 3.

Taking the behavior of the container 2-1 and the like schematically shown in FIG. 4 as an example, the principle of reducing the number of rows of the container 2 by the speed difference between the parallel portions 121A and 121B and the inclination guide 33 will be described. The same applies to the parallel portions 121B and 121C.
In FIG. 4, a dot-shaped pattern is attached to the container 2-1 and the behavior of the container 2-1 is indicated by a solid arrow.
While being supported by the tilt guide 33, the container 2-1 slides in the second direction D2 on the chain of the parallel portion 121A having a smaller friction coefficient than the belt of the belt conveyor, and from the parallel portion 121A, the parallel portion having a higher speed. Transfer to 121B. The container 2-3 and the like separated from the inclined guide 33 are also pushed by the subsequent container 2 and transferred from the parallel portion 121A to the parallel portion 121B.

Containers 2-1 possessed parallel portion 121B continues being supported by the inclined guide 33, while sliding on the chain of the parallel portion 121B in the second direction D2, the moving speed to follow the velocity _{v B} of the parallel portion 121B Will increase. Then, a gap S1 is created between the container 2-1 and the subsequent container 2-2 supported by the inclination guide 33. When another container 2-4 that is pushed by the subsequent container 2-3 or the like or is transported alone in the first direction D1 by the parallel portion 121B enters the gap S1 (see the broken line arrow), FIG. In the example shown in 4, the number of columns is reduced from 2 to 1.

The friction coefficient of the chain of the parallel portions 121A, 121B, 121C is preferably 0.08 to 0.15, for example. The same applies to the friction coefficient of the chain of the terminal portion 11E of the upstream transport portion 11 described above.

An appropriate angle for efficiently arranging the container 2 in a single row in consideration of the magnitudes _{of the respective velocities v A} , v _B , v _C of the parallel portions 121A, 121B, 121C and the magnitude of their velocity difference. θ ₂ is given to the tilt guide 33.
When the angle θ ₂ of the tilt guide 33 is increased, it is expected that the row-reducing action is strengthened by pushing the container 2 transported in the first direction D1 between the containers 2, but the tilt guide 33 becomes a resistance of the container 2 and the container 2 becomes. Decelerates, making it difficult to achieve the required transport speed.
The angle θ ₂ does not necessarily have to be constant over the entire tilt guide 33. In order to smoothly connect the tilt guide 33 with the support guide 34, the angle θ ₂ is reduced in the vicinity of the support guide 34.

Along the tilt guide 33, accompanied by a change in the moving speed of the container 2 due to the transfer from the parallel portion 121A to the parallel portion 121B, and a subsequent change in the moving speed of the container 2 due to the transfer from the parallel portion 121B to the parallel portion 121C. It is preferable to reduce the number of rows of the container 2 to 2 rows or less at the downstream end 121E of the first conveyor 121 by performing the process of reducing the number of rows of the container 2.

Actually, the moving speed of the container 2 on the first conveyor 121 is complicatedly distributed in both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 due to the contact between the containers 2 and the contact between the container 2 and the inclination guide 33. doing. Even after the transfer from the parallel portion 121A to the parallel portion 121B, or after the transfer from the parallel portion 121B to the parallel portion 121C, each container 2 is guided along the inclination guide 33 and in the direction along the inclination guide 33. Not only in a part of the above, but also over a continuous range in the direction, the number of rows is specified, preferably two or less. “Two rows or less” corresponds to, for example, 0.8 to 2.0 rows.

Each of the parallel portions 121A, 121B, and 121C may be composed of a plurality of conveyor elements parallel to the first direction D1. In that case, even if each conveyor element is driven to the same speed, the transfer speed of each conveyor element may be set so that the speed gradually increases as the distance from the boundary B1 increases. In the latter case, the transfer speed can be increased stepwise each time the container 2 transferred to the conveyor element adjacent to the upstream transfer unit 11 is guided by the inclination guide 33 and transfers between the conveyor elements. Therefore, by suppressing the speed difference between the conveyor elements _{as compared with the difference between v A} and v _B , the speed of the container 2 can be smoothly increased while stabilizing the posture of the container 2.

The length and the number of parallels in the first direction D1 of the first conveyor 121 can be appropriately determined in consideration of the row reduction action and the space required for installing the first conveyor 121.
For example, if the length of the first conveyor 121 is extended in the first direction D1, it is expected that the chances of another container 2 entering between the containers 2 supported by the inclination guide 33 will increase while moving in a long section. The space required for installing the first conveyor 121 is increased.

(2nd conveyor (centrifugal force applying part))
As described above, the container 2 transferred to the first conveyor 121 by evenly transferring the container 2 from the standard container group 20 on the upstream transport unit 11 to the first conveyor 121 of the downstream transport unit 12. All of the above show stable behavior, and the stable behavior of the container 2 is inherited from the first conveyor 121 to the second conveyor 122.

The second conveyor 122 includes a curved chain 122A in a plan view, a sprocket and a motor (not shown), and gives a curved track (curved track) to the container 2 on the chain 122A. The curved orbit of the present embodiment is formed in an arc shape, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The chain 122A is provided with a horizontal transport surface that supports the container 2 or a gradient that descends from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side.

The second conveyor 122 is provided with a support guide 34 that supports the container 2. The support guide 34 is curved following the chain 122A, and supports the container 2 from the outer peripheral side of the chain 122A.

When the container 2 whose number of rows is reduced by the first conveyor 121 is transferred to the second conveyor 122, a centrifugal force acts on each container 2 moving in a curved orbit. Then, for example, the container 2-5 in the second row counting from the support guide 34 slides on the chain 122A of the second conveyor 122, and the container 2-6 and the container 2-7 supported by the support guide 34 Since the containers are inserted by centrifugal force between them, the containers 2-5, 2-6, 2-7 arranged in two rows are lined up in a row along the support guide 34.

Centrifugal force continuously acts on the container 2 while being conveyed in the curved orbit of the second conveyor 122, so that the containers 2 in a state of being arranged in a plurality of rows counting in the orthogonal direction from the support guide 34 become the curved orbit. Even if they are continuously introduced, the containers 2 are lined up in a single row by at least reaching the end point 122E of the curved track of the second conveyor 122, and are transferred to the single row conveyor 6 further downstream.
According to the fact that the containers 2 are lined up at the starting point 122S of the curved orbit with the upper limit of 2.0 rows, the container 2 is more reliably used as compared with the case where the containers 2 having more than 2.0 rows are introduced into the curved orbit. Can be lined up.

The radius of curvature R and the circumference L of the second conveyor 122 are taken into consideration in order to appropriately apply a centrifugal force to the container 2 to reduce the number of rows and to take into consideration the space required for installing the second conveyor 122. Is set appropriately.
For an object with mass m moving in a curved orbit at a velocity v, assuming that the radius of curvature of the curved orbit is R, a centrifugal force having a magnitude of ^{(mv 2 / R) in a non-inertial system moving with the object.} Works.
If the radius of curvature R is too small, the centrifugal force is too large and the container 2 is excessively pressed against the support guide 34. It is advisable to appropriately determine the radius of curvature R so that the phenomenon that the container 2 slips and rotates does not occur.

Further, the longer the peripheral length L of the second conveyor 122, the more chances that the container 2 will be pushed between the containers 2 by centrifugal force. Is selected for.
The second conveyor 122 has a peripheral length L corresponding to a central angle of 90 °. Unlike the present embodiment, the peripheral length of the second conveyor 122 may correspond to a central angle of 45 ° or 180 °.

Unlike the process of reducing the number of rows by the first conveyor 121, which tends to become unstable due to disturbance or the like as the transport speed increases, according to the second conveyor 122, the centrifugal force causes disturbance. On the other hand, it is stable and the number of rows of the container 2 can be reduced more reliably than the row reduction treatment by the first conveyor 121.

[Action and effect of the transport device]
According to the transfer device 10, the alignment guide 32 evenly transfers the containers 2 from the standard container group 20 that always holds a constant shape to the terminal portion 11E of the upstream transfer unit 11 to the downstream transfer unit 12 in a row. The container 2 can be made into a single row by performing the step and the step of reducing the number of rows of the container 2 by the downstream transport unit 12.
As described above, by evenly transferring the container 2 from the standard container group 20 to the downstream transport section 12, the behavior of the container 2 in the downstream transport section 12 is stabilized against disturbance, and as a result, the downstream The row reduction process in the transport unit 12 can be stably performed.
The transport device 10 of the present embodiment is vulnerable to disturbance especially when the capacity is high, and the required transport capacity cannot be realized if _{the angle θ 2 of the tilt guide 33 is increased only by the processing of reducing the number of rows by the first conveyor 121.} Is overcome by installing the alignment guide 32 and utilizing the centrifugal force, and it is possible to stably and surely perform the row reduction process.

[Modification example]
The transport device 7 shown in FIG. 5 includes an upstream transport unit 11, a downstream transport unit 22, and an alignment guide 32. The configuration of the transport device 7 is such that the downstream transport unit 12 of the transport device 10 of the above embodiment is replaced with the downstream transport unit 22. Hereinafter, matters different from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described.

The downstream conveyor 22 includes a first conveyor 221 and a second conveyor 222 that are connected in parallel and exhibit a curved shape as a whole. The first conveyor 221 is connected in parallel to the upstream conveyor 11, and the second conveyor 222 is connected in series to the first conveyor 221. The first conveyor 221 and the second conveyor 222 do not necessarily have to be connected by series connection, and they may be connected with the same transfer belt. It is also permissible to insert a transfer plate in the gap between the upstream conveyor 11 and the first conveyor 221.

The first conveyor 221 and the second conveyor 222 provide the container 2 with a continuous curved orbit. In the above embodiment, only the second conveyor 122 of the downstream transport section 12 corresponds to the centrifugal force applying section, whereas in this modification, both the first conveyor 221 and the second conveyor 222 correspond to the centrifugal force applying section. do.

From the start point 221A of the first conveyor 221 to the end point 222B of the second conveyor 222, a support guide 35 for supporting the container 2 on which centrifugal force acts and a separation guide 45 are provided. The support guide 35 is curved following the arcuate shape of the first conveyor 221 and the second conveyor 222, and supports the container 2 from the outer peripheral side.

_{The speed v 2} of the second conveyor 222 is faster than _{the speed v 1} of the first conveyor 221.
_{Speeds v 1} , v ₂ so that an appropriate centrifugal force acts on the container 2 in each of the first conveyor 221 and the second conveyor 222, and also in consideration of the space required for installing the conveyor, the transport path, and the like. And, the radius of curvature and the circumference of each of the first conveyor 221 and the second conveyor 222 are appropriately set. The radius of curvature of the first conveyor 221 and the radius of curvature of the second conveyor 222 may be different, or the circumference of the first conveyor 221 and the circumference of the second conveyor 222 may be different.

In both the first conveyor 221 and the second conveyor 222, the number of rows of the containers 2 is reduced by the action of the containers 2 moving in the curved orbit being pushed between the containers 2 supported by the support guide 35 by centrifugal force. Can be made to.
Here, the relatively low-speed first conveyor 221 is responsible for the row reduction process in the previous stage instead of the first conveyor 121 in the above embodiment, and the relatively high speed second conveyor 222 is responsible for the row reduction process in the subsequent stage. As a result, the container 2 is finally made into a single row.
In the relatively low-speed first conveyor 221, in the example shown in FIG. 5, while ensuring the stable behavior corresponding to the number of rows in the containers 2 transferred from the upstream transport section 11 and lined up in multiple rows, The number of rows of the containers 2 arranged in approximately four rows in a staggered manner at the upstream end of the first conveyor 221 is reduced to, for example, two rows or less. Then, in the second conveyor 222 having a relatively high speed, by applying a larger centrifugal force to the container 2, for example, the remaining row reduction process of arranging the containers 2 in a single row from a state of two rows or less is performed.
Then, while maintaining the stable behavior of the container 2 while being conveyed between the first conveyor 221 and the second conveyor 222, the number of rows is efficiently reduced, and the process of singularizing the containers is surely completed. Can be done.

If the first conveyor 221 is configured to include two or more parallel portions to which a speed difference is given as in the first conveyor 121 of the above embodiment, the container 2 due to the transfer between the parallel portions It is preferable because the increase in the moving speed also has the effect of allowing another container 2 to enter the gap between the containers 2.
The same applies to the second conveyor 222 and the second conveyor 122 of the above embodiment.

In addition to the above, it is possible to select the configuration described in the above embodiment or change it to another configuration as appropriate.
The number of rows of the containers 2 transported by the upstream transport unit 11 may be increased or decreased from n rows upstream of the alignment guide 32. In that case, a standard container group 20 in which m containers 2 are arranged on one side is formed.
The transport device 10 and the transport method of the present disclosure can be applied not only to containers for beverages, foods and pharmaceuticals, but also to articles other than containers. The article is preferably a disk, cylinder, cylinder, or a shape similar thereto.

The second conveyor 122 of the above embodiment, or the first conveyor 221 and the second conveyor 222 of the above modification, can be replaced with a turntable that is rotationally driven around an axis. Centrifugal force is applied to the articles on the turntable by the rotation of the turntable, so that between the containers 2 supported by the support guide provided on the turntable, as in the case of using the curved conveyors 122, 221, 222. The other container 2 can be pushed into the container 2 by centrifugal force to form a single line.

[Additional Notes]
The transport device and the transport method described above are grasped as follows.
(1) The transport device 10 is connected in parallel to the upstream transport unit 11 that transports the articles (2) in a predetermined transport direction (D1) in a dense state, and is connected in parallel to the upstream transport unit 11 from the upstream transport unit 11. The downstream transport unit 12 (or 22) on which the article is transferred is inclined in a plan view with respect to the transport direction (D1), and the upstream transport unit 11 and the downstream transport unit 12 are transported upstream to the boundary B1 along the transport direction. An alignment guide portion (32) that points downstream in the transport direction (D1) as it approaches from the portion 11 side is provided.
The alignment guide unit (32) forms a standard container group 20 composed of a plurality of articles arranged in a certain shape at the end portion 11E of the orbit of the articles in the upstream transport unit 11.
The downstream transport section 12 (or 22) includes a centrifugal force applying section (122) that gives the article a curved trajectory.
(2) The downstream transport unit 12 is connected in parallel to the upstream transport unit 11 and extends in a direction along the transport direction. The first conveyor 121 and the second conveyor 121 as a centrifugal force applying unit connected to the first conveyor 121. Conveyor 122 and the like.
The first conveyor 121 includes a plurality of parallel portions 121A, 121B, 121C parallel to the transport direction and given a speed difference, and an inclination guide portion (33) that guides an article in a direction inclined in a plan view with respect to the transport direction. ) And.
(3) The downstream transport unit 22 includes a first conveyor 221 connected in parallel to the upstream transport unit 11 and a second conveyor 222 connected to the first conveyor 221.
Both the first conveyor 221 and the second conveyor 222 correspond to the centrifugal force applying portion.
The speed of the second conveyor 222 is faster than the speed of the first conveyor 221.
(4) The articles of the standard article group are arranged in a substantially triangular (T) outer shape. One triangular vertex corresponds to the end point 41B of the guide portion (41) facing the alignment guide portion (32), and the remaining two triangular vertices correspond to the start point of the alignment guide portion (32), respectively. 32A and 32B end point correspond.
(5) Articles arranged in two or less rows are transferred from the first conveyor 121 (or 221) to the second conveyor 122 (or 222).
_{(6) The acute angle θ 1} formed by the alignment guide portion (32) with respect to the boundary B1 corresponds to 60 ° or approximately 60 °.
(7) Articles (2) transported in a predetermined transport direction (D1) in a dense state are transferred from the upstream transport section 11 to the downstream transport section 12 (or 22) connected in parallel to the upstream transport section 11. In the transport method of transporting articles while reducing the number of rows of articles in the downstream transport section 12 (or 22), the alignment guide section (32 by the upstream transport section) which is inclined in a plan view with respect to the transport direction From the standard article group, the upstream transport section 11 and the downstream transport section 12 (or 22) The step of transferring the row of articles along the boundary B1 along the transport direction (D1) to the downstream transport section 12 (or 22) and at least part of the downstream transport section 12 (or 22). It is provided with a step of reducing the number of rows of articles while applying centrifugal force to the.

1 Storage conveyor 2 Container (article)
3 to 5 Conveyor 6 Single-row conveyor 10, 7 Conveyor 11 Upstream conveyor 11A Chain 11B Motor 11E Terminal 11F Terminal 12, 22 Downstream conveyor 20 Standard container group (standard article group)
30 Support member 31 Guide 32 Alignment guide (Alignment guide part)
32A Start point 32B End point 33 Tilt guide (tilt guide part)
34, 35 Support guide 41 Opposing guide (opposing guide section)
41B End point 43,44,45 Separation guide 43A, 43B Part 121 First conveyor 121A, 121B, 121C Parallel part 121E Downstream end 121M Motor 122 Second conveyor (centrifugal force applying part)
122A Chain 122S Start point 122E End point 221 First conveyor (centrifugal force applying part)
221A Start point 222 Second conveyor (centrifugal force applying part)
222B End point A Row B1 Boundary D1 First direction (transportation direction)
D2 Second direction L Perimeter L1 Virtual line R Radius of curvature S1 Gap T Triangle T1 to T3 Vertices

Claims (7)

An upstream transport unit that transports articles in a predetermined transport direction in a dense state,
A downstream transport unit connected in parallel to the upstream transport unit and to which the article is transferred from the upstream transport unit,
An alignment guide unit that is inclined in a plan view with respect to the transport direction and points downstream in the transport direction as it approaches the boundary between the upstream transport portion and the downstream transport portion along the transport direction from the upstream transport portion side. , With
The alignment guide portion forms a fixed-form article group composed of a plurality of articles arranged in a certain shape at the end of the trajectory of the article in the upstream transport section.
The downstream transport section includes a centrifugal force applying section that gives a curved trajectory to the article.
Transport device. The downstream transport unit
A first conveyor connected in parallel to the upstream conveyor and extending in a direction along the transport direction.
A second conveyor as the centrifugal force applying portion connected to the first conveyor is included.
The first conveyor
A plurality of parallel parts parallel to the transport direction and given a speed difference,
An inclined guide portion for guiding the article in a direction inclined in a plan view with respect to the conveying direction is provided.
The transport device according to claim 1. The downstream transport unit
A first conveyor connected in parallel to the upstream conveyor,
Including a second conveyor connected to the first conveyor,
Both the first conveyor and the second conveyor correspond to the centrifugal force applying portion.
The speed of the second conveyor is faster than the speed of the first conveyor.
The transport device according to claim 1. The articles arranged in two or less rows are transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.
The transport device according to claim 2 or 3. The articles of the standard article group are arranged in a substantially triangular outer shape.
One apex of the triangular shape corresponds to the end point of the guide portion facing the alignment guide portion.
The starting point and the ending point of the alignment guide portion correspond to the remaining two vertices of the triangular shape, respectively.
The transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The acute angle formed by the alignment guide with respect to the boundary corresponds to 60 ° or approximately 60 °.
The transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Articles transported in a predetermined transport direction in a dense state are transferred from the upstream transport section to the downstream transport section connected in parallel to the upstream transport section, and the number of rows of the articles in the downstream transport section. This is a transport method for transporting the article while reducing the amount of
An alignment guide portion inclined in a plan view with respect to the transport direction forms a fixed-form article group composed of a plurality of the articles arranged in a certain shape at the end of the trajectory of the article in the upstream transport portion. , A step of transferring a row of the articles along the boundary of the upstream transport section and the downstream transport section along the transport direction from the standard article group to the downstream transport section.
A transport method comprising a step of reducing the number of rows of the articles while applying centrifugal force to the articles in at least a part of the downstream transport section.

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