JP2022001528A - Delivery device - Google Patents

Abstract

To turn a conveyance direction back multiple times by rapidly and reliably delivering an object to be conveyed to different transportation systems.SOLUTION: A delivery device includes: a first conveyance shuttle 31 and a second conveyance shuttle 32 movable along a conveyance rail 20; and a first delivery shuttle 51 and a second delivery shuttle 52 movable along a delivery rail 40. The first conveyance shuttle 31 and the second conveyance shuttle 32 disposed in a conveyance straight part 205 and the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 disposed in a delivery straight part 405 can hold an object to be conveyed Pc at the same time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 21

Description

The present invention relates to a delivery device that delivers an object to be delivered to a different transfer mechanism.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-525176 discloses a linear transport device using a linear motor as a device for transporting articles. This linear transfer device includes a stator of a linear motor in which an electromagnet is arranged, and a transfer member provided with a permanent magnet. A linear motor system is formed by an electromagnet and a permanent magnet. The transport member has a holder or a corresponding holder, and the product is transported by sandwiching the product between the holders arranged in the transport direction and the corresponding holder and moving the transport member.

Special Table 2015-525176

When the linear transport device is used for transporting an article, the transport trajectory of the article may be curved as well as linear. In a linear transfer device, the transfer member is usually arranged on the outside of the stator and transferred, so that it is difficult to carry it by folding back.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a delivery device capable of repeatedly delivering a plurality of transport directions by quickly and reliably delivering an object to be transported to different transport systems.

In order to achieve the above object, the transport device of the present invention includes a transport rail having a transport straight portion extending in the transport direction of the object to be transported, and a delivery rail having a delivery straight portion arranged in parallel with the transport straight portion. A first transport shuttle and a second transport shuttle that are arranged on a surface of the transport rail facing the delivery rail and can move along the transport rail while holding the object to be transported, and the transport of the delivery rail. The first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle, and the first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle, which are arranged on the surface facing the rail and can move along the transfer rail while holding the object to be transported. It has a transport linear motor mechanism that moves independently, and a delivery linear motor mechanism that moves the first delivery shuttle and the second delivery shuttle independently. The first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle arranged in the transfer straight line portion, and the first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle arranged in the delivery straight line portion can simultaneously hold the object to be transported. Is.

With this configuration, the objects to be transported are simultaneously held by shuttles moving on different rails. As a result, the transported object can be moved while the shuttles moving on different rails are moving, and the transported object can be delivered quickly and reliably. Further, since the transported object is not stopped, the time required for delivery of the transported object can be shortened, and the time from the completion of the transported object to the delivery can be shortened.

In the above configuration, the first transport shuttle has a first transport engaging portion that engages with the front portion in the transport direction of the transported object, and the second transport shuttle has a transport direction of the transported object. The first delivery shuttle has a second delivery engagement portion that engages with the rear portion, and the first delivery shuttle has a first delivery engagement portion that engages with the front portion in the transport direction of the object to be transported. The shuttle has a second delivery engagement portion that engages with the rear portion in the transport direction of the object to be transported, and the first transfer engagement portion and the first delivery engagement portion are vertically displaced and the first delivery engagement portion is displaced. The second transport engaging portion and the second delivery engaging portion are vertically displaced from each other. With this configuration, when the first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle hold the object to be transported and the first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle hold the object to be transported, the engaging portions may come into contact with each other. , Interference can be suppressed. This makes it possible to fold back a plurality of transport directions.

In the above configuration, the first transport shuttle has a first transport support portion that supports a front corner of the bottom surface of the transport object on the transport rail side, and the second transport shuttle has the transport object. The first delivery shuttle has a second transfer support portion that supports a corner portion of the bottom surface rearward on the transfer rail side, and the first delivery shuttle supports a first transfer portion that supports the front corner portion of the bottom surface of the object to be transported on the transfer rail side. The second delivery shuttle has a support portion, and the second delivery shuttle has a second delivery support portion that supports a corner portion of the bottom surface of the object to be transported on the rear side of the delivery rail, and the first transfer support portion and the first delivery support portion. The sum of the lengths of the parts of the delivery support portion that overlap vertically with the transported object in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction is shorter than the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transported object. The sum of the lengths of the portion of the second delivery support portion that overlaps with the transported object in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction is shorter than the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transported object.

With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the first transport support portion and the second transport support portion and the first delivery support portion and the second delivery support portion from coming into contact with each other or interfering with each other.

In the above configuration, the upper surfaces of the first transport support portion, the second transport support portion, the first delivery support portion, and the second delivery support portion are flush with each other. By doing so, the object to be transported can be stably supported.

In the above configuration, the delivery linear motor mechanism holds the transported object held by the first transport shuttle and the second transport shuttle moving along the transport rail from the front and back in the transport direction, and the first. The first delivery shuttle and the second delivery shuttle are moved so as to be equal to the movement speed of the first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle, and the first delivery shuttle and the second delivery shuttle are the objects to be transported. After holding, the transfer linear motor mechanism moves at least the first transfer shuttle away from the front of the object to be transported.

In the above configuration, the transfer linear motor mechanism moves the second transfer shuttle away from the rear of the object to be transported after the first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle hold the object to be transported. ..

According to the delivery device according to the present invention, the conveyed object can be quickly and reliably delivered to different transport systems, so that the transport direction can be folded back in a plurality of directions.

It is a schematic layout drawing of a transport box packing device. It is a functional block diagram of a transport box packing device. It is a top view of the state in which the 1st transport shuttle and the 2nd transport shuttle holding the object to be transported are moving along a linear transport rail. FIG. 3 is a view of the first transport shuttle and the second transport shuttle shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the outside. It is a figure seen from the rear side in the transport direction of the 1st transport shuttle and the 2nd transport shuttle. It is a top view of the state in which the 1st transport shuttle and the 2nd transport shuttle holding the object to be transported are moving along a curved transport rail. It is a top view which shows the operation of a pusher before transfer. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the object to be transported has moved between the first transport shuttle and the second transport shuttle. It is a top view which shows the object to be conveyed held by the 1st transfer shuttle and the 2nd transfer shuttle. It is a top view of the state which moves along the linear delivery rail of the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle which held the transported object. FIG. 10 is a view of the first delivery shuttle and the second delivery shuttle shown in FIG. 10 as viewed from the outside. It is a figure seen from the rear side in the transport direction of the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle. It is a top view of the state which moves along the linear delivery rail of the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle which held the transported object. It is a top view which shows the state which the two objects to be conveyed which are arranged in the transport direction are being conveyed. It is a top view of the state of moving along the linear delivery rail of the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle holding three objects to be delivered arranged in the transport direction. FIG. 15 is a view of the first delivery shuttle and the second delivery shuttle shown in FIG. 15 as viewed from the outside. It is a top view of the state of moving along the linear delivery rail of the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle holding three objects to be delivered arranged in the transport direction. It is a top view of the state of moving along the linear delivery rail of the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle holding four objects to be delivered arranged in the transport direction. FIG. 18 is a view of the first delivery shuttle and the second delivery shuttle shown in FIG. 18 as viewed from the outside. It is a top view of the state of moving along the curved delivery rail of the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle holding four objects to be delivered arranged in the transport direction. It is a figure seen from the rear in the transport direction of the 1st transport shuttle, the 2nd transport shuttle, the 1st delivery shuttle, and the 2nd delivery shuttle. It is a top view which shows the state which the 1st transfer shuttle and the 2nd transfer shuttle are moving while holding the object to be conveyed. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the second delivery shuttle holds the rear portion in the transport direction of the transported object. It is a top view of the state which the object to be conveyed held by the 1st transfer shuttle and the 2nd transfer shuttle is held by the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle. It is a top view which shows the state which held the conveyed object by the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle. It is a top view which shows the state which the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle which held the conveyed object are moving in the 1st curve part. It is a top view of the main part of the transfer device. It is an enlarged plan view which shows the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle when the delivered object is delivered to a replacement conveyor. It is an enlarged front view of the 1st delivery shuttle and the 2nd delivery shuttle in the 1st proximity area. It is a top view which shows the state which the object to be conveyed is accumulated. It is a top view of the state which held 4 objects to be conveyed on the transfer conveyor in the 2nd holding state. It is a front view of the state which held the four objects to be transported. It is a front view of the boxing device. It is a front view of an articulated arm robot. It is the schematic which looked at the sheet supply part from the rear in the box transport direction. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state before the operation of the pushing device which pushes an article. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which pushed the article into the bent sheet by the pushing device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the sealing device. It is a figure which shows the state in which the bending tool of a sealing device is brought into contact with a top plate part. It is a figure which shows the state which the top plate part was bent by the sealing device. It is a figure which shows the sealing device and the storage box immediately after the sealing is completed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Conveying box packing device 100>
FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram of the transport box packing device 100. The transport boxing device 100 is arranged after the filling device (not shown) for filling the articles with the contents. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport box packing device 100 transports a substantially rectangular parallelepiped article (also referred to as a transported object) Pc filled with a liquid container inside, and is suitable for carrying out to the outside. Box it in. Then, the storage box Bx in which a predetermined number of the items to be transported Pc are packed is sealed and carried out to the outside.

The transport boxing device 100 includes a transfer device 200, a delivery device 300, a transfer device 400, a boxing device 500, and a control unit 600 (see FIG. 2). The transfer device 200 transfers the transported object Pc carried out from the filling device (not shown) to the transport box packing device 100.

<Control unit 600>
Here, the details of the control unit 600 will be described. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the transport box packing device 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 600 includes a processing circuit 601 and a storage circuit 602. The processing circuit 601 is a circuit that processes various types of information, and has an arithmetic circuit such as a CPU and an MPU. Further, the processing circuit 601 controls the control target included in the transfer device 200, the delivery device 300, the transfer device 400, and the boxing device 500 based on the processing result.

The storage circuit 602 is a circuit including or connected to a semiconductor memory such as a ROM or RAM, a portable memory such as a flash memory, and a storage medium such as a hard disk. Various programs such as a control program or a processing program may be stored in the storage circuit 602, the program corresponding to the processing may be called as necessary, and the program may be operated by the processing circuit 601 to perform the processing. .. The elements connected to the control unit 600 and their controls will be described when each element is described.

<Transfer device 200>
Next, the details of each part of the transfer device 200 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a state in which the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 holding the transported object Pc are moving along the linear transport rail 20s. FIG. 4 is a view of the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the outside. FIG. 5 is a view seen from the rear side of the transport direction Tr of the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, the transfer device 200 includes a carry-in unit 1, a transfer loop unit 2, a first transfer shuttle 31, and a second transfer shuttle 32. In the following description, in the loop-shaped portion, the direction toward the outside of the portion surrounded by the loop may be simply described as "outward".

<Carry-in section 1>
As shown in FIG. 1, the carry-in unit 1 has a carry-in conveyor 11, a pair of nip rollers 12, and a pusher 13 (see FIG. 7). The carry-in conveyor 11 is a conveyor that conveys a substantially rectangular parallelepiped object Pc to be conveyed, which is filled with an contained object by a filling device (not shown). By moving the upper surface of the transported object Pc in a state where the transported object Pc is placed on the upper surface of the carry-in conveyor 11, the transported object Pc moves along the carry-in conveyor 11.

Here, as the carry-in conveyor 11, a general transfer conveyor such as a belt conveyor or a top chain conveyor can be used. In the transfer device 200 of the present embodiment, when the transported object Pc is transported by the carry-in conveyor 11, the slip of the transported object Pc to the upper surface of the carry-in conveyor 11 is suppressed during normal transportation, and the transfer is performed. There is a request to slide as appropriate. In order to satisfy such a requirement, the static friction coefficient and the dynamic friction coefficient between the transported object Pc and the carry-in conveyor 11 (upper surface) need to be appropriate values.

As a result of diligent research, the inventor of the present invention has found that it is preferable to use a top chain conveyor as the carry-in conveyor 11 in order to optimize the above-mentioned friction coefficient. Therefore, in the transfer device 200 of the present embodiment, a top chain conveyor is used as the carry-in conveyor 11. In the following description, the movement of the transported object Pc will be referred to as transport, and the moving direction of the transported object Pc will be described as the transport direction Tr.

The front of the transport direction Tr of the carry-in conveyor 11 has a transfer conveyor section 111 that is close to the first straight line section 201 described later of the transport loop section 2 and extends in parallel with the first straight line section 201. The object to be conveyed by the carry-in conveyor 11 is held by the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 that move along the transfer loop unit 2 in the transfer conveyor unit 111. As a result, the personal computer to be transported is transferred from the carry-in portion 1 to the transport loop portion 2. The details of the transfer of the transported object Pc will be described later.

The carry-in conveyor 11 has a conveyor motor 112 (see FIG. 2). The conveyor motor 112 is connected to the control unit 600 and is a power source for driving the carry-in conveyor 11 according to an instruction from the control unit 600.

The pair of nip rollers 12 are arranged above the carry-in conveyor 11. The transfer conveyor portion 111 of the carry-in conveyor 11 is arranged in front of the pair of nip rollers 12 in front of the transport direction Tr. The pair of nip rollers 12 can rotate around a central axis extending vertically, and the central axes of each nip roller 12 are arranged in parallel. The pair of nip rollers 12 come into contact with the surface of the transported object Pc that intersects the transport direction Tr, hold the transported object Pc, and limit the movement.

That is, the nip roller 12 adjusts the transport interval of the objects to be transported Pc transported by the carry-in conveyor 11.

The pair of nip rollers 12 are rotated by a roller motor 121 (see FIG. 2). The roller motor 121 may be provided in each of the nip rollers 12, or the driving force of one roller motor 121 may be transmitted to each nip roller 12 by using a mechanism for transmitting the driving force. As shown in FIG. 2, the roller motor 121 is connected to the control unit 600. The roller motor 121 is driven based on an instruction from the control unit 600.

The surface of the nip roller 12 is made of a material that has high friction with the surface of the object to be transported Pc. for that reason. By controlling the operation of the pair of nip rollers 12, the control unit 600 can send the objects to be conveyed Pc conveyed by the carry-in conveyor 11 one by one toward the transfer conveyor unit 111 at a predetermined timing. be.

The pusher 13 (see FIG. 7) is arranged above the transfer conveyor portion 111 of the carry-in conveyor 11. The pusher 13 is a moving unit that moves the transported object Pc moving on the carry-in conveyor 11 toward the transport rail 20. The details of the pusher 13 will be described later.

<Transfer loop part 2>
The transport loop portion 2 includes a transport rail 20, a transport linear motor mechanism 24 (see FIGS. 5 and 21), a straw sticking portion 26, and a defective product exclusion portion 27. The transport loop portion 2 is formed in a loop shape by connecting both ends. The transport loop portions 2 are the first straight portion 201 and the second straight portion 202 formed by the linear transport rail 20s, and the first curved portion 203 and the second curved portion formed by the curved transport rail 20t, respectively. Including part 204 (see FIG. 1). The linear transport rail 20s and the curved transport rail 20t have the same configuration except for the presence or absence of bending. Hereinafter, when the distinction is necessary, the display will be distinguished, and when the distinction is not necessary, the transport rail 20 will be described.

<Transport rail 20>
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transport rail 20 has a main rail 21, a grooved rail 22, and a flat rail 23. The main rail 21 is a tubular body having a rectangular cut surface cut along a surface orthogonal to the transport direction Tr. The shape of the cross section of the main rail 21 is the longitudinal direction in the vertical direction. Inside the main rail 21, a coil 241 described later of the transfer linear motor mechanism 24 is arranged. The main rail 21 is made of a material through which the magnetic force from the coil 241 is transmitted when the coil 241 is excited. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, some stainless steels, aluminum and alloys thereof.

The grooved rail 22 is fixed to the upper part of the main rail 21. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a gap 25 is formed between the main rail 21 and the grooved rail 22. The gap 25 is shaped so that a convex portion 301, which will be described later, of the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 fits into the gap 25. As a result, the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 are guided so as to be movable in the direction along the transfer rail 20.

The main rail 21 and the grooved rail 22 can be fixed by welding, screwing, or the like, but the fixing is not limited to this. The main rail 21 and the grooved rail 22 may be integrally formed. The grooved rail 22 has a concave groove portion 221 recessed from the outer surface in the direction intersecting the transport direction Tr. The groove portion 221 is formed over the entire circumference of the transport loop portion 2. The grooved rail 22 has two groove portions 221. The two groove portions 221 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. The upper rollers 33 of the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32, which will be described later, are fitted into the two groove portions 221. The upper roller 33 of the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 moves along the groove 221.

The flat rail 23 is fixed to the lower part of the main rail 21. The main rail 21 and the flat rail 23 can be fixed by welding, screwing, or the like, but the fixing is not limited to this. The main rail 21 and the flat rail 23 may be integrally formed. The flat rail 23 has a shape along a vertical line on the outside of the cross section cut at the surface intersecting the transport direction Tr (see FIG. 4 and the like). The lower roller 34 of the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32, which will be described later, comes into contact with the outer surface of the flat rail 23. The lower roller 34 rotates while being in contact with the outer surface of the flat rail 23.

The first straight line portion 201 and the second straight line portion 202 include linear transport rails 20s having the same length and arranged in parallel in a plan view. In both the first straight line portion 201 and the second straight line portion 202, the groove portion 221 of the grooved rail 22 is arranged outward.

The first curved portion 203 and the second curved portion 204 include a curved transport rail 20t (see FIGS. 1 and 6). The front end of the transport direction Tr of the first straight line portion 201 and the rear end of the transport direction Tr of the second straight line portion 202 are connected to each other. Further, the second curved portion 204 connects the front end portion of the second straight line portion 202 in the transport direction Tr and the rear end portion of the first straight line portion 201 in the transport direction Tr. As described above, the transport loop portion 2 is formed in a loop shape by connecting the first straight line portion 201, the first curved line portion 203, the second straight line portion 202, and the second curved line portion 204 in order.

In the transport loop portion 2 of the present embodiment, the first curved portion 203 and the second curved portion 204 have an arc shape having the same radius of curvature. The first curved portion 203 and the second curved portion 204 may be partially curved or partially linear. Further, the curved portion is not limited to the arc shape, but may be a so-called clothoid curved shape. Further, it may have a curved shape other than these.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 move in the clockwise direction in a plan view along the transfer rail 20. A part of the first straight line portion 201 behind the transport direction Tr is arranged in parallel and close to the transfer conveyor portion 111 of the carry-in conveyor 11. Then, the personal computer to be transported on the transfer conveyor unit 111 is moved toward the first straight line unit 201 by the pusher 13, and is held by the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32. As a result, the transported object Pc is switched from the transport by the carry-in conveyor 11 to the transport by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32. The details of the transfer operation of the transported object Pc will be described later.

In the transfer device 200, the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 that have moved along the second curved portion 204 move behind the transport direction Tr of the first straight line portion 201. In the transport loop section 2, the second curved section 204 can be a standby area in which the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 stand by before the next transfer operation of the transported object Pc is performed. In the standby area, the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 may be stopped or may be moving at a lower speed than during transport.

<Transfer linear motor mechanism 24>
In the transport loop section 2, a plurality of first transport shuttles 31 and the same number of second transport shuttles 32 as the first transport shuttle 31 are alternately arranged along the transport direction Tr. The transfer linear motor mechanism 24 can independently drive each first transfer shuttle 31 and each second transfer shuttle 32.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the transfer linear motor mechanism 24 has a plurality of coils 241, a magnet 242, and a linear driver 243. The plurality of coils 241 are arranged along the loop shape inside the transport rail 20 arranged in the loop shape.

The magnet 242 is a permanent magnet and is arranged on the main body 30 of the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32. As shown in FIG. 5, the magnet 242 is arranged inside the main body portion 30. The Gnet 242 is arranged so as to be able to apply a magnetic force to the coil 241. A linear motor is formed by a magnet 242 arranged in the main body 30 and a plurality of coils 241 arranged inside the transport rail 20.

The linear driver 243 is connected to each coil 241. The linear driver 243 is connected to a power supply circuit (not shown). The linear driver 243 is a circuit that controls the electric power supplied to the coil 241 and includes a circuit such as an arithmetic processing circuit and a power supply circuit that adjusts the voltage and current supplied to each coil 241. The linear driver 243 supplies an appropriate current to each coil 241 based on an instruction from the control unit 600.

The control unit 600 controls the linear driver 243, changes the coil 241 to which the electric power is supplied, and changes the electric power to be supplied. As a result, the control unit 600 independently controls the movement of the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32. The control unit 600 can also control the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 in synchronization with each other.

The transfer linear motor mechanism 24 moves the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 along the transfer rail 20. For example, the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 can move while maintaining the state of holding the transported object Pc.

<Straw sticking part 26>
The straw sticking portion 26 sticks a straw Th (see FIGS. 3 to 5 and the like) on the surface of the object to be transported Pc held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 on the opposite side to the transport rail 20. .. The straw Th is attached to the transported object Pc in a state of being stored in a resin bag.

The straw sticking portion 26 is a first transport engaging portion 36 described later of the first transport shuttle 31 and a second transport engaging portion described later of the second transport shuttle 32 on the surface opposite to the transport rail 20 of the object to be transported Pc. Paste the straw Th on the part avoiding 38. The straw Th can be attached by using, for example, a hot melt, an adhesive, or the like, but other methods may be used.

Depending on the object to be transported Pc, the straw Th may not be attached. In this case, the straw sticking portion 26 may be omitted. Further, when a long object other than the straw Th is attached to the conveyed object Pc, the straw may be attached using the straw attaching portion 26.

<Defective product exclusion unit 27>
The transported object Pc is completed by attaching the straw Th at the straw attaching portion 26. In the transfer device 200, the appearance of the transported object Pc moving along the transport loop portion 2, for example, the pasted state of the bottom surface, the top surface, and the like is inspected by an inspection unit (not shown). Then, the result of the inspection from the inspection unit is sent to the control unit 600. The processing circuit 601 of the control unit 600 determines whether the product is non-defective or defective based on the inspection result.

The defective product exclusion unit 27 discharges the transported object Pc determined to be a defective product to the outside of the transport route. The defective product exclusion unit 27 is arranged in front of the transport direction Tr of the first straight line portion 201 of the transport loop portion 2. The defective product exclusion unit 27 includes an exclusion conveyor 271 arranged below the transport rail 20. The exclusion conveyor 271 is arranged so that it can be conveyed toward the outside of the transfer route. Then, the defective items to be conveyed, which are held by the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32, are placed on the lower exclusion conveyor 271 and the elimination conveyor 271 is driven to cover the defective items. Discharge the transported material to the outside of the transport route.

Although the details will be described later, when the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 hold the transported object Pc, the first transport support portion 35 and the second transport support portion 37 support the bottom surface of the transported object Pc. ing. Therefore, by increasing the distance between the transport direction Tr of the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32, the held object Pc can be dropped downward. The defective product exclusion unit 27 according to the present embodiment uses, but is not limited to, the exclusion conveyor 271 arranged below the transport rail 20. For example, a mechanism having the same configuration as the pusher 13 and pushing a defective object to be transported to the outside of the transport route may be adopted. Also in this case, there may be a configuration in which the relative distance between the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 is widened to release the holding and then push the object to be transported.

The processing circuit 601 of the control unit 600 controls the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 when the transported object determined to be defective is transported to the upper part of the defective product exclusion unit 27, and the transported object is transported. Is placed on the exclusion conveyor 271. At the same time, the processing circuit 601 drives the exclusion conveyor 271 to eliminate defective items to be conveyed to the outside of the transfer route.

<First transport shuttle 31 and second transport shuttle 32>
Next, the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 that move along the transfer rail 20 of the transfer loop unit 2 will be described. The first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 are arranged on the outer surface of the transfer rail 20 and can move along the transfer rail 20. The first transport shuttle 31 holds the front portion of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. The second transport shuttle 32 holds the rear portion of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. That is, the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 hold the front and back of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. Then, the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 transport the transport loop portion 2 along the transport rail 20 while holding the object to be transported Pc.

In the transfer device 200, the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 include a main body portion 30, an upper roller 33, and a lower roller 34 having a common configuration. If the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 can move along the transfer rail 20, they may be provided with a main body portion, an upper roller, and a lower roller having different configurations, respectively.

First, the common parts of the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 will be described. A magnet 242 of the transfer linear motor mechanism 24 is arranged on the main body 30. The main body portion 30 is arranged outside the transport rail 20 so as to face the transport rail 20. The magnet 242 is housed inside the main body 30, and faces the coil 241 arranged on the main rail 21 in the direction intersecting the transport direction Tr.

The main body portion 30 has a convex portion 301 projecting toward the transport rail 20. The convex portion 301 fits into the gap 25 formed between the main rail 21 of the transport rail 20 and the grooved rail 22 (see FIG. 5). By fitting the convex portion 301 into the gap 25, the deviation of the main body portion 30 from the transport rail 20 is suppressed.

Two upper rollers 33 are arranged on the main body 30. The two upper rollers 33 are rotatably supported by the upper roller support portion 302 of the main body portion 30. More specifically, the upper roller 33 is orthogonal to the transport direction Tr and is rotatably arranged around a rotation axis parallel to the outer surface of the transport rail 20. The two upper rollers 33 are separated from each other in the transport direction Tr and are arranged at different positions in the vertical direction. In the main body 30 in the present embodiment, the upper roller 33 (see FIG. 4) on the front side of the transport direction Tr is arranged so as to be on the lower side.

The outer peripheral surface of the upper roller 33 has a roller protrusion 331 projecting radially outward toward the center in the axial direction. The roller protrusion 331 fits with the groove 221 of the grooved rail 22. The upper roller 33 rotates while being fitted in the groove portion 221. As a result, when the main body 30 moves along the transport rail 20, the vertical displacement of the main body 30 is suppressed.

Two lower rollers 34 are arranged on the main body 30. The two lower rollers 34 are rotatably supported by the lower roller support portion 303 of the main body portion 30. More specifically, the lower roller 34 is orthogonal to the transport direction Tr and is rotatably arranged around a rotation axis parallel to the outer surface of the transport rail 20. The lower roller 34 has a columnar shape, and the outer peripheral surface of the lower roller 34 comes into contact with the outer surface of the flat rail 23. The two lower rollers 34 are separated from each other in the transport direction Tr and are arranged at different positions in the vertical direction. In the main body 30 in the present embodiment, the lower roller 34 (see FIG. 4) on the front side of the transport direction Tr is arranged so as to be on the upper side.

The main body 30 is attracted to the outer surface of the transport rail 20 by the magnetic force of the magnet 242 arranged inside. The transport rail 20 may be provided with an suction portion made of a metal such as iron that attracts the magnet, or may be attracted by the magnetic force between the iron core provided in the coil 241 and the magnet 242. Further, the main body portion 30 may be movable along the transport rail 20 and may be attached to the transport rail 20 by using a hook or the like so as not to easily fall off from the transport rail 20.

When the upper roller 33 and the lower roller 34 come into contact with the transport rail 20, the main body 30 is arranged with a certain distance from the outer surface of the transport rail 20. Then, when the main body portion 30 moves along the transport rail 20, the upper roller 33 and the lower roller 34 rotate while being in contact with the transport rail 20. That is, the main body portion 30 is vertically supported by the upper roller 33 and the lower roller 34. Therefore, the main body portion 30 moves along the transport rail 20 while maintaining a constant angle with respect to the transport rail 20.

The first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 have a common main body 30, an upper roller 33, and a lower roller 34. Then, the upper roller 33 and the lower roller 34 arranged in the transport direction Tr are vertically displaced. Therefore, even when the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 approach the transport direction Tr, the upper rollers 33 or the lower rollers 34 are less likely to interfere with each other. Therefore, the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 can be arranged and moved in a state of being close to each other in the transport direction Tr in the front-rear direction.

Next, the characteristic portion of the first transport shuttle 31 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the first transport shuttle 31 has a first transport support portion 35 and a first transport engaging portion 36 attached to the main body portion 30. The first transport support portion 35 and the first transport engaging portion 36 extend outward from the main body portion 30. It is screwed to a plurality of screw holes Sc1 (see FIG. 4) arranged one above the other on the outer surface of the main body portion 30.

The first transport support portion 35 is arranged below the first transport engaging portion 36. The first transport support portion 35 has a support portion mounting portion 350 and a support plate portion 351. The support portion mounting portion 350 is a plate-shaped member, and is fixed to the screw hole Sc1 of the main body portion 30 by screwing. The support plate portion 351 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the support portion mounting portion 350. By fixing the support portion mounting portion 350 to the main body portion 30, the support plate portion 351 protrudes outward from the main body portion 30. The upper surface of the support plate portion 351 is a horizontal plane.

In a plan view, the corner portion 352 behind the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the support plate portion 351 extends behind the transport direction Tr with respect to the arm body 361 described later of the first transport engaging portion 36. Further, the corner portion 352 extends outward from the pressing portion 363 described later of the first transport engaging portion 36. The length from the trailing edge of the transport direction Tr of the arm body 361 to the rear end of the transport direction Tr of the corner portion 352 is shorter than half the length of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc. Further, the length from the outer end of the presser portion 363 to the outer end of the corner portion 352 is shorter than half the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc.

As a result, the corner portion Pc1 on the transport rail 20 side is placed on the upper surface of the corner portion 352 at the front portion of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. That is, the corner portion 352 behind the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the support plate portion 351 supports the corner portion Pc1 on the transport rail 20 side from below at the front end of the transport direction Tr on the bottom surface of the object to be transported Pc.

The first transfer engaging portion 36 has a first transfer upper arm 36U and a first transfer lower arm 36L. The first transport upper arm 36U and the first transport lower arm 36L have the same shape, although the arrangement positions in the vertical direction on the main body portion 30 are different. Here, substantially the same portions of the first transport upper arm 36U and the first transport lower arm 36L are designated by the same reference numerals. Further, the description will be given with reference to the first transport upper arm 36U as a representative.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the first transport upper arm 36U has an arm mounting portion 360, an arm main body 361, a claw portion 362, a holding portion 363, and a contact surface 364. The arm mounting portion 360 is a plate-shaped member, and is fixed to the screw hole Sc1 of the main body portion 30 by screwing. The arm body 361 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the arm mounting portion 360. In a plan view, the arm body 361 extends rearward of the transport direction Tr toward the outside.

The claw portion 362 extends rearward from the outer end of the arm body 361 in the transport direction Tr. The pressing portion 363 extends rearward from the end portion of the arm body 361 on the side close to the transport rail 20 in the transport direction Tr. The rear end of the presser portion 363 in the transport direction Tr is located behind the transport direction Tr of the claw portion 362 with respect to the rear end of the transport direction Tr. The contact surface 364 is a surface behind the transport direction Tr of the portion between the claw portion 362 and the pressing portion 363 of the arm main body 361. The contact surface 364 is directed toward the rear of the transport direction Tr toward the outside.

Next, the characteristic portion of the second transport shuttle 32 will be described. The second transport shuttle 32 has a second transport support portion 37 attached to the main body portion 30 and a second transport engaging portion 38. The second transport support portion 37 has the same configuration as the first transport support portion 35. Therefore, the correspondence between the reference numerals of the respective portions of the second transport support portion 37 and the codes of the respective portions of the first transport support portion 35 will be described, and detailed description of the same portions will be omitted. Similarly, the second transport engaging portion 38 has the same configuration as the first transport engaging portion 36. Therefore, the correspondence between the reference numerals of the respective portions of the second transport engaging portion 38 and the codes of the respective portions of the first transport engaging portion 36 will be described, and detailed description of the same portion will be omitted.

The second transport support portion 37 is arranged below the second transport engaging portion 38. The second transport support portion 37 has a support portion mounting portion 370 and a support plate portion 371. The support portion mounting portion 370 has the same configuration as the support portion mounting portion 350. Further, the support plate portion 371 has the same configuration as the support plate portion 351. The upper surface of the support plate portion 371 is a horizontal plane.

In a plan view, the corner portion 372 in front of the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the support plate portion 371 extends in front of the transport direction Tr from the arm body 381 described later of the second transport engaging portion 38. Further, the corner portion 372 extends outward from the pressing portion 383 described later of the second transport engaging portion 38. The length from the leading edge of the transport direction Tr of the arm body 381 to the front end of the transport direction Tr of the corner portion 372 is shorter than half the length of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc. Further, the length from the outer end of the presser portion 383 to the outer end of the corner portion 372 is shorter than half the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc.

As a result, the corner portion Pc2 on the transport rail 20 side is placed on the upper surface of the corner portion 372 at the rear end of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc. That is, the front corner portion 372 of the outer end of the support plate portion 371 in the transport direction Tr supports the corner portion Pc2 on the transport rail 20 side from below at the rear end of the transport direction Tr on the bottom surface of the object to be transported Pc.

The second transfer engaging portion 38 has a second transfer upper arm 38U and a second transfer lower arm 38L. The second transport upper arm 38U corresponds to the first transport upper arm 36U, and the second transport lower arm 38L corresponds to the first transport lower arm 36L.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the second transport upper arm 38U and the second transport lower arm 38L have an arm mounting portion 380 corresponding to the arm mounting portion 360, an arm body 381 corresponding to the arm body 361, and a claw. It has a claw portion 382 corresponding to the portion 362, a pressing portion 383 corresponding to the pressing portion 363, and a contact surface 384 corresponding to the contact surface 364. In a plan view, the arm body 381 extends in front of the transport direction Tr toward the outside.

The claw portion 382 extends forward from the outer end of the arm body 381 in the transport direction Tr. The pressing portion 383 extends forward from the end portion of the arm body 381 on the side close to the transport rail 20 in the transport direction Tr. The end portion of the presser portion 383 in front of the transport direction Tr is located in front of the end portion of the claw portion 382 in front of the transport direction Tr. The contact surface 384 is a surface in front of the transport direction Tr of the portion between the claw portion 382 and the pressing portion 383 of the arm main body 381. The contact surface 384 faces the front of the transport direction Tr as it goes outward.

Next, the holding of the transported object Pc by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 will be described. The control unit 600 can change the relative positions of the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 while the control unit 600 is attached to the transfer rail 20.

First, the holding of the transported object Pc by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 when arranged on the linear transport rail 20s will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the first transport shuttle 31 holds the front portion of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc, and the second transport shuttle 32 holds the rear portion of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc.

The contact surface 364 and the contact surface 384 face each other in the transport direction Tr. The contact surface 364 and the contact surface 384 are inclined so as to approach each other toward the outside.

The claw portion 362 of the first transport engaging portion 36 engages with a part of the front end of the surface of the transported object Pc opposite to the transport rail 20. At the same time, the holding portion 363 engages with a part of the front end of the surface of the transported object Pc on the transport rail 20 side. The contact surface 364 comes into contact with a part of the front surface of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. More specifically, the outer edge of the contact surface 364 comes into contact with the outer edge of the front surface of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. As the contact surface 364 approaches the pressing portion 363 side, it separates from the front surface of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. A gap is formed on the pressing portion 363 side of the contact surface 364.

Similarly, the claw portion 382 of the second transport engaging portion 38 engages with a part of the front end of the surface of the object to be transported Pc opposite to the transport rail 20. At the same time, the holding portion 383 engages with a part of the rear end of the surface of the transported object Pc on the transport rail 20 side. The contact surface 384 comes into contact with a part of the rear surface of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc. More specifically, the outer edge of the contact surface 384 comes into contact with the outer edge of the rear surface of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc. As the contact surface 364 approaches the pressing portion 383 side, it separates from the rear surface of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc. A gap is formed on the pressing portion 383 side of the contact surface 384.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 attached to the transfer rail 20, the vertical positions of the first transfer upper arm 36U are the second transfer upper arm 38U and the second transfer lower. It is between the arm 38L. Further, the vertical position of the first transport lower arm 36L is lower than that of the second transport lower arm 38L.

As shown in FIG. 4, by arranging each arm of the first transport engaging portion 36 below each arm of the second transport engaging portion 38, the object to be transported Pc is placed on the surface opposite to the transport rail 20. , A space is formed from the front upper portion to the rear lower portion of the transport direction Tr. Therefore, even when the claw portion 362 of the first transport engaging portion 36 and the claw portion 382 of the second transport engaging portion 38 engage with the surface of the object to be transported Pc opposite to the transport rail 20, the straw The sticking portion 26 can easily stick the straw Th to the surface of the object to be transported Pc opposite to the transport rail 20.

In a state where the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 hold the transported object Pc, the corner portion Pc1 on the transport rail 20 side at the front end of the transport direction Tr on the bottom surface of the transported object Pc is the support plate portion 351. It is supported by the corner portion 352 behind the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the. Further, the corner portion Pc2 on the transport rail 20 side at the rear end of the transport direction Tr on the bottom surface of the object to be transported Pc is supported by the front corner portion 372 of the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the support plate portion 371.

The upper surface of the support plate portion 351 and the upper surface of the support plate portion 371 are preferably, but not limited to, flush with each other. The object to be transported Pc may be tilted in the transport direction Tr by shifting it up and down.

Here, the bottom surface of the object to be transported Pc is supported by the front and rear corners Pc1 and Pc2 of the portion close to the transport rail 20. Therefore, a force may act on the upper portion of the transported object Pc in the direction of tipping outward. However, the claw portion 362 of the first transport engaging portion 36 engages with a part of the front end of the surface opposite to the transport rail 20 of the transported object Pc, and the claw portion 382 of the second transport engaging portion 38 is covered. Since it is configured to engage with a part of the rear end of the surface of the transported object Pc opposite to the transport rail 20, the transferred object Pc is suppressed from tipping over.

Further, a part of the front surface of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc comes into contact with the contact surface 364, and a part of the rear surface of the conveyed object Pc in the transport direction Tr comes into contact with the contact surface 384. As a result, it is possible to suppress the movement of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc at the start or stop of the movement of the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32.

As described above, when the transported object Pc is held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32, the downward movement of the transported object Pc is the corner of the first transport support portion 35 (the corner of the support plate portion 351). It is supported by a portion 352) and a second transport support portion 37 (a corner portion 372 of a support plate portion 371). Therefore, the first transport engaging portion 36 and the second transport engaging portion 38 need only be in contact with, that is, engaged with, the side surface of the transported object Pc. Therefore, the first transport engaging portion 36 and the second transport engaging portion 38 do not need to strongly press the object to be transported Pc.

As described above, by using the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32, even a soft and easily damaged personal computer such as a paper container containing a liquid inside can be reliably and easily damaged. The front part and the rear part of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc can be safely held.

When the transported object Pc is transported by the transport loop portion 2, the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 holding the transported object Pc pass through the first curved section 203. The case where the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 holding the transported object Pc move on the curved portion will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a state in which the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 holding the transported object Pc are moving along the curved transport rail 20t.

In the first transport shuttle 31, the angle of the arm body 361 with respect to the transport direction Tr is fixed. Further, in the second transport shuttle 32, the angle of the arm main body 381 with respect to the transport direction Tr is fixed. Therefore, when the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 are on the curved transport rail 20t, the control unit 600 is the distance between the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 in the direction along the transport rail 20t. However, it is controlled to be shorter than the distance when moving the straight portion.

By controlling in this way, the distance of the transport direction Tr of the distance between the outer ends of the arm body 361 and the arm body 381 is shortened, and the claw portion 362 and the claw portion 382 are connected to the transport rail 20s of the object to be transported Pc. Can engage part of the front and part of the rear end of the opposite surface. Therefore, the transported object Pc can be firmly held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 that move along the curved transport rail 20t.

Further, since the claw portion 362 and the claw portion 382 are configured to engage with a part of the surface of the object to be transported Pc on the opposite side to the transport rail 20t, the claw portion 362 is generated when the claw portion 362 moves along the curved transport rail 20t. Centrifugal force can be received by the claw portion 362 and the claw portion 382. As a result, even when the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 move along the curved transport rail 20t, it is possible to prevent the transported object Pc from popping out or falling.

<Transfer of the transported object Pc>
In the transfer device 200, the drawing describes the transfer of the transported object Pc from the transport by the carry-in conveyor 11 to the transport along the transport loop portion 2 while being held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32. It will be explained with reference to. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the operation of the pusher 13 before the transfer. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which the personal computer to be transported has moved between the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the transported object Pc held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32. The carry-in conveyor 11 and the pusher 13 are also shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, a transfer conveyor portion 111 extending in parallel with the first straight line portion 201 is formed in front of the transport direction Tr of the carry-in conveyor 11 so as to approach the first straight line portion 201 of the transport loop portion 2. .. The object to be conveyed, Pc, which is arranged on the transfer conveyor unit 111 and is conveyed, is pushed by the pusher 13 and moves to the transfer rail 20 side.

Here, the details of the pusher 13 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the pusher 13 is L-shaped in a plan view and has a first push portion 131 and a second push portion 132. The first push portion 131 extends along the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc, that is, along the transfer conveyor portion 111. The second push portion 132 extends from the rear of the transport direction Tr of the first push portion 131 toward the transport rail 20.

The pusher 13 is circularly moved by the pusher motor 133 (see FIG. 2). The pusher motor 133 is connected to the control unit 600 and operates based on an instruction from the control unit 600. In the following description, when the control unit 600 controls the pusher motor 133, it may be described that the control unit 600 controls the pusher 13.

The pusher 13 moves along the circular orbit Cr1. The angles of the pusher 13 with respect to the transport direction Tr of the first push portion 131 and the second push portion 132 are constant regardless of the positions on the circular orbit Cr1.

As shown in FIG. 7, a part of the circular orbit Cr1 overlaps above the transfer conveyor unit 111. Then, the pusher 13 moves in the counterclockwise direction along the circular orbit Cr1. That is, when the pusher 13 is above the transfer conveyor portion 111, the pusher 13 moves in the same direction as the transport direction Tr. Further, the pusher 13 overlaps the upper part of the transfer conveyor portion 111, approaches the transfer rail 20s, and after the closest approach, separates from the transfer rail 20s.

By moving the pusher 13 in this way, the object Pc to be transported, which is arranged above the transfer conveyor unit 111 and is moving in the transport direction Tr, is pushed. That is, when the pusher 13 moves so as to approach the transport direction Tr and the transport rail 20s, the first push portion 131 pushes the surface of the object to be transported Pc opposite to the transport rail 20, and the second push portion 132 pushes the surface opposite to the transport rail 20. The surface on the rear side of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc is pushed.

The second push portion 132 of the pusher 13 may be omitted if the configuration is such that the conveyed object Pc can be moved toward the transfer rail 20s while moving on the transfer conveyor portion 111. Further, in the present embodiment, the pusher 13 is mentioned as an example of the moving portion, but for example, a conveyor having a pushing portion capable of pushing the transported object Pc and extending in a direction intersecting with the transfer conveyor portion 111, or the like. A mechanism capable of moving the transported object Pc can be widely adopted.

The pusher 13 moves the transported object Pc toward the transport rail 20s by pushing the rear surface of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc moving along the transfer conveyor portion 111 and the surface opposite to the transport rail 20s. .. Since the second pushing portion 132 of the pusher 13 reliably pushes the rear surface of the conveyed object Pc in the conveying direction Tr, the control unit 600 controls the speed along the conveying direction Tr when the pusher 13 pushes the conveyed object Pc. The components are controlled to be higher than the moving speed of the transported object Pc moving on the transfer conveyor portion 111.

As described above, the objects to be transported Pc are transported one by one by a pair of nip rollers 12 at predetermined intervals. The control unit 600 controls the pair of nip rollers 12 and the pusher 13 in synchronization with each other. More specifically, the pusher 13 is driven at a timing capable of contacting the transported object Pc sent out by the pair of nip rollers 12.

At this time, the control unit 600 has the first transfer shuttle 31 and the first transfer shuttle 31 so that the object to be transported Pc pushed by the pusher 13 is arranged between the first transfer engagement portion 36 and the second transfer engagement portion 38. 2 Controls the transport shuttle 32.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the surface of the transported object Pc transported on the transfer conveyor unit 111 on the opposite side to the transport rail 20s is brought into contact with the first push portion 131 of the pusher 13, and the rear side of the transport direction Tr. The surface of the pusher 13 is brought into contact with the second push portion 132 of the pusher 13. The linear driver 243 of the transfer linear motor mechanism 24 is driven synchronously by the control unit 600.

The control unit 600 moves the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 at a speed synchronized with the speed of the transport direction Tr of the pusher 13. When the pusher 13 moves the transported object Pc, the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 move in a state where there is no relative speed between the transported object Pc and the transport direction Tr. At this time, the control unit 600 transports the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 in a state where the distance between the claw portion 362 and the claw portion 382 is kept longer than the length of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc. Move in the direction Tr.

As the pusher 13 moves along the circular orbit Cr1, the transported object Pc moves relative to the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction Tr.

When the pusher 13 further moves and comes closest to the transport rail 20s, as shown in FIG. 8, the front portion of the surface of the object to be transported Pc near the transport rail 20s comes into contact with the holding portion 363. As a result, the transported object Pc is positioned in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction Tr with respect to the first transport shuttle 31. At this time, the contact surface 364 comes into contact with a part of the front surface of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc, and a part of the front end of the transport direction Tr on the surface opposite to the transport rail 20s of the transported object Pc is clawed. Engage with portion 362.

Further, the corner portion Pc1 on the transport rail 20s side at the front end of the transport direction Tr on the bottom surface of the object to be transported Pc is the upper surface of the corner portion 352 behind the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the support plate portion 351 of the first transport support portion 35. Supported by. As a result, the transported object Pc is held on the front side of the transport direction Tr by the first transport shuttle 31.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the first transport shuttle 31 is located in the first straight line portion 201, the upper surface of the corner portion 352 of the support plate portion 351 of the first transport support portion 35 is flush with the upper surface of the carry-in conveyor 11. It is arranged so as to be. With this configuration, the corner portion Pc1 of the object to be transported Pc pushed by the pusher 13 smoothly moves from the upper surface of the carry-in conveyor 11 to the upper surface of the corner portion 352 behind the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the support plate portion 351. You can move to.

It is sufficient that the corner portion Pc1 of the object to be transported Pc can be smoothly moved from the upper surface of the carry-in conveyor 11 to the upper surface of the corner portion 352 behind the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the support plate portion 351. For example, the upper surface of the corner portion 352 of the support plate portion 351 of the first transport support portion 35 is lower than the upper surface of the carry-in conveyor 11 so that the posture of the transported object Pc does not collapse when the transported object Pc moves. You may.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the front side of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc is held by the first transport shuttle 31, the second transport support portion 37 and the second transport engaging portion 38 of the second transport shuttle 32 , It is located behind the rear end of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. By locating the second transport shuttle 32 in this way, the transported object Pc can smoothly move between the first transport engaging portion 36 and the second transport engaging portion 38.

After this, the control unit 600 accelerates the second transport shuttle 32. The rear portion of the surface of the object to be transported Pc on the side close to the transport rail 20s comes into contact with the holding portion 383. As a result, the transported object Pc is positioned in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction Tr with respect to the second transport shuttle 32. At this time, the contact surface 384 is in contact with a part of the rear surface of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc, and a part of the rear end of the transport direction Tr on the surface opposite to the transport rail 20s of the transported object Pc is. Engage with the claw portion 382.

Further, the corner portion Pc2 on the transport rail 20s side at the rear end of the transport direction Tr on the bottom surface of the object to be transported Pc is the front corner portion 372 of the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the support plate portion 371 of the second transport support portion 37. Supported on the top surface.

When the second transport shuttle 32 is located in the first straight line portion 201, the upper surface of the corner portion 372 of the support plate portion 371 of the second transport support portion 37 is arranged so as to be flush with the upper surface of the carry-in conveyor 11. .. With this configuration, the upper surface of the corner portion 372 in front of the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the support plate portion 371 can be smoothly moved to the corner portion Pc2 on the bottom surface of the object to be transported Pc. It is sufficient that the corner portion Pc2 of the object to be transported Pc can be smoothly moved from the upper surface of the carry-in conveyor 11 to the upper surface of the corner portion 372 in front of the transport direction Tr at the outer end of the support plate portion 371. For example, the upper surface of the corner portion 372 of the support plate portion 371 of the second transport support portion 37 is lower than the upper surface of the carry-in conveyor 11 so that the posture of the transported object Pc does not collapse when the transported object Pc moves. You may.

As described above, the transported object Pc is held on the rear side of the transport direction Tr by the second transport shuttle 32. That is, the transported object Pc is held by the first transport shuttle 31 on the front side of the transport direction Tr and by the second transport shuttle 32 on the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 holding the transported object Pc move the first straight line portion 201 of the transport loop portion 2 along the transport rail 20s. On the other hand, the pusher 13 moves along the circular orbit Cr1. Therefore, as the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 move, the pusher 13 moves in a direction away from the transfer rail 20s, that is, the object to be transported Pc.

The control unit 600 makes the moving speed of the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 holding the transported object Pc faster than the moving speed of the transport direction Tr of the pusher 13. As a result, it is possible to prevent the transported object Pc held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 from being pushed by the pusher 13 more than necessary. Therefore, it is possible to suppress defects such as deformation and breakage of the transported object Pc.

The first push portion 131 of the pusher 13 includes the first transport upper arm 36U and the first transport lower arm 36L of the first transport engaging portion 36, and the second transport upper arm 38U and the second transport upper arm 38U of the second transport engaging portion 38. 2 Arranged in a shape and position that does not interfere with the transport lower arm 38L. Further, the second push portion 132 of the pusher 13 is arranged in a shape and position that does not interfere with the second transport upper arm 38U and the second transport lower arm 38L of the second transport engaging portion 38.

As described above, in the transfer device 200 according to the present embodiment, the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle that hold and convey the transported object Pc carried in by the carry-in conveyor 11 from the front and back of the transport direction Tr. It can be changed to the transportation by 32.

The transfer conveyor portion 111 is formed so as to extend halfway through the first straight line portion 201 of the transfer loop portion 2. Therefore, when the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 move in front of the transfer direction Tr from the end of the transfer conveyor unit 111, the bottom surface of the held object Pc is from the upper surface of the carry-in conveyor 11. Separated, they are supported by the corners 352 of the first transport support 35 and the corners 372 of the second transport support 37.

The objects to be transported Pc held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 are restricted from moving in both the front and back of the transport direction Tr and in both directions orthogonal to the transport direction Tr. Therefore, it is possible to perform the processing on the transported object Pc, here, the straw sticking process by the straw sticking portion 26 while transporting the transported object Pc. As a result, the time required from the manufacture of the transported object Pc to the shipment can be shortened.

Further, since the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 hold and transport the object to be transported in a state where the movement of the Pc is restricted, the transport speed is increased as compared with the case of transporting by, for example, a belt conveyor or the like. Is possible. Further, since the claw portion 362 and the claw portion 382 engage with the outside, it is possible to suppress overturning and movement due to centrifugal force when the claw portion 362 and the claw portion 382 are transported along the curved transport rail 20t. Therefore, the radius of curvature of the curved portion can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the conveyor belt alone is used for transportation. Therefore, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the layout of the transport box packing device 100, and it is also possible to reduce the layout as compared with the configuration in which transport is performed only by the belt conveyor.

<Delivery device 300>
Next, the delivery device 300 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in the transport box packing device 100, the delivery device 300 is arranged after the transfer device 200. The delivery device 300 shares a part of the transfer loop unit 2 (here, the second straight line unit 202), the first transfer shuttle 31, and the second transfer shuttle 32 with the transfer device 200.

In the delivery device 300, the transported object Pc is received from the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 that move the transfer loop unit 2 to the first transfer shuttle 51 and the second transfer shuttle 52 that move the transfer loop unit 4. Passed. The delivered personal computer delivered to the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 moves along the delivery loop section 4 and is transported to the next processing section, here, the transfer device 400.

As shown in FIG. 1, the delivery device 300 includes a transfer loop unit 2, a first transfer shuttle 31, a second transfer shuttle 32, a transfer loop unit 4, a first transfer shuttle 51, and a second transfer shuttle 52. And have. The delivery device 300 is also controlled by the control unit 600. Hereinafter, the details of the delivery device 300 will be described with reference to the drawings. The details of the transfer loop unit 2, the first transfer shuttle 31, and the second transfer shuttle 32, which are common to the transfer device 200, will be omitted.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 holding the transported object Pc in a state of moving along the linear delivery rail 40s. FIG. 11 is a view of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 shown in FIG. 10 as viewed from the outside. FIG. 12 is a view seen from the rear side of the transport direction Tr of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 holding the transported object Pc in a state of moving along the linear delivery rail 40s.

<Delivery loop part 4>
The delivery loop portion 4 includes a delivery rail 40 and a delivery linear motor mechanism 44 (see FIGS. 12 and 21). The delivery loop portion 4 is formed in a loop shape by connecting both ends. The delivery loop portion 4 includes a first straight portion 401 and a second straight portion 402 formed by the linear delivery rail 40s, and a first curved portion 403 and a second curved portion formed by the curved delivery rail 40t, respectively. Includes section 404 (see FIG. 1). The linear delivery rail 40s and the curved delivery rail 40t have the same configuration except for the presence or absence of bending. Hereinafter, when the distinction is necessary, the display will be distinguished, and when the distinction is not necessary, the delivery rail 40 will be described.

<Delivery rail 40>
As shown in FIG. 12, the delivery rail 40 has a main rail 41, a grooved rail 42, and a flat rail 43. The delivery rail 40 has substantially the same configuration as the transfer rail 20. Therefore, the correspondence between each part of the delivery rail 40 and each part of the transfer rail 20 will be described, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The main rail 41 of the delivery rail 40 corresponds to the main rail 21 of the transport rail 20. The grooved rail 42 of the delivery rail 40 corresponds to the grooved rail 22 of the transport rail 20. Further, the groove portion 421 of the grooved rail 42 corresponds to the groove portion 221 of the grooved rail 22. The gap 45 of the delivery rail 40 corresponds to the gap 25 of the transport rail 20.

The delivery loop portion 4 is formed in a loop shape by connecting the first straight line portion 401, the first curved line portion 403, the second straight line portion 402, and the second curved line portion 404 in this order.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 move in the counterclockwise direction in a plan view along the delivery rail 40. As shown in FIG. 1, in the delivery loop portion 4, a part in front of the transport direction Tr of the first straight line portion 401 and a part of the rear part of the second straight line portion 202 of the transport loop portion 2 behind the transport direction Tr. They are placed in parallel as they are close to each other.

As shown in FIG. 24, which will be described later, the outer surface of the delivery rail 40s of the first straight line portion 401 of the delivery loop portion 4 and the outer surface of the transfer rail 20s of the second straight line portion 202 of the transfer loop portion 2. Are placed facing each other. The portion of the first straight line portion 201 of the transport loop portion 2 facing the first straight line portion 401 of the delivery loop portion 4 is the transport straight line portion 205.

Further, the portion of the first straight line portion 401 of the delivery loop portion 4 facing the first straight line portion 201 of the transport loop portion 2 is the delivery straight line portion 405. As shown in FIG. 24, the transport straight line portion 205 and the delivery straight line portion 405 are the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 for the delivered object Pc held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32. But it is placed at a distance that can be held.

Further, behind the transport direction Tr of the first straight line portion 401 of the delivery loop portion 4, is the accommodation straight line portion 406 (see FIG. 1) for accommodating the transported object in the storage box Bx. The portion between the accommodation straight line portion 406 and the delivery straight line portion 405 of the first straight line portion 401 is a standby portion on which the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 stand by.

<Delivery linear motor mechanism 44>
In the delivery loop section 4, a plurality of first delivery shuttles 51 and the same number of second delivery shuttles 52 as the first delivery shuttle 51 are alternately arranged along the transport direction Tr. The delivery linear motor mechanism 44 (see FIGS. 12 and 21) can independently drive each first delivery shuttle 51 and each second delivery shuttle 52.

The delivery linear motor mechanism 44 has the same configuration as the transfer linear motor mechanism 24. That is, the delivery linear motor mechanism 44 has a coil 441, a magnet 442, and a linear driver 443 corresponding to the coil 241 of the transfer linear motor mechanism 24, the magnet 242, and the linear driver 243. The linear driver 443 supplies an appropriate current to each coil 441 based on the instruction from the control unit 600.

<First delivery shuttle 51 and second delivery shuttle 52>
Next, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 that move along the delivery rail 40 of the delivery loop unit 4 will be described. The first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 are arranged on the outer surface of the delivery rail 40 and can move along the delivery rail 40.

In the delivery device 300, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 include a main body 50, an upper roller 53, and a lower roller 54 having a common configuration. If the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 are movable along the transfer rail 20, they may be provided with a main body portion, an upper roller, and a lower roller having different configurations, respectively.

First, the common parts of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 will be described. The main body 50 corresponds to the main body 30 of the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32, and has the same configuration. Therefore, a detailed description of the main body 50 will be omitted. The main body portion 50 has a convex portion 301 of the main body portion 30, an upper roller support portion 302, and a convex portion 501 corresponding to the lower roller support portion 303, an upper roller support portion 502, and a lower roller support portion 503, respectively.

A magnet 442 of the delivery linear motor mechanism 44 is arranged on the main body 50. The magnet 442 is housed inside the main body 50 and faces the coil 441 arranged on the main rail 41 in the direction intersecting the transport direction Tr.

Further, in the main body 50, two upper rollers 53 and two lower rollers 54 are separated from each other in the transport direction Tr and are arranged at different positions in the vertical direction. In the two upper rollers 53 of the present embodiment, the upper rollers 53 (see FIG. 11) on the front side of the transport direction Tr are arranged so as to be on the upper side. Further, in the two lower rollers 54, the lower rollers 54 (see FIG. 11) on the front side of the transport direction Tr are arranged so as to be on the lower side.

Next, the characteristic portion of the first delivery shuttle 51 will be described. The first delivery shuttle 51 has a first delivery support portion 55 attached to the main body portion 50 and a first delivery engagement portion 56. The first delivery support portion 55 and the first delivery engagement portion 56 extend outward from the main body portion 50. It is screwed to a plurality of screw holes Sc2 (see FIG. 11) arranged one above the other on the outer surface of the main body 50.

The first delivery support portion 55 is arranged below the first delivery engagement portion 56. The first delivery support portion 55 has a support portion mounting portion 550 and a support plate portion 551. The support portion mounting portion 550 is fixed to the screw hole Sc2 of the main body portion 50 by screwing. The support plate portion 551 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the support portion mounting portion 550. By fixing the support portion mounting portion 550 to the main body portion 50, the support plate portion 551 protrudes outward from the main body portion 50. The upper surface of the support plate portion 551 is a horizontal plane.

The support plate portion 551 has a first rear support portion 552 and a first front support portion 553. The first rear support portion 552 extends rearward in the transport direction Tr from the arm main body 561 described later of the first delivery engagement portion 56 in a plan view. The length from the arm body 561 of the first rear support portion 552 to the rear end portion of the transport direction Tr is shorter than the length of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc.

The first front support portion 553 extends forward from the arm main body 561 in the transport direction Tr in a plan view. The length from the arm body 561 of the first front support portion 553 to the front end portion of the transport direction Tr is longer than the length of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc.

The first delivery engaging portion 56 has a first delivery upper arm 56U and a first delivery lower arm 56L. The first delivery upper arm 56U and the first delivery lower arm 56L have the same shape, although the arrangement positions in the vertical direction on the main body 50 are different. Here, substantially the same parts of the first delivery upper arm 56U and the first delivery lower arm 56L are designated by the same reference numerals. Further, the description will be given with reference to the first delivery upper arm 56U as a representative.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the first delivery upper arm 56U includes an arm mounting portion 560, an arm body 561, a rear claw portion 562, a front claw portion 563, a rear pressing portion 564, and a front pressing portion. It has a 565, a rear contact surface 566, and a front contact surface 567. The arm mounting portion 560 is a plate-shaped member, and is fixed to the screw hole Sc2 of the main body portion 50 by screwing. The arm body 561 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the arm mounting portion 560. In a plan view, the arm main body 561 is arranged so as to be displaced behind the transport direction Tr of the main body portion 50.

The rear claw portion 562 extends rearward in the transport direction Tr from the outer end portion of the arm main body 561. The front claw portion 563 extends forward from the outer end portion of the arm main body 561 in the transport direction Tr. The length of the transport direction Tr of the front claw portion 563 is longer than the length of the transport direction Tr of the rear claw portion 562.

The rear holding portion 564 extends rearward from the end portion of the arm body 561 on the side close to the delivery rail 40 in the transport direction Tr. The front holding portion 565 extends forward of the transport direction Tr from the end portion of the arm body 561 on the side close to the delivery rail 40. The length of the transport direction Tr of the front presser portion 565 is longer than the length of the transport direction Tr of the rear presser portion 564.

The rear contact surface 566 is the rear surface of the transport direction Tr of the portion between the rear claw portion 562 and the rear pressing portion 564 of the arm main body 561. The rear contact surface 566 extends rearward of the transport direction Tr as it goes outward. Further, the front contact surface 567 is a front surface of the transport direction Tr of the portion between the front claw portion 563 and the front pressing portion 565 of the arm main body 561. The front contact surface 567 extends in front of the transport direction Tr as it goes outward. In a plan view, the angle of the rear contact surface 566 with respect to the transport direction Tr is larger than the angle of the front contact surface 567 with respect to the transport direction Tr. That is, the rear contact surface 566 extends at an angle closer to orthogonal to the transport direction Tr than the front contact surface 567.

Next, the characteristic portion of the second delivery shuttle 52 will be described. The second delivery shuttle 52 has a second delivery support portion 57 and a second delivery engagement portion 58 attached to the main body portion 50. The second delivery support portion 57 and the second delivery engagement portion 58 extend outward from the main body portion 50. That is, it is screwed to a plurality of screw holes Sc2 (see FIG. 11) arranged vertically side by side on the outer surface of the main body 50.

The second delivery support portion 57 is arranged below the second delivery engagement portion 58. The second delivery support portion 57 has a support portion mounting portion 570 and a support plate portion 571. The support portion mounting portion 570 is fixed to the screw hole Sc2 of the main body portion 50 by screwing. The support plate portion 571 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the support portion mounting portion 570. By fixing the support portion mounting portion 570 to the main body portion 50, the support plate portion 571 protrudes outward from the main body portion 50. The upper surface of the support plate portion 571 is a horizontal plane.

The support plate portion 571 has a second front support portion 572 and a second rear support portion 573. The second front support portion 572 extends in front of the transport direction Tr from the arm main body 581 described later of the second delivery engagement portion 58 in a plan view. The length from the arm body 581 of the second front support portion 572 to the front end portion of the transport direction Tr is shorter than the length of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc.

The second rear support portion 573 extends rearward from the arm main body 581 in the transport direction Tr in a plan view. The length from the arm body 581 of the second rear support portion 573 to the rear end portion of the transport direction Tr is longer than the length of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc.

The second delivery engaging portion 58 has a second delivery upper arm 58U and a second delivery lower arm 58L. The second delivery upper arm 58U and the second delivery lower arm 58L have the same shape, although the arrangement positions in the vertical direction on the main body 50 are different. Here, substantially the same parts of the second delivery upper arm 58U and the second delivery lower arm 58L are designated by the same reference numerals. In addition, a description will be given with reference to the second delivery upper arm 58U as a representative.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the second delivery upper arm 58U includes an arm mounting portion 580, an arm main body 581, a front claw portion 582, a rear claw portion 583, a front pressing portion 584, and a rear pressing portion. It has a 585, a front contact surface 586, and a rear contact surface 587. The arm mounting portion 580 is a plate-shaped member, and is fixed to the screw hole Sc2 of the main body portion 50 by screwing. The arm body 581 has a flat plate shape orthogonal to the arm mounting portion 580. In a plan view, the arm main body 581 is arranged so as to be displaced in front of the transport direction Tr of the main body portion 50.

The front claw portion 582 extends forward from the outer end portion of the arm main body 581 in the transport direction Tr. The rear claw portion 583 extends rearward from the outer end portion of the arm main body 581 in the transport direction Tr. The length of the transport direction Tr of the rear claw portion 583 is longer than the length of the transport direction Tr of the front claw portion 582.

The front holding portion 584 extends forward of the transport direction Tr from the end portion of the arm body 581 on the side close to the delivery rail 40. The rear holding portion 585 extends rearward from the end portion of the arm body 581 on the side close to the delivery rail 40 in the transport direction Tr. The length of the transport direction Tr of the rear presser portion 585 is longer than the length of the transport direction Tr of the front presser portion 584.

The front contact surface 586 is a front surface of the transport direction Tr of the portion between the front claw portion 582 and the front holding portion 584 of the arm main body 581. The front contact surface 586 extends in front of the transport direction Tr as it goes outward. Further, the rear contact surface 587 is a rear surface of the transport direction Tr of the portion between the rear claw portion 583 and the rear pressing portion 585 of the arm main body 581. The rear contact surface 587 extends to the rear of the transport direction Tr as it goes outward. In a plan view, the angle of the front contact surface 586 with respect to the transport direction Tr is larger than the angle of the rear contact surface 587 with respect to the transport direction Tr. That is, the front contact surface 586 extends at an angle closer to orthogonal to the transport direction Tr than the rear contact surface 587.

<First holding state St1>
Next, the holding of the transported object Pc by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 will be described. First, the holding of the transported object Pc by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 when arranged on the linear delivery rail 40s will be described. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the first delivery shuttle 51 holds the front part of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc, and the second delivery shuttle 52 holds the rear part of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc.

The control unit 600 can change the relative positions of the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 while the control unit 600 is attached to the transfer rail 40.

The rear claw portion 562 of the first delivery engagement portion 56 engages with a part of the front end of the surface of the transported object Pc opposite to the delivery rail 40. Similarly, the rear pressing portion 564 engages with a part of the front end of the surface of the transported object Pc on the delivery rail 40 side. The outer end of the rear contact surface 566 comes into contact with the outer end of the front surface of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. A gap is formed on the rear pressing portion 564 side of the rear contact surface 566.

Similarly, the front claw portion 582 of the second delivery engagement portion 58 engages with a part of the rear end of the surface of the transported object Pc opposite to the delivery rail 40. Similarly, the front holding portion 584 engages with a part of the rear end of the surface of the transported object Pc on the delivery rail 40 side. The outer end of the front contact surface 586 comes into contact with the outer end of the rear surface of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc. A gap is formed on the front pressing portion 584 side of the front contact surface 586.

In a state where the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 hold the transported object Pc, the corner portion Pc1 on the delivery rail 40 side at the front end of the transport direction Tr on the bottom surface of the transported object Pc is the support plate portion 551. It is supported by the first rear support portion 552 of the above. Further, the corner portion Pc2 on the delivery rail 40 side at the rear end of the transport direction Tr on the bottom surface of the object to be transported Pc is supported by the second front support portion 572 of the support plate portion 571.

As shown in FIG. 13, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the first holding state St1 holding the transported object Pc can move along the curved delivery rail 40t. The control unit 600 makes the distance in the direction along the delivery rail 40t of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 on the curved delivery rail 40t shorter than that on the linear delivery rail 40s. Control.

By controlling in this way, the distance of the transport direction Tr of the distance between the outer ends of the arm body 561 and the arm body 581 is shortened, and the rear claw portion 562 and the front claw portion 582 are the delivery rails of the transported object Pc. It can engage with a part of the front end and a part of the rear end of the surface opposite to 40t. Therefore, the delivered object Pc can be firmly held by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 that move along the curved delivery rail 40t.

Further, since the rear claw portion 562 and the front claw portion 582 are configured to engage with a part of the surface opposite to the delivery rail 40t of the transported object Pc, when moving along the curved delivery rail 40t. The generated centrifugal force can be received by the rear claw portion 562 and the front claw portion 582. As a result, even when the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 move along the curved delivery rail 40t, it is possible to prevent the transported object Pc from popping out or falling.

As described above, the first holding state is the state in which the first delivery shuttle 51 is arranged in front of the transport direction Tr and the second delivery shuttle 52 is arranged behind the transport direction Tr to hold one personal computer to be transported. Let it be St1. In other words, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 hold one personal computer to be transported in the first holding state St1.

As shown in FIG. 10, one delivery object Pc is held by arranging the first delivery shuttle 51 in front of the transport direction Tr and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the rear. FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a state in which two PCs to be transported arranged side by side in the transport direction Tr are being transported.

As shown in FIG. 14, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the first holding state St1 can also hold two delivered objects Pc arranged in the transport direction Tr. The front side of the transport direction Tr is distinguished as the transported object Pca, and the rear side is distinguished as the transported object Pcb, but the transported objects have the same configuration.

The corner Pca1 on the side of the bottom surface of the transported object Pca near the delivery rail 40 at the front end of the transport direction Tr is supported by the first rear support portion 552 of the first delivery shuttle 51. Similarly, the corner Pcb2 on the side of the bottom surface of the transported object Pcb on the rear end of the transport direction Tr near the delivery rail 40 is supported by the second front support portion 572 of the second delivery shuttle 52. At this time, a force is applied to the transported object Pca so that the upper portion tilts behind the transport direction Tr, and a force acts on the transported object Pcb so that the upper portion tilts forward in the transport direction Tr. However, since the transported object Pca and the transported object Pcb are arranged in contact with each other in the front-rear direction, the forces acting on each of them cancel each other out and are thus stably held.

As described above, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 hold the two delivered objects Pc arranged in the transport direction Tr in the first holding state St1.

<Second holding state St2>
Next, the holding of the three delivered objects Pc arranged in the transport direction Tr in the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 15 shows a state in which the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 holding the three objects Pca, Pcb, and Pcc arranged in the transport direction Tr are moving along the linear delivery rail 40s. It is a plan view of. FIG. 16 is a view of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 shown in FIG. 15 as viewed from the outside. FIG. 17 shows a state in which the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 holding the three objects Pca, Pcb, and Pcc arranged in the transport direction Tr are moving along the linear delivery rail 40s. It is a plan view of.

In the following description, the transported object Pc arranged in the transport direction Tr will be described as the transported object Pca at the front of the transported direction Tr, the transported object Pcb at the rearmost, and the transported object Pcc at the center, if necessary. do.

First, the holding of the three objects Pca, Pcb, and Pcc to be transported by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 when they are arranged on the linear delivery rail 40s will be described. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the first delivery shuttle 51 is the rearmost portion of the transported object Pcb in the transport direction Tr, and the second delivery shuttle 52 is the frontmost transported object in the transport direction Tr. The front part of the transport direction Tr of the PCB is held.

The front claw portion 563 of the first delivery engagement portion 56 engages with a part of the rear end of the surface of the rearmost transported object Pcb opposite to the delivery rail 40. Similarly, the front retainer 565 engages a portion of the rear end of the rearmost surface of the transported object Pcb on the delivery rail 40 side. The outer end of the front contact surface 567 comes into contact with the outer end of the rear surface of the rearmost conveyed object Pcb in the transport direction Tr. A gap is formed on the front pressing portion 565 side of the front contact surface 567.

Similarly, the rear claw portion 583 of the second delivery engagement portion 58 engages with a part of the front end of the surface opposite to the delivery rail 40 of the frontmost conveyed object Pca in the transport direction Tr. Further, the rear pressing portion 585 engages with a part of the front end of the surface of the frontmost conveyed object Pca in the transport direction Tr on the delivery rail 40 side. The outer end of the front contact surface 586 comes into contact with the outer end of the front surface of the transport direction Tr of the frontmost object to be transported Pca in the transport direction Tr. A gap is formed on the rear pressing portion 585 side of the rear contact surface 587.

In a state where the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 hold the transported object Pc, both corners Pcb1, Pcb2 and the delivery rail 40 side of the bottom surface of the transported object Pcb at the rearmost position in the transport direction Tr. The corner portion Pcc2 behind the transport direction Tr on the delivery rail 40 side of the bottom surface of the central object to be transported Pcc is supported by the first front support portion 553 of the support plate portion 551. Further, both corners Pca1 and Pca2 on the delivery rail 40 side of the bottom surface of the frontmost transported object Pca and the rear corners of the transport direction Tr on the bottom surface of the central transported object Pcc on the delivery rail 40 side. Pcc1 is supported by the second rear support portion 573 of the support plate portion 571.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a state in which the first delivery shuttle 51 holds three objects to be transported Pca, Pcb, and Pcc from the front of the transport direction Tr and the second delivery shuttle 52 from the rear of the transport direction Tr. Is the second holding state St2. When the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 are in the second holding state St2, they can hold three objects to be transported arranged side by side in the transport direction Tr.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the second holding state St2 hold three transferred objects Pca, Pcb, and Pcc arranged in the transport direction Tr.

The front portion of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pca, which is the frontmost of the transport direction Tr, is engaged with the second delivery engagement portion 58 of the second delivery shuttle 52. Further, the bottom surface of the transported object Pca is supported by the second delivery support portion 57 of the second delivery shuttle 52.

The rear part of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pcb at the rearmost of the transport direction Tr is engaged with the first delivery engagement portion 56 of the first delivery shuttle 51. Further, the bottom surface of the conveyed object Pcb is supported by the first delivery support portion 55 of the first delivery shuttle 51.

The bottom surface of the transported object Pcc in the center of the transport direction Tr is supported by the first delivery support portion 55 of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery support portion 57 of the second delivery shuttle 52. Further, the front surface of the transported object Pcc in the transport direction Tr is held by friction with the rear surface of the transported object Pca, and the rear surface is held by friction with the front surface of the transported object Pcb.

As a result, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the second holding state St2 can hold three objects Pca, Pcb, and Pcc.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the second holding state St2 holding the three transported objects Pca, Pcb, and Pcc are along the curved delivery rail 40t. It is movable. The control unit 600 makes the distance in the direction along the delivery rail 40t of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 on the curved delivery rail 40t shorter than that on the linear delivery rail 40s. Control.

By controlling in this way, the distance of the transport direction Tr of the distance between the outer ends of the arm body 561 and the arm body 581 can be shortened. As a result, the front claw portion 563 is a part of the rear end of the transport direction Tr on the surface opposite to the delivery rail 40t of the transported object Pcb, and the rear claw portion 583 is on the opposite side of the delivery rail 40t of the transported object Pca. Can engage with part of the front edge of the face.

By controlling in this way, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 hold the three transported objects Pca, Pcb, and Pcc in the second holding state St2, and deliver in a curved shape. It can move along the rail 40t. The force in the direction intersecting the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pcc in the center of the conveyed direction Tr is received by the frictional force between the transported object Pca and the transported object Pcb. Therefore, the control unit 600 sets the transport speed of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the second holding state St2 holding the three transported objects Pca, Pcb, and Pcc to the central transported object Pcc. Set so that the acting centrifugal force does not exceed the above-mentioned frictional force.

<Holding of 4 objects to be transported>
Next, the holding of the four delivered objects Pc arranged in the transport direction Tr in the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 18 moves along the linear delivery rails 40s of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 holding the four objects Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce arranged in the transport direction Tr. It is a plan view of the state of being. FIG. 19 is a view of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 shown in FIG. 18 as viewed from the outside. FIG. 20 moves along the curved delivery rail 40t of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 holding the four objects Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce arranged in the transport direction Tr. It is a plan view of the state of being.

Hereinafter, the transported object Pc arranged in the transport direction Tr is adjacent to the conveyed object Pca at the front of the conveyed object Pca, the conveyed object Pcb at the rearmost, and the rear side of the conveyed object Pca, if necessary. Will be described as the transported object Pcd, and the one adjacent to the front side of the transported object Pcb will be described as the transported object Pce.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the first delivery shuttle 51 is the rear part of the transport direction Tr of the object to be transported Pcb rearmost in the transport direction Tr, and the second delivery shuttle 52 is the frontmost to be transported in the transport direction Tr. Each of the front parts of the transport direction Tr of the object Pca is held. Since the holding of the conveyed object Pcb by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the holding of the conveyed object Pca by the second delivery shuttle 52 are the same as in the case of three, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In a state where the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 hold the transported object Pc, both corners Pcb1, Pcb2 and the bottom surface of the transported object Pce on the delivery rail 40 side of the bottom surface of the transported object Pcb. The corner Pce2 behind the transport direction Tr on the delivery rail 40 side is supported by the first front support portion 553 of the support plate portion 551. Further, both corners Pca1 and Pca2 on the delivery rail 40 side of the bottom surface of the transported object Pca and the front corner Pcd1 of the transport direction Tr on the delivery rail 40 side of the bottom surface of the transported object Pcd are the second corners of the support plate portion 571. It is supported by the rear support portion 573.

The front of the bottom surface of the transported object Pcd is supported by the second rear support portion 573, and the rear of the bottom surface of the transported object Pce is supported by the first front support portion 553. Therefore, a force that causes the upper portion to tilt backward in the transport direction Tr acts on the Pcd to be transported. Further, a force is applied to the Pce to be transported so that the upper portion tilts forward in the transport direction Tr. The transported object Pcd and the transported object Pce cancel each other out by receiving the forces acting on each of them. Therefore, the transported object Pcd and the transported object Pce are supported by each other in the transport direction Tr. Further, due to the arrangement of the transported object Pcd and the transported object Pcd, the frictional force between the transported object Pca and the transported object Pcd and the frictional force between the transported object Pcb and the transported object Pce move outward. Movement is restricted.

Therefore, the control unit 600 sets the transport speed of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the second holding state St2 holding the four transported objects Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce to the transported object Pcd. The centrifugal force acting on the Pce is set so as not to exceed the above-mentioned frictional force.

Thereby, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the second holding state St2 can hold four objects Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the second holding state St2 holding the four objects Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce are curved delivery rails 40t. It is possible to move along. The control unit 600 performs the same control as when holding the three objects to be transported.

The first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 can move along the curved delivery rail 40t while holding the four transported objects Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce in the second holding state St2. be.

<Delivery of Pc to be transported>
In the transport box packing device 100, a plurality of processes are executed before the carried-in object Pc is accommodated in the storage box Bx. Due to the layout of the processing devices and the difference in the processing time of each processing device, for example, if all the processing devices are arranged on one transport path using a belt conveyor, a linear motor mechanism, etc., the restrictions on the installation space become large. Or, the time required for the work becomes long. Therefore, in the transport box packing device 100, the delivered object Pc is delivered using the delivery device 300, and the transport route is switched to improve the efficiency of the installation space and the efficiency of processing. Hereinafter, the transfer of the transport path of the transported object Pc in the delivery device 300 will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, the transport path is a transport path along the transport loop portion 2 and a transport route along the delivery loop portion 4.

FIG. 21 is a view seen from the rear of the transport direction Tr of the first transport shuttle 31, the second transport shuttle 32, the first delivery shuttle 51, and the second delivery shuttle 52. FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a state in which the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 are moving while holding the transported object Pc.

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a state in which the second delivery shuttle 52 holds the rear portion of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. FIG. 24 is a plan view of a state in which the transported object Pc held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 is held by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52.

FIG. 25 is a plan view showing a state in which the transported object Pc is held by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52. FIG. 26 is a plan view showing a state in which the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 holding the transported object Pc are moving on the first curved portion 403.

As shown in FIG. 21, the transport straight line portion 205 and the delivery straight line portion 405 are arranged in parallel and their outer surfaces face each other. The first transport engaging portion 36 of the first transport shuttle 31 located in the transport straight line portion 205, the second transport engaging portion 38 of the second transport shuttle 32, and the first delivery shuttle 51 located in the delivery straight line portion 405. There is a part that partially overlaps with the first delivery engagement portion 56 and the second delivery engagement portion 58 of the second delivery shuttle 52.

As shown in FIG. 21, in the vertical direction, the first transport upper arm 36U and the first transport lower arm 36L are arranged below the first delivery upper arm 56U and the first delivery lower arm 56L, respectively. Further, in the vertical direction, the second transport upper arm 38U and the second transport lower arm 38L are arranged above the second delivery upper arm 58U and the second delivery lower arm 58L, respectively.

In this way, since the arms of the engaging portions are arranged so as to be offset vertically, the transported object Pc held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 can be transferred to the first delivery shuttle 51 and the first delivery shuttle 51. When the second delivery shuttle 52 holds, the contact and interference between the first transfer engagement portion 36 and the first transfer engagement portion 56 are suppressed, and the second transfer engagement portion 38 and the second delivery engagement portion 58 are suppressed. Contact and interference with are suppressed.

Further, the upper surface of the first transport support portion 35 of the first transport shuttle 31, the upper surface of the second transport support portion 37 of the second transport shuttle 32, the upper surface of the first delivery support portion 55 of the first delivery shuttle 51, and the second delivery. The upper surface of the second delivery support portion 57 of the shuttle 52 is flush with each other. Therefore, by bringing the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 closer to the transported object Pc held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32, the first delivery support portion 55 and the first delivery support portion 55 and the second delivery shuttle 52 are brought close to each other. 2 The delivery support portion 57 can smoothly support the bottom surface of the transported object Pc.

In the present embodiment, the first transport engaging portion 36 and the second delivery engaging portion 58, and the second transport engaging portion 38 and the first delivery engaging portion 56 are also displaced vertically and vertically, respectively. Therefore, each of the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 does not come into contact with or interfere with each of the first transfer shuttle 51 and the second transfer shuttle 52. Therefore, for example, when the operation start adjustment operation at the start of work is performed, maintenance is performed, or the like, when the transported object Pc is not delivered, the control unit 600 and the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 , The first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 can be controlled independently.

The delivery of the transported object Pc is performed when the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 are moving on the transport straight line portion 205. In FIG. 22, the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc is from left to right.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the transport loop portion 2, the boundary portion between the first curved portion 203 and the second straight line portion 202 faces the intermediate portion of the first straight line portion 401 of the delivery loop portion 4. Therefore, the control unit 600 opposes the first delivery shuttle 51 against the transfer straight line unit 205 before the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 holding the transported object Pc move to the second straight line unit 202. Move to position.

As shown in FIG. 22, when the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 holding the transported object Pc enter the transport straight line portion 205, the control unit 600 is in front of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. The first delivery shuttle 51 is controlled to be arranged at the rear, and the second delivery shuttle 52 is controlled to be arranged at the rear. In the present embodiment, the control unit 600 moves the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 at a constant speed, and moves the first transfer shuttle 51 and the second transfer shuttle 52 in the transfer direction Tr. At the same time, it is controlled so as to approach the transported object Pc. The control by the control unit 600 is not limited to the above, and the first delivery shuttle 51 is located behind the transported object PC held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32, and the second delivery shuttle 51 is forward. Controls such as arranging 52 can be widely adopted.

Then, as shown in FIG. 23, the control unit 600 brings the second delivery shuttle 52 close to the transported object Pc, and the second delivery shuttle 52 holds the rear part of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc. At this time, the control unit 600 may accelerate the second delivery shuttle 52, or may decelerate the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32. It may be both.

After that, as shown in FIG. 24, the control unit 600 brings the first delivery shuttle 51 close to the delivered object Pc, and the first delivery shuttle 51 holds the front portion of the conveyed object Pc in the transport direction Tr. At this time, the control unit 600 may decelerate the first delivery shuttle 51, or may accelerate the first transfer shuttle 31, the second transfer shuttle 32, and the second transfer shuttle 52. It may be both.

As shown in FIG. 25, the personal computer to be transported is held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32, and is also held by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the first holding state St1. To. At this time, the control unit 600 may accelerate the first transfer shuttle 31, or may decelerate the first transfer shuttle 51, the second transfer shuttle 52, and the second transfer shuttle 32. It may be both.

After that, as shown in FIG. 26, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the first holding state St1 move to the first curve portion 403. As a result, the rear portion of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc is separated from the second transport shuttle 32. At this time, the control unit 600 may decelerate the second transfer shuttle 32 to forcibly separate the second transfer shuttle 32 from the rear portion of the transfer direction Tr of the object to be transported Pc, or the first transfer shuttle 51. And the second delivery shuttle 52 may be accelerated. It may be both.

As described above, in the delivery device 300, the delivered object Pc held by the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32 that move the transfer loop unit 2 is moved by the first transfer shuttle that moves the transfer loop unit 4. It can be delivered to the holding by the 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52.

In addition, the transported object Pc held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 may not be delivered to the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a connection in which the transported object Pc held by the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 is arranged in front of the transport direction Tr of the transport straight line portion 205 of the transport loop portion 2. This is the case of delivering to the conveyor Cc. Then, the connection conveyor Cc is connected to, for example, a shrink device (not shown). A plurality of connection conveyors Cc, in this case, three PCs to be conveyed are conveyed to the shrink device in a state of being closely arranged.

In the shrink device (not shown), a shrink process is performed in which the entire Pc to be transported arranged side by side is covered with, for example, a transparent resin film. In the transport box packing device 100, a shrink process is performed as necessary. Although the connection conveyor Cc is connected to a shrink device (not shown), the connection conveyor Cc is not limited to this, and may be connected to a processing device that performs another processing such as a printing process or an inspection process.

By using the delivery device 300 in this way, the transported object Pc can be changed and moved along different loops. As a result, it is possible to fold back a plurality of transport directions of the transported object Pc. This makes it possible to increase the degree of freedom in the layout of the transport box packing device 100. Further, from this, the installation area of the transport box packing device 100 can be reduced, and the cost of the transport box packing device 100 can be reduced.

<Transfer device 400>
As shown in FIG. 1, in the transport box packing device 100, the transfer device 400 is arranged after the delivery device 300. The transfer device 400 shares a part of the delivery loop section 4 (here, the second straight line section 402), the first delivery shuttle 51, and the second delivery shuttle 52 with the delivery device 300.

In the transfer device 400, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 that move the delivery loop unit 4 have a predetermined number of Pc to be transported one by one (hereinafter, referred to as four). , Hold together. That is, the transfer device 400 performs a transfer process in order to collect the items to be transported one by one into a number suitable for storage in the storage box Bx.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of a main part of the transfer device 400. FIG. 28 is an enlarged plan view showing a first delivery shuttle 51 and a second delivery shuttle 52 when the transported object Pc is delivered to the replacement conveyor 6. FIG. 29 is an enlarged front view of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the first proximity region 407. FIG. 30 is a plan view showing a state in which the transported object Pc is accumulated. FIG. 31 is a plan view of a state in which the four objects to be transported on the transfer conveyor 6 are held in the second holding state. FIG. 32 is a front view showing a state in which four objects to be transported are held.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 27, the transfer device 400 includes a transfer loop unit 4, a first transfer shuttle 51, a second transfer shuttle 52, and a transfer conveyor 6. The transfer device 400 is also controlled by the control unit 600. Hereinafter, the details of the transfer device 400 will be described with reference to the drawings. The details of the delivery loop unit 4, the first delivery shuttle 51, and the second delivery shuttle 52, which are common parts with the delivery device 300, will be omitted.

The transfer conveyor 6 of the transfer device 400 is arranged along the second straight line portion 402 of the delivery loop portion 4. The transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc by the transfer conveyor 6 is the same as the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pc in the second straight line portion 402 of the delivery loop portion 4. That is, the transport direction Tr in the transfer device 400 is from right to left as shown in FIG. 27.

The transfer conveyor 6 is a top chain conveyor and has a first proximity portion 61, a second proximity portion 62, and a separation portion 63. In the transfer conveyor 6, the first proximity portion 61, the separation portion 63, and the second proximity portion 62 are continuously arranged in this order in the transport direction Tr. As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer conveyor 6 has a conveyor motor 60. The conveyor motor 60 is connected to the control unit 600. The conveyor motor 60 controls the transfer conveyor 6 based on an instruction from the control unit 600. The control of the transfer conveyor 6 includes, but is not limited to, start, stop, control of the transfer speed, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 27, the first proximity portion 61 is linear and is arranged in parallel with the second straight portion 402 of the delivery loop portion 4. Then, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the first proximity portion 61 can receive the transported object Pc held by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 moving on the second straight line portion 402. It approaches the delivery rail 40s which is linear to some extent. The first proximity portion 61 and the delivery rail 40s of the second straight line portion 402 facing the first proximity portion 61 form a first proximity region 407.

Further, in front of the transport direction Tr of the first proximity portion 61, a curved portion 64 curved in a direction away from the linear delivery rail 40s is arranged. The separating portion 63 is arranged in front of the transport direction Tr of the curved portion 64. The separating portion 63 is linear and is arranged in parallel with the second straight portion 402 of the delivery loop portion 4. As shown in FIG. 27, the separating portion 63 is, for example, linear, and the transported object Pc moving on the upper part of the separating portion 63, and the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 51 moving on the second straight portion 402. 52 is arranged, for example, substantially parallel to the second straight line portion 402 of the delivery loop portion 4 so as not to come into contact with the 52. The separation portion 63 and the delivery rail 40s of the second straight line portion 402 facing the separation portion 63 form a separation region 409.

In front of the transport direction Tr of the separation portion 63, a curved portion 65 curved in a direction approaching the linear delivery rail 40s is arranged. The second proximity portion 62 is arranged in front of the transport direction Tr of the curved portion 65. The second proximity portion 62 is linear and is arranged in parallel with the second straight portion 402 of the delivery loop portion 4. Then, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 30, the second proximity portion 62 is linear to the extent that the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 moving on the second straight line portion 402 can hold the transported object Pc. It approaches the delivery rail 40s. The first proximity portion 61 and the delivery rail 40s of the second straight line portion 402 facing the first proximity portion 61 form a second proximity region 408.

Next, the transfer of the transported object in the transfer device 400 will be described. In the delivery device 300, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 receive one personal computer to be delivered from the first transfer shuttle 31 and the second transfer shuttle 32.

As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the control unit 600 brings the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52, which hold one personal computer to be transported in the first holding state St1, to the first proximity region 407. Let it enter. At this time, the transported object Pc held by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 is located above the transfer conveyor 6. More specifically, in the first proximity region 407, the transfer conveyor 6 is a transfer support portion 57 of the first delivery support portion 55 of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 holding the transported object Pc. It is located below (see FIG. 29).

The control unit 600 keeps the first delivery shuttle 51 away from the transported object Pc in front of the transport direction Tr and the second delivery shuttle 52 away from the transported object Pc behind the transport direction Tr in the first proximity region 407. To control. As a result, the transported object Pc held by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 falls to the upper part of the transfer conveyor 6 (see FIG. 28).

For example, when the delivered object Pc is dropped, the control unit 600 sets the first delivery support portion 55, the first delivery engagement portion 56, the second delivery support portion 57, and the second delivery engagement portion 58 to the delivered object Pc. The first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 are controlled so as to maintain the posture of the transported object Pc in contact with the side surface of the object. As a result, the control unit 600 can control the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 so that the attitude of the transported object Pc with respect to the transfer conveyor 6 does not change. If the posture of the transported object Pc does not change, it may be simply dropped.

The control unit 600 sequentially controls the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 holding the transported object Pc that has reached the first proximity region 407 in the same manner as described above. As a result, all the conveyed objects Pc are sequentially placed on the transfer conveyor 6.

As shown in FIG. 27, the objects to be transported Pc sequentially placed on the transfer conveyor 6 in the first proximity region 407 are conveyed by the transfer conveyor 6. The control unit 600 moves the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52, which are separated from the transported object Pc, in the transport direction Tr in synchronization with the transport of the transported object Pc. As a result, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 can move in the delivery loop portion 4 without interfering with the delivered object Pc conveyed by the transfer conveyor 6.

Then, after the transported object Pc reaches the curved portion 64 and moves to a position where it does not interfere with the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52, the control unit 600 controls the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52. Is accelerated and moved to the separation region 409. The control unit 600 makes the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 stand by in the separation region 409. At the time of the above-mentioned standby, the control unit 600 may stop the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 in the separation region 409, or may move them slowly.

The control unit 600 stops the second delivery shuttle 52, which is located at the frontmost position of the transport direction Tr among the second delivery shuttle 52s waiting in the separation region 409, in the second proximity region 408 (see FIG. 30). As shown in FIGS. 30 and 32, when in the second proximity region 408, the first delivery support portion 55 of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery support portion 57 of the second delivery shuttle 52 are transfer conveyors. It is arranged below the upper surface of 6.

When the second delivery shuttle 52 stops at the second proximity region 408, the second delivery engagement portion 58 of the second delivery shuttle 52 is conveyed by the transfer conveyor 6 so as to be in the second holding state St2. Receives the transported object Pc. The items to be transported Pc are sequentially conveyed by the transfer conveyor 6. The transported object Pc is sequentially accumulated in the transport direction Tr by the second delivery engaging portion 58 (see FIG. 30).

Then, after the fourth delivered object Pc accumulated by the second delivery engaging portion 58 passes through the curved portion 65, the control unit 600 is in the first delivery shuttle 51 waiting in the separation region 409. The first delivery shuttle 51 located at the front of the transport direction Tr is moved to the transport direction Tr. The control unit 600 attaches the first delivery engaging portion 56 of the first delivery shuttle 51 to the rear portion of the transport direction Tr of the transported object Pcb behind the transport direction Tr of the four transported objects adjacent to the transport direction Tr. Engage in. As a result, as shown in FIG. 31, the front end and the rear end of the four objects to be transported Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce engage with the second delivery engagement portion 58 and the first delivery engagement portion 56. Will be done.

As shown in FIG. 32, in the second proximity region 408, the first delivery support portion 55 of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery support portion 57 of the second delivery shuttle 52 are located below the transfer conveyor 6. ing. Therefore, while in the second proximity region 408, the first delivery engagement portion 56 and the second delivery engagement portion 58 are in the second holding state, and the four objects to be transported Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce are in the second holding state. Is supported from below by the transfer conveyor 6. The control unit 600 moves the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 from the second straight line section 402 to the second curve section 404.

The first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 move along the curved delivery rail 40t. The curved delivery rail 40t is arranged so as to gradually move away from the transfer conveyor 6. Therefore, the four objects to be transported Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce are pulled by the second delivery engagement portion 58 and the first delivery engagement portion 56, and are displaced from the transfer conveyor 6.

As a result, of the four transported objects Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce, the bottom surfaces of the transported object Pca and the transported object Pcd are supported by the second delivery support portion 57, and the transported object Pcb and the transported object Pce. The bottom surface of each is supported by the first delivery support portion 55. As a result, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 hold the four objects to be transported Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce in the second holding state St2.

The first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 holding the four objects to be transported Pca, Pcb, Pcd, and Pce are housed straight sections behind the transport direction Tr from the second curved section 404 to the first straight section 401. Move to 406. The accommodating straight portion 406 is also a part of the boxing device 500 in the post-process of the transfer device 400.

In the first proximity area 407, a set of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 held one PC to be transported, but in the second proximity area 408, a set of items were held. The first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 hold a plurality of (four in the above embodiment) the transported objects Pc. Therefore, a pair of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 (three sets in the above example) that do not hold the transported object Pc is generated, but these are prevented from staying in the separation region 409. , As appropriate, it may be flowed to the downstream side from the second proximity region 408.

As described above, in the transfer device 400, it is possible to re-hold four personal computers to be transported one by one by using the same combination of the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52. It becomes. It is also possible to hold three in the same operation. Further, by stopping the first delivery shuttle 51 in the second proximity region 408, it is possible to hold and transport the two objects to be transported in the first holding state St1.

Further, the downstream of the transport direction Tr of the connection conveyor Cc may be connected to the upstream of the replacement conveyor 6. In this case, the transfer conveyor 6 conveys a plurality of shrinked objects to be conveyed. At this time, the delivered object Pc is not delivered from the first transport shuttle 31 and the second transport shuttle 32 to the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 by the delivery device 300. Therefore, the control unit 600 does not perform an operation of delivering the transported object Pc from the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 to the transfer conveyor 6 in the first proximity region 407. Then, the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 hold a plurality of shrinked objects to be transported in the second proximity region 408 and transport them to the accommodation straight line portion 406.

By having the transfer device 400, the items to be transported Pc can be collected in a number suitable for accommodating the storage box Bx while being transported, and the items to be transported Pc can be packed in the boxing device 500 in a state of being collected. Is possible. As a result, the transported object Pc can be easily and reliably packed in a box.

In the above description, the state in which one or two personal computers to be transported are held as the first holding state St1 and the three or four personal computers to be transported are held as the second holding state St2 is shown. , Not limited to this number. The shape of the first rear support portion 552 of the support plate portion 551, the shape of the second front support portion 57 of the support plate portion 571, the shape of the first front support portion 553 of the support plate portion 551, and the shape of the first front support portion 571 of the support plate portion 571. 2 By appropriately designing the shape of the rear support portion 573, it is possible to freely set the number of objects to be transported Pc that can be held in the first holding state St1 and the second holding state St2. As a result, it is possible to hold a number larger than the number held in the first holding state St1 in the second holding state St2 regardless of the number of Pc to be transported, and flexible grouping can be realized.

<Boxing device 500>
FIG. 33 is a front view of the boxing device 500. In the transport boxing device 100, at the end of the transport direction Tr of the article (also referred to as the transported object, but not limited to the “conveyed” object) Pc, the article Pc is boxed in the storage box Bx. The device 500 is arranged. The boxing device 500 packs the article Pc in a storage box Bx formed by bending a sheet 9 such as corrugated cardboard, and carries it out.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 33, the boxing device 500 sequentially packs four pieces of articles Pc into a folded sheet 9 as a lump. The boxing device 500 includes a part of the delivery loop portion 4 (here, the accommodating straight section portion 406), the box transport loop portion 7, the sheet supply section 81, the first box packing section 82, and the second box packing section. It has 83 and a boxing portion 84.

<Box transfer loop part 7>
As shown in FIG. 33, the box transfer loop portion 7 includes a box transfer rail 70, a box transfer linear motor mechanism 74 (see FIG. 35 and the like described later), and a box transfer shuttle 76. The box transport loop portion 7 is formed in a loop shape by connecting both ends. The box transport loop portion 7 includes a first straight portion 701 and a second straight portion 702 formed by the straight box transport rail 70s, and a first curved portion 703 formed by the curved box transport rail 70t, respectively. The second curved portion 704 is included (see FIG. 33). The linear box transport rail 70s and the curved box transport rail 70t have the same configuration except for the presence or absence of bending. Hereinafter, when the distinction is necessary, the display will be distinguished, and when the distinction is not necessary, the box transport rail 70 will be described.

<Box transport rail 70>
The box transport rail 70 has a main rail 71, a grooved rail 72, and a flat rail 73 (see FIG. 35 described later). The box transport rail 70 has substantially the same configuration as the transport rail 20. Therefore, the correspondence between each part of the delivery rail 40 and each part of the transfer rail 20 will be described, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The main rail 71 of the box transport rail 70 corresponds to the main rail 21 of the transport rail 20. The grooved rail 72 of the box transport rail 70 corresponds to the grooved rail 22 of the transport rail 20.

Further, the groove portion 721 of the grooved rail 72 corresponds to the groove portion 221 of the grooved rail 22. The grooved rail 72 of the box transport rail 70 corresponds to the grooved rail 22 of the transport rail 20. The flat rail 73 corresponds to the flat rail 23. The gap 75 of the box transport rail 70 corresponds to the gap 25 of the transport rail 20. In the box transport rail 70, the grooved rail 72 and the flat rail 73 are arranged adjacent to each other with the main rail 71 in the direction intersecting the box transport direction of the main rail 71.

The box transport loop portion 7 is formed in a loop shape by connecting the first straight line portion 701, the first curved line portion 703, the second straight line portion 702, and the second curved line portion 704 in order. As shown in FIG. 33, the first straight line portion 701 and the second straight line portion 702 are arranged in parallel and side by side in the vertical direction. Then, the first curved line portion 703 and the second curved line portion 704 are formed in a loop shape by connecting the first straight line portion 701 and the second straight line portion 702 arranged above and below.

The first straight line portion 701 of the box transport loop portion 7 is arranged above the second straight line portion 702. Further, in a plan view, the first straight line portion 701 is arranged outside the accommodation straight line portion 406 behind the transport direction Tr of the first straight line portion 401 of the delivery loop portion 4.

A guide rail 705 arranged along the first straight line portion 701 is arranged in the box transport loop portion 7. The guide rails 705 are arranged in parallel with the box transport rails 70s included in the first straight line portion 701, and are arranged in pairs with the box transport rails 70s interposed therebetween. In the box transport loop portion 7, a seat 9 is arranged on the upper surface of the guide rail 705 to support the movement of the seat 9.

<Box transfer linear motor mechanism 74>
A plurality of box transport shuttles 76 are arranged in the box transport loop portion 7. The box transfer linear motor mechanism 74 can independently drive each box transfer shuttle 76.

The box transfer linear motor mechanism 74 has the same configuration as the transfer linear motor mechanism 24. The box transfer linear motor mechanism 74 has a coil 741 arranged on the box transfer rail 70, a magnet 742 arranged on the box transfer shuttle 76 (see FIGS. 35 to 37), and a linear driver 743 (see FIG. 2). .. The linear driver 743 supplies an appropriate current to each coil based on the instruction from the control unit 600. By supplying an electric current to the coil, a linear motor is formed by the coil and the magnet, and the box transfer shuttle 76 moves along the box transfer rail 70.

<Box transport shuttle 76>
The box transport shuttle 76 is arranged on the outer surface of the box transport rail 70 and can move along the box transport rail 70. The box transport shuttle 76 includes a main body portion 761, a seat holding arm 762, two grooved rollers 763, and two flat rollers 764. A magnet 742 of the box transport linear motor mechanism 74 is arranged on the main body portion 761. The magnet 742 is housed inside the main body portion 761 and faces the coil 741 arranged on the box transport rail 70 in a direction intersecting the transport direction.

The two grooved rollers 763 are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the transport direction and offset in a direction intersecting the box transport direction Tb. The grooved roller 763 fits into the grooved portion 721 of the grooved rail 72 and rotates. The two flat rollers 764 are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the transport direction and offset in a direction intersecting the box transport direction Tb. The flat roller 764 rotates in contact with the flat rail 73. In the box transport shuttle 76, the grooved roller 763 and the flat roller 764 are arranged at both ends in a direction intersecting the transport direction.

The seat holding arm 762 projects from the main body portion 761 to the outside of the box transport loop portion 7. The seat holding arm 762 has a rod shape and comes into contact with the seat 9.

<Sheet 9>
Here, the sheet 9 constituting the storage box Bx will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 33, the sheet 9 has a bottom plate portion 91, a top plate portion 92, a front plate portion 93, and a rear plate portion 94. The bottom plate portion 91 has a rectangular plate shape in the longitudinal direction in a direction orthogonal to the box transport direction Tb. The front plate portion 93 is connected to the front side of the bottom plate portion 91, and the rear plate portion 94 is connected to the rear side. Further, lid portions 911 are connected to both sides of the bottom plate portion 91 intersecting the box transport direction Tb. The length of the short side of the bottom plate portion 91 is the same as or substantially the same as the length of four article Pc arranged side by side.

The front plate portion 93 and the rear plate portion 94 have the same size and shape. The front plate portion 93 and the rear plate portion 94 have a rectangular shape in which the longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the box transport direction Tb. The lid portion 931 and the lid portion 941 are connected to both sides of the front plate portion 93 and the rear plate portion 94 in the direction orthogonal to the box transport direction Tb. The lengths of the short sides of the front plate portion 93 and the rear plate portion 94 are the same as or substantially the same as the height of the article Pc.

The top plate portion 92 is connected to a side of the front plate portion 93 opposite to the side connected to the bottom plate portion 91. The top plate portion 92 has the same size and shape as the bottom plate portion 91. The lid portion 921 is connected to both sides of the top plate portion 92 in the direction intersecting the transport direction. Further, a fixing portion 922 is connected to a side of the top plate portion 92 opposite to the side connected to the front plate portion 93. When the sheet 9 is assembled to form the storage box Bx, the fixing portion 922 is fixed to the rear plate portion 94.

Further, in the state where the storage box Bx is assembled, the lid portion 911, the lid portion 921, the lid portion 931 and the lid portion 941 are attached to the bottom plate portion 91, the top plate portion 92, the front plate portion 93 and the rear plate portion 94, respectively. After bending it, it is glued and sealed.

<Sheet supply section 81, first box packing section 82, second box packing section 83, boxing section 84>
An articulated arm robot 80 having the same configuration is arranged in the sheet supply unit 81, the first boxing unit 82, the second boxing unit 83, and the boxing unit 84. Here, the articulated arm robot 80 will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 34 is a front view of the articulated arm robot 80. As shown in FIG. 34, the articulated arm robot 80 includes a main body 801, an upper arm 802, a lower arm 803, a working portion 804, a first joint portion 805, a second joint portion 806, and a third. It has a joint portion 807 and.

The main body 801 is arranged at the upper end of the articulated arm robot 80. The main body 801 is fixed to a skeleton (not shown) of the boxing device 500. The first joint portion 805 is arranged on the main body 801. The upper arm 802 is rotatably attached to the main body 801 via the first joint portion 805. The first joint portion 805 has an actuator (not shown) including a motor and the like. The upper arm 802 rotates and moves around the central axis of the first joint portion 805 by the operation of the actuator. The tip of the upper arm 802 can reciprocate along the curved locus Tj1 shown in FIG. 34.

The lower arm 803 is rotatably attached to the tip of the upper arm 802 via the second joint portion 806. The second joint portion 806 has an actuator (not shown) including a motor and the like. The lower arm 803 rotates and moves around the central axis of the second joint portion 806 by the operation of the actuator. By interlocking the first joint portion 805 and the second joint portion 806, the tip of the lower arm 803 can move within the range surrounded by the curved locus Tj2 shown in FIG. 34.

The working unit 804 has a configuration corresponding to work in each of the sheet supply unit 81, the first boxing unit 82, the second boxing unit 83, and the boxing unit 84. A tool corresponding to each work may be attached to the work unit 804. The working portion 804 is rotatably attached to the tip of the lower arm 803 via the third joint portion 807. By interlocking the first joint portion 805, the second joint portion 806, and the third joint portion 807, the working portion 804 can move while maintaining a constant posture regardless of the positions of the upper arm 802 and the lower arm 803. be. The configuration of the working unit 804 in each of the sheet supply unit 81, the first boxing unit 82, the second boxing unit 83, and the boxing unit 84 will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 33, the sheet supply section 81, the first box packing section 82, the second box packing section 83, and the boxing section 84 are close to the first straight line section 701 of the box transfer loop section 7. Be placed. The sheet supply unit 81, the first boxing unit 82, the second boxing unit 83, and the boxing unit 84 are arranged in this order in the box transport direction Tb.

<Sheet supply unit 81>
FIG. 35 is a schematic view of the sheet supply unit 81 as viewed from the rear in the box transport direction Tb. The seat supply unit 81 includes a seat mounting table 811 and a seat taking-out device 812. The seat mounting table 811 is arranged close to the box transport loop portion 7. A plurality of seats 9 are vertically stacked on the upper part of the seat mounting table 811. The seat mounting table 811 is movable in the vertical direction, and is urged upward so that the uppermost seats of the plurality of seats 9 arranged at the top are arranged at a fixed position in the vertical direction. Has been done.

The sheet taking-out device 812 has an articulated arm robot 80, and has a configuration in which a suction unit 813 is attached to a working unit 804 of the articulated arm robot 80. The suction unit 813 has a space inside, and sucks the air in the internal space to suck the sheet 9. The actuators of the first joint portion 805, the second joint portion 806, and the third joint portion 807 of the seat take-out device 812 are connected to the control unit 600 and operate according to the instruction from the control unit 600.

The sheet supply unit 81 is controlled by the control unit 600. The sheet taking-out device 812 brings the suction portion 813 into contact with the sheet 9 mounted on the sheet mounting table 811 to lift the sheet 9. Then, by operating the upper arm 802 and the lower arm 803, the seat 9 is moved onto the guide rail 705.

When the seat take-out device 812 mounts the seat 9 on the guide rail 705, the control unit 600 is controlled so that the box transport shuttle 76 is arranged in front of and behind the transport direction of the bottom plate portion 91. At this time, the front plate portion 93 and the rear plate portion 94 come into contact with the box transport shuttle 76 arranged in the front and rear. As a result, the front plate portion 93 and the rear plate portion 94 are bent by the box transport shuttle 76. In particular, the rear plate portion 94 is held vertically above the bottom plate portion 91 by being held by the seat holding arm 762 of the box transport shuttle 76. That is, in the seat 9, the rear plate portion 94 is positioned in the transport direction by the box transport shuttle 76 arranged at the rear.

The control unit 600 moves the box transport shuttle 76 in the box transport direction Tb. As a result, the bent sheet 9 is sent to the first box packing portion 82 in a state of being supported by the box transport shuttle 76.

<1st boxing part 82 and 2nd boxing part 83>
Next, the first boxing section 82 and the second boxing section 83 will be described. The first boxing portion 82 and the second boxing portion 83 have substantially the same configuration except that the locations are different. Therefore, as a representative, the first boxing section 82 will be referred to, and the second boxing section 83 will be described with reference to the first boxing section 82.

FIG. 36 is a schematic view showing a state before the operation of the pushing device 822 that pushes the article Pc. FIG. 37 is a schematic view showing a state in which the article Pc is pushed into the bent sheet 9 by the pushing device 822.

As shown in FIGS. 33, 36, and 37, the first boxing portion 82 includes a mounting base portion 821 and a pushing device 822. The mounting base portion 821 is arranged outside the accommodating straight portion 406 of the delivery loop portion 4. The mounting base portion 821 is arranged below the accommodating straight portion 406 in the vertical direction. Further, the mounting table portion 821 is arranged below the four article PCs arranged in the transport direction held by the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52.

The control unit 600 operates the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52, moves the four article PCs arranged in the transport direction to a position where they vertically overlap with the mounting table portion 821, and stops them. Then, the control unit 600 moves the first delivery shuttle 51 and the second delivery shuttle 52 from the four articles Pc to the rear and the front in the transport direction. As a result, the four side-by-side articles Pc are placed on the mounting table portion 821.

The mounting base portion 821 extends in a direction approaching the box transport loop portion 7, and a part thereof overlaps with the sheet 9. The article Pc placed on the mounting table portion 821 is pushed by the pushing device 822 and moved above the bottom plate portion 91 of the sheet 9.

The pushing device 822 has an articulated arm robot 80, and the pushing plate 823 is attached to the working portion 804 of the articulated arm robot 80. The push-in plate 823 has a flat plate shape extending in the transport direction and up and down. The push-in plate 823 extends downward from the working portion 804. Each actuator of the first joint portion 805, the second joint portion 806, and the third joint portion 807 of the pushing device 822 is connected to the control unit 600 and operates according to an instruction from the control unit 600.

As shown in FIG. 36, the pushing device 822 is operated so as to move the working unit 804 along the locus Tj21 or Tj22. By moving along the locus Tj21, the push-in plate 823 moves the four article PCs mounted on the mounting table portion 821 toward the sheet 9. At this time, the article Pc is moved outward from the outer end of the first delivery engaging portion 56 of the first delivery shuttle 51. From this, it is possible to move the first delivery shuttle 51. Further, by moving the pushing device 822 along the locus Tj21, the article Pc already mounted on the mounting table portion 821 can be pushed and the article Pc can be stored in the mounting table portion 821.

A gate 824 may be provided on the mounting table portion 821. The gate 824 remains closed until the sheet 9 moves to the first boxing section 82, and opens when the sheet 9 moves to the first boxing section 82. As a result, it is possible to prevent the article Pc pushed forward from falling.

The pushing device 822 can also move along the locus Tj22. By moving along the locus Tj21, the article Pc mounted on the mounting table portion 821 and / or the article Pc stored on the mounting table portion 821 is bent and the sheet 9 transported by the box transport shuttle 76. It is pushed into the bottom plate portion 91, in other words, it is accommodated (see FIG. 37). In the first boxing portion 82, the number of articles Pc to be accommodated (for example, 10 sets of 4 lumps) is accommodated in the bottom plate portion 91 of the sheet 9.

The second boxing portion 83 has a mounting base portion 831 corresponding to the mounting base portion 821, and a pushing device 832 corresponding to the pushing device 822. The push-in device 832 has a push-in plate 823 and a corresponding push-in plate 833. It also has a gate 834 corresponding to the gate 824. Also in the second boxing portion 83, the transported article Pc can be accommodated in the bottom plate portion 91 of the sheet 9 in the same manner as in the first boxing portion 82.

After the number of articles Pc to be accommodated in the first boxing portion 82 and the second packing portion 83 (for example, 10 sets of four lumps) is accommodated in the bottom plate portion 91 of the sheet 9, the control unit 600 sets the box. The transport shuttle 76 is moved in the box transport direction Tb. As a result, the sheet 9 containing the article Pc is sent to the sealing portion 84.

<Sealing part 84>
The sealing unit 84 will be described. FIG. 38 is a schematic view showing a boxing device 841. FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a state in which the bending tool 843 of the box sealing device 841 is in contact with the top plate portion 92. FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a state in which the top plate portion 92 is bent by the box sealing device 841. FIG. 41 is a diagram showing a boxing device 841 and a storage box Bx immediately after the boxing is completed.

As shown in FIG. 38, the sealing portion 84 has a sealing device 841 and a link portion 842. The boxing device 841 has an articulated arm robot 80, and has a configuration in which a bending tool 843 is attached to a working portion 804 of the articulated arm robot 80. The box-sealing device 841 is connected to the control unit 600, and the box-sealing device 841 operates based on an instruction from the control unit 600.

The bending tool 843 has an anterior hanging portion 844, a posterior hanging portion 845, and a pair of lateral hanging portions 846. The front hanging portion 844 is arranged in front of the bending tool 843 in the transport direction. The rear hanging portion 845 is arranged behind the bending tool 843 in the transport direction. The lower end of the rear hanging portion 845 is tilted so as to extend to the rear side in the transport direction as it goes downward. The pair of lateral hanging portions 846 are arranged in pairs in a direction intersecting the transport direction.

When the sheet 9 containing the article Pc is moved to the sealing portion 84, the control unit 600 brings the box transport shuttle 76 in front of the sheet 9 in the box transport direction Tb closer to the bottom plate portion 91 of the sheet 9. As a result, the front plate portion 93 is pressed, and the front plate portion 93 is orthogonal to the bottom plate portion 91 (see FIG. 39).

The control unit 600 controls the sealing device 841 to bring the bending tool 843 close to the sheet 9 and bring the rear hanging portion 845 into contact with the top plate portion 92. After that, the control unit 600 bends the bending tool 843 so as to cover the top plate portion 92 above the housed article Pc by moving the bending tool 843 relatively rearward with respect to the sheet 9 (see FIG. 40). At this time, the control unit 600 may control only the boxing device 841 or may interlock the box transport shuttle 76 and the boxing device 841.

Then, after the top plate portion 92 is bent to a certain angle, the control unit 600 operates the sealing device 841 and presses the bending tool 843 above the article Pc. At this time, the lid portion 921 connected to the top plate portion 92 is pressed by the lateral hanging lower portion 846. Further, the fixing portion 922 is bent in contact with the rear hanging portion 845. In the sealing portion 84, the lid portion 911 connected to the bottom plate portion 91, the lid portion 931 connected to the front plate portion 93, and the lid portion 941 of the rear plate portion 94 are bent of the lid portion 921 and the fixing portion 922. Bold at the same time or before folding.

Then, the lid portions 911, 921, 931 and 941 are fixed in a state where the top plate portion 92 is parallel to or substantially parallel to the bottom plate portion 91 (see FIG. 41). Further, the fixing portion 922 is fixed to the rear plate portion 94. Note that these fixings include, but are not limited to, adhesive, tape fixing, hot sealing and the like. For fixing the lids 911, 921, 931 and 941, the sealing device 841 may have a fixing function, or the fixing device may be separately provided.

As described above, the stored number of articles Pc is stored in the sealed storage box Bx. Then, the storage box Bx in which the article Pc is housed is sent to the carry-out conveyor Oct arranged in parallel with the box transport loop portion 7, and the storage box Bx is sent to the outside of the transport box packing device 100 by the carry-out conveyor Oct. It is carried out.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to this content. Further, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various ways as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention.

100 Transport box packing device 200 Transfer device 300 Transfer device 400 Transfer device 500 Box packing device 600 Control unit 601 Processing circuit 602 Storage circuit 1 Carry-in unit 11 Carry-in conveyor 111 Transfer conveyor unit 112 Conveyor motor 12 Nip roller 121 Roller motor 122 1st Pressing part 13 Pusher 131 1st pushing part 132 2nd pushing part 133 Pusher motor 2 Conveying loop part 201 1st straight part 202 2nd straight part 203 1st curved part 204 2nd curved part 205 Delivery straight part 20 Conveying rail 21 Main Rail 22 Grooved rail 221 Groove 22 Second pressing 23 Flat rail 24 Conveying linear motor mechanism 241 Coil 242 Magnet 243 Linear driver 25 Gap 26 Straw sticking part 27 Defective product exclusion part 271 Exclusion conveyor 30 Main body part 301 Convex part 302 Upper roller Support part 303 Lower roller support part 31 1st transfer shuttle 32 2nd transfer shuttle 33 Upper roller 331 Roller protrusion 34 Lower roller 35 1st transfer support part 350 Support part mounting part 351 Support plate part 352 Square part 36 1st transfer section Joint part 36L 1st transport lower arm 36U 1st transport upper arm 360 Arm mounting part 361 Arm body 362 Claw part 363 Holding part 364 Contact surface 37 2nd transport support part 370 Support part mounting part 371 Support plate part 372 Square part 38 2 Transport engaging part 38L 2nd transport lower arm 38U 2nd transport upper arm 380 Arm mounting part 381 Arm body 382 Claw part 383 Holding part 384 Contact surface 4 Delivery loop part 401 1st straight part 402 2nd straight part 403 1st Curved part 404 2nd curved part 405 Delivery straight part 406 Containment straight part 407 1st proximity area 408 2nd proximity area 409 Separation area 40 Delivery rail 41 Main rail 42 Grooved rail 421 Groove 43 Flat rail 44 Delivery linear motor mechanism 441 Coil 442 Magnet 443 Linear driver 45 Gap 50 Main body 501 Convex part 502 Upper roller support part 503 Lower roller support part 51 First delivery shuttle 52 Second delivery shuttle 53 Upper roller 54 Lower roller 55 1st delivery support part 550 Support part mounting part 551 Support plate part 552 1st rear support part 553 1st front support part 56 1st delivery engagement part 56L 1st delivery lower arm 56U 1st delivery upper arm 560 Arm mounting part 561 Arm body 562 Rear claw part 563 Front claw part 564 Rear presser part 565 Front presser part 566 Rear contact surface 567 Front contact surface 57 Second delivery support part 570 Support part mounting part 571 Support plate part 572 Second front support part 573 Second Rear support part 58 2nd delivery engagement part 58L 2nd delivery lower arm 58U 2nd delivery upper arm 580 Arm mounting part 581 Arm body 582 Front claw part 583 Rear claw part 584 Front presser part 585 Rear presser part 586 Front contact surface 587 Rear contact surface 6 Transfer conveyor 60 Conveyor motor 61 1st proximity part 62 2nd proximity part 63 Separation part 64 Curved part 65 Curved part 7 Box transfer loop part 701 1st straight part 702 2nd straight part 703 1st curved part 704 2nd curved part 705 Guide rail 70 Box transfer rail 71 Main rail 72 Grooved rail 721 Groove 73 Flat rail 74 Box transfer Linear motor mechanism 740 Main body 741 Linear driver 742 Magnet 75 Gap 76 Box transfer shuttle 761 Main body 762 Seat holding arm 763 Grooved roller 764 Flat roller 80 Multi-joint arm Robot 801 Main body 802 Upper arm 803 Lower arm 804 Working part 805 1st joint part 806 2nd joint part 807 3rd joint part 81 Seat supply part 811 Seat mounting table 812 Seat take-out Equipment 813 Suction part 82 1st box packing part 821 Mounting base part 822 Pushing device 823 Pushing plate 83 2nd box packing part 831 Mounting base part 832 Pushing device 833 Pushing plate 84 Sealing part 841 Sealing device 842 Link part 843 Bending tool 844 Front hanging 845 Rear hanging 846 Side hanging 9 Sheet 91 Bottom plate 911 Lid 92 Top plate 921 Lid 922 Fixed part 93 Front plate 931 Lid 94 Rear plate 941 Lid Bx Storage box Cc connection Conveyor Cr1 Circular orbit Oc Carry-out conveyor Pc Transported object (article)
Pc1 Corner Pc2 Corner Pca Transported object Pcb Transported object Pcc Transported object Pcd Transported object Pce Transported object Sc1 Screw hole Sc2 Screw hole St1 First holding state St2 Second holding state Th St straw Tj1 Tj22 locus

Claims (6)

A transport rail having a transport straight portion extending in the transport direction of the object to be transported,
A delivery rail having a delivery straight portion arranged in parallel with the transfer straight portion,
The first transport shuttle and the second transport shuttle, which are arranged on the surface of the transport rail facing the delivery rail and can move along the transport rail while holding the object to be transported,
A first delivery shuttle and a second delivery shuttle that are arranged on the surface of the delivery rail facing the transport rail and can move along the delivery rail while holding the object to be transported.
A transfer linear motor mechanism that independently moves the first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle,
It has a delivery linear motor mechanism that independently moves the first delivery shuttle and the second delivery shuttle.
The first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle arranged in the transfer straight line portion, and the first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle arranged in the delivery straight line portion can simultaneously hold the object to be conveyed. The delivery device that is. The first transport shuttle has a first transport engaging portion that engages with the front portion of the object to be transported in the transport direction.
The second transport shuttle has a second transport engaging portion that engages with the rear portion in the transport direction of the object to be transported.
The first delivery shuttle has a first delivery engagement portion that engages with the front portion of the transported object in the transport direction.
The second delivery shuttle has a second delivery engagement portion that engages with the rear portion in the transport direction of the object to be transported.
The first aspect of claim 1 is that the first transport engaging portion and the first delivery engaging portion are vertically displaced from each other, and the second transport engaging portion and the second delivery engaging portion are vertically displaced from each other. The described delivery device. The first transport shuttle has a first transport support portion that supports a front corner of the bottom surface of the object to be transported on the transport rail side.
The second transport shuttle has a second transport support portion that supports a corner portion of the bottom surface of the object to be transported, which is rearward on the transport rail side.
The first delivery shuttle has a first delivery support portion that supports a front corner of the bottom surface of the object to be delivered on the delivery rail side.
The second delivery shuttle has a second delivery support portion that supports a corner portion of the bottom surface of the object to be transported, which is rearward on the delivery rail side.
The sum of the lengths of the first transport support portion and the portion of the first delivery support portion that vertically overlap with the transported object in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction is the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transported object. Is also short, and the sum of the lengths of the second transport support portion and the portion of the second delivery support portion that overlaps the transported object in the vertical direction is the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transported object. The delivery device according to claim 1 or 2, which is shorter than the length of the above. The delivery device according to claim 3, wherein the upper surfaces of the first transport support portion, the second transport support portion, the first delivery support portion, and the second delivery support portion are flush with each other. The delivery linear motor mechanism holds the first transfer shuttle moving along the transfer rail and the object to be transported held by the second transfer shuttle from the front and back in the transfer direction, and the first transfer shuttle and the transfer shuttle. After the first delivery shuttle and the second delivery shuttle are moved so as to be equal to the moving speed of the second transport shuttle, and the first delivery shuttle and the second delivery shuttle hold the transported object. The delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transfer linear motor mechanism moves at least the first transfer shuttle so as to move away from the front of the object to be transported. According to claim 5, the transfer linear motor mechanism moves the second transfer shuttle away from the rear of the object to be transported after the first transfer shuttle and the second transfer shuttle hold the object to be transported. The described delivery device.

Images