JP2022071720A - Carried article separating and carrying-out mechanism, and carried article carrying-out and transporting device equipped with carried article separating and carrying-out mechanism and carried article feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a new carried article separating and carrying-out mechanism capable of sufficiently certainly separating and carrying out a carried article at the foremost end from the next carried article regardless of the simple actuation of a pair of adsorptive holders.SOLUTION: At an upper part than a lower end edge portion regulating member 14, a one side edge portion regulating member 56 locally regulating a front surface one side edge portion of a carried article 100-1 at the foremost end is provided. A pair of adsorptive holders 60a and 60b makes one adsorptive holder 60a abut on the front surface one side edge portion of the carried article 100-1 at the foremost end above the one side edge portion regulating member 56 at an advancing position, and makes the other adsorptive holder 60b abut on the front surface one side edge portion of the carried article 100-1 at the foremost end below the one side edge portion regulating member 56 and above the lower end edge portion regulating member 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4-1

Description

The present invention is a mechanism for separating and carrying out an object to be transported, which separates and carries out the frontmost object to be conveyed from a large number of laminated flat objects to be conveyed from the next object to be conveyed, and the frontmost object which is separated and carried out from this mechanism. The present invention relates to a transported object unloading / transporting device provided with a transported object launching mechanism for launching a transported object onto a downstream transporting means.

The following Patent Document 1 describes a mechanism for separating and carrying out an object to be conveyed, which separates and carries out the frontmost object to be conveyed from a large number of laminated flat objects to be conveyed, and a mechanism for separating and carrying out the object to be conveyed separately from this mechanism. An example of a device for carrying out and transporting a transported object, which is provided with a mechanism for transporting the transported object at the front end onto the downstream transport means, is disclosed. The transport mechanism for separating and carrying out the transported object disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a transport route defining means and a transport route defining means having a lower end edge regulating surface and a one-sided edge regulating surface that regulate the lower end edge and one side edge of the flat plate-shaped transported object, respectively. A compulsory means for forcing a large number of objects to be transported in a laminated state toward the carry-out end, a lower end edge regulating member to which the front lower end edge of the front end object to be transported is abutted, and the front end. It is provided with a separate carry-out means for separating the object to be conveyed from the next object to be conveyed and carrying it forward beyond the lower end edge regulating member. The separate and carry-out means includes a pair of suction holders that can be switched between an operating state for sucking and holding the transported object and a non-operating state for releasing the transported object. One of the pair of suction holders is movable between a forward position that abuts on the front surface of the object to be transported at the front end and a backward position that retracts backward from the forward position. The other of the pair of suction holders exists in a forward position that abuts on the front surface of the object to be transported at the front end, and is lateral to the transport direction from the forward position and in a direction that approaches one of the pair of suction holders. The forward lateral position, the backward position retracted backward from the forward lateral position, and the backward lateral position existing laterally from the retracted position with respect to the transport direction and separated from one of the pair of suction holders. It is movable between.

Both of the pair of suction holders are in the operating state at the forward position to suck and hold the frontmost object to be transported. Next, the other of the pair of suction holders is moved from the forward position to the forward lateral position while remaining in the operating state, whereby the frontmost object to be transported is curved and the rear surface is separated from the front surface of the next object to be transported. After that, one of the pair of suction holders moves from the forward position to the retracted position at the same time, and the other moves from the forward lateral position to the retracted position at the same time, and the frontmost conveyed object is separated and carried out from the next conveyed object. Then, one of the pair of suction holders is switched from the operating state to the non-operating state at the retracted position to release the separated and carried-out object. The other of the pair of suction holders moves from the retracted position to the retracted lateral position while maintaining the operating state, and is switched from the activated state to the non-operated state at the retracted lateral position to release the separated and carried-out object. Thus, the transported object separated and carried out by the transported object separation and carrying-out mechanism is carried out to the downstream side transported object by the above-mentioned mechanism composed of a pair of nip rollers that are in close contact with each other and rotate in opposite directions.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-188159

Therefore, in the mechanism for separating and carrying out the transported object disclosed in Patent Document 1, the other of the pair of suction holders is placed between the above-mentioned four positions in order to separate and carry out one transported object. Since it is necessary to move and the movement route is complicated, the transport efficiency of the transported object is low. Further, since each of the pair of suction holders operates independently, it is necessary to prepare an actuating device such as an actuator independently, and it is complicated to synchronize the movement of each of the pair of suction holders. It is also necessary to build a control system, which increases manufacturing costs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main technical problem is to ensure that the frontmost transported object is sufficiently reliable from the next transported object even though the pair of suction holders simply operates. It is to provide a new mechanism for separating and carrying out an object to be transported, which can be separated and carried out.

As a result of diligent studies, the present inventors have provided a one-sided edge restricting member that locally regulates the front one-sided edge of the frontmost object to be transported above the lower end edge regulating member, and a pair of suction-holding members. In the forward position, one of the tools is above the one-side edge regulating member to the front one-sided edge of the frontmost object to be transported, and the other is below the one-sided edge regulating member and above the lower end edge regulating member. It has been found that the above-mentioned main technical problem can be solved by abutting the frontmost edge of the object to be transported on one side.

That is, according to the present invention, as a mechanism capable of solving the above-mentioned main technical problems, a transport path having a lower end edge restricting surface and a one side edge restricting surface that regulate the lower end edge and one side edge of the flat plate-shaped object to be conveyed, respectively. A defining means, a forcing means for forcing a large number of objects to be transported in a laminated state on the transport route defining means toward the carry-out end, a lower end edge to which the front lower end edge of the frontmost conveyed object is abutted. A separate and unloading mechanism provided with a separate unloading means that separates the part-restricted member and the frontmost object to be transported from the next object to be transported and carries them forward beyond the lower end edge restricting member.
The separate and carry-out means has a one-sided edge regulating member that locally regulates the front one-sided edge of the frontmost object to be transported above the lower end edge regulating member, and an operating state for adsorbing and holding the transported object. It includes a pair of suction holders that can be switched to a non-operating state that releases the object to be transported, and the pair of suction holders are in the forward position that abuts on the front surface of the object to be transported at the front end and backward from the forward position. It is movable between the retracted and retracted positions, and at the advanced position, one of the pair of suction holders abuts on the front one-sided edge of the frontmost object to be transported above the one-sided edge regulating member. The suction holding member, the other of the pair of suction holders, is in contact with the front one side edge of the object to be transported at the foremost end, below the one side edge regulating member and above the lower end edge regulating member.
A mechanism for separating and carrying out an object to be transported is provided.

Preferably, the suction holding member includes a pair of additional suction holders in addition to the pair of suction holders, and the pair of additional suction holders also releases the operating state of sucking and holding the object to be transported and the object to be transported. It is freely switchable to a non-operating state, and is movable between a forward position that abuts on the front surface of the object to be transported at the front end and a backward position that is backward backward from the forward position, and the pair at the forward position. One of the additional suction holders abuts on the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported at the same height and inside in the width direction with respect to one of the pair of suction holders, and the other of the pair of additional suction holders is said. It abuts on the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported at the same height and inside in the width direction with respect to the other of the pair of suction holders. In this case, the pair of suction holders and the pair of additional suction holders are mounted on a common support member, and the support members are mounted with the pair of suction holders and the pair of additional suction holders. The support member can be swiveled around a swivel center axis extending in the width direction below the position, and the support member is swiveled reciprocating around the swivel center axis to cause the pair of suction holders and the pair. The additional suction retainer may be moved to the forward position and the retracted position. In the case of an object to be transported having a large height, it is preferable to include a predetermined height portion support member to which a predetermined height portion on the front surface of the object to be transported at the foremost end is abutted. In this case, it is preferable that the predetermined height portion support member is rotatably mounted around a rotation center axis extending in the width direction. Further, a predetermined height for selectively rotating the predetermined height portion support member in a direction in which the front predetermined height portion of the object to be transported at the foremost end in contact with the predetermined height portion support member is displaced downward. It is better to include a means of rotating the support member.

A cover including the above-mentioned transfer mechanism for separating and carrying out the object to be transported, and a receiving member having a main receiving surface which is located at a distance forward from the object to be transported at the foremost end and is inclined forward and extends upward. The device to be transported and transported is provided with a device for launching the transported object, and the mechanism for separating and transporting the transported object includes a pull-out arm disposed upstream from the main receiving surface in the mechanism for launching the transported object. The pull-out arm swings up and down over a predetermined range and swivels between a hanging position extending outward along one side edge of the main receiving surface and a turning position extending in the width direction on the upstream side of the main receiving surface. In the case of an object to be transported that is movably mounted and has a high height, when the suction holding member sucks and holds the object to be transported at the front end and moves backward from the forward position to the retracted position, the front end The lower half of the object to be transported is carried out onto the main receiving surface of the receiving member, but the upper end portion is still in contact with the predetermined height portion supporting member, and the pull-out arm is lowered in such a state. Then, it is swiveled from the hanging position to the swivel position, and then ascended, whereby the upper end portion of the object to be transported at the foremost end is also pulled out from the predetermined height portion support member and is placed on the main receiving surface of the receiving member. A device for carrying out / transporting an object to be transported is provided, which is characterized in that it is carried out to the. The object to be transported is an unfilled standing pouch having a height of 8 to 40 cm, a width of 5 to 30, and a thicker lower end than the other parts, and is forced to be carried out in an upright position. Is good.

The transported object separation / carrying-out mechanism of the present invention includes a one-sided edge restricting member that locally regulates the front one-sided edge of the front end of the transported object above the lower end edge regulating member, and is a pair at the forward position. One of the suction holders abuts on the front one-sided edge of the object to be transported at the front end above one side edge regulating member, and the other of the pair of suction holders is below and below the one-sided edge regulating member and at the lower end edge. Since it abuts on one side edge of the front surface of the object to be transported at the front end above the part restricting member, when the pair of suction holders retract from the state where the object to be transported at the front end is sucked at the forward position, a pair of suctions are sucked. The frontmost object to be transported, which is adsorbed to the holder, has three one-sided edges of the frontmost object to be transported due to the presence of the one-side edge restricting member located between each of the pair of suction holders. It is dimensionally curved and separated from the next object to be transported. Therefore, according to the mechanism for separating and carrying out the transported object of the present invention, the pair of suction holders can sufficiently and reliably separate and carry out the frontmost transported object from the next transported object without performing complicated operations. ..

The front view of the to-be-carrying-out / carrying apparatus including the to-be-to-be-behaved separation and carrying-out mechanism configured according to this invention. The plan view of the to-be-carrying-out / carrying apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation of the forcing means in the to-be-carrying-out / transporting apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation of the forcing means in the to-be-carrying-out / transporting apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation of the separation unloading means in the unloading / transporting apparatus to be transported shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation of the separation unloading means in the unloading / transporting apparatus to be transported shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation of the pull-out arm in the to-be-carrying-out / transporting apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation of the pull-out arm in the to-be-carrying-out / transporting apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation of the to-be-delivered launching mechanism in the to-be-delivered-carrying-out / transporting apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a single unfilled standing pouch, which is an example of an object to be transported and transported by the device to be carried and transported by the device to be carried and transported as shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a preferred embodiment of the transported object separation / carrying-out mechanism configured according to the present invention and the transported object carrying-out / transporting device provided with the mechanism will be described in more detail.

1 and 2 show a device 2 for carrying out / transporting a transported object, which carries out / transports the transported object 100 one by one from a large number of stacked flat plate-shaped objects to be transported.

For convenience, the transported object 100 to be carried out and transported prior to the transported object unloading / transporting device 2 will be described. This is a well-known pouch for accommodating, for example, a liquid detergent or retort food. It is a package, and in the illustrated embodiment, it is an unfilled standing pouch as shown in FIG. 7. In front view, such a standing pouch has an edge 102 (edge extending in the width direction, in the left-right direction in FIG. 7) shorter than a side edge 104 (edge extending in the height direction, in the vertical direction in FIG. 7). It has a rectangular shape. A bottom wall 106 is provided at the lower end edge of the object to be transported 100, and due to this, the lower end edge of the object to be transported 100 is relatively thick in a four-sheet stacking configuration. On the other hand, except for the lower end edge portion of the conveyed object 100, the two sheets are overlapped and relatively thin, and the upper end edge 102a of the conveyed object 100 is opened. The object to be transported 100 preferably has a height of 8 to 40 cm, a width of 5 to 30 cm, and a weight of 1 to 100 g.

Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the transported object unloading / transporting device 2 is installed on the upper surface of a substantially horizontal installation base 4, and the transported object separation / unloading mechanism 6 and the transported object launching mechanism 8 are provided. It is equipped. The transported object separation and carrying-out mechanism 6 further includes a transport route defining means 10 (see FIG. 2), a compulsory means 12, and a lower end edge regulating member 14 (see also FIGS. 3-1 and 4-1). It is provided with a predetermined height portion support member 16 and a separation and carrying-out means 18. In the following, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the direction from the left to the right of the paper surface is referred to as the transport direction (of the object to be transported), the left side is referred to as the upstream side in the transport direction, and the right side is referred to as the downstream side in the transport direction. The transport direction may be defined as the front-rear direction. Further, in FIG. 1, the depth direction of the paper surface is defined as the width direction of the paper surface, and in FIG. 2, the vertical direction of the paper surface is defined as the width direction (of the object to be transported). Therefore, both the transport direction and the width direction are substantially horizontal, and the width direction is perpendicular to the transport direction.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 4-1 (a) together with FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport route defining means 10 has a lower end edge restricting surface 20 and a lower end edge regulating surface 20 for regulating the lower end edge 102 and one side edge 104 of the flat plate-shaped object to be conveyed, respectively. It has a one-sided edge regulation surface 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower end edge restricting surface 20 is defined on the upper surface of the installation base 4. A one-sided edge regulating wall 24 extending linearly in the transport direction is erected on the upper surface of the installation base 4, and the one-sided edge regulating surface 22 is the inner side surface in the width direction of the one-sided edge regulating wall 24, that is, the left side when viewed in the transport direction. It is stipulated on the side of.

The lower end edge regulating member 14 is a rod-shaped member extending linearly in the width direction, and is fixed to the upper surface of the installation base 4. As will be described later, since the front lower end edge portion of the object to be transported at the front end is brought into contact with the lower end edge portion regulating member 14, the carry-out end is defined on the upstream side surface of the lower end edge portion regulating member 14 in the transport direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the transport direction position of the carry-out end is consistent with the transport direction downstream end position of the one-side edge regulation wall 24.

The predetermined height portion support member 16 is a rod-shaped member extending linearly in the width direction, and is provided in alignment with the lower end edge portion restricting member 14 when viewed in the transport direction. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of support columns 26 extending upward are erected on the upper surface of the installation base 4 at a position aligned with the lower end edge regulating member 14 in the transport direction at intervals in the width direction. The predetermined height portion support member 16 having a circular cross section is rotatably mounted around the rotation center axis 28 extending in the width direction at the upper ends of the pair of support columns 26. The object to be transported 100 passes between each of the pair of support columns 26. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the predetermined height portion support member 16 can be selectively rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by the predetermined height portion support member rotating means 30. The predetermined height portion support member rotating means 30 preferably uses compressed air as a drive source. As will be described later, the predetermined height portion support member 16 is in contact with the front predetermined height portion of the object to be transported at the front end, and the predetermined height portion support member 16 is the front predetermined height portion of the front end object to be transported. Support.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the forcing means 12 is located on the upstream side of the lower end edge regulating member 14 in the transport direction, and is a movable support mounted forward and backward in the transport direction of the object to be transported. 32 includes a pressing member 34 mounted on the movable support 32, and a driving means 36 for moving the movable support 32 forward and backward. The movable support 32 is a plate-shaped member having a rectangular cross section extending linearly in the width direction, and is located on the upper surface of the installation base 4 or slightly above it. Grooves 37 extending linearly in the transport direction are formed on the upper surfaces of both ends of the movable support 32 in the width direction, and the grooves 37 are on the downstream side in the transport direction beyond the downstream side surface in the transport direction of the movable support 32. A hinge mounting piece 38 extending toward is fixed. The height position of the hinge mounting piece 38 is relatively low, which is about the same height as the one-side edge restricting member described later of the separation / carrying-out means 18.

The pressing member 34 is a substantially rectangular flat plate and includes a pressing front surface 40 facing downstream in the transport direction. The pressing member 34 is rotatably fixed by a pin 42 to the downstream end of each of the two hinge mounting pieces 38 in the transport direction between the two hinge mounting pieces 38 provided at both ends in the width direction of the movable support 32. ing. As a result, the pressing member 34 is rotatably mounted on the movable support 32 about the turning center axis 44 extending in the width direction. A rectangular notch 45 extending in the entire width direction is provided at the lower end of the rear surface of the pressing member 34. Due to the presence of the notch 45, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 3-1 (b), when the pressing member 34 turns around the turning center axis 44, the pressing front surface 40 is a transport path defining means. The turning angle at which the upper end of the pressing front surface 40 can be turned in the direction of being displaced downstream in the transport direction from the state perpendicular to the lower end edge restricting surface 20 of 10 is increased.

The drive means 36 includes a pair of drive actuators 46 connected to both ends of the movable support 32 in the width direction. The pair of drive actuators 46 are cylinders that advance and retreat substantially horizontally in the transport direction and are simultaneously driven by a drive source such as compressed air to move the movable support 32 into the forward position shown in FIG. 3-1 (c) and FIG. 3-1. It is made movable between (a) and the retracted position shown in FIG. 3-2 (e).

In the illustrated embodiment, the coercion means 12 further includes a rear swivel means 48 that swivels the pressing member 34 in a direction in which the upper end of the pressing front surface 40 is displaced upstream in the transport direction. The rear turning means 48 is connected to the center in the width direction and the intermediate portion in the vertical direction on the rear surface of the pressing member 34, and extends linearly from the rear surface of the pressing member 34 toward the rear in the normal direction. There is. A rolling element 50 that can rotate in the transport direction is also provided at the extending end of the rear turning means 48. Therefore, in the pressing member 34, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 3-2 (d), when the pressing front surface 40 presses the object to be transported, the pressing front surface 40 is the lower end edge restricting surface 20 of the transport path defining means 10. Even if the upper end of the pressing front surface 40 is swiveled in a direction of being displaced downstream in the transport direction from a state perpendicular to the vertical position, the weight of the rear swivel means 48 is obtained if the pressing front surface 40 is released from pressing the object to be transported. As a result, the pressing front surface 40 is swiveled in a direction in which the upper end of the pressing front surface 40 is displaced upstream in the transport direction from a state perpendicular to the lower end edge restricting surface 20 of the transport path defining means 10, and the rear surface is a movable support 32. The posture is maintained at the position where it comes into contact with.

The forcing means 12 further provides a pressing member returning means 52 for returning the pressing member 34, which has been swiveled rearward by the rear turning means 48, to a state in which the pressing front surface 40 returns the pressing member 34 to a state perpendicular to the lower end edge restricting surface 20 of the transport path defining means 10. Also includes. The pressing member returning means 52 extends at a predetermined position in the transport direction from the lower end edge restricting surface 20 of the transport path defining means 10 toward the rear (upstream side in the transport direction), and this extends in the width direction. Consistent with moving body 50. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 3-2 (e), the pressing member returning means 52 reaches the retracted position when the movable support 32 retracts from the forward position to the retracted position. The cooperation with the rolling element 50 is started earlier than that, and the rolling element 50 moves backward on the pressing member returning means 52 to push the pressing member 34 in a direction in which the upper end of the pressing front surface 40 is displaced to the downstream side in the transport direction. When the movable support 32 is swiveled and reaches the retracted position, the pressing front surface 40 of the pressing member 34 is in a state of being perpendicular to the lower end edge restricting surface 20 of the transport path defining means 10.

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the object to be separated and carried out mechanism 6 of the illustrated embodiment also includes holding pieces 54a and 54b. As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2, the holding pieces 54a and 54b are laminated with the holding pieces 54a and 54b remaining between the pressing member 34, the lower end edge regulating member 14, and the predetermined height portion supporting member 16. Instead of the pressing member 34, the small amount of the transported object 100 is temporarily held in cooperation with the lower end edge regulating member 14 and the predetermined height portion supporting member 16. In FIGS. 1 and 2, both the holding pieces 54a and 54b are shown to be in the action positions described later. The holding piece 54a is supported by a support means (not shown) so as to be separated upward from the lower end edge restricting surface 20 of the transport path defining means 10 on the upstream side in the transport direction from the carry-out end. Then, the holding piece 54a is between an action position protruding to the left from the one-side edge restricting surface 20 of the transported route defining means 10 and a non-acting position retreating to the right side of the one-side edge restricting surface 20 when viewed in the transport direction. It can move forward and backward in the width direction. The holding piece 54b is arranged slightly upstream of the holding piece 54a in the transport direction, and has an action position protruding upward from the lower end edge regulating surface 20 of the transport route defining means 10 and moving out below the lower end edge regulating surface 20. It can move up and down between the non-acting position. The holding pieces 54a and 54b are integrally actuated by a driving means (not shown), and the driving means can be driven by, for example, compressed air.

Explaining with reference to FIG. 4-1 (a) together with FIGS. 1 and 2, the separation and unloading means 18 includes a one-side edge restricting member 56. The one-side edge restricting member 56 is provided in line with the lower end edge regulating member 14 when viewed in the transport direction, that is, at the carry-out end, above the lower end edge regulating member 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the one-side edge restricting member 56 is fixed to the upper end of the transport direction downstream end surface of the one-side edge restricting wall 24. The one-side edge restricting member 56 protrudes in the width direction beyond the one-side edge restricting surface 22 from the right side to the left side (from the left side to the right side in FIG. 4-1 (a) right side view) when viewed in the transport direction. Locally regulate the front one-sided edge of the object to be transported at the foremost end. The shape of the protruding end portion of the one-side edge portion regulating member 56 is a tapered shape toward the protruding end, and is a substantially semicircular shape in the illustrated embodiment.

The separation / carry-out means 18 also includes a suction holding member 58. The suction holding member 58 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction from the carry-out end, and includes a pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and a pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b. The pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b are both arm-shaped made of a relatively soft synthetic resin such as an elastomer, and these are mounted on a common support member 64. The arrangement of each will be described later. The pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b are connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) via a support member 64, respectively, and a pair of negative pressure generators are controlled by controlling the negative pressure source. Negative pressure can be appropriately generated inside the suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b, thus the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b, respectively. It is possible to switch between an operating state in which the object to be transported is sucked and held and a non-operating state in which the object to be transported is released.

The support member 64 is a swivel center axis 66 extending in the width direction below the mounting positions of the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b by a driving means (not shown) (FIG. 4-1 (FIG. 4-1). The support member 64 is reciprocally swiveled around the swivel center axis 66, so that the support member 64 is swiveled around the center of the swivel center axis 66, whereby the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a are swiveled. And 62b are a forward position that abuts on the front surface of the object to be transported at the front end (FIG. 4-1 (a) left view) and a backward position that recedes backward from the forward position (FIG. 4-2 (d) left view). It is movable between. The driving means can be driven by, for example, compressed air. As shown in the right side view of FIG. 4-1 (a), the suction holder 60a is located above the one-side edge restricting member 56 in the forward position, and the suction holder 60b is below and below the one-side edge regulating member 56. It is located above the lower end edge regulating member 14. At this time, the additional suction holder 62a is located at the same height as the suction holder 60a and inside in the width direction, and the additional suction holder 62b is at the same height as the suction holder 60b and inside in the width direction. To position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the transported object separation / carrying-out mechanism 6 also includes a pull-out arm, which will be described later.

Subsequently, the delivered object launching mechanism 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The object launching mechanism 8 is located downstream of the lower end edge regulating member 14 in the transport direction, and includes a receiving member 68 and a lifting means 70 for moving the receiving member 68 up and down. The receiving member 68 has an L-shaped cross section and extends linearly in the width direction, and is rectangular in a plan view. The receiving member 68 includes a main receiving surface 72 extending rearwardly and extending upward, and a bottom receiving surface 74 projecting forward from the lower end edge of the main receiving surface 72. The main receiving surface 72 is tilted upward and backward at an inclination angle θ (θ is preferably 30 to 50 degrees). The extending length of the main receiving surface 72 is relatively long, 6 to 50 cm. As is clearly understood by referring to FIG. 2, two elliptical through grooves 76 extending linearly in the transport direction are formed in parallel on the main receiving surface 72 at intervals in the width direction. In the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of suction holders 60a and 60b are arranged on one of the two through grooves 76, and a pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b are arranged on the other. There is. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b are both in the retracted positions, and the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62a. When 62b is in the retracted position, each open end is located below the main receiving surface 72. The bottom receiving surface 74 is perpendicular to the main receiving surface 72, and its extending length is relatively short, 1 to 5 cm. The width of the main receiving surface 72 and the bottom receiving surface 74 is 5 to 40 cm, which is longer than the widthwise length (edge length) of the object to be transported.

The elevating means 70 moves the receiving member 68 between the descending position shown in FIG. 6A and the ascending position shown in FIG. 6B in which the receiving member 68 is raised by a predetermined distance in the extending direction of the main receiving surface 72. Let me. The elevating means 70 is preferably driven by compressed air, for example, and raises the receiving member 68 from the descending position to the ascending position at a high speed of 20 to 200 cm / sec and descends from the ascending position to the descending position at the same speed. The predetermined distance is 1 to 10 cm.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 5-1 and 5-2 together with FIGS. 1 and 2, a drawer arm 78, which is a part of the transported object separation / carrying-out mechanism 6, is arranged on the upstream side of the main receiving surface 72. ing. The pull-out arm 78 is driven by the vertical drive means 80a using compressed air as a drive source, along one side edge of the main receiving surface 72 (the right side edge when viewed in the transport direction) in FIGS. 5-1 (a) and 5-. 2 (d) and (e) can be moved up and down between the ascending position shown in FIG. 5-1 (c) and the swirling driving means 80b also using compressed air as a driving source. It can swivel between a hanging position extending outward along one side edge of the main receiving surface 72 and a swiveling position extending in the width direction on the upstream side of the main receiving surface 72. As shown in the left side view of FIG. 5-1 (a), a contact in which the front surface of the transported object at the foremost end abuts slightly above the predetermined height portion support member 16 when the height of the transported object is high. The switch 82 is arranged, and when the height of the object to be transported is high and the front surface of the switch 82 comes into contact with the contact switch 82, the drawer arm 78 becomes operable. The operation of the drawer arm 78 will be described later.

1 and 2 also show a downstream transport means 84 located on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the object launching mechanism 8. The downstream transport means 84 is supported above the installation base 4 by a support means (not shown). The downstream side transport means 84 includes a character-shaped inclined plate 86 that once rises in the transport direction and then descends, and the inclined plate 86 extends in the width direction. Explaining with reference to FIG. 6B, the upstream end edge of the inclined plate 86 is close to and closer to the upstream end edge of the receiving member 68 on the downstream side in the transport direction than the upper end edge of the receiving member 68 when the receiving member 68 is in the raised position. It is located slightly below. As will be described later, the object to be transported launched from the object launching mechanism 8 lands on the upper surface of the inclined plate 86 and is further transported to the downstream side in the transport direction by the inclination of the inclined plate 86. Side guards 88 that stand up upward are provided at both ends of the inclined plate 86 in the width direction to prevent the conveyed object launched from the object to be conveyed launching mechanism 8 from falling from the inclined plate 86 in the width direction. ..

Subsequently, the operation of the transported object unloading / transporting device 2 will be described.
First, the operation of the forcing means 12 in the transported object separation / carrying-out mechanism 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2. In the object to be transported / carried out device 2, as shown in FIG. 3-1 (a), when the movable support 32 of the forcing means 12 is in the retracted position, the pressing member 34, the lower end edge regulating member 14 and the lower end edge regulating member 14 A large number of objects to be transported 100 stacked between the predetermined height portion support member 16 and the predetermined height portion support member 16 are carried in. A large number of stacked objects 100 to be transported are simultaneously carried onto the transport route defining means 10 in an upright state, the lower end edge 102 of the transported object 100 is provided by the lower end edge regulating surface 20, and the one-sided edge 104 is the one-sided edge regulating surface 22. Is regulated by each. At this time, both the holding pieces 54a and 54b are located at non-acting positions.

When the movable support 32 is advanced by the driving means 36 from the state shown in FIG. 3-1 (a), as shown in FIG. 3-1 (b), the pressing front surface 40 of the pressing member 34 is located at the rearmost end. It abuts on the rear surface of the conveyed object 100-f and presses it forward, and the lower end of the front surface of the object to be conveyed 100-1 located at the foremost end is the lower end edge restricting member 14, and the predetermined height portion is a predetermined height. A large number of objects to be transported 100 that are in contact with the portion support member 16 and laminated are held by the pressing member 34, the lower end edge regulating member 14, and the predetermined height portion support member 16. At this time, as described above, the object to be transported 100 has a relatively thick lower end edge, but is relatively thin except for the lower end edge, and is carried onto the transport route defining means 10 in an upright state. Therefore, FIG. 3-1 (b). ), Each of the large number of objects to be transported 100 stacked vertically is not aligned vertically, but is gradually inclined and aligned from the downstream in the transport direction to the upstream side in the downstream side in the transport direction. The lower end portion of the entire number of objects to be transported 100 is longer than the upper end portion in the transport direction. Therefore, when the pressing member 34 presses the rear surface of the object to be transported 100-f at the rearmost end, the pressing member 34 is mounted on the movable support 32 so as to be rotatable around the turning center axis 44 extending in the width direction. As a result, the upper end of the pressing front surface 40 is swiveled in a direction in which the upper end is displaced toward the downstream side in the transport direction from the swivel center axis 44 to press the rear surface of the object to be transported 100-f.

A large number of stacked objects to be transported 100 are held at the foremost end by the pressing member 34 (and the movable support 32), the lower end edge regulating member 14, and the predetermined height portion supporting member 16. The objects 100-1 are sequentially separated and carried out by the operation of the separate and carried-out means 18. At this time, since the upper end of the pressing front surface 40 is swiveled in a direction in which the upper end is displaced toward the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the swivel center axis 44, the large number of objects to be transported 100 stacked by the operation described later of the separate and carry-out means 18 Even when an impact is applied, the object to be transported 100 is effectively suppressed from moving upward, and exists between the pressing member 34, the lower end edge regulating member 14, and the predetermined height portion supporting member 16. It is possible to prevent a large number of objects to be transported 100 from tipping over, or the separate and unloading means 18 from being unable to properly unload the frontmost objects to be transported 100-1.

The movable support 32 is advanced by the drive means 36 as the objects to be transported 100 are sequentially separated and carried out by the separate and carry-out means 18, so that the pressing member 34, the lower end edge restricting member 14, and the predetermined height portion support member 16 The laminated object 100 located between them is always held by the pressing member 34, the lower end edge regulating member 14, and the predetermined height portion supporting member 16. At this time, as the number of objects to be transported 100 existing between the pressing member 34, the lower end edge restricting member 14, and the predetermined height portion supporting member 16 decreases, the transport direction of the last transported object 100-f. Since the rear surface of the object to be transported 100-f is gradually erected, the upper end of the pressing front surface 40 of the pressing member 34 is also gradually swiveled in a direction in which the upper end is displaced upstream in the transport direction around the swivel center axis 44. Be done. Then, when the movable support 32 reaches the forward position shown in FIG. 3-1 (c), the movable support 32 is moved backward toward the backward position by the driving means 36 as shown in FIG. 3-2 (d). Be done. At this time, as shown in the figure, at the same time as the movable support 32 starts moving backward from the forward position, the holding pieces 54a and 54b advance from the non-acting position to the working position, and the transport direction is higher than that of the holding pieces 54a and 54b. The posture of all the objects to be transported 100 located on the downstream side is temporarily held in place of the pressing member 34. When the movable support 32 moves backward, the pressing member 34 is moved from a state in which the pressing front surface 40 is perpendicular to the lower end edge restricting surface 20 of the transport path defining means 10 by the rear turning means 48, and the upper end of the pressing front surface 40 is moved. From the state of being swiveled in the direction of being displaced toward the downstream side in the transport direction, the upper end of the pressing front surface 40 is swiveled in the direction of being displaced toward the upstream side of the transport direction. Then, when the movable support 32 reaches the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 3-2 (e), the pressing member 34 swiveled by the rear swivel means 48 is pressed by the pressing member returning means 52 and the front surface 40 is conveyed. It is returned to a state perpendicular to the lower end edge restricting surface 20 of the defining means 10. In the state shown in FIG. 3-2 (e), a large number of objects to be transported 100 re-stacked between the pressing member 34, the lower end edge regulating member 14, and the predetermined height portion supporting member 16 are carried in. More specifically, a large number of stacked objects to be transported 100 are carried in between the pressing front surface 40 of the pressing member 34 and the holding pieces 54a and 54b when viewed in the carrying direction, and after the carrying-in is completed, the holding pieces 54a and the holding pieces 54a and Each of 54b is displaced from the acting position to the non-acting position, and is in the state shown in FIG. 3-1 (a). Thus, the forcing means 12 continuously forces a large number of objects to be transported 100 carried in a laminated state onto the transport route defining means 10 toward the carry-out end.

Next, the operation of the separation / carrying-out means 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4-1 and 4-2. When the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b are in the forward position shown in FIG. When it is in the operating state at the position, it sucks and holds the front surface of the object to be transported 100-1 at the foremost end. At this time, as described above, the suction holder 60a is located above the one-side edge regulating member 56, and the suction holder 60b is below the one-side edge regulating member 56 and above the lower end edge regulating member 14. Located in. The additional suction holder 60a is located at the same height and inside in the width direction with respect to the suction holder 60a, and the additional suction holder 62b is located at the same height and inside in the width direction with respect to the suction holder 60b. do.

From the state shown in FIG. 4-1 (a), the support member 64 swivels around the swivel center axis 66, and the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b retreat backward from the forward position. When the object is moved, the lower end edge portion of the object to be transported 100-1 which is adsorbed and held is pulled out toward the downstream side in the transport direction, and the lower end edge is displaced upward and the upper end edge is displaced downward. At this time, it is preferable that the predetermined height support member 16 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in the left side view by the predetermined height support member rotating means 30. This is because the rotational drive of the predetermined height support member 16 promotes the downward displacement of the upper end edge of the object to be transported 100-1. In the transported object separation / carrying-out mechanism 6 configured according to the present invention, the object to be transported is further adsorbed by the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b at the initial stage of the backward movement, as shown in FIG. 4-1 (b). The frontmost object to be transported 100-1 is one side of the object to be transported at the frontmost end 100-1 due to the presence of the one-side edge restricting member 56 located between each of the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b. The edge portion is three-dimensionally curved and separated from the next object to be transported 100-2.

When the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b are further moved backward from the state shown in FIG. 4-1 (b), they are sucked and held as shown in FIG. 4-2 (c). The one-sided edge portion of the transported object 100-1 passes through the one-sided edge portion regulating member 56, and the one-sided edge portion on the front surface of the next transported object 100-2 comes into contact with the one-sided edge portion regulating member 56. .. Then, when the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b are further moved backward, the lower end edge portion of the object to be transported 100-1 overcomes the lower end edge portion regulating member 14 upward and the upper end portion. The edge portion passes downward through the predetermined height support member 16 and is displaced to the downstream side in the transport direction, respectively, and the transported object 100-1 is separated and carried out.

Then, when the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b reach the retracted positions shown in FIG. The suction holding of -1 is released, and the transported object 100-1 is carried out onto the main receiving surface 72 of the receiving member 68 in the transported object launching mechanism 8. The operation of the transported object launching mechanism 8 will be described later, but when the transported object 100-1 is launched by the operation of the transported object launching mechanism 8, the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a And 62b move forward from the retracted position to the forward position and are switched from the non-operating state to the operating state, and are in the state shown in FIG. 4A again. Therefore, according to the object to be separated and carried out mechanism 6 configured in accordance with the present invention, the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b can sufficiently and surely carry the frontmost object to be transported 100-1 without complicated operation. It can be separated and carried out from the object to be transported 100-2.

Here, when the height of the object to be transported 100 is high (the length in the vertical direction, that is, the length of the side edge is long), the suction holding member 58, that is, the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders. When 62a and 62b adsorb and hold the frontmost transported object 100-1 and move backward from the forward position to the backward position, as shown in FIG. 5-1 (a), the lower half of the transported object 100-1. The portion is carried out on the main receiving surface 72 of the receiving member 68, but the upper end portion may still be in contact with the predetermined height support member 16. In this case, the drawer arm 78, which is a part of the transported object separation / unloading mechanism 6, operates as follows to pull out the upper end portion of the transported object 100-1 from the predetermined height maintaining member 16. The drawer arm 78 can be operated by abutting the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported 100-1 (or the next object to be transported 100-2) with a contact switch 82 located above the predetermined height support member 16. Become.

The state shown in FIG. 5-1 (a), that is, the lower half of the transported object 100-1 in which the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b reach the retracted position and are sucked and held. The pull-out arm 78 is in the hanging position in the raised position when the portion is carried out onto the main receiving surface 72 of the receiving member 68 but the upper end portion is still in contact with the predetermined height support member 16. At this time, the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b remain in the operating state. From this state, the drawer arm 78 descends from the ascending position to the descending position by the vertical driving means 80a and swivels from the hanging position to the swiveling position by the swivel driving means 80b as shown in FIG. 5-1 (b). As shown in FIG. 5-1 (c), the turning position is set in the descending position. After that, as shown in FIG. 5-2 (d), the pull-out arm 78 is raised from the descending position to the ascending position by the vertical driving means 80a while maintaining the turning position. Thus, as can be understood by comparing and referring to the left side view of FIG. 5-1 (c) and the left side view of FIG. 5-2 (d), the upper end portion of the object to be transported 100-1 is the drawer arm 78. By the operation, it is pulled out from below the predetermined height support member 16 and carried out on the main receiving surface 72 of the receiving member 68. After that, the pair of suction holders 60a and 60b and the pair of additional suction holders 62a and 62b are switched from the operating state to the non-operating state, and the transported object 100-1 is launched by the operation described later of the transported object launching mechanism 8. Will be. When the pull-out arm 78 is raised from the descending position to the ascending position while maintaining the turning position, the predetermined height support member 16 is freely rotated or the predetermined height support member rotating means 30 is used to rotate FIGS. 5-1 and FIG. In the left figure of 5-2, it is preferable to drive the rotation counterclockwise. As shown in FIG. 5-2 (e), the pull-out arm 78 is swiveled from the swivel position to the drooping position by the swivel drive means 80b, and returns to the state shown in FIG. 5-1 (a).

Next, the operation of the delivered object launching mechanism 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
The delivered object launching mechanism 8 has a bottom receiving surface 74 of the transported object 100-1 separated and carried out by the transported object separation and carrying-out mechanism 6 when the receiving member 68 is located at the descending position shown in FIG. 6 (a). It is received in a state of extending along the main receiving surface 72 from the lower edge located above. Then, the receiving member 68 is raised to the ascending position shown in FIG. 6B at high speed by the elevating means 70, so that the transported object 100-1 is moved upward and backward and the upper end edge of the receiving member 68 is moved. It is launched onto the downstream transport means 84 beyond. The object to be transported 100-1 launched onto the downstream transport means 84 (this is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 (b)) slides on the upper surface of the inclined plate 86 and is carried toward the downstream side in the transport direction. .. Therefore, according to the transported object launching mechanism 8, since the transported object 100-1 is launched upward and backward by the receiving member 68, the transported object 100 may be deformed or bitten into the apparatus. It is carried out to the downstream side transport means 84 without stopping the whole. The receiving member 68 that has risen to the ascending position is lowered from the ascending position to the descending position by the elevating moving means 70, and waits for the next transported object to be separated and carried out by the transported object separation and carrying-out mechanism 6.

Although the details of the transported object separation / unloading mechanism configured in accordance with the present invention and the transported object unloading / transporting device provided with the mechanism are described in detail above, the present invention is limited to the above-described embodiment. However, it can be appropriately changed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the suction holding member 58 operates using compressed air as a drive source, but the drive source may be an electric motor or the like.

2: Carried object carry-out / transport device 6: Transported object separation / carry-out mechanism 8: Transported object launching mechanism 10: Transport route defining means 12: Forced means 14: Lower end edge regulating member 16: Predetermined height portion support member 18 : Separation carry-out means 20: Lower end edge regulation surface 22: One side edge regulation surface 56: One side edge regulation member 58: Suction holding member 60a and 60b: Pair of suction holders 62a and 62b: Pair of additional suction holder 64: Support Member 66: Swivel center axis 78: Pull-out arm 84: Downstream transport means

Claims (8)

A transport route defining means having a lower end edge regulating surface and a one side edge regulating surface that regulate the lower end edge and one side edge of a flat plate-shaped object to be transported, and a large number of objects to be transported in a laminated state on the transport route defining means. A forcing means for forcing toward the carry-out end, a lower end edge restricting member to which the front lower end edge of the front end to be transported is abutted, and a lower end to separate the frontmost to be transported from the next to be transported. A mechanism for separating and carrying out the transported object, which is provided with a separate carrying-out means for carrying out forward beyond the edge restricting member.
The separate and carry-out means has a one-sided edge regulating member that locally regulates the front one-sided edge of the frontmost object to be transported above the lower end edge regulating member, and an operating state for adsorbing and holding the transported object. It includes a pair of suction holders that can be switched to a non-operating state that releases the object to be transported, and the pair of suction holders are in the forward position that abuts on the front surface of the object to be transported at the front end and backward from the forward position. It is movable between the retracted and retracted positions, and at the advanced position, one of the pair of suction holders abuts on the front one-sided edge of the frontmost object to be transported above the one-sided edge regulating member. The suction holding member, the other of the pair of suction holders, is in contact with the front one side edge of the object to be transported at the foremost end, below the one side edge regulating member and above the lower end edge regulating member.
A mechanism for separating and carrying out an object to be transported, which comprises. The suction holding member includes a pair of additional suction holders in addition to the pair of suction holders, and the pair of additional suction holders also have an operating state of sucking and holding the transported object and a non-operating state of releasing the transported object. It is freely switchable to and can move between the forward position that abuts on the front surface of the object to be transported at the front end and the backward position that retracts backward from the forward position, and the pair of additional suction holdings is held at the forward position. One of the tools abuts on the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported at the same height and inside in the width direction with respect to one of the pair of suction holders, and the other of the pair of additional suction holders abuts on the pair of suction holders. The mechanism for separating and carrying out an object to be conveyed according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism abuts on the front surface of the object to be conveyed at the foremost end at the same height as the other of the holders and inside in the width direction. The pair of suction holders and the pair of additional suction holders are mounted on a common support member, and the support members are located below the mounting positions of the pair of suction holders and the pair of additional suction holders. The support member is reciprocally swiveled around the swivel center axis, so that the pair of suction holders and the pair of additional suction holders are swiveled around the swivel center axis extending in the width direction. The moving object separation / carrying-out mechanism according to claim 2, which is moved to the forward position and the backward position. The mechanism for separating and carrying out an object to be conveyed according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a member for supporting a predetermined height portion to which a predetermined height portion on the front surface of the object to be transported at the foremost end is abutted. The mechanism for separating and carrying out an object to be transported according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined height portion support member is rotatably mounted around a rotation center axis extending in the width direction. A predetermined height portion for selectively rotating the predetermined height portion support member in a direction in which the front predetermined height portion of the object to be transported at the foremost end in contact with the predetermined height portion support member is displaced downward. The mechanism for separating and carrying out an object to be transported according to claim 5, which includes a support member rotating means. The object to be separated and carried out according to any one of claims 4 to 6, located at a distance forward with respect to the object to be conveyed at the foremost end, and extending upward and inclined backward. A device for carrying out and transporting a transported object, which is provided with a mechanism for launching the transported object including a receiving member having a main receiving surface.
The transported object separation and unloading mechanism includes a drawer arm disposed upstream from the main receiving surface in the transported object launching mechanism, and the drawer arm can move up and down over a predetermined range and the main receiving surface. It is mounted so that it can swing freely between the hanging position extending outside along one side edge of the main receiving surface and the turning position extending in the width direction on the upstream side of the main receiving surface.
In the case of a high-height object to be transported, when the suction holding member sucks and holds the object to be transported at the front end and moves backward from the forward position to the retracted position, the lower half of the object to be transported at the front end is moved. Although it is carried out onto the main receiving surface of the receiving member, the upper end portion is still in contact with the predetermined height portion supporting member, and in such a state, the pull-out arm is lowered, and then the turning is performed from the hanging position. It is swiveled to a position and then lifted so that the upper end of the object to be transported at the foremost end is also pulled out of the predetermined height support member and carried out onto the main receiving surface of the receiving member.
A device for carrying out and transporting an object to be transported, which is characterized by this. The object to be transported is an unfilled standing pouch having a height of 8 to 40 cm, a width of 5 to 30 cm, and a lower end portion thicker than the other parts, and is forced to be separated and carried out in an upright state. The device to be transported and carried out according to any one of claims 1 to 6, or the device to be carried and carried out according to claim 7.

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