JP2022154064A - Conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a conveying device which can vary timing of receiving an assembly and timing of conveying the received assembly toward a discharge position from each other, with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: In a conveying device, a distance between supporting bodies 241 and 242 which shuttle in a first direction of connecting an assembly receiving position 32A and an assembly discharging position 32B is changed to a second distance 231 for preventing the supporting bodies 241 and 242 from coming into contact with the assembly and first transfer means 100 by distance change means 230 at least until the first transfer means 100 which has entered the assembly receiving position 32A on a conveying bed 32 releases the support of an assembly S. Further, when the supporting bodies 241 and 242 return from the assembly discharging position 32B toward the assembly receiving position 32A, the supporting bodies 241 and 242 are retreated to a first position 240A where they cannot come into contact with the assembly S and the first transfer means 100 by making at least the supporting body 241 on the conveyance upstream side assume an upright posture 241A or the like.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus for conveying a set of packaged items, such as foodstuffs before being individually packaged, or packages themselves, to a post-processing step.

Conventionally, a specified number of items to be packaged such as foods before being individually packaged and the packages themselves conveyed by a conveyor are gathered to form an aggregated product, and the aggregated product is pushed out by a pusher, for example, by a bucket conveyor. As in the above, a technique is known in which collective products are successively transferred to respective collective product storage spaces formed by partition plates erected from the outer circumference of the conveying surface at intervals in the conveying direction. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique of conveying a set of products by a bucket conveyor after a pretreatment step in which individually packaged products are sequentially received on a turn-changing conveyor to form a set of products. Specifically, the bucket conveyor has a receiving position for receiving a set of products in the space for storing the set of products and a discharge position for discharging the set of products from the space for storing the set of products. When a set item storage space is received by , the operation of traveling until the subsequent set item storage space arrives at the receiving position and then temporarily stopping the travel is repeated each time each set item storage space arrives at the receiving position. Collected products received in the product storage space are sequentially conveyed to a discharge position. Then, when the collective product arrives at the discharge position, the collective product is discharged from the collective product accommodation space. When the set of products is discharged, the receiving position is configured so that the subsequent set of products is received in the space for accommodating the set of products, and the movement of the bucket conveyor is temporarily stopped. By temporarily stopping the travel of the bucket conveyor in this way, it is possible to avoid interference between the collection of products and the partition plate of the bucket conveyor with a simple device configuration, and the collection of products can be accommodated in the collection storage space without disturbing the row. It is sent or discharged from the collective product storage space.

JP-A-58-90020

However, the reception of the collective product into the collective product accommodation space and the discharge of the collective product from the collective product accommodation space are performed at the timing when the movement of the bucket conveyor is temporarily stopped. For this reason, for example, if there is a change in the supply of the items to be packaged or the package itself in the pre-processing step and the timing at which the set product is completed changes, the set product will need to be processed in the post-processing process such as a cartoning machine or a film packaging machine. The timing of supplying the will also fluctuate. In order to absorb such fluctuations, it is necessary to stock the aggregated product on the conveyor upstream of the bucket conveyor, and adjust the receiving position of the aggregated product and the timing of discharging the aggregated product. There is a concern that the size will increase significantly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveying apparatus having a simple structure that can differentiate the timing of receiving a set of products from the timing of conveying the received set of products toward a discharge position.

In order to solve the above problems, the conveying apparatus of the present invention employs the following means. First, the invention according to claim 1 is provided with a sliding surface (32) extending in the horizontal direction on which a set (S) consisting of a specified number of assembled articles can slide, and a sliding surface (32). a grouped product receiving position (32A), a grouped product discharge position (32B) set on the sliding surface (32) apart from the grouped product receiving position (32A), and the grouped product (S) are loaded. set in the vicinity of the outer side of the slide surface (32) in a second direction intersecting with the first direction connecting the set product receiving position (32A) and the set product discharge position (32B). an item supply position (22A) and the set item receiving position (32A) capable of reciprocating along the second direction and supporting the set item (S) placed on the set item supply position (22A); ), a pair of support bodies (240) reciprocally movable along the first direction and disposed so as to move toward and away from each other, and the pair of The support (240) can be moved to be positioned on both sides of the set receiving position (32A) in the first direction, and the set (S) placed at the set receiving position (32A). a second transfer means (200) for transferring the aggregated product (S) to the aggregated product discharge position (32B) by moving the pair of supports (240) supporting both sides of the , a first spacing (231) at which said pair of supports (240) can support said assembly (S), and both supports (240) are located at said assembly (S) and said assembly receiving position (32A). a spacing changing means (230) capable of varying at least the spacing in said first direction of both supports (240) to a second spacing (232) that cannot contact said first transporting means (100) coming from After the pair of support bodies (240) has finished supporting the assembly (S) by the space changing means (230), the pair of support bodies (240) are moved to the above position by the second transfer means (200). While moving from the collective product discharge position (32B) toward the collective product receiving position (32A), the carrier (240) disposed at a position far from the collective product discharge position (32B) The support (241) on the upstream side is positioned on the opposite side of the assembly supply position (22A) via the assembly reception position (32A) in the second direction, and is positioned on the transport upstream side. The assembly (S) in which the body (241) arrives at the assembly receiving position (32A) and the first transfer means (100) and the pair of supports (240) are moved to be positioned apart from each other on both sides of the assembly receiving position (32A) in the first direction. and contact avoiding means for moving the pair of supports (240) to a second position (240B) where they can face the set (S) placed on the set receiving position (32A), The pair of supports (240) are moved to the second position (241B) by the interval changing means (230) when the contact avoidance means moves the support (241) on the transport upstream side to the second position (241B). After the first transfer means (100) releases the support of the set (S), the distance is changed to the first distance (231) by the distance changing means (230). be done.

According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide a conveying apparatus having a simple structure that can differentiate the timing of receiving a set of products (S) and the timing of conveying the received set of products toward a discharge position. can.

Next, according to the invention according to claim 2, which is dependent on claim 1, the first transfer means (100) has support means (120) for supporting the collective product (S), and the support means (120) is composed of a pair of chucking members (120) arranged so as to be able to approach and separate from each other and to be rotatable. By rotating in the direction to release the support of the pair of chucking members (120), the first transfer means (100) and the space where the pair of chucking members (120) do not interfere with the support (241) on the upstream side of the transport are formed. It is formed between the slide surface (32) and configured to allow the movement of the support (241) on the upstream side of the transport in the first direction.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the support means (120) is composed of a pair of chucking members (120) that are rotatably disposed, and the pair of chucking members (120) are arranged upstream of the transport. A space that does not interfere with the side support (241) is formed between the first transfer means (100) and the sliding surface (32), and the transport upstream side support (241) moves in the first direction. It is a configuration that allows Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a drive mechanism for lifting and lowering the support means (120) in order to provide a space that does not interfere with the support body (241) on the upstream side of the transport. Moreover, it can suppress that a conveying apparatus becomes large-sized entirely.

Next, in the invention according to claim 3, which is dependent on claim 1 or claim 2, the first transfer means (100) has support means (120) for supporting the aggregate (S). The support means (120) is composed of a pair of chucking members (120) arranged so as to be able to approach and separate from each other and to be rotatable, and the pair of chucking members (120) are rotatable The assembly (S) is supported from both sides in the second direction by supporting the assembly (S).

According to the third aspect of the invention, the pair of chucking members (120) rotates when transferring the set (S) in the second direction toward the set-item receiving position (32A). By supporting the set of articles (S), both ends (E) of the articles can be aligned in a row and maintained in this state to be transferred to the set of articles receiving position (32A). Since there is no need to provide an article guide or the like for regulating the posture change of the article, the conveying apparatus can be simplified.

Next, in the invention according to claim 4, which is dependent on claim 3, each of the articles constituting the aggregate (S) has a sealed portion formed by heat-sealing both ends (E) of the bag. When the pair of chucking members (120) rotates to support both ends of the set (S), each end (E) of the article is a pillow packaging bag (W) that is packed. Both ends (E) are laid down so that the tip faces downward.

According to the invention according to claim 4, since both ends (E) of each pillow packaging bag (W) are laid down so that the tips of both ends (E) of each pillow packaging bag (W) face downward, for example, the set product (S ) can be easily handled when boxed, and the appearance can be improved. Alternatively, there is no need to separately provide a device for tilting both ends (E) of the pillow packaging bag (W), and the conveying device can be simplified.

By employing the means of the above inventions, the present invention can provide a conveying apparatus with a simple structure that can differentiate the timing of receiving a set of products from the timing of conveying the received set of products toward a discharge position. .

It is a schematic plan view which shows the whole conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, embodiment in the conveying apparatus of this invention is described using drawing.

The conveying device in this embodiment is a device for conveying a set S in which a prescribed number of articles such as articles to be packaged and packages themselves are assembled. In the conveying device of the present embodiment, a pillow packaging bag W in which a sealed portion is formed by heat-sealing both ends E of the bag is exemplified as an article, and five such pillow packaging bags W (articles) are provided (regulation A configuration for conveying the aggregated product S assembled in a number) will be described as an example.

1 to 4, the direction shown when describing the present embodiment is the horizontal direction along the sliding surface 32 of the transport bed 30, which will be described later. the direction crossing the first direction in the horizontal direction along the sliding surface 32 of the transport bed 30 (in this embodiment, the direction The direction orthogonal to the sliding surface 32 is defined as "up and down". In other words, the left-right direction, which is the first direction, is the direction connecting the collective product receiving position 32A and the collective product discharging position 32B provided on the sliding surface 32 of the transport bed 30 .

As shown in FIG. 1, a conveying device and a first belt conveyor 10 are arranged. The conveying device is a device for conveying a collective product S in which a specified number of pillow packaging bags W are collected. The first belt conveyor 10 is configured as a pretreatment process for sequentially conveying the pillow packaging bags W and delivering them to a conveying device to form an aggregate product S. As shown in FIG. Prior to the description of the conveying device, the first belt conveyor 10, which is a pretreatment process, will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first belt conveyor 10 has a conveying path 12 for conveying the pillow packaging bag W placed on a conveying surface made of a belt. It is a device that delivers the packaging bag W at a constant speed. The 1st belt conveyor 10 is arrange|positioned so that the conveyance path 12 may follow the front-back direction (2nd direction). A plate-like stopper 14 is arranged across the conveying path 12 at the end of the conveying path 12 of the first belt conveyor 10 . Subsequent transportation of the pillow packaging bag W is restricted by this stopper 14 . Further, a pusher 16 is arranged on the upstream side (front side) of the stopper 14 of the first belt conveyor 10 and laterally in the width direction intersecting the conveying direction.

The pusher 16 is a device for sequentially sending out the pillow packaging bags W toward the conveying device. The pusher 16 intersects the conveying path 12 and is configured to move forward and backward in the horizontal direction by a drive source such as an air cylinder (not shown). An L-shaped bracket 18 is attached to the tip of the pusher 16 . One surface of the bracket 18 is configured as an extruding surface 18a for extruding the pillow packaging bag W. As shown in FIG. The other surface of the bracket 18 is configured as a regulating surface 18b that regulates the movement of the pillow packaging bags W successively conveyed. In the vicinity of the pusher 16 of the first belt conveyor 10, article detection means (not shown) consisting of a photoelectric sensor or the like (a non-contact sensor using light or the like) for detecting the pillow packaging bag W that has reached the stopper 14 is arranged. ing. As a result, the pusher 16 is configured to be able to push out the pillow packaging bags W that have reached the stopper 14 one by one toward the conveying device based on detection by the article detection means.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the conveying device includes a second belt conveyor 20, a conveying bed 30, a first conveying device 100 (first conveying means), a second It has a transfer device 200 (second transfer means) and an interval change mechanism 230 (gap change means), and controls the operations of the second transfer device 200 and the interval change mechanism 230 by a control unit (not shown) to operate the first transfer device. It has contact avoidance means for avoiding contact between 100 and second transfer device 200 .

The second belt conveyor 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a set product supply position 22A where a set product S in which a specified number of pillow packaging bags W pushed out one by one by the pusher 16 can be placed. It is a device to configure. The second belt conveyor 20 has a conveying path 22 for conveying the pillow packaging bag W placed on a conveying surface made of an endless belt. The second belt conveyor 20 drives the endless belt to run in the first direction in correspondence with the direction in which the pusher 16 advances and retreats on the conveying path 12 . In addition, the height of the conveying path 22 of the second belt conveyor 20 is the same as the height of the conveying path 12 of the first belt conveyor, or the conveying path 12 of the first belt conveyor is set slightly higher. there is As a result, the pillow packaging bag W is smoothly transferred from the conveying path 12 of the first belt conveyor to the conveying path 22 of the second belt conveyor 20 .

The second belt conveyor 20 is configured to intermittently run the belt by the width of the pillow packaging bag W when the pillow packaging bag W is placed on the conveying surface by the pusher 16 (interlocked with the movement of the pusher 16). there is A plate-like guide 24 is provided on the end side of the second belt conveyor 20 (on the right side of the paper surface of FIG. 1) so as to traverse the conveying path 22 . The pillow packaging bags W are successively transported until they reach the guide 24 and are collected in a specified number to form a set S. As shown in FIG. The position of the set of products S substantially aligned on the conveying path 22 of the second belt conveyor 20 supplies the set of products S to a set of products receiving position 32A provided on the sliding surface 32 of the conveying bed 30, which will be described later. product supply position 22A”. That is, the collective product supply position 22A can place the collective product S, and the front-rear direction (second direction) intersecting with the left-right direction (first direction) connecting the collective product receiving position 32A and the collective product discharge position 32B. ) is set in the vicinity of the outer side of the sliding surface 32 at the In addition, on the transport path 22, the pillow packaging bags W constituting the collective product S are in a state in which they are gathered in a slightly disordered manner in the first direction and the second direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the transport bed 30 is configured to transport a set S consisting of a specified number of gathered pillow packaging bags W (articles). The conveying bed 30 extends in the horizontal direction, and has a flat sliding surface 32 on which a set S consisting of a specified number of pillow packaging bags W is placed and allowed to slide linearly. The sliding surface 32 of the transport bed 30 extends in the left-right direction (first direction), and is provided with a set product receiving position 32A and a set product discharge position 32B separated from the set product receiving position 32A. ing. The collective product receiving position 32A is configured at a position adjacent to the collective product supply position 22A on the second belt conveyor 20 in the front-rear direction (second direction). The collective product discharge position 32B is configured at a position spaced apart from the collective product receiving position 32A in the left-right direction (first direction) (on the right side of the paper surface of FIGS. 1 and 4). Here, the left-right direction, which is the first direction, is the direction connecting the collective product receiving position 32A and the collective product discharging position 32B provided on the transport bed 30 in other words. The height of the sliding surface 32 is the same as the height of the transport path 22 of the second belt conveyor 20, or the transport path 22 of the second belt conveyor 20 is set slightly higher. As a result, the pillow packaging bag W can be smoothly transported while sliding from the conveying path 22 of the second belt conveyor 20 to the group product receiving position 32A on the sliding surface 32. As shown in FIG.

The first transfer device 100 (first transfer means) has a pair of chucking members 120, which will be described later, which can reciprocate in the front-rear direction (second direction), and which is configured to transport the collective product S placed on the collective product supply position 22A. is supported and transported to the assembly receiving position 32A while being slid. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first transfer device 100 is a servo cylinder disposed above a position straddling the collective product supply position 22A of the second belt conveyor 20 and the collective product receiving position 32A of the transport bed 30. 105. The servo cylinder 105 is supported by a body frame (not shown) and includes a slider 110 (driving mechanism) capable of advancing and retreating in the front-rear direction (second direction). The slider 110 rotates in the front-rear direction (secondary direction) when a rotational force from a drive source such as a motor 112 is transmitted to a screw mechanism (not shown) such as a ball screw through a pulley belt (not shown), and the screw mechanism is rotated. 2 directions). A pair of chucking members 120 (supporting means) for supporting the collective product S is connected to the slider 110 vertically below the slider 110 . The pair of chucking members 120 is composed of claw-like members that collectively hold the collective product S in which a specified number of pillow packaging bags W are collected. The pair of chucking members 120 are arranged so as to face each other in the front-rear direction (second direction), and are rotated vertically by a driving source such as an air cylinder (not shown) as seen in FIG. The claw-shaped tips formed in a substantially L-shape are arranged to approach and separate from each other. Thus, the rotation of the pair of chucking members 120 constitutes support means for holding the collective product S from both sides in the front-rear direction (second direction).

The second transfer device 200 (second transfer means) moves the collective product S placed on the collective product receiving position 32A to the collective product discharge position 32B while collectively supporting the collective product S from the left and right sides of the collective product S. It is a device for horizontally moving (transporting) on the sliding surface 32 of the. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the second transfer device 200 is positioned on the side opposite to the second belt conveyor 20 when viewed from the transfer bed 30, and moves along the transfer bed 30 in the left-right direction (first direction). is arranged to extend to

The second transfer device 200 is supported by a body frame (not shown), and includes a slide mechanism 210 capable of reciprocating in the left-right direction (first direction). The slide mechanism 210 rotates the slide base 220 in the left-right direction (first direction) by transmitting a rotational force from a driving source such as a motor 212 to a screw mechanism (not shown) such as a ball screw, thereby rotating the screw mechanism. Reciprocating movement is possible. A pair of left and right rotating arms 240 (a pair of supports) are arranged on the upper surface side of the slide table 220 via a gap changing mechanism 230 (a gap changing means).

A pair of rotating arms 240 (a pair of supporting members) are composed of a first rotating arm 241 and a second rotating arm 242 which are formed of strip-like plate-like members and are spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the left-right direction (first direction). placed apart.

Here, the first rotating arm 241 has a posture (standing posture) 241A in which the free end side of the first rotating arm 241 is positioned upward by the operation of the rotary actuator 250 and stands upright (standing posture) 241A. The free end side of the arm 241 is configured to be rotatable to a posture (falling posture) 241B that lays down on the side of the sliding surface 32 of the transport bed 30 so as to approach the sliding surface 32 (contact avoidance means).

Similarly, the second rotating arm 242 has a posture (standing posture) 242A in which the free end side of the second rotating arm 242 is positioned upward by the operation of the rotary actuator 250 and stands vertically (standing posture) 242A. The free end side of the arm 242 is configured to rotate to a posture (falling posture) 242B in which the free end of the arm 242 falls down on the side of the sliding surface 32 of the transport bed 30 so as to approach the sliding surface 32, thereby changing the posture.

That is, the standing posture 240A of the pair of rotating arms 240 is postures (241A, 242A) in which the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242 are respectively erected. A lying posture 240B in the pair of rotating arms 240 is a posture (241B, 242B) in which the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242 are respectively laid down. The rotary actuator 250 is a device that converts compressed air pressure into kinetic energy, and is operated by air supply from an air pressure source.

The interval changing mechanism 230 (interval changing means) is a mechanism that changes the interval in the horizontal direction (first direction) between the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242 (pair of rotating arms 240). The interval changing mechanism 230 rotates the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 241 by transmitting a rotational force from a drive source such as a motor 235 to a screw mechanism (not shown) such as a ball screw to rotate the screw mechanism. Arms 242 are configured to move toward and away from each other. The interval changing mechanism 230 adjusts the interval in the horizontal direction (first direction) between the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242 (pair of rotating arms 240) to at least the first interval 231 as shown in FIG. It is set so that it can be changed to the second interval 232 . The first interval 231 is the interval at which the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242 can support the collective product S. As shown in FIG. The second spacing 232 is defined by the first pivot arm 241 and the second pivot arm 242, such as the chucking member 120 (supporting means) of the first transfer device 100 arriving at the set S and set receiving position 32A. The distance is such that they cannot come into contact with the transfer device 100, and the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242 are set so as to be positioned slightly apart from the collective product receiving position 32A on both left and right sides.

Thereby, in the second transfer device 200, the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242 (the pair of rotating arms 240) can reciprocate along the horizontal direction (first direction), They are arranged so that they can be moved closer together. In addition, the second transfer device 200 has a first rotating arm 241 and a second rotating arm 242 (a pair of rotating arms 240) positioned on both sides in the horizontal direction (first direction) of the collective item receiving position 32A. It becomes a configuration that can be moved like this. In addition, the second transfer device 200 is configured so that the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242, which are set to the first interval 231 by the interval changing mechanism 230 (interval changing means) at the collective item receiving position 32A, are arranged to receive the collective item. By supporting both sides of the collective product S placed on the position 32A and moving it in the left-right direction (first direction) while maintaining the interval, the collective product S can be transported to the collective product discharge position 32B. is configured to

It should be noted that each device and each mechanism of the conveying device described above is operated and switched according to detection information by well-known detection means such as pulse information from an encoder (not shown) and detection information from a non-contact sensor using light or the like.

Next, the operation of the conveying device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first belt conveyor 10, which is driven to travel continuously, sequentially conveys the pillow packaging bags W to the end of the conveying end of the first belt conveyor 10, which is detected by article detecting means (not shown). Then, the pusher 16 pushes the pillow packaging bag W toward the second belt conveyor 20. - 特許庁

When the specified number of pillow packaging bags W are transferred onto the second belt conveyor 20 to form a set S (see FIG. 2), the first transfer device 100 is arranged above the second belt conveyor 20 as shown in FIG. As shown in A), the chucking members 120 that are spaced apart from each other and stand by on the outer upper side are rotated to clamp the collective product S from the front and rear directions (second direction) (see FIG. 3B). As a result, the collective products S are supported by the chucking member 120 while being aligned in a horizontal row. At this time, the ends of both end portions E (see FIG. 3A) of the pillow packaging bag W, which is heat-sealed (end-sealed) when the collective product S is held, are directed downward by the pair of chucking members 120. Both ends E are laid down as shown.

As shown in FIG. 3(C), the first transfer device 100 moves the slider 110 in the front-rear direction (second 2 directions) to transfer the set S together with the chucking member 120 to the set receiving position 32A. When the collective product S is transferred to the collective product receiving position 32A of the transport bed 30, the chucking member 120 keeps the pillow packaging bags W aligned. Next, as shown in FIG. 3(D), when the first transfer device 100 completes the transfer of the grouped product S to the grouped product receiving position 32A, the chucking member 120 is rotated diagonally upward to By separating the claw-shaped tips, the clamping of the collective product S is released. Then, when the chucking member 120 releases the collective product S, the first transfer device 100 moves the slider 110 rearward in the second direction while maintaining the released state of the chucking member 120. ), the chucking member 120 is returned above the collective product supply position 22A. As described above, the first transfer device 100 actuates the chucking member 120 to support the set S based on the information that the set S is formed at the set supply position 22A, and collects the set S. After transferring to the article receiving position 32A, the clamping of the collective article S by the chucking member 120 is released, and the operation of returning the chucking member 120 above the collective article supply position 22A is repeated. Note that the first transfer device 100, when it is detected by a detecting means (not shown) that the preceding collective product S is placed at the collective product receiving position 32A, is shown in FIG. 3(A). Stand by at the indicated position.

By driving the slide mechanism 210, the second transfer device 200 moves the pair of rotating arms 240 (supporting members) between set positions on the left and right sides of the collective product receiving position 32A in the first direction and the collective product discharging position 32B. move back and forth. The second transfer device 200 assumes the lying posture 241B based on the operation information that the chucking member 120 of the first transfer device 100 that has arrived at the collective product receiving position 32A has released the clamping of the collective product S (rotated and raised). The first rotating arm 241 is permitted to move in the first direction and enter the collective item receiving position 32A. At the start of this movement, the space between the pair of rotating arms 240 (the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242) is narrowed from the second space 232 to the first space 231 by the space changing mechanism 230, After entering the collective product receiving position 32A and supporting the collective product S from both sides in the left-right direction, the collective product S supported by the rotating arm 240 is moved from the collective product receiving position 32A to the collective product discharging position by driving the slide mechanism 210. 32B (see FIG. 1). 1 and 3(C), the chucking member 120 of the first transfer device 100 has arrived at the collective product receiving position 32A, and the chucking member 120 of the second transferring device 200 has reached the left and right sides of the collective product receiving position 32A. Although shown at the timing when the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242 are on standby in the lying postures 241B, 242B (240B), a pair of second transfer devices 200 are located on both the left and right sides of the collective product receiving position 32A. The timing at which the rotating arm 240 (the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242) assumes the lying posture 240B is before the chucking member 120 of the first transfer device 100 arrives at the collective article receiving position 32A, or There are various timings such as during movement from above the collective product receiving position 32A to the collective product supplying position 22A. When the second transfer device 200 drives the slide mechanism 210 to reciprocate the pair of rotating arms 240 (supports) in the first direction, the spacing between the pair of rotating arms 240 is changed by the spacing changing mechanism 230 as follows. , and the posture of the pair of rotating arms 240, particularly the posture of the first rotating arm 241, is changed to the lying posture 241B and the following by the contact avoidance means. The posture is changed to the standing posture 241A. A specific description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 4, the pair of rotating arms 240 of the second transfer device 200 assumes a standing position 240A and a second space 232 to move the second assembly receiving position 32A. After arriving so as to be located on both sides, the posture is changed from the standing posture 240A to the lying posture 240B (see FIGS. 1 and 3B). At this time, the space between the first rotating arm 241 and the second rotating arm 242 is maintained at the second space 232 by the space changing mechanism 230 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 (contact avoidance means).

Then, when the chucking member 120 of the first transfer device 100 releases the collective product S, the second transfer device 200 changes the gap between the pair of rotating arms 240 from the second gap 232 to the second gap by the gap changing mechanism 230 . After narrowing the interval 231 by 1 and supporting the collective product S from both sides in the left-right direction, the collective product S supported by the rotating arm 240 is moved from the collective product receiving position 32A to the collective product discharging position 32B by driving the slide mechanism 210. Transfer (see Figure 1).

At this time, as shown in FIG. 3(D), the distance H1 from the lowest end of the chucking member 120 at the collective product receiving position 32A to the sliding surface 32 of the transport bed 30 is the distance between the pair of rotation positions positioned in the lying posture 240B. It is longer than the distance H2 from the upper end of the arm 240 to the sliding surface 32. Therefore, the pair of rotating arms 240 does not interfere (do not come into contact with) the chucking member 120 even when moved to the collective product discharge position 32B in the state of the lying posture 240B. That is, the first transfer device 100 is a space in which the pair of chucking members 120 do not interfere with the rotating arm 240 by rotating the pair of chucking members 120 in the direction of releasing the support of the set S. It is formed between the sliding surface 32 and allows the pair of rotating arms 240 to move in the left-right direction (first direction).

As shown in FIG. 1, the second transfer device 200 moves the rotating arm 240 to the first interval 231 by the interval changing mechanism 230, as shown in FIG. to the second distance 232 to release the support of the assembly S, and the rotary actuator 250 is operated to change the posture of the rotating arm 240 from the lying posture 240B to the standing posture 240A. Then, the second transfer device 200 moves the pair of rotating arms 240 from the collective product discharge position 32B toward the collective product receiving position 32A.

During this movement, the pair of rotating arms 240 are positioned on the opposite side of the collective product receiving position 32A from the collective product supplying position 22A in the front-rear direction (second direction). is retracted to a standing position 240A (first position) in which it cannot come into contact with the collective product S arriving at the collective product receiving position 32A and the first transfer device 100. As shown in FIG. Then, when the pair of rotating arms 240 are moved so as to be positioned on both sides of the collective product receiving position 32A in the left-right direction (first direction), the pair of rotating arms 240 are placed on the collective product receiving position 32A. It is moved to a lying posture 240B (second position) where it can face the collective product S with a gap therebetween. When the pair of rotating arms 240 move to the lying posture 240B (second position) to wait for the set of products S at the set of products receiving position 32A, the space changing mechanism 230 changes the distance to the second distance 232, and the first transport When the chucking member 120 of the device 100 releases the support of the set S, the gap changing mechanism 230 changes the gap to the first gap 231 . Here, the space changing mechanism 230 changes the space to the second space 232, and at least the first rotating arm 241 (of the pair of rotating arms 240) in the second transfer device 200 is arranged at a position farther from the collective product discharge position 32B. By rotating the first rotating arm 241 provided on the upstream side of the transport, the standing posture 241A (first position) is switched to the lying posture 241B (second position). A structure that retreats so as not to come into contact with corresponds to the "contact avoidance means".

As described above, the conveying apparatus according to this embodiment has the following effects.
(1) In the present embodiment, the chucking member 120 supports both sides of the collective product S when the collective product S is slidably transported to the collective product receiving position 32A, so that the pillow packaging bag W (article) is stored. Both end portions E can be aligned in a line and can be transferred to the collective product receiving position 32A while maintaining this state. Therefore, there is no need to provide an article guide or the like on the conveying bed 32 or the like to prevent the pillow packaging bags W from being separated from each other while the collective article S is being transferred, and the structure of the apparatus can be simplified.
In addition, both ends E (see FIG. 3A) of the heat-sealed (end-sealed) pillow packaging bag W can be tilted downward by the chucking member 120 so that the tips of the ends of the pillow packaging bag W face downward. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a device for tilting both ends E of the packaging bag W downward, and the structure of the device can be simplified. can send.
(2) The assembly S placed at the assembly receiving position 32A is sandwiched (supported) by the pair of rotating arms 240 from both sides and transferred to the assembly discharge position 32B, thereby achieving a simple apparatus structure, The collective product S in which the pillow packaging bags W are in close contact with each other can be sent from the collective product discharge position 32B to packaging such as boxing.
(3) In the device structure using a bucket conveyor as in the prior art, when changing the packaging specification to a smaller number of pillow packaging bags W constituting the collective product S, the packaging specification is changed to change the partition plate of the bucket conveyor. I had to deviate to the corresponding structure. On the other hand, the structure of the present embodiment provides versatility because it is only necessary to controlably change the initial setting of the spacing between the pair of supports.
(4) The first transfer device 100 (first transfer means) gathers in the left-right direction (first direction) without interfering with the first transfer device 100 by simply rotating the chucking member 120 . Since the product S can be transferred, there is no need to separately provide a drive mechanism for raising and lowering the supporting means for supporting the collective product S such as the chucking member 120 (holding means).

<Change example>
(1) The collective product S may be a box body such as a carton as long as it is a collection of articles that are difficult to roll and can maintain the aligned state of the collective product S.
(2) As for the collective product S, an example in which a plurality of pillow packaging bags W are arranged in a flat state has been shown, but the collective product S in which the pillow packaging bags W are collected in a stacked state may be used. For this purpose, the height of the rotating arm from the conveying bed in the collapsed state should correspond to the height of the stacked pillow packaging bags W.
(3) Although an example in which the collective product S is placed on the conveying bed corresponding to the sliding surface 32 and is slid is shown, the collective product S is transported on the roller conveyor on which the rollers are arranged without gaps as the sliding surface 32 . You may make it slide.
(4) As the contact avoidance means, an example of switching between the standing posture 240A (first position) and the lying posture 240B (second position) by rotating the pair of rotating arms 240 (supporting bodies) has been shown. A pair of supports that support both sides of the collective product S in the (first direction) may be linearly moved back and forth in the front-rear direction (second direction).
Further, as the contact avoiding means, it is only necessary to switch the upstream side of the support, which is located farther from the collective product discharge position 32B, between the first position and the second position. The support on the downstream side may be rotatable or movable back and forth so as to escape from the aggregated product S transported to the aggregated product discharge position 32B when returning from the aggregated product discharge position 32B. In this embodiment, the first rotating arm 241 corresponds to the support on the upstream side of transportation.
(5) In this embodiment, a pair of chucking members 120 are rotated to sandwich the set S from both sides as support means for supporting the set S constituting the first transfer device 100 (first transfer means). Although an example of the holding means for supporting is shown, for example, a pair of plate-shaped claws may be configured to open and close linearly in the front-rear direction (second direction) to hold the collective product S. Various methods may be employed to support the collective product S, such as supporting the collective product S by sucking the upper surface of the collective product S without being limited to the clamping means.
(6) If the interval changing mechanism 230 is changed to the second interval 232 and the contact avoiding means is configured so that the collective product S and the first transfer device 100 cannot come into contact, then the interval changing mechanism 230 is not limited to moving both of the rotating arms 240 when changing the distance between the pair of rotating arms 240, but only one of the rotating arms 240 may be moved.
(7) A plurality of collective product discharge positions 32B may be provided along the left-right direction (first direction).
(8) Although an example in which the drive mechanism is configured with a motor, an air cylinder, a slider, a cable carrier, etc. has been shown, various other mechanisms can be employed.
(9) When the second transfer device 200 reciprocates the pair of rotating arms 240 in the first direction, they may be moved at a constant speed, and the speed may be changed or accelerated or decelerated in accordance with the production processing situation. It is also possible to make the robot perform an action such as

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the conveying apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and can be implemented in various other forms.

22A: Collective product supply position 32: Slide surface 32A: Collective product receiving position 32B: Collective product discharge position 100: First transfer device (first transfer means)
120: Chucking member (support means) 200: Second transfer device (second transfer means)
230: Interval changing mechanism (interval changing means) 231: First interval 232: Second interval (contact avoiding means)
240 (241, 242): rotation arm (support), first rotation arm 241 (support on upstream side of transport)
241A: standing posture (first position, contact avoidance means)
241B: Falling posture (second position, contact avoidance means)
S: Collective product W: Pillow packaging bag (item) E Both ends

Claims (4)

a sliding surface extending in the horizontal direction on which a collection of a specified number of articles can slide;
a collective item receiving position set on the sliding surface;
a collective product discharge position set on the sliding surface spaced apart from the collective product receiving position;
an aggregated product supply position on which the aggregated product can be placed and which is set in the vicinity of the outer side of the sliding surface in a second direction intersecting with the first direction connecting the aggregated product receiving position and the aggregated product discharging position; ,
a first transfer means capable of reciprocating along the second direction and capable of supporting the collective product placed at the collective product supply position and transferring it to the collective product receiving position;
a pair of supports reciprocatingly movable along the first direction and arranged so as to be able to approach and separate from each other;
The pair of supports can be moved so as to be positioned on both sides of the set-item receiving position in the first direction, and support both sides of the set-item placed at the set-item receiving position. a second transfer means for transferring the collective product to the collective product discharge position by moving the body in the first direction;
A first distance between the pair of supports capable of supporting the assembly and a second distance where both supports cannot contact the assembly and the first transfer means arriving at the assembly receiving position. spacing changing means capable of changing at least the spacing of the supports in the first direction;
After the pair of support members has finished supporting the aggregate product by the space changing means, the second transfer device moves the pair of support members from the aggregate product discharging position toward the aggregate product receiving position. In the second direction, the support on the upstream side of the transport disposed at a position far from the collective product discharge position is separated from the collective product supply position via the collective product receiving position in the second direction. The supporting member on the upstream side of transport is retracted to a first position on the opposite side, where the support body on the upstream side of the transport cannot come into contact with the aggregated product arriving at the aggregated product receiving position and the first transfer means, and the pair of supports is retracted. a second support capable of opposing the assembly placed at the assembly receiving position when the body is moved away from the assembly receiving position in the first direction; Equipped with contact avoidance means for moving to a position,
The pair of support bodies are changed to the second space by the space change means when the support body on the transport upstream side is moved to the second position by the contact avoidance means, and the first transfer means is changed to the first spacing by the spacing changing means after releasing the support of the set. The first transfer means has support means for supporting the assembly,
The support means comprises a pair of chucking members arranged so as to be able to approach and separate from each other and to be rotatable,
By rotating the pair of chucking members in the direction of releasing the support of the collective product, the pair of chucking members move the first transfer means through a space in which the pair of chucking members do not interfere with the support member on the upstream side of conveyance. 2. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device is formed between a support member on the upstream side of conveying and the sliding surface, and is configured to allow movement in the first direction of the support on the upstream side of conveying. The first transfer means has support means for supporting the assembly,
The support means comprises a pair of chucking members arranged so as to be able to approach and separate from each other and to be rotatable,
3. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pair of chucking members rotate to support the collective product, thereby supporting the collective product from both sides in the second direction. Each of the articles constituting the collective product is a pillow packaging bag in which a sealed portion is formed by heat-sealing both ends of the bag,
When the pair of chucking members rotates to support both ends of the aggregated product, the ends of each of the products are tilted so that the tips of both ends of the product are directed downward. Item 4. The conveying device according to item 3.

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