JP2023100520A - Article transfer unit and bag conveying system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an article transfer unit capable of variably changing the number of articles such as bags to be transferred, and a bag conveying system.SOLUTION: An article transfer unit 12 of the invention comprises: a transfer lane 20 having article supply zones Z11, Z12 and an article discharge zone Z2; a plurality of transfer bodies 30 which are movable independently of each other along the transfer lane 20, and these transfer bodies 30 move to the article discharge zone Z2 together with an article group Bg received in the article supply zones Z11, Z12; and a post-stage feeding device 18 for feeding the article group Bg from one or more transfer bodies 30 located in the article discharge zone Z2 to the post-stage unit. Two or more transfer bodies 30 can be located simultaneously in the article discharge zone Z2, and a transfer control unit 32 can control the movement of the transfer bodies 30 to change at least either the number or the position of the transfer bodies 30 located simultaneously in the article discharge zone Z2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to article transfer units and bag transfer systems.

In the device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a large number of bags are arranged in a plurality of rows, and a plurality of bags are conveyed downstream at a time. In particular, a state in which two bags are lined up in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction and conveyed in the traveling direction is changed to a state in which four bags are lined up in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction and conveyed in the traveling direction. The mode of transportation can be changed.

On the other hand, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the mode of conveying bags is changed from a state in which two bags are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction to a state in which only one bag is arranged in the perpendicular direction.

JP 2009-18816 A JP 2012-12041 A JP-A-4-292330

As in the devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, in conventional devices in which the number of bags conveyed in rows (that is, the number of bags arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction) is changed, the number of bags conveyed before and after the change The number of rows is predetermined, and it is not possible to adaptively change the number of rows of bags to be conveyed before and after the change. Therefore, a device that is modified to increase the number of bags conveyed in rows cannot be modified to reduce the number of bags conveyed in rows. Similarly, a device that is modified to reduce the number of bag lines cannot be modified to increase the number of bag lines.

Therefore, the conventional bag transfer unit that changes the number of bag transfer lines has a unique configuration corresponding to the bag supply performance of the bag supply unit provided on the upstream side and the bag receiving performance of the downstream unit provided on the downstream side. have. Therefore, when changing the bag feeding performance of the bag feeding unit and/or the bag receiving performance of the subsequent unit, the bag transfer unit used before the change cannot appropriately cope with such changes. Therefore, it is necessary to install a new bag transfer unit corresponding to the changed bag supply performance and bag reception performance, which leads to an increase in equipment cost.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and provides a technique capable of adaptively changing the number of articles such as bags to be conveyed.

One aspect of the present invention is an article transfer unit that receives a plurality of groups of articles sent out from an article supply unit in an article supply zone, transfers them to an article discharge zone, and sends them from the article discharge zone to a subsequent unit, the article supply zone and a transport lane having an article discharge zone; and a plurality of transport bodies movable independently of each other along the transport lane, the plurality of transport bodies moving to the article discharge zone with the group of articles received at the article supply zone. a post-stage delivery device for delivering a group of articles from one or more transfer bodies located in an article discharge zone to a post-stage unit; and a transfer control section for controlling movement of the plurality of transfer bodies and the post-delivery device, contains one or more articles, two or more transfer bodies can be simultaneously positioned in the article discharge zone, and the transfer control unit controls the movement of the plurality of transfer bodies to discharge the articles It relates to an article transport unit that can vary the number and/or positions of transport bodies simultaneously located in a zone.

The transfer lane may have an article transfer waiting zone, and a transfer of the plurality of transfer bodies that moves together with the group of articles may move to the article discharge zone via the article transfer waiting zone.

The transfer lane has an empty transfer object waiting zone, and a transfer object moving without holding an article group among a plurality of transfer objects may move to the article supply zone via the empty transfer object waiting zone. .

A plurality of article supply zones may be provided, and a group of articles sent out from the article supply unit may be supplied to each of the plurality of article supply zones.

A plurality of empty transfer object waiting zones are provided, the plurality of empty transfer object waiting zones are assigned to a plurality of article supply zones, and each of the plurality of transfer objects passes through one of the plurality of empty transfer object waiting zones. and move to the assigned product supply zone.

A plurality of article ejection zones may be provided, and the plurality of article ejection zones may be assigned to a plurality of post-stage devices included in the post-stage unit.

The plurality of transport bodies may be moved along the transport lane by magnetic forces, and the transport controller may control the magnetic forces acting on the plurality of transport bodies.

Another aspect of the present invention is a bag transport comprising: a bag supply unit including a bag making machine; the goods transfer unit; Regarding the system.

According to the present disclosure, the number of deliveries of articles such as bags can be adaptively changed.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of an example of the bag conveying system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation example of the bag conveying system shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation example of the bag conveying system shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation example of the bag conveying system shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation example of the bag conveying system shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an outline of an example of the bag conveying system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an outline of an example of the bag conveying system according to the third embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings.

Each of the following embodiments relates to a bag conveying system 10 that conveys a bag B (especially a group of bags Bg) as an article, but the container conveying system conveys containers other than bags and the article conveying system conveys articles other than containers. can be applied in the same way.

Unless otherwise specified, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" in the following description refer to the direction of movement of the transfer body during normal operation.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a bag conveying system 10 according to the first embodiment.

A bag conveying system 10 shown in FIG. and a post-stage unit 13 for receiving.

The bag supply unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of bag supply devices (ie, a first bag supply device 11a and a second bag supply device 11b). The first bag supply device 11 a and the second bag supply device 11 b each have a bag making machine 14 and a supply relay device 15 .

The bag making machine 14 continuously creates a large number of bags (empty bags) B and sends them to the supply relay device 15 . A specific configuration of the bag making machine 14 is not limited. As an example, the bag-making machine 14 may have the same configuration as the horizontal bag-making machine described in JP-A-2009-18816.

The supply relay device 15 has a supply conveyor 16 and a stacking device 17 . The supply conveyor 16 sends the bag B received from the bag making machine 14 and the bag group Bg made by the stacking device 17 downstream. The stacking device 17 stacks a plurality of bags B sent from the bag making machine 14 in the height direction to create a bundle-like bag group Bg. A specific configuration of the integration device 17 is not limited. As an example, the stacking device 17 may have a configuration similar to that of the stacking device described in JP-A-4-292330. The bag group Bg produced by the stacking device 17 is placed on the supply conveyor 16 and sent downstream by the supply conveyor 16 .

Each bag group Bg in this example includes a plurality of bags B, but the bag group Bg may include only one bag B. Each bag group Bg typically includes 1 to 50 bags B, but the number of bags B included in each bag group Bg is not limited. If all the bag groups Bg contain only one bag B, the stacking device 17 is unnecessary.

The supply relay device 15 further has a turning device (not shown) and a transfer device (not shown). The turning device rotates the group of bags Bg placed on the supply conveyor 16 by 90 degrees around a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction to change the direction of the group of bags Bg. The delivery device transfers the bag group Bg after being turned by the turning device from the supply conveyor 16 to the transfer body located in the bag supply zone (that is, each of the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12). Hand over to 30. The specific configurations of the turning device and the delivery device are not limited. The turning device and the delivery device may turn and/or move the bag group Bg while lifting the bag group Bg, for example.

The bag groups Bg produced by each of the first bag supply device 11a and the second bag supply device 11b in this manner are delivered to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 of the bag transfer unit 12. FIG. Each of the first bag supply device 11a and the second bag supply device 11b is driven under the control of a control device (not shown), and the bag making machine 14 and the supply relay device 15 (that is, the supply conveyor 16 and the stacking device 17) described above are driven. , turning device and delivery device) can be interlocked to continuously send out a plurality of bag groups Bg to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, a plurality (two) of bags B are simultaneously provided from the bag making machine 14 to the supply relay device 15 (specifically, the supply conveyor 16), and the supply relay device 15 supplies a bag supply zone Z11 (specifically, a bag supply zone Z11). , a plurality (two) of bag groups Bg are simultaneously provided to a plurality (two) of transport bodies 30 located in each of the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12.

The bag transfer unit 12 receives a plurality of bag groups Bg delivered from the bag supply unit 11 (the first bag supply device 11a and the second bag supply device 11b) in bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 and transfers them to the bag discharge zone Z2. , the bag group Bg is sent to the rear unit 13 from the bag discharge zone Z2.

The bag transfer unit 12 of this example includes a transfer lane 20, a plurality of transfer bodies 30 that move on the transfer lane 20, a rear-stage delivery device 18 that feeds the bag group Bg from each transfer body 30 to the rear-stage unit 13, and a plurality of and a transport control unit 32 for controlling the movement of the transport body 30 and the post-feeding device 18 .

Transfer lane 20 has first lane 21 to sixth lane 26 . The first to fourth lanes 21 to 24 are arranged in this order in a ring (that is, endlessly), and adjacent lanes are connected to each other without gaps.

The first lane 21 has bag supply zones (ie, a first bag supply zone Z11 and a second bag supply zone Z12). In the first bag supply zone Z11, one or more transfer bodies 30 (two transfer bodies 30 in the example shown in FIG. 1) to which the bag group Bg is supplied from the first bag supply device 11a are arranged simultaneously. In the second bag supply zone Z12, one or more transfer bodies 30 (two transfer bodies 30 in the example shown in FIG. 1) to which the bag group Bg is supplied from the second bag supply device 11b are arranged simultaneously.

The third lane 23 has a bag discharge zone Z2. One or more transfer bodies 30 (a large number of transfer bodies 30 in the example shown in FIG. 1) on which the bag group Bg is placed are arranged in the bag discharge zone Z2. The bag discharge zone Z2 has a size (length) that allows a plurality (eg, ten or more) of transport bodies 30 to be positioned simultaneously. However, the maximum number of transfer bodies 30 that can be arranged is not necessarily arranged simultaneously in the bag discharge zone Z2. The number and positions of the transfer bodies 30 arranged in the bag discharge zone Z2 can be changed under the control of the transfer control section 32. FIG.

One end of the first lane 21 and one end of the third lane 23 are connected via the second lane 22, and the other end of the first lane 21 and the other end of the third lane 23 are connected. and are connected via the fourth lane 24 .

The first lane 21 and the third lane 23 are not only interconnected via the second lane 22 and the fourth lane 24 as described above, but also via the fifth lane 25 and the sixth lane 26. interconnected.

One end of the fifth lane 25 is connected to a portion of the first lane 21 downstream of the first bag supply zone Z11 (especially a portion between the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12), The other end is connected to a portion of the third lane 23 upstream of the bag discharge zone Z2. One end of the sixth lane 26 is connected to a portion of the first lane 21 upstream of the second bag supply zone Z12 (especially a portion between the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12), The other end is connected to a portion of the third lane 23 downstream of the bag discharge zone Z2. A portion of the first lane 21 to which the sixth lane 26 is connected is positioned upstream from a portion to which the fifth lane 25 is connected.

In the transfer lane 20 having the above configuration, the fourth lane 24 has a first empty transported object waiting zone Z41, and the fifth lane 25 has a first bag transported object waiting zone Z31. The sixth lane 26 has a second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42, and the second lane 22 has a second bag transfer object waiting zone Z32.

The first empty transfer object waiting zone Z41 can be provided not only in the fourth lane 24 but also in a lane adjacent to the fourth lane 24. FIG. In this example, a first empty transfer object waiting zone Z41 is provided across the fourth lane 24 and the first lane 21. As shown in FIG.

The second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 can be provided not only in the sixth lane 26 but also in a lane adjacent to the sixth lane 26. FIG. In this example, a second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 is provided in the sixth lane 26 and the first lane 21, as will be described later (see FIG. 2, etc.).

Also, the second bag transfer body waiting zone Z32 can be provided not only in the second lane 22 but also in lanes adjacent to the second lane 22 (for example, the first lane 21 and/or the third lane 23).

Each of the first bag-transferred object waiting zone Z31, the second bag-transferred object waiting zone Z32, the first empty transfer object waiting zone Z41 and the second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 may be constituted by a single continuous area. Alternatively, it may include two or more discrete regions spaced apart from each other.

Each transfer body 30 receives the bag group Bg in the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 and moves to the bag discharge zone Z2 together with the bag group Bg. A plurality of transfer bodies 30 are provided to be independently movable along the transfer lane 20 .

The transfer body 30 in this example, also called shuttle, circulates along the transfer lane 20 between the bag supply zones Z11, Z12 and the bag discharge zone Z2. That is, each transfer body 30 moves from the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 to the bag discharge zone Z2 along the transfer lane 20 after the bag group Bg is placed in the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12, and the bag discharge zone Z2 After the bag group Bg is sent to the rear-stage unit 13 by the rear-stage sending device 18, it is moved in an empty state from the bag discharge zone Z2 to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12.

In this example, the plurality of transfer bodies 30 are a first transfer body group that receives the group of bags Bg from the first bag supply device 11a and carries them to the bag discharge zone Z2, and a group of bags Bg that is received from the second bag supply device 11b. and a second group of transports which carry to bag discharge zone Z2.

The movement route of the transfer bodies 30 of the first transfer body group consists of a first bag supply zone Z11 (first lane 21), a first bag transfer body waiting zone Z31 (fifth lane 25), a bag discharge zone Z2 (third lane 23) and the first empty transfer object waiting zone Z41 (fourth lane 24) (see one-dot chain line in FIG. 1).

The movement route of the transfer bodies 30 of the second transfer body group consists of a second bag supply zone Z12 (first lane 21), a second bag transfer body standby zone Z32 (second lane 22), a bag discharge zone Z2 (third lane 23) and a second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 (sixth lane 26) (see two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). By assigning specific empty transfer object waiting zones Z41, Z42 and/or specific bag transfer object waiting zones Z31, Z32 to each of the plurality of bag supply zones Z11, Z12 in this way, a plurality of bag supply zones Z11 , Z12, a unique closed-loop route can be provided. As a result, even if the supply of the bag group Bg to the transfer body 30 in one of the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12 becomes impossible, the bag group Bg to the transfer body 30 in the other bag supply zone It is possible to appropriately perform the supply of Bg and the transfer of the bag group Bg from the other bag supply zone to the bag discharge zone Z2.

It should be noted that each transfer object 30 may basically continue to be classified into the same transfer object group, or the transfer object group to be classified may be adaptively determined. That is, each transfer body 30 may always move along the same closed loop route (first closed loop route or second closed loop route). Alternatively, each transfer body 30 may follow a closed loop route determined depending on the situation under the control of the transfer control section 32 after the bag group Bg is discharged to the subsequent unit 13 in the bag discharge zone Z2.

Each transport 30 moves along the transport lane 20 under the control of the transport controller 32 . In this example, the transport bodies 30 move along the transport lane 20 by magnetic force. The transfer control unit 32 controls magnetic forces acting on the plurality of transfer bodies 30 . Specifically, a large number of electromagnets (not shown) are built in the transfer lanes 20 (that is, each of the first to sixth lanes 21 to 26) and are arranged along the extension direction. regulates the current through each of these electromagnets. For example, it is possible to perform movement drive control of each transfer body 30 based on the movement drive control system of a linear motor car.

The method of moving each transfer body 30 is not limited to the linear drive method (that is, the magnetic force drive method) described above, and any method can be adopted. For example, each transfer body 30 may be equipped with a power device such as a motor that is driven under the control of the transfer control unit 32, and may be moved by power output from the power device.

The transport control unit 32 directly or indirectly grasps and monitors the position information of all the transport bodies 30, and controls the movement of each transport body 30 based on the position information. Therefore, the transfer control unit 32 can control the movement of a plurality of transfer bodies 30 and variably determine the number and position of the transfer bodies 30 existing in any area in the transfer lane 20. For example, in the bag discharge zone Z2 The number and position of transport bodies 30 positioned simultaneously can be varied.

The rear-stage delivery device 18 has an arbitrary configuration capable of delivering the bag group Bg to the rear-stage unit 13 from one or more transfer bodies 30 positioned in the bag discharge zone Z2 under the control of the transfer control section 32 . The post-delivery device 18 can adopt a mechanism according to the configuration of each transfer body 30 (particularly, the support method and support form of the bag group Bg in the transfer body 30).

For example, when each transfer body 30 positioned in the bag release zone Z2 is placed in a state where the bag group Bg can be grasped, the post-feeding device 18 can grasp and release the bag group Bg in each transfer body 30. A gripping unit, such as a possible gripper, and a moving unit capable of moving the gripping unit may be provided. Alternatively, when the bag group Bg is placed in a slidable state toward the rear unit 13 in each transfer body 30 positioned in the bag discharge zone Z2, the rear delivery device 18 slides the bag group Bg in each transfer body 30. A pressing unit, such as a pusher, may be provided that can be moved.

When a plurality of transfer bodies 30 are positioned in the bag discharge zone Z2, the post-feeding device 18 moves the bag group Bg from the plurality of transfer bodies 30 positioned in the bag discharge zone Z2 to the post-stage unit 13 at the same time. Strictly speaking, the timing at which the bag group Bg is moved from the plurality of transfer bodies 30 to the rear-stage unit 13 by the rear-stage delivery device 18 does not necessarily have to be simultaneous. (that is, release timing) may be shifted.

As a result, a plurality of bag groups Bg sent out from a plurality of transfer bodies 30 positioned in the bag discharge zone Z2 are linearly arranged in a line on the discharge conveying device 19 (for example, a belt conveyor) of the post-stage unit 13 . The arranging direction of the plurality of bag groups Bg arranged in the discharge conveying device 19 in this way (that is, the vertical direction in FIG. 1) is the direction of the plurality of transfer bodies 30 that convey the plurality of bag groups Bg to the bag discharge zone Z2. It coincides with the arranging direction in the bag discharge zone Z2 (that is, the vertical direction in FIG. 1) and is perpendicular to the direction in which the plurality of bag groups Bg are conveyed by the discharge conveying device 19. FIG.

However, the plurality of bag groups Bg delivered from the bag discharge zone Z2 to the discharging/conveying device 19 may not necessarily be perpendicular to the conveying direction by the discharging/conveying device 19, and may be inclined with respect to the conveying direction. may be arranged in the direction in which

The discharging/conveying device 19 conveys the placed plural bag groups Bg downstream. Note that the discharging/conveying device 19 may intermittently convey a plurality of bag groups Bg placed thereon, or may continuously convey them without stopping intermittently. An arbitrary device can be installed in the rear stage of the discharging/conveying device 19 . For example, a plurality of bag groups Bg conveyed downstream by the discharging/conveying device 19 are sent to another device such as a packaging machine installed after the discharging/conveying device 19 or to a container for stocking the bag groups Bg.

Next, an operation example of the above-described bag conveying system 10 will be described.

2 to 5 are diagrams showing operation examples of the bag conveying system 10 shown in FIG. The operation of the bag conveying system 10 described below is appropriately performed under the control of the transfer control section 32 .

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of empty transfer objects 30 wait in each of the first empty transfer object waiting zone Z41 and the second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of transferred bodies 30 waiting in the first empty transferred body waiting zone Z41 are located upstream of the first bag supply zone Z11 in the first lane 21 and the fourth lane 24. As shown in FIG. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of transferred bodies 30 waiting in the second empty transferred body waiting zone Z42 are located upstream of the second bag supply zone Z12 in the sixth lane 26 and the first lane 21. As shown in FIG. In particular, the second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 provided in the first lane 21 is located downstream of the portion of the first lane 21 where the fifth lane 25 is connected.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of empty transfer bodies 30 are also waiting in the bag discharge zone Z2. However, the empty transfer body 30 may not be waiting in the bag discharge zone Z2.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, two empty transfer bodies 30 are moved from the first empty transfer body waiting zone Z41 to the first bag supply zone Z11, and from the second empty transfer body waiting zone Z42 to the second bag supply zone Z12. , two empty transport bodies 30 move. In particular, from the second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 provided in the first lane 21 (in particular, the second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 provided adjacent to the second bag supply zone Z12), the transferred objects are transferred to the second bag supply zone Z12. By moving the bag 30, the second bag supply zone Z12 can be rapidly replenished with the transfer bodies 30. As shown in FIG.

Then, from the first bag supply device 11a, the bag group Bg is supplied one by one to two empty transfer bodies 30 waiting in the first bag supply zone Z11. Similarly, the bag groups Bg are supplied one by one from the second bag supply device 11b to two empty transfer bodies 30 waiting in the second bag supply zone Z12.

The two transfer bodies 30 supplied with the bag group Bg in the first bag supply zone Z11 in this way advance along with the bag group Bg through the first lane 21 to the fifth lane 25, whereupon the first bag transfer body Wait in the waiting zone Z31 (see FIG. 3). On the other hand, the two transfer bodies 30 to which the bag group Bg has been supplied in the second bag supply zone Z12 advance along with the bag group Bg through the first lane 21 to the second lane 22, and the second bag transfer body standby zone. Stand by at Z32.

Then, the above-mentioned "movement of the transfer body 30 from the empty transfer body standby zones Z41 and Z42 to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12" and "movement from the bag supply unit 11 to the transfer body 30 located in the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12" are performed. "supply of bag group Bg" and "movement of transfer body 30 from bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 to bag transfer body waiting zones Z31 and Z32 and standby in bag transfer body waiting zones Z31 and Z32" are repeated. As a result, a plurality of transfer bodies 30 supporting the bag group Bg stand by in each of the first bag transfer body waiting zone Z31 and the second bag transfer body waiting zone Z32.

In addition, in the second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 provided in the first lane 21, a new empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 provided in the sixth lane 26 is added according to the decrease in the waiting transfer objects 30. of transport bodies 30 are replenished. The replenishment timing of the transfer objects 30 from the second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 provided in the sixth lane 26 to the second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 provided in the first lane 21 is not limited. After a predetermined number of transfer bodies 30 (for example, two or more transfer bodies 30) move from the second empty transfer body waiting zone Z42 provided in the first lane 21 to the second bag supply zone Z12, the A new empty transfer object 30 may be replenished to the second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42. Alternatively, after all the transferred objects 30 have moved from the second empty transferred object waiting zone Z42 provided in the first lane 21, a new empty transferred object is transferred to the second empty transferred object waiting zone Z42 provided in the first lane 21. Replenishment of the body 30 may be performed.

In this example, the movement route of the transfer body 30 from the first bag supply zone Z11 to the first bag transfer body waiting zone Z31 and the movement route of the transfer body 30 from the second empty transfer body waiting zone Z42 provided in the sixth lane 26 to the first lane 21 In the first lane 21, the moving route of the transfer object 30 to the provided second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 partially coincides. Therefore, the transfer control unit 32 controls the transfer body 30 to move from the first bag supply zone Z11 to the first bag transfer body waiting zone Z31 and to move from the sixth lane 26 to the first lane 21 so that the transfer bodies 30 do not collide with each other. It controls the movement timing and/or the movement speed of the conveying body 30 to be moved.

Further, the movement route of the transfer body 30 from the first bag transfer body waiting zone Z31 to the bag discharge zone Z2 and the movement route of the transfer body 30 from the second bag transfer body waiting zone Z32 to the bag discharge zone Z2 are different from each other. At least partially match in 3 lane 23 . In addition, the movement route of the transfer body 30 from the bag discharge zone Z2 to the first empty transfer body waiting zone Z41 and the movement route of the transfer body 30 from the bag discharge zone Z2 to the second empty transfer body waiting zone Z42 are the third route. At least partially coincident in lane 23 . Therefore, the transfer control unit 32 controls the movement timing and/or movement speed of each transfer body 30 moving between these zones so that the transfer bodies 30 do not collide with each other.

Then, the plurality of transfer bodies 30 supporting the bag group Bg move from the first bag transfer body waiting zone Z31 and the second bag transfer body waiting zone Z32 to the bag discharge zone Z2 (see FIG. 4). are arranged in a straight line at (see FIG. 5). In this way, before the new transfer body 30 having the bag group Bg moves to the bag discharge zone Z2, the empty transfer body 30 waiting in the bag discharge zone Z2 is removed from the bag discharge zone Z2 to the first bag. It moves to the empty transfer object waiting zone Z41 and the second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42. As a result, an empty space is created in the bag discharge zone Z2, and a new transfer body 30 having the bag group Bg is moved to the empty space.

In this example, the transfer body 30 moves from both the first bag transfer body waiting zone Z31 and the second bag transfer body waiting zone Z32 to the bag discharge zone Z2. Therefore, the transfer control unit 32 controls the transfer body 30 to move from the first bag transfer body waiting zone Z31 to the bag discharge zone Z2 and the transfer body 30 to move from the second bag transfer body waiting zone Z32 to the bag discharge zone Z2 so that the transfer bodies 30 do not collide with each other. It controls the movement timing and/or the movement speed of the transfer body 30 moving to.

Then, in a state in which a desired number of transfer bodies 30 are arranged in the bag discharge zone Z2, the rear-stage delivery device 18 moves the bag group Bg from these transfer bodies 30 to the rear-stage unit 13 (particularly, the discharge transport device 19). . As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of bag groups Bg sent out from a plurality of transfer bodies 30 positioned in the bag discharge zone Z2 are placed on the discharging and conveying device 19 in a straight line. be done.

The discharging/conveying device 19 on which a plurality of bag groups Bg are placed in this manner moves the placed bag groups Bg downstream. As a result, the area adjacent to the bag discharging zone Z2 in the discharging/conveying device 19 becomes an empty area, and the bag group Bg sent out from the plurality of transfer bodies 30 next arranged in the bag discharging zone Z2 becomes a vacant area. placed in a row in a row.

By repeating the series of steps described above, the bag conveying system 10 can continue to intermittently supply a desired number of bag groups Bg arranged in a row to the subsequent unit 13 (discharging conveying device 19). .

As described above, the bag transfer unit (goods transfer unit) 12 of the present embodiment distributes a plurality of bag groups (goods group) Bg delivered from the bag supply unit (goods supply unit) 11 to a bag supply zone (goods supply zone). It is received by Z11 and Z12, transferred to the bag discharge zone (goods discharge zone) Z2, and delivered to the post-stage unit 13 from the bag discharge zone Z2. The bag transfer unit 12 includes a transfer lane 20 having bag supply zones Z11, Z12 and a bag discharge zone Z2, and a plurality of transfer bodies 30 movable independently of each other along the transfer lane 20. A plurality of transfer bodies 30 that move to the bag discharge zone Z2 together with the bag group Bg received in the zones Z11 and Z12, and a post-stage delivery that feeds the bag group Bg from the one or more transfer bodies 30 positioned in the bag discharge zone Z2 to the post-stage unit 13. and a transfer control section 32 for controlling movement of a plurality of transfer bodies 30 and the post-delivery device 18 . Each of the plurality of bag groups Bg includes one or a plurality of bags (articles) B. Two or more transport bodies 30 can be positioned simultaneously in the bag discharge zone Z2. The transfer control unit 32 controls the movement of the plurality of transfer bodies 30 to change at least one of the number and positions of the transfer bodies 30 simultaneously positioned in the bag discharge zone Z2.

Further, the bag conveying system (goods conveying system) 10 of the present embodiment includes a bag supply unit (goods supply unit) 11 including a bag making machine 14, a bag transfer unit (goods transfer unit) 12, and a bag fed from the bag transfer unit 12. a post-stage unit 13 that receives one or a plurality of bag groups Bg as an article group.

According to the bag transfer unit 12 and the bag transfer system 10, the number and position of the bag group Bg transferred from the bag transfer unit 12 to the subsequent unit 13 can be adaptively changed. That is, by changing the number of transfer bodies 30 simultaneously positioned in the bag discharge zone Z2 under the control of the transfer control section 32, the number of bag groups Bg transferred from the bag transfer unit 12 to the subsequent unit 13 can be increased or decreased. By adjusting the position of the transfer body 30 in the bag discharge zone Z2 under the control of the transfer control section 32, the transfer position of the bag group Bg transferred from the bag transfer unit 12 to the subsequent unit 13 can be adjusted.

The transfer lane 20 also has bag transfer body standby zones (goods transfer body standby zones) Z31 and Z32. Via Z32 it moves to bag discharge zone Z2.

As a result, each transfer body 30 can efficiently move along the transfer lane 20 from the bag transfer body waiting zones Z31 and Z32 to the bag discharge zone Z2. In particular, by using the bag transfer body waiting zones Z31 and Z32 as waiting zones for the transfer body 30, while the transfer body 30 having the bag group Bg is stocked in the bag transfer body waiting zones Z31 and Z32, A desired number of transfer bodies 30 can be moved to the bag discharge zone Z2 at desired timing. As a result, when the number of bag groups Bg to be transferred from the bag transfer unit 12 to the subsequent unit 13 at one time is greater than the number of bag groups Bg that can be transferred from the bag supply unit 11 to the bag transfer unit 12 at one time. However, the desired number of transfer bodies 30 can be quickly arranged in the bag discharge zone Z2, and the desired number of bag groups Bg can be efficiently transferred from the bag transfer unit 12 to the subsequent unit 13. .

The transfer lane 20 has empty transfer object waiting zones Z41 and Z42, and the transfer object 30 that moves without holding the bag group Bg among the plurality of transfer objects 30 passes through the empty transfer object waiting zones Z41 and Z42. and move to bag supply zones Z11 and Z12.

As a result, each transfer body 30 can efficiently move along the transfer lane 20 from the empty transfer body waiting zones Z41 and Z42 to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12. In particular, by using the empty transported object standby zones Z41 and Z42 as standby zones for the transported object 30, the transported objects 30 without the bag group Bg are stocked in the empty transported object standby zones Z41 and Z42, and if necessary , a desired number of transfer bodies 30 can be moved to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 at desired timing.

A plurality of bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 are provided, and the bag group Bg delivered from the bag supply unit 11 is supplied to each of the plurality of bag supply zones Z11 and Z12.

As a result, a large number of bag groups Bg can be efficiently supplied from the bag supply unit 11 to the bag transfer unit 12 .

A plurality of empty transfer object waiting zones Z41 and Z42 are provided, and the plurality of empty transfer object waiting zones Z41 and Z42 are assigned to a plurality of bag supply zones Z11 and Z12, and each of the plurality of transfer objects 30 is provided with a plurality of empty transfer object waiting zones Z41 and Z42. to the assigned bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 via either of the empty transfer object waiting zones Z41 and Z42.

Thereby, the transfer body 30 can be efficiently moved with respect to the plurality of bag supply zones Z11 and Z12.

Also, the plurality of transfer bodies 30 are moved along the transfer lane 20 by magnetic force, and the transfer control section 32 controls the magnetic force acting on the plurality of transfer bodies 30 .

As a result, the conveying body 30 can move smoothly in a state in which the influence of external forces such as vibration is reduced. Bag group Bg can be transported to zone Z2. In addition, it is possible to flexibly adjust the stop positions of the transfer bodies 30, and to finely change the number and positions of the transfer bodies 30 arranged in the bag discharge zone Z2.

[Second embodiment]
In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding elements as in the above-described first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the bag conveying system 10 according to the second embodiment.

In this embodiment, a plurality of bag discharge zones (ie, first bag discharge zone Z21, second bag discharge zone Z22 and third bag discharge zone Z23) are provided. These bag discharge zones Z21, Z22, and Z23 are formed by a plurality of discharge/conveyor devices (first discharge/conveyor device 19a, second discharge/conveyor device 19b, and third discharge/conveyor device 19c: a plurality of post-stage devices) provided in the rear-stage unit 13. are assigned to each of the

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the first release/conveyor 19a is provided adjacent to the first bag release zone Z21, the second release/conveyor 19b is provided adjacent to the second bag release zone Z22, and the third bag is provided. Adjacent to the discharge zone Z23, a third discharge transport device 19c is provided.

The post-delivery device 18 delivers the four bag groups Bg from the four transport bodies 30 positioned in the first bag discharge zone Z21 to the first discharge transport device 19a, and the six transport bodies 30 positioned in the second bag discharge zone Z22. 6 bag groups Bg are sent out to the second discharging/conveying device 19b, and four transfer bodies 30 located in the third bag discharging zone Z23 send out 4 bag groups Bg to the third discharging/conveying device 19c.

The post-delivery device 18 simultaneously delivers the bag group Bg from the first bag release zone Z21 to the third bag release zone Z23 to the first release transport device 19a to the third release transport device 19c (that is, at the same timing). ), or at different times. The post-feeding device 18 may be provided as a common device for the first bag discharge zone Z21 to the third bag discharge zone Z23, or may be assigned to each of the first bag discharge zone Z21 to the third bag discharge zone Z23. It may be provided as a plurality of separate devices.

The transfer control section 32 precisely controls the movement of each transfer body 30 to accurately arrange a desired number of transfer bodies 30 at desired positions in each of the bag discharge zones Z21, Z22, and Z23.

Other configurations of the bag conveying system 10 shown in FIG. 6 are the same as those of the bag conveying system 10 shown in FIG. 1 described above.

According to the bag transfer unit 12 of the present embodiment, even if the latter unit 13 is provided with a plurality of discharging/conveying devices (first discharging/conveying device 19a to third discharging/conveying device 19c), each discharging/conveying device A desired number of bag groups Bg can be appropriately supplied to 19a to 19c.

In particular, a plurality of bag discharge zones (first bag discharge zone Z21 to third bag discharge zone Z23) shown in FIG. 6 are separated from each other by dividing one bag discharge zone Z2 shown in FIG. 1 into a plurality of zones. be. Therefore, the bag transfer unit 12 shown in FIG. 6 can be used when the rear unit 13 includes a different number of discharge conveyors than the three discharge conveyors 19a to 19c shown in FIG. It is also applicable to include a plurality of ejection transports arranged differently than the single ejection transports 19a-19c.

[Third embodiment]
In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding elements as in the above-described first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an outline of an example of the bag conveying system 10 according to the third embodiment.

The number of bag supply devices included in the bag supply unit 11 is not limited, and in the example shown in FIG. 7, three bag supply devices (ie, first bag supply device 11a to third bag supply device 11c) are provided. The number of bag supply zones is not limited either, and in the example shown in FIG. 7, three bag supply zones (that is, first bag supply zone Z11 to third bag supply zone Z13) assigned to each of the three bag supply devices 11a to 11c. is provided in the first lane 21 .

In the first bag supply zone Z11, one or more transfer bodies 30 (two transfer bodies 30 in the example shown in FIG. 7) to which the bag group Bg is supplied from the first bag supply device 11a are arranged simultaneously. In the second bag supply zone Z12, one or more transfer bodies 30 (two transfer bodies 30 in the example shown in FIG. 7) to which the bag group Bg is supplied from the second bag supply device 11b are arranged simultaneously. In the third bag supply zone Z13, one or more transfer bodies 30 (two transfer bodies 30 in the example shown in FIG. 7) to which the bag group Bg is supplied from the third bag supply device 11c are arranged simultaneously.

Also in this embodiment, separate bag transfer body waiting zones Z31-Z33 and separate empty transfer body bag machine zones Z41-Z43 are assigned to each of the bag supply zones Z11-Z13.

Specifically, the transfer lane 20 further has a seventh lane 27 and an eighth lane 28 in addition to the first to sixth lanes 21 to 26 described above.

Both ends of the second lane 22 are connected to the middle of the first lane 21 and the middle of the third lane 23, and both ends of the seventh lane 27 are connected to the end of the first lane 21 and the end of the third lane 23. be done. One end of the second lane 22 is connected to a portion of the first lane 21 between the second bag supply zone Z12 and the third bag supply zone Z13, and the other end is connected to the third lane 23. It is connected to the portion between the portion to which the fifth lane 25 is connected and the portion to which the seventh lane 27 is connected.

Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the first lane 21, the seventh lane 27, the third lane 23 and the fourth lane 24 are arranged in this order in a circular (i.e. endless) fashion, with adjacent lanes facing each other. Connect without gaps.

One end of the eighth lane 28 is connected to a portion of the first lane 21 between the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12 (in particular, the sixth lane 26 of the first lane 21 is connected). and the portion to which the fifth lane 25 is connected). The other end of the eighth lane 28 is connected to the portion of the third lane 23 between the bag discharge zone Z2 and the portion to which the sixth lane 26 is connected.

The first bag supply zone Z11 to the third bag supply zone Z13 are provided in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the first lane 21 . The first bag-transferred body waiting zone Z31, the second bag-transferred body waiting zone Z32 and the third bag-transferred body waiting zone Z33 are provided in the fifth lane 25, the second lane 22 and the seventh lane 27, respectively. A first empty transfer object waiting zone Z41, a second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 and a third empty transfer object waiting zone Z43 are provided in the fourth lane 24, the sixth lane 26 and the eighth lane 28, respectively.

The area between the portion of the first lane 21 to which the fifth lane 25 is connected and the second bag supply zone Z12 is defined as a second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 and/or a third empty transfer object waiting zone Z43. may be used. The area between the portion of the first lane 21 to which the second lane 22 is connected and the third bag supply zone Z13 may be used as the third empty transfer object waiting zone Z43.

In this example, the plurality of transfer bodies 30 are a first transfer body group that receives the group of bags Bg from the first bag supply device 11a and carries them to the bag discharge zone Z2, and a group of bags Bg that is received from the second bag supply device 11b. They are classified into a second transfer body group that carries them to the bag discharge zone Z2 and a third transfer body group that receives the bag group Bg from the third bag supply device 11c and carries them to the bag discharge zone Z2.

The movement route of the transfer bodies 30 of the first transfer body group consists of a first bag supply zone Z11 (first lane 21), a first bag transfer body waiting zone Z31 (fifth lane 25), a bag discharge zone Z2 (third lane 23) and the first empty transfer object waiting zone Z41 (fourth lane 24) (see one-dot chain line in FIG. 7).

The movement route of the transfer bodies 30 of the second transfer body group consists of a second bag supply zone Z12 (first lane 21), a second bag transfer body standby zone Z32 (second lane 22), a bag discharge zone Z2 (third lane 23) and a second empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 (sixth lane 26) (see two-dot chain line in FIG. 7).

The movement route of the transfer bodies 30 of the third transfer body group is the third bag supply zone Z13 (first lane 21), the third bag transfer body standby zone Z33 (seventh lane 27), the bag discharge zone Z2 (third lane). 23) and a third empty transfer object waiting zone Z43 (8th lane 28) (see dotted line in FIG. 7).

In this example, the movement routes of the transfer bodies 30 between the first transfer body group to the third transfer body group are at least partially the same in each of the first lane 21 and the third lane 23 . Therefore, the transfer control unit 32 controls the movement timing and/or the movement speed of each transfer body 30 so that the transfer bodies 30 do not collide with each other.

[Modification]
In each of the above-described embodiments, when positioning a new transfer body 30 having a group of bags Bg in one or more bag discharge zones Z2, Z21-Z23, one or more The transfer body 30 moves to the bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23, but is not limited to this. For example, a desired number of new transfers from only one of the plurality of bag transfer waiting zones Z31-Z32 (eg, first bag transfer waiting zone Z31) to one or more bag release zones Z2, Z21-Z23. Body 30 may be moved. In this case, after the bag group Bg has been delivered from the one or more bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23 to the rear unit 13, when positioning the new transfer body 30 in the one or more bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23 , the desired number of new transfer bodies 30 are moved from only another bag transfer body waiting zone (for example, the second bag transfer body waiting zone Z32) to one or more bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23. may

Also, the bag transfer body waiting zones Z31 to Z33 may not be provided. In this case, the transfer body 30 supplied with the bags B in the bag supply zones Z11 to Z13 moves directly from the bag supply zones Z11 to Z13 to the bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23, and the bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to You may wait in Z23.

Also, the empty transported object waiting zones Z41 to Z43 may not be provided. In this case, the empty transfer body 30 after discharging the bag group Bg in the bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23 waits in the bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23, and then the bags are discharged from the bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23. It may move directly to the feed zones Z11-Z13.

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and variations described above. For example, various modifications may be added to each element of the above-described embodiments and modifications, and configurations may be partially or wholly combined between the above-described embodiments and modifications. Further, the effects achieved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects, and specific effects according to the specific configurations of each embodiment can also be exhibited. Thus, various additions, changes, and partial deletions can be made to each element described in the claims, specification, and drawings without departing from the technical spirit and spirit of the present disclosure.

10 bag conveying system 11 bag supply unit 11a first bag supply device 11b second bag supply device 11c third bag supply device 12 bag transfer unit 13 post-stage unit 14 bag making machine 15 supply relay device 16 Supply Conveyor 17 Stacking Device 18 Subsequent Sending Device 19 Discharge Conveying Device 19a First Discharging Conveying Device 19b Second Discharging Conveying Device 19c Third Discharging Conveying Device 20 Transfer Lane 21 First Lane 22 Second 2 lane, 23 3rd lane, 24 4th lane, 25 5th lane, 26 6th lane, 27 7th lane, 28 8th lane, 30 transfer body, 32 transfer control unit, B bag, Bg bag group, Z11 1st bag supply zone, Z12 2nd bag supply zone, Z13 3rd bag supply zone, Z2 Bag release zone, Z21 1st bag release zone, Z22 2nd bag release zone, Z23 3rd bag release zone, Z31 1st bag Transferred object waiting zone Z32 Second bag transfer object waiting zone Z33 Third bag transfer object waiting zone Z41 First empty transfer object waiting zone Z42 Second empty transfer object waiting zone Z43 Third empty transfer object waiting zone

Claims (8)

An article transfer unit that receives a plurality of groups of articles sent from an article supply unit in an article supply zone, transfers them to an article discharge zone, and sends them from the article discharge zone to a subsequent unit,
a transfer lane having said goods supply zone and said goods discharge zone;
a plurality of transport bodies movable independently of each other along the transport lane, the transport bodies moving to the article discharge zone together with the group of articles received at the article supply zone;
a post-stage delivery device for delivering a group of articles to the post-stage unit from one or more transfer bodies positioned in the article delivery zone;
a transfer control unit that controls the movement of the plurality of transfer bodies and the post-delivery device;
each of the plurality of product groups includes one or more products;
two or more transport bodies can be simultaneously positioned in the article discharge zone;
The transport control section can control movements of the plurality of transport bodies to change at least one of the number and position of the transport bodies simultaneously positioned in the article discharge zone. The transfer lane has an article transfer standby zone,
2. The article transfer unit according to claim 1, wherein a transfer body among the plurality of transfer bodies that moves together with the group of articles moves to the article discharge zone via the article transfer body waiting zone. The transfer lane has an empty transfer object waiting zone,
3. The article transfer unit according to claim 1, wherein a transfer body that moves without holding a group of articles among the plurality of transfer bodies moves to the article supply zone via the empty transfer body waiting zone. The article transfer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of article supply zones are provided, and a group of articles sent out from the article supply unit is supplied to each of the plurality of article supply zones. A plurality of the empty transfer object waiting zones are provided,
The plurality of empty transfer object waiting zones are assigned to the plurality of article supply zones,
5. An article transfer unit as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of transfers moves to an assigned article supply zone via one of said plurality of empty transfer holding zones. The article transfer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of said article ejection zones are provided, and said plurality of article ejection zones are assigned to a plurality of post-stage devices included in said post-stage unit. the plurality of transport bodies are moved along the transport lane by magnetic force;
The article transfer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the transfer control section controls magnetic forces acting on the plurality of transfer bodies. a bag supply unit including a bag making machine;
an article transfer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7;
and a post-stage unit that receives one or a plurality of bag groups delivered from the article transfer unit as the article group.