JP2023104387A - Shopping basket conveyance device, shopping basket washer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a shopping basket conveyance device reduced in interference of a gripping part or the shopping basket with a first fixing guide, while reducing vibration of the shopping basket gripped by the gripping part, or setting place displacement of the shopping basket.SOLUTION: A shopping basket conveyance device (4) has a gripping part (16), a conveyance part (18), a first fixing guide (20), and a movable guide (36). The conveyance part moves the gripping part gripping the shopping basket in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction. The first fixing guide guides movement of the gripping part along the first direction. The movable guide is formed on the gripping part, and guides the movement of the gripping part along at least the first direction, when the gripping part is positioned at a position not overlapping the first fixing guide in the second directional view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a shopping basket transport device for transporting a shopping basket and a shopping basket cleaning machine for cleaning the shopping basket.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a container storage system that stores containers including a plurality of stacked shopping baskets and allows a desired container to be taken out. Patent Literature 1 describes a technique for transporting a container using a transport device driven by a power unit including a belt or the like.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-42025

As described in Patent Document 1, when a shopping basket is transported by a transportation device, the vibration of the transportation device causes vibration of the shopping basket during transportation or displacement of the installed position of the transported shopping basket. There is It is conceivable to install a guide to guide the transportation device to reduce the vibration of the transportation device, but when the shopping basket is moved in multiple directions by the transportation device, the guide may interfere with the transportation device or the shopping basket. be.

In order to solve the above problems, a shopping basket transport device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a gripping portion that grips a shopping basket, and a gripping portion that moves in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction. a first fixed guide whose position is fixed and guides the movement of the gripping portion along the first direction; and a movable guide that guides the movement of the grip along at least the first direction when it is positioned so as not to overlap the fixed guide.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a design that reduces interference between the grip portion or the shopping basket and the first fixed guide while reducing vibration of the shopping basket gripped by the grip portion or displacement of the installation position of the shopping basket. To realize a shopping basket transportation device capable of

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic front view and schematic side view of a gripping portion and a transport portion of the shopping basket washing machine according to the embodiment; It is a schematic side view of a shopping basket. 1 is a schematic front view of a shopping basket washing machine according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the shopping basket washing machine according to the embodiment, for explaining movement of the gripping portion by the first shift mechanism; 4 is a schematic plan view of the first roller unit and first fixed guide of the shopping basket washing machine according to the embodiment; FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a shopping basket cleaning machine for explaining transportation and cleaning of shopping baskets by the shopping basket cleaning machine according to the embodiment; FIG.

[Embodiment]
<Overview of shopping basket>
A shopping basket transported by the shopping basket transportation apparatus according to the present embodiment and cleaned by the shopping basket cleaning machine will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a plurality of shopping baskets X stacked one above the other. The shopping basket X is, for example, a container that can be hung by a handle provided on the top. By inserting the shopping basket X into the container part from the opening of the other shopping basket X, it is possible to stack them in the vertical direction.

In FIG. 2, only the topmost and bottommost shopping baskets X among the stacked shopping baskets X are shown, and the other shopping baskets X are omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a plurality of shopping baskets X may be vertically stacked in a state in which the lowest shopping basket X is inserted into a holder Y having casters. As a result, the plurality of shopping baskets X may be transported together with the holders Y together.

<Overview of shopping basket cleaning equipment>
Next, referring to FIG. 3, the shopping basket cleaning machine according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the shopping basket cleaning machine 2 according to this embodiment. In addition, in each front view, side view, and plan view according to the present embodiment, in order to show each part in more detail, there are cases where a member located on the back side of the paper surface of a certain member is shown through. In addition, in these drawings, for the sake of simplification of illustration, there are cases where only some members are extracted and illustration of other members is omitted.

The shopping basket cleaning machine 2 is a device that cleans the shopping basket X while transporting the shopping basket X individually in a first direction D1 and a second direction D2 different from the first direction D1. In this embodiment, an example in which the first direction D1 is the vertical direction and the second direction is the horizontal direction will be described.

The shopping basket cleaning machine 2 includes, for example, a transportation device 4 as a shopping basket transportation device, a first holding section 6, a cleaning tank 8, an input mechanism 10, an ejection mechanism 12, and a second holding section 14. . The shopping basket cleaning machine 2 is a device that cleans the shopping baskets X in the cleaning tank 8 while transporting the shopping baskets X individually by the transportation device 4, as will be described later.

<Overview of transport device (shopping basket transport device)>
The transportation device 4 will be described below. The transport device 4 includes a grip portion 16 , a transport portion 18 , a first fixed guide 20 , a second fixed guide 22 and a frame 24 . Furthermore, the transport device 4 further comprises a movable guide, which will be described in detail below. It should be noted that the movable guide is omitted in FIG. 3 for simplicity of illustration. The transport section 18 has two first shift mechanisms 26 and a single second shift mechanism 28 . Furthermore, the transport device 4 comprises a gripper 16 for each first shift mechanism 26 , in other words two grippers 16 .

The transportation device 4 includes the above components inside the frame 24 except for the frame 24 . Here, the gripping portion 16 and the transporting portion 18 are configured to be movable with respect to the frame 24 . The positions of the first fixed guide 20 and the second fixed guide 22 are fixed with respect to the frame 24 . The shopping basket washing machine 2 may include a rectangular housing that covers the entire frame 24 .

The transportation device 4 transports the shopping basket X by moving the gripping portion 16 that grips the shopping basket X with the transportation portion 18 . Here, the movement of the gripping part 16 by the transporting part 18 is guided by at least the first fixed guide 20 and the second fixed guide 22 . Guidance of movement of the grasping portion 16 by the first fixed guide 20 and the second fixed guide 22 will be described later in detail.

The transport device 4 will be further described with reference to FIG. 1 in addition to FIG. FIG. 1 is an enlarged schematic diagram of area A shown in FIG. 1 shows a side view A1. FIG. Further, FIG. 1 shows another schematic side view A2 of the transportation device 4 viewed from the direction B shown in the schematic side view A1, in other words, each part shown in the schematic side view A1 is viewed from one side of the second direction D2. Note that the schematic side view A1 and the schematic side view A2 also show portions of the first fixed guide 20, the second fixed guide 22, and the frame 24, which are located in the vicinity of the grip portion 16 and the transport portion 18. Sometimes.

<Grip part>
First, the grip portion 16 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that, in the present embodiment, the two gripping portions 16 have the same configuration and functions, respectively, so the description of the gripping portions 16 that are not included in the area A of FIG. 3 will be omitted.

As shown in schematic side views A1 and A2 of FIG. 1, the gripper 16 includes a pair of gripping arms 30, for example. Each gripping arm 30 is a gripping member that grips the shopping basket X by rotating in conjunction with each other by a jack 32, which is a power unit shown in a schematic side view A2, for example.

The gripping portion 16 is moved in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 by the transporting portion 18 by a method to be described later. Therefore, the gripping section 16 can transport the shopping basket X by being transported by the transporting section 18 while the shopping basket X is held between the gripping arms 30 . Further, the gripping section 16 can release the gripping of the shopping basket X by opening the pair of gripping arms 30 to release the gripping of the shopping basket X by the gripping arms 30 and place the shopping basket X thereon.

The gripping portion 16 further includes a first roller unit 34 . The first roller unit 34 has a plurality of driven rollers. In particular, the first roller unit 34 has a first roller 34A having a rotation axis substantially parallel to the second direction, and a rotation axis substantially orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction. It has a second roller 34B and a third roller 34C which are formed to sandwich the .

The first roller unit 34 has a function of guiding movement of the gripping portion 16 along the first direction D1 by the first fixed guide 20 . Here, the positional relationship between the first fixed guide 20 and the driven rollers included in the first roller unit 34 will be described with reference to FIG. will be explained together.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the first fixed guide 20 and the first roller unit 34 according to this embodiment. In other words, the first fixed guide 20 and the first roller unit 34 are arranged in the first direction D1. 1 is a schematic diagram seen from above. FIG. In FIG. 4, the illustration of surrounding members other than the first fixed guide 20 and the first roller unit 34 is omitted for simplicity of illustration.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a case where the first roller unit 34 overlaps a space surrounded by three surfaces of the first fixed guide 20 described later, but does not overlap the first fixed guide 20. As shown in FIG. be. In particular, in FIG. 4, the first roller unit 34 is positioned so that each surface surrounds three sides of the periphery of the first roller unit 34 when viewed from the top to the bottom in the first direction D1. and

<First fixed guide>
The first fixed guide 20, as shown in FIG. 4, includes three plate-like members, a first surface 20A, a second surface 20B, and a third surface 20C. In particular, the first surface 20A is located on a plane parallel to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. In addition, the second surface 20B is erected from one end of the first surface 20A and positioned on a plane that is parallel to the first direction D1 and crosses the second direction D2. Furthermore, the third surface 20C is erected from the other end of the first surface 20A, is positioned on a plane parallel to the first direction D1 and intersects the second direction D2, and is particularly formed at a position facing the second surface 20B. be. The first fixed guide 20 is fixed to the frame 24 as shown in FIG.

When the first roller unit 34 is at the position shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the gripping portion 16 is moved downward in the first direction D1 by, for example, a method to be described later. In this case, depending on the position of the gripping portion 16, the first fixed guide 20 and the first roller unit 34 of the gripping portion 16 overlap each other in the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1. In this case, the position of the first roller unit 34 in the direction orthogonal to the first direction D1 is restricted by the first surface 20A, the second surface 20B, and the third surface 20C of the first fixed guide 20 .

However, since the first surface 20A, the second surface 20B, and the third surface 20C are positioned on a plane parallel to the first direction D1, the first roller unit 34 and, in turn, the gripping portion 16 are positioned in the first direction D1. Do not restrict movement along Therefore, the first fixed guide 20 guides the movement of the grip portion 16 along the first direction D1 while restricting the movement of the grip portion 16 in the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 including the second direction D2. .

When the first fixed guide 20 overlaps the first roller unit 34 as viewed in the second direction D2, the first surface 20A, the second surface 20B, and the third surface 20C make the grip portion 16 perpendicular to the first direction D1. Limit movement in three of the directions. In addition, since the first fixed guide 20 does not have a structure that surrounds the entire circumference of the first roller unit 34 in plan view, it does not limit the movement of the gripping portion 16 in the first direction D1.

Therefore, the first fixed guide 20 has a first surface 20A, a second surface 20B, and a third surface 20C, so that the grip portion 16 moves along the first direction D1 while the grip portion 16 moves along the first direction D1. It effectively restricts the movement of the gripper 16 in the direction perpendicular to the direction D1. Therefore, the first fixed guide 20 further reduces vibration of the shopping basket X gripped by the gripping portion 16 and displacement of the installation position of the shopping basket X with a simple configuration.

Here, when the first fixed guide 20 and the first roller unit 34 overlap each other in the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1, the first roller 34A is positioned on the first surface 20A, and the second roller 34B is positioned on the second surface 20B. In addition, the third rollers 34C face the third surface 20C, respectively. Therefore, even if the position of the first roller unit 34 is displaced and the first fixed guide 20 and the first roller unit 34 come into contact with each other, the first fixed guide 20 does not move any of the driven rollers of the first roller unit 34. come into contact with

Furthermore, from the relationship between the position of each driven roller of the first roller unit 34 and the direction of the rotation axis, each rotation axis is substantially perpendicular to the first direction D1 and is the extending direction of each surface of the first fixed guide 20 facing each other. and horizontal. Therefore, even when the first fixed guide 20 and the first roller unit 34 are in contact with each other, each driven roller of the first roller unit 34 in contact with the first fixed guide 20 rotates to move the first roller unit 34. can reduce the impact of Therefore, each driven roller of the first roller unit 34 reduces damage to the grip portion 16 or the first fixed guide 20 due to contact with the first fixed guide 20 and reduces vibration of the grip portion 16 .

The transportation device 4 further includes a cylindrical portion 36 as a movable guide that is formed on the grip portion 16 and guides movement of the grip portion 16 along the first direction D1 together with the first fixed guide 20 . The cylindrical portion 36 is a cylindrical member that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction D1 and moves together with the grip portion 16 . The details of the function of the cylindrical portion 36 will be described later.

<Transport Department>
As described above, transport section 18 includes first shift mechanism 26 and second shift mechanism 28 . First, the first shift mechanism 26 will be described in detail. In this embodiment, since the two first shift mechanisms 26 have the same configuration and functions, one first shift mechanism 26 included in region A in FIG. A description of the 1-shift mechanism 26 is omitted.

The first shift mechanism 26 is a mechanism that moves the grip portion 16 along the first direction. For example, first shift mechanism 26 includes belt anchor 38 , belt 40 , winch 42 , and pulley 44 .

For example, the first shift mechanism 26 includes a plurality of belt fixing portions 38 and one end of a belt 40 is fixed to each belt fixing portion 38 . Moreover, the belt fixing portion 38 is also fixed to the grip portion 16 . As a result, the belt 40 pulls the grip portion 16 via the belt fixing portion 38 .

The winch 42 winds up or unwinds the belt 40 through the pulley 44 by being rotated by a power unit (not shown). Therefore, as the winch 42 rotates, the gripping portion 16 pulled by the belt 40 via the belt fixing portion 38 moves along the first direction. Therefore, the first shift mechanism 26 moves the gripper 16 along the first direction by controlling the rotation of the winch 42 .

The first shift mechanism 26 employs a belt 40 for movement of the gripper 16 along the first direction. For this reason, the transportation device 4 has a simpler configuration of the first shift mechanism 26 than, for example, a case where chains and sprockets, cylinders, or the like are used to move the gripping portion 16 along the first direction. can.

In particular, when a cylinder is used to move the gripping portion 16, it is necessary to form the cylinder above and below the movement range of the gripping portion 16. As shown in FIG. Therefore, by providing the first shift mechanism 26 with the belt 40 instead of the cylinder, the size of the transportation device 4 in the first direction D1 can be made smaller, and the size of the entire device can be reduced.

Also, as described above, the first direction D1 is substantially the same as the vertical direction. Therefore, the first shift mechanism 26 suspends the grip portion 16 pulled by the belt 40 according to gravity, and the winch 42 unwinds or winds the belt 40 to move the grip portion 16 approximately in the first direction D1. can be moved along. Therefore, the first shift mechanism 26 can reduce displacement in the direction orthogonal to the first direction D1 of the grip portion 16 with a simple configuration.

Next, the second shift mechanism 28 will be explained in detail. The second shift mechanism 28 includes a common housing 46 and individual housings 48 . The common housing 46 and the individual housings 48 are connected to each other and move together. Also, the individual housings 48 are respectively formed in the first shift mechanism 26 , in other words, the second shift mechanism 28 includes two individual housings 48 . In particular, the individual housings 48 are arranged with the common housing 46 interposed therebetween.

The second shift mechanism 28 further includes protrusions 50 formed on each individual housing 48 . The projecting portion 50 is, for example, a straight rod member projecting downward from the individual housing 48 . In particular, the projecting portion 50 is located at a position overlapping the opening of the cylindrical portion 36 when viewed from the first direction D1, and has a smaller diameter than the opening. Furthermore, the extending direction of the projecting portion 50 is substantially the same as the extending direction of the cylindrical portion 36 .

For example, assume that the first shift mechanism 26 lifts the grip portion 16 upward in the first direction D1, and the grip portion 16 moves to the uppermost position in the first direction D1. In this case, at least part of the projecting portion 50 is inserted inside the cylindrical portion 36, as shown in the schematic side view A1 and the schematic side view A2 of FIG. Thus, in a state in which at least part of the projecting portion 50 is inserted inside the cylindrical portion 36, the grip portion 16 is perpendicular to the first direction D1 including the second direction D2 with respect to the second shift mechanism 28. Directional movement is restricted.

Further, second shift mechanism 28 includes chain fixing portion 52 , chain 54 , and sprocket 56 . A chain fixing portion 52 is formed in the common housing 46 , and a chain 54 is connected to the chain fixing portion 52 . For example, the chain 54 may be connected to the chain fixing portion 52 so as to form one ring including the chain fixing portion 52 .

The chain 54 further meshes with the sprocket 56 and is sent out as the sprocket 56 rotates. Therefore, the second shift mechanism 28 rotates the sprocket 56 by a power section (not shown) and feeds out the annular chain 54 , thereby moving the common housing 46 via the chain fixing section 52 .

Here, referring to FIG. 3, the second shift mechanism 28 includes two sprockets 56 arranged substantially parallel to the second direction D2. Therefore, the chain 54 extending between the two sprockets 56 extends substantially parallel to the second direction D2. Therefore, the second shift mechanism 28 moves the common housing 46 along the second direction D2 by sending out the ring-shaped chain 54 .

<Second fixed guide>
Further, the second shift mechanism 28 includes a second roller unit 58, as shown in the schematic side view A2 of FIG. The second roller unit 58 has a function of guiding movement of the gripping portion 16 along the second direction D2 by the second fixed guide 22 . For example, the second fixed guide 22 is positioned around the second roller unit 58 .

The second fixed guide 22, like the first fixed guide 20, has three surfaces extending in a direction parallel to the second direction D2 and perpendicular to the first direction. In particular, the second fixed guide 22 is formed at a position where each surface surrounds three sides of the circumference of the second roller unit 58 when viewed in the second direction D2. Therefore, the second fixed guide 22 restricts the movement of the second shift mechanism 28 in the direction perpendicular to the second direction D2 including the first direction D1, while moving the second shift mechanism 28 along the second direction D2. guide the movement. Note that the second roller unit 58 may include driven rollers that face each surface of the second fixed guide 22 , like the first roller unit 34 . The second fixed guide 22 is fixed to the frame 24 as shown in FIG.

Here, as shown in the schematic side view A1 and the schematic side view A2 of FIG. 1, when at least part of the projecting portion 50 is inserted inside the cylindrical portion 36, the position of the grip portion 16 in the second direction D2 is limited by the second shift mechanism 28 . Furthermore, in the above-described case, when the second shift mechanism 28 moves along the second direction D2, the projecting portion 50 pushes the cylindrical portion 36, so that the grip portion 16 moves together with the second shift mechanism 28.

Therefore, considering the guidance of the movement of the second shift mechanism 28 along the second direction D2 by the second fixed guide 22 described above, the second fixed guide 22 guides the movement of the grip portion 16 along the second direction D2. invite. However, since the second fixed guide 22 does not overlap the grip portion 16 when viewed from the first direction D1, the second fixed guide 22 does not restrict the movement of the grip portion 16 along the first direction D1.

As a result, the transport section 18 causes the first shift mechanism 26 to move the gripping section 16 along the first direction D1, and the second shift mechanism 28 to move the gripping section 16 along the second direction D2. Therefore, the transport section 18 does not need to be configured such that the first shift mechanism 26 and the second shift mechanism 28 move the gripping section 16 in both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. Therefore, the transportation unit 18 can move the shopping basket X gripped by the gripping unit 16 in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 while simplifying the configurations of the first shift mechanism 26 and the second shift mechanism 28 . Each can be transported.

In addition, the first fixed guide 20 does not need to consider the movement guidance of the grip portion 16 along the second direction D2, and the second fixed guide 22 guides the grip portion 16 along the first direction D1. There is no need to consider movement guidance. Therefore, the transportation device 4 has a configuration of the first fixed guide 20 and the second fixed guide 22, and the movements of the gripping portion 16 along the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 do not interfere with each other. The design of the first fixed guide 20 and the second fixed guide 22 is made easier.

<Movement of Gripping Part by Transporting Part>
The movement of the gripper 16 by the transporter 18 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the shopping basket cleaning machine 2 as seen from one side in the second direction, and is a schematic side view showing only the transportation device 4 extracted from the shopping basket cleaning machine 2. FIG. FIG. 5 shows the gripping portion 16U positioned highest in the first direction D1 and the gripping portion 16D positioned lowest in the first direction D1. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the first roller unit 34 overlaps the space surrounded by the three surfaces of the first fixed guide 20 and does not overlap the first fixed guide when viewed from above. .

As shown in FIG. 5, the first shift mechanism 26 rotates the winch 42 when the first roller unit 34 overlaps the space surrounded by the three surfaces of the first fixed guide 20 in plan view. It is assumed that the belt 40 is sent out. In this case, the grip portion 16 pulled by the belt 40 moves downward in the first direction D1. Here, when the gripping portion 16 moves to a position where the projecting portion 50 is not inserted inside the cylindrical portion 36, such as the gripping portion 16D shown in FIG. , to a position overlapping with the first fixed guide 20 in the direction perpendicular to . Therefore, when the projecting portion 50 is not inserted inside the cylindrical portion 36 , the gripping portion 16 is guided by the first fixed guide 20 to move along the first direction D<b>1 .

Here, the first shift mechanism 26 rotates the winch 42 to wind the belt 40, whereby the gripping portion 16 suspended by the belt 40 moves upward in the first direction D1. Here, when the gripping portion 16 is at a position where the projecting portion 50 is inserted inside the cylindrical portion 36, such as the gripping portion 16U shown in FIG. It is positioned so as not to overlap the first fixed guide 20 in the direction perpendicular to the direction D1.

In other words, when the projecting portion 50 is inserted inside the cylindrical portion 36 , the gripping portion 16 is not guided by the first fixed guide 20 to move along the first direction D<b>1 . However, even at a position where the movement is not guided by the first fixed guide 20, by inserting the projecting portion 50 inside the cylindrical portion 36, the cylindrical portion 36 moves along the second direction D2 with respect to the second shift mechanism 28. position is restricted. Therefore, even at a position where movement is not guided by the first fixed guide 20, the gripping part 16 can be positioned in a direction orthogonal to the first direction D1 including the second direction D2 by the cylindrical part 36, which is a movable guide. Movement along the first direction D1 is guided while being restricted.

Furthermore, as described above, when the protruding portion 50 is positioned to be inserted inside the cylindrical portion 36, the first roller unit 34 of the gripping portion 16 moves along the first fixed guide 20 in the direction orthogonal to the first direction D1. in a non-overlapping position. In this state, when the second shift mechanism 28 rotates the sprocket 56 and moves along the second direction D2, the cylindrical portion 36 is pushed by the protruding portion 50, and the grip portion 16 shifts from the second shift mechanism 28. along the second direction. Here, since the gripping portion 16 and the first fixed guide 20 do not overlap in the direction orthogonal to the first direction D1, the gripping portion 16 does not overlap with the first fixed guide 20 regardless of movement along the second direction D2. do not interfere.

Therefore, regardless of the position of the gripping portion 16 in the first direction D1, the transportation device 4 moves the gripping portion 16 along the first direction D1 with the first fixed guide 20 and the cylindrical portion 36 as the movable guide. can be guided by any of the In addition, the transportation device 4 can guide movement of the gripping portion 16 along the second direction D2 while reducing interference between the gripping portion 16 and the first fixed guide 20 .

While the first fixed guide 20 does not guide the movement of the gripper 16, the transportation device 4 guides the movement of the gripper 16 by the cylindrical portion 36, which is a movable guide, and the projecting portion 50 included in the second shift mechanism 28. do. For this reason, the transportation device 4 should have a simpler structure of the movable guide than the structure in which the movable guide covers three sides of the second shift mechanism 28, for example, like the first fixed guide 20. can be done.

Furthermore, in the state where the protruding portion 50 is inserted inside the cylindrical portion 36, the grip portion 16 is positioned so as not to overlap the first fixed guide 20 when viewed in the second direction D2. Therefore, when the cylindrical portion 36 is pushed by the projecting portion 50 and the gripping portion 16 moves along the second direction D2 together with the second shift mechanism 28, interference between the gripping portion 16 and the first fixed guide 20 is decreasing. Therefore, the transportation device 4 can move the grasping portion 16 in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 while reducing interference between the grasping portion 16 and the first fixed guide 20 by the cylindrical portion 36, which is a movable guide. Any can guide movement along.

<First holding part>
Returning to the explanation of the shopping basket washing machine 2 with reference to FIG. 3, the first holding part 6 has a space for holding at least one shopping basket X before being washed in the washing tank 8 described later. For example, the first holding part 6 may have a space capable of storing a plurality of shopping baskets X stacked vertically on the holder Y together with the holder Y shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, a plurality of first holding portions 6 may be formed on one side of the cleaning tank 8 in the second direction D2. In this case, each first holding section 6 may hold at least one shopping basket X, respectively.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3 , the shopping basket cleaning machine 2 has first fixed guides 20 for each of the first holding portions 6 . In particular, the first fixed guide 20 is installed in the center of each first holding portion 6 in the second direction D2 and on the front side of the shopping basket washing machine 2 . Therefore, the first fixed guide 20 guides the movement of the grip portion 16 in the first direction D1 at the position where the grip portion 16 and the first holding portion 6 overlap when viewed in the first direction D1.

<Washing tank>
The washing tank 8 cleans the shopping basket X by injecting liquid into the shopping basket X from a nozzle or the like (not shown) while rotating the loaded shopping basket X about the direction toward the paper surface of FIG. It is a device that The cleaning tank 8 includes an opening for inserting the shopping basket X from the outside and a shutter for sealing the opening while the shopping basket X is being cleaned. The washing tank 8 may be provided with a blower for drying the shopping basket X by blowing air to the shopping basket X, and may be provided with a drainage groove for discharging the liquid sprayed to the shopping basket X. - 特許庁

<Injection mechanism, discharge mechanism>
The loading mechanism 10 is a mechanism for loading the shopping basket X installed in front of the cleaning tank 8 into the cleaning tank 8 . For example, the shopping basket washing machine 2 may further include a washing tank table 60 , and the loading mechanism 10 pushes the shopping basket X on the washing tank table 60 into the washing tank 8 to push the shopping basket X into the washing tank 8 . You may throw in the inside of the washing tank 8.

The discharge mechanism 12 is a mechanism for discharging the shopping basket X located inside the washing tank 8 to the outside of the washing tank 8 . For example, the discharge mechanism 12 may be formed inside the washing tank 8 and push the shopping basket X located inside the washing tank 8 onto the washing tank table 60 to wash the shopping basket X. You may discharge from the inside of the tank 8.

<Second holding part>
The second holding part 14 has a space for holding at least one shopping basket X after being washed in the washing tank 8 described above. The second holding portion 14 may be formed, for example, on the side opposite to the first holding portion 6 with respect to the cleaning tank 8 in the second direction D2. The shopping basket cleaning machine 2 may further include a belt conveyor 62 below the second holding section 14 on which a plurality of shopping baskets X can be stacked vertically. The shopping basket cleaning machine 2 may transport the shopping basket X held by the second holding section 14 by the belt conveyor 62 and carry it out of the shopping basket cleaning machine 2 .

Here, as shown in FIG. 3 , the shopping basket washing machine 2 also has the first fixed guide 20 for the second holding portion 14 . In particular, the first fixed guide 20 is installed in the center of the second holding portion 14 in the second direction D<b>2 and on the front side of the shopping basket washing machine 2 . Therefore, the first fixed guide 20 guides the movement of the grip portion 16 in the first direction D1 at the position where the grip portion 16 and the second holding portion 14 overlap when viewed in the first direction D1.

<Specific usage>
A specific method for cleaning the shopping basket X using the shopping basket cleaning machine 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the shopping basket cleaning machine 2, showing how the shopping basket X is transported and cleaned by the shopping basket cleaning machine 2. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the first holding units 6 of the shopping basket cleaning machine 2 holds a plurality of pre-washed shopping baskets X stacked in the vertical direction. In cleaning the shopping basket X using the shopping basket cleaning machine 2, first, the transport device 4 shifts the second shift mechanism 28 to the position where each gripping portion 16 overlaps the first holding portion 6 in the first direction D1. Move along direction D2.

In this state, the transportation device 4 moves the gripper 16 downward in the first direction D1 under the control of the first shift mechanism 26 . Here, the first fixed guide 20 guides movement of the grip portion 16 along the first direction D1. After the gripping portion 16 has moved to just above the shopping basket X positioned on the uppermost side in the first direction D1 among the shopping baskets X held by the first holding portion 6, the transport device 4 grips the pair of gripping portions 16. By closing the arm 30, the shopping basket X is gripped.

It should be noted that, for example, the placement position of the shopping basket X held by the first holding unit 6 is displaced in the direction orthogonal to the first direction D1 due to the inclination of the shopping baskets X stacked on top of each other or deformation of the shopping baskets X. may occur. Here, the gripping portion 16 is pulled by the belt 40 of the first shift mechanism 26 and the first roller unit 34 does not always contact the first fixed guide 20 . Therefore, although the position of the grip portion 16 perpendicular to the first direction D1 is limited while being guided by the first fixed guide 20, a certain amount of deviation is allowed. Therefore, even if the placement position of the shopping basket X held by the first holding portion 6 is slightly displaced, the gripping portion 16 can absorb the displacement and grip the shopping basket X.

With the gripping portion 16 gripping the shopping basket X, the transportation device 4 controls the first shift mechanism 26 to move the gripping portion 16 in the first direction D1 to a position where the projecting portion 50 is inserted inside the cylindrical portion 36 . pull upwards. In this case, the movement of the grip portion 16 along the first direction D1 is always guided by at least one of the first fixed guide 20 and the cylindrical portion 36 that is the movable guide.

Next, the transport device 4 moves the second shift mechanism 28 along the second direction D2 to move the grip part 16 to a position overlapping the cleaning tank table 60 positioned in front of the cleaning tank 8 in the first direction D1. move. Here, since the gripping portion 16 and the first fixed guide 20 are positioned so as not to overlap with each other when viewed in the second direction D2, regardless of the movement of the gripping portion 16 along the second direction D2, the gripping portion 16 and the first fixed guide 20 can be moved. 1 does not interfere with the fixed guide 20.

Next, under the control of the first shift mechanism 26 , the transport device 4 moves the gripper 16 downward in the first direction D<b>1 until the shopping basket X gripped by the gripper 16 touches the washing tank table 60 . The transport device 4 then releases the grip of the shopping basket X by opening the pair of gripping arms 30 of the gripper 16 . As a result, the transport device 4 places the shopping basket X gripped by the gripper 16 on the washing tank table 60 .

Next, the loading mechanism 10 puts the shopping basket X on the cleaning tank table 60 into the cleaning tank 8, and the cleaning tank 8 cleans the shopping basket X inside, whereby the shopping basket cleaning machine 2 cleans the shopping basket X. . The washed shopping basket X inside the washing tank 8 is discharged onto the washing tank table 60 by the discharge mechanism 12 . While the shopping basket X is being washed in the washing tank 8, the transportation device 4 may cause one gripper 16 to grip a new shopping basket X before cleaning by the method described above.

Here, the movement of the gripper 16 along the first direction D1 at the position overlapping the cleaning tank table 60 as viewed in the first direction D1 may not be guided by the first fixed guide 20 or the like. Even in this case, the movement of the grasping portion 16 along the first direction D1 is partially guided by the cylindrical portion 36, which is a movable guide. Further, in the above case, the position of the shopping basket X placed on the washing tank table 60 may be displaced. Therefore, the cleaning tank 8 and the loading mechanism 10 can load the shopping basket X on the cleaning tank table 60 into the cleaning tank 8 irrespective of the position of the shopping basket X placed on the cleaning tank table 60 slightly shifted. may be configured to

Next, the transport device 4 causes the gripper 16 to grip the cleaned shopping basket X on the washing tank table 60 in the same manner as the gripper 16 grips the shopping basket X of the first gripper 6 . When one gripping part 16 has already gripped the shopping basket X before washing, the transportation device 4 causes the other gripping part 16 not gripping the shopping basket X to grip the washed shopping basket X. - 特許庁

Next, the transport device 4 removes the cleaned shopping basket X from the washing tank table 60 by moving the gripping part 16 that grips the cleaned shopping basket X. As shown in FIG. Immediately after the washed shopping basket X is removed from the washing tank table 60 , the transportation device 4 places the unwashed shopping basket X on the washing tank table 60 under the control of the gripper 16 that grips the shopping basket X before washing. Car X may be installed. As a result, the shopping basket washing machine 2 can continue to wash a new shopping basket X with the washing tank 8 .

Next, the transport device 4 moves the second shift mechanism 28 along the second direction D2 until the gripping portion 16 gripping the cleaned shopping basket X overlaps the second holding portion 14 in the first direction D1. . In this state, the transportation device 4 moves the gripper 16 downward in the first direction D1 under the control of the first shift mechanism 26 . Here, the first fixed guide 20 guides movement of the grip portion 16 along the first direction D1.

When the gripping portion 16 moves until the shopping basket X gripped by the gripping portion 16 and the belt conveyor 62, which overlaps the second gripping portion 14 in a plan view, are in contact with each other, the transportation device 4 moves the pair of gripping arms 30 of the gripping portion 16. By opening, the grip of the shopping basket X is released. As a result, the transport device 4 places the cleaned shopping basket X on the second holding portion 14 and causes the second holding portion 14 to hold it.

Thereafter, each part of the shopping basket cleaning machine 2 repeatedly executes the above-described operations. In particular, the shopping basket washing machine 2 controls the transportation device 4 to move the washed shopping basket X to the second holding part 14 and to clean the Then, the shopping basket X is moved from the first holding portion 6 to the cleaning tank table 60. As a result, the shopping basket washer 2 individually cleans the pre-washed shopping baskets X held by the first holding unit 6 in the cleaning tank 8, while moving the cleaned shopping baskets X to the second holding unit 14. Then, the washed shopping basket X can be transported to the outside.

<Summary>
The transportation device 4, which is a shopping basket transportation device provided in the shopping basket cleaning machine 2 according to the present embodiment, includes a first fixed guide 20 that guides the movement of the gripping portion 16 that grips the shopping basket X along the first direction D1. Prepare. The transportation device 4 also includes a cylindrical portion 36 as a movable guide formed on the grip portion 16 . The cylindrical portion 36 is located at a position where the grip portion 16 does not overlap the first fixed guide 20 when viewed in a second direction D2 different from the first direction D1. It guides movement of the portion 16 along at least the first direction D1.

Therefore, even when the grip portion 16 does not overlap the first fixed guide 20 in the second direction D2 and the position of the grip portion 16 in the second direction D2 is not restricted by the first fixed guide 20, the grip portion 16 is The movement is guided by the cylindrical portion 36 which is a movable guide. Therefore, the transport device 4 can reduce or eliminate periods in which the gripper 16 is not guided by any guide. Therefore, the transport device 4 reduces positional deviation of the gripping portion 16, and reduces vibration of the shopping basket X gripped by the gripping portion 16 and displacement of the installation position of the shopping basket X to be transported.

Further, while the movement of the grasping portion 16 is guided by the cylindrical portion 36, the first fixed guide 20 and the grasping portion 16 do not overlap when viewed from the second direction D2. Further, the transportation device 4 inserts the projecting portion 50 inside the cylindrical portion 36 to move the gripping portion 16 in the second direction D2 while the movement of the gripping portion 16 is guided by the cylindrical portion 36. A shift mechanism 28 is provided as part of the transport section 18 . As a result, the transportation device 4 can reduce interference between the grasping portion 16 and the first fixed guide 20 that accompanies movement of the grasping portion 16 in the second direction D2.

In this embodiment, the transportation device 4 has the cylindrical portion 36 as a movable guide, and the second shift mechanism 28 has the protruding portion 50, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transportation device 4 may have, as a movable guide, a protruding portion formed on the grip portion 16 and protruding upward in the first direction D1. In this case, the second shift mechanism 28 is a cylindrical portion that restricts the movement of the grip portion 16 along the second direction D2 with respect to the second shift mechanism 28 by inserting the projection formed on the grip portion 16 inside. may have

The shopping basket cleaning machine 2 according to this embodiment includes a first holding portion 6 that holds the shopping basket X before cleaning and a second holding portion 14 that holds the shopping basket X after cleaning. Therefore, the shopping basket cleaning machine 2 can collectively put the shopping baskets X before cleaning into the first holding section 6 and take out the cleaned shopping baskets X collectively from the second holding section 14 . Therefore, the shopping basket washing machine 2 can reduce the labor of putting the shopping baskets X before washing into the device one by one, and can also reduce the labor of taking out the washed shopping baskets X one by one from the device.

The transportation device 4 guides the movement of the grasping portion 16 along the first direction D1 at positions overlapping with the first holding portion 6 and the second holding portion 14 in the second direction D2. Therefore, the transportation device 4 more reliably grips the shopping basket X held by the first holding portion 6 and further improves the accuracy of the placing position of the shopping basket X on the second holding portion 14 .

The shopping basket cleaning machine 2 may be installed indoors where the shopping basket X is used, such as inside a supermarket. In this case, the first shift mechanism 26 moves the gripper 16 along the first direction D1 by means of the belt 40, thereby contributing to downsizing of the shopping basket washing machine 2 as a whole and making the shopping basket washing machine 2 more compact. make it easier to introduce indoors.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments is also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

2 Shopping Basket Washer 4 Transportation Device 6 First Holding Part 8 Cleaning Tank 10 Inserting Mechanism 12 Ejecting Mechanism 14 Second Holding Part 16 Grasping Part 18 Transporting Part 20 First Fixed Guide 20A First Surface 20B Second Surface 20C Third Surface 22 Second fixed guide 26 First shift mechanism 28 Second shift mechanism 34 First roller unit 34A First roller 34B Second roller 34C Third roller 36 Cylindrical portion (movable guide)
40 Belt 50 Projection D1 First direction D2 Second direction

Claims (13)

a gripping portion that grips the shopping basket;
a transportation unit for moving the gripping unit in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction;
a first fixed guide whose position is fixed and guides the movement of the grip along the first direction;
a movable guide formed in the gripping portion and guiding movement of the gripping portion along at least the first direction when the gripping portion is at a position not overlapping the first fixed guide when viewed in the second direction; shopping basket transport device. The first fixed guide has a first surface parallel to the first direction and the second direction, and a second surface extending from one end of the first surface and parallel to the first direction and intersecting the second direction. and a third surface erected from the other end of the first surface and facing the second surface, wherein the position of the grip portion is determined by the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface. 2. A shopping basket transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gripper is guided in a restricted manner. The gripping portion includes a first roller, a second roller, and a third roller facing each of the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface while being guided by the first fixed guide. 3. The shopping basket transport device of claim 2. 4. The transport unit includes a first shift mechanism that moves the gripping portion along the first direction, and a second shift mechanism that moves the gripping portion along the second direction. The shopping basket transportation device according to any one of 1. the second shift mechanism moves along the second direction together with the grip;
one of the movable guide and the second shift mechanism has a cylindrical portion, the other of the movable guide and the second shift mechanism has a protrusion,
5. The shopping basket transport device according to claim 4, wherein the movable guide guides the gripping portion by inserting the projection inside the cylindrical portion and restricting the position of the gripping portion with respect to the second shift mechanism. . 6. The shopping basket transporting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the holding portion and the first fixed guide do not overlap when viewed in the second direction in a state where the projecting portion is inserted inside the cylindrical portion. 7. The shopping basket transporting apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising a second fixed guide whose position is fixed and guides movement of said gripping portion and said second shift mechanism in said second direction. . 8. The shopping basket transport apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein said first shift mechanism includes a belt that pulls said gripper to move said gripper in said first direction. 9. The shopping basket transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said first direction is vertical and said second direction is horizontal. A shopping basket transportation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9;
a first holder that holds at least one of the shopping baskets before cleaning;
a washing tank for washing the shopping basket before washing;
a loading mechanism installed in front of the cleaning tank for loading the shopping basket before cleaning into the cleaning tank;
The gripping section grips one of the unwashed shopping baskets held by the first holding section, and the transportation section moves the unwashed shopping basket gripped by the gripping section to the front of the washing tank. shopping basket washer. 11. The shopping basket washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the first fixed guide guides movement of the gripping portion in the first direction at a position where the gripping portion and the first holding portion overlap when viewed in the first direction. . Further comprising a second holding part for holding at least one of the washed shopping baskets,
The washing tank includes a discharge mechanism for discharging the washed shopping basket to the front of the washing tank,
11. The holding part holds the washed shopping basket positioned in front of the washing tank, and the transportation part moves the washed shopping basket held by the holding part to the second holding part. 12. The shopping basket washing machine according to 11. 13. The shopping basket washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the first fixed guide guides movement of the gripping portion in the first direction at a position where the gripping portion and the second holding portion overlap when viewed in the first direction. .

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