JP2533983B2 - Column supply device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a columnar material feeding device for automatically supplying a columnar material such as canned food or canned beer in a single row while automatically changing it from an upright state to an overturned state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, Japanese Patent Application No. 1-261115 discloses a device for automatically packing canned articles and the like as gifts.
Have been proposed. this is,
Upright columns are fed in multiple rows in a certain direction, the top of each row is laid down, and these are sucked and held by a suction cup and stored in a box.

[0003]

However, since the columnar object supply device in the above-mentioned conventional packing device feeds the columnar objects in a large number of rows, there is a problem that the device becomes larger and the occupied area increases. is there. Also, for example, when packing different types of columnar objects with different heights in the same box,
There is also a problem in that the box packing device becomes larger in size when the column-shaped object supply devices are arranged in parallel.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a top plate chain conveyor that conveys upright columnar products in a single row, and a flow of the columnar products downstream of the top plate chain conveyor. And a downstream stopper that stops the flow of the columnar objects when a predetermined number of columnar objects flow into the columnar material storage portion on the upstream side of the downstream stopper on the top plate chain conveyor, and the top plate A pusher, which is arranged along one side of the columnar object storage part of the chain conveyor, pushes out one row of the columnar objects stored in the columnar object storage part toward the other side, and a columnar member in the columnar object storage part. When an object flows in, it guides the flow of the columnar object together with the pusher, and when the pusher pushes out the columnar object in the columnar object storage section, the columnar object A shutter provided along the other side of the columnar object storage portion for opening a passage and a columnar object pushed out by the pusher from the passage opened by the shutter are received in an upright state and then rotated. Adopting a configuration of a columnar object supply device provided with a rollover operating device for rolling the columnar object in a rollover state and an extruding device for pushing out the columnar object in the rollover state by the rollover operation device to the columnar article conveying conveyor in the rollover state. ing.

[0005]

[Operation] A top plate chain conveyor conveys upright columns in a single row. In the columnar object storage portion of the top plate chain conveyor, the columnar object is sandwiched by the pusher and the shutter from both sides, and therefore flows smoothly. The downstream stopper blocks the flow of the columnar object on the downstream side of the top plate chain conveyor.

Further, when a predetermined number of columnar objects flow into the columnar object storage portion, the upstream stopper operates to stop the flow of the columnar objects. As a result, a predetermined number of pillars are arranged in a line in the pillar storage part. Next, the shutter opens the other side of the columnar object storage portion, and the pusher pushes the columnar object in the columnar object storage portion to the other side.

After receiving the pushed upright column of columnar articles, the overturning operation device rotates and puts the columnar articles in the overturned state. After that, the pushing device is operated to push out the columnar object in the laterally-rolled state by the lateral-rolling operation device to the columnar-material conveying conveyor in the horizontally-rolled state. The columnar conveyor is
The columnar object is conveyed to a predetermined place such as a packaging device.

As described above, in the apparatus, the columnar members are sent in a line in an upright state and discharged as a line in a horizontal state, so that the occupied space is reduced. Also, even if a plurality of boxes are connected to a packaging device, the occupied space does not become excessive.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the columnar object supplying apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the columnar object supply device according to the present invention includes a top plate chain conveyor 1 that conveys the columnar objects a in an upright state in one row, and a columnar member on the downstream side of the top plate chain conveyor 1. Downstream stopper 2 that stops the flow of object a
And an upstream stopper 4 that stops the flow of the columnar objects a when a predetermined number of columnar objects a flow into the columnar object storage portion 3 on the upstream side of the downstream stopper 2 on the top plate chain conveyor 1, and the top plate chain conveyor 1. A pusher 5 arranged along one side of the columnar object storage part 3 for pushing out one row of columnar objects a accumulated in the columnar object storage part 3 toward the other side, and a columnar object storage When the columnar material a flows into the portion 3, the flow of the columnar material a is guided together with the pusher 5, and when the pusher 5 pushes the columnar material a in the columnar material storage portion 3, the passage of the columnar material a is opened. After receiving the shutter 6 arranged along the other side of the article storage section 3 and the columnar object a pushed out by the pusher 6 from the passage opened by the shutter 6 in an upright state, the columnar article is rotated to form the columnar article. Roll over The rolling operation device 7, and a pushing device 9 to push the pillars a which is a rollover state by roll operating device 7 remains pillars conveyor 8 rollover state.

These are held in the machine casing 10. The column a is a can of beer in this embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to canning. Next, each of the above parts will be described in order. Top Plate Chain Conveyor The top plate chain conveyor 1 includes a cylindrical frame 11 held horizontally in a machine frame 10 and a top plate chain 1 stretched horizontally along the frame 11.
2 and a drive motor (not shown).

The top plate chain 12 is formed by connecting a large number of plates 13 in parallel. The top plate chain 12 travels on the upper part of the frame 11 from the left to the right in FIG. It is designed to run. On the top plate chain conveyor 1, the plates 13 are horizontally connected, and the columnar articles a run on the top plate chain conveyor 1 in an upright state.

Downstream Stopper The downstream stopper 2 is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
Top plate chain conveyor 1 at the right end of machine frame 10
It is supported by a bracket 14 attached to the frame 11. The bracket 14 crosses over the top plate chain conveyor 1, and a nut 15 fixed to the center thereof is penetrated by a screw rod 16 parallel to the top plate chain conveyor 1.

An air cylinder 17 is fixed to the left end of the screw rod 16, and a handle 18 is fixed to the right end. The tip of the rod of the air cylinder 17 is an abutting portion 19 that corresponds to the head of the columnar object a flowing on the top plate chain conveyor 1. The downstream stopper 2 sets the stop position of the top columnar object a by its abutting portion 19, and the position of the abutting portion 19 can be set by rotating the screw rod 16 by the handle 18.

Further, the rod of the air cylinder 17 always projects to the outside so that the contact portion 19 can be retracted before the shutter 6 descends, as will be described later. Upstream-side stopper The upstream-side stopper 4, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,
It is attached to the left end of the machine casing 10.

Reference numeral 20 indicates an abutting portion for abutting the peripheral wall of a predetermined columnar object a on the top plate chain conveyor 1 to stop it. The abutting portion reciprocates so as to traverse over the top plate chain conveyor 1 by the operation of the air cylinder 21 fixed to the machine frame 10 to come into contact with or separate from the columnar object a. There is.

The air cylinder 21 has a contact portion 20 when a sensor (not shown) detects that the columnar objects a are lined up without a gap between the downstream stopper 2 and the upstream stopper 4.
Is designed to project. This upstream stopper 4
The columnar object storage part 3 is formed on the top plate chain conveyor 1 by the downstream stopper 2 and.

The pusher pusher 5 is, as shown in FIG.
It is provided symmetrically along one side of the column of the columnar objects a therein. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pusher 5 is divided for each columnar object a or for a certain group of columnar objects a so that each pusher 5 reciprocates by the air cylinders 22 and 23. Has become.

In the case of the illustrated example, there are 18 pillars a in the pillar storage part 3, and four pillars a on both sides of the pillar except a central pillar.
Large push pieces 24e, 24f are arranged to face a group of individual pieces, and small push pieces 24g, 24h, 24i, 24j, 24a, 2 are provided for each of the four pieces on the left and right sides thereof.
4b, 24c, and 24d are arranged to face each other. Large push piece 2
4e, 24f and small pressing pieces 24g, 24h, 24i, 24
j, 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d are fixed to the tips of the rods of air cylinders 22 and 23 installed horizontally with respect to the machine frame 10, respectively, and the top plate chain conveyor is operated by the operation of the air cylinders 22 and 23. It is designed to reciprocate across 1 above.

A guide wall 25 is arranged so as to face the two central pillars. Shutter The shutter 6 is, as shown in FIG.
It is provided along the other side of the column of the columnar objects a in the column.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pusher 6 is
It is divided for each columnar object a or for a group of columnar objects a, and each is vertically reciprocated by an air cylinder.

In the case of the illustrated example, the large shutter piece 26a is arranged so as to face eight groups on the right side of the eighteen columnar objects a except for the central two, and four groups on the left side. A middle shutter piece 26b is arranged opposite to each other, and a small shutter piece 2 is provided for each left columnar object a.
6c, 26d, 26e and 26f are arranged to face each other.
As shown in FIG. 4, the large shutter piece 26a, the middle shutter piece 26b, and the small shutter pieces 26c, 26d, 26e, and 26f are fixed to the upper ends of the rods of the air cylinders 27 installed vertically in the machine casing 10, respectively. By operating each of the air cylinders 27, the other side of the columnar object storage section 3 is opened and closed.

The large shutter piece 26a, the middle shutter piece 26b, and the small shutter pieces 26c, 26d, 26e, 26.
Each of f is guided by a guide portion 28 fixed to the machine frame 10. When the columnar object a flows into the columnar object storage portion 3, the shutter 6 rises to the position of the chain line in FIG. 4 to guide the flow of the columnar object a together with the pusher 5, and the columnar object in the columnar object storage portion 3 is guided. When the pusher 5 pushes the object a, it descends to the solid line position to open the passage of the columnar object a.

A guide wall 25 and another guide wall 29 sandwiching the columnar object a are opposed to the central two columnar objects a. It is fixed on the machine casing 10. Rollover operation device The rollover operation device 7 is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4,
It has a horizontal axis 30 extending parallel to the shutter 6. A rocking type actuator 31 that is operated by air pressure for rotating the shaft 30 is installed at the shaft end.

A receiving plate 32 is fixed to the shaft 30 for receiving the columnar object a pushed out by the pusher 5 in an upright state. The receiving plate 32 is an elongated plate material capable of receiving an upright row of columnar objects a, and a notch 33 is formed for each columnar object a in order to prevent collision with a pushing device 9 described later.

As shown in FIG. 4, the swing-type actuator 31 is configured to rotate the receiving plate 32 by about 90 ° via the shaft 30. As a result, the receiving plate 32 becomes horizontal on the side of the shutter 6 and stands substantially vertically at a position away from the shutter 6. Further, two receiving rods 34 are fixed to the receiving plate 32 for receiving the columnar objects a pushed out by the pusher 5 for each columnar object a.

The receiving rod 34 stands upright with respect to the receiving plate 32 and comes into contact with the columnar object a along its generatrix. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, when the shutter 6 is opened and the pusher 5 pushes the columnar object a onto the receiving plate 32, the columnar object a hits the receiving rod 34 and stops. next,
The receiving plate 32 is erected by the driving of the oscillating type actuator 31, and the columnar object a is supported by the receiving rod 34 and horizontally overturned.

Extruding Device As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a transverse member 35 is arranged in parallel with the receiving plate 32 at a position slightly closer to the shutter 6 than the position where the receiving plate 32 stands up. . The cross member 35
The pressing piece 36 corresponds to the notch 33 of the receiving plate 32.
Is stuck.

The cross member 35 is fixed on a support block 37 as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 7 is slidable on a rail 38 fixed on the machine frame 10. The support block 37 is connected to a rod of an air cylinder 39 fixed to the machine frame 10 so that the pushing piece 36 above the support block 37 can reciprocate between the solid line position and the chain line position.

The air cylinder 39 is operated after the receiving plate 32 and the receiving rod 34 are rotated to the chain line position, whereby the pushing piece 36 penetrates the notch 33 of the receiving plate 32 to move from the solid line position to the chain line position. Moving. Along with this, the columnar object a on the receiving rod 34 is pushed out to the right in the state of being overturned. A columnar object conveyer 8 is provided at the portion pushed out to the right.

The column-shaped article conveyor 8 extends in parallel with the top plate chain conveyor 1, and has a horizontally stretched endless chain (not shown) and a large number of endless chains attached to the endless chain at equal pitches. Columnar object holding member 40
And a drive motor (not shown). Each of the columnar object holding members 40 has a groove-shaped recess 40a for supporting each columnar object a in a laid state, and the recess 40a.
Are connected to the endless chain at a constant pitch in a direction orthogonal to the tensioning direction of the endless chain.

By means of this column-shaped article conveying conveyor 8, the column-shaped articles a are laid side by side in a horizontal state, and are conveyed to, for example, a boxing device. Next, a series of movements of the column-shaped material supply device will be described. Since the pusher 5 and the shutter 6 are formed separately and the position of the downstream stopper 2 is adjustable in this columnar object supply device, the columnar object a is fed toward the columnar object conveyer 8. It is possible to discharge by grouping by any number of 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4.

In the following, the respective numbers will be sequentially described. In the case of eight, the handle 18 of the downstream stopper 2 is rotated to contact the contact portion 19
Is set on the downstream side of the small pressing piece 24a at the right end in FIG. Next, by driving the top plate chain conveyor 1,
The upright columnar object a enters the columnar object storage portion 3 surrounded by the downstream stopper 2, the pusher 5, and the shutter 6.

When the columnar object a becomes full, the sensor (not shown) detects this and operates the upstream stopper 4. The contact portion 20 of the upstream stopper 4 moves toward the columnar object a and cuts off the trailing part of the columnar object a. Column storage part 3
Inside, the columnar object a is in a pressurized state, and in order to release it, the air cylinder 17 is operated to separate the contact portion 19 from the leading columnar object a. This prevents the columnar object a from being pushed out to the outside when the shutter 6 is opened.

Next, all the shutters 6 descend, and all the pushers 5 operate to push the pillar-shaped object a in the pillar-shaped material storage portion 3 onto the receiving plate 32 in an upright state. The pillars a are grouped into groups of 8 except the center two, and the supporting plate 3
2 Slide up and move. The receiving plate 32 is rotated by about 90 ° on the side opposite to the shutter 6 so that the columnar objects a are in a row in a horizontal state.
The support rod 34 supports this.

After this, the pushing piece 36 reciprocates to move the receiving rod 3
The column of the columnar articles a on 4 is slid on the columnar article holding members 40 of the columnar article transporting conveyor 8 in the state of being laid down. For example, a box packing device is installed downstream of the column-shaped article conveyer 8, and suction cups of the apparatus suction-hold eight column-shaped articles and store them in the box. In addition, the pusher 5 and the shutter 6
When the contact portion 20 of the upstream stopper 4 escapes to the outside of the column a, the column a flows into the column storage part 3. At that time, the guide wall 2 in the columnar storage part 3
The two columnar articles a remaining between 5 and 29 are pushed toward the downstream stopper 2 and discharged onto the columnar article conveyor 8 in the next round.

In the case of seven pieces, the handle 18 of the downstream stopper 2 is rotated to contact the contact portion 19
1 is a small push piece 24 in the second pusher from the right end in FIG.
Set on the downstream side of b. Next, similarly to the above, the top plate chain conveyor 1 and the upstream stopper 4 operate to take in 16 pillars a into the pillar storage part 3.

Thereafter, the contact portion 19 is separated from the leading columnar object a, the other shutter pieces except the small shutter piece 26f at the left end are lowered, and the other pressing pieces except the pressing pieces 24a and 24j at both the left and right ends. The columnar object a in the columnar object storage portion 3 is operated to be pushed out onto the receiving plate 32 in an upright state. Except for the central two, the columnar a slides on the receiving plate 32 in groups of seven.

After that, these two groups of columnar articles a are discharged onto the columnar article conveying conveyor 8 in the same manner as described above. The two central columns and the leftmost columnar article a remaining in the columnar article storage unit 3 are pushed toward the downstream stopper 2 next time and discharged in the same manner as described above.

In the case of six pieces, the handle 18 of the downstream stopper 2 is rotated to contact the contact portion 19
Is set on the downstream side of the pusher piece 24c of the third pusher from the right end in FIG. Next, similarly to the above, the top plate chain conveyor 1 and the upstream stopper 4 operate to take in 14 columnar articles a in the columnar article storage section 3.

After that, the contact portion 19 is separated from the leading columnar object a, and the first and second shutter pieces 26f, 2 from the left end.
All the shutter pieces except 6e descend, and the first and second push pieces 24i, 24j, 24a, and
Other push pieces except 24b operate to push the columnar object a in the columnar object storage portion 3 onto the receiving plate 32 in the upright state. The pillars a, except for the central two, slide into the receiving plate 32 in groups of six.

After that, these two groups of columnar articles a are discharged onto the columnar article conveying conveyor 8 in the same manner as described above. The two central columns and the two leftmost columnar articles a remaining in the columnar article storage unit 3 are pushed to the downstream stopper 2 next time and then discharged. In the case of five pieces, the handle 18 of the downstream stopper 2 is rotated to contact the contact portion 19
Is set on the downstream side of the fourth pressing piece 24d from the right end in FIG.

Next, similarly to the above, the top plate chain conveyor 1 and the upstream stopper 4 operate to take in 12 columnar articles a into the columnar article storage section 3. After that, the contact portion 19 is separated from the leading columnar object a, and all the pressing pieces except the first to third shutter pieces 26d, 26e, and 26f from the left end descend, and the first to third ends from the left and right ends, respectively. Third pressing piece 24h, 24i, 24j, 24a, 24
Other push pieces except b and 24c operate to push the columnar object a in the columnar object storage portion 3 onto the receiving plate 32 in the upright state.

The columnar articles a, except for the two at the center, slide into the receiving plate 32 in groups of five. After that, these two groups of columnar objects a are discharged onto the columnar object conveyor 8 in the same manner as described above. Further, the two central pillars and the leftmost three pillars a remaining in the pillar storage portion 3 are used for the downstream stopper 2 at the next time.
Is pushed and discharged.

In the case of four pieces, the handle 18 of the downstream stopper 2 is rotated to contact the contact portion 19
Is set on the downstream side of the pusher piece 24e of the fifth pusher from the right end in FIG. Next, similarly to the above, the top plate chain conveyor 1 and the upstream stopper 4 operate to take in ten columnar articles a into the columnar article storage unit 3.

After that, the contact portion 19 is separated from the leading columnar object a, and the first to fourth shutter pieces 26 from the left end.
The shutter pieces other than f, 26e, 26d, and 26c descend, and the first to fourth pressing pieces 24 from the left and right ends, respectively.
g, 24h, 24i, 24j, 24a, 24b, 24
Other push pieces except c and 24d operate to push the columnar object a in the columnar object storage portion 3 onto the receiving plate 32 in the upright state.

The columnar articles a, except for the two in the center thereof, slide on the receiving plate 32 in groups of four. After that, these two groups of columnar objects a are discharged onto the columnar object conveyor 8 in the same manner as described above. In addition, the two central pillars and the four leftmost pillars a remaining in the pillar storage portion 3 are used for the downstream stopper 2 at the next time.
Is pushed and discharged.

Although the downstream stopper 2 is of a manual type in the above embodiment, it can be automated by attaching an actuator such as a motor. Further, the columnar objects a can be discharged in groups of 4 to 8, but by changing the arrangement and the number of the shutter 6 and the pusher 5, etc., the columnar objects a can be discharged in groups of more or less. It can also be discharged as.

[0047]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the columnar object feeder according to the present invention has a structure in which columnar objects such as canned food and canned beer are sent in an upright state in a single line and then fed as a horizontal state in a single line. Therefore, the size can be reduced and the occupied space can be reduced. Also, since the occupied space is small,
It is also possible to connect a plurality of groups to a boxing device or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a column object feeder according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a right portion of the columnar object feeder.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a left portion of the columnar object feeder.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the columnar object feeder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 a ... Columnar object 1 ... Top plate chain conveyor 2 ... Downstream side stopper 3 ... Columnar object storage section 4 ... Upstream side stopper 5 ... Pusher 6 ... Shutter 7 ... Overturning operation device 8 ... Columnar object conveyer 9 ... Extrusion device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display area B65G 47/88 B65G 47/88 B

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A top plate chain conveyor that conveys upright columns in a row, a downstream stopper that stops the flow of columns on the downstream side of the top plate chain conveyor, and the above-mentioned top plate chain conveyor on the top plate chain conveyor. An upstream stopper that stops the flow of the columnar articles when a predetermined number of columnar articles flow into the columnar article storage section on the upstream side of the downstream stopper, and a stopper along the one side of the columnar article storage section of the top plate chain conveyor. A pusher that pushes out one row of columnar objects accumulated in the columnar object storage portion toward the other side, and guides the flow of the columnar object together with the pusher when the columnar object flows into the columnar object storage portion. Then, when the pusher pushes out the columnar object in the columnar object storage section, a passage for the columnar object is opened, and the columnar object is arranged along the other side of the columnar object storage section. A shutter provided, a rollover operation device that receives the pillar-shaped object pushed out by the pusher from the passage opened by the shutter in an upright state and then rotates to make the pillar-shaped object roll over, and the rollover operation device. A columnar object supply device, comprising: an extruding device that pushes out a columnar object in a laterally rolled state to a columnar object transporting conveyor in a laterally rolled state.