JP2811044B2 - Empty box sorting 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 method for removing, from a large number of empty boxes continuously moving on a conveying path such as a roller conveyor, empty boxes identified as, for example, print display defects, shape defects, etc.
A very compact empty-box sorting device that can be quickly and smoothly removed from the transport line, and is particularly useful as a sorting device that can reliably remove a large empty box, such as a beer bottle case containing beer bottles, from the transport path. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For a long time, identification devices that automatically identify many similar objects based on certain criteria in place of the human eye have been developed in all directions.
It has a great effect in every direction. However, in order to actually sort a certain object, it is one-handed to use this identification device alone.Instead of human hands, the identified object is actually removed or sorted from many objects by automatic classification. If the device is not attached to this identification device, the effect of introducing the device is halved.

[0003] Such a situation is the same in the selection of beer bottle cases accommodating beer bottles (one dozen), and inspection and identification of side printed characters and shape defects of beer bottle cases (empty boxes) collected from the market are performed. An empty box capable of quickly and reliably removing and sorting defective empty boxes identified by the identifying apparatus together with the identifying apparatus from among a large number of empty box rows moving in a line at predetermined intervals on a transport line. Separation equipment is required.

Heretofore, as a device for appropriately removing a desired object from a moving object line forming a line on a conveying path, there has been a sorting device provided with an extruded piece which can be moved forward and backward in the object direction. This is when the object to be separated comes to a predetermined position on the transport path,
By extending the extruded piece, the side of the object is pushed to push the object to the side of the transport path. This extrusion type separation apparatus has a very simple mechanism and can be easily attached to an existing conveyance path, so that it is frequently used in various fields.

[0005] However, this extrusion type separation apparatus is
When the above-described beer bottle case removal operation is to be employed, the following types of problems occur. Therefore, this extrusion type separation apparatus is not suitable for the field, and other alternative removal means is required. I was

The problem is that, in the above-mentioned extrusion type, when the extruded piece pushes out an object, the extruded piece inevitably protrudes onto the conveying path, so that the next moving object is inevitable. It is necessary to immediately retract the extruded piece so that the projecting extruded piece does not collide.
That is, the extruded piece must be returned to the retracted state before the next object moves. However, when extruding a relatively large object such as a beer bottle case, it is necessary to increase the stroke length of the extruded piece. It becomes big. Of course, it is possible to shorten the stroke time by increasing the retraction speed of the extruded piece.However, if the retraction speed is increased, the empty box will be greatly pushed away.
There is a limit in increasing the speed of retreat and retraction, and after all, there was no other way but to accept the decrease in processing capacity by lowering the transport speed of the transport path.

When a large object such as a beer bottle case is extruded, not only the stroke length of the extruded piece but also the tip area of the extruded piece must be increased.
If the point of application of the pushing force by the extruded piece deviates more than the center of gravity of the empty box, the posture of the empty box will change greatly when it is extruded, which will hinder post-processing. In order to extrude an empty box, it is necessary to increase the area of the extruded piece to some extent or to provide a plurality of extruded pieces. In such a case, the time required for the protruding extruded piece to collide with the next empty box is further shortened, so that the conveying speed of the empty box has to be reduced.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional sorting apparatus, and is intended to be a large empty box, such as a beer bottle case, which moves on a transport path. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sorting apparatus capable of quickly removing an empty box without lowering the speed of transporting the empty box and smoothly removing the empty box without giving an impact.

Another technical problem of the present invention is to provide an empty box sorting apparatus which can be easily attached to an existing transport path and which is very compact and requires no installation space. It is in.

[0010]

The present invention is directed to a transport path L
An empty box sorting apparatus for appropriately removing a desired empty box C from the transport path L out of a large number of empty boxes moving in a row on the upper side, and is disposed along the transport path L and removed. Empty box C
A position switch P for detecting that the vehicle has reached a predetermined position on the transport path L and outputting a position signal; and a shaft switch mounted on the main body frame F so as to take up a part of the circumference above the transport path L;
A disk frame 1 which always rotates horizontally; and a plurality of locking rods R are provided around the circumference of the disk frame 1 at equal intervals.
A plurality of air cylinders S, S, which move up and down; air cylinders which are provided around the disc frame 1 at equal intervals and in a circular shape concentric with the disc frame 1 and output a rod descent signal to each of the air cylinders S. SS, the same number of descending switches D, D, etc .; air that is provided around the disc frame 1 at equal intervals and in a circular shape concentric with the disc frame 1 and outputs a rod up signal to each of the air cylinders S. Cylinder S
S, the same number of ascending switches U, U,... Provided on the main body frame F so as to be vertically movable, and at least when ascended.
Abutment part 2 that simultaneously contacts two descent switches D
A fixed contact portion 3 fixed to the main body frame F and in contact with the lift switch U; an empty box removal signal from the outside and a position signal from the position switch P being input, and the movable contact portion 2 When the empty box C to be removed comes to a predetermined position of the transport path L, the movable contact portion 2 is raised to move the locking rod R through the lowering switch D. Is lowered to the inside of the empty box C, and the rotational movement of the disk frame 1 is used to draw out and remove the empty box C from the transport path L with the locking rods R, so that the above problem is solved. Was solved.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating the configuration of an empty box sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating the configuration of the apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the same device as viewed from E, FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a main part illustrating an operation sequence of the device, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part for explaining an operation sequence of the device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the empty box sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment is attached to the downstream side of an inspection machine for inspecting the shape of a beer bottle case, and the inspection machine identifies that the shape is defective. The abnormal empty box C is removed from the roller conveyor transport path L. In the figure, the reference numeral 1 designates a disk frame which is always horizontally rotated by a motor 54 via a speed reducer 53. The disk frame 1 has its It is supported by the frame F. This disc frame 1 has an air cylinder S
S…, relay valve V ・ V…, drop switch D ・ D…,
Are arranged at equal intervals on an imaginary circle concentric with the center of rotation of the disk frame 1 and constantly rotate together with the disk frame 1.

The air cylinder S is disposed near the circumference of the disk frame 1 which is arranged so as to partially face above the transport path L, and is configured to appropriately move the locking rod R up and down by air pressure. As shown in FIG. 1, the locking rod R can be lowered to the inside of the side wall of the empty box C that has reached the predetermined position of the transport path L. By rotating the locking rod R together with the disk frame 1 in a state of being lowered inside the empty box C, the empty box C is transported along the removal path 6 having the out guide 61 and the in guide 62 along the transport path. It is removed from L.

The relay valve V guides compressed air from the air tank 52, and switches the delivery direction of the compressed air to the air cylinder S by appropriately switching the delivery direction of the compressed air in accordance with a rod lowering signal and a rod rising signal described below. It is a switching valve. 1 and 2, the air pipes are omitted to avoid congestion in the drawings, but two air pipes extend from each relay valve V to the air cylinder S (see FIG. 3). The locking rod R is lowered or raised depending on which of the air pipes the compressed air is guided to. This air pipe will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS.

The descent switch D uses a change in air pressure as a signal. When the descent switch D comes into contact with the movable contact portion 2 which moves up and down by the second air cylinder 21, the air cylinder S is connected to the air cylinder S via the relay valve V. Outputs a rod descent signal. That is, the descent switch D guides the compressed air from the air tank 52 and, when it comes into contact with the movable contact portion 2, sends the compressed air to the relay valve V as a rod descent signal.

The lift switch U uses a change in air pressure as a signal. When the lift switch U comes into contact with the fixed contact portion 3 fixed to the main body frame F, the rod rises to the air cylinder S via the relay valve V. Output a signal. That is, the raising switch U guides the compressed air from the air tank 52 and, when it comes into contact with the fixed contact portion 3, sends the compressed air to the relay valve V as a rod rising signal.

In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes an abnormal empty box removal signal output from the inspection machine and the position switch P.
And a position signal output from the second air cylinder 21 and the movable contact portion 2 is raised by the second air cylinder 21 in a timely manner. In this embodiment, photoelectric switches are used as the position switches P, and two switches are provided along the transport path L. An abnormal empty box C identified as a defective shape by these two position switches P
Has reached the predetermined position of the transport path L. When the sorting apparatus of the present invention is arranged close to the inspection machine, only one position switch P may be used.

The sorting apparatus of this embodiment is generally constructed as described above, and removes the abnormal empty box C to be removed from the transport path L quickly and smoothly. That is, the controller 4 receiving the removal signal from the inspection machine knows that the abnormal empty box C has reached the predetermined position by the position signal from the position switch P, and immediately raises the movable contact portion 2. At the moment when the movable contact portion 2 rises, the several descending switches D in contact with the movable contacting portion 2 output a rod descending signal to the corresponding relay valve V, and the air cylinder S responds to the rod descending signal. The locking rod R is lowered into the abnormal empty box C. Thereafter, the empty box C is guided from the transport path L to the removal path 6 while the locking rod R is pulled out while locking the inner wall of the empty box C.

Then, to some extent (180 in this embodiment)
°) When the empty box C is pulled out while rotating, the lift switch U comes into contact with the fixed contact portion 3, so that a rod lift signal is output from the lift switch U to the corresponding relay valve V, and the locking rod R is extracted from the empty box C, and the empty box C is released from the sorting apparatus.

Next, air pipes connecting the air cylinder S, the relay valve V, the descent switch D, the descent switch U, etc., which are arranged in a total of 12 sets on the disc frame 1, will be described with reference to FIGS. Subsequently, the operation sequence of the present apparatus will be described. Here, in order to clarify the positional relationship of each part, for example, twelve air cylinders S
₁ · S ₂ … S ₁₂ , and the air cylinder S ₇ , relay valve V ₇ , descent switch D ₇ , and descent switch U ₇ of the 12 sets are mainly described as an example, and other air piping is illustrated. Not.

The compressed air introduced from the outside via the rotary joint 51 is first sent from the air tank 52 to the relay valve V ₇ , the down switch D ₇ , and the up switch U ₇ (up switch U 7). The air piping to ₇ is shown by the dotted line).

The air tank 52 relay valve V ₇ of introducing compressed air from the rod drop signal and the compressed air according to the rod up signal while switching the transmission direction appropriately and sent to the air cylinder S ₇ locking rod R ₇ the While vertically be moved is as described above, noteworthy that in this embodiment, the rod drop signal and the rod increases signal drop switches D ₇ and up switch U ₇ is input to the relay valve V ₇ Instead, it is a signal (compressed air) output from the down switch D ₄ and the up switch U ₄ .

Similarly, when the descent switch D ₇ in which compressed air is introduced from the air tank 52 comes into contact with the movable contact portion 2,
Compressed air as rod drop signals sent to the relay valve V ₁₀ rather than relay valve V _7, also up switch U ₇ introduced with compressed air from the air tank 52, when the contact fixing contact part 3, the rod up signal the compressed air is to deliver to the relay valve V ₁₀ rather than relay valve V ₇ as (indicating the air pipe by a dotted line). That is, in the present embodiment, send an indication signal of the locking rod moves up and down to the air cylinder S ₁₀ is 90 degrees in the rotation angle of the disk frame 1,
There So drop switches D ₇ and raising switch U ₇ arranged on the rotation upstream side. Although not shown, a similar piping method is adopted for the other air cylinders S, and the lowering switch D and the uppering switch U corresponding to each air cylinder S are arranged at a 90-degree position on the rotation upstream side. is there.

Since the lowering switch D and the raising switch U are arranged as described above, the disc frame 1 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 3 at the moment when the removal signal is input from the inspection machine and the empty box C to be removed reaches the removal position. When in the rotational position state shown,
The three movable switches D ₆
D ₇ and D ₈ come into contact at the same time, and three independent rod lowering signals are output from the lowering switches D ₆ , D ₇ and D ₈ to the relay valves V ₉ and V ₁₀ on the downstream side by 90 ° rotation.
· To V ₁₁ are being respectively outputted. Then, the air cylinders S ₉ , S _10, and S ₁₁ that have received the rod lowering signal simultaneously lower the locking rod R into the empty box C, respectively.

Even after the three locking rods R have fallen into the empty box C, the disc frame 1 continues to perform a horizontal rotation motion, so that the empty box C has three engaging rods as shown in FIG. It is pulled out from the conveyance path L to the removal path 6 while being locked by the stop rod R. As described above, in the sorting apparatus of the present invention, the empty box C can be pulled out smoothly because the rotational movement of the disc frame 1 is used to remove the empty box C. That is, since the locking rod R makes a rotational movement, when the empty box C starts to be pulled out from the transport path L, the direction of movement of the locking rod R matches the empty box moving direction on the transport path L. Is that the direction of movement of the locking rod R changes continuously. Unlike the above-described conventional apparatus, it is possible to perform a very smooth removal operation without suddenly piercing the side of the empty box from the side. It is preferable that the rotation speed of the disc frame 1 be set slightly higher than the speed of moving the empty box on the transport path L.

Then, when the disc frame 1 is rotated by 180 degrees while the empty box C is locked, the operation of pulling out the locking rods R one by one from the empty box C is started. FIG.
And Figure 6 shows the moment when the locking rod R of the air cylinder S ₁₁ is increased. Increase of the locking rod R of the air cylinder S _11, since that up switch U ₈ provided on the disk frame 1 underside as shown in FIG. 6 comes into contact with the fixed abutment 3 which is fixed to the body frame F Is done. Fixed contact part 3
Up switch U ₈ in contact is a rod rising signal (compressed air), the output to the rotation angle 90 degrees downstream of the relay valve V _11, increasing locking rod R rows of the air cylinder S ₁₁ by the rod increases signal It is done.

At this time, the locking rods R of the air cylinder S ₁₀ and the air cylinder S ₉ remain lowered inside the empty box C. The locking rod R of the air cylinder S ₁₀ is raised is a time when the disk frame 1 up switch U ₇ rotates further 30 degrees from the FIG. 5 state is in contact with the fixed abutment 3,
On the other hand, the locking rod R of the air cylinder S ₉ is raised is the point in time that the disk frame 1 up switch U ₆ further rotates 60 degrees from the FIG. 5 state is in contact with the fixed abutment 3.

As described above, in the sorting apparatus of the present embodiment, when the empty box C is pulled out from the transport path L and the empty box C is released from the apparatus, a plurality of the containers falling inside the empty box C are removed. Since the locking rods R are sequentially pulled out of the empty box C one by one, the empty box C can be stably sent to a predetermined position.

In the present embodiment, the movable contact portion 2 is formed in a fan shape having a central angle of 70 degrees with respect to the center of rotation of the disc frame.
Is configured to always contact two or three descent switches D at the same time. Therefore, at the moment when the empty box C is removed, no matter what rotational position the disc frame 1 is in, two or three locking rods R can always be lowered into the empty box C at the same time. C can be pulled out and removed stably without rattling.

More specifically, when the movable contact portion 2 rises, the disc frame 1 which is always rotating.
However, when in the rotational position state shown in FIG. 7, two descent switches D ₆ and D ₇ come into contact with the movable contact part 2 at the same time, and two independent rod descent signals are generated. , are respectively outputted to the relay valve V ₉ · V ₁₀ of the rotation angle of 90 degrees downstream, depending on the rod drop signal, the air cylinder S ₉ · S ₁₀ is allowed to simultaneously drop the respective locking rod R into empty boxes C inside It is.

Although the embodiment according to the present invention is constituted as described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. .

For example, in this embodiment, each air cylinder S
The lowering switch D and the raising switch U that output the rod lowering signal and the rod raising signal are both arranged at the 90-degree position on the upstream side of the rotation of the air cylinder S, but the arrangement positions of both are limited to this. Instead, for example, it may be arranged on the rotation downstream side of each air cylinder S. That is, the position of the lowering switch D with respect to the air cylinder S may be the same as the position of the movable contact portion 2 with respect to the empty box removing position of the transport path L. It can be appropriately selected according to the position and the like.

Similarly, the position of the raising switch U with respect to the air cylinder S may be the same as the position of the fixed contact portion 3 with respect to the release position of the empty box, and various changes are possible. For example, in the present embodiment, if the fixed contact portion 3 is arranged on the more upstream side of rotation, the release time of the empty box will be earlier by that much, and thus the fixed contact portion 3
Can be easily changed by changing the position of the empty box according to the situation.

[0034]

As described above in the embodiment, in the empty box sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the empty box is removed from the side of the transport path by suddenly protruding the side of the empty box as in the conventional apparatus. Instead, the empty box is removed by using the rotary motion so as to be drawn out of the transport path while the drawing direction is continuously changed, so that even if the moving speed of the empty box is high, it is quick and yet. Sorting can be performed smoothly without giving an impact to the empty box.

In the apparatus of the present invention, the configuration is very simple and compact, so that the apparatus can be easily attached to an existing conveyance path or the like, and further, the direction in which the empty box is pulled out can be changed. In addition, it is possible to easily change the design according to the arrangement status, for example, only by changing the position of the lift switch with respect to the fixed contact portion.

Further, in the apparatus of the present invention, the descent switch
The movable contact part that contacts the switch is
Since it is formed so as to be able to contact at the same time, it is possible to always remove the empty box with a plurality of locking rods, and it is possible to perform more stable sorting work even with a large empty box such as a beer bottle case. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating the configuration of an example sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating the configuration of the device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a main part for explaining a disk frame in the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an essential part for explaining a disk frame in the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of an essential part for explaining an operation sequence of the device.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part, viewed from G, for explaining the operation sequence of the device.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a main part for explaining an operation sequence of the device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 L Transport path C Empty box to be removed F Main frame 1 Disk frame 2 Movable contact part 3 Fixed contact part 4 Controller P Position switch S Air cylinder R Lock rod D Descent switch U Elevation switch

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An empty box sorting apparatus for appropriately removing a desired empty box C from a plurality of empty boxes moving in a row on a transport path L from the transport path L. A position switch P arranged along L and detecting that the empty box C to be removed has reached a predetermined position on the transport path L and outputting a position signal; and taking up a part of the circumference above the transport path L. And a plurality of air cylinders S which are axially provided on the main body frame F and constantly rotate horizontally; and a plurality of air cylinders S which are provided around the circumference of the disk frame 1 at equal intervals and which respectively move the locking rod R up and down.
··············································································································· D, D, etc .; the same number of lifts as air cylinders S, S, which are provided around the disc frame 1 at equal intervals and in a circular shape concentric with the disc frame 1 and output a rod rising signal to each of the air cylinders S. Switches U, U ...; provided on the main body frame F so as to be vertically movable and raised
A movable abutting portion 2 which abuts at least two lowering switches D at the same time ; a fixed abutting portion 3 which is fixed to the main body frame F and abuts on the ascending switch U; A controller 4 for inputting a removal signal and a position signal from the position switch P to raise the movable contact portion 2; and when the empty box C to be removed comes to a predetermined position on the transport path L, By raising the movable contact portion 2, the lowering switch D
The empty box C is drawn out of the transport path L by the locking rod R by using the rotational movement of the disc frame 1 to lower the locking rod R into the inside of the empty box C via An empty box sorting apparatus, characterized in that: