JP3238330B2 - Cup removal 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 cup removing device capable of easily removing the stacked cups from a box in which the stacked cups are stored in multiple rows.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a food factory or the like using a paper cup, the work of taking out a cup stored in a storage box or the like from the storage box and placing it in a predetermined place has been performed manually.

[0003]

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a cup stored in a storage box without any gap. For the purpose of maintaining strength, the cup 10 has a flange 12 formed in a shape such that an end on the opening side of the cup 10 is folded outward. In the storage box 14, stacked cups 16 in which a plurality of cups 10 are stacked are stored in multiple rows. When the multi-row stacked cups 16 are stored in the storage box 14 adjacent to each other in this manner, the flanges 12 are hooked (engaged) with each other between the adjacent rows. Therefore, when removing the cup 10 from the storage box 14, the operator inserts his arm deeply into the storage box and
It had to be taken out while releasing the engagement with.
Automation of the work of taking out the cup while releasing the engagement between the flanges was not easy, and had to rely on manual labor, the work efficiency was poor, and the burden on the operator was heavy.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cup removing device which can automatically and efficiently remove a cup without manual operation.

[0005]

The present invention has the following arrangement to achieve the above object. That is, the cup removing device according to the present invention is a device for removing the stacked cups from a storage box in which a plurality of stacked cups are stacked in a multi-row manner so that the bottom side enters a lower one, The storage box is provided with support means for supporting the storage box so that the opening side faces downward, and the support means is provided with an opening having a size capable of dropping a required number of stacked cups, and is formed between adjacent stacked cups. In the gap, a take-out device having a plurality of rod-like members which can enter from the opening so as to surround the stacked cup is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat, and an expanding means for expanding the interval between the plurality of rod-like members is provided. A lid is provided to open and close the opening without hindering the forward / backward movement and the widening movement of the member. The take-out device is advanced to insert the rod-shaped member into the gap, and to the widening means. By widening the interval between the rod-shaped members, the engagement between the adjacent stacked cups is released, and the closure of the opening by the lid is released, so that the stacked cup surrounded by the rod-shaped members is rod-shaped. It is characterized in that it is dropped down and taken out using the member as a guide. By expanding the rod-shaped member, the engagement between the adjacent stacked cups can be released, the stacked cups can be easily dropped naturally, and the apparatus can be automated.

[0006] It is preferable to provide a reversing device for reversing the supporting means between a carry-in position where the opening side of the supported storage box faces upward and a take-out position where the opening side faces downward. Thereby, the loading of the storage box can be automated. In the lid, the rod-shaped member is capable of entering, the rod-shaped member is allowed to move so as to increase the interval between adjacent members, and can be opened and closed while the rod-shaped member is inserted. A notch such as a slit may be formed. In addition, by providing the size of the opening in the size of one row of the stacked cups to be taken out, the stacked cups can be taken out one row at a time. When the stacked cups are taken out line by line, it is preferable to provide a drop passage for each stacked cup on the outlet side so as to release the engagement between the adjacent stacked cups in the line.

[0007] By providing the support member so as to support the storage box so that the storage box faces obliquely downward at the take-out position, the cup in the lowest row is slid down and automatically moved to the take-out position of the cup. Can be. A pressing member which enters the storage box from the slit provided in the support means and abuts on the last row of stacked cups of the storage box is provided, and the pressing member is driven to sequentially push the stacked cup row to the take-out site. And move,
It is preferable to provide driving means for the pressing member.
Thus, even when the next stacked cup does not move due to frictional force between the supporting means and the like, the next stacked cup can be forcibly moved to the removal site. A receiving device is provided for receiving the stacked cups that fall through and pass through the rod-shaped member, and the receiving device is formed into a substantially cylindrical receiving tube in which a plurality of slits reaching the upper edge at predetermined intervals on the outer periphery are provided. When the bar-shaped member of the take-out device is advanced to enter the storage box, it moves to the rear end side of the take-out device to communicate with the take-out device, and when the take-out device retreats, It is preferable to move the take-out device to an outside position which does not hinder the retreat of the take-out device. It is preferable to provide a chuck device having a plurality of gripping arms that enter into each slit provided in the receiving device to grip the stacked cups in the receiving device and pull out from the receiving device. Thus, the stacked cups can be continuously and efficiently taken out.

[0008]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a cup removing device according to the present invention. A general description of the entire apparatus is as follows: A is a reversing device, and the storage boxes 14 in which the stacked cups 16 are stored in multiple rows are indicated by broken lines from the carry-in position which is a solid line position in the drawing.
This is a part that is turned upside down to a position where the opening side faces obliquely downward (about 45 °). B is a take-out device, which is a portion for taking out the stacked cups 16 one by one or an appropriate number from the inverted storage box 14. C is a receiving device that receives the stacked cups 16 that have been taken out and conveys them from the receiving position to the position of the transfer device D. Transfer device D
Then, pull out the stacking cup 16 from the receiving device C,
It is transferred to the cup holder 90.

Next, the details of each part will be described together with the operation thereof. 2 to 4 show details of the reversing device A. 2 is a side view, FIG. 3 is a front view, and FIG. 4 is a plan view. Reference numeral 20 denotes a reversing table (support means), which is fixed at one end to a rotating shaft 25 rotatably supported on a base 22 by a bearing 24 via a mounting member 26, and the rotating shaft 25 is rotated. Thus, from the horizontal position which is the solid line position in FIG. 1 to the broken line position rotated by about 135 °. A sprocket 27 is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 25, and a chain 30 is bridged between the sprocket 27 and a sprocket 29 of a drive motor 28 attached to the base 22 to drive the drive motor 28. As a result, the reversing table 20 is reversed.

In the vicinity of the four corners on the lower surface side of the reversing table 20, columns 32 are attached vertically downward from the reversing table 20. One cylinder 34 is fixed downward to a support plate 33 (FIG. 3) provided between each two columns 32. Reference numerals 37, 37 denote guide poles for guiding the expansion and contraction of the rod of the cylinder 34. Two guide poles are fixed downward from the support plate 33. A substantially L-shaped pressing plate 35 is fixed between the lower end of the rod of the cylinder 34 and the lower ends of the guide poles 37 and 37. As shown in FIG. 2, each holding plate 35 extends inward so that horizontal plate portions thereof face each other, and stacked cups are stored on a horizontal plate of the holding plates 35 from a conveyor device (not shown). The stored storage box 14 is automatically carried in with the opening side facing upward. 36
Is a guide plate erected on each holding plate 35, and the storage box 14 is carried in between the two guide plates 36, 36.

When the rod of the cylinder 34 is retracted, the storage box 14 is raised while holding on the pressing plate 35 in FIG.
It is pressed and fixed to the lower surface of the zero. On the lower surface side of the reversing table 20, four guide plates 38 whose lower side faces outward are provided, and when the storage box 14 rises, it guides the entry of the storage box 14 and is bent outward. The lid 14a is pressed by the guide plate 38 toward the side wall of the storage box 14. As shown in FIG. 4, when the reversing table 20 is reversed to the position indicated by the broken line in FIG.
And the lowermost stacked cup row p of the stacked cup rows of the storage box 14 which is fixed to
An opening 40 is provided at a position corresponding to (FIG. 7). The size of the opening 40 is such that the lowermost stacked cup row p can pass through.

The reversing table 20 is provided with a plurality of slits 42 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the opening 40. Reference numeral 44 denotes the storage box 14 from each of the slits 42.
A pressing pin (pressing member) whose leading end protrudes into the inside. Each pressing pin 44 is connected to a connecting rod 46 at a rear end side protruding outward from the storage box 14. The connecting rod 46 has
The rod ends of a cylinder 48 fixed to the upper surface of the reversing table 20 are connected to each other, and the pressing pins are movable in the slits 42 by expanding and contracting the rods. 50, 5
Reference numeral 0 denotes a guide pole for guiding the movement of the connecting rod 46. The cylinder 48 and the like constitute driving means for the pressing pin 44. Each pressing pin 44 can press the last stacked cup row r (FIG. 7) in the storage box 14, and the stacked cup rows are sequentially pressed and moved toward the opening 40. . It is not always necessary to provide these pressing pins 44 and their driving means.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a lid which covers the opening 40 so that it can be opened and closed. The lid 52 is fixed at one end to a rotating shaft 54 rotatably supported by a bearing 53 at the edge of the opening 40. The rod end of the cylinder 56 is connected to a lever 55 connected to one end of the rotary shaft 54, and the rotary shaft 54 is rotated by driving the cylinder 56, whereby the lid 52 opens and closes the opening 40. Further, the lid 52 includes
Stacked cup row p located at the bottom row in storage box 14
A slit 58 extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the opening 40 is provided at a position corresponding to both sides of each stacked cup 16.

Next, the unloading device B will be described. FIG. 5 is a side view of the extracting device B, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the same. The unloading device B has an advancing and retracting plate 62 that is advanced and retracted in the direction of arrow X by a cylinder device 60 such as a rodless cylinder fixed to the base 22. The moving plate 62 is formed in a frame shape as shown in FIG. 63 is a movable plate,
Is connected to a rod end of a cylinder 64 fixed to the moving plate 62, and is provided so as to be movable in an arrow Y direction (a direction orthogonal to the X direction) within the frame of the advance / retreat table 62 by driving the cylinder 64. 65 is the guide rod.
Reference numeral 66 denotes a fixed plate which faces the movable plate 63
And is fixed to the guide rod 65 in parallel with. Note that 67
Is a stopper bolt, which regulates the movement stroke of the movable plate 63 with respect to the fixed plate 66.

A plurality of rods 70a are fixed to the fixing plate 66 in parallel at a predetermined interval, and extend in the direction of the storage box 14 at the position of the broken line in FIG. Numeral 70b is a rod-shaped member fixed to the movable plate 63 in parallel at regular intervals and having a tip end extending in the direction of the storage box 14 at the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. Then, the cylinder device 60 is driven,
When the movable platen 62 advances to the upper left in FIG.
The reference numerals 0a and 70b penetrate the corresponding slits 58 of the lid 52 and enter the storage box 14 at the position indicated by the broken line in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the arrow X is in the horizontal direction, but is in the direction perpendicular to the reversing table 20 at the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1, so that the bar-shaped members 70a and 70b vertically enter the storage box 14. It is. At that time, the rod-shaped member 70
a is, as shown in FIG.
The rod-shaped member 70b enters the gap between the lowermost stacked cup row p and the upper stacked cup row q. Accordingly, each stacked cup in the lowermost stacked cup row p is surrounded by four rod-shaped members of two rod-shaped members 70a and two rod-shaped members 70b.

When the movable plate 63 is moved away from the fixed plate 66 by driving the cylinder 64, the bar 70b moves in the direction away from the bar 70a. That is, the movable plate 63, the cylinder 64, and the like constitute a bar-shaped member expanding means. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the stacked cup row q on the upper row is pushed upward by the rod-shaped member 70b and moves upward and separates from the lowermost stacked cup row p. There is no engagement between the flanges between them. At this stage, when the above-described cylinder 56 is driven to rotate the lid 52 and the opening 40 is opened, the lowermost row of the stacked cup row p is not caught by another row, and is guided by the rod-shaped member 70a. Then, it falls downward in the space surrounded by the rod-shaped members 70a and 70b. Since the lid 52 is provided with the slit 58, the rod-shaped member 70a,
70b can be freely entered or moved.
2 can rotate freely without being hindered by the bar-shaped member.
Note that the flanges of the adjacent stacked cups 16 in the lowermost stacked cup row p may be engaged with each other.

A separation cylinder 72 for releasing the engagement between the flanges of the adjacent stacked cups 16 in the lowermost stacked cup row p and separating the stacked cups 16 is attached to the forward and backward moving platen 62 by a fixture 71 (FIG. 5). , FIG. 6). This fixed cylinder 72
As shown in FIG. 6, a passage 74 communicating with a space (falling space of the stacking cup 16) surrounded by the respective bar-shaped members 70a and 70b is provided therethrough. As shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of passages are adjacent to each other on the inlet side of the stacked cup and connected to each other, and are bent in the separation tube 72 so as to be independently opened at the outlet side as shown in FIG. It is provided. Therefore, the rod-shaped member 70
The stacked cups 16 falling in the spaces a and 70b enter the separation tube 72 and pass through the passage 74, and are forced to be released from the engagement with the adjacent stacked cups 16 while passing through the passage 74.

Next, the receiving device C will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 76 denotes a receiving cylinder, and the rotating shaft 78 is attached to the base 22.
To be rotatable. Reference numeral 80 denotes a driving cylinder, one end of which is rotatably mounted on the base 22 and the rod end of which is rotatably mounted on the base of the receiving cylinder 76. The receiving cylinder 76 is provided so as to be rotated by the cylinder 80 from a position oblique to the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 10 to a position facing upward from the position indicated by the solid line. The receiving cylinder 76 is connected to the rear end side of the separation cylinder 72 in the take-out section B at the position indicated by the broken line, and
4 can be received by the stacking cups 16 falling down. That is, the receiving cylinders 76 are provided by the number of the stacked cups 16 in the stacked cup row. After receiving the stacked cup 16, the receiving cylinder 7
6 is rotated to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. Thereby, since the space on the rear side of the separation cylinder 72 is opened, the backward movement of the unloading device B is not prevented.

The cylinder 8 for driving the receiving cylinder 76
Although 0 may be provided for each of the receiving cylinders 76, the receiving cylinders 76 may be connected to each other, and one or two cylinders may be simultaneously rotated. On the peripheral surface of the receiving tube 76, a plurality of tubes from the lower part to the upper edge,
For example, four slits 82 are provided. Note that, for example, a receiving cylinder may be configured by standing four bar-shaped members on the base. The concept of the cylinder is only required to be able to receive the stacked cup therein, and the shape and structure are not particularly limited.

Next, the transfer device D will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 84 denotes a chuck device, which is provided at a position corresponding to a position above the receiving cylinder 76 at the solid line position in the receiving device C. Each chuck device 84 is attached to the lower end of a vertically moving cylinder 87 attached at a predetermined interval to a movable body 86 that can be moved in the horizontal direction, and is thereby provided so as to be movable in the horizontal and vertical directions. ing. Each chuck device 84 includes two pairs of gripping arms 88 extending in the vertical direction (only one pair is shown in FIG. 11). Cylinder 8
9 (only one is shown) is fixed to the rod end, thereby making it possible to move toward and away from the rod. Also, two pairs of gripping arms 88
Are adapted to move toward and away from each other in directions orthogonal to each other. At the lower end of each gripping arm 88, a protruding portion 88a that protrudes at least toward the other gripping arm facing is provided.

When the vertical movement cylinder 87 is driven and the chuck device 84 is lowered, the four gripping arms 88 are positioned so as to surround the outer periphery of the receiving cylinder 76, and at this position the double-opening cylinder 89 is driven and Pair of gripping arms 8
8 are driven in directions approaching each other. At that time, each gripping arm 88 enters the receiving cylinder 76 from the slit 82 of the corresponding receiving cylinder 76, and grips the stacked cup 16 falling in the receiving cylinder 76 from all sides. At this time, the protrusion 88 a of the gripping arm 88 enters the lower surface of the lowermost cup of the stacked cup 16. As a result, the stacked cups 16 are also supported from below, thereby preventing the stacked cups 16 from dropping.

Next, the vertically moving cylinder 87 is driven, and the chuck device 84 is moved upward with the gripping arm 88 gripping the stacking cup 16, whereby the stacking cup 16 is pulled out above the receiving cylinder 76.
Next, the movable body 86 is moved in the horizontal direction by a required distance by a driving device (not shown), and the chuck device 84 is moved to a position immediately above the cup holder 90. Here, the gripping of the stacking cup 16 by the gripping arm 88 is released, and the stacking is performed. The cup 16 is dropped into the cup holder 90. A suitable known supply mechanism (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the cup holder 90 so that the bottommost cup can be supplied to a required portion.

The receiving device C is provided with a vertically moving cylinder (not shown), and the receiving cylinder 76 is raised to hold the holding arm 8.
8 may be entered. In this case, the lowering of the chuck device 84 and the raising of the receiving cylinder 76 may be performed at the same time so as to approach each other.

As described above, various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Of course. For example, the reversing table (supporting means) 20 may not always be reversed to a diagonal position as shown by a broken line in FIG. 1 but may be reversed to a horizontal position. In this case, it is necessary to sequentially push the stacked cup rows to the take-out position by the pressing pins 44 and feed them. Further, the storage box 14 need not always be inverted by the reversing device A. In this case, the storage box 14 may be manually loaded into a horizontally or diagonally provided support base (support means, not shown) such that the opening side faces downward.

[0026]

As described above, according to the cup removing device of the present invention, the engagement of the flanges with the adjacent stacked cups is easily released from the storage box in which the stacked cups are stored in multiple rows. This has the remarkable effect of being able to take out and to automate taking out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the entire cup removing device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the reversing device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the reversing device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the reversing device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the unloading device.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the unloading device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a rod-shaped member has entered a gap between stacked cups.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a stacked cup row is moved by a rod-shaped member.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a separation cylinder.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the receiving device.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of a transfer device (chuck device).

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing an engaged state of the stacked cups.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A reversing device B unloading device C receiving device D transfer device X moving direction of bar-shaped member Y expanding direction of bar-shaped member p stacking cup row in bottom row q stacking cup row located on top row in bottom row r last row Stacked cup row 10 Cup 12 Flange 14 Storage box 14a Storage box lid 16 Stacked cup 20 Reversal table 22 Base 24 Bearing 25 Rotation shaft 26 Mounting member 27 Sprocket 28 Drive motor 29 Sprocket 30 Chain 32 Support 33 Support plate 34 Cylinder 35 Press Plate 36 Guide plate 37 Guide pole 38 Guide plate 40 Opening 42 Slit 44 Press pin 46 Connecting rod 48 Cylinder 50 Guide pole 52 Lid 53 Bearing 54 Rotation axis 55 Lever 56 Cylinder 58 Slit 60 Cylinder device 62 Advance / retract plate 63 Movable plate 64 Siri Dapper 65 guide rod 66 fixing plate 67 stopper bolt 70a, 70b rod-shaped member 71 fixing tool 72 separation cylinder 74 passage 76 receiving cylinder 78 rotation shaft 80 cylinder 82 slit 84 chuck device 86 movable body 87 vertical movement cylinder 88 gripping arm 88a gripping arm Projecting part 89 Double-opening cylinder 90 Cup holder

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device for taking out a stacked cup from a storage box in which a plurality of stacked cups are stored in a multi-row so that a bottom portion enters a lower one, wherein the storage box has an opening side. A supporting means for supporting the stacking cup so as to face downward; an opening having a size capable of dropping a required number of the stacking cups is provided in the supporting means; A retracting device having a plurality of rod-shaped members which can enter from the opening so as to surround the opening member, and an expanding means for expanding the interval between the plurality of rod-shaped members is provided; A lid body for opening and closing the opening portion without obstructing the opening movement, comprising: advancing the take-out device to insert the rod-shaped member into the gap; and a gap between the rod-shaped members by the expanding means. By unfolding, the engagement between the adjacent stacking cups is released, the closure of the opening by the lid is released, and the stacking cup surrounded by the rod-shaped members falls downward with the rod-shaped members as guides. A cup dispensing device characterized in that it is dispensed and removed. 2. A reversing device for reversing the supporting means between a carrying-in position where the opening side of the supported storage box faces upward and a take-out position where the opening side faces downward. 2. The cup removing device according to 1. 3. The bar-shaped member is capable of entering the lid, allowing the bar-shaped member to move so as to increase the interval between adjacent ones, and being openable and closable while the bar-shaped member is inserted. 3. The cup removing device according to claim 1, wherein a notch is formed. 4. The stacking cup according to claim 1, wherein the opening is provided in a size corresponding to one row of the stacked cups to be taken out, and the stacked cups are taken out row by row. Cup removal device. 5. When the stacked cups are taken out row by row, the falling paths of the stacked cups are separated at the outlet side to release the engagement between adjacent stacked cups in the row. The cup removing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4. 6. The support means is provided so as to support the storage box so as to be obliquely downward at the take-out position, and is supported by the support means with the opening side obliquely downward. 6. The cup removing device according to claim 1, wherein the cup in the lowermost row slides down and moves to a cup removing portion. 7. A pressing member which enters into the storage box through a slit provided in the support means and abuts on a stacking cup in the last row of the storage box, and drives the pressing member to sequentially form the stacked cup row. 7. The cup removing device according to claim 1, further comprising a pushing member driving means for pushing and moving to a removing portion. 8. A receiving device for receiving a stacked cup that falls through and passes through the rod-shaped member, wherein the receiving device is provided with a plurality of slits that reach an upper edge at a predetermined interval on an outer periphery and has a substantially cylindrical shape. When the rod-shaped member of the unloading device advances so as to enter the storage box, it moves to the rear end side of the unloading device and communicates with the unloading device. The retraction device moves to an outside position which does not hinder the retraction of the take-out device.
The cup removal device according to the above. 9. A chuck device which moves to the outside position and unloads a stacked cup from the receiving device, wherein the chuck device enters each slit provided in the receiving device and grips the stacked cup in the receiving device. 9. The cup removing device according to claim 8, further comprising a chuck device having a plurality of gripping arms to be pulled out from the receiving device.