JP3268869B2 - Case separation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a plurality of cases, such as a container case made of synthetic resin formed in a nesting type or a stacking shape, or a cardboard case for transportation assembled in a box shape. The present invention relates to a case separation device used for an operation of separating stacked case groups one by one.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a case separation device for separating a case group in which cases as described above are stacked one by one, for example, a case separation device already developed by the present applicant (Jpn. -75,767 JP) there is.

[0003] In this apparatus, after transferring one row of container groups stacked on a pallet onto a lifting conveyor, both side edges of each container stacked in the second stage from the bottom on the lifting conveyor are moved. Lock the left and right holding arms to the part respectively,
The remaining upper container groups except the lowermost container are held in the standing posture by the left and right holding arms. Thereafter, the lifting conveyor is vertically lowered, and the lowermost containers placed on the lifting conveyor are supplied to the next step. Similarly, the remaining upper container groups held by the left and right holding arms are lifted by the lifting conveyor, and the remaining upper container groups placed on the lifting conveyor are moved one step from the lower side. Are separated one by one.

[0004]

However, when the container groups for one row are collectively transferred onto the lifting conveyor as described above, for example, changes in the number of stacking stages, the number of stacking rows, the stacking weight, etc. The loading force applied to each group of containers for one row differs depending on the load, and the inertia during loading causes the containers stacked on the second stage from the bottom on the elevating conveyor to lock the left and right holding arms. The positions are slightly shifted, and it is difficult to stop each row of container groups at a preset case separation position.

Further, when reinforcing ribs are formed on both sides of each container for locking the left and right holding arms, the left and right holding members are formed on both side edges of the containers stacked in the second stage. When the arms are locked, the ribs formed on each container and the left and right holding arms abut each other, hindering mutual locking, and ascending and descending with the holding by the left and right holding arms incomplete. When the conveyor is lowered vertically,
The remaining upper container groups may drop or fall due to their own weight, and the containers may be damaged or damaged.

Accordingly, the shape of the container that can be separated is limited in advance, and cannot be used for separating containers having other unique shapes. In addition, the input material charged into the container due to the impact at the time of dropping or falling over may be damaged or scratched, and the commercial value may be impaired before shipping. Further, when the containers stacked in the second stage are held by the left and right holding arms, the lifting conveyor is stopped to move up and down.
It takes time and effort to separate each container group of rows.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention forms irregularities such as ribs by independently locking left and right case holding claws with both side edges of a case formed in a unique shape. It is an object of the present invention to provide a case separating apparatus which can surely separate a case having a peculiar shape up and down even if it is a peculiar case and can mechanically perform a separating operation of a case having another peculiar shape.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a case separating apparatus for raising a plurality of stacked case groups.
It is placed on a descending conveyor and vertically moved up and down.
A) The cases for the appropriate number of stages placed on the
Held by holding means and placed on the elevating conveyor
This is a case separation device that separates the case group vertically one by one.
The respective case holding means on the elevating conveyor.
Arranged on the keyboard opposite to both sides of the case placed on the
And when pressed against the side of the case,
Holds multiple cases that are independently displaced according to the side shape
It is characterized by comprising nails .

A case separating device according to a second aspect of the present invention, in combination with the structure according to the first aspect, includes a closed position where the case is locked and fixed to both side edges of the case, and both sides of the case. The operation of the claw moving means for moving the left and right case holding claws to the open position where the locking is released from the edge is linked to the conveyor elevating means for elevating the elevating conveyor.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a case group stacked in a plurality of stages is placed on a conveyer for elevating and vertically moving up and down, and a keyboard-like structure is provided on both side surfaces of the cases stacked in an appropriate number of stages. Push each of the left and right case holding claws
By attaching, for example, only a plurality of case holding claws in contact with ribs formed on both side surfaces of the case are independently displaced, and an appropriate number of case holding claws in which contact with the ribs is avoided is replaced with a case. The case groups of the remaining number of stages, excluding the lowermost case placed on the elevating conveyor, can be securely held by the left and right case holding claws.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the case group stacked in a plurality of stages is placed on a lifting conveyer and vertically moved up and down. By driving the claw moving means in conjunction with the conveyor elevating means for vertically elevating and lowering the conveyor, an appropriate number of each case holding claw is locked on both side edges of the cases stacked in the appropriate number of stages, and the elevating conveyor In conjunction with the elevating operation, a plurality of stacked case groups can be efficiently separated one by one.

[0012]

According to the present invention, multiple keys arranged in a keyboard shape are provided.
Press several case holding claws against both sides of the case, and
Independent displacement of the holding claw according to the side shape of the case
Each case holding claw is independent of both sides of the case
Side of the case where each case holding claw is locked
Even if surface irregularities such as ribs protrude,
Can be separated vertically. Moreover, even if the locking position between the case formed in a peculiar shape and each case holding claw is slightly shifted, the left and right case holding claws are independently locked according to the side shape of the case. However, the shape of the case that can be separated as in the conventional apparatus is not limited, and the operation of separating the case having another peculiar shape can be performed mechanically, and the commercial value of the input material put into the case is impaired. Can also be prevented.

In addition, the pawl moving means is used to raise and lower the conveyor.
Left and right case holding claws to drive in conjunction with lowering operation
When locking the
There is no need to stop moving the conveyor
The case group can be efficiently separated vertically by one stage
At the same time, the processing time required to separate one group of case groups is reduced, and the efficiency of the separation operation can be increased.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show, as an example of a case, a case separating device used for an operation of separating a nesting-shaped synthetic resin container one step at a time, and FIGS.
In this case separation device 1, after a pallet P on which a predetermined number of containers a are stacked is transferred onto the conveyor 2, the conveyor 2 is driven to be stacked on the pallet P. Are intermittently supplied to the unloading position one by one. At the same time, case support machine 3
To drive each container group A stacked on the pallet P
Are supported in an upright posture, and the case unloader 4 is driven to drive the container groups A stacked on the pallet P.
Are stacked one by one, the case separator 5 is driven, and the container groups A for one row are separated one by one from the lower side and supplied onto the distribution conveyor 6.

In the above-mentioned transport conveyor 2, the respective feed chains 9, 9 are stretched between the respective sprockets 7, 7, which are pivotally supported at the feed-side start end and the feed-side end, respectively. With the driving force of the feed motor 10 with a speed reducer disposed at the lower end side, the respective feed chains 9, 9 are rotated in the pallet feed direction via the sprockets 11, 12 and the drive chain 13, and stacked on the pallet P. The intermittent drive is performed when loading and unloading the plurality of container groups A in a plurality of rows one by one, and the drive is continuously performed during pallet supply and pallet discharge.

The above-mentioned case supporting machine 3 is provided with a mounting frame 14 above the loading / unloading position on the transporting conveyor 2 in parallel with the pallet feeding direction, and guide rails 15 provided on the lower surface side of the mounting frame 14. A movable base 16 is movably mounted between the movable base 16 and a case support plate 17 at the rear end on the lower surface side of the movable base 16 so as to be pivotable up and down. and,
A moving chain 20 is stretched between the sprockets 18 and 19 pivotally supported on the feed-side starting end and the feed-side end of the mounting frame 14, and the moving chain 20 is connected and fixed to the upper surface side center of the movable base 16. Then, the sprockets 22 and
Chain 20 via the drive chain 23 and the drive chain 24
In the feed direction, and in synchronization with the above-described intermittent feed of the conveyor 2, the case support plate 17 is brought into close proximity to the container groups A in the last row stacked on the pallet P at a predetermined interval. Move.

The above-described case support plate 17 connects the piston rod of the turning cylinder 25 disposed on one side of the upper part of the movable base 16 to the shaft end of the case supporting plate 17 to operate the turning cylinder 25. , The vertical position facing the rear side of the feed side of each container group A stacked on the pallet P;
Rotate vertically to a horizontal position allowing passage of each container group A stacked on the pallet P. In addition, a spring 27 is stretched between a lower end on the rear surface side of the case support plate 17 and a lower end on the rear surface side of the pressing plate 26 pivotally supported on the lower end portion of the case support plate 17. Thus, the pressing plate 26 is constantly urged to rotate in a protruding direction.

The above-mentioned case unloading machine 4 has a mounting frame 28 erected orthogonally to the pallet feeding direction above the unloading position on the transporting conveyor 2, and each guide rail installed on the front side of the mounting frame 28. A movable table 30 is movably mounted between 29 and 29, and a pusher plate 31 is vertically connected and fixed to a central portion on the front side of the movable table 30. In addition, the moving chain 3 is provided between the sprockets 32 and 33 pivotally supported on the feed-side start end and the feed-side end of the mounting frame 28.
4 and the moving chain 34 is connected and fixed to the rear center of the movable base 30 and the sprockets 32, 33 are driven by the driving force of the moving motor 35 with a speed reducer disposed on the upper end side. The moving chain 34 is circulated in the unloading direction via the pallet P, and is placed on a retreating position facing each of the container groups A for one row stacked on the pallet P and on a lifting conveyor 39 of the case separator 5 described later. Each row of container group A
The pusher plate 31 is moved back and forth to the forward position for transferring.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, the case separator 5 has a mounting frame 36 on the side of the loading / unloading position on the conveyor 2, which is parallel to the case unloading direction.
Is mounted between the guide rails 37, 37 erected on the front side of the mounting frame 36 so as to be able to move up and down, and a container group A for one row is provided at the upper end on the front side of the elevator base 38. . Are vertically fixed to each other.

Further, the front peripheral edge of the rotary plate 40 bearing at the center of the upper end side of the mounting frame 36 and the lower rear end of the lift base 38 are connected by a crank arm 41 and disposed at the lower part of the same. The driving force of the lifting motor 42 with the reducer
The rotary plate 40 is rotated in one direction via the sprockets 43 and 44 and the drive chain 45, and the rotation of the rotary plate 40 is converted into the vertical movement of the lift base 38 by the crank motion of the crank arm 41, and is arranged on the upper side. Conveyor 2 installed
The lifting conveyor 39 is lifted and stopped at a rising position that is horizontal with respect to the upper pallet P and a lowering position that is horizontal with respect to the distribution conveyor 6 disposed on the lower side.

The ascending and descending conveyor 39 has a V-shaped cross section between each of the pulleys 46, 46 pivotally supported at the starting end of the feeding side and each of the pulleys 47, 47 pivotally supported at the terminating end of the sending side. The belts 48, 48 are stretched, and the respective feed belts 48, 48 are loaded in the loading direction via sprockets 50, 51 and a drive chain 52 by the driving force of a feed motor 49 with a speed reducer disposed at the lower end on the end side. Orbit. That is, at the time of ascent stop, the transport conveyor 2 arranged on the upper side
When transferring each group of containers A for one row from the upper pallet P, the conveyor 39 for rotation is driven to rotate in the case loading direction, and when the descent is stopped, the conveyor 39 is placed on the distribution conveyor 6 arranged on the lower side. When the containers a for one stage are transferred, the elevator 39 is driven to rotate in the case loading direction.

Each support shaft 5 is provided on both upper sides of the lifting conveyor 39 stopped at the lifting position in parallel with the case feeding direction.
4 and 54, and on the outer peripheral surface of the respective support shafts 54, 54,
Each of the three case holding plates 53 is fixed to oppose both side surfaces of the containers a stacked in the second stage from below on the elevating conveyor 39, and one side of each of the support shafts 54, 54 is fixed. The end and the left and right ends of an interlocking shaft 55 that is mounted on the upper end of the terminal end are connected via umbrella-shaped gears 56 and 57, respectively.

Further, one end of a support shaft 54 mounted on one side and one end of a support shaft 58 mounted in parallel with the support shaft 54 are connected by an arm 59, and A cam roller 60 pivotally supported at the other end of the rotation plate 58 and a cam portion 61 formed on the peripheral edge of the rear surface of the rotary plate 40 are engaged with each other to support the piston rod of a retracting cylinder 62 disposed at the upper end side. Connected to one end of the shaft 54, by the operation of the towing cylinder 62,
The cam member 61 of the rotary plate 40 is urged to rotate in a direction in which the cam roller 60 of the support shaft 58 is constantly pressed. That is, the rotating plate 4 is driven by the driving force of the above-described lifting motor 42.
, The closed position for holding the containers a on the second stage from the bottom placed on the elevating conveyor 39 in the standing posture via the cam rollers 60 and the cam portions 61, and the containers a The left and right case holding plates 53 are rotated to the open position where the holding of... Is released.

Each of the support plates 63, 43 is located close to each of the containers a on the upper stage placed on the elevating conveyor 39.
63 are arranged at the left and right positions, respectively, and a support plate 64 is arranged near the unloading side front part of the container group A placed at the end side of the elevating conveyor 39.

Since the above-mentioned case holding plates 53 are symmetrical to each other, the structure of the case holding plate 53 provided on one side will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, each of the ten locking claws 5 formed in an L-shape is formed at the upper end on the rear surface side of the movable plate 53b fixed on the support shaft 54.
3a are arranged in a keyboard shape, and the lower end of each locking claw 53a is supported on the upper end on the rear surface side of the movable plate 53b.
3c, is connected and fixed perpendicular to the case feed direction, and the upper end of each of the locking claws 53a is formed in an L-shape so as to face a side of the container a placed on the elevating conveyor 39. It is bent.

And a movable plate 53b fixed on the support shaft 54.
Each of the coil springs 53d is compression-loaded on the lower end facing surface of each of the locking claws 53a supported on the movable plate 53b, and one side of the container a placed on the elevating conveyor 39. Are rotationally urged in a direction opposite to the above, and the adjusting screws 53e screwed into the intermediate portions of the locking claws 53a contact the upper end of the rear side of the movable plate 53b. Are locked at an appropriate angle at which the locking claws 53a are locked to one side edge of the container a placed on the elevating conveyor 39.

The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation of separating the container group A by the case separation device 1 will be described below. First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyor 2 is driven to intermittently feed the pallets P on which the container groups A for five rows are placed, and the case supporting machine 3 is driven. Move in a state in which the container groups A for five rows are supported by the case supporting plate 17 in the upright posture.
At the same time, the case unloader 4 is driven to move the container groups A for five rows in the case unloading direction by the pusher plate 31 one row at a time, and to raise and lower the case separator 5 waiting at the ascending position. The conveyor 39 is driven to rotate in the case loading direction, and the five rows of container groups A... To be unloaded from the pallet P are transferred onto the elevating conveyor 39 one by one.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, the motor 42 for raising and lowering the case separator 5 is driven, and the rotating plate 40 is driven through the sprockets 43 and 44 and the drive chain 45. Is rotated in one direction, and the lifting conveyor 39 is vertically lowered by the crank motion of the crank arm 41 connected to the rotating plate 40, so that each row of container groups A ...
Is lowered from the raised position to the lowered position. At the same time, the cam portion 6 formed on the rotary plate 40
1 and the cam roller 60 are engaged, and the left and right case holding plates 53, 53 fixed on the support shafts 54, 54 are rotated to the open position.

Immediately before reaching the lowering position, the rotating plate 40
Then, the engagement between the cam portion 61 and the cam roller 60 is released, and the left and right case holding plates 53 fixed on the support shafts 54 are rotated in the closing direction. At the same time, the left and right case holding plates 53, 53 are respectively engaged with the side edges of the containers a stacked in the second stage from the bottom on the elevating conveyor 39, and the remaining upper container groups A Are held in an upright posture by the left and right case holding plates 53, 53.

8 and 9, when reinforcing ribs b are formed on both sides of the container a for locking the left and right case holding plates 53 when the case is held. As described above, when the left and right case holding plates 53 are pressed against both side surfaces of the container a stacked in the second stage,
The ribs b formed on both side surfaces of the container a and the plurality of locking claws 53a pivotally supported by the left and right case holding plates 53, 53 precedely contact, and abut on the ribs b. Are pressed back in the unlocking direction against the urging force of the coil springs 53d, and the remaining locking claws 53a, whose contact with the ribs b is avoided, are the container. are locked from below with respect to both side edges of the container group a, and the remaining container groups A on the upper side except for the lowermost containers a. Holding plate 5
3 and 53 can be securely held by the appropriate number of locking claws 53a.

When the container groups A for one row stacked on the pallet P are transferred onto the lifting conveyor 39, each of the container groups A stacked on the second stage from the bottom on the lifting conveyor 39 Containers a and left and right case holding plates 53,
Even if the locking position with 53 slightly shifts, as described above,
The left and right case holding plates 53 are securely locked to both side edges of the containers a stacked in the second stage,
The remaining upper container groups A can be held in the standing posture by the left and right case holding plates 53, 53.

On the other hand, the elevating conveyor 39 on which the containers a for one stage are placed is vertically lowered, and the elevating conveyor 39 is lowered to a level level with respect to the lower distribution conveyor 6. After stopping, the elevator 39 is driven to rotate in the case loading direction, and the containers a for one stage are sequentially transferred onto the distribution conveyor 6 and the next step (not shown)
To supply.

Next, the lifting conveyor 39 is vertically moved up by the crank motion of the crank arm 41 connected to the rotating plate 40, and the remaining upper container groups A held by the left and right case holding plates 53, 53 are removed. The lift conveyor 39 is once lifted, and the lift conveyor 39 is lifted and stopped at a height level with respect to the pallet P placed on the upper transport conveyor 2. At the same time, the cam portions 61 formed on the rotating plate 40 and the cam rollers 60 are engaged with each other, and the left and right case holding plates 5 fixed on the support shafts 54, 54.
3, 53 are rotated to the open position.

Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the remaining container groups A placed on the elevating conveyor 39 are sequentially separated one by one from the lower side. After the separation work of the container groups A for one row is completed, the conveyor 2 and the case unloader 4 are driven to drive the container groups A for the second to fifth rows.
Are stacked one by one from the pallet P one by one. At the same time, the case separator 5 is driven to sequentially separate the container groups A in the second to fifth rows one by one from the lower side. After the separation work of all the container groups A stacked on one pallet P is completed, the next pallet P is transported to the unloading position on the transporting conveyor 2 and the container groups A stacked on the same pallet P are stacked. Unloading work and separation work are continued.

As described above, after each row of the container groups A stacked on the pallet P is transferred onto the lifting conveyor 39, the left and right case holding plates 53, 53 are moved up and down.
Each container stacked on the second stage from below on the conveyor 39
Press each side of the a.
The claws 53a are independently displaced according to the side shape of the container a.
So that each of the locking claws 53a...
, Which is independently locked to the upper and lower sides even if the plurality of ribs b are unique containers a formed on both side surfaces.
Can be separated .

Moreover, even if the locking positions of the containers a ... stacked in the second stage and the left and right case holding plates 53, 53 are slightly shifted, the left and right containers a ... Each locking claw 53 constituting each case holding plate 53
are locked independently of each other, the shape of the container a that can be separated as in the conventional device is not limited,
Separation work of the container a having another unique shape can be mechanically performed, and the commercial value of the input material put in the container a can be prevented from being impaired.

Further, in order to open and close the left and right case holding plates 53 in conjunction with the elevating operation of the elevating conveyor 39, the left and right case holding plates 53 are placed on the containers a stacked in the appropriate number of stages. , 53 are locked, there is no need to stop the elevating conveyor 39, so that the container groups A for one row can be efficiently separated one by one, and the container groups A are separated. Processing time required for
The efficiency of the separation operation can be improved.

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the case of the present invention corresponds to the container a of the embodiment, and similarly, the case group corresponds to the container group A, and The case holding claws constituting the means correspond to the case holding plate 53 and the respective locking claws 53a..., And the claw moving means includes the rotating plate 40, the elevating motor 42, and the support shafts 54,5.
8, an interlocking shaft 55, an arm 59, gears 56, 57
, A cam roller 60, and a cam portion 61, and the conveyor elevating means includes a rotating plate 40, a crank arm 41,
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, though it corresponds to the lifting motor 42, the sprockets 43 and 44, and the drive chain 45.

In the above-described embodiment, the container groups A... On the remaining upper stage stacked on the second stage from the bottom on the elevating conveyor 39 are held by the left and right case holding plates 53, 53. The container groups A for one row placed on the conveyor 39 are separated one by one from the lower side. For example, the left and right case holding plates 53, 53 are separated for each container a for one step.
Lifting means (not shown) at the height where the is completely separated
May be moved up and down to separate one row of the container groups A placed on the lifting conveyor 39 one by one from the upper side.

Each of the locking claws 53a constituting each of the left and right case holding plates 53 is connected to each of the coil springs 53d.
Are rotationally urged, but may be rotationally urged by an elastic body such as a leaf spring or synthetic rubber.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a container unloading operation by a case separation device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a container unloading operation by the case separation device.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a standby state before a separation operation is started by a case separator.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a standby state before starting a separating operation by the case separator.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state before the separation operation by the case separator is started or after the separation operation is completed.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a container separating operation by the case separator.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a container separating operation by the case separator.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a container holding state by the case separator.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a container holding state by the case separator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 a ... Container b ... Rib A ... Container group 5 ... Case separator 39 ... Elevating conveyor 40 ... Rotating plate 41 ... Crank arm 53 ... Case holding plate 53a ... Locking claw 60 ... Cam roller 61 ... Cam part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-59-144595 (JP, A) JP-A-4-294934 (JP, A) JP-A 4-117834 (JP, U) JP-A 62 157884 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 59/00-59/12

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A case group stacked in a plurality of stages is placed on an elevating conveyor and vertically moved up and down, and the cases of an appropriate number of stages placed on the elevating conveyor are held by left and right case holding means. And a case separation device for vertically separating a group of cases placed on the elevating conveyor one by one, wherein each of the case holding means is placed on the elevating conveyor.
When arranged like a keyboard facing both sides of the case
The side shape of the case when pressed against the side of the case
It is composed of a plurality of case holding claws
Form cases separation device. 2. A plurality of case holding claws are moved between a closed position locked and fixed to both side edges of the case and an open position unlocked to both side edges of the case. 2. The case separation device according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the claw moving means is linked to a conveyor elevating means for vertically elevating the elevating conveyor.