JP4520332B2 - Packaging equipment for agricultural packaging materials and packaging equipment for agricultural products - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a supply device for packaging materials for agricultural product packaging and a packaging device for agricultural products, preferably used in a fruit selection field for sorting and packaging agricultural products such as apples, pears, tomatoes and melons, and product boxes such as cardboard boxes. The present invention relates to a supply device for packaging materials for agricultural product packaging that supplies packaging materials such as tray packs and buffer sheets, and a packaging device for agricultural products provided with this supply device.

  Agricultural products sorted by class in the selection area where agricultural products such as apples, pears, tomatoes, and melons are sorted and packed are transported to the packing position by a conveyor, and a predetermined number of agricultural products are packed in cardboard boxes, etc. Stored in the product box.

  For example, when storing apples in a two-tiered stack in a product box, a tray pack is first placed in a product box waiting in a predetermined position, and apples are placed in a plurality of recesses formed in a predetermined arrangement in the tray pack. When the apple is stored in all the recesses, the buffer sheet is placed on the buffer sheet, and then an empty tray pack is placed on the buffer sheet. An apple is stored in the recess of the tray pack at the stage, and finally a buffer sheet is placed, and the boxing operation is completed.

  At the time of packaging, a supply device for packaging materials for agricultural product packaging that supplies packaging materials such as tray packs and buffer sheets into a product box waiting at a predetermined position is used.

  As a supply device for packaging materials for agricultural product packaging, it comprises an indexing mechanism having a rotating shaft in the vertical direction, and is provided with a rotating table in which a receiving table is arranged in four parts around the rotating shaft, and three receiving tables In each, different types of tray packs are loaded, and buffer sheets are loaded on the remaining one of the trays.

  The turntable is capable of stopping the cradle at a take-out position that is a predetermined rotation position, and stops the cradle on which a tray pack of a type required for packaging is placed at the packaging material supply position, The uppermost tray pack loaded on the cradle stopped at the packaging material supply position is inserted into the packaging box. When the tray pack is picked up, the turntable starts rotating and the receiving table on which the buffer sheets are stacked stops at the take-out position. When all the apples are stored in the tray pack in the product box, the packaging robot supplies the buffer sheet at the take-out position into the product box (Patent Document 1).

In addition, as another configuration of the supply device for packaging materials for packaging agricultural products, a tray pack loading table for loading a plurality of types of tray packs and a buffer sheet loading table for loading buffer sheets are fixedly arranged, respectively. The tray pack to be inserted is inserted into the product box waiting at the boxing standby position from the tray pack loading table by the pack / sheet supply device, and the agricultural products are stored in the tray pack by the boxing robot. On the other hand, the buffer sheet on the buffer sheet stacking table is temporarily placed on a buffer sheet temporary placement section formed of a conveyor by the pack / sheet supply device, and supplied to the product box by the boxing robot (Patent Document 2). .
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-029116 JP 2002-104342 A

  In the above-mentioned turntable type agricultural product packaging material supply device, it can be placed in a narrow place because it can be made compact, but because the turntable frequently rotates and the turntable is paused for a short period, Tray pack and buffer sheet replenishment and supply operations are regulated.

  On the other hand, in the supply device for the agricultural product packaging material of the loading table fixing method, the loading table on which the tray pack and the buffer sheet are stacked is fixedly arranged, so that the tray pack and the buffer sheet can be replenished and supplied. However, since the pack / sheet supply device takes out the uppermost pack or the buffer sheet, the pack / sheet supply device is stopped or stopped. In addition, since the pack / sheet supply device and the boxing robot move relative to the product box, the pack / sheet supply device inserts the tray pack into the product box to avoid interference with each other, and Immediately after the buffer sheet is temporarily placed in the buffer sheet temporary placement portion, it returns to the original retracted position and waits. In addition, when the buffering sheet is supplied from the buffer sheet temporary storage unit to the product box, the boxing robot immediately returns to the retracted position, and after the tray pack is inserted into the product box, the retracted position is output until the agricultural product packaging command is issued. Waiting at.

  When one operation is performed in this manner, the first stage of packaging is performed in the agricultural product packaging packaging material supply apparatus that supplies the tray pack and the buffer sheet in a sequence of returning to the retreat position and waiting for the next operation command. When a buffer sheet is placed on the buffer sheet, and an empty tray pack is inserted on the buffer sheet to perform packing in a multi-stage boxing mode such as two or three stages, the buffer sheet is used as the buffer sheet. The packaging robot supplied from the temporary storage unit into the product box once returns to the retracted position, and then the pack / sheet supply device at the retracted position moves to the loading table and picks up the tray pack by suction means and moves to the product box. The procedure to do is required.

  For this reason, in response to a request to shorten the processing time from selection to boxing in the selection area, we have reviewed these procedures, and have to improve the packaging materials used when storing agricultural products such as tray packs and buffer sheets in product boxes. It has been desired to shorten the time required for supply.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point of view, and is a packaging material used when storing agricultural products such as tray packs and buffer sheets in a product box while taking advantage of the supply device for the agricultural product packaging material of the loading table fixing method. A review of the supply procedure, and the supply equipment for packaging materials for agricultural products that can further reduce the time required to supply such packaging materials, and the agricultural products that can further reduce the time required to box agricultural products in product boxes The purpose is to provide a boxing device.

  A first configuration of a supply device for packaging materials for agricultural product packaging that realizes the object of the present invention supplies packaging materials for packaging into a product box for packaging agricultural products, as described in claim 1. In the supply device for packaging materials for agricultural product packaging, the packaging material accumulation unit that accumulates the packaging material, the product box standby position where the product box waits, and the packaging material accumulation unit and the product box standby position It is possible to move between the set packaging material delivery space, the packaging material accumulation part and a predetermined position in the packaging material delivery space, and the packaging material taken out from the packaging material accumulation part is in a predetermined position in the packaging material delivery space. The packaging material take-off / delivery means that is moved to the standby position, and a predetermined position of the packaging material delivery space that is movable between a predetermined position of the packaging material delivery space and a product box waiting at the product box standby position. In the above packaging material delivery delivery A packaging material receiving and supplying means for receiving the packaging material supported by the steps and waiting, and supplying the packaging material into the product box, and a horizontal surface at a predetermined level in the vertical direction of the delivery space. In the delivery space, the lower position with the delivery surface as a boundary is the movable region of the packaging material delivery / delivery means, and the upper position with the delivery surface as a boundary is the movable position of the packaging material delivery / supply means. It is characterized by being an area.

  A second configuration of the packaging material supply device for agricultural product packaging that realizes the object of the present invention is the first configuration as described in claim 2, wherein the packaging material take-out and delivery means is a packaging material. A first packaging material take-off / delivery means that holds the tray pack at the upper end and waits at a predetermined position in the delivery space; and a buffer material as a packaging material is loaded on the tray pack at a predetermined position in the delivery space. And a second packaging material take-off / delivery means waiting above.

  The third configuration of the supply device for packaging materials for agricultural products that achieves the object of the present invention supplies packaging materials for packaging into a product box for packaging agricultural products, as described in claim 3. In the supply device for packaging materials for agricultural product packaging, the packaging material accumulation unit that accumulates the packaging material, the product box standby position where the product box waits, and the packaging material accumulation unit and the product box standby position It is possible to move between the set packaging material delivery space, the packaging material holding means provided at a predetermined position of the packaging material delivery space, the packaging material accumulation unit and the packaging material holding means, and the packaging material accumulation It is possible to move between the first packaging material take-out and delivery means for moving the tray pack as the packaging material taken out from the section to the packaging material holding means, the packaging material accumulation part and a predetermined position in the packaging material delivery space. , Packaging materials collection A second packaging material take-off / delivery unit that waits by moving a cushioning material as a packaging material taken out from the section to a predetermined position in the packaging material delivery space above the packaging material holding unit; A tray pack that is movable between a predetermined position of the material delivery space and a product box waiting at the product box standby position, and is held by the packaging material holding means at the predetermined position of the packaging material delivery space; and Packaging material receiving and supplying means for receiving the cushioning material loaded in the second packaging material taking and delivering means and supplying the packaging material in the product box, and having a predetermined level in the vertical direction of the delivery space A horizontal plane is used as a delivery surface for the packaging material, and a lower position in the delivery space is defined as a movable region of the first and second packaging material take-off / delivery means, with the delivery surface as a boundary. The square position, characterized in that the movable area of the packaging material receiving supply means.

  The fourth configuration of the supply device for packaging materials for agricultural product packaging that realizes the object of the present invention is as described in any one of the above aspects, wherein the packaging material stacking unit has different types. It is characterized by having a plurality of tray pack stockers capable of stacking tray packs and taking out the tray packs from the bottom surface side, and buffer material stockers capable of stacking buffer materials and taking out the buffer materials from the bottom surface side.

  An agricultural product boxing apparatus that realizes the object of the present invention is the product box standby position according to claim 5, wherein the agricultural products that stand by in alignment with the agricultural product boxing standby position of the boxing conveyor are waited by the boxing robot. In the boxing device for agricultural products to be packed in the product box waiting in the above, the packaging device for supplying packaging materials for agricultural product packaging having any one of the above-described configurations is provided, and the packaging material receiving and supplying means and the packaging robot are provided. The packaging material receiving and supplying means is further movable between the agricultural product boxing standby position of the boxing conveyor and the product box.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the packaging material delivery space is set, and the movement area of the packaging material take-out delivery means and the packaging material delivery supply means is divided into upper and lower parts in the delivery space. The delivery and delivery means and the packaging material delivery and supply means do not interfere with each other in the delivery space, and the packaging material delivery and delivery means and the packaging material delivery and supply means can be operated arbitrarily, respectively, and the packaging material supply efficiency As a result, it is possible to shorten the time required for packaging the agricultural products in the product box.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, after storing agricultural products in the tray pack in a product box, when supplying a buffering material and supplying a tray pack on it, a box is provided by supplying a buffering material to a product box When the packing is finished and the tray pack is supplied to the next product box, the cushioning material and the tray pack can be made to stand up and down at a predetermined position in the delivery space in advance. Tray packs can be supplied to product boxes. As a result, the packaging time for agricultural products can be shortened.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since it is not necessary to wait the first packaging material take-off / delivery means at that position until the tray pack is delivered, it is possible to move the tray pack to the packaging material holding means. One packaging material take-off / delivery means can perform the following operation, and the downtime of the elements constituting the apparatus can be reduced as much as possible, thereby improving the operation efficiency of the apparatus.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the stacked tray pack and cushioning material are taken out from the lower side, the packaging material receiving and supplying means, the packaging material taking and delivering means (first and second packaging) Corresponding to the division of the movable area with the material take-out and delivery means), the configuration of the packaging material take-out and delivery means (first and second packaging material take-out and delivery means) can be simplified.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, the downtime of the packaging robot can be shortened and the packaging efficiency of agricultural products can be aimed at.

First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an agricultural product selection boxing device in a fruit selection field where the present invention can be effectively carried out. For example, apples, pears, tomatoes, melons and other agricultural products are placed on a tray and transported to a boxing position. The so-called free tray method is adopted. FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line FF in FIG.

Configuration from Sorting Device to Boxing Conveyor In this sorting boxing device, the pool conveyor 2 is arranged in the lateral direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor 1 from the sorting conveyor 1 arranged in two upper and lower stages, respectively. When the agricultural products whose sorting category is determined by a measuring device (not shown) reach the position of the pool conveyor 2 for each sorting category, the discharge device 3 is operated and the tray on which the agricultural products are placed on the sorting conveyor 1 (hereinafter referred to as an actual tray). T) is discharged to the pool conveyor 2.

  The front end of each pool conveyor 2 in the transport direction is connected to a real tray transport conveyor 4 (the lower real tray transport conveyor is 4A and the upper real tray transport conveyor is 4B), and the front end of the lower real tray transport conveyor 4B The side has an upwardly inclined inclined conveyance path 4Bb, and the upper end of the upper actual tray conveyor 4A has a downwardly inclined inclined conveyance path 4Aa. An upper and lower stage switching guide 5 is disposed at the leading end of the upwardly inclined inclined conveying path 4Bb. By switching the upper and lower stage switching guide 5, the upper stage is compared with the one boxed conveyor 6 disposed ahead of the upper stage switching guide 5. One of the actual tray T transported on the actual tray transport conveyor 4A and the actual tray T transported on the lower actual tray transport conveyor 4B is fed.

  Further, the actual tray transport conveyor 4 is provided with a switching guide 7 at a location to which the pool conveyor 2 is connected, and is pooled on each pool conveyor 2 by appropriately controlling the switching position of the switching guide 7. Only the actual tray T belonging to the specific sorting section can be conveyed toward the boxing conveyor 6.

  Therefore, the agricultural product conveyed to the agricultural product boxing standby position through the boxing conveyor 6 has a plurality of sorting sections. For this reason, if the classification is different, the packaging mode and the number of packaging of agricultural products to be packaged in the product box change, and it is necessary to prepare a plurality of types of tray packs in this packaging unit G correspondingly. Become. A stopper 8 for controlling whether or not the pooled actual tray T is sent to the actual tray transport conveyor 4 is provided at the front end of each pool conveyor 2 in the transport direction.

  In the present embodiment, the boxing conveyor 6 is configured to be folded back into a plane U shape, and the actual tray T conveyed on the boxing conveyor 6 is forcibly stopped by the stopper 9. The position where the actual trays T are aligned and stopped by this stopper 9 is set as the agricultural product boxing standby position. At this agricultural product boxing standby position, the tray T that has been emptied by picking up the agricultural products on the actual tray T (hereinafter referred to as an empty tray) T releases the stopper operation of the stopper 9, thereby moving the empty tray conveying conveyor ahead of it. 10 is further conveyed to the empty tray collection conveyor 11 and returned to the agricultural product supply unit (not shown).

  The structure of the packaging part G is demonstrated below with reference to drawings shown in FIG. 1, FIG.

  3 is a view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line BB in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line CC in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the tray pack stocker shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the bottom tray is closed and the loaded tray pack is lowered to its shutter position by its own weight, and FIG. 7B shows that the shutter is opened. The lowermost tray pack is pulled down and pulled out. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the buffer sheet (intermediate partition) stocker shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the middle partition loaded by closing the shutter on the lower surface is lowered to its shutter position by its own weight, and FIG. The state which opened the shutter and dropped and mounted the partition on the table of the partition transfer device below is shown. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the partition transfer device.

Structure of Boxing Unit In FIG. 1, a product box transport conveyor 21 for transporting an empty product box 20 to the product box packing standby position in parallel with the agricultural product boxing standby position of the boxing conveyor 6 is disposed, and a product (not shown) The empty product box 20 is stopped at this product box packing standby position by the box stopper. The product box after the boxing of agricultural products at this product box boxing standby position is transported on the product box transport conveyor 21 by releasing the product box stopper. Further, the product box lowering device 22 sequentially supplies empty product boxes 20 to the product box conveyor 21.

  In the present embodiment, a tray pack stacking unit 23 and an intermediate partition stacking unit 24 are arranged side by side on the opposite side of the boxing conveyor 6 with the product box transporting conveyor 21 interposed therebetween. A delivery space (hereinafter referred to as delivery space) 25 for tray packs and intermediate partitions is formed between the tray pack accumulation unit 23 and the middle partition accumulation unit 24 along the conveyance direction of the product box conveyance conveyor 21. The tray pack 26 and the partition 27 can be moved in the interior 25.

  In the following description, the conveying direction of the product box conveying conveyor 6 is an X direction, a horizontal plane perpendicular to the X direction is a Y direction, and a vertical direction is a Z direction.

  In the tray pack stacking unit 23, a plurality of tray pack stockers 28 (28A, 28B, 28C) are arranged along the X direction, and different types of tray packs 26 are loaded on each of the tray pack stockers 28A, 28B, 28C. ing. Further, an intermediate partition stocker 29 is disposed in the intermediate partition stacking unit 24, and an intermediate partition 27 is loaded on the intermediate partition stocker 29.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a boxing robot 30 is provided so as to straddle the boxing conveyor 6, the product box transfer conveyor 21, and the space 25.

  The boxing robot 30 is connected via a horizontal moving body 32 fitted to a rail 32A provided on a horizontal beam 31A extending in the Y direction and passed between the boxing conveyor 6, the product box conveying conveyor 21 and the delivery space 25. By attaching an adsorption type transfer mechanism (hereinafter referred to as an adsorption type transfer mechanism) 33, the horizontal moving body 32 is moved along the Y direction which is the length direction of the horizontal beam 31A by a drive mechanism (not shown). The adsorption transfer mechanism 33 is movable between the agricultural product boxing standby position of the boxing conveyor 6 and the delivery space 25. The horizontal beam 31A is supported on both sides by frames 31B and 31C.

  In the adsorption transfer mechanism 32, a lower rail member 33B extending in the X direction orthogonal to the horizontal beam 31A is attached to a lower end portion of a lifting rod 33A that can be moved up and down in the Z direction with respect to the horizontal moving body 32. A suction pad suspension body 33E that suspends and holds a plurality of suction pads 33D is fixed via a fitting member 33C that is slidably fitted to the lower rail member 33B.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the leftmost suction pad 33D-1 is fixed to the suction pad suspension 33E, and the remaining plurality of suction pads 33D-2 are the length of the suction pad suspension 33E. The suction pads 33D are mounted so as to be movable along the X direction, which is the horizontal direction, and these suction pads 33D are connected by a pantograph-type connection mechanism 33F, respectively, and this pandagraph-type connection mechanism 33F is driven to extend and contract by a drive mechanism (not shown). Thus, the pitch in the X direction between the suction pads 33D can be arbitrarily changed.

  The suction pad 33D is composed of a suction rod 33G whose length in the Z direction, which is the vertical direction, can be expanded and contracted by an air cylinder mechanism or the like, and a suction pad portion 33H provided at the lower end of the suction rod 33G, which will be described later. At the time of delivery between the tray pack 26 and the middle partition 27, the specific suction pad 33D can be lowered to be delivered to the tray pack 26 and the middle partition 27. The suction pad 33D is connected to a vacuum source (not shown) via a control valve (not shown), and sucks and holds an object that is in contact with the suction pad portion 33H.

  In addition, the suction pad suspension body 33E that suspends and holds the plurality of suction pads 33D moves the fitting member 33C along the X direction with respect to the lower rail member 33B, so that the produce box of the boxing conveyor 6 is produced. The position can be adjusted with respect to the jam waiting position or a virtual delivery position 25A virtually set in a delivery space 25 described later.

  The tray pack stocker 28 (28A to 28C) arranged in the tray pack stacking unit 23 employs a system in which the tray pack 26 is replenished from above and taken out from below, and the tray pack stocker 28 (28A to 28C) As shown in FIG. 3, the lower surface is located above the transport surface of the product box transport conveyor 21.

Tray pack unloading / conveying device In the tray pack stacking unit 23, a tray pack unloading / conveying device 34 is disposed below the lower surface of the tray pack stocker 28 (28A to 28C). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, in the tray pack take-out and transport device 34, the fitting member 34 </ b> B is slidably fitted to the lower rail member 34 </ b> A that extends in the X direction, and the fitting member 34 extends in the Y direction. An upper rail member 34C is fixed, and a holder 34D is slidably fitted to the upper rail member 34C in the Y direction. The holder 34D and the fitting member 34B are driven and controlled by a driving mechanism (not shown).

  A tray pack take-out suction pad 34E is attached upward to the holder 34D. The tray pack take-out suction pad 34E moves up and down the rod 34G by driving the cylinder 34F held by the holder 34D up and down. A plate member 34H is attached to the upper end of the rod 34G, and two suction rods 34I are attached to the plate member 34H so as to be separated from each other in the X direction, and one suction rod 34I is attached in the X direction. Can be adjusted. A suction pad portion 34J is attached to the upper end of the suction rod 34I.

  In the present embodiment, the lower rail member 34A has a length that covers all tray pack stockers 28 (28A to 28C), and the upper rail member 34C has two suction rods 34I that are connected to all tray pack stockers 28 ( 28A to 28C).

  That is, the tray pack take-out / conveying device 34 according to the present embodiment functions as a so-called XY table, and two suction rods are provided at the lower surface positions of a plurality (three in the present embodiment) of the tray pack stockers 28A to 28C. 34 can move arbitrarily, and can advance to an arbitrary position in the delivery space 25. In the present embodiment, it stops at the virtual delivery position 25A set in the delivery space 25.

Configuration of Tray Pack Stocker 28 All of the tray pack stockers 28 (28A to 28C) have the same configuration, and the configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  The tray pack stocker 28 is formed in a rectangular rectangular tube shape, and is set in the rectangular tube 28a according to the size of the tray pack 26 in which a pair of guide plates 28b facing each other in the Y direction are stacked and accommodated. Below this pair of guide plates 28b, an engagement plate 28d having an engagement groove 28c for engaging and holding the plurality of tray packs 26 in the vertical direction is disposed opposite to each other. The cylinder device 28e fixed to the square tube 28a can be moved in the Y direction.

  A pair of rotating shafts 28f extending in the Y direction are attached to the rectangular tube 28a along the X direction, and a shutter plate 28g is attached to each rotating shaft 28f, so that the bottom surface of the tray pack stocker 28 can be opened and closed. The shutter 28h is configured. The opening / closing drive of the shutter 28h can be performed, for example, by simultaneously rotating a pair of rotating shafts 28f by controlling driving of a driving device (not shown).

  FIG. 7 (a) shows a state in which the shutter 28h is closed. In this closed state, the cylinder device 28e pulls one engagement plate 28d outward. In this case, a pair of opposing engagement plates Since the engagement groove 28c of 28d is disengaged from the outer peripheral edge of the tray pack 26, the stacked tray pack 26 is lowered to the position where it abuts against the shutter 28h. Then, before opening the shutter 28h to take out the lowermost tray pack 26 from below, the cylinder device 28e pushes one engagement plate 28d toward the tray pack 26, so that the upper and lower sides of the pair of engagement plates 28d. The upper and lower tray packs 26 are separated by engaging the outer peripheral edges of the plurality of tray packs 26 stacked upward from the lowermost end in the plurality of engagement grooves 28c. When the shutter 28h is opened in this state, the stacked tray pack 26 is prevented from falling naturally, and only the lowest tray pack 26 can be pulled out and taken out.

  In the present embodiment, after the shutter 28h is opened, the tray pack takeout / conveying device 34 is driven and controlled, and the tray pack takeout suction pad 34E extending upward is just below the selected tray pack stocker 28. When the cylinder 34F is moved up, the two suction pad portions 34J are attracted from the outside to the bottom surface of the tray pack 26 at the lowermost position of the tray pack stocker 28, and then the cylinder 34F is driven downward, the lowermost position. The tray pack 26 is pulled downward, the tray pack 26 is detached from the engagement groove 28c of the pair of engagement plates 28d, and is supported by the upper end of the tray pack extraction suction pad 34.

  The tray pack take-out suction pad 34E that has taken out the tray pack 26 from the bottom side of the tray pack stocker 28 is moved to the virtual delivery position 25A set in the delivery space 25 by the above-described XY drive of the tray pack take-out conveyance device 34. The tray pack 26 is moved in a posture in which the tray pack 26 is supported and stopped.

  FIG. 3 shows a case where the tray pack 26 is first inserted into the empty product box 20. In this case, the tray pack 26 is waiting at the virtual delivery position 25A supported by the tray pack take-out suction pad 34E, and the packaging robot 30 moves the suction transfer mechanism 33 to the virtual delivery position 25A. The specific suction pad 33D in the type transfer mechanism 33 is lowered, and the tray pack 26 waiting at the virtual delivery position 25A is delivered from the tray pack extraction suction pad 34E. When the suction transfer mechanism 33 delivers the tray pack 26 at the virtual delivery position 25A, the boxing robot 30 moves the tray to the product box 20 waiting at the product box boxing standby position of the product box conveyor 21. The pack 26 is carried and inserted into the product box 20.

  After the tray pack 26 has been delivered at the virtual delivery position 25A, the tray pack take-out suction pad 34E takes out the tray pack 26 in accordance with the sequence described above in order to prepare the next tray pack 26, and again at this virtual delivery position 25A. The tray pack 26 is supported and waited. In addition, when the tray robot 26 is inserted into the product box 20, the boxing robot 30 this time receives a predetermined number of agricultural products waiting at the agricultural product boxing standby position of the boxing conveyor 6 by the adsorption transfer mechanism 33. The product is sucked up and lifted, carried into the product box 20, and stored in the recess of the tray pack 26. Thereafter, the suction pad 33D of the suction transfer mechanism 33 releases the suction with the agricultural products, returns the suction transfer mechanism 33 to the agricultural product boxing standby position of the boxing conveyor 6, and returns the agricultural products in the same manner as described above. The product is sucked and lifted and stored in the empty recess of the tray pack 26 of the product box 20. When this series of boxing operations for agricultural products is completed for one tray pack 26, the agricultural products are then stored in the second tray pack 26. The work is carried out on the agricultural products that have been stored in the tiers.

  In the present embodiment, the middle partition stocker 29 on which the middle partition 27 is loaded is formed in the same configuration as the tray pack stocker 28 as shown in FIG. 8, and this middle partition stocker as shown in FIG. The bottom surface of 29 is positioned at substantially the same vertical level as the bottom surface of the tray pack stocker 28.

  The middle partition stocker 29 is formed in a rectangular square tube shape, and is set in the rectangular tube 29a according to the size of the middle partition 27 on which a pair of guide plates 29b facing each other in the Y direction are stacked and accommodated. Below this pair of guide plates 29b, a sandwiching plate 29d for sandwiching and holding the plurality of tray packs 26 is disposed opposite to each other in the vertical direction, and one sandwiching plate 29d is fixed by a cylinder device 29e fixed to the square tube 29a. It is movable in the Y direction.

  A pair of rotating shafts 29f extending in the Y direction are attached to the square tube 29a along the X direction, and a shutter plate 29g is attached to each rotating shaft 29f, so that the bottom surface of the tray pack stocker 29 can be opened and closed. The shutter 29h is configured. The opening / closing drive of the shutter 29h is performed by opening the shutter 29h in order to replenish the inner partition 27 when a number of the inner partitions 27 placed on the later-described intermediate partition conveying device 36 is reduced. 27 is dropped onto the lower intermediate partition extrusion device 35, and the intermediate partition 27 dropped onto the intermediate partition extrusion device 35 is replenished to the intermediate partition conveying device 36. In addition, by driving and controlling a driving device (not shown), for example, the pair of rotating shafts 29f can be simultaneously rotated to perform opening / closing driving of the shutter 29h.

  FIG. 8 (a) shows a state in which the shutter 29h is closed. In this closed state, the cylinder device 29e pulls one clamping plate 29d outward, and in this case, a pair of opposing clamping plates The distance between 29d increases, and the stacked partition 27 is lowered to the position where it abuts against the shutter 29h. When the replenishment of the inner partition 27 is required as described above, the cylinder device 29e pushes one of the sandwiching plates 29d toward the inner partition 27 before opening the shutter 29h, so that the pair of sandwiching plates 29d. The intermediate partition 27 is clamped to prevent the entire partition from falling, but the plurality of intermediate partitions 27 positioned below the pair of clamping plates 29d are fixed below the partition partition stocker 29 with the shutter 29h open. It naturally falls on the placement table 35A of the middle partition pusher 35 arranged.

  The intermediate partition pusher 35 forms a groove 35B along the Y direction on the horizontal placement table 35A, and an extrusion member 35D is provided on the operating member 35C that engages with the groove 35B, and is placed on the placement table 35A. The plurality of intermediate partitions 27 are horizontally extruded toward the delivery space 25 side and are extruded to the intermediate partition conveyance device 36. The pushing operation of the pushing member 35D is performed by moving the actuating member 35C in the Y direction by a cylinder device (not shown).

  The intermediate partition transfer device 36 is movable between the intermediate partition stocker 29 and the virtual delivery position 25A of the delivery space 25 along the X direction. As shown in FIG. The intermediate partition transfer device 36 is set to be positioned above the tray pack 26 that is supported by the pack take-out suction pad 34E and is waiting.

  The partition transfer device 36 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which a partition partition mounting plate 36C is attached to a fitting member 36B that is slidably fitted to a guide rail 36A extending in the X direction. By moving the fitting member 36B in the X direction by the device, the middle partition placement plate 36C can be moved between the middle partition push-out device 35 and the virtual delivery position 25A.

  The plurality of middle partitions 27 placed on the middle partition placement plate 36C are placed in the uppermost position from the top in the same manner as the tray pack by the suction-type transfer mechanism 33 of the packaging robot 30 at the virtual delivery position 25A. The bracket 27 is fixed to the fitting member 36 </ b> B via bracket portions 36 </ b> D provided at the front and rear in the X direction so as not to hinder the partition 27. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the partition divider transport device 36 returns to the position corresponding to the partition divider extrusion device 35, the reflection intensity from the partition divider mounting plate 36C is detected by the optical sensor 36E and reflected. If the strength is high (for example, a mirror is provided on the surface of the partition plate placement plate 36C corresponding to the optical sensor 36E), it is determined that there is no partition 27, and the partition 27 is replenished.

  In the present embodiment, after the first-stage tray pack 26 is inserted into the product box 20 until the agricultural products are stored in the first-stage tray pack 26, the adsorption transfer of the boxing robot 30 is performed. The loading mechanism 33 does not enter the delivery space 25. For this reason, when the first-stage tray pack 26 is delivered to the adsorption transfer mechanism 33 at the virtual delivery position 25A, the intermediate partition transfer device 36 can be immediately moved to the virtual delivery position 25A. Further, the suction pad 34E for taking out the tray pack can also stand by below the above-described partition transfer device 36 at the virtual delivery position 25A while supporting the next tray pack 26.

  When all the agricultural products are stored in the recesses of the first-stage tray pack 26 in this standby state, the suction transfer mechanism 33 of the boxing robot 30 moves to the virtual delivery position 25A, and The uppermost middle partition 27 placed on the middle partition placement plate 36C is sucked and held by the suction-type transfer mechanism 33 and carried to the product box 20 in the product box boxing standby position. During the transfer of the intermediate partition 27, the intermediate partition transfer device 36 has returned to the position of the intermediate partition push-out device 36. Therefore, at the virtual delivery position 25A, the tray pack 26 supported by the tray pack take-out suction pad 34E. Delivery is possible.

  Therefore, after the suction transfer mechanism 33 of the boxing robot 30 supplies the partition 27 to the product box 20, the suction transfer mechanism 33 is immediately returned to the virtual delivery position 25A and the second tray pack 26 is delivered. The second-stage tray pack 26 can be reinserted on the inner partition 27 of the product box 20, and the second-stage tray pack 26 can be inserted from the operation of supplying the inner partition 26 into the product box 20. Can be continuously inserted into the product box 20, and the time required for this series of procedures can be greatly reduced.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the case where the tray packs 26 are stacked in two stages in the product box 20 has been described as an example. In the same manner as described above, the intermediate partition 27 and the first-stage tray pack 26 of the next product box 20 are put on standby at the virtual delivery position 25A as shown in FIG. If so, the supply of the partition 27 to the previous product box and the supply of the tray pack 26 to the next product box can be performed quickly.

  As a result, the downtime of the boxing robot 30 can also be reduced, the time required to store agricultural products in the product box can be shortened, the boxing efficiency can be improved, and the time required from sorting of agricultural products to boxing can be reduced. Can be achieved.

  In the present embodiment, the virtual delivery position 25A is set at a position facing the tray pack stocker 28C closest to the middle partition stocker 29, and the packaging position and the product box transport conveyor 21 set in the packaging conveyor 6 are set. However, the present invention is not limited to this position and can be set to any position in the delivery space 25. In addition, even for the packaging robot 30, even if the virtual delivery position 25A, the product box packaging standby position, and the agricultural product packaging standby position are not aligned on the straight line in the Y direction, the range of movement of the adsorption transfer mechanism 33 can be reduced. What is necessary is just to enable it to move across the virtual delivery position 25A, the product box packaging standby position, and the agricultural product packaging standby position.

Second Embodiment FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in the first embodiment, and (b) is a view showing a tray pack standby position. It is. The mechanical configuration other than the point that the holding member 40 is provided is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, the tray pack take-out suction pad 34E stops at the virtual delivery position 25A until the tray pack 26 is completely received by the suction transfer mechanism 33 at the virtual delivery position 25A set in the delivery space 25. However, in the present embodiment, the holding member 40 for temporarily holding the tray pack 26 to stand by at the virtual delivery position 25A is disposed opposite to the Y direction.

  Either one of the pair of holding members 40 is movable in the Y direction, and the movable holding member 40 is configured to be biased toward the holding member 40 on the opposite side with a light spring force, whereby the tray When the tray pack 26 is pushed up from the lower side of the pair of holding members 40 where the pack take-out suction pad 34E maintains a predetermined facing distance, one holding member 40 moves to expand the predetermined facing distance. The outer peripheral edge of the tray pack 26 passes between the opposing holding members 40, the one holding member 40 returns to the original position by a spring force, and the tray pack 26 is held by the pair of holding members 40. . In this state, the suction action of the tray pack take-out suction pad 34E is stopped, the process returns to the lower side of the desired tray pack stocker 28, and the next tray pack 26 is taken out. Thereafter, the tray pack is moved to a position below the tray pack standby position composed of the pair of holding members 40, and immediately when the tray pack at this tray pack standby position is carried toward the product box 20 by the adsorption transfer mechanism 33. As described above, the tray pack 26 is raised and supplied to the tray pack standby position.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment described above, the suction pad 34E for removing the tray pack is not restrained until the tray pack 26 is delivered to the suction transfer mechanism 33. Thus, preparation for the supply of the next tray pack 26 can be performed, and effective use of the suction pad 34 for removing the tray pack can be achieved.

  Note that one of the pair of holding members 40 can be moved against the spring force, but may be forcibly moved by a cylinder device, and the holding member 40 itself may be made of an elastic material such as rubber. It may be formed and elastically deformed when the tray pack 26 is lifted, or may be placed so that the end of the tray pack 26 is hooked on the holding member 40.

The top view which shows schematic structure of the sorting boxing apparatus of the agricultural products in the fruit selection field which can implement this invention effectively. The FF arrow line view of FIG. The AA arrow directional view of FIG. The BB arrow line view of FIG. CC arrow view of FIG. The DD arrow line view of FIG. FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating the tray pack stocker illustrated in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A illustrates a state where the shutter on the lower surface is closed, and FIG. It is a figure explaining the buffer sheet (partition) stocker shown in FIG. 1, (a) shows a state where the shutter on the lower surface is closed, and (b) shows a state where the shutter is opened. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the partition transfer device. FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in the first embodiment, and (b) is a view showing a tray pack standby position.

Explanation of symbols

G Box-packing part T Actual tray 1 Sorting conveyor 2 Pool conveyor 3 Discharge device 4 Actual tray transport conveyor 4A Upper real tray transport conveyor 4Aa Downward inclined inclined conveying path 4B Lower actual tray conveyed conveyor 4Bb Upward inclined inclined conveying path 5 Upper / lower stage switching guide 6 Boxing conveyor 6
7 Switching guides 8 and 9 Stopper 10 Empty tray transfer conveyor 11 Empty tray collection conveyor 20 Empty product box 21 Product box transfer conveyor 22 Product box lowering device 23 Tray pack stacking unit 24 Middle partition stacking unit 25 Delivery space 25A Virtual delivery position 26 Tray pack 27 Middle partition 28 Tray pack stocker 29 Middle partition stocker 28a 29a Square tube 28b, 29b Guide plate 28c Engaging groove 28d Engaging plate 29d Clamping plate 28e, 29e Cylinder device 28f, 29f Rotating shaft 28g, 29g Shutter plate 28h, 29h Shutter 30 Packaging robot 31A Horizontal beam 31B, 31C Frame 32 Horizontal moving body 32A Rail 33 Adsorption type transfer mechanism 33A Lifting rod 33B Lower rail member 33C Fitting member 33D Adsorption pad 33E Adsorption pad suspension 3F coupling mechanism 33G suction rod 33H suction pad section 34 tray pack take-out and transport device 34A lower rail member 34B fitting member 34C upper rail member 34D holder 34E tray pack take-out suction pad 34F cylinder 34G rod 34H plate member 34I suction rod 34J suction pad Part 35 Middle partition extrusion device 35A Placement table 35B Groove 35C Actuating member 35D Push member 36 Middle partition conveyance device 36A Guide rail 36B Fitting member 36C Middle partition placement plate 36D Bracket part 36E Sensor
40 Holding member

Claims (5)

In the supply device of packaging materials for agricultural box packaging, which supplies packaging materials for packaging into product boxes for packaging agricultural products,
A packaging material accumulation unit for accumulating the packaging material;
A product box standby position where the product box waits;
A packaging material delivery space set between the packaging material accumulation unit and the product box standby position;
A packaging material take-out that is movable between the packaging material accumulation unit and a predetermined position in the packaging material delivery space, and that waits by moving the packaging material taken out from the packaging material accumulation unit to a predetermined position in the packaging material delivery space Delivery means;
It is movable between a predetermined position of the packaging material delivery space and a product box waiting at the product box standby position, and is supported by the packaging material take-off / delivery means at a predetermined position of the packaging material delivery space. A packaging material receiving and supplying means for receiving the packaging material and supplying the packaging material into the product box,
A horizontal surface of a predetermined level in the up and down direction of the delivery space is used as a delivery surface for the packaging material, and a lower position with respect to the delivery surface as a boundary in the delivery space is a movable region of the packaging material delivery / delivery means, and the delivery surface is An apparatus for supplying packaging material for packaging agricultural products, characterized in that the upper position is a movable region of the packaging material receiving and supplying means.   The packaging material take-off / delivery means is loaded with a first packaging material take-off / delivery means that holds a tray pack as a packaging material at an upper end and stands by at a predetermined position in the delivery space, and a buffer material as a packaging material. 2. The supply device for packaging materials for agricultural product packaging according to claim 1, further comprising: a second packaging material take-off / delivery unit that waits above the tray pack at a predetermined position in the delivery space. In the supply device of packaging materials for agricultural box packaging, which supplies packaging materials for packaging into product boxes for packaging agricultural products,
A packaging material accumulation unit for accumulating the packaging material;
A product box standby position where the product box waits;
A packaging material delivery space set between the packaging material accumulation unit and the product box standby position;
Packaging material holding means provided at a predetermined position of the packaging material delivery space;
First packaging material take-off / delivery means that is movable between the packaging material accumulation unit and the packaging material holding unit and moves a tray pack as a packaging material taken out from the packaging material accumulation unit to the packaging material holding unit When,
It is movable between the packaging material accumulation part and a predetermined position of the packaging material delivery space, and a cushioning material as a packaging material taken out and loaded from the packaging material accumulation part is located above the packaging material holding means. A second packaging material take-off and delivery means for moving to a predetermined position in the packaging material delivery space and waiting;
A tray pack that is movable between a predetermined position of the packaging material delivery space and a product box waiting at the product box standby position and is held by the packaging material holding means at the predetermined position of the packaging material delivery space. And a packaging material receiving and supplying means for receiving the cushioning material loaded on the second packaging material taking and delivering means and supplying the packaging material into the product box,
A horizontal surface of a predetermined level in the up and down direction of the delivery space is used as a delivery surface for the packaging material, and in the delivery space, the lower position with the delivery surface as a boundary is a movable region of the first and second packaging material delivery / delivery means. A packaging material supply apparatus for agricultural product packaging, characterized in that the upper position with the delivery surface as a boundary is a movable region of the packaging material receiving and supplying means.   In the packaging material stacking section, different types of tray packs are stacked, a plurality of tray pack stockers capable of taking out the tray pack from the bottom surface side, and a buffer material are stacked, and the buffer material from which the buffer material can be taken out from the bottom side The supply apparatus for packaging materials for agricultural product packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a stocker. In the boxing device for agricultural products, the agricultural products that are aligned and waiting at the agricultural product boxing standby position of the boxing conveyor are packed into the product box waiting at the product box standby position by the boxing robot.
A supply device for packaging material for agricultural product packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the packaging material receiving and supplying means and the packaging robot are used together, and the packaging material receiving and supplying means is used as the packaging material. A boxing device for agricultural products, which is further movable between the agricultural product boxing standby position of the conveyor for use and the product box.

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