JP4571269B2

JP4571269B2 - Article positioning device

Info

Publication number: JP4571269B2
Application number: JP2000128525A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 一義清水; 伴行若井
Original assignee: 株式会社川島製作所
Priority date: 2000-04-27
Filing date: 2000-04-27
Publication date: 2010-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-27
Also published as: JP2001310816A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、固形の包装物等の物品を搬送手段によって搬送している途中に、物品の位置決めを可能にする物品の位置決め装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、棒状又はスティック状の洋菓子等の物品については、大きさによっては、単品毎に処理する場合も、複数個単位で包装等の処理をする場合もある。例えば、包装機械によって包装処理する場合、これらの物品は食品工場等のように、ある程度の規格を満たして大量生産されるものもあるので、包装機械によって自動的に包装して、包装作業に費やす時間とコストを低減させることが行われる。人手で包装するときには包装物を袋底に寄せて袋詰めすることが可能であるが、搬送手段の後流に設けられる各種の機械による処理をするには、物品の端部を位置決めしたり、揃えることが好都合である。
【０００３】
物品の端部を位置決めし、或いは端部を揃えた状態で物品が包装されれば、見栄えに良い包装体が得られると共に、コンパクトに包装することが可能になるので、包装材の使用量が削減されると共に包装コストや環境に対する影響の軽減が期待される。位置決めされず、不揃いの場合には、ヒートシールや結束のように包装材の開口部を封鎖をするときにヒートシールバー等の封鎖手段による意図しない物品の噛込みが生じることがあるが、端部が揃えられるとそのような噛込みが防止されるので、包装機械のトラブル発生を減少させることも期待できる。
【０００４】
長ねぎ等の細長植物を被包装物としたフィルム包装において、細長植物の根部側を前方にして、被包装物の搬送方向と同一方向に所定間隔を置いて走行するフィンガ爪間に被包装物を供給し、細長植物の根部側を前方のフィンガ爪に押し当てた後に包装用フィルム内に挿入し、包装用フィルムを公知の横ピロー包装機で、縦シールと横シール及び切断を施すことにより、細長植物の包装体を得る包装方法が提案されている（特開昭６２−４０１９号公報、特開昭６２−９４５１８号公報参照）。細長植物の根部側を前方のフィンガ爪に押し当てるため、チェーンの走行に伴って細長植物を載せたローラをガイドレール上に乗り上げて回転させ搬送に伴う走行速度にローラの周速を加算することにより、細長植物をチェーンの走行速度を上回る速度に加速して搬送させている。加速手段としては、ガイドレールに代えて、エンドレスベルトを用いることも提案されている（例えば、実開昭６２−５２１０４号公報参照）。
【０００５】
ところで、複数個単位でグループ化された物品は、プッシャを備えたコンベヤのような搬送手段によって水平方向に搬送されることがある。グループ化された物品は、ベルトコンベヤのように搬送面がコンベヤの走行と共に移動する場合は搬送面からの摩擦力で搬送されるが、移動しない搬送面上ではプッシャに押されて搬送される。このとき、物品の搬送手段への供給は一般にはラフに行われるので、端部が不揃いである。プッシャは一部の物品のみに当接した状態となり、搬送中ではその一部の物品を押し、その他の物品は、プッシャで押される物品からの摩擦力で押される。いずれにしても、グループ化された物品の場合、特に、搬送方向の細長い棒状物品の場合には、一部の物品の前端物品が必ずしも揃っていないことが多い。そのため、従来、搬送手段によって搬送される物品の前端部に係合する揃え板を、物品の前端部の前方において、エアシリンダ等のアクチュエータによって上下方向に駆動又は前後に揺動させて、揃え板とプッシャとの間で複数物品の前端物品を揃えることが行われている。
【０００６】
搬送先の包装位置で、コンベヤの搬送面と物品の底面との摩擦力のみで袋内に押し込むのでは、押込み力が小さく且つすべての物品に均等に伝達されず、一旦端部を揃えたにもかかわらず、袋と物品との接触により物品が袋内で位置が不揃いで包装される可能性がある。従って、揃った状態の各物品については、プッシャによって物品の後端部を押すことで袋内に押し込むのが好ましい。
【０００７】
コンベヤのプッシャがスパゲティや乾麺等の細長い物品の後端を押しながら袋内に押し込む構造とした自動包装機にいて、端部を整合させるため、物品の後端を押すプッシャと物品の前端に当接するプッシャ当接板との間で物品を挟み込むことにより、物品の端部を整合させた物品整合装置が提案されている（実開昭５１−１７１９０号公報参照）。この物品整合装置では、不揃いの包装物は、物品移送樋先端物品に設けられ且つバランスウェイトを備えた開閉板に当接するときに、漸次突出した状態の各包装物が一時的に前進が停止されることによって次第に整合され、整合が終了した後において更にプッシャが前進することにより、前進するプッシャの押圧力が包装物を介して開閉板を押し上げて包装物を製袋器に送り込む構成である。また、包装物が製袋器に完全に送り込まれる少し前に、包装機からの信号により、別途設けたアクチュエータが開閉板を上方にバランスウェイトに抗して強制的に回動させて、包装物への抑え力を除去している。
【０００８】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
物品の搬送前後端部を力を加えた状態で挟むことによって、物品の搬送方向の不揃いを整列させる構造は、物品がクッキーや乾麺のような脆弱な物品である場合には、物品の損傷の原因となる。一方、物品の搬送方向の不揃いは、物品の長さがある程度の規格として定まっているものであれば、その規格の範囲内に物品が納まるように規制すれば、許容される誤差内に物品の端部を揃えることが可能である。また、物品の搬送は、その後の処理を考慮すると、後端基準に揃えて行うことが構造的に簡単であり、且つ確実である。そこで、ラフに供給され且つ間欠的に次々に搬送される単品又はグループ化された物品の搬送中において、物品の搬送を停止させることなく、且つ各物品に過大な揃え力を作用させることなく、物品の搬送方向前後端の位置決めを連続的に行い、しかも、装置の高さ方向の寸法を可及的にコンパクトに構成する点で解決すべき課題がある。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
この発明の目的は、上記課題を解決することであり、物品をその搬送方向後端に対する規制手段を備えた搬送手段で搬送する搬送中に、物品に過大な力を作用させることなく、各物品の搬送方向前後端の位置決めを連続的に行うことを可能にするとともに、装置の高さ方向の寸法を抑えて、省スペースとなる物品の位置決め装置を提供することである。
【００１１】
この発明は、上記の目的を解決するため、以下のように構成されている。即ち、この発明は、物品の後端部の位置を規制可能な後端規制手段を備えた搬送手段に対して適用され搬送中の前記物品の位置決めを行う位置決め装置において、前記搬送手段の搬送方向に沿った走行経路を走行する走行手段、前記走行手段に取り付けられており搬送中の前記物品の前端部に係合可能な前端規制手段、及び前記走行手段の前記走行経路に沿った走行に伴って、前記前端規制手段に対して、搬送中の前記物品の搬送方向前方より相対的に接近させて前記後端規制手段との間で搬送中の前記物品の搬送方向前後端の位置決めをさせ前記物品の位置決め後に搬送中の前記物品の搬送方向前方に遠ざけさせる位置決め動作を行わせるカム手段から成り、前記走行手段の前記走行経路は前記搬送手段の搬送方向と平行に設けられており、前記前端規制手段は、前記走行手段に対して回動可能に設けられた前端規制板、及び前記前端規制板に設けられており且つ前記カム手段との間に生じるカム作用により前記前端規制板を回動させるカムフォロワを備えており、前記カム手段は、前記前端規制板を前記物品の搬送方向前方に回動させた傾斜状態で走行し、前記位置決め動作において当該傾斜状態から搬送方向後方に回動させて搬送中の前記物品の搬送方向前方より相対的に接近させることから成る物品の位置決め装置に関する。
【００１２】
この発明による物品の位置決め装置によれば、物品は、その後端部の位置を規制可能な後端規制手段を備えた搬送手段によって搬送される。このとき、物品は、後端規制手段によって既に規制された状態で供給されればよいが、通常は、搬送手段にラフに供給されるので規制されていない状態にある。搬送中の物品に対して、物品の前端部に係合可能な前端規制手段を搬送中の物品の搬送方向前方より相対的に接近させることで、搬送中の物品に対しては、物品が後端規制手段によって既に規制されているか否かに関わらず、前端規制手段と後端規制手段との間で搬送方向前後端の位置決めが行われる。また、物品の位置決め後に、前端規制手段を搬送中の前記物品の搬送方向前方に遠ざかるので、位置決めされた物品に対して前端規制手段が姿勢を変更したり損傷を与えることもない。物品の位置決め装置においては、走行手段が搬送手段の搬送方向に沿った走行経路を走行し、走行手段に取り付けられている前端規制手段が、走行手段の走行に伴って、搬送中の物品の前端部に係合して、後端規制手段との間で物品の搬送方向前後端の位置決めを行う。
【００１３】
前記物品は、搬送方向に対して横方向に並べられた複数個の小物品であり、前記物品の搬送方向前後端の前記位置決めを行うことにより、複数個の前記小物品の少なくとも前記前端部が揃えられる。小物品の搬送方向の長さは一定であることが多いが、必ずしもそうした物品に限定されない。小物品の長さが不揃いでも、搬送中の小物品の搬送方向前方より相対的に接近する前端規制手段によって、小物品の少なくとも前端部を揃えることが可能になる。小物品の後端部も後端規制手段によって揃えられていれば、小物品の長さ方向の両端部が揃えられる。
【００１４】
前記搬送手段は、前記物品を搬送面上に載置した状態で搬送し、且つ前記物品の前記後端部の位置を規制可能な前記後端規制手段としてプッシャを備えた、プッシャ付きコンベヤである。プッシャは、搬送中、常に物品を押している形式のものであっても良く、また、物品がローラやベルト上に載置されて搬送され、コンベヤから移載するときに物品を押し出す作用をするものでもよい。
【００１５】
前記物品は、包装物供給装置によって包装機に搬送され且つ前記包装機によって包装される包装物であり、前記物品の位置決め装置は、前記包装物を搬送する前記搬送手段としての前記包装物供給装置に適用されている。袋等の容器内における包装物の位置は、例えばヒートシールによる袋口の閉鎖に関して噛み込みを生じたり、袋内で余剰の空間を形成してタイトな包装が実現できなくなる等の不具合と関係がある。包装物供給装置において物品の位置決め装置を適用することにより、物品の少なくとも前端部の位置決めを行うことで、後続の包装機における物品の噛込みが防止され、タイトな包装が可能になる等の包装機での作業性、取扱い性が向上する。
【００１６】
物品の位置決め装置において、前記走行手段は、前記搬送手段の搬送方向に沿って前記搬送手段と平行に配設された回転輪と前記回転輪に巻き掛けられて走行する無端体とを備えた無端走行手段であり、前記走行経路は、前記無端体の前記搬送手段に近い側を走行する下側走行経路であることから成る。回転輪及び無端体は、それぞれ、スプロケット又はプーリと、無端チェーン又は無端ベルトである。搬送手段の上方で無端走行手段を巡回させるので、走行経路は、無端体の搬送手段に近い側を搬送手段と平行に走行する下側走行経路となる。
【００１７】
前記走行手段は、前記搬送手段を駆動する駆動系統から駆動力の分配を受け、且つ前記搬送手段と同期して駆動される。搬送手段に複数の後端規制手段を等間隔に配置し、走行手段に複数の前端規制手段を等間隔に取り付け、走行手段と搬送手段とを同期して駆動することにより、各後端規制手段を備えた搬送手段によって搬送される各物品に対して、走行手段に取り付けられた各前端規制手段が適正な位置及び姿勢で物品の前端部に次々に接近し係合して、連続的な位置決めが可能になる。
【００１８】
前記前端規制手段は、前記走行手段に対して回動可能に設けられた前端規制板、前記前端規制板に一体的に設けられており且つ前記カム手段との間に生じるカム作用により前記前端規制板を回動させるカムフォロワ、及び前記カムフォロワを前記カム手段に向けて付勢するばね手段から構成されている。従って、前端規制板と一体的に設けられているカムフォロワはばね手段による付勢力によってカム手段に押圧されているので、走行手段が走行するとき、走行手段に設けられた前端規制板は、カム手段との間に生じるカム作用を受けるカムフォロワと共に回動して、搬送中の物品に対する位置及び姿勢が変更される。即ち、前端規制板は、搬送中の物品の搬送方向前方より物品の前端部に接近し、後端規制手段との間で物品の搬送方向前後端の位置決めを行い、物品の位置決め後に搬送中の物品の搬送方向前方に遠ざかるという位置決め動作を行う。ばね手段がその付勢力によってカムフォロワをカム手段に押圧しているので、前端規制板に物品との間に過負荷が作用した場合には、カムフォロワがカム手段から離れることができて、物品の損傷等を回避することができる。
【００１９】
前記カム手段は、前記走行手段に沿って配設され且つ前記前端規制手段と係合するカム面から成り、前記カム面は、前記前端規制手段を前記搬送手段の上方において搬送方向前方に回動させて前記物品と非干渉の姿勢で走行させる第１カム面、前記第１カム面に繋がり前記前端規制手段を搬送方向後方に回動させて前記物品の前記前端部に当接可能な姿勢に変更させる第２カム面、前記第２カム面に繋がり前記前端規制手段の前記姿勢を維持して前記前端規制手段を搬送中の前記物品の搬送方向前方より相対的に接近させて前記物品の位置決めをさせる第３カム面、及び前記第３カム面に繋がり前記前端規制手段の前記姿勢を位置決めされた状態で搬送中の前記物品の前記前端部から搬送方向前方に回動させて遠ざける姿勢に変更させる第４カム面を有している。即ち、前端規制手段による位置決め動作は、第１〜第４の各カム面に分割してそれぞれ経時的且つ機能的に分担したカム面を備えたカム手段という機械的な手段によって行われるので、走行手段の走行と搬送手段の搬送とに同期が取れていれば、各前端規制手段の位置決め動作は各物品ごとに連続して確実に行われ、前端規制手段の後端規制手段との衝突や物品の損傷を防止することが可能になる。また、前端規制手段は、物品の前端部に当接可能な姿勢に変更されるまでは、第１カム面のカム作用によって、搬送方向前方に回動された状態で物品と非干渉の姿勢で走行されるので、搬送手段と走行手段との間隔を可及的に短縮することができる。
【００２０】
前記走行手段、前記前端規制手段、及び前記カム手段はユニット化して構成されており、前記搬送手段のフレームに対して、一括して昇降可能に配設されている。即ち、ユニット化された前記走行手段、前記前端規制手段、及び前記カム手段は、物品のサイズに応じて、搬送手段のフレームに対して一括して昇降され、位置決め装置の搬送手段への組込み、取外しが簡単になると共に、前端規制手段を物品に対して最適な上下位置に移動させることが可能である。
また、前記走行手段の走行速度については前記搬送手段の搬送速度よりも僅かに遅く設定し、前記前端規制板の設置間隔については当該搬送速度の設定に合わせて前記搬送手段の前記後端規制手段の設置間隔よりも僅かに長く設定することができる。これにより、走行手段の速度変更の制御を行うことなく、前端規制板を後端規制手段側に向けて接近する方向に移動させて後端規制手段との間で物品を位置決めすることができる。
【００２１】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、添付図面を参照しつつ、この発明による物品の位置決め装置の実施例を説明する。図１はこの発明による物品の位置決め装置の一実施例を示す正面図、図２は図１に示す物品の位置決め装置の断面Ｂ−Ｂで見た断面図、図３は図１及び図２に示す物品の位置決め装置のＣ−Ｃ断面図である。なお、前端規制手段３０については、一部省略して図示している。
【００２２】
この発明による物品の位置決め装置１は、物品Ａを搬送手段２によって搬送中に物品Ａの搬送方向の両端部の位置を規制して、物品Ａの搬送手段２上における位置決めを行う装置である。搬送手段２は、図示の例では、プッシャコンベヤであり、物品Ａの後端部ａ₁の位置を規制可能な後端規制手段であるプッシャ３を備えている。プッシャ３は、両側の側壁６，６によって形成された溝状の搬送路４に沿って走行されるチェーン５に、所定の間隔Ｌを置いて隔置して配設されている。図示の搬送手段２は、図１に最も良く示すように、物品Ａを直接載置する多数のローラ７（一部のみ示し且つ符号を付す）を横方向に並べたローラコンベヤである。プッシャ３は、搬送手段２から物品Ａを、例えば、ピロー包装機のような包装機（図示せず）に送り込むときに、移載のために押し出す働きをする。
【００２３】
物品Ａは、図示の例では、乾麺のような、多数の積層した細長い小物品から成るものであるが、スティック状の菓子やクッキーのような食品であってもよい。その他、物品Ａは、長ねぎ、ナス、キュウリ等の単数又は複数の棒状野菜、電極や金属棒のような工業製品であってもよい。また、個数の点で、物品Ａは、単品でも、図示のように多数のグループ化された小物品であってもよい。
【００２４】
グループ化された物品Ａの場合において、物品Ａがローラ７に載置された状態で搬送されるときには、物品Ａの一部の後端部ａ₁がプッシャ３に対して当接状態で搬送され、物品Ａの残りの部分は不揃い状態で搬送されることがある。後端部ａ₁が不揃いか否かに関わらず、物品Ａのすべての構成部分がプッシャ３に当接せず位置ずれを生じていることもある。物品Ａが単品である場合にも、プッシャ３に当接せずで位置ずれを生じている状態で搬送されていることがある。
【００２５】
上記のような物品Ａの位置ずれ又は不揃いを修正・整列するため、物品の位置決め装置１は、搬送手段２の搬送方向Ｄに沿った走行経路１１を走行する走行手段１０、走行手段１０に取り付けられており搬送中の物品Ａの前端部ａ₂に係合可能な前端規制手段３０、及び走行手段１０の走行経路１１に沿った走行に伴って、前端規制手段３０に対して位置決め動作を行わせるカム手段４０を備えている。カム手段４０が前端規制手段３０に対して行わせる位置決め動作は、搬送中の物品Ａの搬送方向前方より相対的に接近させて後端規制手段であるプッシャ３との間で搬送中の物品Ａを挟んで搬送方向前後端の位置決めをし、物品Ａの位置決め後に、搬送中の物品Ａの搬送方向前方に遠ざけさせる動作である。
【００２６】
走行手段１０は、後述する昇降フレーム２０に回転自在に支持され且つ連続して所定方向に回転駆動されるダブルスプロケット形式の駆動スプロケット１３及び従動スプロケット１４と、両スプロケット１３，１４にそれぞれ巻き掛けられた無端チェーン１５とからなる無端チェーン走行手段であり、搬送手段２の搬送方向Ｄに沿った下側の走行経路１１と、走行経路１１に平行な上側の走行経路１２とを有している。搬送手段２に近い下側の走行経路１１では、無端チェーン１５は、搬送手段２による搬送方向Ｄ（図１及び図２）と同じ方向に走行する。
【００２７】
昇降フレーム２０は、固定フレーム２１に対して上下方向に位置を調節可能であり、位置決め装置１を搬送手段２上に組込む際の初期設定及び搬送手段２からの脱着を容易にするため、また、物品Ａの形状等に応じて、前端規制手段３０の高さ位置を変更するため、搬送手段２に対する上下位置が調節される。昇降フレーム２０の上下位置は、ハンドル２２によって回動操作されるハンドル軸２３のねじ作用により、調節される。昇降フレーム２０は、基板２４と、基板２４に平行に配設された副板２５と、副板２５を基板２４に取り付ける支柱２６とから構成されている。駆動スプロケット１３は、基板２４と副板２５とに回転自在に支持された駆動軸２７に取り付けられており、従動スプロケット１４は、基板２４と副板２５とに取り付けられた従動軸２８に回転自在に支持されている。
【００２８】
走行手段１０の下側の走行経路１１と上側の走行経路１２とには、無端チェーン１５の走行を安定させるための走行ガイド１６，１６が設けられている。従動スプロケット１４に関して、無端チェーン１５の張力を調整するため、昇降フレーム２０の基板２４及び副板２５の各側において、駆動スプロケット１３との間の間隔調節を可能にする長孔と調整ねじとから成る張力調整機構１７が設けられている。また、チェーン走行に伴って物品への異物の飛散を防止するため、無端チェーン走行手段の周囲を適宜のケースによって覆うこともできる。
【００２９】
搬送中の物品Ａの前端部ａ₂に係合可能な前端規制手段３０は、走行手段１０を構成する無端チェーン１５に対して所定間隔に隔置して取り付けられている。図１〜図３において、前端規制手段３０については、簡単のため、設けられる複数個（６個）のうち一部のみを示している。前端規制手段３０は、走行手段１０の無端チェーン１５に対して回動可能に設けられた前端規制板３１、前端規制板３１に一体的に設けられており且つカム手段４０との間に生じるカム作用により前端規制板３１を回動させるカムフォロワ３２、及びカムフォロワ３２をカム手段４０に向けて付勢するばね手段としてのコイルスプリング３３から構成されている。前端規制板３１の設置間隔は、後述するように、走行手段１０の走行速度が搬送手段２の搬送速度よりも僅かに遅いことに合わせるため、搬送手段２のプッシャ３の設置間隔Ｌよりも、僅かに長く設定されている。
【００３０】
詳細には、図２及び図３に示すように、二重に巻き掛けられた無端チェーン１５，１５に掛け渡した状態で、所定間隔に隔置してブラケット３４が取り付けられており、前端規制板３１の一端に設けられている回転軸３５がブラケット３４に回動自在に支持されている。従って、前端規制板３１は、ブラケット３４の一側において突出した回転軸３５によって揺動可能に支持されている。ブラケット３４の他側において、回転軸３５には、ブラケット３４の走行方向先方に延びたカムフォロワ３２が設けられている。即ち、前端規制板３１は、回転軸３５を介してカムフォロワ３２に一体的に構成されている。ブラケット３４とカムフォロワ３２との間には、カムフォロワ３２を後述するカム手段４０に向けて付勢するコイルスプリング３３が引っ張り状態で設けられている。
【００３１】
カム手段４０は、走行手段１０に沿って配設され且つ前端規制手段３０と係合するカム面から構成されている。カム面は、図１に示すように、昇降フレーム２０の基板２４に対して適宜の位置に適宜の固定手段４６で取り付けられた一巡する細長い板カム４５の内周面として形成されており、カム面には、前端規制手段３０のカムフォロワ３２がコイルスプリング３３の付勢力で当接されている。
【００３２】
カム面は、図１に示すように、前端規制手段３０を搬送手段２の上方において物品Ａと非干渉の姿勢で走行させる第１カム面４１、第１カム面４１に繋がり前端規制手段３０を物品Ａの前端部ａ₂に当接可能な姿勢に変更させる第２カム面４２、第２カム面４２に繋がり前端規制手段３０の姿勢を維持して前端規制手段３０を搬送中の物品Ａの搬送方向前方より相対的に接近させて物品Ａの位置決めをさせる第３カム面４３、及び第３カム面４３に繋がり前端規制手段３０の姿勢を位置決めされた状態で搬送中の物品Ａの前端部ａ₂から遠ざける姿勢に変更させる第４カム面４４から構成されている。即ち、前端規制手段３０による位置決め動作は、第１〜第４の各カム面４１〜４４に分割されてそれぞれの機能を経時的に分担して引き継ぐカム面を備えたカム手段４０という機械的な手段によって行われるので、当初に設定が適正に行われれば、同期が取れている走行手段１０の走行と搬送手段２の搬送とによって、その後の前端規制手段３０による物品Ａに対する位置決め動作が確実となる。また、前端規制手段３０が、後端規制手段であるプッシャ３や、物品Ａ（特に、脆弱な物品の場合）と衝突して、前端規制手段３０、プッシャ３又は物品Ａの損傷を防止することができる。
【００３３】
前端規制板３１と一体的に設けられているカムフォロワ３２はコイルスプリング３３による付勢力によってカム手段４０に押圧されているので、走行手段１０が走行するとき、走行手段１０に設けられた前端規制板３１は、カム手段４０との間に生じるカム作用を受けるカムフォロワ３２の動きと共に回動し、搬送中の物品Ａに対する位置及び姿勢を変える。以下、前端規制板３１の位置決め動作を図４に基づいて説明する。図４（ａ）〜（ｄ）は、図１〜図３に示す物品の位置決め装置による物品の位置決め動作を順を追って説明する説明図である。なお、図１及び図４において、前端規制板３１の先端の軌跡を一点鎖線で示す。
【００３４】
カムフォロワ３２が第１カム面４１に当接して走行する行程では、図４（ａ）に示すように、前端規制手段３０の前端規制板３１は、搬送手段２の上方において先端が持ち上がった状態で物品Ａと非干渉の姿勢で走行する。カムフォロワ３２が、第１カム面４１に繋がり且つ第１カム面４１から下降傾斜する第２カム面４２に当接して走行する行程では、図４（ｂ）に示すように、前端規制板３１の姿勢は、第２カム面４２とカムフォロワ３２とのカム作用によって先端が略真っ直ぐ下降し、板面が搬送手段２に直交に交差して物品Ａの前端部ａ₂に当接可能な姿勢に変更される。
【００３５】
カムフォロワ３２が、第２カム面４２に繋がり且つ走行経路１１と平行な第３カム面４３に当接して走行する行程では、図４（ｃ）に示すように、前端規制板３１の姿勢は、物品Ａの前端部ａ2 に当接可能な姿勢に維持される。走行手段１０の走行速度は搬送手段２の搬送速度よりも若干遅いので、この行程においては、前端規制板３１は搬送中の物品Ａの搬送方向前方より物品Ａの前端部ａ2 に相対的に接近する。物品Ａの長さ及び搬送速度に応じて、走行手段１０の走行速度及び前端規制板３１の後端規制板であるプッシャ３との相対的な位置関係が予め設定されている。前端規制板３１はプッシャ３との間で物品Ａの搬送方向前後端の位置決めを行うので、不揃いであった物品Ａの端部ａ1 ，ａ2 が揃えられる。
【００３６】
前端規制手段３０の前端規制板３１は、万一、物品Ａから大きな反力を受けたとき、カムフォロワ３２を介してコイルスプリング３３を更に引っ張ることにより、物品Ａの前端部ａ₂から搬送方向前方に逃げ、物品Ａに無理な力を作用させない。このとき、カムフォロワ３２は板カム４５のカム面から浮くことになる。
【００３７】
カムフォロワ３２が、第３カム面４３に繋がり且つ上昇傾斜する第４カム面４４に当接して走行する行程では、図４（ｄ）に示すように、位置決め後の前端規制板３１の姿勢は、位置決めされた搬送中の物品Ａの搬送方向前方に遠ざかる動きを示す。走行手段１０の走行速度は搬送手段２の搬送速度よりも遅くても、第４カム面４４がカムフォロワ３２に及ぼすカム作用により、前端規制板３１の先端が持ち上げられつつ逃げる速度は物品Ａの搬送速度よりも速く、揃え済みの物品Ａに過大な力が作用せず、物品Ａが再度、不揃いになる虞はない。
【００３８】
走行手段１０は、搬送手段２を駆動する駆動系統から駆動力の分配を受け、且つ搬送手段２と同期して駆動される。即ち、搬送手段２は、電動機とチェーン伝動機構とによって駆動されるが、チェーン伝動機構から駆動力の分配を受ける駆動機構５０（図１及び図２）を介して、駆動スプロケット１３が駆動される。駆動機構５０は、スプロケット５１，５２、５３・・及びそれらのスプロケットと搬送手段２の駆動系統のスプロケット（図示せず）とに巻き掛けられるチェーン５４から構成される。搬送手段２に複数の後端規制手段であるプッシャ３を等間隔に配置し、走行手段１０に複数の前端規制手段３０を等間隔に取り付けた状態で、走行手段１０と搬送手段２とを同期して駆動することにより、搬送手段２によって間欠的に搬送される各物品Ａに対して、順次、走行手段１０に取り付けられた各前端規制手段３０が適正な位置及び姿勢で物品Ａの前端部に接近し、搬送手段２に備わる各プッシャ３との間で位置決めを施して端部を揃えるという位置決め動作を連続的に行うことができる。
【００３９】
走行手段１０、前端規制手段３０、及びカム手段４０はユニット化して構成されており、搬送手段２の固定フレーム２１に対して、一括して昇降可能な昇降フレーム２０に配設されている。即ち、ユニット化された上記各手段１０，３０，４０は、搬送手段２の固定フレーム２１に対して一括して昇降され、装着及び脱着が容易になると共に、物品Ａのサイズに応じて前端規制手段３０を物品Ａに対して最適な上下位置に移動させることが可能である。なお、昇降フレーム２０を固定フレーム２１に対して昇降させたときに、滑車の原理により、チェーン５４に弛み等の不具合が生じない構造が採用されている。
【００４０】
以上の実施例は、複数のばらの棒状物品Ａの場合を例に採って説明したが、単一の物品でも、搬送方向に複数個の物品が縦に並べられたでも、この発明に基づいた位置決めを適用可能であることは明らかである。また、搬送手段２は、物品Ａをローラ７に載置せず、固定の底壁上に載せた状態でプッシャ３によって押しながら搬送する構造とすることも可能である。搬送手段２にはプッシャ３を設けて、プッシャ３と前端規制板３１との間で挟むことで物品Ａの位置決めを行っていたが、位置決めに余裕を持たせることが可能であれば、一定の長さ以下に抑えられている物品Ａをプッシャ３と前端規制板３１との間の前記一定の長さよりも僅かに長い間隔内に納める規制、即ち、後端規制手段に当接しなくても後端規制手段から一定の距離内に納める規制で済ませることにしてもよい。また、走行手段１０としては、無端チェーン走行手段を示したが、無端チェーン１５に代えて無端ベルトや無端ロープを用いた無端ベルト走行手段でも、無端ロープ走行手段であってもよい。更に、走行手段１０としては、無端体を用いる必要は必ずしもなく、ボックスモーション等の動きの経路のように、下側の走行経路１１を走行可能な手段であれば、任意の手段であってもよい。また、カム手段４０についても、後続の搬送中の物品と干渉しないように上方の逃げ、再度、同じ走行経路を走行できるものであれば、実施例に挙げたカム面４１〜４４に限る必要はない。
【００４１】
この物品の位置決め装置は、特に、包装フィルムで袋を製袋しながら包装物を充填するピロー包装機、又は既製の袋に包装物を包装する包装機に対して、包装物としての物品を供給する物品供給装置に適用可能である。即ち、この位置決め装置で位置決めされた物品は、搬送方向後端基準で袋内に送り込まれるので、袋包装体内では包装物である物品の後端が袋底側に位置しており、袋首部は後段のヒートシールや結束のための充分な余裕が与えられ、ヒートシールや結束のための閉鎖具による物品の噛込みが生じない。また、特に、物品がクッキーや軽量で且つ包装フィルムに付着し易い野菜であっても、包装物は、後端基準で供給されて、袋内で揃えられた状態で包装され、袋内でルーズになることがなく、包装機の構造や作動に大幅な変更を施すことなくタイトな包装体を得ることができる。
その結果、見栄えの良いタイトな包装体が得られて包装体としての商品価値が高められ、袋包装体を箱詰めするときも、包装体の整列性が良く、箱詰め作業性を良好にし、流通段階での作業性を向上させることができる。
【００４２】
【発明の効果】
この発明は、上記のように構成されているので、次のような効果を奏する。即ち、この発明による物品の位置決め装置によれば、後端部の位置を規制可能な後端規制手段を備えた搬送手段にラフに供給された搬送中の物品に対して、物品の前端部に係合可能な前端規制手段を搬送中の物品の搬送方向前方より相対的に接近させることで、前端規制手段と後端規制手段との間で物品の搬送方向前後端の位置決めが行われる。また、物品の位置決め後に、前端規制手段を搬送中の前記物品の搬送方向前方に遠ざかるので、位置決めされた物品に対して前端規制手段が姿勢を変更したり損傷を与えることもない。従って、物品は、搬送手段で搬送されて停止させることなく、且つ物品に過大な力を作用させることなく、後端基準で位置決めし或いは端部を揃えることを可能にする位置決めが行われる。更に、カム手段という機械的な手段によって、前端規制手段の作動を行わせているので、安価で確実に位置決めされ、物品との衝突も生じない。
そして、走行手段の走行経路が搬送手段の搬送方向と平行に設けられており、前端規制手段が、走行手段に対して回動可能に設けられた前端規制板、及び前端規制板に設けられており且つカム手段との間に生じるカム作用により前端規制板を回動させるカムフォロワを備えており、更に、カム手段は、前端規制板を物品の搬送方向前方に回動させた傾斜状態で走行し、位置決め動作において当該傾斜状態から搬送方向後方に回動させて搬送中の物品の搬送方向前方より相対的に接近させているので、前端規制板を走行させる走行手段と物品を搬送させる搬送手段との間の高さ方向の寸法を抑えて、省スペースとなる物品の位置決め装置を提供することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】この発明による物品の位置決め装置の一実施例を示す正面図である。
【図２】図１に示す物品の位置決め装置の断面Ｂ−Ｂで見た断面図である。
【図３】図１及び図２に示す物品の位置決め装置のＣ−Ｃ断面図である。
【図４】図４（ａ）〜（ｄ）は、図１〜図３に示す物品の位置決め装置による物品の位置決め動作を順を追って説明する説明図である。
【符号の説明】
１位置決め装置
２搬送手段
３プッシャ（プッシャ付きコンベヤ，後端規制手段）
１０走行手段
１１，１２走行経路
１３駆動プロケット（回転輪）
１４従動プロケット（回転輪）
１５無端チェーン（無端体）
２０昇降フレーム
２１固定フレーム
３０前端規制手段
３１前端規制板
３２カムフォロワ
３３ばね手段
４０カム手段
４１第１カム面
４２第２カム面
４３第３カム面
４４第４カム面
５０駆動手段
Ａ物品
ａ₁ 後端部
ａ₂ 前端部
Ｄ搬送方向[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to positioning of an article that enables positioning of the article while the article such as a solid package is being conveyed by the conveying means.DressingRelated to the position.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, articles such as stick-shaped or stick-shaped Western confectionery may be processed individually or in a plurality of units depending on the size. For example, when packaging is performed by a packaging machine, some of these articles satisfy a certain standard, such as food factories, and are mass-produced. Time and cost are reduced. When packaging by hand, it is possible to pack the package by bringing it to the bottom of the bag, but in order to perform processing by various machines provided downstream of the conveying means, the end of the article is positioned, It is convenient to align.
[0003]
If the end of the article is positioned or the article is packaged with the ends aligned, a good-looking package can be obtained and the package can be compactly packed. Reduction in packaging costs and impact on the environment is expected. In the case of non-positioning and unevenness, unintentional biting of the article by sealing means such as a heat seal bar may occur when sealing the opening of the packaging material, such as heat sealing or bundling. Since such biting is prevented when the parts are aligned, it can be expected to reduce the occurrence of troubles in the packaging machine.
[0004]
In film packaging that uses long plants such as long onions to be packaged, the package is placed between finger claws that run at a predetermined interval in the same direction as the package to be packaged, with the root side of the elongated plant facing forward. By pressing the root side of the elongated plant against the front fingernail and inserting it into the packaging film, and applying the vertical and horizontal seals and cutting the packaging film with a known horizontal pillow packaging machine. A packaging method for obtaining a package of elongated plants has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 62-4019 and 62-94518). In order to press the root side of the elongated plant against the front fingernail, the roller carrying the elongated plant rides on the guide rail and rotates as the chain travels, and the peripheral speed of the roller is added to the traveling speed associated with conveyance. Thus, the elongated plants are transported at a speed exceeding the running speed of the chain. As an acceleration means, it has been proposed to use an endless belt instead of the guide rail (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-52104).
[0005]
By the way, articles grouped in a plurality of units may be conveyed in the horizontal direction by a conveying means such as a conveyor provided with a pusher. The grouped articles are conveyed by frictional force from the conveying surface when the conveying surface moves with the running of the conveyor like a belt conveyor, but are pushed by the pusher and conveyed on the non-moving conveying surface. At this time, since the supply of the article to the conveying means is generally performed roughly, the ends are uneven. The pusher is in contact with only a part of the article, and the part of the article is pushed during conveyance, and the other article is pushed by the frictional force from the article pushed by the pusher. In any case, in the case of grouped articles, particularly in the case of elongated bar-shaped articles in the conveying direction, the front end articles of some articles are often not always aligned. Therefore, conventionally, an aligning plate that engages with the front end portion of the article conveyed by the conveying means is driven in the vertical direction or is swung back and forth by an actuator such as an air cylinder in front of the front end portion of the article. The front end articles of a plurality of articles are arranged between the pusher and the pusher.
[0006]
When the bag is pushed into the bag only by the frictional force between the carrying surface of the conveyor and the bottom surface of the article at the packaging position of the conveyance destination, the pushing force is small and it is not transmitted evenly to all the articles. Nevertheless, the contact between the bag and the article may cause the article to be packaged in an uneven position within the bag. Therefore, it is preferable that the articles in the aligned state are pushed into the bag by pushing the rear end of the article with a pusher.
[0007]
In an automatic packaging machine where the conveyor pusher is pushed into the bag while pushing the rear end of elongated items such as spaghetti and dry noodles, the pusher that presses the rear end of the article and the front end of the article are aligned to align the ends. An article aligning device has been proposed in which an end of an article is aligned by sandwiching the article with a pusher contact plate that is in contact (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 51-17190). In this article aligning apparatus, when the uneven package is brought into contact with an opening / closing plate provided on the article transfer rod tip article and provided with a balance weight, the progressively protruding state of each package is temporarily stopped. Thus, after the alignment is completed, the pusher further moves forward, so that the pressing force of the pusher that pushes up pushes up the opening / closing plate through the package and feeds the package into the bag making machine. Also, just before the package is completely fed into the bag making machine, a signal from the packaging machine causes the separately provided actuator to forcibly rotate the open / close plate upward against the balance weight, The restraining force is removed.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  The structure that aligns the unevenness in the conveyance direction of the article by sandwiching the front and rear ends of the article in a state where force is applied is used to prevent damage to the article when the article is a fragile article such as a cookie or dry noodle. Cause. On the other hand, if the length of an article is defined as a certain standard, the irregularity in the conveyance direction of the article can be controlled within an allowable error if the article is regulated to be within the range of the standard. It is possible to align the ends. In addition, considering the subsequent processing, it is structurally simple and reliable to carry the article in accordance with the rear end reference. Therefore, during the conveyance of single items or grouped items that are supplied roughly and one after another intermittently, without stopping the conveyance of the items and without causing excessive alignment force to act on each item, Continuous positioning of the front and rear ends of goods in the conveying directionMoreover, the height dimension of the device is made as compact as possible.There is a problem to be solved in terms of points.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and each article can be conveyed without exerting an excessive force on the article during the conveyance of the article by the conveyance means having a restriction means for the rear end in the conveyance direction. Enables continuous positioning of the front and rear ends in the transport directionIn addition, the size of the device in the height direction is reduced, saving space.Positioning of goodsDressingIs to provide a position.
[0011]
  thisThe inventionIn order to solve the above-described object, the following configuration is provided. That is, this inventionIn a positioning device that is applied to a conveying means provided with a rear end regulating means capable of regulating the position of the rear end portion of an article and positions the article being conveyed, a travel path along the conveying direction of the conveying means is provided. Traveling means for traveling, front end restricting means attached to the traveling means and engageable with a front end portion of the article being conveyed, and the front end restricting means as the traveling means travels along the traveling path. In contrast, the front and rear ends of the article being conveyed are positioned relative to the front end in the conveyance direction of the article being conveyed so that the front and rear ends of the article being conveyed are positioned and being conveyed after the article is positioned. Comprising a cam means for performing a positioning operation for moving the article forward in the conveying direction.The travel path of the travel means is provided in parallel with the transport direction of the transport means, the front end restricting means includes a front end restricting plate provided to be rotatable with respect to the travel means, and the front end A cam follower is provided on the restriction plate and rotates the front end restriction plate by a cam action generated between the restriction means and the cam means. The cam means moves the front end restriction plate forward in the conveyance direction of the article. The vehicle travels in a tilted state that is rotated, and is rotated rearward in the transport direction from the tilted state in the positioning operation to be relatively closer to the front in the transport direction of the article being transported.The present invention relates to an article positioning apparatus.
[0012]
  Positioning of articles according to the inventionDressingAccording to the arrangement, the article is transported by the transport means including the rear end regulating means capable of regulating the position of the rear end portion. At this time, the article may be supplied in a state that has already been regulated by the rear end regulating means, but is normally not regulated because it is roughly supplied to the conveying means. By moving the front end regulating means engageable with the front end of the article relative to the article being conveyed from the front in the conveyance direction of the article being conveyed, the article is moved to the rear of the article being conveyed. Regardless of whether or not it is already regulated by the end regulating means, the front and rear ends in the transport direction are positioned between the front end regulating means and the rear end regulating means. Further, since the front end regulating means is moved forward in the conveyance direction of the article being conveyed after the article is positioned, the front end regulating means does not change the attitude or damage the positioned article. In the article positioning apparatus, the traveling means travels along a traveling route along the transport direction of the transporting means, and the front end regulating means attached to the traveling means is connected to the front end of the article being transported as the traveling means travels. The front and rear ends of the article in the conveyance direction are positioned with respect to the rear end regulating means.
[0013]
The article is a plurality of small articles arranged in a transverse direction with respect to the conveyance direction, and by positioning the front and rear ends of the article in the conveyance direction, at least the front end portions of the plurality of small articles are arranged. Aligned. The length in the conveyance direction of small articles is often constant, but is not necessarily limited to such articles. Even if the lengths of the small articles are not uniform, it is possible to align at least the front end portions of the small articles by the front end regulating means that is relatively approached from the front in the conveyance direction of the small articles being conveyed. If the rear end portion of the small article is also aligned by the rear end regulating means, both end portions in the length direction of the small article are aligned.
[0014]
The conveying means is a conveyor with a pusher, which conveys the article in a state of being placed on a conveyance surface, and includes a pusher as the rear end regulating means capable of regulating the position of the rear end portion of the article. . The pusher may be of a type that always pushes the article during conveyance, or pushes the article when the article is carried on a roller or belt and transferred from the conveyor. But you can.
[0015]
  The article is a package that is transported to a packaging machine by a package supply device and packaged by the packaging machine.DressingThe device is applied to the package supply apparatus as the transport means for transporting the package. The position of the package in a container such as a bag is related to problems such as biting with respect to closing of the bag mouth by heat sealing, etc., or forming an excessive space in the bag and making it impossible to realize tight packaging. is there. Positioning of goods in packaging supply equipmentDressingBy positioning the at least the front end of the product by applying the device, it is possible to prevent the biting of the product in the subsequent packaging machine and to make tight packaging possible. Will improve.
[0016]
  In the article positioning apparatus, the travel means is along a transport direction of the transport means.Parallel to the conveying meansEndless traveling means comprising an arranged rotating wheel and an endless body that travels while being wound around the rotating wheel, and the traveling path travels on the side of the endless body that is closer to the conveying means. It consists of a route. The rotating wheel and the endless body are a sprocket or a pulley and an endless chain or an endless belt, respectively. Since the endless traveling means circulates above the conveying means, the traveling route should be close to the endless body conveying means.In parallel with the transport meansThis is the lower travel route for traveling.
[0017]
The traveling means receives driving force distribution from a drive system that drives the conveying means, and is driven in synchronization with the conveying means. By arranging a plurality of rear end regulating means at equal intervals on the conveying means, attaching a plurality of front end regulating means to the traveling means at equal intervals, and driving the running means and the conveying means synchronously, each rear end regulating means With respect to each article conveyed by the conveying means provided with, each front end regulating means attached to the traveling means approaches and engages with the front end of the article one after another at an appropriate position and posture, and is continuously positioned. Is possible.
[0018]
  The front end restricting means is a front end restricting plate provided to be rotatable with respect to the traveling means, and is provided integrally with the front end restricting plate, and the front end restricting means is caused by a cam action generated between the front end restricting means and the cam means. A cam follower for rotating the plate and a spring means for biasing the cam follower toward the cam means. Accordingly, since the cam follower provided integrally with the front end regulating plate is pressed against the cam means by the biasing force of the spring means, the front end regulating plate provided on the running means is the cam means when the running means travels. And the cam follower that receives the cam action that occurs between the position and the position of the article being conveyed is changed. That is, the front end regulating plate approaches the front end portion of the article from the front in the conveyance direction of the article being conveyed, positions the front and rear ends of the article in the conveyance direction with the rear end regulating means, and is being conveyed after the article is positioned. A positioning operation of moving away from the front in the conveyance direction of the article is performed.Since the spring means presses the cam follower against the cam means by its urging force, if an overload acts between the front end regulating plate and the article, the cam follower can be separated from the cam means and damage the article. Etc. can be avoided.
[0019]
  The cam means includes a cam surface that is disposed along the traveling means and engages with the front end restricting means, and the cam surface moves the front end restricting means above the transport means.Rotate forward in the transport directionA first cam surface that travels in a non-interfering posture with the article, the front end regulating means connected to the first cam surface;Rotate backward in the transport directionThe second cam surface to be changed to a posture capable of coming into contact with the front end portion of the article, transporting the article while being transported through the front end regulating means while maintaining the posture of the front end regulating means connected to the second cam surface. A third cam surface for positioning the article relatively closer to the front in the direction, and the front end portion of the article being conveyed in a state where the posture of the front end regulating means is positioned while being connected to the third cam surface. FromRotate forward in the transport directionIt has the 4th cam surface changed to the posture which keeps away. That is, the positioning operation by the front end regulating means is performed by a mechanical means called a cam means having cam faces that are divided into the first to fourth cam faces and that are divided over time and functions, respectively. If the travel of the means and the transport of the transport means are synchronized, the positioning operation of each front end restricting means is reliably performed continuously for each article, and the collision with the rear end restricting means of the front end restricting means or the article It becomes possible to prevent damage.Further, until the front end restricting means is changed to a posture capable of coming into contact with the front end portion of the article, the front end regulating means is in a non-interfering posture with the article while being rotated forward by the cam action of the first cam surface. Since it travels, the space | interval of a conveyance means and a travel means can be shortened as much as possible.
[0020]
  The traveling means, the front end regulating means, and the cam means are configured as a unit, and are disposed so as to be lifted and lowered collectively with respect to the frame of the conveying means. That is, the unitized traveling means, the front end regulating means, and the cam means are collectively raised and lowered with respect to the frame of the conveying means according to the size of the article, and the positioning device is incorporated into the conveying means. Removal is simplified, and the front end regulating means can be moved to an optimum vertical position with respect to the article.
  The travel speed of the travel means is set slightly slower than the transport speed of the transport means, and the installation interval of the front end restricting plate is set to the rear end restricting means of the transport means according to the setting of the transport speed. It can be set slightly longer than the installation interval. As a result, the article can be positioned with respect to the rear end restricting means by moving the front end restricting plate toward the rear end restricting means without controlling the speed change of the traveling means.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, the positioning of the article according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.DressingAn embodiment of the apparatus will be described. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an article positioning apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the article positioning apparatus shown in FIG. 1 taken along a section BB, and FIG. 3 is shown in FIGS. It is CC sectional drawing of the positioning apparatus of the article | item shown. Note that the front end regulating means 30 is partially omitted.
[0022]
The article positioning apparatus 1 according to the present invention is an apparatus for positioning the article A on the conveying means 2 by regulating the positions of both ends in the conveying direction of the article A while the article A is being conveyed by the conveying means 2. In the illustrated example, the conveying means 2 is a pusher conveyor, and the rear end a of the article A₁Is provided with a pusher 3 which is a rear end regulating means capable of regulating the position. The pusher 3 is disposed at a predetermined interval L on a chain 5 that travels along a groove-shaped conveyance path 4 formed by side walls 6 and 6 on both sides. As shown best in FIG. 1, the illustrated conveying means 2 is a roller conveyor in which a large number of rollers 7 (only some of which are shown and denoted by reference numerals) on which articles A are directly placed are arranged in the horizontal direction. The pusher 3 functions to push out the article A for transfer when the article A is fed from the conveying means 2 to a packaging machine (not shown) such as a pillow packaging machine.
[0023]
In the illustrated example, the article A is composed of a large number of stacked elongated small articles such as dry noodles, but may be food such as stick-like confectionery or cookies. In addition, the article A may be an industrial product such as one or a plurality of rod-like vegetables such as long onion, eggplant, and cucumber, an electrode, and a metal rod. Further, in terms of the number, the article A may be a single article or a large number of grouped small articles as illustrated.
[0024]
In the case of the grouped articles A, when the article A is conveyed while being placed on the roller 7, a part of the rear end a of the article A₁May be conveyed in contact with the pusher 3, and the remaining part of the article A may be conveyed in an irregular state. Rear end a₁Regardless of whether or not the items are irregular, all the components of the article A may not contact the pusher 3 and may be displaced. Even in the case where the article A is a single item, the article A may be transported in a state of being displaced without contacting the pusher 3.
[0025]
In order to correct / align the misalignment or irregularity of the article A as described above, the article positioning device 1 is attached to the traveling means 10 and the traveling means 10 that travel on the traveling path 11 along the transport direction D of the transport means 2. The front end a of the article A being transported₂And a cam means 40 that causes the front end regulating means 30 to perform a positioning operation when traveling along the travel path 11 of the traveling means 10. The positioning operation that the cam unit 40 performs with respect to the front end regulating unit 30 is relatively approached from the front in the conveyance direction of the article A being conveyed and is being conveyed with the pusher 3 that is the rear end regulating unit. This is an operation of positioning the front and rear ends in the transport direction with the nip interposed therebetween, and moving the article A away from the front in the transport direction after the positioning of the article A.
[0026]
The travel means 10 is wound around a sprocket 13 and a driven sprocket 14 of the double sprocket type that are rotatably supported by an elevating frame 20 (described later) and continuously driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, and both sprockets 13 and 14. The endless chain travel means is composed of an endless chain 15 and has a lower travel path 11 along the transport direction D of the transport means 2 and an upper travel path 12 parallel to the travel path 11. In the lower travel path 11 close to the transport means 2, the endless chain 15 travels in the same direction as the transport direction D (FIGS. 1 and 2) by the transport means 2.
[0027]
The position of the elevating frame 20 can be adjusted in the vertical direction with respect to the fixed frame 21, in order to facilitate initial setting when the positioning device 1 is assembled on the conveying means 2 and removal from the conveying means 2. In order to change the height position of the front end regulating means 30 according to the shape of the article A, the vertical position with respect to the conveying means 2 is adjusted. The vertical position of the elevating frame 20 is adjusted by the screw action of the handle shaft 23 that is rotated by the handle 22. The elevating frame 20 includes a substrate 24, a sub plate 25 disposed in parallel to the substrate 24, and a column 26 that attaches the sub plate 25 to the substrate 24. The drive sprocket 13 is attached to a drive shaft 27 that is rotatably supported by the substrate 24 and the sub plate 25, and the driven sprocket 14 is rotatable by a driven shaft 28 that is attached to the substrate 24 and the sub plate 25. It is supported by.
[0028]
Travel guides 16 and 16 for stabilizing the travel of the endless chain 15 are provided on the lower travel path 11 and the upper travel path 12 of the travel means 10. In order to adjust the tension of the endless chain 15 with respect to the driven sprocket 14, from each of the base plate 24 and the sub-plate 25 of the elevating frame 20, an elongated hole and an adjustment screw that enable adjustment of the distance from the drive sprocket 13. A tension adjusting mechanism 17 is provided. In addition, in order to prevent the scattering of foreign matter on the article as the chain travels, the periphery of the endless chain travel means can be covered with an appropriate case.
[0029]
Front end a of article A being conveyed₂The front end restricting means 30 that can be engaged with each other is attached to the endless chain 15 constituting the traveling means 10 at a predetermined interval. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, only a part of the plurality (six) of the front end regulating means 30 is shown for simplicity. The front end restricting means 30 is a front end restricting plate 31 provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the endless chain 15 of the traveling means 10, and is a cam that is provided integrally with the front end restricting plate 31 and between the cam means 40. A cam follower 32 that rotates the front end regulating plate 31 by an action, and a coil spring 33 as a spring means that urges the cam follower 32 toward the cam means 40. As will be described later, the installation interval of the front end regulating plate 31 is adjusted so that the traveling speed of the traveling unit 10 is slightly slower than the conveying speed of the conveying unit 2, so that the installation interval L of the pusher 3 of the conveying unit 2 is It is set slightly longer.
[0030]
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, brackets 34 are attached at predetermined intervals in a state where the brackets 34 are looped over the endless chains 15 and 15 that are wound around the doubly. A rotating shaft 35 provided at one end of the plate 31 is rotatably supported by the bracket 34. Therefore, the front end restricting plate 31 is swingably supported by the rotating shaft 35 protruding on one side of the bracket 34. On the other side of the bracket 34, the rotating shaft 35 is provided with a cam follower 32 extending in the traveling direction of the bracket 34. That is, the front end regulating plate 31 is configured integrally with the cam follower 32 via the rotation shaft 35. Between the bracket 34 and the cam follower 32, a coil spring 33 that urges the cam follower 32 toward the cam means 40 described later is provided in a tensioned state.
[0031]
The cam means 40 includes a cam surface that is disposed along the traveling means 10 and that engages with the front end regulating means 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the cam surface is formed as an inner peripheral surface of a long and narrow plate cam 45 that is attached to an appropriate position with respect to the substrate 24 of the elevating frame 20 by appropriate fixing means 46. A cam follower 32 of the front end regulating means 30 is in contact with the surface by the urging force of the coil spring 33.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 1, the cam surface is connected to the first cam surface 41 and the first cam surface 41 for causing the front end regulating means 30 to travel in a non-interfering posture with the article A above the conveying means 2. Front end a of article A₂The second cam surface 42 to be changed to a posture capable of contacting with the second cam surface 42, is connected to the second cam surface 42, maintains the posture of the front end restricting means 30, and moves the front end restricting means 30 relative to the front in the conveyance direction of the article A being conveyed. The front end portion a of the article A being conveyed in the state where the posture of the front end regulating means 30 connected to the third cam surface 43 and the third cam face 43 to be moved close to each other is positioned.₂It is comprised from the 4th cam surface 44 changed to the attitude | position away from. That is, the positioning operation by the front end restricting means 30 is a mechanical means called a cam means 40 that is divided into first to fourth cam surfaces 41 to 44 and has cam surfaces that take over each function over time. Therefore, if the setting is properly performed at the beginning, the positioning operation with respect to the article A by the front end regulating means 30 is ensured by the traveling of the traveling means 10 and the conveyance of the conveying means 2 which are synchronized. Become. Further, the front end regulating means 30 collides with the pusher 3 as the rear end regulating means and the article A (particularly in the case of a fragile article) to prevent damage to the front end regulating means 30, the pusher 3 or the article A. Can do.
[0033]
Since the cam follower 32 provided integrally with the front end regulating plate 31 is pressed against the cam means 40 by the urging force of the coil spring 33, the front end regulating plate provided on the running means 10 when the running means 10 runs. 31 rotates with the movement of the cam follower 32 that receives a cam action generated between the cam means 40 and changes the position and posture of the article A being conveyed. Hereinafter, the positioning operation of the front end regulating plate 31 will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 4A to 4D are explanatory views for explaining the article positioning operation by the article positioning apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the locus of the front end of the front end regulating plate 31 is indicated by a one-dot chain line.
[0034]
In the stroke in which the cam follower 32 travels in contact with the first cam surface 41, the front end regulating plate 31 of the front end regulating means 30 is in a state where the tip is raised above the conveying means 2 as shown in FIG. Travel in a posture that does not interfere with the article A. As shown in FIG. 4B, the cam follower 32 travels in contact with the second cam surface 42 that is connected to the first cam surface 41 and is inclined downward from the first cam surface 41. The posture is such that the tip of the second cam surface 42 and the cam follower 32 are lowered substantially straight by the cam action, the plate surface intersects the conveying means 2 orthogonally, and the front end a of the article A₂The posture is changed so as to be able to abut.
[0035]
  Cam follower32However, in the process of traveling in contact with the third cam surface 43 that is connected to the second cam surface 42 and parallel to the travel path 11, as shown in FIG. It is maintained in a posture capable of coming into contact with the front end a2. Since the traveling speed of the traveling means 10 is slightly slower than the conveying speed of the conveying means 2, the front end regulating plate 31 is relatively closer to the front end a2 of the article A from the front in the conveying direction of the article A being conveyed in this process. To do. The relative positional relationship between the traveling speed of the traveling means 10 and the pusher 3 that is the rear end restricting plate 31 of the front end restricting plate 31 is set in advance according to the length and the conveying speed of the article A. Since the front end regulating plate 31 positions the front and rear ends in the conveyance direction of the article A with the pusher 3, the ends a1 and a2 of the article A that are not aligned are aligned.
[0036]
When the front end regulating plate 31 of the front end regulating means 30 receives a large reaction force from the article A, the front end portion a of the article A is further pulled by pulling the coil spring 33 via the cam follower 32.₂Evacuates forward in the conveying direction and does not apply excessive force to the article A. At this time, the cam follower 32 floats from the cam surface of the plate cam 45.
[0037]
  Cam follower32However, in the process of running in contact with the fourth cam surface 44 that is connected to the third cam surface 43 and is inclined upward, the posture of the front end regulating plate 31 after positioning is positioned as shown in FIG. The movement of the article A being transported away in the transport direction is shown. Even if the travel speed of the travel means 10 is slower than the transport speed of the transport means 2, the speed at which the leading end of the front end regulating plate 31 is lifted by the cam action of the fourth cam surface 44 on the cam follower 32 is increased. An excessive force does not act on the aligned articles A faster than the speed, and there is no possibility that the articles A become irregular again.
[0038]
The traveling unit 10 receives driving force distribution from a drive system that drives the conveying unit 2 and is driven in synchronization with the conveying unit 2. That is, the conveying means 2 is driven by the electric motor and the chain transmission mechanism, but the driving sprocket 13 is driven via the driving mechanism 50 (FIGS. 1 and 2) that receives the distribution of the driving force from the chain transmission mechanism. . The drive mechanism 50 includes sprockets 51, 52, 53... And a chain 54 wound around the sprockets and a sprocket (not shown) of a drive system of the conveying means 2. A plurality of pushers 3 as rear end regulating means are arranged at equal intervals on the conveying means 2, and the traveling means 10 and the conveying means 2 are synchronized with a plurality of front end regulating means 30 attached to the traveling means 10 at equal intervals. The front end regulating means 30 attached to the traveling means 10 in order with respect to each article A that is intermittently conveyed by the conveying means 2 is driven at the proper position and posture. The positioning operation can be performed continuously by aligning with the pushers 3 provided in the conveying means 2 and aligning the end portions.
[0039]
The traveling unit 10, the front end regulating unit 30, and the cam unit 40 are configured as a unit, and are disposed on the lifting frame 20 that can be moved up and down collectively with respect to the fixed frame 21 of the transport unit 2. In other words, the units 10, 30, and 40 that are unitized are lifted and lowered collectively with respect to the fixed frame 21 of the transport unit 2, and can be easily attached and detached, and the front end is restricted according to the size of the article A. It is possible to move the means 30 to the optimum vertical position with respect to the article A. In addition, when the raising / lowering frame 20 is raised / lowered with respect to the fixed frame 21, a structure that does not cause problems such as slack in the chain 54 is adopted due to the principle of the pulley.
[0040]
Although the above embodiment has been described by taking the case of a plurality of loose rod-shaped articles A as an example, it is based on the present invention whether a single article or a plurality of articles are arranged vertically in the conveying direction. Obviously, positioning is applicable. Further, the conveying means 2 may be configured to convey the article A while being pushed by the pusher 3 while being placed on the fixed bottom wall without being placed on the roller 7. The conveying means 2 is provided with a pusher 3, and the article A is positioned by being sandwiched between the pusher 3 and the front end regulating plate 31. A regulation that allows the article A, which is suppressed to the length or less, to be accommodated within an interval slightly longer than the predetermined length between the pusher 3 and the front end regulating plate 31, that is, without contacting the rear end regulating means. You may decide to carry out the regulation regulated within a fixed distance from the end regulating means. Moreover, although the endless chain traveling means is shown as the traveling means 10, an endless belt traveling means using an endless belt or an endless rope instead of the endless chain 15 or an endless rope traveling means may be used. Furthermore, it is not always necessary to use an endless body as the traveling means 10, and any means can be used as long as it can travel on the lower traveling path 11 such as a movement path such as a box motion. Good. Further, the cam means 40 need not be limited to the cam surfaces 41 to 44 described in the embodiment as long as the cam means 40 escapes upward so as not to interfere with the subsequent article being conveyed and can travel on the same traveling route again. Absent.
[0041]
This article positioning device supplies the article as a package particularly to a pillow packaging machine that fills a package while making a bag with a packaging film, or a packaging machine that packages a package in a ready-made bag. The present invention can be applied to an article supply apparatus. That is, since the article positioned by this positioning device is fed into the bag on the basis of the rear end in the transport direction, the rear end of the article as a package is located on the bag bottom side in the bag package, and the bag neck is Sufficient margin for heat sealing and bundling in the subsequent stage is provided, and the bite of the article by the closure for heat sealing and bundling does not occur. In particular, even if the article is a cookie or a light vegetable that is easy to adhere to the packaging film, the package is supplied on the basis of the rear end, packed in the bag, and loose in the bag. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a tight package without significantly changing the structure and operation of the packaging machine.
As a result, a good-looking tight package can be obtained, and the product value as a package can be increased, and even when packaging a bag package, the alignment of the package is good, the boxing workability is improved, and the distribution stage Workability can be improved.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
  Since this invention is comprised as mentioned above, there exist the following effects. That is, the positioning of the article according to the present inventionDressingThe front end regulating means that can be engaged with the front end portion of the article with respect to the article being conveyed supplied roughly to the conveying means provided with the rear end regulating means capable of regulating the position of the rear end portion. Positioning the front and rear ends of the article in the conveyance direction is performed between the front end regulating means and the rear end regulating means by being relatively approached from the front in the conveyance direction of the article being conveyed. Further, since the front end regulating means is moved forward in the conveyance direction of the article being conveyed after the article is positioned, the front end regulating means does not change the attitude or damage the positioned article. Therefore, the article is positioned so that the article can be positioned on the basis of the rear end or the end can be aligned without being stopped by being conveyed by the conveying means and without applying an excessive force to the article. Further, since the front end regulating means is operated by mechanical means called cam means, the positioning is inexpensive and reliable, and collision with the article does not occur.
  The travel path of the travel means is provided in parallel with the transport direction of the transport means, and the front end restricting means is provided on a front end restricting plate and a front end restricting plate that are rotatably provided with respect to the travel means. And a cam follower for rotating the front end regulating plate by a cam action generated between the cam means and the cam means, and the cam means travels in an inclined state in which the front end regulating plate is rotated forward in the conveying direction of the article. In the positioning operation, since it is rotated from the inclined state to the rear in the conveying direction so as to be relatively closer to the front in the conveying direction of the article being conveyed, a traveling means for traveling the front end regulating plate and a conveying means for conveying the article; It is possible to provide an article positioning device that saves space by suppressing the dimension in the height direction therebetween.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an article positioning apparatus according to the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of the article positioning apparatus shown in FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of the article positioning apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
FIGS. 4A to 4D are explanatory views for explaining the article positioning operation by the article positioning apparatus shown in FIGS.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Positioning device
2 Transport means
3 Pushers (Conveyers with pushers, rear end regulating means)
10 Traveling means
11,12 Travel route
13 Drive Procket (Rotating Wheel)
14 Followed Procket (Rotating Wheel)
15 Endless chain (endless body)
20 Lifting frame
21 Fixed frame
30 Front end regulating means
31 Front end regulating plate
32 Cam Follower
33 Spring means
40 cam means
41 First cam surface
42 Second cam surface
43 3rd cam surface
44 4th cam surface
50 Drive means
A article
a₁  Rear edge
a₂  Front edge
D Transport direction

Claims

In a positioning device that is applied to a conveying means provided with a rear end regulating means capable of regulating the position of the rear end portion of an article and positions the article being conveyed, a travel path along the conveying direction of the conveying means is provided. Traveling means for traveling, front end restricting means attached to the traveling means and engageable with a front end portion of the article being conveyed, and the front end restricting means as the traveling means travels along the traveling path. In contrast, the front and rear ends of the article being conveyed are positioned relative to the front end in the conveyance direction of the article being conveyed so that the front and rear ends of the article being conveyed are positioned and being conveyed after the article is positioned. Ri from the cam means to perform a positioning operation that makes away in the conveying direction in front of the article formed,
The travel route of the travel means is provided in parallel with the transport direction of the transport means,
The front end restricting means includes a front end restricting plate provided to be rotatable with respect to the traveling means, and the front end restricting plate by a cam action provided between the front end restricting plate and the cam means. It has a cam follower to rotate,
The cam means travels in an inclined state in which the front end regulating plate is rotated forward in the conveying direction of the article, and in the positioning operation, the cam means rotates backward from the inclined state in the conveying direction to convey the article being conveyed. An apparatus for positioning an article comprising relatively approaching from a front in a direction .

The travel means is an endless travel means including a rotating wheel disposed along a transport direction of the transport means and an endless body that travels while being wound around the rotary wheel, and the travel route is the endless 2. The article positioning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the article positioning apparatus is a lower traveling path that travels on a side of the body that is close to the conveying means.

3. The article positioning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the front end regulating means includes a spring means for urging the cam follower toward the cam means .

The cam means comprises a cam surface disposed along the traveling means and engaged with the front end regulating means, and the cam surface rotates the front end regulating means forward in the conveying direction above the conveying means. A first cam surface that travels in a posture that does not interfere with the article, and a posture that is connected to the first cam surface and is capable of coming into contact with the front end portion of the article by rotating the front end regulating means rearward in the conveying direction. The second cam surface to be changed and the second cam surface are connected to maintain the posture of the front end restricting means, and the front end restricting means is moved closer to the front in the transport direction of the article being transported to position the article. A third cam surface that is connected to the third cam surface, and the posture of the front end restricting means that is connected to the third cam surface is changed to a posture in which the front end portion of the article being conveyed is rotated and moved away from the front end portion in the conveying direction. Fourth Positioning device of an article according to claim 1, consisting to have a beam plane.

Said traveling means, said front end regulating means, and said cam means is constituted by a unit, with respect to the frame of the transporting unit, according to claim 1 to 4 consists of being vertically movably disposed collectively The article positioning apparatus according to any one of the above.

The travel speed of the travel means is set slightly slower than the transport speed of the transport means, and the installation interval of the front end regulating plate is set according to the setting of the transport speed. The article positioning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the article positioning apparatus is set to be slightly longer than the interval .

The article is a package that is conveyed to a packaging machine by a package supply apparatus and packaged by the packaging machine, and the article positioning apparatus is the package supply apparatus as the conveying means for conveying the package. positioning device of an article according to any one of claims 1-6 which consists in being applied to.