JP4676145B2 - Single row system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a single-row apparatus that feeds a plurality of rows of containers that are transported along an inlet-side transport path into a single-row.

  Some containers such as beer bottles are collected and reused. For example, beer bottles are generally stored in a case and collected in units of 5 × 4 (20). The collected beer bottles are collectively taken out from each case by an answerer, transported by a transport mechanism having a transport path of a plurality of rows (for example, 4 rows), and then made into a single row (that is, in one row). And sent to a processing device such as a washing machine. As a reason for making a single row of beer bottles, for example, reducing the installation area of a transport mechanism for transporting beer bottles can be cited.

  As a device for making a plurality of rows of beer bottles into a single row, there is a device called a glider. The glider is arranged by inclining the upper surface of the conveyor in a direction in which the upper surface of the conveyor is made into a single row (a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction), and the beer bottles are slid along the inclined surface by their own weight to make the beer bottles in a single row.

In contrast to the single-row device, there is a device that multi-rows one row of containers. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228688 discloses that the containers conveyed in one row are arranged in multiple rows by distributing them to each row of a multi-row conveyance mechanism.
JP 10-77114 A

  In the gray liner, beer bottles collide with each other while sliding on an inclined surface, and are made into a single row. This collision occurs between each beer bottle and all of the several beer bottles around it. This collision generates a loud noise and deteriorates the working environment. In addition, in a glider, a beer bottle that slides down on an inclined surface may fall down. When the beer bottle falls, the conveyance path is blocked and the beer bottle is not supplied to the subsequent processing apparatus.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of recognition of the problems as described above. For example, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the noise by reducing the collision of the container and / or to prevent the container from falling down. To do.

The present invention relates to a single-row apparatus that feeds containers conveyed along an inlet-side conveyance path in a plurality of rows into a single-row, and sends the single-row apparatus from the inlet-side conveyance path. A standby unit that sends out a plurality of containers only from one standby path at a time after waiting a plurality of rows of containers in a plurality of standby paths, and selects the plurality of rows of standby paths in a predetermined order, and selects the selected standby path A selection unit that sends out the containers sent out from the outlet side conveyance path, and the selection unit has a width that is equal to or larger than the entire width of the plurality of rows of standby paths, and is sent out from the plurality of rows of standby units A guide member that guides the side of the container so that the container conveyed by the conveyor is supplied to the outlet-side conveyance path, and the plurality of rows of standby paths are selected in a predetermined order. A drive machine for driving the guide member Wherein the door, the speed of the vessel in which the standby unit sends out is higher second rate than the first speed is a conveying speed of the containers in the inlet side transportation path.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the plurality of rows are n rows, the second speed is preferably at least n times the first speed.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the selection unit drives the container so that the container sent out from the selected standby path is sent out to the outlet-side transport path. Here, it is preferable that the selection unit drives the container so that the container is sent to the outlet-side conveyance path at a speed at least n times the first speed.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the selection unit has a width equal to or greater than the entire width of the plurality of rows of standby paths, and conveys a container fed from the plurality of rows of standby units, A guide member that guides the side of the container so that the container conveyed by the conveyor is supplied to the outlet-side conveyance path, and the guide member is driven so that the plurality of rows of standby paths are selected in a predetermined order. It is preferable to have a drive mechanism.

  Alternatively, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the selection unit drives the conveyance path so that a conveyance path configured as a conveyor and the plurality of rows of standby paths are selected in a predetermined order. It is preferable to have a drive mechanism.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the standby unit includes a partition unit that partitions the plurality of rows of standby paths from each other.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that each standby path has a stopper that stops a container in a standby path other than the standby path selected by the selection section.

  According to the present invention, the containers that are transported in the plurality of rows on the entrance-side transport path are made to stand by on the plurality of rows of standby paths, and the plurality of rows of standby paths are selected one by one by the selection unit, and the containers on the standby path are selected. Can be delivered to the exit-side conveyance path, for example, to reduce the collision of the container to reduce the noise and / or prevent the container from falling down.

  Moreover, if the speed of the container sent out by the standby unit is set to a second speed that is faster than the first speed, which is the container transport speed in the inlet-side transport path, the container can be supplied to the outlet-side transport path at a high speed. Thus, a plurality of rows of containers can be efficiently made into a single row.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a single row apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an example in which four rows of containers are made into a single row is shown, but the present invention can be applied to various application examples in which a plurality of containers other than four rows are made into a single row. Further, when a plurality (m) of single-row apparatuses for making n-row (multiple rows) containers into a single row are arranged in parallel, an apparatus having n × m rows of containers arranged in m rows can be configured.

  A single-row apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a single-row container 1 such as a beer bottle that is conveyed in a plurality of rows (four rows) along an inlet-side transport path (entrance-side conveyor) 10, that is, a single-row outlet. It sends out to the side conveyance path (exit side conveyor) 40. In the transport system shown in FIG. 1, the container 1 is transported in the directions indicated by arrows A, B, C, and D. Note that “entrance side conveyance path” and “exit side conveyance path” are expressions intended to indicate the positional relationship as viewed from the single row apparatus 100, and considering the entire conveyance system shown in FIG. In some cases, it is more appropriate to express a plurality of rows of conveyance paths (or conveyors) and a single row (one row) of conveyance paths (or conveyors).

  On the upstream side (opposite to the transport direction) of the entrance-side transport path 10, for example, the containers 1 accommodated in a case with a configuration of a plurality of rows × a plurality of rows are taken out from the case and transported in a plurality of rows (inlet-side transport). An anchorer to be placed on the path 10 or another transport path for transporting the container to the path 10 may be disposed. On the other hand, on the downstream side (conveying direction) of the outlet-side conveyance path 40, for example, a washing machine for cleaning the container, an inspection machine for inspecting the container (for example, EBI (Empty Bottle Inspector)) and the like are arranged. Can be done.

  The single-row apparatus 100 includes a plurality of rows (four rows) of containers 1 sent out from an inlet-side transport path (or a plurality of rows of transport paths) 10 and the same number of standby paths (or standby conveyors) 20- After waiting by the standby unit 20 having 1 to 20-4, the data is sent out for each column. The standby of the container 1 can be performed, for example, by preventing the movement of the container 1 by the stopper 21.

  The delivery of the container 1 is performed by releasing the standby of the container 1 and is performed only from one standby path at a time. The standby path for delivering the container 1 is selected in a predetermined order. For example, the delivery of the container 1 is performed in the first row 20-1, the second row 20-2, the third row 20-3, the fourth row 20-4, the third row 20-3, and the second row 20. -2, first column 20-1, second column 20-2, and so on. Here, the first row 20-1 and the fourth row 20-4, that is, the rows at both ends can be controlled so as to continuously deliver the container 1 twice as much as the other rows. This is to make the amount of the containers 1 sent out from each row 20-1 to 20-4 the same per predetermined time.

  The conveyance or delivery of the container 1 in each of the plurality of standby paths 20-1 to 20-4 may be performed by one common conveyor, or may be performed by a conveyor provided individually. In the case where individual conveyors are arranged in each row, the containers 1 can be put on standby by a method of stopping the conveyors in rows where the containers 1 are to be put on standby, in addition to the method using the stopper 21.

  The plurality of standby paths 20-1 to 20-4 are partitioned by the partition portion S. By providing the partition part S, it is possible to prevent the containers 1 from colliding between the rows, to reduce noise caused by the collision of the containers 1, and to prevent the containers 1 from falling down.

  On the downstream side of the standby unit 20, a plurality of rows of standby paths 20-1 to 20-4 are selected in a predetermined order, and the containers 1 sent out from the selected standby paths are placed on the outlet-side transport path (or a single-line transport path). ) 40 is selected. Of course, the standby path selected as the standby path for sending the container 1 out of the plurality of standby paths 20-1 to 20-4 and the standby path selected by the selection unit 20 are naturally the same standby path.

  The selection unit 30 includes a conveyance path 31 and a drive mechanism 32 that rotates the conveyance path 31 about the rotation shaft 33 so as to select the plurality of standby paths 20-1 to 20-4 in a predetermined order. .

  In this way, containers that are transported in the plurality of rows on the inlet-side transport path 10 are made to wait on the plurality of rows of standby paths 20-1 to 20-4, and the plurality of rows of standby paths 20-1 to 20-4 are selected. By selecting one row at a time by the unit 30 and sending out the containers on the standby path to the outlet-side transport path 40, for example, compared to a glider that is made into a single row by collision or contact of the container on the slope, the container collision The noise can be reduced by reducing (particularly the collision with the container other than the conveyance direction and the opposite direction), and / or the container can be prevented from falling down.

  In the first configuration example, the selection unit 30 has a width equal to or larger than the entire width of the plurality of standby paths 20-1 to 20-4, and can convey the container 1 sent out from any standby unit. And the conveyance path 31 comprised as a guide member, and the drive mechanism 32 which rotates the conveyance path 31 may be comprised. The conveyance path 31 in this case can be configured such that the lower side of the container 1 is in contact with the upper surface of the conveyor 34 while guiding the side of the container 1. Advantages of this configuration example include, for example, that the structure of the transport path 31 can be simplified, and that the weight of the transport path 31 can be reduced.

  In the second configuration example, the selection unit 30 can include a conveyance path 31 configured as a conveyor and a drive mechanism 32 that rotates the conveyance path 31. The transport path 31 in this case can be configured to drive the container 1 in the transport direction while guiding the side of the container 1. As an advantage of this configuration example, for example, it is possible to reduce the number of movable parts for transporting the container.

  In the third configuration example, the selection unit 30 includes a conveyance path 31 configured as a guide member, and a drive mechanism 32 that rotates the conveyance path 31, and does not include a drive mechanism that conveys the container 1. Can be done. In this case, the container 1 can be transported by the pressing pressure that the selected standby path of the standby unit 20 sends out the container.

  The container 1 transported through the transport path 31 of the selection unit 30 is supplied to the outlet-side transport path (or a single-row transport path) 40. In this way, a plurality of rows (four rows) of containers 1 are made into a single row.

  Here, in order to efficiently carry out the conveyance of the containers 1 in a plurality of rows in the inlet-side conveyance path 10 and the conveyance of the containers 1 in a single row in the outlet-side conveyance path 40, When the transport speed is V and the number of rows of the entrance-side transport path 10 is n, the transport speed in the exit-side transport path 40 should be n × V. Thereby, the amount of containers transported by the entrance-side transport path 10 (number of transports per predetermined time in the entire plurality of rows) and the amount of transport of containers by the exit-side transport path 40 (number of transports per predetermined time) can be made equal. It is possible to efficiently transport the container (for example, transport without waste). Efficient transport of containers reduces unnecessary collision between containers due to excessive transport speeds, friction between containers and members that guide them, and reduces noise associated with container damage and transport. Contribute.

  In order to ensure that the container is transported without gaps at a speed of n × V in the outlet-side transport path 40, the selection unit 30 needs to transport the container 1 at a speed of at least n × V. Here, if the selection time required for the selection unit 30 to select the standby paths 20-1 to 20-4 is not taken into consideration (assuming that the selection time is 0), the selection unit 30 at the speed of n × V. Even if the container 1 is transported, the container 1 can be supplied to the outlet-side transport path 40 without any gap. However, actually, there is a selection time of the standby paths 20-1 to 20-4 by the selection unit 30 (the supply of the container 1 from the standby path to the transport path 31 of the selection unit 30 is interrupted during this period). Therefore, in order to supply the container 1 to the outlet-side transport path 40 without a gap, the speed of the container 1 passing through the selection unit 30 should be higher than n × V. In the third configuration example, the container 1 passing through the transport path 31 of the selection unit 30 is transported by the pressing pressure from the standby path selected by the standby unit 20.

  Further, in order to ensure that the container 1 is supplied to the exit-side transport path 40 at a speed of n × V without a gap, the container 1 is moved from the standby unit 20 to the selection unit 30 at a speed of at least n × V. Must be supplied. Therefore, the standby unit 20 is preferably configured to send out the container 1 at a speed of at least n × V. Here, in consideration of the selection time by the selection unit 30 as described above, in order to supply the container 1 to the outlet-side transport path 40 without a gap, the standby unit 20 (the selected standby path) is less than n × V. The container 1 should be sent out to the conveyance path 31 of the selection unit 30 at a high speed.

  In the configuration without the standby unit 20, that is, in the configuration in which the selection unit 30 is disposed adjacent to the end (exit) on the conveyance direction side of the inlet-side conveyance path 10, the selection unit 30 and the outlet on the downstream side thereof. The container is supplied only to the side conveyance path 40 at the speed V. In this case, the outlet-side transport path 40 can transport the container 1 only by an amount 1 / n of the original transport capacity (the transport amount when the container 1 is transported without gaps at a speed of n × V).

  That is, the standby unit 20 is disposed between the entrance-side transport path (or a plurality of rows of transport paths) 10 and the selection unit 30, and the speed at which the standby unit 20 sends out the container is the container transport speed in the entrance-side transport path 10. By making the speed faster than this, the container can be supplied efficiently (specifically, with a small gap) to the outlet-side conveyance path (or the single-line conveyance path) 40. When the number of rows of the inlet-side transport path 10 is n and the transport speed of the containers in the inlet-side transport path 10 is V, the speed at which the standby unit 20 sends out the containers is at least n × V. Supply the container more efficiently (specifically, with a smaller gap or without a gap) with respect to the conveyance path 40 (the conveyance speed in the outlet-side conveyance path 40 is n × V). Can do.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the stopper 21 that can be provided in the standby unit 20. The stopper 21 may be configured to include, for example, a stopper member 22 and a driving mechanism (for example, a motor) (not shown) that rotates the stopper member 22 around the rotation shaft 22a. When waiting or stopping the container, the stopper member 22 may be rotated as indicated by the dotted line to prevent the movement of the container 1.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the single row apparatus which concerns on suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the stopper which can be provided in a waiting | standby part.

Explanation of symbols

10 Entrance-side transport path (multi-row transport path)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Standby part 20-1-20-4 Multiple lines of standby path 21 Stopper 22 Stopper member 22a Rotating shaft 30 Selection part 31 Conveying path 32 Drive mechanism 33 Rotating shaft 34 Conveyor or stand 40 Outlet side conveying path (single line conveying path) )

Claims (1)

A single-row apparatus that feeds containers that are transported through the inlet-side transport path in a plurality of rows into a single-row,
A standby unit that sends out a plurality of containers only from one standby path at a time after waiting a plurality of rows of containers sent out from the entrance-side transport path in a plurality of standby paths;
Said plurality of rows waiting path was selected in a predetermined order, and a selection unit for feeding the containers delivered from waiting path selected on the outlet side conveyance path,
The selection unit includes:
A conveyor having a width equal to or greater than the entire width of the plurality of standby paths, and a container for conveying containers sent from the plurality of standby sections;
A guide member for guiding the side of the container so that the container conveyed by the conveyor is supplied to the outlet-side conveyance path;
A drive mechanism that drives the guide member such that the plurality of rows of standby paths are selected in a predetermined order;
The single-row apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the container sent out by the standby unit is a second speed that is faster than a first speed that is a container transport speed in the inlet-side transport path.

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