JP4945085B2 - Container alignment apparatus and container alignment method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a container alignment apparatus and a container alignment method for aligning a plurality of containers such as a plurality of milk cartons supplied by a conveyor by a certain number.

Conventionally, in order to put containers such as milk cartons into a case having a fixed shape, a container aligning apparatus has been devised that aligns a fixed number of containers supplied by a conveyor. In addition, an application has been filed for a boxing device that aligns and packs articles (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As an example of the container alignment apparatus, a container alignment apparatus 1 is shown in FIG. The container aligning apparatus 1 can align a plurality of containers 3 supplied in the X-axis direction by the conveyor 2 in three rows by four by pressing and moving the containers 3 in the Y-axis direction by the reciprocating drive means 4. . However, in the case of this container aligning apparatus 1, since the four containers 3 are moved in the Y-axis direction by the reciprocating motion by the reciprocating drive means 4, there is a problem in efficiency. In order to improve efficiency, it is necessary to increase the conveying speed of the conveyor 2 or increase the reciprocating speed of the reciprocating drive means 4, but the behavior of the container 3 becomes unstable. There was a limit.
JP 2003-300504 A

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a container alignment apparatus and a container alignment method that can improve the efficiency of container alignment work.

  The container alignment apparatus of the present invention is a container alignment apparatus that aligns a plurality of containers conveyed on a first conveyor in a plurality of rows by a predetermined number, and is adjacent to the first conveyor and the first conveyor. A parallel second conveyor, a transfer path changing means for moving a fixed number of containers among the plurality of containers transferred on the first conveyor onto the second conveyor, and the fixed number of containers. Control means for determining whether to move to the second conveyor and instructing the transfer path changing means, a fixed number of containers to be transferred on the first conveyor, and the second conveyor And a stopper for stopping a predetermined number of containers transported in a parallel state. The parallel state is a state in which a plurality of rows of containers are aligned so as to form a rectangle or the like as a whole.

  In the container aligning device of the present invention, in the container aligning device, the transport path changing means is located on the first conveyor or the second conveyor, and a plurality of movable passages parallel to the transport direction of the containers. And driving means for moving the plurality of movable passages in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

  The container alignment apparatus of the present invention is located on the first conveyor and the second conveyor in the container alignment apparatus, and the containers on the first conveyor or the second conveyor are continuously from the movable passage. A plurality of fixed passages that pass through and stop means that can stop the containers in the fixed passages, wherein the stopper stops a certain number of containers that have passed through the fixed passages.

  The container aligning device of the present invention is the container aligning device, wherein the predetermined number of containers are transported from the fixed passage to the aligning step, stopped by the stopper in the aligning step, and transported to the fixed passage. It has a boosting member that is supported from behind.

  The container aligning device of the present invention is the container aligning device provided with one first conveyor, two second conveyors on the left and right in the conveying direction of the first conveyor, and two movable passages. And three fixed passages are provided.

The container alignment method of the present invention comprises a plurality of conveyors conveyed by the first conveyor by using a first conveyor and a second conveyor adjacent to and parallel to the first conveyor. A container alignment method for aligning a certain number of containers in a plurality of rows, and whether to move a certain number of containers among the plurality of containers conveyed by the first conveyor onto the second conveyor. A step of determining by the control means, a step of moving the fixed number of containers onto the second conveyor based on a command of the control means, a fixed number of containers conveyed by the first conveyor, and the And a step of stopping a certain number of containers conveyed by the second conveyor by matching the positions in the conveying direction.

  The container aligning apparatus and the container aligning method of the present invention are provided on the first conveyor and the second conveyor while moving a predetermined number of containers on the first conveyor onto the second conveyor by the transfer path changing means. By stopping the number of containers in a state where they are arranged in parallel by a stopper, the containers can be aligned in a plurality of rows by a certain number. That is, it is possible to align the containers in a plurality of rows by a predetermined number only by changing the transport path of the containers while using the transport action by the first conveyor and the second conveyor. For this reason, the efficiency of the container alignment operation can be improved as compared with the conventional container aligning apparatus that performs the pressing movement by the reciprocating drive means.

  Further, according to the container alignment apparatus of the present invention in which the transport path conversion means is configured by the movable path and the drive means, the transport path conversion means can be easily configured by the mechanism for moving the movable path by the drive means.

  In addition, according to the container alignment apparatus of the present invention including the fixed passage and the stop means, it is easy to align the fixed number of containers in a plurality of rows by temporarily stopping the fixed number of containers by the stop means. For example, once the containers are arranged in two rows in the fixed passage by the stopping means, it is possible to easily realize alignment in three rows.

  According to the container alignment apparatus of the present invention provided with the boosting member, the container can be prevented from falling by supporting the container conveyed to the fixed passage from the rear. In addition, it becomes possible to provide this boosting member by providing a space between the container in the fixed passage and the container in the alignment step by the above-described stopping means.

  In addition, according to the container alignment apparatus of the present invention that includes one first conveyor, two second conveyors, two movable passages, and three fixed passages, one first conveyor It is possible to easily realize that the containers conveyed on the conveyor are arranged in three rows. Moreover, in reality, the efficiency of the container alignment work has been improved.

  Embodiments of a container alignment apparatus and a container alignment method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5, reference numeral 10 denotes a container alignment apparatus according to the present invention.

  The container aligning apparatus 10 of the present invention is a container aligning apparatus that aligns a plurality of containers 14 conveyed on one first conveyor 12 in a plurality of rows by four (a fixed number). Two second conveyors 16 adjacent to and parallel to the first conveyor 12, and four containers 14 among the plurality of containers 14 transported on the first conveyor 12 are connected to the second conveyor 16. A transport path converting means 18 for moving the upper part, a control means (not shown) for determining whether to move the four containers 14 onto the second conveyor 16 and instructing the transport path converting means 18; There are provided four containers 14 transported on the conveyor 12 and a stopper 20 for stopping the four containers 14 transported on the second conveyor 16 in a parallel state. In the drawings, a milk pack is described as an example of the container 14, but is not limited to the milk pack.

In the following, when the upper second conveyor 16 in FIG. 1 is the conveyor 16 (a), the lower second conveyor 16 is the conveyor 16 (b), and simply the conveyor 16, the conveyor 16 ( a) and 16 (b). Further, in FIG. 1, when the upper movable passage 22 is a movable passage 22 (a), the lower movable passage 22 is a movable passage 22 (b), and simply the movable passage 22, the movable passage 22 (a) and 22 (b). Further, a fixed passage 26 of the upper fixed passage 2 6 (a) and in FIG. 1, an intermediate fixed passage 26 and the fixed passage 26 and (b), a fixed passage 26 of the lower side is fixed passage 26 and (c), When the fixed passage 26 is simply used, the fixed passages 26 (a), 26 (b) and 26 (c) are included. In FIG. 1, the upper opening / closing means 28 is referred to as opening / closing means 28 (a), the intermediate opening / closing means 28 is referred to as opening / closing means 28 (b), and the lower opening / closing means 28 is referred to as opening / closing means 28 (c). The opening / closing means 28 includes opening / closing means 28 (a), 28 (b) and 28 (c). Further, in FIG. 1, the upper arrival sensor 40 is the arrival sensor 40 (a), the intermediate arrival sensor 40 is the arrival sensor 40 (b), and the lower arrival sensor 40 is the arrival sensor 40 (c). In the case of the arrival sensor 40, the arrival sensors 40 (a), 40 (b) and 40 (c) are included.

  The first conveyor 12 and the second conveyor 16 can place the containers 14 and convey them in the X-axis direction (conveyance direction), and can be conveyed in the Y-axis direction (perpendicular to the conveyance direction) by the conveyance path conversion means 18. If it can be made to slide to, it will not specifically limit, such as a belt conveyor and a roller conveyor. Moreover, the drive means of the 1st conveyor 12 and the 2nd conveyor 16 will not be specifically limited if it can drive continuously, such as an electric motor and a servomotor.

  The transport path conversion means 18 is composed of two movable passages 22 parallel to the transport direction of the container 14 and drive means (not shown) that moves the two movable paths 22 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. Yes. The two movable passages 22 are constituted by three guides 24, and the containers 12 passing through the movable passages 22 on the first conveyor 12 are moved by the driving means in the Y-axis direction. It can be distributed onto the conveyor 16. On the other hand, when the movable passage 22 is not moved, the containers on the first conveyor 12 can be moved on the first conveyor 12 as they are. The driving means is not particularly limited, such as a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a solenoid, and a motor mechanism.

  In addition, the container alignment device 10 stops the containers 14 in the fixed passage 26 and the three fixed passages 26 through which the containers 14 on the first conveyor 12 or the second conveyor 16 pass continuously from the movable passage 22. And opening / closing means (stop means) 28 that can be operated. The fixed passage 26 is constituted by four guides 30. The opening / closing means 28 allows the container 14 to pass through by being released by a rotation driving means (not shown), while the container 14 can be stopped by being closed.

Scan stopper 20, and thus stopping the four vessels 14 passing through the fixed passage 26 on the first conveyor 12 and second conveyor 16. By stopping four containers 14 on one first conveyor 12 and two second conveyors 16, four containers can be stopped in parallel in three rows.

  In addition, the container aligning apparatus 10 includes a sending means 34 for sending the container group A composed of a total of twelve containers 14 stopped in a state of being arranged in three rows by four by the stopper 20 in the aligning step 42 to the container removing step 32. I have. The delivery means 34 moves the pressure member 36 against the container group A by a reciprocating drive means (not shown) to the container removal step 32. The reciprocating drive means is not particularly limited, such as a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a solenoid, and a motor mechanism.

  The control unit controls the conveyance path conversion unit 18, the opening / closing unit 28, and the sending unit 34. Control of the conveyance path conversion means 18 and the opening / closing means 28 is performed based on the number of passages of the container 14 measured by the counter 38. The delivery means 34 is controlled by detecting that the container 14 has reached the stopper 20 by the arrival sensor 40. The arrival sensor 40 is not particularly limited, such as a contact sensor or an optical sensor.

  The operation of the container aligning apparatus 10 having such a configuration will be described below to describe the container aligning method of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a container group A consisting of a total of 12 containers 14 is aligned by a stopper 20, and four containers 14 are arranged in a movable passage 22 (b) and four containers 14 are arranged in a fixed passage 26 (b). The three opening / closing means 28 are closed, and the operation from this state will be described. In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the counter 38 measures N as the number of passages of the container 14.

  When the counter 38 measures N in FIG. 1, the control means operates the drive means of the transport path conversion means 18 to move the movable passage 22 in the reverse direction of the Y axis as shown in FIG. By moving the movable passage 22 in the direction opposite to the Y-axis direction, the four containers 14 in the movable passage 22 (b) are moved onto the second conveyor 16 (b).

  At this time, since the second conveyor 16 (b) is continuously operated, the four containers 14 in the movable passage 22 (b) remain on the second conveyor 16 (b) in the X-axis direction. Moving. Although the first conveyor 12 is also continuously operated, the four containers 14 in the fixed passage 26 (b) are stopped by the closed opening / closing means 28, so that they do not move in the X-axis direction. Slide against the first conveyor 12. On the other hand, since the first conveyor 12 is continuously operated, four new containers 14 enter the movable passage 22 (b) on the first conveyor 12. Further, the control means operates the delivery means 34 and moves the container group A toward the container removal step 32 by the pressing member 36. Therefore, thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3, four containers 14 enter the movable passage 22 (a), and four containers 14 enter the fixed passage 26 (c). When four containers 14 enter the movable passage 22 (a), the counter 38 measures N + 4 as the number of passing containers 14. Further, the container group A moves to the container removal step 32.

  Next, a container take-out device (not shown) including gripping means holds the container group A in the container take-out step 32 and puts it into the case. Further, the control means returns the pressing member 36 to the original position in order to align and press the next container group A. At this time, four containers 14 are arranged in the movable passage 22 (a), the fixed container 26 (b), and the fixed container 26 (c).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the control means moves the movable passage 22 in the Y-axis direction based on the counter 38 measuring N + 4 as the number of passages of the container 14, and opens the three opening / closing means 28. open. By moving the movable passage 22 in the Y-axis direction, the four containers 14 in the movable passage 22 (a) are moved onto the second conveyor 16 (a). At this time, since the first conveyor 12 and the second conveyor 16 (b) are continuously operated, the four containers 14 in the fixed passage 26 (b) and the four containers in the fixed passage 26 (c). The container 14 moves on the first conveyor 12 or the second conveyor 16 (b) in the X-axis direction and moves toward the alignment step 42. Further, since the second conveyor 16 (a) is continuously operated, the four containers 14 in the movable passage 22 (a) move in the X-axis direction and enter the fixed passage 26 (a).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, four containers 14 arrive at the alignment step 42 on the first conveyor 12 and the second conveyor 16 (b) and stop by the stopper 20, and the arrival sensor 40 (b) And 40 (c) are activated. At this time, the opening / closing means 28 (b) and 28 (c) are closed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, if the pushing member 44 is moved from the upper oblique direction and the vicinity of the upper end of the container 14 is pushed, the container 14 can be prevented from falling. In addition, by providing a space between the container 14 in the fixed passage 26 and the container 14 in the alignment step 42 by the opening / closing means 28, it is possible to provide the boosting member 44. Also, the four containers 14 in the fixed passage 26 (a) move toward the alignment step 42. The four containers 14 moved toward the alignment step 42 reach the alignment step 42 and are stopped by the stopper 20, and the arrival sensor 40 (a) is activated. At this time, the opening / closing means 28 (a) is closed. As a result, the three rows of containers 14 stop at the same position in the transport direction, and the container group A consisting of a total of twelve containers 14 is aligned by the stopper 20 and is in the same state as in FIG.

  By repeating the above operation, the container group A consisting of a total of twelve containers 14 is sequentially aligned in the alignment process 42 and then sent to the removal process 32 and placed in the case.

  According to the container aligning apparatus 10 and the container aligning method, the movable passage 22 is moved in the Y-axis direction while utilizing the conveying action of the containers 14 by the first conveyor 12 and the second conveyor 16. Twelve containers 14 can be aligned in three rows. Therefore, the alignment efficiency can be improved by 25% compared to the container alignment apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described based on drawing, this invention is not limited to what was illustrated.

  For example, it is not limited to juxtaposing four containers in three rows or four rows. Further, the type and shape of the container are not limited to the container 14.

  In addition, the technical scope of the present invention includes embodiments in which various improvements, modifications, and variations are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Moreover, you may implement with the form which substituted any invention specific matter to the other technique within the range which the same effect | action or effect produces.

  The container alignment apparatus and the container alignment method of the present invention can be used widely for aligning various containers because the efficiency of the container alignment operation can be improved.

It is a top view of the container alignment apparatus of this invention. It is a top view which shows the other state of the container alignment apparatus of FIG. 1, and is a figure which shows the next state of FIG. It is a top view which shows the other state of the container alignment apparatus of FIG. 1, and is a figure which shows the next state of FIG. It is a top view which shows the other state of the container alignment apparatus of FIG. 1, and is a figure which shows the next state of FIG. It is a top view which shows the other state of the container alignment apparatus of FIG. 1, and is a figure which shows the next state of FIG. It is a side view which shows a part of container alignment apparatus of FIG. It is a top view which shows the conventional container alignment apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Container alignment apparatus 12 1st conveyor 14 Container 16 (a), 16 (b) 2nd conveyor 18 Conveyance path conversion means 20 Stopper 22 (a), 22 (b), 22 (c) Moving path 24 Guide 26 (A), 26 (b), 26 (c), 26 (d) Fixed passage 28 (a), 28 (b), 28 (c) Opening / closing means 30 Guide 32 Extraction process 34 Sending means 36 Pressing member 38 Counter 40 (A), 40 (b), 40 (c), 40 (d) arrival sensor 42 alignment process

Claims (4)

A container alignment device that aligns a plurality of containers conveyed on the first conveyor in a plurality of rows by a certain number,
A second conveyor adjacent to and parallel to the first conveyor;
A plurality of movable passages parallel to the transport direction of the containers located on the first conveyor or the second conveyor, and driving means for moving the plurality of movable passages in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction; , a plurality of the middle row of containers, the conveying path changing means for moving the continuous vessel predetermined number on the second conveyor to be conveyed on the first conveyor,
Control means for determining whether or not to move the predetermined number of continuous containers onto the second conveyor and instructing the transport path converting means;
A plurality of fixed passages located on the first conveyor and the second conveyor, through which containers on the first conveyor or the second conveyor pass continuously from the movable passage;
Stopping means capable of stopping the container in the fixed passage;
A fixed number of containers transported on the first conveyor and a fixed number of containers transported on the second conveyor; a stopper for stopping in a parallel state;
With
A container alignment device in which the stopper stops a certain number of containers that have passed through the fixed passage. Said predetermined number of containers are transported from the fixed passage to the alignment process, is stopped by the stopper in said alignment step, according to claim 1, further comprising a boost member for supporting the container to be conveyed to the fixing passage from the rear Container alignment device. The first conveyor 1 Kosonae, wherein the conveying direction lateral of the first conveyor second conveyor 2 Kosonae, the movable passage 2 Kosonae, to claim 1 comprising three of said fixed passageway Container alignment device to be described. By using the first conveyor and the second conveyor adjacent to and parallel to the first conveyor, the plurality of containers conveyed by the first conveyor are arranged in a plurality of rows by a predetermined number. A container alignment method for aligning
Determining by a control means whether or not to move a certain number of consecutive containers on the second conveyor in the middle of a plurality of containers conveyed by the first conveyor;
Moving the fixed number of consecutive containers onto the second conveyor based on a command of the control means;
Stopping the containers in a plurality of fixed passages located on the first conveyor and the second conveyor;
Stopping a certain number of containers conveyed by the first conveyor and a certain number of containers conveyed by the second conveyor by matching the positions in the conveying direction; and
A container alignment method comprising:

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