JP4945824B2 - Automatic product stacking method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically stacking products prior to automatic packaging of products in a cardboard case or the like.

The applicant of the present application is an automatic stacking device in which the product to be packaged is a cup-shaped product such as cup noodles, and the wasted space is eliminated by alternately adjoining the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion of the cup-shaped product, for example, It proposes to stack two horizontal rows of cup-shaped products conveyed in an appropriate number of rows. The apparatus adsorbs and raises the first-stage (upper-stage) product conveyed by the suction cup and lowers it on the next-stage (lower-stage) product sent next. Adsorption is released and stacking is performed.
JP-A-11-157508 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2023

  According to the apparatus, the products can be automatically stacked in two stages. To this end, a suction cup and various pneumatic devices for controlling the suction cup are required. In addition, there remains a problem that it cannot be used for stacking products that are difficult to suck with a suction cup.

  In view of the circumstances, the present invention does not require the suction cup and various pneumatic devices for controlling the suction cup and provides an automatic stacking method and apparatus that can be used for stacking various products. And

For the purposes achieve automatic stacking method product according to claim 1, supplies one stage of the product on the roller conveyor, before Symbol respective rollers in the same direction of the comb from between the rollers of the roller conveyor the comb-like lifting unit having teeth is raised one step height of supporting a product of said one stage of, then supplies one stage of the product follows on to the roller conveyor, before Symbol two stages product both sides and the comb teeth of the comb-shaped transverse unit is lowered to between the comb teeth of the comb-like lifting unit, by Rukoto then transverse row unit to traverse the axial direction in the same direction of the rollers, the roller conveyor same said collectively two stages of the product and the height is disposed extending in the axial direction of the respective rollers stacking goods conveying path, characterized in that feeding transportable with.

  In the present invention, a product for one stage (hereinafter referred to as “upper stage”) is supplied on a roller conveyor by being appropriately separated from the subsequent stage by a stopper or other means as appropriate. Next, a comb-like lifting unit having comb teeth in the same direction as the rollers is raised by one step from between the rollers of the roller conveyor, and the product for the upper step is supported at the one-step height position. The

Then the next one stage on the roller conveyor (hereinafter referred to as "lower minute".) When the product is supplied, comb between the comb teeth of both sides and the comb-like lifting unit of product of the two stages The traversing unit is lowered.

  That is, the comb teeth of the comb-shaped traversing unit are lowered from both sides of the product for the upper stage through the comb teeth of the comb-shaped lifting unit, and are supplied onto the roller conveyor. The product reaches up to both sides of the product and is located on both sides of the two-tiered product.

Then, the left transverse unit keeping the lowered position, the al is rampant is to the rollers in the same direction, before SL and product batch of the two stages, are disposed at the same height as the roller conveyor It is conveyed to the stacked product conveyance path extending in the axial direction of each roller . That is, the product for the upper stage on the comb teeth of the comb-shaped lifting unit is slid on the comb teeth of the comb-shaped lifting unit, and is further disengaged from the comb teeth, so that the products for the lower stage It is placed on top and stacked, and is transported to the stacked product transport path in a lump.

  As described above, in the present invention, products can be stacked without the need for a suction cup and various pneumatic devices for controlling the suction cup. It can also be used to stack products that are difficult to raise by suction using a suction cup.

  The embodiment of claim 2 is characterized in that, when traversing the traversing unit, the interval between the traversing units is narrowed to arrange both sides of the two-stage merchandise. It is a stacking method. According to this embodiment, uneven product stacking at the time of traversing the two-stage product is prevented.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the supplied product is a cup-shaped product, and the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion of the cup-shaped product are adjacent to each other. 2. An automatic stacking method for commodities described in 2. According to this embodiment, even if the product mode is different from the standing upside-down, the product can be effectively stacked.

The product automatic stacking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a roller conveyor that supports one stage of the product is provided at a front end portion of a conveyor that conveys the product in an appropriate number of rows, and between each roller constituting the roller conveyor A comb having comb teeth in the same direction as each of the rollers, raising the product supplied on the roller conveyor by one step height, and receiving the next one step product on the roller conveyor below it The lift unit is provided on both sides of the product on the lift unit and on the roller conveyor and between the comb teeth of the comb-like lift unit on both sides of the product on the lift unit and the roller conveyor. position and having a comb teeth that descends between the comb teeth of the comb-like lifting unit, further wherein the comb-shaped transverse unit rampant is provided in the axial direction in the same direction of the rollers, the lateral row unit Wherein the stacking goods conveying path for conveying conveying the axial direction of the rollers to receive a two-stage of the products to be conveyed are disposed at the same height as the roller conveyor. According to the automatic product stacking apparatus, the automatic product stacking method can be effectively implemented.

  An embodiment according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the automatic product stacking apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the interval between the traversing units is adjustable. According to this embodiment, uneven product stacking at the time of traversing the two-stage product is prevented.

  The embodiment of claim 6 is characterized in that the product to be conveyed is a cup-shaped product, and the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion of the cup-shaped product are adjacent to each other. It is an automatic stacking device for the products described. According to one embodiment of the present invention, even if the product is standing upside-down and the product form is different, the product can be effectively stacked.

  According to the method and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to effectively perform automatic stacking of various products that do not require suction cups and various pneumatic devices for controlling the suction cups, and that are difficult to increase suction by the suction cups. Can do.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic side view of an automatic product stacking apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic right side view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a state in which cup-shaped products for the upper stage are supplied onto a roller conveyor. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cup-shaped product for the upper stage is raised by one step height by the comb-like lifting unit, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the cup-shaped product for the lower stage on the roller conveyor. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the comb teeth of the comb-shaped traversing unit are lowered between the comb teeth of the comb-shaped lifting unit, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the stacking and packaging state of cup-shaped products, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the main part of an inverted device for cup-shaped products, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cup-shaped products. Side view showing the inversion process, FIG. 10 is a side view showing the inversion process of the cup-shaped product, FIG. 1 is a side view showing an inverted process of the cup-shaped product.

  One embodiment of the drawings is an automatic stacking device for cup-shaped products G (for example, products that can be eaten simply by pouring hot water into a cup-shaped or bowl-shaped container filled with dry noodles). Further, the cup-shaped product G is an apparatus that automatically stacks the small-diameter portions and the large-diameter portions adjacent to each other without causing a useless space, and the cup-shaped products are conveyed in three rows (see FIG. 6). ), It is arranged in two horizontal rows, and the number of one stage to be stacked is six, and the two stages are stacked and twelve are packaged together in a cardboard case D (see FIG. 7).

  First, an example of an apparatus that conveys the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion of the cup-shaped product G adjacent to each other will be described using a bowl-shaped product G as an example. The bowl-shaped products G are usually erected in a row from the production process and conveyed. Next, the bowl-shaped products G that have been conveyed in the one row are sorted into the required number of rows by a known method disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. In one embodiment of the drawing, the data are distributed in three rows.

  Next, the sorted bowl-shaped products G are conveyed to the belt conveyor 30 having a large friction coefficient. Above the belt conveyor 30 with the increased coefficient of friction, it is swingable in the conveying direction of the bowl-shaped product G, and above the front end in the transfer direction of the bowl-shaped product G that has been lowered and transferred in a timely manner. An up and down swingable rocking rod 31 is provided (see FIG. 8).

  It is desirable that the swinging basket 31 is constituted by two so as to abut on both sides of the upper end in the transfer direction of the transferred bowl-shaped product G. Further, the swing rod 31 is configured to be movable up and down by an air cylinder 32. That is, a horizontal support rod 34 is provided at the lower end portion of the piston rod 33 of the air cylinder 32 and is suspended from the tip of the horizontal support rod 34 by a pin 35 so as to be swingable.

  When the belt-like product G is lowered near the upper surface of the belt conveyor 30, the transferred bowl-shaped product G is brought into contact with and pressed by the bowl-shaped product G, and the bowl-shaped product G is further transferred. It can be swung in the direction. In the figure, 36 is an adjustment rod for adjusting the swing load of the swing rod 31 in the transfer direction of the bowl-shaped product G, and has a weight 37 at the lower end.

  In the above-described configuration, the bowl-shaped product G is conveyed in a standing state on the belt conveyor 30 having a large friction coefficient, and the upper end in the transfer direction is brought into contact with the swinging basket 21 (see FIG. 9). .

  And since the friction coefficient of the belt conveyor 30 is large, the bowl-shaped product G is continuously conveyed forward without slipping backward. Then, by the conveyance of the bowl-shaped product G, the swing basket 31 is swung in the conveyance direction of the bowl-shaped product G, and at the same time, the lift is controlled by the air cylinder 32, and the bowl-shaped product G The upper part of the front end in the conveyance direction of the product G is gradually lifted (see FIG. 10).

  Further, when the swinging basket 31 is lifted and controlled by the air cylinder 32 in accordance with the conveyance of the bowl-shaped product G, the bowl-shaped product G is finally inverted and inverted (see FIG. 11).

  It should be noted that after the bowl-shaped product G is inverted, the swinging basket 31 is positioned above the transport path of the bowl-shaped product G, and the bowl-shaped product G transported thereafter needs to be inverted. If not, the state as it is is temporarily held, and when inverted, it is lowered again and the above operation is repeated and supplied to the automatic stacking apparatus of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a conveyor which is conveyed by the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion of the cup-shaped product G being alternately adjacent to each other through the inversion and inversion process. The cup-shaped product G1 for the upper stage of the cup-shaped product G, that is, the roller conveyer 2 to which six pieces in three rows and two horizontal rows are supplied. In the figure, 3 is a stopper guide.

  In one example of the drawings, another roller conveyor 4 is extended behind the roller conveyor 2 in order to temporarily restrict the entry of the subsequent cup-shaped product G2 onto the roller conveyor 2, and the roller conveyor A stopper 6 that is raised by the air cylinder 5 and protrudes onto the roller conveyor 4 and returns in a timely manner is provided at the fourth portion. That is, the following cup-shaped product G2 is not continuously supplied on the roller conveyor 2, but the six cup-shaped products G are intermittently supplied.

  Further, an interval is required between the cup-shaped product G2 locked to the stopper 6 and the cup-shaped product G3 supplied thereafter to allow the stopper 6 to rise. In the drawing embodiment, although not shown in detail, this is done by temporarily stopping the roller conveyor 7 of the support part of the cup-shaped product G3.

  In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a pusher. When the stopper 6 is lowered, for example, the cup-shaped product G2 is conveyed on the roller conveyor 4, and at the same time, air is fed to the rear of the cup-shaped product G2. Lowered by the cylinder 9 and further advanced by the air cylinder 10, the rear of the cup-shaped product G2 is momentarily pressed, and the cup-shaped product G2 is quickly supplied onto the roller conveyor 2 and returned quickly. Is.

  In the figure, 11 is lowered by an air cylinder 12 behind the cup-shaped products G2 in two horizontal rows supplied on the roller conveyor 2, and further advanced by an air cylinder 13, and on the roller conveyor 2. The supply position of the cup-shaped product G2 is corrected, the subsequent supply of the cup-shaped product G3 is blocked, and a lifting plate serving as a side guide when the two-stage stacked cup-shaped products G1 and G2 described later are traversed It is.

  In the present invention, the cup-shaped product G1 for the upper stage having the comb teeth 14a in the same direction as the rollers 2a constituting the roller conveyor 2 between the roller conveyors 2 is supplied. A comb-like lifting unit 14 is provided for raising the stack by one step.

  The comb teeth 14a constituting the comb-like lifting unit 14 can move up and down between the rollers 2a of the roller conveyor 2, and when the ascending, support the cup-shaped product G1 for the upper stage, and then the roller conveyor 2 It is formed in a bar shape so as not to obstruct the lower cup-shaped product G2 supplied above, and one end thereof is integrated, and is configured to be lifted and lowered integrally by the air cylinder 15.

  Further, according to the present invention, the cup-shaped product G1 positioned on the lifting unit 14 and the cup-shaped product G2 positioned on the roller conveyor 2 are moved up and down to the positions between the comb teeth 14a of the comb-shaped lifting unit 14 respectively. A traversing unit 16 having comb teeth 16a is provided.

  That is, the traversing unit 16 is located on both sides of the cup-shaped product G1 positioned on the lifting unit 14 and the cup-shaped product G2 positioned on the roller conveyor 2 and between the comb teeth 14a of the comb-shaped lifting unit 14. A guide rail which is composed of two comb-tooth plates 16b, 16b spaced at predetermined intervals, and extends from above the elevating unit 14 to above the transport path 17 for the stacked product provided on the side thereof. 18 and 18 are attached to a slider 19 supported by 18 and 18 so as to be movable up and down.

  The slider 19 is connected to a reciprocating chain 20 or the like supported in parallel with the guide rails 18 and 18, and the reciprocating chain 20 is appropriately reciprocated by a motor.

  That is, the slider 19 is provided with an air cylinder 21 for raising and lowering the traversing unit 16 downward, a support plate 22 is attached to the piston rod of the air cylinder 21, and the traversing unit 16 is mounted on the support plate 22. Is provided.

  In the embodiment of the drawings, the comb teeth plates 16b and 16b constituting the traversing unit 16 are configured such that the distance between them can be adjusted. That is, air cylinders 23 and 23 facing in the opposite direction are provided on the support plate 22, and the piston rods 23a and 23a are connected to the comb teeth plates 16b and 16b.

  With the above-described configuration, the comb teeth plates 16b and 16b can be aligned in accordance with the lateral widths of G1 and G2 of the cup-shaped products stacked in two stages. That is, after the comb-tooth plates 16b and 16b forming the traversing unit 16 are lowered on both sides of the two-tiered cup-shaped products G1 and G2 with a small gap from the cup-shaped products G1 and G2. Further, the air cylinders 23 and 23 are configured to be able to perform width adjustment in accordance with the lateral width of the cup-shaped products G1 and G2 stacked in two stages.

  With the above configuration, even when the cup-shaped products G1 or G2 stacked in two stages are slightly displaced when the traversing unit 16 is lowered, the cup-shaped plates 16b and 16b come into contact with each other and the cup shape The product G1 or G2 is not damaged, and both sides of the two-stage products G1 and G2 are arranged, so that it is possible to prevent misalignment of the cup-shaped products G1 or G2 during subsequent stacking.

  In the present invention having the above-described configuration, the cup-shaped product G in which the small-diameter portions and the large-diameter portions are alternately adjacent to each other is conveyed on the conveyor 1, and the stopper 6 and the pusher 8 are By the function, six cup-shaped products G1 are supplied onto the roller conveyor 2 in three rows and two rows above.

  Next, the comb teeth 14a of the elevating unit 14 provided in the same direction as the rollers 2a from between the rollers 2a of the roller conveyor 2 are raised by one step by the air cylinder 15. That is, the upper cup-shaped product G1 is raised to the upper position.

  At the same time, the cup-shaped product G2 for the lower stage is supplied onto the roller conveyor 2, and the elevating plate 11 is lowered and advanced to lightly hold the rear side in the transport direction of the two-stage cup-shaped products G1, G2. Further, the supply of the subsequent cup-shaped product G3 is blocked.

  Next, in the above state, that is, in the state where the two-stage cup-shaped products G1 and G2 are held between the stopper guide 3 and the lifting plate 11, the traversing unit 16 is the two-stage cup-shaped products. The air cylinder 21 is lowered on both sides of G1 and G2.

  That is, the comb teeth 16a of the traversing unit 16 penetrate between the comb teeth 14a of the elevating unit 14 from both sides of the upper cup-shaped product G1, and are cup-shaped for the lower stage on the roller conveyor 2. The product is lowered by the air cylinder 21 to both sides of the product G2.

At the same time, the air cylinders 23, 23 cause the comb teeth plates 16b, 16b constituting the traversing unit 16 to be shifted in width, and further, the traversing unit 16 is moved to the roller conveyor via the reciprocating chain 20 and slider 19 by a motor. 2 is traversed to the stacked product conveyance path 17 provided at the same height as the coaxial direction .

  The stacked product conveyance path 17 is provided with, for example, a bucket formed in a volume that accommodates the two-stage cup-shaped products G1 and G2 as they are on an outer peripheral surface of a belt conveyor or the like. Taking over the transport of the cup-shaped products G1 and G2, they are collectively transported to the next automatic packaging device and automatically packaged in a cardboard case D as shown in FIG.

It is a schematic side view of the automatic product stacking apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic right side view of FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the cup-shaped goods for the upper stage were supplied on the roller conveyor. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the cup-shaped goods for the upper stage were raised by one step height by the comb-shaped lifting unit. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the cup-shaped goods for the lower stage were supplied on the roller conveyor, and also the state in which the comb teeth of the comb-shaped traversing unit were lowered between the comb teeth of the comb-shaped lifting unit. It is a perspective view which shows the supply state to the automatic stacking apparatus of a cup-shaped goods. It is a perspective view which shows the stacking and packaging state of a cup-shaped goods. It is a principal part perspective view of the inverted apparatus of a cup-shaped goods. It is a side view which shows the inversion process of a cup-shaped goods. It is a side view which shows the inversion process of a cup-shaped goods. It is a side view which shows the inversion process of a cup-shaped goods.

Explanation of symbols

2 Roller conveyor 2a Each roller 14 Lifting unit 14a Comb teeth 16 Traverse unit 16a Comb teeth
17 Stacked product conveyance path G Cup-shaped product

Claims (6)

Supplying one stage of the product on the roller conveyor, before Symbol roller conveyor from between the rollers of the one step height of an elevated by the one stage of a comb-like lifting unit having a comb teeth of the respective rollers in the same direction Product supports, then supplying the roller on the conveyor of the next one stage product, the comb teeth of the comb-shaped transverse unit between the comb teeth of both sides and the comb-like lifting unit prior Symbol two stages product the lowered, then the Rukoto a lateral row unit to traverse the axial direction in the same direction of the rollers, stacking goods transport extending the disposed at the same height as the roller conveyor in the axial direction of the rollers automatic stacking method of the product, characterized in that the feed transportable collectively the two stages of the product into the road. 2. The product automatic stacking method according to claim 1, wherein when the traversing unit is traversed, the interval between the traversing units is narrowed to prepare both sides of the two-stage merchandise. The product stacking method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supplied product is a cup-shaped product, and the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion of the cup-shaped product are adjacent to each other. A roller conveyor that supports one stage of the product is provided at the front end of the conveyor that conveys the products in an appropriate number of rows, and there are comb teeth in the same direction as the rollers between the rollers constituting the roller conveyor. A comb-like lifting unit that raises the product supplied on the roller conveyor by one step height and receives the next one-stage product on the roller conveyor below the product, and is provided on the lifting unit and the At both sides of the product on the roller conveyor and between the comb teeth of the comb-like lifting unit, the product descends on both sides of the product on the lifting unit and the roller conveyor and between the comb teeth of the comb-like lifting unit. has a comb teeth to further the comb-shaped transverse unit rampant in the axial direction in the same direction of the rollers is provided, said receiving two stages of goods carried by the lateral line unit Automatic stacking device products stacking goods conveying path for conveying the axial direction of the rollers, characterized in that it is arranged at the same height as the roller conveyor. 4. The automatic product stacking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an interval between the traversing units is adjustable. The automatic product stacking device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the supplied product is a cup-shaped product, and the small-diameter portion and the large-diameter portion of the cup-shaped product are adjacent to each other.

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