JP5161859B2 - Multipurpose vertical device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a multipurpose vertical apparatus for food introduced into a food production line that requires fermentation or cooling in the production process.

  In the food production process for producing food such as bread, a process of fermenting and cooling the processed food or finished product is required. In this case, it is necessary to retain the food in the middle of the production line for the time required for fermentation or cooling. In relation to this, the invention introduced conventionally to the manufacturing line of the foodstuff which requires fermentation in a manufacturing process is disclosed.

  As an example, Patent Document 1 discloses an invention of a conveyance system for a bread dough fermentation line. In this transport system, the rack loader, the fermentation chamber, and the unrack loader are installed at separate locations. The rack loader is arranged at the most downstream position of the conveyor, and stacks the top plates sequentially conveyed with the bread dough on the conveyor on the top plate rack. The top plate rack is placed on an automatic conveyance cart, and is carried to the fermentation chamber by the automatic conveyance cart with the top plate mounted, and is carried to the unrack loader after a lapse of time required for fermentation of bread dough. An unrack loader is arrange | positioned in the uppermost stream position of an oven connection conveyor, and mounts the top plate stacked in the top plate rack on an oven connection conveyor sequentially.

JP 2008-306934 A

  In order to install the conveyance system described in Patent Document 1, a vast installation place is required. In addition, this transport system is premised on the use of an automatic transport cart. For this reason, in order to introduce this conveyance system, a program for setting the movement route of the automatic conveyance cart, changing the conveyance route of bread dough by the existing conveyor, and controlling the movement procedure of the automatic conveyance cart Difficulty such as assembling is expected. In addition, a lot of energy is required to drive the automated transport cart.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and aims to incorporate a process of fermenting or cooling food conveyed by the conveyor without significantly changing the food conveyance path by the existing conveyor. To do.

The multipurpose vertical device of the present invention includes a first conveyor device on which a tray is placed,
A first lift device that holds a tray conveyed by the first conveyor device and conveys the tray upward;
A second conveyor device for placing the tray;
A second lift device disposed adjacent to the first lift device, holding the tray and transporting it downward and placing it on the second conveyor;
In a multipurpose vertical device comprising a pusher device that pushes and transfers the tray held by the first lift device to the second lift device above the first conveyor device,
The first conveyor device divides a plurality of the placed trays into groups, and blocks them in a separated state for each group,
The first lift device transports the separated trays upward while being separated for each group, and the pusher device transfers the trays to the second lift device while being separated for each group. Multi-purpose vertical device,
Is provided.

  According to the present invention, the tray returns from the first conveyor device to the second conveyor device after passing through the first lift device, the pusher device, and the second lift device, greatly increasing the conveying path of the foodstuff being processed by the existing conveyor. The process of fermenting or cooling the food conveyed on a conveyor without changing to can be incorporated.

It is a side view which shows the whole multipurpose vertical apparatus. It is a side view of an upstream conveyor apparatus. It is a top view of an upstream conveyor apparatus. It is a side view of a 1st lift apparatus. It is A arrow directional view of FIG. It is a side view of a pusher device. It is a B arrow view of FIG. It is a side view of a 2nd lift apparatus. It is C arrow line view of FIG. It is a side view of a downstream conveyor apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a multipurpose vertical apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a motion of each part of a multipurpose vertical apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a motion of each part of a multipurpose vertical apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a motion of each part of a multipurpose vertical apparatus.

  One embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the entire multipurpose vertical apparatus 101. The multi-purpose vertical apparatus 101 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 102 of the food FI provided in the factory along the food production line (for example, bread production line), and is sufficient for the food FI to be fermented or cooled. It is a device that bypasses the tray TR on which the foodstuff FI is placed over a transport time. The conveyance path 102 is defined in advance by a plurality of conveyor devices 103 laid in the factory.

  The multipurpose vertical device 101 includes an upstream conveyor device 151 as a first conveyor device, a downstream conveyor device 152 as a second conveyor device, a first lift device 201, a pusher device 301, and a second lift device 401. And a sequence circuit 501 (see FIG. 11) and various sensors.

  Each of the upstream conveyor device 151 and the downstream conveyor device 152 includes a motor 153, a driving roller 154, a driven roller 155, and a belt 156. The driving roller 154 receives the driving force of the motor 153 and rotates. The belt 156 is stretched over both the driving roller 154 and the driven roller 155. The tray TR is placed on the belt 156 and conveyed to the downstream side of the conveyance path 102 by driving the motor 153.

  The upstream conveyor device 151 and the downstream conveyor device 152 are installed by replacing a part of the existing conveyor device 103. More specifically, the upstream conveyor device 151 is separated from the upstream end of the existing conveyor device 103U that is divided and positioned upstream so that the tray TR conveyed by the existing conveyor device 103 can be received. Provided. Further, the downstream conveyor device 152 is continuously provided at the upstream end of the downstream existing conveyor device 103D that is divided and positioned on the downstream side so that the tray TR can be transferred to the existing conveyor device 103. Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the upstream conveyor device 151 and the downstream conveyor device 152 are installed at different height positions of the belt 156. The same may be the same. Details of the upstream conveyor device 151 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Details of the downstream conveyor device 152 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The first lift device 201 is provided so as to surround the upstream conveyor device 151, and protrudes upward from the upstream conveyor device 151. The first lift device 201 scoops up the side portion of the tray TR located on the upstream conveyor device 151 by the lifting flipper 205 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) and lifts it up to the height of the pusher device 301. The first lift device 201 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

  The second lift device 401 is provided so as to surround the downstream conveyor device 152 and protrudes upward from the downstream conveyor device 152. The second lift device 401 lowers the tray TR placed on the lowering flipper 405 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) by the pusher device 301 described below, and places it on the belt 156 of the downstream conveyor device 152. The second lift device 401 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The pusher device 301 pushes out the tray TR lifted by the first lift device 201 toward the second lift device 401 and places the tray TR on a lowering flipper 405 provided in the second lift device 401. The pusher device 301 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  According to such a multipurpose vertical apparatus 101, the tray TR conveyed by the upstream existing conveyor apparatus 103U is placed on the belt 156 of the upstream conveyor apparatus 151. Subsequently, the tray TR is lifted upward by the first lift device 201 and transferred to the second lift device 401 by the pusher device 301. Subsequently, the tray TR is lowered downward by the second lift device 401, placed on the belt 156 of the downstream conveyor device 152, and delivered to the downstream existing conveyor device 103D by the downstream conveyor device 152.

  Here, the upstream conveyor device 151, the downstream conveyor device 152, the first lift device 201, the pusher device 301, and the second lift device 401 start driving under the control of the sequence circuit 501. , Stop driving. The sequence circuit 501 basically controls each unit in accordance with a predefined control procedure. The sequence circuit 501 performs control on each unit in accordance with electrical signals received from various sensors. The electrical configuration of the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 and the movement of each part of the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 under the control of the sequence circuit 501 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

[Upstream conveyor device]
FIG. 2 is a side view of the upstream conveyor device 151. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upstream conveyor device 151. The upstream conveyor device 151 includes a motor 153, a driving roller 154, a driven roller 155, a belt 156, a conveyor rail 156 a, a terminal stopper 157, a variable stopper 158, a variable stopper driver 159, and a sensor 160. With.

  The drive roller 154 is located at the downstream end of the upstream conveyor device 151. The driven roller 155 is located at the upstream end of the upstream conveyor device 151. Two belts 156 are stretched over the driving roller 154 and the driven roller 155, and these are separated. These belts 156 are also supported by a support member (not shown) positioned between the driving roller 154 and the driven roller 155. The conveyor rail 156a is located outside the two belts. As shown in FIG. 3, the width formed by the two conveyor rails 156a is smaller than the width of the tray TR. Then, the tray TR transferred from the upstream existing conveyor device 103U to the upstream conveyor device 151 is conveyed in a state in which the side portion protrudes outward from the two conveyor rails 156a. The end stopper 157 is fixedly provided in the vicinity of the driving roller 154, interferes with the tray TR conveyed by the belt 156, and blocks the tray TR. A plurality of sensors 160 are provided along the conveyance path 102 and sense the tray TR conveyed by the belt 156. More specifically, the sensor 160 senses the first sensor 160a that senses the leading tray TR blocked by the end stopper 157, and the second tray TR that is blocked by the tray TR and stops on the belt 156. It includes a second sensor 160b and a third sensor 160c provided at a location where the second tray TR is not sensed upstream of the second tray TR to be stopped. The fluctuation stopper 158 is displaced up and down between the two belts 156 so as to block the tray TR on the upstream side of the position sensed by the third sensor 160c. The displacement stopper 158 is displaced by the variation stopper driving unit 159. In this way, on the upstream side of the upstream conveyor device 151, the two trays TR are stopped by the termination stopper 157 between the termination stopper 157 and the fluctuation stopper 158, and the first sensor 160 a and the second sensor are stopped. 160b senses these trays TR. At this time, the third sensor 160c does not sense any of the two trays TR.

  Two variable stoppers 158 are arranged on the upstream conveyor device 151 along the conveyance path 102 in addition to those described above. The three variation stoppers 158 are referred to as a first variation stopper 158a, a second variation stopper 158b, and a third variation stopper 158c in order from the downstream side. The distance between the terminal stopper 157 and the first fluctuation stopper 158a, the distance between the first fluctuation stopper 158a and the second fluctuation stopper 158b, and the distance between the second fluctuation stopper 158b and the third fluctuation stopper 158c are equal. The first sensor 160a, the second sensor 160b, and the third sensor are disposed between the first variation stopper 158a and the second variation stopper 158b and between the second variation stopper 158b and the third variation stopper, respectively. 160c. Further, a first sensor 160a and a third sensor 160c are provided upstream of the fluctuation stopper 158. By the variable stoppers 158, in the upstream conveyor device 151, the seven trays TR are blocked at the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and in order from the downstream side, two sheets, two sheets, two sheets, one sheet, and so on. Grouped.

[First lift device]
FIG. 4 is a side view of the first lift device 201. FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The first lift device 201 includes a pair of an upper rotary shaft 202, a lower rotary shaft 203, and an elevating conveyor 204 spanned between them, with the upstream conveyor device 151 interposed therebetween. The elevating conveyor 204 is provided with raising flippers 205 at predetermined intervals. The raising flipper 205 is a long member having an L-shaped cross section. The upper rotating shaft 202 rotates in the direction of the arrow R1 shown in FIG. 5 by the driving force of the motor 206 transmitted via the gear train 207. As a result, the raising flipper 205 scoops up both sides of the tray TR on the upstream conveyor device 151 and conveys it upward.

[Pusher device]
FIG. 6 is a side view of the pusher device 301. 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. The pusher device 301 includes a motor 302, a drive sprocket 303, a driven gear 304, a chain 305, a pusher body 306, and a pusher rail 307. The pusher rail 307 extends in parallel with the transport path 102 from above the first lift device 201 to above the second lift device 401. A pusher body 306 is slidably attached to the pusher rail 307. Further, the drive sprocket 303 and the driven gear 304 are provided further above the pusher rail 307. The motor 302 rotates in both forward and reverse directions under the control of the sequence circuit 501 and rotates the drive sprocket 303. The chain 305 extends over the drive sprocket 303 and the driven gear 304 and extends in parallel with the pusher rail 307. A pusher rail 307 is attached to the chain 305. As the chain 305 rotates, the pusher body 306 slides along the pusher rail 307.

  The pusher body 306 includes a rod-shaped base 308 extending in parallel with the pusher rail 307, a tire portion 309 mounted on both sides of the base 308 and placed on the pusher rail 307, and a plate extending downward from the base 308. Four abutting portions 310. Each contact portion 310 is attached to the pusher rail 307 so as to be spaced apart from each other so as to correspond to the rear end portion of each group (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of the tray TR positioned on the upstream conveyor device 151.

  Here, the lowermost flipper 405 (see also FIGS. 8 and 9) provided in the second lift device 401 is the uppermost one of the lifter flippers 205 provided in the first lift device 201. Is positioned at the same height. Between the uppermost lifting flipper 205 in the first lift device 201 and the uppermost lowering flipper 405 in the second lift device 401, fixed rails 311 that support both sides of the tray TR are arranged. Yes.

  The pusher device 301 is first positioned above the first lift device 201. Here, when the chain 305 rotates by driving the motor 302, the pusher body 306 moves. Accordingly, the contact portion 310 pushes out the tray TR supported by the uppermost lifting flipper 205 in the first lift device 201. The tray TR slides from the uppermost lifting flipper 205 by the first lifting device 201 to the uppermost lowering flipper 405 in the second lifting device 401 via the fixed rail 311. After the uppermost lowering flipper 405 in the second lift device 401 is moved downward by the drive of the second lift device 401, in the pusher device 301, the chain 305 is rotated by the drive of the motor 302 and the pusher body 306 is moved to the first. It returns to a position above the lift device 201.

  The pusher device 301 includes a limit switch 312 above the pusher rail 307. When the pusher body 306 pushed up from below contacts the limit switch 312, the limit switch 312 outputs an error signal.

  The pusher device 301 includes a deceleration sensor 313, a fixed position sensor 314, and an overrun detection sensor 315 arranged in order from the downstream side in the vicinity of the upstream portion of the transport path 102 in the pusher rail 307. . These sensors output an electrical signal when sensing a detection plate (not shown) attached to the pusher body 306. These sensors are used to detect the position of the pusher body 306.

[Second lift device]
FIG. 8 is a side view of the second lift device 401. FIG. 9 is a view taken in the direction of arrow C in FIG. The second lift device 401 includes a pair of an upper rotary shaft 402, a lower rotary shaft 403, and an elevating conveyer 404 spanned between them, with a downstream conveyor device 152 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) interposed therebetween. The elevating conveyor 404 is provided with lowering flippers 405 at predetermined intervals. The lowering flipper 405 is a long member having an L-shaped cross section like the lifting flipper 205 provided in the first lift device 201. The upper rotating shaft 402 rotates in the direction of the arrow R2 shown in FIG. 9 by the driving force of the motor 406 transmitted through the gear train 407. As a result, the lowering flipper 405 supports both sides of the tray TR moved from the upstream conveyor device 151 by the pusher device 301 and places the tray TR on the downstream conveyor device 152.

[Downstream conveyor device]
FIG. 10 is a side view of the downstream conveyor device 152. The downstream conveyor device 152 includes a motor 153, a driving roller 154, a driven roller 155, a belt 156, a conveyor rail 156 a, and a transmission type sensor 161.

  Since the configuration of the driving roller 154, the driven roller 155, the belt 156, and the conveyor rail 156a in the downstream conveyor device 152 is the same as that provided in the upstream conveyor device 151, description thereof is omitted. On the belt 156 provided in the downstream conveyor device 152, the pusher device 301 moves to the lowering flipper 405 provided in the second lift device 401, and the tray is grouped into two, two, two, and one sheet. TR is placed as shown in FIG. The light emitting unit 161a and the light receiving unit 161b of the transmissive sensor 161 are arranged at positions sandwiching the tray TR placed on the belt 156 in this way. When even one tray TR is placed on the belt 156, the transmission sensor 161 senses the tray TR and outputs an electrical signal.

  The pusher device 301 also includes a guide member 162 that rectifies the tray TR in the vicinity of the downstream end. In the pusher device 301, when the motor 153 is driven, the driving roller 154 rotates, and the tray TR on the belt 156 is transported to the downstream side of the transport path 102 and rectified by the guide member 162, and then the downstream existing conveyor device 103D. (See FIG. 1).

[Electric configuration and movement of each part]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101. The sequence circuit 501 provided in the multipurpose vertical device 101 includes a motor 153 provided in the upstream conveyor device 151, three first sensors 160a, two second sensors 160b, three third sensors 160c, and three variable stopper driving units. Connect to each of 159. The sequence circuit 501 is connected to the motor 206 provided in the first lift device 201. The sequence circuit 501 is connected to each of the motor 302, the limit switch 312, the deceleration sensor 313, the fixed position sensor 314, and the overrun detection sensor 315 included in the pusher device 301. The sequence circuit 501 is connected to a motor 406 provided in the second lift device 401. In addition, the sequence circuit 501 is connected to each of the motor 153 and the transmission sensor 161 provided in the downstream conveyor device 152.

  12 to 14 are flowcharts showing the movement of each part of the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101. In the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101, the upstream conveyor apparatus 151 and the downstream conveyor apparatus 152 continue to convey the belt 156 downstream. And the tray TR conveyed by the upstream existing conveyor apparatus 103U is mounted in the upstream conveyor apparatus 151. FIG. At this time, any of the fluctuation stoppers 158 (the first fluctuation stopper 158a, the second fluctuation stopper 158b, and the third fluctuation stopper 158c) is positioned at a lower position where the tray TR does not interfere.

  First, referring to FIG. The sequence circuit 501 determines that the end stopper 157 stops the two trays TR based on the electrical signals from the first sensor 160a to the third sensor 160c close to the end stopper 157 (Y in step S101). Then, the fluctuation stopper driving unit 159 is driven so as to move the first fluctuation stopper 158a upward, and is positioned at an upper position that interferes with the tray TR conveyed on the belt 156 (step S102). More specifically, the sequence circuit 501 passes a predetermined time or more in a state where both the first sensor 160a and the second sensor 160b that are close to the end stopper 157 on the upstream side of the end stopper 157 sense the tray TR, In addition, when a predetermined time or more has passed without the third sensor 160c sensing the tray TR, it is determined that the two trays TR are stopped by the termination stopper 157. Here, when any of the first sensor 160a to the third sensor 160c senses the tray TR, the sequence circuit 501 stops all the units of the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 as error processing.

  Subsequently, the sequence circuit 501 detects that the first variation stopper 158a has two trays TR by an electrical signal from the first sensor 160a to the third sensor 160c located near the first variation stopper 158a and upstream thereof. Is determined to be stopped (Y in step S103), the fluctuation stopper driving unit 159 is driven so as to move the second fluctuation stopper 158b upward, and the upper part interferes with the tray TR conveyed on the belt 156. Position to the position (step S104).

  Subsequently, the sequence circuit 501 detects that the second variation stopper 158b has two trays TR by an electrical signal from the first sensor 160a to the third sensor 160c located near the second variation stopper 158b and upstream thereof. Is determined to be stopped (Y in step S105), the fluctuation stopper driving unit 159 is driven so as to move the third fluctuation stopper 158c upward, and the upper side that interferes with the tray TR conveyed on the belt 156 is detected. Position to the position (step S106).

  Subsequently, the sequence circuit 501 uses the first sensor 160a and the third sensor 160c located close to and upstream of the third fluctuation stopper 158c to cause the third fluctuation stopper 158c to have two trays TR. Is determined to be stopped (Y in step S107), the process proceeds to the next step S108.

  In step S108, the sequence circuit 501 determines whether or not the tray TR exists at the uppermost stage of the first lift device 201 (step S108). In this process, the sequence circuit 501 determines that the tray TR is not present in the uppermost stage of the first lift device 201 when the pusher body 306 is positioned upstream in the pusher device 301 (see step S204 in FIG. 13). ).

  If it is determined in step S108 that the tray TR does not exist in the uppermost stage of the first lift device 201 (N in step S108), the sequence circuit 501 drives the first lift device 201 to move the lifting flipper 205 upward. Move one step (step S109), move all the fluctuation stoppers 158 downward (step S110), and return the process to step S101. In step S108, when the sequence circuit 501 determines that the tray TR is present at the uppermost stage of the first lift device 201 (Y in step S108), the sequence circuit 501 waits for processing and turns on the motor 153 of the upstream conveyor device 151. After stopping, when it is determined that the tray TR does not exist at the uppermost stage of the first lift device 201, the driving of the motor 153 of the upstream conveyor device 151 is resumed.

  Please refer to FIG. The sequence circuit 501 drives the first lift device 201 by the process of step S109 shown in FIG. 12 (Y in step S201), and then drives the motor 302 to move the pusher body 306 downstream. As a result of the processing in step S109, the tray TR has already been placed on the lifting flipper 205 positioned at the uppermost stage of the first lift device 201. Then, the pusher body 306 pushes out these trays TR to the downstream side by the processing of step S202, and transfers them to the lowering flipper 405 positioned at the uppermost stage of the second lift device 401.

  Subsequently, the sequence circuit 501 drives the motor 302 to move the pusher body 306 upstream by driving the motor 302 after the second lift device 401 is driven (Y in step S203, see step S302 in FIG. 14). 1 lift device 201 is returned to the upper side (step S204). After the process of step S204, the sequence circuit 501 returns the process to step S201.

  Refer to FIG. When the sequence circuit 501 determines that there is no tray TR on the belt 156 of the downstream conveyor device 152 by the transmission type sensor 161 provided in the downstream conveyor device 152 (N in step S301), the second lift The apparatus 401 is driven to move the lowering flipper 405 downward by one step (step S302). By step S302, the tray TR on the lowering flipper 405 of the second lift device 401 is placed on the belt 156 of the downstream conveyor device 152. Here, since the motor 153 of the downstream conveyor device 152 continues to be driven, the tray TR placed on the belt 156 is transported to the downstream side and delivered to the downstream existing conveyor device 103D.

  Here, when a failure occurs in the first lift device 201 and the tray TR is pushed up and contacts the limit switch 312, the limit switch 312 outputs an error signal. When receiving error electricity from the limit switch 312, the sequence circuit 501 stops all the units of the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 as error processing.

  Further, when the sequence circuit 501 receives an electric signal from the deceleration sensor 313, the sequence circuit 501 delays the drive of the motor 302. Thereafter, when receiving an electrical signal from the fixed position sensor 314, the sequence circuit 501 stops driving the motor 302. Here, when the pusher body 306 does not stop and stops at a position shifted upstream from the original stop position, the overrun detection sensor 315 is a detection plate (not shown) attached to the pusher body 306. To output an electrical signal. When the sequence circuit 501 receives the electrical signal from the overrun detection sensor 315, all the units of the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 are stopped as error processing.

  In the multi-purpose vertical device 101 of the present embodiment, each part is driven as described above, and the first TR device 201 transports the tray TR transported by the upstream existing conveyor device 103U upward. Then, the tray TR positioned at the uppermost stage of the first lift device 201 is transferred to the second lift device 401 by the pusher device 301. Then, the second lift device 401 lowers the transferred tray TR to the downstream conveyor device 152, and transfers the tray TR from the downstream conveyor device 152 to the downstream existing conveyor device 103D. In this way, the foodstuff FI (see FIG. 1) placed on the tray TR detours over the route deviating from the conveyance route 102, and detours over time from the upstream existing conveyor device 103U. Move to 103D.

  The multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 of this embodiment replaces a part of an existing conveyor with an upstream conveyor apparatus 151 and a downstream conveyor apparatus 152, and surrounds the first lift apparatus 201 and the second lift apparatus 401 so as to surround them. And further, a pusher device 301 is installed above these devices. That is, the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 of the present embodiment can be installed taking advantage of the vertical space in the factory. For this reason, the food FI conveyed by the conveyor without significantly changing the conveying path 102 of the food FI (for example, bread dough) by the existing conveyor (upstream existing conveyor device 103U and downstream existing conveyor device 103D). A process of fermenting or cooling the can be incorporated. For example, the food FI during processing can be fermented to a desired state by arranging the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 of the present embodiment in an apparatus that forms a fermentation chamber. As another example, the food FI during processing can be cooled to a desired state by disposing the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 of the present embodiment in the cooling chamber.

  In addition, the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 of the present embodiment is not a large-scale device like the technique described in Patent Document 1, and can be installed in a factory along an existing food production line. In addition, none of the units included in the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 of the present embodiment moves as in the technique described in Patent Document 1. For this reason, when the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 is introduced into the factory, energy consumed can be suppressed.

  Further, in the multipurpose vertical apparatus 101 of the present embodiment, the plurality of trays TR are grouped and positioned in the upstream conveyor apparatus 151 and are conveyed upward as they are by the first lift apparatus 201, and then are grouped by the pusher apparatus 301. It is transferred to the second lift device 401 in a divided state. For this reason, when the tray TR is pushed by the pusher device 301, the force applied to the tray TR located on the most downstream side (leading side) is reduced, and the tray TR does not fall off from the multipurpose vertical device 101.

101 Multipurpose Vertical Device 151 Upstream Conveyor Device (First Conveyor Device)
152 Downstream conveyor device (second conveyor device)
201 First lift device 301 Pusher device 401 Second lift device TR tray

Claims (2)

A first conveyor device for placing a tray;
A first lift device that holds a tray conveyed by the first conveyor device and conveys the tray upward;
A second conveyor device for placing the tray;
A second lift device disposed adjacent to the first lift device, holding the tray and transporting it downward and placing it on the second conveyor;
In a multipurpose vertical device comprising a pusher device that pushes and transfers the tray held by the first lift device to the second lift device above the first conveyor device ,
The first conveyor device divides a plurality of the placed trays into groups, and blocks them in a separated state for each group,
The first lift device transports the separated trays upward while being separated for each group, and the pusher device transfers the trays to the second lift device while being separated for each group. Multi-purpose vertical device. The multipurpose vertical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the group is a group including two or less trays.

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