JP5266510B2 - Automatic product alignment and transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic commodity aligning and conveying device capable of correctly and rapidly performing the automatic alignment and conveyance of commodities and suppressing noise generation. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic commodity aligning and conveying device comprises a belt conveyor 1 for conveying commodities G in a plurality of rows, guides 2-7 arranged between conveying passages A-E of the commodities G of the plurality of rows by the belt conveyor 1, partly removed parts 8 of inner guides 3-6 provided in the conveying direction of the commodities G on the inner guides 3-6 except both guides 2, 7 and positionally deviated from the adjacent inner guides 3-6, rotary actuators 10a-10h having pushers 9a-9h for moving the adequately turned and conveyed commodities G to the adjacent conveying passages A-E, and stoppers 11a, 11b, 11d, 11f, 11g and 11h which are provided on the upstream side of the rotary actuators 10a-10h to temporarily stop the conveyance of the commodities G conveyed to the adjacent conveying passages A-E prior to the turn of the rotary actuators. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a product automatic alignment and transport device that automatically aligns products in an appropriate number of rows prior to automatic packaging of products and further conveys the products.

  As an apparatus for automatically aligning and conveying this type of product, the inventor provides an alignment belt conveyor having a width corresponding to the number of rows to be aligned, and the rear end is pivotally supported on both sides of the upper surface of the alignment belt conveyor. An apparatus for aligning cup-shaped products provided with an appropriate number of movable plates configured to be swingable with an air cylinder or the like has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-28649).

In addition, an apparatus for aligning tapered products in which an appropriate number of air injection nozzles are provided on both sides of the upper surface of the belt conveyor instead of the movable plate has been proposed (see JP 2001-2019 A). In each of the product aligning apparatuses, the products can be automatically aligned and transported.
Japanese Patent Publication No.57-28649 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2019

  However, the product alignment apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is a mechanical product control that uses the reciprocating motion of an air cylinder, and is capable of stably moving the product in a predetermined direction and increasing the speed required. The problem that it was difficult to respond was left.

  Further, the product aligning apparatus described in Patent Document 2 inevitably increases the number of air injections, generates noise, and leaves a problem in the working environment.

  In view of the circumstances as described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a product automatic alignment and conveyance device that can accurately and speed up and that generates less noise.

The product automatic alignment and conveyance device of the present invention includes a belt conveyor that conveys products in a plurality of rows, a guide disposed between a plurality of rows of product conveyance paths by the belt conveyor, and guides on both sides except for the guides on both sides. The inner guide is supported by a part of the inner guide that is provided in a position shifted from the inner guide adjacent to the inner guide and in a position opposite to the part of the inner guide. And a rotary actuator having a pusher that moves the conveyed product to an adjacent conveyance path through a partially cut portion of the inner guide, and is provided upstream of the rotary actuator and prior to the rotation of the rotary actuator. a stopper for temporarily stopping the transport of goods that have been transported to the transport path of the adjacent, Tona is, a product transport downstream end of each of the truncated portions Cut end of the inner guide with a constant is in a corresponding said are bent to each pusher side (claim 1). The rotary actuator is silenced by suppressing air leakage.

  In the present invention, automatic alignment and conveyance of goods randomly supplied from a plurality of production lines and the like can be performed accurately and at high speed without generating noise.

  For specific product alignment and conveyance, in the downstream direction of the belt conveyor, the number of products aligned on each conveyance path is detected, and the conveyance path where the number of the products is insufficient is transferred to another conveyance path. This is done by sequentially driving the rotary actuator and the stopper to supply products in other transport paths in the transport process.

  The drive control of each rotary actuator and each stopper is performed by microcomputer control incorporating a program corresponding to the detection result of the number of products in the downstream direction of the belt conveyor.

  One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the pusher is formed with a conforming portion that conforms to the outer shape of the product to be conveyed (claim 2). According to this embodiment, for example, when the product to be conveyed is a cup-shaped product, the pusher is formed with a tapered surface that matches the tapered surface of the outer shape of the cup-shaped product. As a result, the product can be accurately moved to the adjacent conveyance path by the pusher without tilting the product.

  One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the stopper is formed with a conforming portion that conforms to the outer shape of the commodity whose transportation is temporarily stopped (Claim 3). According to this embodiment, the product can be temporarily prevented from being transported without losing the position and form of the product that has been transported, and the transport after the temporary stop is smoothly performed.

  One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the mounting position of the pusher with respect to the rotary actuator can be adjusted (claim 4). According to this embodiment, the position of the pusher can be adjusted in accordance with the product to be transported, and the product can be accurately moved to the adjacent transport path.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a belt conveyor that conveys products G in a plurality of rows. In the embodiment of the drawings, a belt conveyor that conveys products G in 5 rows is shown. Moreover, the cup noodle inverted as the goods G is shown by the drawing Example.

  In the figure, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are guides arranged between the five rows of conveying paths A, B, C, D and E of the product G by the belt conveyor 1, It is supported above the belt conveyor 1 and is provided so as to guide a substantially middle part of the height of the product G to be conveyed.

  In the embodiment of the drawing, the product G is randomly supplied from the production line of the product G (not shown) from the carry-in paths X, Y and Z, and the randomly supplied product G is automatically aligned and transported in five rows. It is. Further, although not shown in detail between the carry-in paths X, Y, and Z and the transport paths A, B, C, D, and E, there is a space S for detecting and further eliminating a deformed or fallen product G. Forming.

  Next, in the present invention, each of the guides 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 except for the both side guides 2 and 7, the inner guides 3, 4, 5 and 6 are arranged in the conveying direction of the product G. In addition, partially cut portions 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f, and 8h are respectively provided by shifting the positions from the adjacent inner guides 3, 4, 5, and 6.

  The partially cut portions 8 a to 8 h of the inner guides 3, 4, 5, and 6 are provided in accordance with the size and the like of the product G to be aligned and conveyed, specifically, the diameter of the size of the product G The interval is a little more than (width).

  Next, the product G, which is supported by the respective positions of the inner guides 3, 4, 5 and 6 facing the partially cut portions 8a to 8h and rotated and transported in a timely manner, is transferred to the partially cut portion 8a. A rotary actuator having a pusher to be moved to an adjacent conveyance path through ˜8h is provided.

  In the embodiment of the drawings, a rotary actuator 10a having a pusher 9a and a rotary actuator 10b having a pusher 9b are provided so as to face the partially cut portions 8a and 8b of the inner guide 3, respectively.

  In addition, a rotary actuator 10c having a pusher 9c and a rotary actuator 10d having a pusher 9d are provided so as to face the partially cut portions 8c and 8d of the inner guide 4, respectively.

  Further, a rotary actuator 10e having a pusher 9e and a rotary actuator 10f having a pusher 9f are provided so as to face the partially cut portions 8e and 8f of the inner guide 5, respectively.

Further, a rotary actuator 10g having a pusher 9g and a rotary actuator 10h having a pusher 9h are provided so as to face the partially cut portions 8g and 8h of the inner guide 6, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the inner guides 3 to 6 are formed with cut end portions by forming the cut portions 8a to 8h, but the cut portions 8a to 8h. Each cut end portion of the inner guide that defines the product conveyance downstream end portion is bent toward the corresponding pusher 9a to 9h. As a result, the products moved by the pushers 9a to 9h are guided by the bending of the cut end portions of the inner guides 3 to 6, and reliably pass through the cut portions 8a to 8h to the next transport path. Can reach.

  Further, pushers 9a, 9b, 9d, 9f, 9g and 9h of the rotary actuators 10a, 10b, 10d, 10f, 10g and 10h are provided upstream of the rotary actuators 10a, 10b, 10d, 10f, 10g and 10h. A stopper is provided for temporarily stopping the conveyance of the product G conveyed to the adjacent conveyance path prior to the rotation.

  That is, a stopper 11a is provided corresponding to the rotary actuator 10a, a stopper 11b is provided corresponding to the rotary actuator 10b, a stopper 11d is provided corresponding to the rotary actuator 10d, and corresponds to the rotary actuator 10f. A stopper 11f is provided, a stopper 11g is provided corresponding to the rotary actuator 11g, and a stopper 11h is provided corresponding to the rotary actuator 10h.

  The rotary actuator 10e having a pusher 9e that distributes the product G supplied to the transport path C to the transport path D and the rotary actuator 10c that has the pusher 9c that distributes the product G supplied to the transport path C to the transport path B are described above. There is no need to provide a stopper such as That is, the product G is not supplied from the upstream to the transport paths B and D.

  Next, the rotary actuator will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the rotary actuators 10a to 10h excluding the mounting portion, and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view thereof.

  The rotary actuators 10a to 10h are respectively supported at positions facing the partially cut portions 8a to 8h provided in the guides 3, 4, 5 and 6, and the horizontal arms 13 are respectively attached to the respective drive shafts 12. The pushers 9a to 9h are vertically provided.

  Further, the pushers 9a to 9h are respectively formed with conforming portions 14 adapted to the outer shape of the commodity G to be conveyed. For example, as shown in the drawing embodiment, when the product G is an inverted cup noodle having a tapered surface as shown in FIG. 2, the pushers 9a to 9h are opposite to the outer shape of the product G. It is formed in a taper shape.

  Further, the mounting positions of the pushers 9a to 9h can be adjusted with respect to the rotary actuators 10a to 10h. In the drawing embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a long hole 15 is provided in the horizontal arm 13, and a bolt 17 is screwed into a female screw hole 16 formed in the upper part of each of the pushers 9a to 9h through the long hole 15. Thus, the pushers 9 a to 9 h are fixed at predetermined positions of the horizontal arm 13.

  Next, the stopper will be described. 4 is a schematic front view of the stoppers 11a, 11b, 11d, 11f, 11g, and 11h except for the mounting portion, and FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the stopper and the rotary actuator portion.

  The stoppers 11a, 11b, 11d, 11f, 11g and 11h are provided upstream of the rotary actuators 10a, 10b, 10d, 10f, 10g and 10h, and the rotary actuators 10a, 10b, 10d, 10f, 10g and Prior to the rotation for 10 h, it is provided so as to temporarily stop the conveyance of the product G conveyed to the adjacent conveyance path.

  That is, the upper end 20 is fixed to the drive shaft 19 of the rotary actuators 18a, 18b, 18d, 18f, 18g and 18h by the bolts 21, and the lower part is formed by the stoppers 11a, 11b, 11d, 11f, 11g and 11h. Yes.

  Furthermore, the stoppers 11a, 11b, 11d, 11f, 11g, and 11h are respectively formed with conforming portions 22 that match the outer shape of the product G that temporarily stops the conveyance. For example, as in the drawing embodiment, when the product G is an inverted cup noodle as shown in FIG. 5, the stoppers 11 a, 11 b, 11 d, 11 f, 11 g, and 11 are formed in a horizontal arc shape, It is formed in a vertical taper shape.

  In the present invention having the above configuration, for example, when it is detected that the number of the aligned products G in the transport path B is smaller than the number of the aligned products G in the other transport paths A, C, D, and E, the transport path C section The rotary actuator 10c provided on the rotary actuator 10c is rotated, and the product G conveyed through the conveyance path C by the pusher 9c of the rotary actuator 10c is moved to the conveyance path B through the partial cut portion 8c. Can do.

  In addition, by rotating the rotary actuator 10a, the product G that has been transported through the transport path A by the pusher 9a of the rotary actuator 10a can be moved to the transport path B via the partial cut portion 8a. .

  In the latter case, the product G that has been transported through the transport path B prior to the rotation of the rotary actuator 10a is temporarily stopped by the stopper 11a, and collision between the products G is prevented.

  As described above, the movement control of the product G between the transport paths A to E is automatically detected by microcomputer control in which the number of products G aligned on the transport paths A to E is detected and a program corresponding to the detection result is incorporated. To be done.

1 is a schematic plan view of a product automatic alignment and conveyance device according to the present invention. It is a schematic front view except the attachment part of the rotary actuator part. It is a schematic plan view of a rotary actuator part. It is a schematic front view except the attachment part of the stopper part. It is a schematic plan view excluding the attachment part of the stopper part and the rotary actuator part.

Explanation of symbols

1 Belt conveyor 2-7 Guide 8a-8h Partial cut-out part 9a-9h Pusher 10-10h Rotary actuator 11a, 11b, 11d, 11f, 11g, 11h Stopper 14, 22 Applicable part A-E Conveyance path G Product

Claims (4)

A belt conveyor that conveys products in a plurality of rows, a guide disposed between a plurality of rows of product conveyance paths by the belt conveyor, and an inner guide that is adjacent to each inner guide except for both side guides in the product conveyance direction. Is a part of the guide that is shifted in position and a product that is supported and rotated at a position facing the part of the inner guide that is pivoted in a timely manner. A rotary actuator having a pusher to be moved to an adjacent conveyance path via a part cut-out section, and a product that is provided upstream of the rotary actuator and conveyed to the adjacent conveyance path prior to the rotation of the rotary actuator a stopper for temporarily stopping the conveyance of Tona is, cut end of the inner guide defining a product conveying downstream end of each of the truncated portion, pairs Wherein are bent to each pusher side to the automatic alignment and transport device of the product. The apparatus for automatically aligning and conveying goods according to claim 1, wherein the pusher is formed with a conforming portion that conforms to the outer shape of the goods to be conveyed. The apparatus for automatically aligning and conveying goods according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an adapting portion that conforms to the outer shape of the goods whose conveyance is temporarily stopped is formed on the stopper. 4. The automatic product alignment and apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the position of the pusher attached to the rotary actuator is adjustable.

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