JP5299709B2 - Loading guide removal device and removal method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a loading guide removing device and a removing method, and more specifically, after loading an article, the container is mounted on each container on the downstream side of the article loading apparatus that loads the article into each container while conveying a plurality of containers. The present invention relates to a removing guide removal device for removing a loading guide from each container and a removing method.

  Conventionally, containers (for example, containers, cardboard boxes, etc.) corresponding to each sorting destination are transported by a conveyor as sorting equipment for efficiently sorting a wide variety of goods into a plurality of sorting destinations (for example, stores, customers, etc.). A picking facility is used in which an operator picks an ordered article designated by a digital display or the like from an article storage shelf and puts it into the designated container (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

  In order to further increase the efficiency of the sorting operation, an article input device that automatically inputs the ordered articles picked from the article storage shelf into each container is used (for example, see Patent Document 2 below). According to this article input device, it is possible to softly input an article into each container without stopping the conveyance of each container without damaging the article.

JP 2002-326708 A JP 2009-35310 A

  However, in this sorting operation, it is common that the amount of articles put into each container differs depending on the sorting destination. If the amount of articles put into the container is relatively large, the article once thrown out falls outside the container. In rare cases. Therefore, conventionally, it is necessary to further provide a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the article by measuring the weight of the entire container after the article is put in, and it is necessary to stop the conveyance of the container at the time of detection. There was a difficulty that caused the efficiency of sorting work to decrease.

  In view of this, the applicant of the present application has proposed a loading guide mounting device that can automatically and quickly mount a loading guide for preventing an article from dropping into each container before the loading of the article.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a charging guide removing device and a removing method that can reliably remove the charging guides attached to the respective containers from the respective containers without stopping the conveyance of the containers.

The present invention is arranged on the downstream side of the article loading device for loading articles into each container while conveying a plurality of containers on a conveyor, and after loading the articles, the loading guides attached to the containers are removed from the containers. A removal guide removal device to be removed,
The feeding guide is formed of a cylindrical body having openings at both ends, and has a pair of protrusions protruding in opposite directions on the outer surface of the cylindrical body, and is disposed above the conveyor in a plan view. A pair of receiving rails that are provided so that a distance between the conveying path and the conveying guide is increased as the distance from the conveying path increases toward the conveying downstream side of the conveying path in an elevational view along the conveying path, And a transfer means for transferring the input guide along the receiving rail to the transport downstream side of the transport path.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the transfer means includes an endless belt that circulates along the receiving rail, and a plurality of hooking members that are provided on the endless belt and hook the protrusions of the charging guide. It is a feature.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the hooking member is provided so as to be tiltable only to the traveling downstream side of the endless belt.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the transfer means is provided with a lower endless belt that circulates along the receiving rail, and is provided above the lower endless belt at a predetermined interval from the lower endless belt, And an upper endless belt that circulates along a receiving rail, and the lower endless belt and the upper endless belt transfer the charging guide with the protruding portion of the charging guide interposed therebetween.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the lower endless belt travels on the receiving rail in its traveling forward path.

In addition, the present invention removes a loading guide attached to each container after loading the article on the downstream side of the article loading apparatus that loads the article into each container while conveying a plurality of containers with a conveyor. A charging guide removal method,
The feeding guide is composed of a cylindrical body having openings at both ends, the outer surface of the cylindrical body has a pair of protrusions projecting in opposite directions to each other, and the container on which the feeding guide is mounted is connected to the conveyor So that the distance between the pair of protrusions of the dosing guide increases along the conveying path of the conveyor in plan view and toward the downstream side of the conveying path of the conveying path in an elevational view. An introducing step of introducing the pair of receiving guides on the pair of receiving rails, and supporting the pair of protrusions of the introducing guide introduced in the introducing step by the receiving rails, while the supporting guides are moved along the receiving rails in the conveying path. And a transfer step of transferring to the downstream side of the transfer.

  According to the loading guide removing device and the removing method according to the present invention, the protruding portion is provided on the cylinder outer surface of the charging guide, and the protruding portion is supported by the receiving rail inclined with respect to the conveying surface of the conveyor. Therefore, the charging guide can be removed from each container without stopping the container conveying operation by the conveyor.

  In addition, since the projection of the charging guide is reliably supported by the receiving rail, and each charging guide is transferred by a transfer means provided separately from the receiving rail, the charging guide can be reliably removed from each container.

It is a schematic side view of the sorting equipment to which the charging guide removal apparatus of this embodiment is applied. It is the perspective view and longitudinal cross-sectional view of the making guide used for the making guide removal apparatus of this embodiment. It is a schematic side view of the making guide removal apparatus of this embodiment. It is a principal part perspective view of the injection | throwing-in guide removal apparatus of this embodiment. It is a schematic side view of the insertion guide removal apparatus of a modification. It is a principal part perspective view of the insertion guide removal apparatus of a modification. It is a schematic side view of the dosing guide mounting apparatus applied to the sorting equipment. It is a principal part perspective view of the positioning means of the insertion guide mounting apparatus. It is a schematic side view explaining the positioning process by the positioning means of the insertion guide mounting device. It is a principal part perspective view of the waiting | standby means and the distribution means of the same insertion guide mounting apparatus. It is a schematic side view explaining the waiting | standby process by the waiting | standby means of the same insertion guide mounting apparatus, and the distribution process by the allocating means. It is a principal part perspective view of the mounting means of the injection | throwing-in guide mounting apparatus. It is a schematic side view explaining the mounting process by the mounting means of the charging guide mounting device. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the injection | throwing-in guide of an implementation modification. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the injection | throwing-in guide of the other implementation modification. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the injection | throwing-in guide of another Example of implementation.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the loading guide removal device 6 of this embodiment is applied to a sorting facility 10 that sorts a wide variety of articles into a plurality of sorting destinations (for example, stores, customers, etc.). Arranged on the downstream side of conveyance of a known article loading device 5 (for example, see Patent Document 2 above) that automatically loads articles into each container 2 while conveying a plurality of containers 2, The dosing guide 3 is automatically removed.

  The container 2 is comprised from the rectangular parallelepiped container which has the one opening part 21, as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, a plurality of types of containers 2 having different heights (H) of the openings 21 are conveyed by the conveyor 1 composed of a drive roller conveyor or the like, but the heights (H) of the openings 21 are the same. A plurality of containers 2 may be conveyed by the conveyor 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the charging guide 3 has an opening (31, 32) at both ends, is formed of a rectangular cylindrical body that can accommodate each container 2, and is close to one opening 31 on the outer surface of the cylinder. In addition, a pair of round bar-like projections 33 projecting in opposite directions are formed. And when the dosing guide 3 is placed on the transport surface of the conveyor 1 with the other openings 32 facing down, the height L3 of one opening 31 is the same as that of the openings 21 of all the containers 2 to be used. It is formed larger than the height (H). The insertion guide 3 is not limited to a rectangular tube shape, and may be a cylindrical shape, for example. Various design changes are possible depending on the shape of the container 2 to be mounted.

  Hereinafter, the charging guide removing device 6 of this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the loading guide removing device 6 of the present embodiment includes a pair of left and right receiving rails 61 that support the pair of protrusions 33 of the loading guide 3, and the loading guide 3 along the receiving rail 61. And a pair of left and right transfer means 62 for transferring. In this specification, the conveying direction of the conveyor 1 is the front-rear direction of the charging guide removing device, and the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveyor 1 is the left-right direction of the charging guide removing device.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the receiving rail 61 is made of a long plate-like plate material, is located above the conveyor 1 along the conveyance path of the conveyor 1 in a plan view, and in the elevation view of the conveyor 1. It is inclined and arranged so that the distance from the conveying path of the conveyor 1 increases as it goes downstream. In other words, the rail rear end 612 of the receiving rail 61 positioned on the downstream side of the conveyor 1 is provided at a position higher than the rail front end 611 positioned on the upstream side of the conveyor 1. The rail front end 611 is provided at a position lower than the projection 33 of the charging guide 3 placed on the conveyor 1, while the rail rear end 612 supports the projection 33 of the charging guide 3. The charging guide 3 is provided at a height position away from the container 2 so as not to interfere with each other. The receiving rail 61 directly supports the projection 33 of the making guide 3 from below by a rail surface 613 formed on the upper edge thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transfer means 62 includes an endless belt 621 that circulates along the receiving rail 61 and a plurality of hooking members 622 provided at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the endless belt 621. I have. The endless belt 621 is composed of an endless chain spanned between a plurality of sprockets. The endless belt 621 is driven by a motor 623 provided on a frame (not shown), and in the traveling path along the rail surface 613 of the receiving rail 61, a rail tip 611 The vehicle travels from the side toward the rail rear end 612 side. Further, each hooking member 622 is pivotally supported by the endless belt 621 and is provided so as to tilt only to the traveling downstream side of the endless belt 621.

  A loading guide removal method by the loading guide removing device 6 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, an introduction step of introducing the projection 33 of the charging guide 3 attached to each container 2 onto the rail 61 is performed. That is, by transporting the container 2 after being loaded from the article loading device 5 as it is by the conveyor 1, the pair of protrusions 33 of the loading guide 3 mounted on the container 2 is moved between the pair of receiving rails 61. Guide onto the rail tip 611. In the present embodiment, the hook member 622 is provided so as to be able to tilt to the traveling downstream side, so that the protrusion 33 of the insertion guide 3 rides on the hook member 622 and the introduction of the protrusion 33 is not hindered.

  Next, a transfer process is performed in which the input guide 3 introduced into the receiving rail 61 is transferred along the receiving rail 61 to the conveyance downstream side of the conveyor 1. That is, while supporting the protrusion 33 of the charging guide 3 introduced on the receiving rail 61 with the receiving rail 61, the protruding portion 33 is hooked by the hook member 622 that continuously moves and moves with the endless belt 621, thereby moving the charging guide 3. Transfer to the rail rear end 612 of the receiving rail 61.

  The horizontal component of the transfer speed by the hook member 622 (the speed component in the direction parallel to the transport surface of the conveyor 1 in an elevational view) is equal to the transport speed of the conveyor 1. Thus, the charging guide 3 transferred obliquely upward along the inclined receiving rail 61 is lifted vertically upward with respect to each container 2 and removed from each container 2.

  Then, the charging guide 3 transferred to the rail rear end 612 is transferred to the collection conveyor 45 and is transported to the charging guide mounting device 4 as shown in FIG. Installed. The charging guide mounting device 4 will be described later. On the other hand, the container 2 from which the insertion guide 3 has been removed is further conveyed by the conveyor 1 and is carried out to a shipping process, for example.

  As described above, according to the charging guide removing device 6 and the method of removing the same according to the present embodiment, the protruding portion 33 is provided on the outer surface of the charging guide 3 and the receiving rail 61 is inclined with respect to the conveying surface of the conveyor 1. Since each loading guide 3 is moved obliquely upward along the receiving rail 61, the loading guide 3 can be removed from each container 2 without stopping the conveying operation of the containers 2 by the conveyor 1.

  Moreover, according to the charging guide removing device 6 and its removing method of the present embodiment, the projection 33 can be reliably supported by the receiving rail 61, and each transfer means 62 provided separately from the receiving rail 61 is used for each. Since the charging guide 3 is transferred, the charging guide 3 can be reliably removed from each container 2.

  Further, since the charging guide 3 is supported by the receiving rail 61 at the projection 33 and hooked by the transfer means 62, the lower portion of the charging guide 3 can swing relatively freely when the charging guide 3 is removed from the container 2. . Therefore, the charging guide 3 can be smoothly removed from each container 2 being conveyed.

  As mentioned above, although the input guide removal apparatus 6 of this embodiment was demonstrated, this invention can be implemented also with another form.

  For example, you may implement like the insertion guide removal apparatus 7 shown in FIG.5 and FIG.6. The charging guide removal device 7 includes a pair of left and right receiving rails 71 that support the pair of protrusions 33 of the charging guide 3, and a pair of left and right transfer means 72 that transfer the charging guide 3 along the receiving rail 71. .

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the receiving rail 71 is made of a long plate-like plate material, is located above the conveyor 1, along the conveyance path of the conveyor 1 in a plan view, and on the conveyor 1 in an elevational view. It is inclined and arranged so that the distance from the conveying path of the conveyor 1 increases as it goes downstream. In other words, the rail rear end 712 of the receiving rail 71 positioned on the downstream side of the conveyor 1 is provided at a position higher than the rail front end 711 positioned on the upstream side of the conveyor 1. The rail front end 711 is provided at a position lower than the projection 33 of the charging guide 3 placed on the conveyor 1, while the rail rear end 712 supports the projection 33 of the charging guide 3. The charging guide 3 is provided at a height position away from the container 2 so as not to interfere with each other. The receiving rail 71 supports the projecting portion 33 of the closing guide 3 from below via a lower endless belt 721 described below by a rail surface 713 formed on the upper edge thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the transfer means 72 is provided above the lower endless belt 721 that circulates along the receiving rail 71, and circulates along the receiving rail 71. An upper endless belt 722.

  The lower endless belt 721 is composed of an endless rubber belt stretched between a plurality of pulleys, is driven by a motor 723 provided on a frame (not shown), and in a traveling forward path 724 along the rail surface 713 of the receiving rail 71, It travels from the rail front end 711 side toward the rail rear end 712 side. Further, the lower endless belt 721 travels while being placed on the rail surface 713 of the receiving rail 71 in the traveling forward path 724.

  The upper endless belt 722 is composed of an endless rubber belt stretched between a plurality of pulleys, is driven by a motor 725 provided on a frame (not shown), and in the traveling forward path 726 along the rail surface 713 of the receiving rail 71, It travels from the front end 711 side toward the rail rear end 712 side. The traveling forward path 726 of the upper endless belt 722 and the traveling outbound path 724 of the lower endless belt 721 are opposed to each other with an interval substantially equal to the diameter of the round bar-shaped protrusion 33 of the loading guide 3.

  Further, an urging member 727 for urging the upper endless belt 722 downward is provided above the traveling forward path 726 of the upper endless belt 722 so as to be movable forward and backward. The biasing member 727 is biased downward by a spring 728 provided on a frame (not shown), and biases the upper endless belt 722 toward the traveling forward path 724 of the lower endless belt 721 in the traveling forward path 726.

  A method of removing the insertion guide by the insertion guide removing device 7 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, an introduction process of introducing the protrusion 33 of the charging guide 3 attached to each container 2 onto the rail 71 is performed. That is, by transporting the container 2 after being loaded from the article loading device 5 as it is by the conveyor 1, the pair of protrusions 33 of the loading guide 3 mounted on the container 2 is moved between the pair of receiving rails 71. Guide onto the rail tip 711.

  Next, a transfer process is performed in which the charging guide 3 introduced into the receiving rail 71 is transferred along the receiving rail 71 to the conveyance downstream side of the conveyor 1. That is, while supporting the projection 33 of the insertion guide 3 introduced on the receiving rail 71 by the receiving rail 71, the projection 33 is supported by the lower endless belt 721 of the traveling forward path 724 and the upper endless belt 722 of the traveling forward path 726. The insertion guide 3 is transferred to the rail rear end 712 of the rail 71 by being sandwiched between the two.

  The horizontal component (speed component in the direction parallel to the conveying surface of the conveyor 1 in an elevational view) of the traveling speed of the traveling path by the lower endless belt 721 and the upper endless belt 722 is equal to the conveying speed of the conveyor 1. . Thus, the charging guide 3 transferred obliquely upward along the inclined receiving rail 71 is lifted vertically upward with respect to each container 2 and removed from each container 2.

  Then, the charging guide 3 transferred to the rail rear end 712 is transferred to the collection conveyor 45, transported to the charging guide mounting device 4, and mounted again on the container 2 by the charging guide mounting device 4. On the other hand, the container 2 from which the insertion guide 3 has been removed is further conveyed by the conveyor 1 and is carried out to a shipping process, for example.

  According to the loading guide removing device 7 and its removal method of this modification, the projection 33 of the loading guide 3 is supported by the receiving rail 71 inclined with respect to the conveying surface of the conveyor 1, and each loading guide 3 is attached to the receiving rail 71. Therefore, the loading guide 3 can be removed from each container 2 without stopping the conveying operation of the container 2 by the conveyor 1 as in the case of the loading guide removing device 6 of the above-described embodiment.

  In addition, according to the insertion guide removing device 7 and the removing method thereof of the present embodiment, the projection 33 can be reliably supported by the receiving rail 71, and each transfer means 72 provided separately from the receiving rail 71 can be used for each. Since the charging guide 3 is transferred, the charging guide 3 can be reliably removed from each container 2.

  Further, since the feeding guide 3 is transferred with the projection 33 of the feeding guide 3 sandwiched between the lower endless belt 721 and the upper endless belt 722, the timing of introducing the projection 33 of the feeding guide 3 onto the receiving rail 71 is determined. The loading guide 3 can be transferred immediately, and even if each container 2 conveyed from the article loading device 5 is displaced on the conveyor 1, the loading guide 3 can be smoothly removed from each container 2. Can do.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 7 to 13, the loading guide mounting device 4 and the removal method for automatically mounting the loading guide 3 to each container 2 before the loading of the item on the upstream side of the conveyance of the item loading device 5. An example will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the charging guide mounting device 4 includes a positioning unit 41 that positions the container 2 at a predetermined position on the conveyance path, a standby unit 42 that is provided above the positioning unit 41 and waits for the charging guide 3. A mounting means 43 is provided above the positioning means 41 so as to be movable up and down and is mounted on the container 2 positioned by the positioning means 41. Each of the standby means 42 and the mounting means 43 is provided in the front-rear direction along the conveyance path of the container 2, and is provided with a distribution means 44 that supplies the input guides 3 while being distributed to the standby means 42.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the positioning means 41 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path of the conveyor 1, and a belt conveyor 411 that intermittently performs the conveyance operation and a positioning clamp 412 that positions the container 2 on the belt conveyor 411. And is composed of. Here, a total of two pairs of left and right positioning clamps 412 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and each positioning clamp 412 is pivotally supported by a frame (not shown) of the belt conveyor 411 so that the fluid pressure cylinder 413 advances and retreats. Oscillates back and forth by movement.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the belt conveyor 411 of the positioning means 41 conveys the container 2 at a conveyance speed larger than the conveyance speed of the conveyor 1A on the upstream side of conveyance, and the container 2 is in a predetermined position. When it is detected by a position sensor (not shown) that the process has been reached, the transport operation is stopped. Thus, the plurality of containers 2 conveyed in contact with each other by the conveyor 1A are cut out and conveyed by the belt conveyor 411 with a predetermined interval, and each cut out container 2 is positioned at an approximate position. Thereafter, the two pairs of positioning clamps 412 sandwich the lower portion of each container 2 to accurately and reliably position each container 2 including its posture. Thus, a positioning step for positioning each container 2 at a predetermined position on the transport path is performed by the positioning means 41.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9 (c), the positioning means 41 releases the clamping of the positioning clamp 412 after the loading guide 3 is mounted by the mounting means 43 described later. As shown in the figure, by starting the conveying operation by the belt conveyor 411, each container 2 with the loading guide attached is carried out to the conveyor 1B on the downstream conveyance side, and the container 2 with no loading guide attached from the conveyor 1A on the upstream conveyance side. Cut out and carry in.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the waiting means 42 includes a pair of front and rear introduction guides 422 that respectively form a pair of left and right introduction paths 421 that guide the pair of protrusions 33 of the insertion guide 3 downward, and each introduction path 421. And a support member 423 that supports the protrusion 33 of the charging guide 3. Each support member 423 is pivotally supported by a device frame (not shown) and swings up and down by the forward and backward movement of the fluid pressure cylinder 424.

  As shown in FIG. 11 (e), when the support member 423 is swung upward, the standby means 42 supports the projection 33 of the input guide 3 from below by the support member 423, and supports the input guide 3 in its position. To wait. Thus, the standby unit 42 performs the standby process of the charging guide 3. And as shown in FIG.11 (f), when the support member 423 is rock | fluctuated below, the support of the projection part 33 of the insertion guide 3 is cancelled | released.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the distribution means 44 includes a pair of left and right supply conveyors 441 that support the pair of protrusions 33 of the input guide 3 from below and convey the input guide 3, and downstream of the supply conveyor 441. And a pair of left and right sorting conveyors 442 that are provided so as to be movable toward and away from the supply conveyor 441 and support the pair of protrusions 33 of the loading guide 3 from below and convey the loading guide 3. . Each supply conveyor 441 is driven by a motor 443 provided on a conveyor frame (not shown) and intermittently performs a transfer operation. On the other hand, each of the sorting conveyors 442 is linearly reciprocated by an actuator provided in a device frame (not shown), and is driven by a motor 444 provided in a conveyor frame (not shown) to intermittently carry. .

  As shown in FIG. 11 (a), the distribution means 44 supplies one input guide 3 A conveyed by the collection conveyor 45 when the distribution conveyor 442 is in an approach position with respect to the supply conveyor 441. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11B, one input guide 3A is transferred from the supply conveyor 441 to the sorting conveyor 442, and another subsequent input guide 3B is transferred by the supply conveyor 441. .

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11C, the sorting conveyor 442 moves away from the supply conveyor 441 while conveying the transferred loading guide 3 </ b> A. At this time, a gap 445 is formed between the transport downstream end of the supply conveyor 441 and the transport upstream end of the sorting conveyor 442.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 11D, when the sorting conveyor 442 is at a separation position with respect to the supply conveyor 441, the sorting conveyor 442 moves the projection 33 of one charging guide 3A from the downstream end of the conveyance. While dropping and supplying one charging guide 3A to one waiting means 42A, the supply conveyor 441 drops the projection 33 of the other loading guide 3B from the gap 445 at the downstream end of the conveyance, and the other loading guide 3B. Is supplied to the other standby means 42B. In this way, the distribution unit 44 performs the distribution process of distributing and supplying the input guides (3A, 3B) to the two standby units (42A, 42B).

  Thereafter, the sorting means 44 returns by moving the sorting conveyor 442 closer to the supply conveyor 441 as shown in FIG. 11 (e), and as shown in FIG. The distribution process for (3C, 3D) is started.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the mounting means 43 is provided on a pair of left and right moving frames 432 that move up and down along a total of four elevating guides 431, and on each moving frame 432. And a pair of left and right gripping members 433 for gripping. The pair of left and right moving frames 432 are fixed to a pair of left and right timing belts 436 that are synchronously driven by a servo motor 434 and a counter shaft 435 via fixing members 437, and are synchronized with the rotation of the servo motor 434 to move up and down. Move back and forth. The gripping member 433 moves forward and backward by the forward and backward movement of the fluid pressure cylinder 438 provided in each moving frame 432. Here, a pair of left and right grip members 433 are arranged in two pairs in the front-rear direction, and are configured to grip the two insertion guides 3 simultaneously. The two front and rear mounting means 43 share the moving frame 432 and its driving mechanism, and realize simplification of the apparatus configuration and accurate synchronization operation.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, the mounting means 43 raises the moving frame 432 (not shown), and in the raised position, the gripping member 433 waits at the waiting means 42 on the cylinder guide outer surface of the charging guide 3. The insertion guide 3 is held by gripping the lower part of. After the charging guide 3 is held by the gripping member 433, the support member 423 of the waiting means 42 swings downward to release the support of the protrusion 33 of the charging guide 3.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the moving guide 432 (not shown) is lowered while the charging guide 3 is held by the gripping member 433, so that the charging guide is placed in the container 2 positioned by the positioning means 41. 3 is attached from above.

  And as shown in FIG.13 (c), the holding | grip of the holding member 433 is cancelled | released and clamping of the positioning clamp 412 of the positioning means 41 is cancelled | released. In this way, the mounting process of the charging guide 3 by the mounting means 43 is performed. While the mounting means 43 is descending, the upper standby means 42 performs the standby process for the next insertion guide 3.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 13 (d) and 13 (e), the mounting means 43 returns by raising, and starts the mounting process of the next charging guide 3 that stands by by the standby means 42. And while the mounting means 43 is rising, the positioning process of the subsequent container 2 is performed in the positioning means 41 below.

  In this manner, the charging guide mounting device 4 continuously mounts the charging guide 3 on each container 2 conveyed by the conveyor 1 by the charging guide mounting method including the positioning process, the standby process, the sorting process, and the mounting process described above. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, each container 2 on which a loading guide 3 is automatically mounted by a loading guide mounting device 4 is conveyed by a conveyor 1, and inside each container 2 by a known article loading device 5 (see Patent Document 2 above). Articles according to the sorting destination are automatically loaded. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), since each container 2 is preliminarily equipped with a loading guide 3, it is loaded even when the ratio of the amount of articles loaded to the capacity of the container 2 is large. It is possible to reliably prevent the article from spilling out of the container.

  According to this loading guide mounting device 4 and its mounting method, the loading guide 3 held by the waiting means 42 is held by the mounting means 43, and the loading guide 3 is lowered while being held by the mounting means 43, and the positioning means 41. Therefore, the charging guide 3 can be securely attached to each container 2.

  In addition, a plurality of standby means 42 and mounting means 43 are provided along the conveyance path of the container 2, and a distribution means 44 that distributes and supplies the input guide 3 to each standby means 42 is provided. Can be attached to a plurality of containers 2 at the same time, and the charging guide 3 can be attached to each container 2 without impairing the processing capacity of the sorting equipment or the like.

  Also, the projection guide 33 provided on the cylinder outer surface of the loading guide 3 is supported by the waiting means 42 to make the loading guide 3 stand by, and the cylinder guiding surface of the loading guide 3 is held by the gripping member 433 of the mounting means 43. 3, the charging guide 3 can be quickly and reliably delivered from the waiting means 42 to the mounting means 43, and the charging guide 3 can be quickly mounted on each container 2.

  Further, since the sorting conveyor 442 of the sorting unit 44 moves while feeding the loading guide 3, the loading guide 3 can be quickly transferred and quickly distributed and supplied to the plurality of standby units 42. This also allows the charging guide 3 to be quickly attached to each container 2.

  Further, the feeding guide 3 is conveyed by supporting the projection 33 of the feeding guide 3 by the supply conveyor 441 and the sorting conveyor 442 of the sorting means 44, and the feeding guide 3 is dropped by dropping the projection 33 from each conveyor. Since the apparatus is supplied to the standby means 42, the apparatus configuration can be simplified and the sorting operation can be speeded up.

  The charging guide removing device and the removing method thereof according to the present invention can be implemented in other forms. For example, in the above embodiment, the charging guide 3 that can accommodate the container 2 is used, but the charging guide 8 shown in FIG. 14 may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the charging guide 8 has openings (81, 82) at both ends, and is composed of a rectangular cylindrical body that can be inserted into each container 2. When the loading guide 8 is placed on the bottom surface 22 of the container 2 with the other opening 82 down, the height L8 of one opening 81 is such that the opening 21 of all the containers 2 to be used. It is formed larger than the height (H). By inserting the charging guide 8 into the container 2 and placing it on the bottom surface 22 of the container 2, the charging guide 8 can be easily attached to the container 2.

  Further, a charging guide 9a shown in FIG. 15 may be used. As shown in FIG. 15, the charging guide 9 a is formed of a rectangular cylindrical body having openings (91, 92) at both ends, and a step portion 93 that can be placed on the opening edge 23 of the container 2 on the inner surface of the cylinder. Is formed. A pair of round bar-like projections 94 projecting in opposite directions are formed near one opening 91 on the outer surface of the cylinder. By placing the charging guide 9 a on the opening edge 23 of the container 2, the charging guide 9 a can be easily attached to the container 2. When the insertion guide 9a is mounted, the height L9a of one opening 91 is larger than the height (H) of the openings 21 of all the containers 2 to be used, so that the articles can be reliably dropped when the articles are inserted. Can be prevented. Further, since the slope portion 95 is formed on the one opening 91 side of the step portion 93, the input article is not caught on the step portion 93.

  Moreover, you may use the injection | throwing-in guide 9b shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16, the charging guide 9 b is formed of a rectangular cylindrical body having openings (91, 92) at both ends, and a step portion 96 that can be placed on the opening edge 23 of the container 2 on the outer surface of the cylinder. Are formed, and a pair of round bar-like projections 94 projecting in opposite directions are formed near one opening 91 on the outer surface of the cylinder. By placing the charging guide 9b on the opening edge 23 of the container 2, the charging guide 9b can be easily attached to the container 2. When the insertion guide 9b is mounted, the height L9b of one opening 91 is larger than the height (H) of the openings 21 of all the containers 2 to be used, so that the articles can be reliably dropped when the articles are inserted. Can be prevented. Further, the cylindrical outer surface of the charging guide 9b is formed substantially flush with the outer surface of the container 2 on the one opening 91 side of the stepped portion 96, and the inclined surface 97 is formed on the cylindrical inner surface. It won't get caught.

  In addition, the present invention can be carried out in a mode 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. It may be implemented in a form in which any invention specific matter is replaced with another technology within a range where the same action or effect occurs, or the invention specific matter configured integrally may be constituted by a plurality of members. In addition, the invention specific items constituted by a plurality of members may be implemented in an integrated configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1; Conveyor 2; Container 21; Opening 22; Bottom 23; Opening edge 3, 8, 9a, 9b; Loading guide 31, 32, 81, 82, 91, 92; Opening 33, 94; Loading guide mounting device 5; article loading device 6; loading guide removal device 61; receiving rail 62; transfer means 621; endless belt 622; hooking member 7; loading guide removal device 71; receiving rail 72; transfer means 721; Belt 722; Upper endless belt 724; Traveling path 726 (of lower endless belt); Traveling path 10 (of upper endless belt); Sorting equipment

Claims (6)

Displacement guide removal that removes the loading guide installed in each container after loading the article, arranged on the downstream side of the conveyance of the article loading device that feeds articles into each container while conveying multiple containers on a conveyor A device,
The charging guide is composed of a cylindrical body having openings at both ends, and has a pair of protrusions protruding in opposite directions on the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical body,
It is provided above the conveyor so as to extend along the conveyance path of the conveyor in a plan view and toward the conveyance downstream side of the conveyance path in an elevational view. A pair of receiving rails that support the protrusions of
Transfer means for transferring the input guide along the receiving rail to the downstream side of the transfer path;
A charging guide removing device characterized by comprising: The transfer means is
An endless belt that circulates along the receiving rail;
A plurality of hooking members that are provided on the endless belt and hook the protrusions of the charging guide;
The charging guide removing device according to claim 1, further comprising:   The charging guide removing device according to claim 2, wherein the hooking member is provided so as to be tiltable only toward the traveling downstream side of the endless belt. The transfer means is
A lower endless belt that circulates along the receiving rail;
An upper endless belt that is provided above the lower endless belt at a predetermined interval from the lower endless belt and circulates along the receiving rail;
With
The charging guide removing device according to claim 1, wherein the charging guide is transported with the protruding portion of the charging guide being sandwiched between the lower endless belt and the upper endless belt.   The introduction guide detaching device according to claim 4, wherein the lower endless belt travels on the receiving rail in the traveling forward path. A loading guide removal method for removing a loading guide attached to each container after loading the article on the downstream side of the article loading apparatus that loads the article into each container while conveying a plurality of containers on a conveyor. And
The charging guide is composed of a cylindrical body having openings at both ends, and has a pair of protrusions protruding in opposite directions on the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical body,
The container on which the charging guide is mounted is transported by the conveyor, and the pair of protrusions of the charging guide are along the transport path of the conveyor in a plan view and toward the transport downstream side of the transport path in an elevational view. An introduction step of introducing on a pair of receiving rails provided so as to increase the distance to the conveyance path according to
A transfer step of transferring the input guide to the downstream side of the transfer path along the receiving rail while supporting the pair of protrusions of the input guide introduced in the introduction step by the receiving rail;
A charging guide removal method characterized by comprising:

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