JP5349884B2 - Interval forming method and apparatus between articles - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for forming spaces between containers (articles), with a small footprint and inexpensive device cost, for suitably forming spaces between the containers (articles) conveyed at irregular intervals in a single row. <P>SOLUTION: In the space forming device for forming spaces between the articles conveyed by a conveyer 2, the conveyer 2 is provided with a tunnel-like pressure retaining chamber 3 and air-blowing devices 7, 8 for blowing a pressure medium such as air into the pressure retaining chamber 3 to blow the pressure medium into the pressure retaining chamber 3 from the blowing devices. Pressure of the pressure medium is generated by blowing the pressure medium according to states of spaces between the articles in a closed space formed of the pressure retaining chamber 3 and the articles inside the pressure retaining chamber 3. The spaces between the articles conveyed at irregular intervals in a single row are suitably formed by mutual pushing/extending force between the articles using the pressure of the pressure medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming an interval between articles in a conveyor that conveys articles such as PET bottles and can containers in a single row.

In the conveyance process of the articles conveyed by the conveyor, it may be necessary to convey the articles with an interval between the articles instead of being in close contact in a single row state.
Conventionally, for such purposes, at the location where the distance between containers (articles) is determined, the end of the upstream low-speed conveyor and the start of the downstream high-speed conveyor are arranged in parallel, from the low-speed conveyor side. A method and apparatus for transferring a container to a high-speed conveyor side by frictional force with a high-speed belt and forming a space between a preceding container and a succeeding container is known (Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-203598 A (FIGS. 3 and 4)

According to Patent Document 1, the container interval forming device has a high-speed belt (5) (a symbol in the drawing of Patent Document 1 is displayed in parentheses. The same applies to the following paragraph), near the end in the conveying direction. A nozzle (15) is provided so as to face the belt (5), and immediately after the container (10) is separated from the high speed belt (5), high pressure air is blown from the nozzle (15) toward the container (10), It is set as the apparatus which expands the space | interval of a container (10).
However, in this apparatus, since the container (10) transfers from the upstream low-speed conveyor (1) to the downstream high-speed conveyor (2) by the frictional force with the high-speed belt (5), the influence of resistance at the connecting portion. The container (10) may be decelerated due to the deceleration, and it is difficult to determine the container interval at a stable pitch due to the effect of the deceleration, and the container (10) is moved to the previous container by blowing high-pressure air from the nozzle (15). There is a possibility that catching up with (10) or the interval with the previous container (10) may not be appropriate, and the formation of the container interval may become extremely unstable.
Furthermore, a large installation space is required to arrange the upstream low-speed conveyor (1) and the downstream high-speed conveyor (2) in parallel, and the apparatus cost may be high.

  The present invention appropriately forms intervals between containers (articles) conveyed at irregular intervals in a single row state, and provides a method for forming an interval between containers (articles) in a small space and at a low apparatus cost. The object is to provide a device.

The present invention solves the above problems by the following means.
(1) A method and an apparatus for forming an interval between articles as a first means include an apparatus for forming an interval between articles conveyed by a conveyor, and a tunnel-shaped pressure holding chamber (hereinafter referred to as a chamber) in the conveyor, A pressure medium blowing device (hereinafter referred to as a blowing device) for blowing a pressure medium (pressurized air) into the chamber is provided, the pressure medium is blown into the chamber, and the pressure medium is blown into the chamber and the chamber. The product preceding the direction of travel is pushed in the direction of travel by the mutual spreading force between the products utilizing the pressure of the pressure medium generated corresponding to the state of the space between the products in the closed space formed by the product of Subsequent articles are made to act so as to be pushed back so that the gaps between articles conveyed at irregular intervals in a single row state are properly formed. It is characterized by that.

(2) A method and an apparatus for forming an interval between articles of the second means include a control device for setting and controlling the pressure medium blowing condition in the method and an apparatus for forming an interval between articles of the first means, The characteristics of the article to be conveyed are input to the control device in advance, and the pressure medium blowing condition can be automatically set corresponding to the article to be conveyed.

(3) The inter-article interval forming apparatus of the third means is the inter-article interval forming apparatus of the second means, in which the shape of the chamber is determined from the characteristics of the articles to be conveyed that are input in advance to the control device. Is automatically set to be suitable for the article to be conveyed.

(4) A method and apparatus for forming an interval between articles of the fourth means in the method and apparatus for forming an interval between articles of the first means, further comprising air injection nozzles on left and right side walls of the chamber, Air is jetted from the side to the article conveyed in the chamber, and the article is conveyed back and forth in the chamber such that a deceleration force acts on the article conveyed in the chamber by the air injection. The subsequent articles are decelerated by the addition of the deceleration force, and the preceding articles are pushed out by the article spreading force by the pressure of the pressure medium, thereby reducing the interval between articles conveyed at irregular intervals in a single row state. It is characterized by being formed properly.

(5) A method and apparatus for forming an interval between articles of the fifth means is a control for setting and controlling the pressure medium blowing condition or the air injection condition in the method and apparatus for forming an interval between articles of the fourth means. A device is provided so that the characteristics of the object to be conveyed are input in advance to the control device, and the pressure medium blowing condition or the air injection condition can be automatically set in correspondence with the object to be conveyed. It is characterized by.

  According to the first and third aspects of the present invention, in the method and apparatus for forming a space between articles conveyed on a conveyor, a pressure medium is blown into the chamber from a blowing device installed in a chamber provided on the conveyor, and the pressure is increased. A single row is formed by the mutual spreading force between the articles using the pressure of the pressure medium generated in the closed space formed by the blowing of the medium corresponding to the state of the space between the articles in the closed space formed by the chamber and the articles in the chamber. By properly forming the interval between articles conveyed at irregular intervals in the state, the interval between articles is made appropriate, the space for installing the apparatus is small, and the apparatus cost is low, There is an effect that it is possible to provide a method and an apparatus for forming an interval between articles with low energy consumption.

  The present invention according to claims 2, 4 and 6 further includes a control device for setting and controlling the pressure medium blowing conditions for the above-mentioned claims 1 and 3, and the weight of the article to be conveyed is previously set in the control device. , Height, width or diameter, height to the center of gravity, contact width with the conveyor, center of gravity stabilization moment, coefficient of friction between the article and conveyor, article transport speed, allowable acceleration and deceleration speed, stable angle to acceleration and deceleration It is possible to automatically set the pressure medium blowing conditions corresponding to the article to be transported by inputting characteristic data of the article, etc., so that it is appropriate for the chamber in which the article to be transported is transported. It is possible to generate a proper article spreading force by blowing a pressure medium under various conditions, and it is possible to efficiently work when changing the article to be conveyed It has the effect of say.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the shape of the chamber suitable for the characteristic is automatically set from the characteristic of the article to be conveyed that is input in advance to the control device. Thus, it is easy to set the shape of the chamber for the article to be conveyed, and it is possible to make an appropriate setting that does not depend on the operator's intuition.

  In the present invention according to claims 7 and 12, in addition to the above-described claims 1 and 3, an air injection nozzle is further provided on the side wall of the chamber to inject air from the side to an article conveyed in the chamber. In addition, a deceleration force is further applied to the articles conveyed in the chamber by the air jet, and subsequent articles conveyed back and forth in the chamber are decelerated by the addition of the deceleration force, Since the article is pushed out by the article spreading force due to the pressure of the pressure medium, there is an effect that a certain distance or more can be formed between all articles passing through the tunnel.

  The present invention according to claims 8 and 13 is provided with a control device for setting and controlling the pressure medium blowing condition or the air injection condition with respect to the seventh and twelfth claims, and the control device is preliminarily transported. The chamber in which the article to be conveyed is being conveyed by inputting the characteristics of the article and automatically setting the pressure medium blowing condition or the air injection condition corresponding to the article to be conveyed The pressure medium and the air jet are blown under the proper conditions to generate the proper article spreading force and the deceleration force, and the work can be efficiently advanced when the conveyance target article is changed. Have

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device for forming an interval between articles to which the present invention is applied, and is a partial cross-sectional view.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

In the figure, containers (articles) 1 are conveyed in a single row while being guided by a pair of side guides 10 from the direction of arrow O by a conveyor 2, and at the entrance of a tunnel-shaped pressure holding chamber (hereinafter referred to as a chamber) 3 The conveyance width is narrowed by the inclined portion 41 so as to be conveyed in the chamber 3.
The chamber 3 has a structure surrounded by a pair of side walls 4 and a ceiling 6 so as to form a small gap with the container 1 to be conveyed. The side walls 4 are supplied with pressurized air (pressure medium) from a blower (not shown). Is blown, and an air blowing device 7 for blowing pressurized air (hereinafter referred to as air) into the chamber 3 is formed, and an air blowing device 8 is similarly formed on the ceiling 6. The air blowing device 7 is provided with air blowing holes 71 and 72, and the air blowing device 8 is provided with air blowing holes 81. Air is directed from the air blowing holes 71, 72 and 81 into the chamber 3. , 23 and 24.

In the figure, the air blowing hole 71 is located near the center in the height direction of the chamber 3 and slightly below the center, the air blowing hole 72 is located at the lower part, and the air blowing hole 81 is located at the center in the width direction on the upper surface of the chamber 3. When the container 1 is transported back and forth in the chamber 3, the size varies depending on the distance between the preceding container 1 and the succeeding container 1, but the closed space between the chamber 3 and both containers 1. The pressure is generated by blowing air into 42. The position of the air blowing holes 71, 72, 81 in the length direction of the chamber 3 is slightly downstream from the middle and corresponds to two containers 1 from the air blowing holes 71, 72, 81 to the inlet of the chamber 3. As described above, it is desirable that the length of the container 1 is equal to or longer than one container 1 until the outlet of the chamber 3, whereby the pressure generated in the closed space 42 between the chamber 3 and the preceding container 1 and the succeeding container 1 is maintained. By this pressure, a spreading force acts between the preceding container 1 and the succeeding container 1, and the preceding container 1 is pushed out and the succeeding container 1 is pushed back. A space is formed between the subsequent container 1.
Here, the number, position, and ejection direction of the illustrated air blowing holes are shown as an example, and the structure can be changed according to the object of the present invention without being limited to the illustrated one. is there.
Reference numeral 9 denotes a control device which sets and controls air blowing conditions such as the air volume, air pressure, and blowing method of air blowing from the air blowing devices 7 and 8 of the chamber 3.

Next, the operation of the inter-article distance forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.
In the chamber 3, when air is blown in the direction 22, 23 and direction 24 from the air blowing holes 71, 72 and 81 of the air blowing devices 7 and 8, the preceding container 1 and the succeeding container 1 are separated in the chamber 3. When being transported in close contact, air enters a small closed space 42 formed between the chamber 3 and both containers 1 and generates a large pressure. Due to this large pressure, the preceding container 1 and the succeeding container 1 exert a pushing force on each other, the preceding container 1 is pushed forward, the succeeding container 1 is pushed back, and the preceding container 1 and the succeeding container 1 are succeeded. A space is formed between the container 1 and the container 1.
When the preceding container 1 and the succeeding container 1 are transported with a large space in the chamber 3, the space between the chamber 3 and both containers 1 is wide, so that the air is blown from the air blowing devices 7 and 8. The pressure generated by the air becomes small, and the preceding container 1 is pushed out slightly or hardly because the force pushed out is small. Therefore, the preceding container 1 and the succeeding container 1 are transported at a large distance with little or no gap.
When only one container 1 is transported in the chamber 3, there is almost no pressure generated by the air blown from the air blowing devices 7 and 8, so the container 1 is transported as it is without being pushed out. .

Here, the force to push the preceding container 1 to the downstream side is affected by the volume of the blown air, the size of the container 1 that receives the air pressure and the air pressure (projected area that receives the air pressure), and the like. Since the container 1 is conveyed by the conveyor 2, a frictional force acts between the container 1 and the conveyor 2 and is also affected by this frictional force. When the air volume and pressure of air blowing from the air blowing devices 7 and 8 are appropriately selected, the pushing force to the preceding container 1 exceeds the friction force by the pressure of air blowing, and the preceding container 1 is conveyed while being pushed out. Become so. Of course, the frictional force varies depending on the coefficient of friction between the container 1 and the conveyor 2, the weight of the container 1, the contact diameter of the container 1 with the conveyor 2, and the air blowing conditions corresponding to this change. Will be set.
According to the present embodiment, since the air volume and the air pressure of the blown air may be the amount necessary to push out the container 1 over the frictional force, the energy consumption for the blown air is small.

Here, the air volume of the air blowing, the wind pressure, and the blowing method are the weight, height, width or diameter of the container 1 to be conveyed, the height to the center of gravity, the contact width with the conveyor 2, the center of gravity stabilization moment, the container 1 and the conveyor. 2 is set by the characteristics of the container 1 such as the coefficient of friction with the container 2, the conveyance speed of the container 1, the allowable acceleration and deceleration speed of the container 1, and the stable angle with respect to the acceleration and deceleration of the container 1. If the characteristic data of 1 is input to the control device 9 in advance and the air blowing conditions such as the air volume, air pressure, and blowing method of the air blowing are automatically set, the appropriate interval of the container 1 obtained by the preliminary test or the like Can be formed easily and accurately.
In addition, the chamber 3 is required to have an optimal shape and dimension according to the characteristics of the container 1 so as to form an appropriate pressure in the closed space 42 with the preceding and subsequent containers 1 inside. Appropriate shape dimensions can be automatically determined by the control of the control device that has input the characteristic data of the container 1.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of an article interval forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a device for forming an interval between articles according to the second embodiment, which is a partial sectional view, and corresponds to FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG.

5 to 7, the same structures as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. Reference numeral 5 denotes an air injection nozzle, a pair of which is provided through the air blowing device 7 in the lower part of the side wall 4 so that the air jet 21 is applied to the side of the container 1 conveyed in the chamber 3. Yes.
The operation of the air injection nozzle 5 will be described. Air is jetted from the side to the container 1 guided and transported by the left and right side walls 4 in the chamber 3, and is transported in the chamber 3 by the air jet 21. A further deceleration force is applied to the container 1 to decelerate the subsequent container 1 conveyed back and forth in the chamber 3 by the addition of the deceleration force, and the preceding container 1 is moved to the air blowing device 7. And the air blown from 8 can be pushed out by the mutual spreading force caused by the pressure generated in the closed space 42.

The container 1 that has been transported back and forth in the chamber 3 by the action of the deceleration force and the spreading force is transported between the preceding container 1 and the succeeding container 1 with a certain interval. Go.
In the second embodiment, the apparatus cost and energy cost are higher than those in the first embodiment. However, the second embodiment is appropriately selected according to the type of container to be transported and the size and accuracy of the interval between target containers 1. Can be used.
In FIG. 5, the air jet 21 is jetted in a direction perpendicular to the conveyor 2, but the direction of the air jet 21 can be dealt with depending on the purpose, for example, toward the upstream side.
In the first and second embodiments, the pressure in the chamber 3 may be adjusted by providing an air escape hole 50 at the lower end of the air blowing device 7 and the side wall 4.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of an article interval forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of an inter-article distance forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to FIG.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9 and shows the case where the mounting angle of the air injection nozzle is changed.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the air injection nozzle portion of FIG. 8, (a) is an explanation of the force that the container receives from the jet jet from the air injection nozzle, and FIG. (C) is a model figure explaining explanation when containers are in close contact with each other, and explanation when containers are spaced apart.

In the figure, containers (articles) 1 are conveyed at irregular intervals in a single row while being guided by a pair of side guides 10 from the direction of arrow O by a conveyor 2. The pair of air injection nozzles 15 are attached to the conveyor 2 at a right angle to the traveling direction O by attachment parts (not shown) so as not to penetrate the lower part of the side guide 10 and protrude to the conveyor 2 side. An air jet 25 is applied to the container 1.
Although FIG. 9 shows the case where the air injection nozzle 15 is attached in parallel to the conveyor 2, FIG. 10 injects the air injection nozzle 15 and the jet jet 25 at an angle of about 30 degrees upward with respect to the conveyor 2. The case where it attaches so is shown.

Next, the operation of the inter-article distance forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.
First, the principle of operation of the air injection nozzle 15 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 11A is a model diagram in the case where a jet jet 25 of air hits the side of a single container 1 from the air jet nozzle 15. When the jet jet 25 hits the side of the container 1, the jet jet 25 is Although the size and direction differ depending on the position where it hits the container 1, a component of the force of the jet jet 25 acts on the container 1 in the direction of the traveling direction 0.
When the force that the jet jet 25 strikes the container 1 is Fa, the angle at which the center of the jet jet 25 strikes the container 1 at the position R in the traveling direction O of the container 1 is θ as shown in the figure with respect to the traveling direction O. The component force Fu acting on the container 1 in the direction of travel O is Fu = Fa × sin θ × cos θ.
Here, the width of the jet jet flow 25 is almost the same as the width of the jet port of the air jet nozzle 15 immediately after exiting from the air jet nozzle 15 and tends to become wider as it goes forward. And the part which hits the container 1 is shown as a point.
In addition, since the air injection nozzles 15 are provided on both the left and right sides of the conveyor 2, the component force Fu is doubled on the container 2. Here, the component force Fu on one side will be described for convenience.

When the container 1 advances in the traveling direction O, the jet jet 25 first starts to hit the leading position P of the container 1 and sequentially moves from the position of the central portion Q to the position S via the position R. . In the movement from the position P to the position Q, Fu acts as a force for decelerating the can, and the force for decelerating the can at the intermediate position between P and Q is maximized as shown in FIG. In the movement from the Q position to the S position, Fu acts as a force for accelerating the can, and the force for accelerating the can at the intermediate position between Q and S is maximized.
When the center of the container 1 advances further than the position where the jet jet 25 hits, the container 1 advances with a space from the subsequent container 1 by the action of the acceleration.
The force for decelerating and accelerating the container 1 varies depending on the flow rate and the flow velocity of the jet jet 25 to be injected, so the size of the interval formed between the intended containers 1, the size of the container 1, What is necessary is just to select the flow volume of jet jet 25, and the magnitude | size of the flow velocity according to characteristics, such as a weight.
In this way, if the flow rate and the flow velocity of the jet jet 25 are appropriately selected, the container 1 after passing through the air injection nozzle 15 is transported at an appropriate interval.

Further, a case where the container 1 has been conveyed in close contact will be described with reference to FIG. A large acceleration force in the advancing direction acts on the container 1 preceding the position of the air injection nozzle 15 because the jet jet 25 accumulates in the constricted portion formed by the close contact between the containers 1 and a large pressure is generated. On the contrary, a large deceleration force that acts to hinder the progress of the container 1 acts on the container 1 that is located behind the position of the air injection nozzle 15.
That is, when the jet jet stream 25 hits the place where the containers 1 are in close contact with each other, a large deceleration force acts on the point T of the containers 1 on the rear side of the containers 1 as shown in the figure. When the position where the jet jet 25 hits the container 1 moves from T to U, the deceleration force decreases, and when the position of U is passed, the acceleration force acts this time, and the container 1 that follows further at the position V In the case of close contact, the acceleration force is maximized by the pressure of the jet jet 25 pool due to the close contact.
In this way, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the containers 1 come into close contact with each other, the force for decelerating or accelerating the containers 1 is considerably large, but the flow rate and flow velocity of the jet jet 25 Is appropriately selected, the container 1 after passing through the air injection nozzle 15 is transported at an appropriate interval.

Furthermore, the case where the containers 1 that follow are conveyed at intervals will be described with reference to FIG. When the containers 1 are conveyed at intervals, even if the jet jets 25 are injected at this interval, if the interval between the containers 1 is larger than the injection width of the jet jets 25, the interval between the containers 1 by the jet jets 25 The forming action does not work, and before and after passing through the air injection nozzle 15, the container 1 described with reference to FIG. When the jet jet 25 hits the minute, a deceleration force acts, and when the jet jet 25 hits the rear half of the container 1, an acceleration force acts, and the container 1 is conveyed with a gap formed.
In this case, what is necessary is just to set the space | interval formed between the containers 1 by selecting suitably the flow volume of the jut jet 25, the flow velocity, the magnitude | size of jet width, etc. FIG.

  As described above, the principle of the deceleration force and the acceleration force to the container 1 by the jet jet 25 has been described based on FIG. 11, but the container 1 is conveyed on the conveyor 2, and between the container 1 and the conveyor 2. The frictional force is acting on. In order to reduce the speed by the deceleration force applied to the container 1 by the jet jet 25 while the jet jet 25 hits the front half of the container 1 conveyed to the position of the air injection nozzle 15, the friction force In addition, while the jet jet 25 hits the rear half of the container 1 conveyed to the position of the air injection nozzle 15, the acceleration force to the container 1 by the jet jet 25 is In order to act and accelerate, an acceleration force that overcomes the frictional force is required.

That is, the jet jet 25 needs to have a flow rate and a flow velocity sufficient to form an interval between the containers 1. However, as described above, if the strength of the jet jet 25 is appropriately selected, the conveyor 2 The containers 1 that have been transported at irregular intervals in a single row state are transported with a large deceleration force and acceleration force by the jet jet 25 with a large spacing between the containers 1 when the containers 1 come into close contact with each other. When the containers 1 can be spaced apart from each other, depending on the size of the space, if the paper is transported at a small space, it is transported with a larger space, and if it is transported at a large space, the space is not greatly changed. Therefore, the interval between the containers 1 is appropriate.
Further, if the width interval between the pair of side guides 10 is sufficient with respect to the size of the container 1, the attachment of the side guide 10 is changed even if the size of the container 1 is changed within this width interval. It is not necessary to cope with so-called size change such as to do so, which is suitable when the size of the container 1 is frequently changed.
As shown in FIG. 10, the jet jet 25 may be jetted obliquely upward.

(Fourth embodiment)
Further, a fourth embodiment of an article interval forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 12 is an inter-article distance forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 8 and in which only one air injection nozzle is attached.
12, components having the same structure as in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same symbols, and redundant description is omitted. Reference numeral 11 denotes a side guide, and no air injection nozzle is attached to the side guide 11.
The air injection nozzle 15 provided in the side guide 10 is attached so as to inject the jet jet 25 from the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the container 1 toward the downstream side by an angle α as shown in the figure.

  When the jet jet 25 of the air jet nozzle 15 hits the side of the container 1, the container 1 advances along the side guide 11 while being pushed toward the side guide 11 by the spraying force of the jet jet 25. 11, when the jet jet 25 hits the front half of the container 1, a deceleration force acts on the container 1, and when the jet jet 25 hits the rear half of the container 1, The acceleration force acts and the containers 1 are spaced apart from each other. Further, in this case, the jet jet 25 is reflected by the side guide 11, and the reflected air flow is accumulated in the constricted portion between the rear half of the container 1 and the side guide 11, and the air pressure in the constricted portion It acts so as to accelerate the conveyance of the container 1 and to convey the container 1 slightly from the side guide 11 toward the center of the conveyor 2. Therefore, the contact between the container 1 and the side guide 11 is temporary, and the influence on the formation of the space between the containers 1 is small.

In the case of the fourth embodiment, the flow rate and flow velocity of the jet jet 25 can be made smaller than in the case of the third embodiment, and there is an effect of energy saving.
The angle α may be appropriately selected in consideration of the deceleration force and acceleration force of the container 1 caused by the jet jet 25 and the acceleration force of the container 1 caused by the air reflected on the side guide 11.
In the case of this fourth embodiment, since the container 1 contacts the side guide 11, the accuracy of the interval formation between the containers 1 is slightly worse than in the case of the third embodiment described above, but the air injection Since there is only one nozzle 15, there is an effect that the apparatus cost is reduced, and the selection is made in consideration of the required size and accuracy of the space between the containers 1, the apparatus cost, and the energy consumption. Can do.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of an inter-article distance forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10 showing an inter-article distance forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which an upper surface guide is provided and an air injection nozzle is additionally attached. .
FIG. 14 is a partial front view of FIG. 13 viewed from the G direction.
13 and 14, the same symbols are used for the same structures as in FIG. 10, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.
An air injection nozzle 13 is attached to the upper surface guide 12 so as to inject an air jet 26 from above the container 1 onto the upper surface of the container 1 in a direction against the progress of the container 1.

By the jet of the air jet 26, the container 1 to which moisture such as film or water droplets has adhered to the upper surface from the upstream of the conveyor 2 is removed. Further, the water adhering to the side surface of the container 1 is removed by the jet jet 25 of the air jet nozzle 15.
In this way, the jet jet 25 and the air jet 26 are combined to remove the water adhering to the container 1 upstream of the conveyor 2, and into the cardboard box with the water removed from the container 1 downstream. Can be packaged.

  As described above, the embodiment of the interval forming method and apparatus according to the present invention has the energy consumption necessary for forming the interval between containers, the frequency of changing the container size, and the large interval formed between the containers. The selection can be made in consideration of the accuracy and accuracy, the additional function of removing moisture adhering to the container, the device cost, and the like.

It is a top view of the space | interval formation apparatus between the articles | goods to which this invention is applied, Comprising: One part is sectional drawing. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. It is a top view of the space | interval formation apparatus between articles | goods concerning 2nd Embodiment, is a partial cross section figure, and is equivalent to FIG. It is DD sectional drawing of FIG. It is EE sectional drawing of FIG. It is a top view of the space | interval formation apparatus between articles | goods concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and is equivalent to FIG. It is FF sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 9, and is a thing at the time of changing the attachment angle of an air injection nozzle. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the air injection nozzle portion of FIG. 8, (a) is an explanation when a jet hits a single container, and (b) is a close contact between the containers with respect to the force received by the jet from the air injection nozzle. (C) is a model diagram for explaining when the containers are spaced apart. FIG. 9 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 8 and shows a space forming apparatus between articles according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which only one air injection nozzle is attached. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10, showing an inter-article distance forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, with an upper surface guide provided and an air injection nozzle added thereto. It is the partial front view which looked at FIG. 13 from the G direction.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... container,
2 ... conveyor,
3 ... Pressure holding chamber (chamber),
4 ... sidewall,
5 ... Air injection nozzle,
6 ... ceiling,
7, 8 ... Air blowing device,
9 ... Control device,
10, 11 ... Side guide,
12 ... Upper surface guide,
13, 15 ... air injection nozzle,
21 ... Air jet,
25 ... Jut jet,
26 ... Air jet,
42 ... closed space,
71, 72, 81 ... air blowing holes

Claims (10)

  In an apparatus for forming an interval between articles conveyed by a conveyor, a tunnel-shaped pressure holding chamber (hereinafter referred to as a chamber) is provided in the conveyor, and a pressure medium blowing device (hereinafter referred to as a blowing device) for blowing a pressure medium into the chamber. The pressure medium is blown into the chamber from the blowing device, and the pressure medium generated in the closed space formed by the chamber and the articles in the chamber corresponding to the state of the space between the articles is blown into the chamber. Articles that are transported at irregular intervals in a single row state by causing the articles in the direction of travel to be pushed out in the direction of travel and the subsequent articles to be pushed back by the mutual spreading force between the articles using pressure An apparatus for forming a gap between articles, wherein the gap is appropriately formed.   The apparatus for forming an interval between articles according to claim 1, further comprising a control device for setting and controlling the pressure medium blowing condition.   In the method for forming an interval between articles conveyed by a conveyor, a pressure medium is blown into the chamber from a blowing device installed in a chamber provided in the conveyor, and the chamber and the articles in the chamber are blown by blowing the pressure medium. In the closed space that is formed, the articles that are in the direction of travel are pushed out in the direction of travel by the mutual spreading force between the articles using the pressure of the pressure medium generated corresponding to the state of the spacing between the articles, and the subsequent articles are A method for forming an interval between articles, wherein the article is formed so as to be pushed back to properly form an interval between articles conveyed at irregular intervals in a single row state.   4. The method for forming an interval between articles according to claim 3, wherein characteristics of articles to be conveyed are input in advance to a control device provided to set and control the pressure medium blowing conditions, and the articles to be conveyed are Correspondingly, the pressure medium blowing condition can be automatically set. The apparatus for forming an interval between articles according to claim 2 , wherein the shape dimension of the chamber is automatically determined in accordance with the characteristics of the article to be conveyed that is input in advance to the control device. An apparatus for forming an interval between articles. The apparatus for forming an interval between articles according to claim 2 , wherein the blowing condition of the blowing apparatus is automatically set by the control device in accordance with characteristics of the article to be conveyed. Between-space forming device.   The apparatus for forming an interval between articles according to claim 1, further comprising the step of injecting air to a side of an article conveyed in the chamber, and a deceleration force acting on the article conveyed in the chamber by the air injection. An air injection nozzle is provided on the left and right side walls of the chamber to further decelerate a subsequent article conveyed back and forth in the chamber by applying the deceleration force, and An apparatus for forming an interval between articles, wherein the apparatus is configured to appropriately form an interval between articles conveyed at irregular intervals in a single row state by extruding with an article spreading force caused by a medium pressure.   8. The apparatus for forming an interval between articles according to claim 7, further comprising a control device for setting and controlling the pressure medium blowing condition or the air injection condition.   The method for forming an interval between articles according to claim 3, wherein air is jetted from an air side to an article conveyed in the chamber from an air jet nozzle provided on a side wall of the chamber, and the inside of the chamber is formed by the air jet. Further, a deceleration force acts on the article to be conveyed, the subsequent article conveyed back and forth in the chamber is decelerated by the addition of the deceleration force, and the preceding article is reduced to the pressure of the pressure medium. A method for forming an interval between articles, wherein an interval between articles conveyed at irregular intervals in a single row state is appropriately formed by extruding with an article pushing force by the above.   The method for forming an interval between articles according to claim 9, wherein characteristics of the article to be conveyed are input in advance to a control device provided to set and control the pressure medium blowing condition or the air injection condition, A method for forming an interval between articles, wherein the pressure medium blowing condition or the air injection condition can be automatically set according to an article to be conveyed.

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