JP5574085B2 - Article conveying device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an article conveying apparatus, and more specifically, a supply conveyor that conveys a plurality of articles in a state of being aligned in a lateral direction, and a transfer that transfers articles aligned on the supply conveyor in a vertical direction perpendicular to the alignment direction. The present invention relates to an article conveying apparatus including a loading means and a discharge conveyor that conveys the article in the lateral direction and discharges the article transferred by the transferring means to the processing means.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a shoe ice production apparatus for producing shoe ice, there is known a device equipped with a freezer for cooling and solidifying shoe ice filled with liquid contents and a packaging means for individually packaging the shoe ice. It has been.
In addition, such a shoe ice production apparatus is provided with an article conveying device for conveying the shoe ice, a supply conveyor provided in the freezer for conveying the shoe ice in a laterally aligned state, a freezer and a packaging means. And a discharge conveyor that conveys the article in the lateral direction and discharges the shoe ice to the packaging means.
Further, the article transporting apparatus is provided with transfer means for moving the shoe ice aligned in the horizontal direction on the supply conveyor in the vertical direction and transferring the shoe ice to the discharge conveyor.
As an article conveying apparatus for transferring an article from a supply conveyor having a different conveying direction to the discharge conveyor by the transfer means, an article conveying apparatus according to Patent Documents 1 to 3 is known.

JP 2006-69744 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-164653 Japanese Patent No. 4164948

Here, in the above shoe ice production apparatus, when the supply amount of shoe ice by the freezer is larger than the processing capacity of one packaging means, a plurality of packaging means are provided and the shoe ice is processed by a plurality of packaging means There is.
However, when at least one of the plurality of packaging means is deactivated, the shoe ice supplied to the deactivated packaging means is accumulated on the discharge conveyor, and the quality of the shoe ice is degraded. There was a problem of doing.
In view of such a problem, the present invention provides an article transport apparatus capable of discharging an article to an operating processing means even when at least one of the processing means is inactive. Is to provide.

That is, an article transporting apparatus according to the present invention includes a supply conveyor that transports a plurality of articles in a state of being aligned in the lateral direction, and an article that is connected downstream from the supply conveyor and that is received from the supply conveyor. A discharge conveyor having a plurality of transfer paths for transferring, and a predetermined number of articles arranged on the supply conveyor are moved in a vertical direction intersecting the horizontal direction to any of the transfer paths of the discharge conveyor. A plurality of transfer means for transferring, a plurality of processing means for performing a predetermined process on the article conveyed while being arranged downstream of each transfer path in the discharge conveyor, and a control for controlling each transfer means Means and
When all of the plurality of processing means are operating normally, the control means controls the transfer means to distribute a plurality of articles arranged on the discharge conveyor to a transport path corresponding to each processing means of the discharge conveyor. Transfer,
At the time of an abnormality in which at least one of the plurality of processing means is inactive, the control means controls the amount of movement of the transfer means , so that the transfer path corresponding to the inactive processing means The present invention is characterized in that the article is not transferred, but is transferred to a conveyance path corresponding to the processing means operating.

  According to the above invention, even if at least one processing means is deactivated, the article is transferred to the conveyance path to other than the non-activated processing means, so the conveyance path to the deactivated processing means. In this case, no articles are transferred, and the same number of articles as in the normal state are transferred, so that the articles are not discarded.

The top view of the shoe ice making apparatus concerning 1st Example Plan view about the second transfer means Side view of the second transfer means The figure explaining operation | movement of a 2nd transfer means The top view of the shoe ice making apparatus concerning 2nd Example The figure explaining operation | movement of a 2nd transfer means

The illustrated embodiment will be described below. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the shoe ice production apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The shoe ice 2 filled with the liquid content as an article is cooled and the shoe ice 2 is removed. Fig. 2 shows a packaging device.
The shoe ice making apparatus 1 includes a filling means (not shown) for filling liquid contents into empty shoe dough, a freezer 3 for cooling the shoe ice 2 supplied from the filling means to solidify the contents, and a freezer 3 The shoe ice producing apparatus 1 is composed of three first to third packaging means 4A to 4C as individual processing means for individually pillow-packing the shoe ice 2 discharged from the apparatus. .
The shoe ice production device 1 also includes an article transport device 5 for transporting the shoe ice 2, a first conveyor 6 for transporting the shoe ice 2 from the filling means to the freezer 3, and a supply for transporting the shoe ice 2 inside the freezer 3. A second conveyor 7 serving as a conveyor, a third conveyor 8 serving as a discharge conveyor for discharging the shoe ice 2 discharged from the freezer 3 to the first to third packaging means 4A to 4C, and the first conveyor 6 The first transfer means 9 for transferring the shoe ice 2 to the second conveyor 7 and the four second transfer means 10 for transferring the shoe ice 2 on the second conveyor 7 to the third conveyor 8 are configured. ing.
In this embodiment, the first conveyor 6 and the third conveyor 8 convey the shoe ice 2 laterally from the left to the right in FIG. 1, and the second conveyor 7 from the top to the bottom in FIG. The shoe ice 2 is conveyed in the vertical direction. In the following description, the horizontal direction or the vertical direction indicates the alignment direction or the conveyance direction of the shoe ice 2.

The filling means is a device for filling liquid contents into the empty shoe dough, and supplies the shoe ice 2 filled with the contents to the first conveyor 6 in a state of being aligned at equal intervals in the lateral direction. It is like that.
The freezer 3 is provided along the conveying direction of the second conveyor 7, and the contents of the shoe ice 2 are cooled by the second conveyor 7 conveying the shoe ice 2 through the freezer 3. It has come to solidify.
The first to third packaging means 4A to 4C are apparatuses for pillow-packing the shoe ices 2 conveyed by the third conveyor 8 one by one, and the processing capacity of one packaging means is that of the freezer 3 Since it is lower than the supply capacity, three packaging means are provided in this embodiment.

The first conveyor 6 is provided at a position adjacent to the upstream end of the second conveyor 7, transports the shoe ice 2 in the lateral direction, and temporarily stops when the shoe ice 2 reaches the downstream end (the right end in the drawing). It is like that.
In this embodiment, 45 shoe ices 2 are stopped at a position adjacent to the upstream end of the second conveyor 7 in an aligned state, and these 45 shoe ices 2 are stopped by the first transfer means 9. Is transferred to the second conveyor 7.
The second conveyor 7 has a width in which 45 pieces of shoe ice 2 can be aligned in the horizontal direction, and the shoe ice 2 aligned in the horizontal direction is conveyed in the vertical direction while being aligned in a plurality of rows in the vertical direction. It is supposed to be.
The third conveyor 8 is provided at a position adjacent to the downstream end of the second conveyor 7, and when the shoe ice 2 is transferred by the second transfer means 10, the shoe ice 2 is conveyed in the lateral direction. It has become.
The third conveyor 8 has three rows of first to third transport paths 8a to 8c formed in parallel to discharge the articles to the three first to third packaging means 4A to 4C. The shoe ice 2 is discharged to the corresponding first to third packaging means 4A to 4C through the first to third transport paths 8a to 8c, respectively.

The first transfer means 9 includes a pressing member 9a provided in the lateral direction along the first conveyor 6, and a driving means (not shown) that moves the pressing member 9a in the vertical direction.
The pressing member 9a reciprocates in the vertical direction on the upper surface of the first conveyor 6 by the driving means, and is located on the opposite side of the first conveyor 6 from the freezer 3 when not operating.
When the shoe ice 2 reaches the downstream end of the first conveyor 6, the control means controls the driving means to move the pressing member 9 a in the vertical direction, and the 45 pieces of shoe ice 2 on the first conveyor 6 are moved to the first conveyor 6. 2 is transferred onto the conveyor 7.

2 and 3 show a plan view and a side view of the second transfer means 10, wherein the four second transfer means 10 each have a pressing member for pressing the shoe ice 2, and a drive for moving the pressing means. Means.
In the following description, the first to fourth pressing members 11A to 11D and the driving means for moving these first to fourth pressing members 11A to 11D in order from the left pressing member in FIGS. These will be described as first to fourth driving means 12A to 12D, respectively.
Each of the first to fourth pressing members 11A to 11D is a plate-like member, and when aligned in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 7 is adapted to abut on all 45 pieces of shoe ice 2 aligned in the horizontal direction.
Here, the first and fourth pressing members 11A and 11D located at both ends have a length capable of contacting 15 shoe ices 2 from the right end portion and the left end portion in the drawing, respectively. Each of the members 11B and 11C has a length capable of coming into contact with 8 pieces and 7 pieces of shoe ices 2, respectively.
The first to fourth driving means 12A to 12D are respectively along the ball screw 12a provided in the vertical direction above the second conveyor 7, a servo motor 12b for driving the ball screw 12a, and the ball screw 12a. A horizontal movement part 12c that moves forward and backward in the vertical direction, and an air cylinder 12d that is provided downward from the horizontal movement part 12c, and first to fourth pressing members 11A to 11D at the lower end of the air cylinder 12d, respectively. Is fixedly connected.
The horizontal moving portion 12c moves in the horizontal direction by rotating the ball screw 12a by the servo motor 12b, and is positioned upstream of the downstream end of the second conveyor 7 by a plurality of rows of shoe ice 2 and the first The reciprocating motion is made between the position above the three conveyors 8.
The air cylinder 12d is configured to raise and lower the first to fourth pressing members 11A to 11D to a lowered position where the shoe ice 2 can be pressed and an elevated position where the shoe ice 2 does not interfere.
The control means recognizes the position of the shoe ice 2 located at the downstream end of the shoe ice 2 conveyed by the second conveyor 7 by a sensor (not shown), an encoder provided on the second conveyor 7, etc. The fourth pressing members 11A to 11D are lowered to a pressing start position adjacent to the upstream side of the shoe ice 2 positioned at the downstream end.

About the operation | movement of the shoe ice manufacturing apparatus 1 which has the above structure, first, the operation | movement at the time of normal when all the 1st-3rd packaging means 4A-4C are operating is demonstrated.
First, when the filling means fills empty shoe dough with liquid contents, the first conveyor 6 conveys the shoe ice 2 filled with the contents in a row in a horizontal direction, and 45 shoes The ice 2 is aligned at a position adjacent to the second conveyor 7.
In this state, the first transfer means 9 operates, whereby 45 shoe ices 2 on the first conveyor 6 are pressed by the pressing member 9a and transferred onto the second conveyor 7.
Thereafter, when the second conveyor 7 conveys the shoe ice 2 in the vertical direction by one pitch, the first conveyor 6 newly conveys 45 pieces of the shoe ice 2, and the first transfer means 9 moves to the second conveyor 7. Newly transfer Shoe Ice 2.
The freezer 3 cools the shoe ice 2 conveyed by the second conveyor 7, and the contents of the shoe ice 2 are solidified while being conveyed.

When the shoe ice 2 is conveyed in the vertical direction by the second conveyor 7, the control means controls the first to fourth driving means 12 </ b> A to 12 </ b> D of the second transfer means 10, thereby providing the first to fourth pressing members. 11A-11D is located in the press start position adjacent to the upstream of the shoe ice 2 located in the downstream end of the 2nd conveyor 7, respectively.
When the first to fourth pressing members 11A to 11D are located at the pressing start position, the control unit causes the first to fourth driving units 12A to 12D to move the first to fourth pressing members 11A to 11D in the vertical direction, The shoe ice 2 is transferred from the second conveyor 7 onto the third conveyor 8.
At this time, the control means varies the moving distances of the first to fourth pressing members 11A to 11D by the first to fourth driving means 12A to 12D, and the first pressing member 11A has 15 pieces as shown in FIG. The shoe ice 2 is pressed to the first transport path 8a in the third conveyor 8, the second pressing member 11B presses the eight shoe ices 2 to the second transport path 8b, and the third pressing member 11C is the seven shoes. The ice 2 is pressed to the second transport path 8b, and the fourth pressing member 11D presses the fifteen shoe ices 2 to the third transport path 8c.
As a result, fifteen pieces of shoe ice 2 are transferred to the first to third transport paths 8a to 8c of the third conveyor 8, respectively. It is discharged to the first to third packaging means 4A to 4C.
Thereafter, the first to fourth pressing members 11A to 11D are raised to a height not interfering with the shoe ice 2 by the air cylinders 12d of the first to fourth driving means 12A to 12D, and then moved to the pressing start position again. .
Further, the control means controls the first to fourth driving means 12A to 12D to move the first to fourth pressing members 11A to 11D so that the time for one cycle required to transfer the shoe ice 2 becomes the same. The speed is different.

As an example, when the freezer 3 supplies the shoe ice 2 at a rate of 500 pieces / minute, the cycle time of one cycle required for the transfer operation of the shoe ice 2 by the second transfer means 10 is 5.4 seconds. Then, the shoe ice 2 is discharged to the first to third packaging means 4A to 4C at a rate of 167 pieces / min.
On the other hand, the first to third packaging means 4A to 4C each have a processing capacity of 180 pieces / minute, and 167 pieces / minute shoes supplied via the first to third transport paths 8a to 8c. The ice 2 can be processed.
Further, the pressing start positions of the first to third pressing members 11A to 11D at this time are constant, and the pressing start positions are positions separated from the third conveyor 8 (FIG. 3). reference).

Next, the operation | movement of the shoe ice manufacturing apparatus 1 in the case of the abnormality at the time of the 2nd packaging means 4B becoming a non-operation state using FIG. 4 is demonstrated. Here, the operation when a so-called “chocolate stop” that can restore the second packaging means 4B in a relatively short time has occurred will be described.
When recognizing that the second wrapping means 4B has stopped, the control means controls the second and third driving means 12B and 12C of the second transfer means 10, and the second and third pressing members 11B and 11C. Change the amount of movement.
Specifically, the second pressing member 11B transfers the eight shoe ices 2 to the first transport path 8a corresponding to the first packaging means 4A, and the third pressing member 11C transfers the seven shoe ices 2 to the first. Transfer to the third transport path 8c corresponding to the three packaging means 4C.
As a result, in the first transport path 8a corresponding to the operating first packaging means 4A, 15 shoe ices 2 pressed by the first pressing member 11A and 8 pieces pressed by the second pressing member 11B. Shoe ice 2 will be transferred.
Further, in the third transport path 8c corresponding to the operating third packaging means 4C, seven shoe ices 2 pressed by the third pressing member 11C and fifteen shoe ices pressed by the fourth pressing member 11D. 2 will be transferred.
As described above, the shoe ice 2 is not transferred to the second transport path 8b corresponding to the second packaging means 4B which is inactive, and the 45 pieces discharged at once from the freezer 3 are prevented. All the shoe ices 2 are distributed and transferred to the first transport path 8a and the third transport path 8c corresponding to the two operating first and third packaging means 4A and 4C.

However, in the present embodiment, since the three first to third packaging means 4A to 4C are provided in accordance with the supply capacity of the freezer 3, the two first and third packaging means 4A that are operating, A large amount of shoe ice 2 is supplied from the freezer 3 for a processing capacity of 4C.
That is, since the ice cream 2 is supplied from the freezer 3 at 500 pieces / minute, when the second packaging means 4B is deactivated, the first and third packaging means 4A and 4C that are in operation are 250 pieces. The shoe ice 2 is supplied at a rate of / min, and the first and third packaging means 4A and 4C cannot be processed.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the cycle time of one cycle by the second transfer means 10 is set to 7.5 seconds, and the tact time is made longer than when the three packaging means are operating.
As a result, the shoe ice 2 is transferred to the first transfer path 8a at a rate of 184 pieces / minute, and the third transfer path 8c is set to 176 pieces / minute, and the first and third packaging means 4A, The shoe ice 2 corresponding to the processing capacity of 4C can be discharged.
In this embodiment, by supplying a little more ice cream 2 to the first transport path 8a than the processing capacity of 180 pcs / min of the first packaging means 4A, the shoe ice 2 that cannot be processed is placed on the first transport path 8a. However, the tact time may be set to be slower than 7.5 seconds so that shoe ice having a capacity equal to or less than the processing capacity of the first packaging means 4A may be transferred to the first transport path 8a.

On the other hand, since the second conveyor 7 is transporting the shoe ice 2 at a constant transport speed, if the cycle time of one cycle of the second transfer means 10 is increased, the downstream end of the second conveyor 7 every cycle. The shoe ice 2 located in the position gradually approaches the third conveyor 8.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the pressing start position when the first to third packaging means 4A to 4C are operating in advance is set to a position separated from the third conveyor 8, and one packaging means is not used. When the operation is started, the pressing start position is gradually brought closer to the third conveyor 8.
Specifically, when the second wrapping means 4B is deactivated, the control means performs control such as slowing the moving speed of the horizontal moving portion 12c in the first to fourth drive means 12A to 12D, and the shoe As the ice 2 approaches the third conveyor 8 every time the second transfer means 10 operates for one cycle, the pressing start position is brought closer to the third conveyor 8.

Thereafter, when the second packaging means 4B is restored, the control means controls the four second transfer means 9 so as to transfer the 15 shoe ices 2 to the first to third transport paths 8a to 8c described above. To do.
At this time, the control means changes the cycle time of one cycle of the second transfer means 10 to 5.0 seconds, which is shorter than the tact time before the second packaging means 4B is deactivated.
As a result, the shoe ice 2 is transferred to the first to third transport paths 8a to 8c at a rate of 180 pieces / minute respectively, while the shoe ice 2 located at the downstream end of the second conveyor 7 is 2 Since the transfer means 10 is separated from the third conveyor 8 every time one cycle is operated, the pressing start position is gradually separated from the third conveyor 8.
When the pressing start position returns to the position before the second packaging means 4B is deactivated, the control means returns the cycle time of one cycle of the second transfer means to the previous 5.4 seconds, and the normal operation Return to the state.

In addition, about the press start position when the said 1st-3rd packaging means 4A-4C is act | operating, the time margin until the 2nd packaging means 4B recovers, so that it separates from the said 3rd conveyor 8. Although it will be obtained, since the 2nd conveyor 7 will become long, it can set arbitrarily according to the performance etc. of the 1st-3rd packaging means 4A-4C.
Moreover, also when the 1st packaging means 4A or the 3rd packaging means 4C becomes non-operation, like the said Example, a control means moves the said 1st-4th press member 11A-11D, and operates. The shoe ice 2 is transferred to a conveyance path corresponding to the packaging means.

FIG. 5 shows the shoe ice making apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, and in the following description, description of parts common to the first embodiment is omitted.
In this embodiment, four first to fourth packaging means 4A to 4D are provided, and accordingly, four rows of first to fourth transport paths 8a to 8d are formed on the third conveyor 8. Has been.
The second transfer means 10 includes six first to sixth pressing members 11A to 11F driven by first to sixth driving means (not shown), and the first pressing member 11A includes 11 shoe ices 2, the second pressing member 11B has 5 shoe ices 2, the third pressing member 11C has 6 shoe ices 2, the fourth pressing member 11D has 6 shoe ices 2, The fifth pressing member 11E presses the five shoe ices 2, and the sixth pressing member 11F presses the twelve shoe ices 2, respectively.
When the 1st-4th packaging means 4A-4D is act | operating by the said structure, as shown in FIG. 5, 11 shoe ice 2 is transferred to the 1st conveyance path 8a by the 1st press member 11A. Then, the eleven shoe ices 2 are transferred to the second transport path 8b by the second and third pressing members 11B and 11C, and the eleven shoe ices 2 are transferred to the third by the fourth and fifth pressing members 11D and 11E. The 12 shoe ices 2 are transferred to the fourth transfer path 8d by the sixth pressing member 11F.

For example, when the second packaging means 4B corresponding to the second transport path 8b is deactivated and the first, third, and fourth packaging means 4A, 4C, and 4D are in the activated state, the control means is as follows. In this manner, the shoe ice 2 is transferred to the first, third, and fourth transport paths 8a, 8c, and 8d of the third conveyor 8.
FIGS. 6A to 6C show transfer patterns to the first, third, and fourth transport paths 8a, 8c, and 8d by the first to sixth pressing members 11A to 11F. The shoe ice 2 is transferred by performing the operation of one cycle by the two transfer means 10 in the order of FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c).
In FIG. 6A, 16 shoe ices 2 are transferred to the first transport path 8a by the first and second pressing members 11A and 11B, and the third, fourth and fifth pressing members 11C, 11D and 11E are transferred. Accordingly, 17 shoe ices 2 are transferred to the third transport path 8c, and 12 shoe ices 2 are transferred to the fourth transport path 8d by the sixth pressing member 11F.
In FIG. 6B, 16 shoe ices 2 are transferred to the first transport path 8a by the first and second pressing members 11A and 11B, and 12 shoes are transferred by the third and fourth pressing members 11c and 11D. The ice 2 is transferred to the third transport path 8c, and the 16 shoe ices 2 are transferred to the fourth transport path 8d by the fifth and sixth pressing members 11E and 11F.
In FIG. 6C, 11 shoe ices 2 are transferred to the first transport path 8a by the first pressing member 11A, and 17 shoes are transferred by the second, third, and fourth pressing members 11B, 11C, and 11D. The ice 2 is transferred to the third transport path 8c, and the 16 shoe ices 2 are transferred to the fourth transport path 8d by the fifth and sixth pressing members 11E and 11F.

Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the tact time of the second control means 10 is lengthened and the pressing start positions of the first to sixth pressing members 11A to 11F are gradually moved to the third conveyor 8 side. In addition, when the second packaging means 4B is restored, the pressing start position is returned to the original position.
Here, by switching the transfer pattern to the first, third, and fourth transport paths 8a, 8c, and 8d as in the second embodiment, the first, third, and fourth packaging means 4A, 4C, The supply amount of the shoe ice 2 to 4D can be leveled, and thereby the time for increasing the cycle time of one cycle of the second transfer means 10 can be suppressed.

In addition, the said 1st, 2nd Example is an example, The 1st-3rd conveyance path | route 8a-8c formed in the said 3rd conveyor 8 should just be two or more rows, and 1 of the 2nd transfer means 10 is sufficient. The cycle tact time can also be set freely.
For example, in the first and second embodiments, the tact time is set so as not to reduce the processing capacity of the packaging means even in an abnormal time. The discharge speed of the shoe ice 2 from the second conveyor 7 by the second transfer means 10 may be reduced.
Further, for example, in the second embodiment, when the two first and second packaging means 4A and 4B are stopped, it corresponds to the remaining two third and fourth packaging means 4C and 4D that are operating. It is also possible to move the first to sixth pressing members 11A to 11F so as to transfer the shoe ice 2 to the third and fourth transport paths 8c and 8d.
Furthermore, in the said 1st Example, it is also possible to transfer by the three pressing members which press the 15 pieces of shoe ices 2 by making the said 2nd transfer means 10 into three units | sets.
In this configuration, for example, when one packaging means stops, the shoe ice is transferred to the conveyance path corresponding to one packaging means in which two pressing members are operating among the three pressing means. Then, the shoe ice may be transferred to the transport path corresponding to the other packaging means in which the remaining one pressing member is operating.
Assuming that the first packaging means 4A is stopped, in the first transfer operation, the first and second pressing members 11A and 11B transfer 30 shoe ices 2 to the second transport path 8b corresponding to the second packaging means 4B. On the other hand, 15 shoe ices 2 are transferred to the third transport path 8c corresponding to the third packaging means 4C by the third pressing means 11C.
In the second transfer operation, 15 shoe ices 2 are transferred to the second transport path 8b by the first pressing member 11A, and 30 shoe ices are transferred by the second and third pressing means 11B and 11C. 2 is transferred to the third transport path 8c.
And although the shoe ice manufacturing apparatus 1 was demonstrated in the said Example, the article conveyance apparatus concerning this invention can be applied also to another field | area, As a structure, the said 2nd conveyor 7 in the said Example is used. Alternatively, the first conveyor 6 may be a supply conveyor, and the second transfer means 10 may transfer articles from the first conveyor 6 to the third conveyor 8.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shoe ice manufacturing apparatus 2 Shoe ice 3 Freezer 4A-4C 1st-3rd packaging means (processing means)
5 Goods conveying device 7 Second conveyor (supply conveyor)
8 Third conveyor (discharge conveyor)
8a-8c 1st-3rd conveyance path 10 2nd transfer means (transfer means)
11A-11D 1st-4th press member

Claims (2)

A supply conveyor for conveying a plurality of articles in a laterally aligned state, and a discharge conveyor connected downstream of the supply conveyor and having a plurality of conveyance paths for conveying the articles received from the supply conveyor in the lateral direction; A plurality of transfer means for moving a predetermined number of articles out of the articles arranged on the supply conveyor in a vertical direction intersecting the horizontal direction and transferring them to one of the transport paths of the discharge conveyor ; and A plurality of processing means for performing a predetermined process on the article which is disposed and conveyed downstream of each conveyance path in the discharge conveyor, and a control means for controlling each transfer means,
When all of the plurality of processing means are operating normally, the control means controls the transfer means to distribute a plurality of articles arranged on the discharge conveyor to a transport path corresponding to each processing means of the discharge conveyor. Transfer,
At the time of an abnormality in which at least one of the plurality of processing means is inactive, the control means controls the amount of movement of the transfer means , so that the transfer path corresponding to the inactive processing means An article conveying apparatus , wherein an article is not transferred, but is transferred to a conveying path corresponding to a processing means operating. The control means can set the cycle time required for the transfer of each transfer means,
2. The article conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cycle time of the transfer means is set longer at the time of abnormality than at the time of normal.

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