JP5680276B2 - Article conveying device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a product conveying device, and more particularly to an article conveying device suitable for application to a corrugated cardboard caser for packing plastic bottles in a cardboard box.

In a packaging machine such as a corrugated cardboard caser, a grouping device is often used which stops the top of a group of objects to be continuously conveyed by a conveyor and then divides it into a predetermined number of packaging units.
As this grouping device, for example, the top of the PET bottles that are continuously supplied on the conveyor is regulated by a finger (preceding finger) driven at a slower speed than the conveyor, and then between the PET bottles on the upstream side in the conveying direction. Insert the next finger (following finger). And if you remove the leading finger that controlled the speed of the top of the PET bottle, the PET bottle up to the subsequent finger is sent by the high-speed conveyor, so there is a gap between the PET bottle that is speed-controlled by the subsequent finger. Occurs. This is repeated to group the PET bottles every predetermined number.

  In the above apparatus, it is necessary to insert a finger (preceding, succeeding) between PET bottles. However, when grouping soft and easily deformable articles such as PET bottles, if the speed of the leading PET bottle is controlled by the leading finger, the product in the leading PET bottle is defective due to the pressure of the subsequent PET bottle that is continuously supplied. Deformation may occur. Further, when such deformation occurs, the PET bottle interval and the length of the PET bottle group in the transport direction from the beginning until the subsequent finger is inserted change. For this reason, there may be a situation in which the subsequent finger collides with the PET bottle and is not inserted. In that case, abnormal grouping or overturn of the PET bottle at the time of grouping occurs.

  For this problem, Patent Document 1 proposes the following device. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the first conveyor 121, the second conveyor 123, and the third conveyor 125 are arranged in a predetermined number of rows for every predetermined number of PET bottles PB supplied continuously (in this example, 4 In the apparatus 100 for sequentially inserting fingers 151, 153, 155, and 157, which are driven at a slower speed in the moving direction of the first conveyor 121, the second conveyor 123, and the third conveyor 125 into the book 100), At least one of the first conveyor 121, the second conveyor 123, and the third conveyor 125 that conveys the bottles PB is configured to be selectively rotatable in reverse. According to this apparatus, when any one of the first conveyor 121, the second conveyor 123, and the third conveyor 125 is reversely rotated, the subsequent PET bottle PB received by the PET bottle PB whose movement is restricted by the fingers 151 and 153 is received. The pressure received from the column will be relieved. When the pressure is relaxed, the plastic bottle PB is also difficult to deform. Further, the length in the conveyance direction for each predetermined number can be made constant. As described above, when the length in the conveyance direction for each predetermined number is constant, the fingers 151, 153, 155, and 157 are smoothly inserted between the PET bottles PB, so that the PET bottles PB can be grouped reliably. .

JP 2005-239226 A

However, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, the PET bottle PB whose speed is regulated by the fingers 151, 153, 155, and 157 coming into contact receives the pressure of many PET bottles PB positioned on the upstream side. That is, since the apparatus of Patent Document 1 receives the pressure of the PET bottle PB other than the grouped PET bottles PB, the problem of deformation has not been essentially solved.
The present invention has been made based on such a technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an article transporting apparatus that can group articles without receiving pressure other than articles to be grouped (for example, PET bottles).

The article conveying apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor that convey articles arranged in a plurality of rows and continuously supplied in the conveying direction. Articles conveyed on the first conveyor are sequentially transferred to a second conveyor located downstream of the first conveyor.
The first conveyor conveying articles at a first speed V _1. The second conveyor conveys the article at a second speed V ₂ (V ₁ <V ₂ ) that is faster than the first speed V ₁ . Therefore, when the article is transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, the interval in the conveyance direction between the articles to be conveyed becomes wider than when the article is conveyed by the first conveyor.
The article conveying apparatus of the present invention includes grouping means that is inserted into the second conveyor every predetermined number in the article conveying direction. In the article conveying apparatus of the present invention, since the interval in the conveying direction between the articles conveyed on the second conveyor is widened, the grouping means can be easily inserted every predetermined number of articles without colliding with the articles. Can do.

Grouping means of the present invention, and the upper second conveyor moves toward the downstream side in the transport direction, the moving speed may be used as the third speed V ₃₂ higher than the second speed V ₂ of the second conveyor The third speed V ₃₁ may be slower than the second speed V ₂ . To, by an article than the insertion position located on the downstream side of the conveying direction grouping means pressing the conveying direction when the moving speed of the grouping means is faster than the second speed V ₂ third speed V _32, Grouping is performed by narrowing the interval in the transport direction of a predetermined number of articles. In this case, an article that is pressed in contact with the grouping means receives pressure from an article located downstream thereof, which is due to "predetermined number-1" articles, that is, other articles to be grouped. . Further, when the moving speed of the grouping means of the third speed V ₃₁ slower than the second speed V _2, by the damming grouping means an article which is located on the upstream side in the transport direction than the inserted position, Grouping is performed by narrowing the interval in the transport direction of a predetermined number of articles. In this case, an article that is dammed in contact with the grouping means receives pressure from an article located upstream from it, but it is also caused by "predetermined number -1" articles, that is, other articles to be grouped. It is. Therefore, for example, in the case of a PET bottle, when the predetermined number is four, only a pressure corresponding to three is received, so that the PET bottle can be prevented from being deformed.

The first conveyor of the present invention, in the article to be transferred to the second conveyor, after aligning the article located at the head of each column, Ru is transferring the article to the second conveyor. It is advantageous to insert the grouping means between the articles without colliding with the articles.
In this case, it is preferable that the first conveyor is composed of a plurality of unit conveyors that are driven independently corresponding to each of the plurality of rows. By independently controlling the driving of the plurality of unit conveyors, the articles positioned at the head of each row can be easily aligned. In this case, the transport speeds of the unit conveyors do not have to be exactly the same, but it should be avoided that there is an excessive speed difference. This is because it becomes difficult to take the timing for inserting the grouping means after being transferred to the second conveyor.
The operator may determine whether or not to independently drive the plurality of unit conveyors, but based on the detection result of the bottle detection sensor that detects the position of the article located at the head of each row. Preferably it is done.
In other words, in the present invention, by controlling the driving of the plurality of unit conveyors based on the detection result of the bottle detection sensor, it is possible to align the articles positioned at the head of each row.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the articles | goods conveyance apparatus which can group an article, without receiving pressure other than the articles | goods to be grouped is provided.

It is a perspective view which shows the whole general | schematic function of the cardboard caser in this embodiment. It is a side view which shows the supply part and grouping part in this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the supply part and grouping part in this embodiment. It is a front view which shows the supply part and grouping part in this embodiment. It shows a modification of the present embodiment, the moving speed V ₃₂ of the fingers, in the case of faster than the conveying speed V ₂ of the conveyor device is a plan view showing a supply and grouping unit. It is a top view which shows the modification of this embodiment, and shows the supply part and grouping part which removed the bottle detection sensor. It is a top view which shows the modification of this embodiment, and shows a supply part and a grouping part in the case of supplying a plastic bottle to a grouping part, without aligning in the width direction. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in FIGS. In the present embodiment, an example in which the article conveying device of the present invention is applied to a cardboard caser will be described.
In FIG. 1, changes in the state of an article (article) 10 that passes through the main part of the cardboard caser 1 are shown in order. The corrugated cardboard case 1 includes a supply unit 2 for supplying a plastic bottle PB, a grouping unit 3 for grouping the plastic bottles PB into a predetermined quantity to form an article to be packaged 10, and a corrugated sheet from the stacked sheet bundle 8. A sheet take-out unit 11 that takes out the sheets 9 one by one and supplies them to the storage unit 4; a storage unit 4 that fills the supplied cardboard sheet 9 with the article 10 to be packaged; And a forming part 6 for forming the case 12 being conveyed into the package 14.

The supply unit 2 receives a plastic bottle PB filled with a beverage from an upstream portion including a filling device (not shown) and supplies the plastic bottle PB toward the grouping unit 3. The supply part 2 arranges and conveys the PET bottles PB in six rows. In the supply unit 2, the adjacent plastic bottles PB have a narrow or closely spaced interval in the transport direction.
The grouping unit 3 groups the PET bottles PB continuously supplied from the supply unit 2 into, for example, 6 columns × 4 rows (24 pieces).

The sheet take-out unit 11 takes out the cardboard sheets 9 one by one from the sheet bundle 8 which is a stack of the cardboard sheets 9, and as shown in FIG. 1, the downstream side in the conveying direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the downstream side) stands upright. It is bent into an L shape and supplied toward the accommodating portion 4.
In the accommodating part 4, the article to be packaged 10 is placed on a corrugated cardboard sheet 9 that is bent in an L shape. The case 12 on which the article to be packaged 10 is placed in the accommodating portion 4 is conveyed by the case conveying portion 5 toward the downstream as indicated by the arrow on the conveying path 13. The case 12 is sequentially bent and joined in the molding unit 6 in the process of being transported through the case transport unit 5, and finished into a package 14.

<Supply unit 2>
The structure of the supply part 2 and the grouping part 3 which are the characteristic parts of this Embodiment is demonstrated referring FIGS.
The supply unit 2 includes a conveyor device 20 that conveys the plastic bottle PB in the direction indicated by the white arrow. The conveyor device 20 includes six conveyors 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, and 20f that are independently driven. The conveyors 20a to 20f are arranged in parallel to the width direction. Since the conveyors 20a to 20f are driven independently, for example, the other conveyors 20a to 20f can be driven while stopping the driving of the conveyor 20a.

Each of the conveyors 20a to 20f includes transport chains 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e, and 21f. The transport chain 21a is hung on the drive sprocket 22a and the driven sprocket 23a. The drive sprocket 22a is rotationally driven by the motor 24a, and the transport chain 21a (conveyor 20a) transports the plastic bottle PB toward the grouping unit 3 located on the downstream side. The same applies to the transport chains 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e, and 21f, which are driven by individual motors 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, and 24f (not shown). In this example, the conveying speed of the bottles PB by conveyor 20a~20f shall be common to _{V 1.} However, the conveyance speeds of the conveyors 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, and 20f can be variably controlled.

A bottle detection sensor 25 is provided at the downstream end and upper part of the supply unit 2. The bottle detection sensor 25 detects whether the PET bottle PB has reached the lower side of the bottle detection sensor 25 for each of the conveyors 20a to 20f.
As the bottle detection sensor 25, a known sensor such as an infrared sensor or an optical sensor may be used.

<Grouping unit 3>
The grouping unit 3 disposed on the downstream side of the supply unit 2 includes a conveyor device 30 that conveys the plastic bottle PB in the direction indicated by the white arrow. A bridge plate 40 is provided between the supply unit 2 and the grouping unit 3.
The conveyor device 30 includes six conveyors 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, and 30f. The conveyors 30a to 30f are disposed in parallel to the width direction. Each of the conveyors 30a to 30f receives the plastic bottle PB supplied from the conveyors 20a to 20f of the supply unit 2 through the crossing plate 40.

Each of the conveyors 30a to 30f includes transport chains 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, and 31f. The transport chain 31a is hung on the drive sprocket 32a and the driven sprocket 33a. The drive sprocket 32a is rotationally driven by the motor 34, and the conveyance chain 31a (conveyor 30a) conveys the plastic bottle PB toward the accommodating portion 4 located on the downstream side. The same applies to the transport chains 31b to 31f, and they are driven synchronously by the motor 34. In this example, the conveying speed of the bottles PB by conveyor 30a~30f shall be _{V 2.} However, the conveyors 30a to 30f can be controlled independently by individual motors.

  A row guide 35 is provided above the conveyor device 20 and the conveyor device 30 (see FIG. 4). The row guide 35 is provided with a plurality of support shafts 36 extending in the width direction at intervals in the transport direction, and a plurality of pairs attached to the support shaft 36 so as to be movable in the axial direction. Guide plates 37 and 39 are provided. The guide plates 37 and 39 are plates having a substantially long quadrilateral shape, with long sides extending in the transport direction and short sides extending in the vertical direction.

  The guide plates 37 and 39 are disposed on both sides of the transport chains 21a to 21f and 31a to 31f, and guide both sides of the plastic bottle PB transported by the transport chains 21a to 21f and 31a to 31f. When the length of the PET bottle PB in the width direction is changed, the guide plates 37 and 39 are moved along the support shaft 36 to adjust the distance between the guide plate 37 and the guide plate 39.

The grouping unit 3 includes chains 41 and 43 that are driven to rotate by separate servo motors.
Since the chain 41 and the chain 43 have substantially the same configuration, the driving of the chain 41 will be mainly described. In FIG. 2, the circular orbits of the chain 41 and the chain 43 are shown as being shifted. However, this is for convenience of illustration, and in actuality, the positions of the chain 41 and the chain 43 are shifted in the width direction. However, the orbit is the same.
Sprockets 47 are provided at both ends of the rotating shaft 45 driven by the motor 44. The chain 41 is engaged with the sprockets 47 and 47 at both ends, and the chain 41 is driven to rotate by the rotation of the sprockets 47 and 47. A holding rod 49 is stretched between the pair of chains 41, 41. A plurality of pairs (six pairs in this example) of rod-like fingers 51 and 53 are attached in the longitudinal direction of the holding rod 49. The pair of fingers 51 and the fingers 53 are arranged to face both sides of each of the transport chains 31a to 31d. Two fingers 51 and 53 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the chain 41.

Similarly, the pair of fingers 55 and fingers 57 are arranged to face both sides of each of the transport chains 31a to 31d. Two fingers 55 and 57 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the chain 43. Incidentally, the fingers 51, the fingers 53 are moved at the speed _{V 31.}

  The fingers 51 and 53 and the fingers 55 and 57 are alternately inserted at the insertion position Y. When the dimension of the plastic bottle PB, the number of the plastic bottles PB, and the like are changed and the transport direction length of the article to be packaged 10 is changed, the front-rear direction position of the speed restriction position Z is adjusted. Therefore, the finger insertion timing at the insertion position Y is always constant.

<Controller 60>
The cardboard caser 1 includes a controller 60 that controls operations of the supply unit 2 and the grouping unit 3 as follows.
Controller 60, conveyor 20a~20f is to carry bottles PB at the speed _{V 1,} and controls the rotational driving of the motor 24a~24f conveyor device 20.
Moreover, the controller 60 receives the bottle detection information from each detection part 25a-25f corresponding to the conveyors 20a-20f.

When the controller 60 receives the bottle detection information from each of the detection units 25a to 25f at the same time, the controller 60 determines that the PET bottles PB conveyed by the conveyors 20a to 20f are aligned in a line in the width direction of the conveyor device 20, and performs grouping. The transfer of the plastic bottle PB to the unit 3 is instructed. The transport speed is the speed _{V 1.}
When the controller 60 determines that the PET bottles PB conveyed by the conveyors 20a to 20f are not aligned in a row in the width direction of the conveyor device 20, the conveyor 60 is configured so that the PET bottles PB are aligned in a row in the width direction. The operation of 20a to 20f is controlled. For example, when the detection units 25a to 25e corresponding to the conveyors 20a to 20e detect the plastic bottle PB, but the detection unit 25f corresponding to the conveyor 20f does not detect the plastic bottle PB, the controller 60 It is determined that the conveyance of the plastic bottle PB is delayed on the conveyor 20f, and the operations of the conveyors 20a to 20e are stopped until the detection unit 25f detects the plastic bottle PB. If the detection unit 25f detects the plastic bottle PB, the controller 60 restarts the driving of the conveyors 20a to 20e, and the plastic bottles PB are arranged in a line in the width direction to the grouping unit 3 by the conveyors 20a to 20f. Transport toward.

Controller 60, conveyor 30a~30f is to carry bottles PB at a velocity _{V 2,} for controlling the rotation drive of the motor 34 of the conveyor device 30.
Further, the controller 60, the fingers 51 and 53 (55, 57) is to move in the conveying direction of the bottles PB at the speed _{V 31,} and controls the driving of the motor 44. V ₃₁ has a relationship of V ₂ and V ₃₁ <V ₂ .

<Grouping operation>
Next, the grouping operation of the plastic bottle PB in the supply unit 2 and the grouping unit 3 will be described.
The PET bottles PB filled with beverages are guided by the guide plates 37 and 39 on the transport chains 21a to 21f of the conveyor device 20 (conveyors 20a to 20f), aligned in six rows, and transported downstream. . At this time, the PET bottles PB conveyed by the conveyors 20a to 20f may or may not be aligned in a line in the width direction.
Based on information from the bottle detection sensor 25, the controller 60 controls the operation of the conveyor device 20 so as to convey the PET bottles PB toward the grouping unit 3 in a state of being aligned in a line in the width direction. Conveying speed (conveying chain 21a to 21f) of PET bottles PB by conveyor 20 is _{V 1.} V ₁ is determined by the line capacity, the size of the PET bottle PB, and the number of conveyor rows. For example, if the line capability is 720 bottles / min, the PET bottle PB size is 60 mm, and the number of conveyor rows is 6, 7.2 m / min.

Conveying speed _{V 2} of the conveyor device 30 in the grouping section 3 is faster than the conveyance speed _{V 1} of the conveyor device 20 in the supply unit _{2 (V 1 <V 2)} . Then, the distance _{L 2} of the bottles PB in the conveying direction, _{(including L} 1 = 0) spacing _L 1 in the conveyor device 20 can be widened than. Distance L ₂ is set to the fingers 51, 53 without impinging on the bottles PB can be inserted between the bottles PB. That is, in order to facilitate the insertion of the fingers 51 and 53, faster than the conveyance speed V ₁ of the feed section 2 the conveying speed V ₂ of the grouping section 3. V ₂ may be about 1.5 to 2 times V ₁ (V ₂ = 2V ₁ ).

The fingers 51 and 53 are inserted between the PET bottles PB every four (conveying direction). The chains 41 and 43 are driven at a speed V ₃₁ that is slower than the transport speed V ₂ of the conveyor device 30. Therefore, the top PET bottle PB (1) transported by the conveyor device 30 is speed-controlled by the finger 51 and slides on the transport chains 21a to 21f. That is, the head of the plastic bottle PB (1) will move at a moving speed _{V 31} of the chain 41. The succeeding PET bottle PB moves at the transport speed V ₃₁ (V ₃₁ <V ₂ ) of the transport chains 21a to 21f, so that the succeeding PET bottle PB sequentially comes into contact with the preceding PET bottle PB and the fingers 51, The speed is regulated by 53. Note that the head here means the head of the grouped range.

  At the timing when the fingers 51 and 53 reach a predetermined position and the fourth plastic bottle PB (4) in the transport direction has passed the insertion position Y, the waiting fingers 55 and 57 are the fourth. It is inserted between the PET bottle PB (4) and the fifth PET bottle PB (5). When the fingers 55 and 57 regulate the speed of the fifth and subsequent PET bottles PB, the fingers 51 and 53 increase the moving speed and quickly descend downward.

When fingers 51 and 53 is moved downward, until four th bottles PB (4) Since no longer receives the speed regulation of the fingers 51, 53 will be conveyed at the conveying speed _{V 2} of the conveyor device 30. Therefore, a gap is generated between the subsequent plastic bottles PB whose speed is restricted by the fingers 55 and 57, and grouping is performed.

  2 to 4, since the fingers 51 and 53 regulate the speed of the leading plastic bottle PB (1), it has been described above. However, the fingers 51 and 53 and the fingers 55 and 57 are The speed of the top PET bottle PB is alternately regulated. When the fingers 55 and 57 regulate the speed, the portions described as the fingers 51 and 53 are read as the fingers 55 and 57.

  The 24 grouped PET bottles PB are sent to the accommodating portion 4 as the packaged object 10 (FIG. 1). The article to be packaged 10 is placed (filled) in the container 4 on the corrugated cardboard sheet 9 that is supplied from the sheet take-out part 11 with the downstream side in the conveying direction. The case 12 filled with the article to be packaged 10 in the accommodating portion 4 is conveyed by the case conveying portion 5 on the conveying path 13 in the direction of the arrow. While the case 12 is being conveyed by the case conveying unit 5, the corrugated cardboard sheets are sequentially bent and joined by the forming unit 6 to be finished into a package 14.

  Here, the PET bottle PB whose speed is restricted by the fingers 51 and 53 tries to move in the transport direction in response to the driving force of the conveyor device 30, so that the preceding PET bottle PB is moved by the force to move. Pressure is applied. However, according to the present embodiment, grouping is performed every four bottles, and therefore, the pressure received by the leading plastic bottle PB (1) in the grouped plastic bottles PB is at most the following three plastic bottles. It is only by PB. Therefore, even if the plastic bottle PB is made of a soft and easily deformable material, there is no risk of deformation.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, since the supply part 2 which can group the PET bottle PB reliably is provided, the corrugated cardboard caser 1 can implement a stable packaging operation.

<Example of V ₃₂ > V ₂ >
In the above embodiment, the moving speed V ₃₂ of the fingers 51 and 53 is made slower than the transport speed V ₂ of the conveyor device 30. However, in the present invention, on the contrary, the PET bottles PB can be grouped even if the moving speed V ₃₂ of the fingers 51 and 53 is faster than the transport speed V ₂ of the conveyor device 30. This will be described with reference to FIG.

The fingers 51 and 53 are inserted between the PET bottles PB every four in the transport direction, as described above. Here, the chains 41 and 43 are driven at a speed V ₃₂ that is faster than the transport speed V ₂ of the conveyor device 30. Therefore, the rear plastic bottle PB (L) transported by the conveyor device 30 is pushed in the transport direction by the finger 51 and transported while sliding on the transport chains 21a to 21f. That is, since the rear plastic bottle PB (L) moves at the moving speed V ₃₂ (V ₃₂ > V ₂ ) of the chain 41, the front plastic bottle PB sequentially contacts and is grouped.

<No bottle detection sensor (1)>
In the above, the controller 60 uses the bottle detection information from the bottle detection sensor 25 to arrange the PET bottles PB in a line in the width direction, and then transfers the PET bottles PB to the grouping unit 3. However, instead of the bottle detection sensor 25, the operator monitors the alignment state of the PET bottles PB, and adjusts the operations of the conveyors 20a to 20f based on the monitoring results, so that the PET bottles PB are aligned in the width direction. It can also be aligned. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, an operation panel 70 is provided for instructing the controller 60 to operate the conveyors 20a to 20f. The worker monitors the alignment state of the PET bottles PB and, for example, determines that the conveyance of the PET bottles PB by the conveyor 20f is delayed, the operation panel 70 stops the operations of the conveyors 20a to 20e. If it is determined that the PET bottles PB are arranged in a line in the width direction, the operator instructs the controller 60 to resume driving of the conveyors 20a to 20e from the operation panel 70. The PET bottles PB arranged in a line in the width direction are conveyed toward the grouping unit 3 by the conveyors 20a to 20f.

<No bottle detection sensor (2)>
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, it is assumed that the PET bottles PB supplied to the grouping unit 3 are aligned in the width direction. However, this is not essential in the present invention. That is, the _{V 2 V 1} of 2.5 times or more, if preferably about 3-fold _(V 2 = 3V _1), as shown in FIG. 7, the preceding PET PB and the subsequent bottle PB The interval can be widened sufficiently. Then, the fingers 51 and 53 (55 and 57) can be inserted without colliding with the plastic bottle PB.

In the above, the speed restriction of the plastic bottle PB in the grouping unit 3 is performed by the fingers 51 and 53, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, any member that can regulate the speed while aligning the PET bottles PB in a line in the width direction is sufficient. For example, a rod-like member inserted between the PET bottles PB from above the PET bottles PB may be used.
Other than this, as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated, the configuration described in the above embodiment can be selected or changed to another configuration as appropriate.

1 ... Corrugated cardboard case 2 ... Supply section
20 ... conveyor device (first conveyor), 20a-20f ... conveyor,
21a-21f ... Conveying chain
24a-24f ... motor, 25 ... bottle detection sensor, 25a-25f ... detection unit 3 ... grouping unit
30 ... conveyor device (second conveyor), 30a-30f ... conveyor,
31a to 31d ... transport chain, 34 ... motor, 41, 43 ... chain,
51, 53, 55, 57 ... Finger, 60 ... Controller, 70 ... Operation Panel 4 ... Storage Unit, 5 ... Case Conveying Unit, 6 ... Molding Unit, 11 ... Sheet Extraction Unit, 13 ... Conveying Path

Claims (3)

A first conveyor for conveying are arranged in a plurality of columns, and the articles supplied in succession in the conveying direction at a first velocity V _1,
The articles conveyed on the first conveyor are sequentially transferred and conveyed at a second speed V ₂ that is faster than the first speed V ₁ to thereby move the articles conveyed on the first conveyor. A second conveyor for conveying the article at an interval wider than the interval in the conveying direction;
In the second conveyor, it is inserted every predetermined number of the articles in the transport direction and moves in the transport direction at a third speed V ₃₂ faster than the second speed V ₂ , or the second speed V Grouping means that moves in the transport direction at a third speed V ₃₁ that is slower than _2, and narrows the interval in the transport direction of a predetermined number of articles;
Comprising a, in the first conveyor, in the article to be transferred to the second conveyor, after aligning the article located at the head of each column, by transferring the article to the second conveyor Rukoto An article conveying apparatus characterized by the above. The first conveyor is composed of a plurality of unit conveyors that are driven independently corresponding to each of the plurality of rows,
The article conveying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the articles positioned at the head of each row are aligned by controlling driving of the plurality of unit conveyors. A bottle detection sensor for detecting the position of the article located at the top of each row;
The article conveying apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the articles positioned at the head of each row are aligned by controlling driving of the plurality of unit conveyors based on a detection result of the bottle detection sensor. .

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