JP6069286B2 - Bag accumulation device and bag dispensing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bag accumulator and a bag dispensing system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bag accumulating device and a bag distribution system for conveying bags one by one and stacking the conveyed bags.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a packaging bag accumulating device that accumulates a predetermined number of packaging bags for each conveyance line, which are continuously supplied in a certain conveyance cycle in the conveyance line.

  The packaging bag accumulating device receives a packaging bag supplied from the conveying line, a primary accumulating unit for accumulating up to the primary accumulating number N1, and receiving the packaging bag from the primary accumulating unit, and further integrating the packaging bags supplied from the conveying line. And a secondary stacking unit that stacks up to a specified number N2. The packaging bag assembly accumulated in the secondary accumulation unit is moved to the carry-out position, and is carried out to the subsequent process by the packaging bag assembly carrying-out device.

  When the secondary stacking unit stacks up to the prescribed number N2, the packaging bags supplied next from the transport line are stacked in the empty primary stacking unit. The packaging bag assembly is moved from the secondary accumulation unit to the packaging bag assembly carrying-out device while the packaging bags are accumulated until the primary accumulation number N1 is reached in the primary accumulation unit. .

JP 2011-84328 A

  If bags can be quickly accumulated in a station, a system in which a bag making machine for producing bags and an apparatus for collecting bags can be continuously constructed can be constructed.

  However, the higher the speed of conveyance, the greater the kinetic energy due to conveyance, making it difficult to align and stack the stations. In general, since bags are light and soft, it is difficult to align the bags because they are subjected to wind pressure during transportation and the bags flutter.

  Also, in Patent Document 1, two places for stacking bags are prepared, and while one is being discharged, the other is stacked with a bag. However, if one of the bags malfunctions, the whole must be stopped. For example, it is difficult to create a time allowance to deal with the problem.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a bag stacking device and a bag distribution system that can align stacked bags despite stacking at a high speed and provide a time allowance that can deal with defects. Objective.

(1) A bag stacking device according to the present invention is a bag stacking device for transporting and stacking flat folded bags to a front station and stacking the bag, and a belt conveyor provided with a suction device for sucking the bags The suction device sucks the upper surface of the bag, releases the suction during transport, and releases the bag in the transport direction by inertia, and the released bag is the station. The front end of the bag is aligned by hitting a stopper provided on the bag.

(2) In such a bag stacking device, it is preferable that the station is provided with a slope that is lowered forward in the carrying direction of the bag, and the stopper is provided near the front end of the slope.

(3) And it is preferable that the said suction means attracts | sucks the site | part ahead of the bag containing the gravity center of the said bag.

(4) The bag distribution system of the present invention conveys the flatly folded bag and has a conveying device having an insertion path for inserting the bag into the lower surface, and the above-described arrangement disposed below the conveying device. A stacking device and a guide device for turning the bag toward the insertion path while curving the bag downward, and the upper surface of the guided bag is sucked by the suction device of the stacking device It is characterized by that.

(5) And the said conveying apparatus has a some insertion path along a conveyance direction, The said guidance apparatus is each provided in those insertion paths, Each bag guided with those guidance apparatuses It is preferable that each of the integrated devices corresponding to the above is provided.

(6) Further, a bag distribution system for distributing bags to a predetermined station in order to stack the bags folded flat into a front station, transporting the bags folded flat, and A conveying device having an insertion passage that is inserted into the lower surface; a guide device that guides the bag to the insertion passage while curving the bag downward; and a suction device that is disposed below the conveying device and sucks the curved bag. And a stacking device for stacking the bags in the station by carrying.

(7) And a detection sensor for detecting that the bag has reached the set position, a bag number counting means for acquiring the number of bags reached based on the detection of the detection sensor, and the acquired bag Selection means for selecting one guide device based on a database registered in advance using numbers, and operating the guide device selected by the selection means to select the arrived bag as the selected guide What is integrated in the station corresponding to an apparatus is preferable.

(8) Further, at least three stations are provided, and by selecting the guide device based on the database, the ratio of the number of bags accumulated in those stations is set to the ratio of large, medium, and small, respectively. What is distributed so that it becomes is preferable.

(9) Another aspect of the bag distribution system of the present invention is a bag distribution system for distributing bags to a predetermined station in order to stack flat folded bags on a front station, and transporting the bags A conveying device for carrying out the operation, a guiding device provided for each station to guide the conveyed bag to a predetermined station, a detection sensor for detecting that the bag has reached a set position, and a detection sensor A bag number counting means for acquiring the number of bags reached based on detection, and a selection means for selecting one guide device based on a database registered in advance using the acquired number of bags. The station is composed of at least three stations, and the proportion of bags accumulated in these stations is divided into large, medium and small proportions, respectively. Are, it is characterized in that.
Here, the middle of the ratio of the number of accumulation points to a ratio between large and small, and includes the same number of bags as the ratio of large and small. It should be noted that when a large percentage of stations are full, they are not filled. Such a percentage of stations, for example, earn time for removing a bundle of bags from a full station.

(10) An image device that acquires image information of the bag, an image acquisition unit that acquires image information from the image device based on detection by the detection sensor, and the acquired image information are registered in advance. It is preferable that the determination means for determining the presence / absence of a bag defect based on the image information and the bag number counting means to acquire the bag number of the bag having no defect.

(1) Since the bag stacking apparatus of the present invention floats the bag, it is easy to stack on the bag already stacked. Also, the bag is moved in the conveyance direction by the inertial force that releases the bag, the movement in the conveyance direction is braked by the air resistance that gently falls, and then the front end is struck against the stopper by the remaining inertial force. Since they can be aligned, the mechanism is simple.

(2) In such a bag stacking device, when the station has a slope that is lowered forward in the bag transport direction and the stopper is provided near the front end of the slope, the drop distance of the front end Even if the rear end hangs down, it is possible to slide the bag almost diagonally downward or by sliding downward along the upper surface of the already stacked bag. You can guide the bag securely.

(3) And, when the suction means is sucking the part ahead of the center of gravity including the center of gravity of the bag, the floating center of gravity is thrown out, so that the inertial force is effectively applied and released. Can do.

(4) Since the bag distribution system of the present invention can bend the bag with the guide device and direct the tip of the bag toward the insertion path, the direction of the bag can be easily changed.

(5), (6) And, in the bag distribution system of the present invention, the transport device has a plurality of insertion passages along the transport direction, and the guide devices are respectively provided in the insertion passages. In addition, since the stacking devices corresponding to the respective bags guided by these guide devices are provided, it is easy to distribute the bags to a plurality of stations while guiding the bags downward.

(7) And a detection sensor for detecting that the bag has reached the set position, a bag number counting means for acquiring the number of bags reached based on the detection of the detection sensor, and the acquired bag Selection means for selecting one guide device based on a database registered in advance using numbers, and operating the guide device selected by the selection means to select the arrived bag as the selected guide When collecting in a station corresponding to the apparatus, the efficiency of distributing bags is high.

(8), (9) Since at least three stations are provided, the number of bags accumulated in those stations is distributed at a ratio of large, medium, and small, respectively, according to the selection of the guide device based on the database. The bundle of bags can be discharged in order from a large number of stations. And even if one station is discharging, since the bag can be distributed to the remaining two stations, intermittent operation is easy.
Furthermore, even if a failure occurs in one station, it can be accumulated in the remaining two stations, so that a time margin for dealing with the failure can be obtained.

(10) Further, an image device that acquires image information of a bag, an image acquisition unit that acquires image information from the image device based on detection by the detection sensor, and the acquired image information are registered in advance. If the determination means for determining the presence or absence of a bag defect based on the image information and the bag count counting means obtain the number of bags with no defect, the defective bag or the bag that is likely to be defective is separated. In addition, intermittent operation is possible.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the distribution system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the hardware configuration of the distribution system. FIG. 3 is a schematic process diagram showing how the inner patch and the outer patch are attached to the cylindrical member. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the distribution system. FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing details of the receiving conveyor and the first conveyor of FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view showing details of the vicinity of the third conveyor, the discharge conveyor, and the take-out conveyor of FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a portion X in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a program for determining suitability of a bag appearance based on image information. 9A is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the acquired location information, FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure of the registered location information, and FIG. 9C is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structure showing the data table. FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic process diagram showing how the distribution system operates.

First, the outline of the bag distribution system will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.
The distribution system 100 distributes the bags 20 manufactured by a bag manufacturing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a bag manufacturing machine) (not shown) provided on the right side of the drawing one by one to three stations 41a, 41b, and 41c. They are stacked in one bundle.

  The distribution system 100 includes a transport device 1 that transports the bag 20. The transport device 1 has a plurality of insertion passages 2a, 2b, and 2c that are inserted into the lower surface. Guide devices 3a, 3b, and 3c are provided in the vicinity of these insertion passages to allow the bag 20 to pass through the insertion passages or to guide the insertion passages. Furthermore, below these insertion paths 2a, 2b and 2c, there are respectively provided stacking devices 40a, 40b and 40c provided with the stations.

  Specifically, the distribution system 100 includes a detection sensor 4 that detects that the bag 20 has reached a set position when passing through the vicinity of the entrance of the insertion hole, and the number of bags based on the detection of the detection sensor. And a bag number counting means 5 for acquiring. Furthermore, a selection means 6 for selecting one guide device is provided based on the number of bags acquired by the bag number counting means 5 and a database 50 registered in advance. Then, by operating the guide device selected by the selection means, the bags are accumulated at a station corresponding to the selected guide device.

Further, the distribution system 100 includes an image device 7 that acquires image information of the bag 20. The image information of the image device 7 is acquired by the image information acquisition means 8 based on detection by the detection sensor. Furthermore, a determination unit 9 is provided for determining whether or not there is a bag defect based on the acquired image information and pre-registered image information. And the said bag number counting means 5 is made to acquire the bag number of a bag without a malfunction.
The image information in this embodiment includes at least information related to the position of the outer patch 27 of the bag 20, and the image of the bag 20 itself to which the original outer patch 27 from which position information is extracted in image processing is attached. Contains information. The data structure of the position information will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the distribution system 100 (see FIG. 1) of this embodiment uses a computer. The computer includes a CPU 11. The CPU 11 includes a nonvolatile memory 12, a volatile memory 13, a drive 15 for reading a device 14 such as a storage device (for example, DVD) using light or a storage medium using magnetism, the detection device 4, and an image device. 7 (see FIG. 1) is provided.
A program 18 and an OS 17 (operating system) are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 12.
The program 18 is a program used in the distribution system 100 to realize the distribution of the bags. The program 18 operates using the function of the OS 17. The program 18 and the OS 17 are stored in the DVD 14, for example, and are installed in the nonvolatile memory 12 via the drive 15.
Further, the non-volatile memory 12 stores position information of the outer patch 27 (see FIG. 3) pasted at an appropriate position created in advance.
Note that if the image information acquired by the image device 7 is stored in the non-volatile memory 12, it is possible to grasp the state of application of the outer patch in a bag that does not exist at the time of shipment, and track product management Can do.

  Next, the outline | summary of the bag 20 distributed with this distribution system is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 3, the bag 20 is formed by closing the opening 22 at the front end of the cylindrical member 21. Specifically, the front end of the cylindrical member 21 is folded back so as to form a symmetrical trapezoidal shape including the projecting pieces 25, 25 on the opposite side walls 24a, 24b. That is, while raising the upper side wall 24a in the vicinity of the opening 22 at the front end, and forming triangular development portions 26 and 26 having apexes outward at both corners of the raised portion, the inner surface of the raised portion of the side wall 24a Is folded back so that its back surface is in contact with the same side wall 24a. Reference numeral 23a in the drawing indicates a portion that is folded back to have a substantially hexagonal outline. The inner patch 23 is affixed to the part 23a. Then, the protruding piece 25 is folded from above the pasted inner patch 23, the outer patch 27 is stuck from the folded back, the opening 22 is closed, and the bag 20 is folded flat as a whole. The bag 20 is manufactured from the bag making machine and is transported with the outer patch 27 side as the head.

As shown in FIG. 4, the conveying device 1 includes a short receiving conveyor 28 that receives bags conveyed from the bag making machine, and a long distribution conveyor 30 that follows the receiving conveyor 28. The distribution conveyor 30 includes a first conveyor 30a, a second conveyor 30b, and a third conveyor 30c connected in series in order from the upstream side. Further, a discharge conveyor 29 for discharging defective bags is connected to the tip of the third conveyor 30c.
In this embodiment, the receiving conveyor 28 and the discharge conveyor 29 are short, but may be longer than the distribution conveyor.
Since the receiving conveyor 28 and the distribution conveyors 30a, 30b, and 30c used in the transport apparatus 1 are substantially the same, the first conveyor 30a will be described, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same parts as the first conveyor for the other conveyors. The description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first conveyor 30a includes an upper conveyor 31a and a lower conveyor 31b. The bag 20 (see FIG. 1) is sandwiched and conveyed between the upper and lower conveyors.

Rollers 32a and 32b are provided at the front and rear ends of the upper conveyor 31a, respectively. Here, the upstream side of the flow of the bag 20 is the rear side, and the downstream side is the front side. An upper belt 33 is suspended between these rollers. The front roller 32a is connected to a motor to drive the belt. Further, a plurality of pressing rollers 32c are provided at substantially equal intervals between the front and rear rollers 32a and 32b. These pressing rollers 32c urge the upper belt 33 downward from the inside.

The lower conveyor 31b is provided with front and rear rollers 34a and 34b, and a lower belt 35 is suspended between them. Further, a plurality of receiving rollers 34c are provided at positions corresponding to the pressing roller 32c between the rollers 34a and 34b before and after the lower conveyor. These receiving rollers 34c support the urging force of the pressing roller. The front roller 34 a is driven by a motor so as to synchronize the lower belt 35 with the upper belt 33. The bag 20 is sandwiched between the upper and lower conveyors 31a and 31b and conveyed.
Alternatively, the driving force of the upper belt 33 may be transmitted to the lower belt 35 via the bag 20 without driving the lower belt 35 by a motor, and the lower belt 35 may be driven by the upper belt.
The lower conveyor 31b is shorter than the upper conveyor 31a and does not reach the front and rear ends of the upper conveyor 31a. For this reason, a gap larger than the upper conveyor is formed between the adjacent lower conveyors connected in the front-rear direction. A guide device to be described later is disposed in this gap.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the discharge conveyor 29 includes a roller 29a. These rollers 29a are not motor driven. In addition, you may drive the roller 29a so that the bag 20 may be pulled out from the 3rd conveyor 30c.
A discharge table 39 a is provided at the tip of the discharge conveyor 29. The defective bag is conveyed to the discharge table 39a.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the conveying device 1 is provided with an insertion path (see FIG. 1) for passing the bag 20. The first insertion path 2a is between the receiving conveyor 28 and the first conveyor 30a, the second insertion path 2b is between the first conveyor 30a and the second conveyor 30b, and the second insertion path 2b is between the second conveyor 30b and the third conveyor 30c. It is the 3 insertion path 2c.

A guide device (see FIG. 1) for guiding the bag 20 is provided in the vicinity of the insertion path. They are the 1st guide apparatus 3a, the 2nd guide apparatus 3b, and the 3rd guide apparatus 3c in order from the base end side. Since the respective guide devices 3a, 3b, and 3c are the same, the first guide device 3a will be described, and for the other guide devices, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 7, the first guide device 3a includes a guide portion 36 fixed to the frame of the receiving conveyor 28, a lower guide path 37 provided at the front end of the lower conveyor 31b, and a rear end of the upper conveyor 31a. And an upper guide path 38 provided on the road.

The guide portion 36 includes an actuator 36a and a guide plate 36b whose tip is moved up and down around the base end by the actuator. The guide plate 36b is raised so that the plate surface is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the lower conveyor and a gap is formed between the guide plate 36b and the lower conveyor. Thereby, the bag 20 passes on the 1st insertion path 2a, without disturbing the movement of the bag 20 conveyed.
On the other hand, when the front end of the guide plate 36b is directed obliquely downward and the plate surface is disposed in parallel with the lower guide path 37, the tip of the bag 20 hits the guide plate 36b. Thereby, the bag 20 is guided to the insertion path 2a obliquely downward while curving from the vicinity of the front end.

The lower guide path 37 is a belt conveyor having a slope inclined forward and downward. The roller 37b at the rear end of the belt conveyor is coaxial with the roller 34 at the front side of the lower conveyor, and is driven by a motor. On the other hand, the front roller 37a is disposed in the vicinity of the rear end of a suction conveyor described later. A lower guide path belt 37c is hung between the rollers 37a and 37b.
A slope plate 37d disposed along the inner surface of the lower guide path belt 37c is provided on the inner side of the belt above the lower guide path belt 37c. The slope plate 37d receives a biasing force of a pull-in roller 38b described later from the inner surface side of the lower guide path belt 37c.
Furthermore, at the front end of the lower guide path 37, an introduction plate 37e that guides the bag 20 to a suction device of a suction conveyor described later extends. The introduction plate 37e is provided with two pressing rollers 37f, 37f that press the bag 20 against the suction device.

  The upper guide path 38 is provided at the rear end of the lower conveyor 31b of the second conveyor. A downward slope 38 a parallel to the lower guide path 37 is provided. A drawing roller 38c is provided below the slope. The pull-in roller 38b is urged toward the lower guide path belt 37c and sandwiches the bag 20 with the lower guide belt 37c.

In the vicinity of the insertion path 2a of the upper conveyor 31a, two bag detection sensors are provided side by side. The front and rear detection sensors 19a and 19b are provided above the upper conveyor 31a. When the rear detection sensor 19b detects the front end of the bag 20, the actuator 36a of the guide portion 36 is operated, and the guide plate 36b is lowered.
On the other hand, after the subsequent detection sensor 19b acquires the detection signal, the previous detection sensor 19a detects the detection signal, and when the detection signal disappears thereafter, the bag 20 passes under the previous detection sensor 19a. To be judged. This raises the guide plate 36b.

Returning to FIG. 4, an accumulation device is provided below the insertion paths 2a, 2b, and 2c. These integrated devices are referred to as a first integrated device 40a, a second integrated device 40b, and a third integrated device 40c in order from the upstream one.
Since each stacking device is common, the first stacking device 40a below the first conveyor 30a will be described. The first stacking device 40a includes a first station 41a and a suction belt conveyor 45 that sucks and conveys the bag 20 in order to convey the bag 20 to the station.

As shown in FIG. 5, the suction belt conveyor 45 includes a suction device (hereinafter referred to as a suction belt 45a). A fine hole (not shown) is formed in the suction belt 45a, and air is sucked into the vacuum generator (not shown) from the hole.
The suction belt conveyor 45 is not normally operated. By the detection of the later detection sensor 19b, the operation of the suction belt 45a and the buffer tank for vacuum (not shown) and the hole of the suction belt 45a are communicated to start the operation and vacuum of the suction belt 45a. Then, based on the passage of the bag by the previous detection sensor 19a, the operation and vacuum of the suction belt 45a are stopped.
Thus, since the bag 20 is floated by being sucked by the suction belt 45a, it can be easily stacked on the already stacked bags. Also, the bag is moved in the carrying direction by the inertial force that releases the sucked bag 20, and the movement in the carrying direction is braked by the air resistance that gently falls, and then the front end is moved to the stopper 43 by the remaining inertial force. Since the tips can be aligned by hitting, the mechanism is simple.

  Returning to FIG. 4 again, the stations are a first station 41a, a second station 41b, and a third station 41c in order from the rear side. Since these three stations 41a, 41b, and 41c are the same, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first station 41 a is a belt conveyor provided at the front end. In other words, the upper surface of the belt conveyor has a slope that falls forward. On both side edges of the belt conveyor, guides 42 for restricting the movement of the bags to be collected in the left-right direction (station width direction) are provided. A stopper 43 against which the front end of the bag 20 collides is provided at the front end of the station. An alignment stopper 44 for the bag 20 is provided at the rear end of the station 41a. The lower end of the stopper 43 is connected to the actuator 43a. For this reason, it is possible to stand up or tilt around the lower end as the rotation center. In FIG. 5, the stopper 43 is tilted.
Furthermore, the alignment stopper 44 knocks and aligns the vicinity of the rear end of the accumulated bag 20 using a pneumatic cylinder 44a.
The belt conveyor may not be lowered forward. For example, it may be flattened or moved forward.

As shown in FIG. 4, a take-out conveyor is connected to the front end of each station. The take-out conveyor is a belt conveyor. The take-out conveyors are a first take-out conveyor 10a, a second take-out conveyor 10b, and a third take-out conveyor 10c in order from the upstream.
Further, on the downstream side of the third take-out conveyor, an accumulation conveyor 39b on which bags accumulated at each station are placed is provided.

The third take-out conveyor 10c can change its inclination angle with the downstream side as the center of rotation by raising and lowering its rear end side in the vertical direction by a pneumatic cylinder 10d (see FIG. 6). That is, when the upstream side is raised, it is connected to the front end of the third station 41c, and the discharge path C to the stacking conveyor 39b is formed.
On the other hand, when the rear end side is lowered, the rear end is connected to the front end of the second take-out conveyor 10b.

Further, the inclination of the second take-out conveyor 10b can be changed with the rear end as the rotation center by the same configuration as the third take-out conveyor. That is, when it is raised, it is connected to the tip of the second station 41b, and when the third take-out conveyor 10c is lowered (two-dot chain line), a discharge path B from the second station 41b to the stacking conveyor 39b is formed. The
Further, when the second take-out conveyor 10b is lowered (two-dot chain line) and connected to the front end of the first take-out conveyor 10a, and the third take-out conveyor 10c is lowered (two-dot chain line), the first A discharge path A from the station 41a to the stacking conveyor 39b is formed.

  The detection sensor 4 (see FIG. 1) is a magnetic sensor provided on the receiving conveyor 28. Since the bags flow from the bag making machine at intervals, the amount of magnetism (such as magnetic flux density) varies between the paper bags and the metal rollers of the receiving conveyor 28. Using the change in which the detected magnetic amount becomes small, it is detected that the tip of the bag (see FIG. 3) has reached the position where the image information should be acquired by the image device 7. In addition, as a sensor which detects the space | interval of a bag, you may use a laser beam (photo sensor) or another conventionally well-known sensor.

  The distribution system 100 includes an image device 7 that acquires image information of the bag 20. The image device 7 is a device that acquires image information such as a CCD camera. And the sticking position of an outer patch is acquired as image information. The acquisition of the image information is performed by the image information acquisition means when the detection sensor 4 (see FIG. 2) detects that the bag 20 has reached the position where the acquisition should start, that is, the imaging area of the CCD camera. , And is taken into the volatile memory 13. The detection sensor 4 is provided on a frame or the like in the vicinity of the receiving conveyor 28.

Next, processing executed in the distribution system 100 (see FIG. 1) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8 and the block diagram of FIG.
When the CPU 11 (see FIG. 2) detects a signal that the detection sensor has arrived when the bag 20 (see FIG. 1) reaches a preset position, the detection information acquisition means 4a acquires the detected information. (S1).
When the detection information is acquired by the detection information acquisition means 4a, the image information acquisition means 8 takes in the image information from the image device 7 (S2).
The CPU 11 performs a process of extracting information related to the position of the outer patch 27 in the bag 20 from the acquired image information (S3). Specifically, position information 51 relating to the distance from the front edge and both side edges of the bag 20 to the periphery of the outer patch 27 attached is extracted.
Next, the previously registered position information 52 is called from the nonvolatile memory 12 (S4).

FIG. 9 a shows an example of the data structure of the position information 51. The data structure includes an ID assigned to each bag, a distance from the front edge of the bag 20 to the outer patch edge, a distance from the right edge of the bag to the outer patch edge, and a distance from the left edge to the outer patch edge. Consists of. These codes correspond to position information extracted from the image information.
Further, FIG. 9b shows a data structure of the position information 52 as a reference registered in advance. The data structure includes a pattern ID, a distance from the front edge, a distance from the right edge, and a distance from the left edge. A plurality of registered position information is stored according to the size and type of the bag to be manufactured.

Returning to FIG. 8, the called position information is compared with the acquired position information (S5). If the acquired position information is within a predetermined error range with respect to the registered position information, it is determined that there is no problem (S6).
In the present embodiment, the error range is set to 3% or less. Specifically, the registered position information (see FIG. 2) and the distance data from the outer patch which is the acquired position information, that is, the values shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b are subtracted, and the absolute value thereof is the value of the position information. The value divided by is set to 0.03 (threshold) or less. Other known methods may be adopted as a method for calculating such an error range.

  Note that information indicating that the pasting position is appropriate may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 12. In that case, the information may be stored with an identification number (hereinafter referred to as ID) for each bag. Then, the acquired image information may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 12 after being associated with the ID together with the extracted position information.

If the determination means 9 determines that there is no defect in the bag 20, the bag number counting means 5 counts the reached bags as the number of bags and acquires the number of bags (S7).
The selection means 6 selects one guide device based on the database 50 registered in advance using the acquired number of bags.

As shown in FIG. 9c, the database 50 corresponds to the number of bags and guide devices 3a, 3b, and 3c corresponding to the number of bags.
By selecting a guide device based on this database 50, the bag 20 is distributed to each station.

Returning to FIG. 8, the selection means 6 selects a guide device to be operated based on the database 50 (S8). An operation command is transmitted to the selected guide device 3 (S9).
In the present embodiment, the first station 41c is emptied, and the second station 41b is set to be stacked by a predetermined number more than the third station 41c. In the present embodiment, for example, the predetermined number is 10 to 50, preferably 20 to 30. In the present embodiment, the second station 41b has a large load ratio, the third station 41c is in the middle, and the empty station corresponds to the small. For example, the third station 41c in the above-mentioned ratio earns time for taking out a bundle of bags from a large second station 41b which is full.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed that the error range is exceeded, it is determined that there is a defect (S1).
0).
When the defect is determined, the bag number counting means 5 does not count the bag as the number of bags (S11). For this reason, the guide device is not selected and does not operate. The defective bag passes through the three insertion paths 2a, 2b, and 2c, is discharged from the discharge conveyor 29, and is conveyed to the discharge table 39a.
At this time, for example, an alarm may be displayed on a screen provided in the interface of the distribution system 100, a warning sound may be generated, a lamp may be turned on, or the like may be performed in combination. Further, the image information having a defect is assigned an ID and stored in the nonvolatile memory 12. Furthermore, the image information at that time may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 12 with an ID attached.

  In the above embodiment, the functions shown in FIG. 1 are realized by using the CPU 11 and the program 18 (see FIG. 2), but some or all of them may be realized by a logic circuit.

Next, how the distribution system 100 operates will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in the state R1, the second station 41b of the second stacking device is loaded with two more bags than the third station 41c of the third stacking device. Bags are not collected at the first station 41a. Then, the second take-out conveyor 10b is raised, the third take-out conveyor 10c is lowered, and a discharge path B (see FIG. 4) from the second station 41b to the accumulation conveyor 39b is formed.
Next, when the number of bags accumulated in the second station 41b reaches a predetermined number, the first guide device 3a guides the bags 20 to the empty first station 41a. Further, the stopper 43 of the second station 41b falls down. Then, the belt of the second station 41b operates to carry out the bundle of accumulated bags 20 along the carry-out path B (state R2).
The empty second station 41b is left as it is, and the state where the third station 41c has two more bags than the first station 41a is maintained (state R3). At this time, the discharge path C (see FIG. 4) from the third station 41c to the stacking conveyor 39b is formed by raising the third take-out conveyor 10c.
When the third station 41c is full, the bundle of accumulated bags 20 is carried out, and the bags are supplied to the empty second station 41b (state R4).

Next, how the distribution system operates when a problem occurs will be described.
From the state R1, the second guide device 3b closes the second insertion path 2b (see FIG. 4) when a problem such as the bag 20 being caught in the second station 41b occurs. And the 1st guide apparatus 3a opens the 1st insertion path 2a (refer FIG. 4), and guides the bag 20 to the empty 1st station 41a (state R5).
The accumulation of the bags is such that the number of the already accumulated third stations 41c is increased by a predetermined number. While the bags 20 are accumulated in the first station 41a and the third station 41c, the malfunction of the second station 41b is repaired and emptied (state R2). Subsequently, it progresses to state R4.

The bag 20 may be transported with the outer patch 27 side leading or back.
Further, the entire surface of the bag may be sucked and conveyed by a suction belt conveyor.
Further, the bag may be conveyed so as to drag the vicinity of the center of gravity of the bag without sucking the center of gravity of the bag by the suction belt conveyor. In any case, the tip of the bag is sucked and floated. This makes it easy to superimpose on the already accumulated bags. And the front end can be aligned by hitting the tip of the floating bag against the stopper.
Furthermore, although the front end of the bag is directed downward by the guide device, it may be directed upward. In that case, a station and a suction belt conveyor are arranged above the conveying device. Then, the upper surface of the bag is sucked by the suction belt conveyor, pulled up, and accumulated so as to release the bag to the upper station.

  In the above-described embodiment, the tip portion of the bag 20 is detected by the detection sensor 4, but a mark may be printed in advance on the bag or the outer patch and the mark may be detected.

  As the sensor used for the detection sensor 4, a conventionally known sensor such as an optical type or an electromagnetic type can be used. And each acquisition means has acquired the state change of the information obtained by these sensors. For example, the state change such as ON to OFF or OFF to ON occurring in the sensor is acquired.

Instead of the belt conveyor, a conveyor that drives a plurality of rollers may be used.
Further, the discharge table 39a may function as one station. Further, the station may function as a discharge table.
In the present embodiment, the number of the stations 41 is three, but it is sufficient that the number is two or more, and the insertion path, the guide device, the stacking device, and the like may be changed according to the number of stations to be distributed. At this time, if the discharge table 39a (see FIG. 4) is regarded as one station, it has substantially three stations.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, an empty station is regarded as having a small accumulation amount. However, for example, the difference between the accumulation amounts of small and medium stations may be set to 0-20.

Note that the inclination of the outer patch may be used as the position information acquired by the image acquisition means. Further, instead of using the inclination, for example, the distance from the left edge to the left peripheral edge of the outer patch may be acquired from two different positions.
Further, it may be determined whether the outer patch is turned up. For example, the degree of turning is acquired as a ratio with respect to an appropriate area of the inner patch, and the ratio is compared with a threshold value registered in advance.

  Examples of the adhesive used for bonding the outer patch or the like include an aqueous vinyl acetate polymer emulsion, glue, or ethylene vinyl acetate (ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, EVA).

The sheet material used for the tubular member, the inner patch and the outer patch is a material having high strength, strong tension and elasticity, and hardly stretched, especially a paper material or a resin material (laminate) used for packaging. And kraft paper is particularly preferable.
Further, a synthetic resin layer may be coated on the outer surface of the sheet material. As the synthetic resin layer, polypropylene (including biaxially oriented propylene (OPP), unstretched polypropylene (CPP), etc.), nylon, polyethylene (including linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), etc.), polyethylene terephthalate, etc. A synthetic resin is used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveying device 2 Insertion path 2a 1st insertion path 2b 2nd insertion path 2c 3rd insertion path 3 Guide apparatus 3a 1st guide apparatus 3b 2nd guide apparatus 3c 3rd guide apparatus 4 Detection sensor 4a Detection information acquisition means 5 Number of bags Count means 6 Selection means 7 Image device 8 Image acquisition means 9 Determination means 10a First take-out conveyor 10b Second take-out conveyor 10c Third take-out conveyor 10d Pneumatic cylinder 11 CPU
12 Nonvolatile memory 13 Volatile memory 14 Media 15 Drive 16 Communication circuit 17 OS
18 Program 19a Pre-detection sensor 19b Post-detection sensor 20 Bag 21 Cylindrical member 22 Opening 23 Inner patch 24a, 24b Side wall 25 Projection piece 26 Triangular development part 27 Outer patch 28 Receiving conveyor 29 Discharge conveyor 30a First conveyor 30b Second conveyor 30c Third conveyor 31a Upper conveyor 31b Lower conveyor 32a, 32b Roller 32c Press roller 33 Upper belt 34a Front roller 34b Rear roller 34c Receiving roller 35 Lower belt 36 Guide portion 36a Actuator 36b Guide plate 37 Lower guide paths 37a, 37b Roller 37c Lower guide path belt 37d Slope plate 37e Introducing plate 37f Holding roller 38 Upper guide path 38a Slope 38b Pull-in roller 39a Discharge base 39b Stacking conveyor 40a First stacking device 40b Second stacking device 40c 3 integrated device 41a first station 41b second station 41c the third station 42 the guide 43 stops 43a actuator 44 aligned stopper 44a pneumatic cylinder 45 suction belt conveyor 45a suctioning belt 50 database 51 position information 52 registered position information 100 distribution system

Claims (3)

Conveying a bag folded flat, and a conveying device having an insertion passage for inserting the bag into the lower surface;
A stacking device disposed below the transport device, transporting the bags to a front station and stacking them;
A guide device for turning the bag toward the insertion path while curving the bag downward,
The stacking device includes a belt conveyor provided with a suction device for sucking the bag on the belt, and the suction device sucks the upper surface of the bag and releases the suction during the conveyance, so that the bag is moved by an inertial force. The front end of the bag is aligned by releasing it in the transport direction, and the released bag hits a stopper provided in the station,
The upper surface of the guided bag is sucked by the suction device of the accumulator;
The transport device has a plurality of insertion paths along the transport direction;
The guide devices are respectively provided in those insertion paths,
The stacking device corresponding to each bag guided by the guide device is provided,
A detection sensor for detecting that the bag has reached a set position;
Based on the detection of the detection sensor, a bag number counting means for acquiring the number of bags reached,
Selecting means for selecting one guide device based on a database registered in advance using the acquired number of bags;
The guide device selected by the selection means is operated, and the arrived bag is accumulated in a station corresponding to the selected guide device,
Has at least three stations,
A bag distribution system in which by selecting a guide device based on the database, distribution is performed such that the ratio of the number of bags accumulated in the stations is large, medium, and small. A bag dispensing system that distributes bags to a predetermined station in order to stack flat folded bags to a front station,
A transport device for transporting the bag;
In order to guide the conveyed bag to a predetermined station, a guide device provided for each station and a detection sensor for detecting that the bag has reached a set position;
Based on the detection of the detection sensor, a bag number counting means for acquiring the number of bags reached,
Selection means for selecting one guide device based on a database registered in advance using the acquired number of bags,
The station comprises at least three stations;
A bag distribution system that distributes the bags so that the ratio of the number of bags collected at those stations is large, medium, and small. An image device for acquiring bag image information;
Image acquisition means for acquiring image information from the image device based on detection by the detection sensor;
Determining means for determining the presence or absence of a bag defect based on the acquired image information and pre-registered image information;
The bag distribution system according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the bag number counting means acquires the number of bags having no defects.

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