JP6207925B2 - Discharge device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a discharge device, and more specifically to an apparatus for carrying out an article conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side while changing the conveyance direction.

  As one of the packaging forms, there is a self-supporting package called a standing pouch or the like. The self-supporting package is excellent in ease of product display and display effect, and has recently been in demand. Some of the self-supporting packages have gussets in which standing side edges are folded inward.

  This type of self-supporting package includes, for example, a bag manufacturing process for manufacturing a bag body using a sheet-shaped packaging film, a bag opening process for receiving the manufactured bag body and opening an upper opening, and an opening opening. The bag body is manufactured through a filling process for filling an object to be packaged such as a snack and a sealing process for closing and sealing the opened opening. Each process is appropriately executed while moving the predetermined conveyance path by holding the bag with a clamp attached to an endless chain, a rotary table, or the like.

  The package manufactured through each of the above steps is conveyed to the discharge port while being gripped by the clamp. And when it reaches the discharge port, the clamp releases the grip of the package. Then, a package body falls on the discharge conveyor located below, and is discharged | emitted by the discharge conveyor after that.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-49046

  In the conventional apparatus, since the clamp is released and the package is dropped onto the discharge conveyor, the contents may be damaged when dropped. Moreover, since the packaging body falls freely, for example, when the contents are light, there is a risk that the packaging body will reverse during the fall and change its posture, or the interval between the front and back packaging bodies may shift.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the discharge device according to the present invention includes (1) a downstream side in which an article conveyed from an upstream conveyance device is different in conveyance direction from the upstream conveyance device and has a low conveyance speed. A discharging device for carrying out to a conveying device, comprising: a pushing member extending in a horizontal direction; and a moving device for revolving the pushing member in a horizontal plane, wherein the pushing member is an angle with respect to a moving direction of the revolving movement. The push-feeding member changes an advancing direction of the article by advancing an arc-shaped movement locus, changes the angle, changes the angle, and changes the conveying posture of the push-feeding member, The conveying speed of the article is decelerated by changing the posture in which the arcuate trajectory is tilted rearward in the traveling direction from the standing state standing with respect to the moving direction when viewed on the moving horizontal plane. Made The pushing member corresponds to the push plate 51 in the embodiment. In the embodiment, the moving device is realized by the chain 50, the sprocket 57, the guide plate 58, the drive motor 70, and the like for rotating the chain 50.

  By doing in this way, when a pushing member advances an arc-like movement locus, the course of goods also pushed by the pushing member changes direction. Moreover, since the conveyance speed of the articles | goods by a pushing member declines because a pushing member falls down, an article | item can be smoothly passed at a low speed with respect to a downstream conveyance apparatus.

(2) the mobile device includes an endless chain, said pusher member is connected via the link mechanism in the chain, the chain has an arcuate movement section and linear movement section, The link mechanism may be configured such that the push member is in an upright state when positioned in the arcuate movement section, and the push member is tilted when positioned in the linear movement section. . (3) The chain is configured by connecting a plurality of chain elements, and the link mechanism is connected to the chain element adjacent to the front and rear, and the link is changed in accordance with a change in the relative position of the chain elements adjacent to the front and rear. The mechanism may be operated to change the posture of the pushing member. By doing in this way, since the effect | action and effect of invention of (1) are realizable with a simple structure, it is preferable.

  (4) The transport direction of the upstream transport device and the transport direction of the downstream transport device are orthogonal to each other, and the movement locus of the revolution movement is relative to the orthogonal point of the upstream transport device and the downstream transport device. It is good to arrange so that it may incline 45 degrees. If it does in this way, it will escape from the conveyance surface of a downstream conveyance apparatus, decelerating moderately by falling down moderately, and it can deliver to the downstream conveyance apparatus of goods smoothly.

  According to the present invention, articles conveyed from the upstream side can be decelerated while changing the conveying direction, and can be carried out downstream at a low speed.

It is a top view which shows suitable one Embodiment of the bag making filling packaging machine by which the bag opening apparatus which concerns on this invention is mounted. It is a figure which shows a bag body, (a) is the front view, (b) is the side view. It is a figure which shows a chain and a chain guide. It is a figure explaining opening and closing of a clamp. It is a top view which shows one Embodiment of the discharge device which concerns on this invention. It is the front view. It is the side view. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a chain element. It is a perspective view which shows the waist | hip | lumbar part of a discharge device. It is the side view (sprocket side). It is the side view (guide plate side). It is a figure explaining an effect | action.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a bag-filling and packaging machine on which a discharge device according to the present invention is mounted. As shown in FIG. 1, the bag making and filling machine 10 is sequentially carried out from a bag making device 11 that manufactures a bag body using a belt-like packaging film arranged on the upstream side, and the bag making device 11. And a filling and packaging device 12 that opens an opening with respect to the bag, fills the product, and performs a sealing process.

  The bag making apparatus 11 of the present embodiment folds the position as appropriate while continuously transporting the belt-shaped packaging film and seals and cuts the bag body with the upper part opened and the lower part and the left and right side edges closed. Make a bag. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the bag body 1 has a rectangular shape as a whole, and is folded back on the bottom side to have a W-shaped cross section. Both side edges 1a are sealed in a substantially band shape, and the bottom 1b side is sealed in an arc shape. Thereby, when it finally becomes a package, a bottom part opens and it becomes possible to become independent. And the manufactured bag 1 is continuously carried out from the bag making apparatus 11 without pausing at regular intervals.

  On the carry-out side of the bag making apparatus 11, a crossing conveyor apparatus 5 is arranged. The transition conveyor device 5 includes a belt conveyor 6 that has a belt surface in a vertical plane and revolves along a predetermined path, and an auxiliary belt 7. The belt conveyor 6 has a linear conveyance path on an extension line in the carrying-out direction of the bag body 1 carried out from the bag making apparatus 11. The belt width of the endless belt constituting the belt conveyor 6 is, for example, in accordance with the height of the bag body 1, and it is preferable that a predetermined portion of the bag body 1 carried out from the bag making apparatus 11 is received in contact. . For example, the endless belt may be in contact with a predetermined region on the upper side of the bag body 1, may be in contact with both the upper and lower sides, or may be substantially the entire region except for the upper end portion. The number of belts is arbitrary. For example, the belt surface may have a large number of through holes, a suction device may be installed in the section of the conveyance path, and the bag body 1 may be sucked and held on the belt surface.

  The auxiliary belt 7 includes a narrow endless belt, and sandwiches and holds the upper portion of the bag body 1 with the belt conveyor 6. The auxiliary belt 7 and the belt surface of the belt conveyor 6 are separated on the upstream side (the carry-out end side of the bag making apparatus 11), gradually approach each other as they proceed to the downstream side in the traveling direction, and have an arrangement layout in which they finally come into contact. . Thereby, the bag body 1 carried out from the bag making apparatus 11 smoothly enters between the belt conveyor 6 and the auxiliary belt 7 and moves forward as it is, and is sandwiched and held between the belt conveyor 6 and the auxiliary belt 7, Be transported. Therefore, the bag body 1 is conveyed by the transfer conveyor apparatus 5, and is transferred to the conveyance apparatus 13 of the next-stage filling and packaging apparatus 12 from the top.

  The filling and packaging apparatus 12 receives a bag body sequentially carried out from the bag making apparatus 11 one by one and continuously conveys the bag body through a predetermined path, and is disposed in the middle of the conveyance path of the conveying apparatus 13. A bag opening device 14 that opens the opening, a package supply device 15 that is disposed on the downstream side of the bag opening device 14 and that fills the package in the bag with the opening open, and downstream of the package supply device 15 The sealing device 16 that closes and seals the opening of the opened bag body that is disposed on the side, and the manufactured packaging body that is disposed on the downstream side of the sealing device 16 and is sealed at the upper edge is carried out to the next-stage carry-out line 18 A discharge device 17 or the like is provided.

  The transport device 13 is configured such that clamps 21 are attached at regular intervals to an endless chain 20 that continuously travels horizontally along a predetermined locus. In the present embodiment, the movement trajectory (arrangement layout) of the chain 20 is not a general circular or elliptical shape, but the traveling path is bent at an appropriate position, and is generally triangular. Take the layout.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the chain guide members 25 that define the trajectory of the travel path are arranged on both the left and right sides of the travel path constituting the chain 20. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the chain 20 is formed by connecting a large number of pins 20a arranged in parallel so as to extend vertically, and the upper and lower ends of a pair of adjacent pins 20a are connected to each other. The upper connecting bar 20c and the lower connecting bar 20d are connected to each other to form a substantially rectangular frame, and the adjacent frames are connected to each other by an intermediate connecting bar 20e to form an endless chain 20. And the clamp 21 is attached for every frame.

  The intermediate connection bar 20e cooperates so as to be rotatably supported by a bearing near the center in the vertical direction of the pin 20a of the adjacent frame. By rotating at the cooperation part of the intermediate connection bar 20e, the relative positional relationship between adjacent frames, that is, the angle formed can be changed. A plurality of rollers 20b are bonded to the pins 20a constituting the chain 20 so as to overlap each other. More specifically, a total of four rollers 20b are mounted, two on each of the upper and lower sides of the intermediate connecting bar 20e. The rollers 20b mounted on the same pin 20a are arranged so that a gap is provided above and below them so that the upper and lower rollers 20b do not contact each other.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the chain guide member 25 is formed in a substantially concave shape, and the inner surface serves as a guide surface. The inner peripheral surface of the chain guide member 25 is a guide surface on both the left and right sides of the traveling path. In FIG. 1, the transport device 13 revolves counterclockwise. The left side of the traveling direction is the inside, and the right side of the traveling direction is the outside. And the inner side guide part 25a is provided in two places in the up-down predetermined position on the inner surface located in the advancing direction left side of the chain guide member 25. The two inner guide portions 25a have protrusions protruding toward the inner side (center) arranged along the traveling direction, and the lower roller 20b of the two rollers 20b positioned above the intermediate coupling bar 20e. And the lower roller 20b of the two rollers 20b positioned below the intermediate connecting bar 20e. In addition, the roller 20b that comes into contact with the inner guide portion 25a is not in contact with the inner side surface that is located on the right side in the traveling direction of the chain guide member 25.

  Two outer guide portions 25b are provided at predetermined positions in the upper and lower positions on the outer surface of the chain guide member 25 on the left side in the traveling direction. The two outer guide portions 25b have protrusions protruding inward (center) along the traveling direction, and the upper roller 20b of the two rollers 20b positioned above the intermediate coupling bar 20e. And the upper roller 20b of the two rollers 20b positioned below the intermediate connecting bar 20e. Further, the roller 20b that comes into contact with the outer guide portion 25b is not in contact with the inner surface located on the left side in the traveling direction of the chain guide member 25.

  Thus, when the chain travels, each roller 20b contacts either the inner guide portion 25a or the outer guide portion 25b. The rollers 20b rotate independently of each other without contacting the vertically adjacent rollers 20b. As a result, the chain 20 is guided by the chain guide member 25 and moves along a path defined by the chain guide. That is, for example, in the case of a path that curves to the left in the traveling direction, the roller 20b facing the inner guide portion 25a mainly contacts the movement of the chain 20 along the curved path, and for example, a path that curves to the right in the traveling direction. In this case, the movement of the chain 20 is guided along the curved path by mainly contacting the roller 20b facing the outer guide portion 25b. Further, by providing four rollers 20b on one pin 20a, both the left and right sides in the traveling direction are supported by the two guide portions 25a and 25b at two upper and lower positions, respectively, so that the chain 20 is in a stable standing state. Retained.

  Further, two rollers 20f are rotatably attached to both side surfaces of the upper connecting bar 20c. The two rollers 20f are in contact with the upper surface of the chain guide member 25. Therefore, the movement of the vertical direction is suppressed by the roller 20f, and the chain 20 moves along a desired path in a stable posture.

  By adopting the configuration as described above, the degree of freedom in layout could be improved. In particular, it has become possible to easily adopt a layout in which the conveyance line is bent inward. In other words, if the chain 20 is bent using a sprocket or the like instead of the chain guide member 25, care must be taken so that the bag body 1 held by the clamp 21 does not interfere, and the layout is gently curved. It's difficult to shape. In that respect, if the chain guide member 25 is used, there is no sprocket or the like, so there is no need to consider the interference of the bag body 1 and the shape of the curve can be designed to a desired shape.

  And as for the traveling path of the conveying apparatus 13, the part along the to-be-packaged goods supply apparatus 15 turns into a linear line, and it is trying to make the exclusive area of the conveying apparatus 13 small, taking the supply area of to-be-packaged goods long. .

  As shown in FIG. 4, the clamp 21 includes a pair of clamping claw members 31 that open and close. The clamping claw member 31 is linked to a connection base 32 attached to the upper part of the upper connection bar 20c so as to be freely rotatable. The clamping claw member 31 includes a first arm 33 that is attached to a connection base 32 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 33 a and a second arm 34 that is connected to the first arm 33. The first arm 33 and the second arm 34 can rotate independently of each other.

  The first arm 33 is provided with a cylindrical claw portion 33b having a first operating roller 35 associated with the base end side and a tip protruding inward. Further, the first arm 33 is biased in a direction in which the distal ends approach each other by a spring member (not shown), and when the force for biasing the first operating roller 35 toward the distal end side of the first arm 33 does not work, The reference posture is as shown in FIG. When the first operating roller 35 is pushed toward the connection base 32 from the reference posture, the first arm 33 rotates about the rotation shaft 33a, and a pair of first as shown in FIG. 4B. The arms 33 are in a posture in which their tips are separated and open. Further, the distance between the claw portions 33b at the tip of the first arm 33 at this time is set to be wider than the lateral width of the bag body 1. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the first operating roller 35 is pushed in most. By adjusting the pushing amount of the first operating roller 35, the first arm 33 has the basic posture shown in FIG. It is possible to take a posture at an arbitrary angle from the closed state to the open state shown in FIG. In the closed state shown in FIG. 4A, the distance between the pair of first arms 33 is shorter than the width of the bag body 1, and in the opened state shown in FIG. The distance is longer than the width of the bag body 1, and the distance between the pair of first arms 33 is approximately equal to the width of the bag body 1 when the bag body 1 is in an intermediate position shown in FIG. Slightly shorter).

  When the biasing force on the connection base 32 side with respect to the first operating roller 35 is released from the state shown in FIG. 4C, the first arm 33 is centered on the rotation shaft 33a by the elastic restoring force of the spring member (not shown). Rotates and returns to the reference posture shown in FIG.

  The connection arm 36 is rotatably linked to a rotation shaft 33a that is the rotation center of the first arm 33. The proximal end side of the second arm 34 is connected to the connecting arm 36. The second arm 34 includes a strip-like main arm 34a whose one end is connected to the connecting arm 36, and a claw piece 34b rotatably connected to the tip of the main arm 34a. The claw piece 34b has a connecting pin 34c upright at an intermediate portion thereof, and is rotatably connected to the first arm 33 by the connecting pin 34c. Thus, the second arm 34 is linked to the first arm 33 via the rotation shaft 33a and the connecting pin 34c, and constitutes a link mechanism. Accordingly, the first arm 33 opens and closes together as the first arm 33 opens and closes. Further, a cylindrical claw portion 34 d is installed in a standing state at the tip of the claw piece 34 b, and the bag body 1 can be gripped between the claw portion 34 d and the claw portion 33 b of the first arm 33.

  Further, the second operation roller 37 is attached to an appropriate position of the connecting arm 36. Further, an L-shaped plate 38 is connected to the base end side of the first arm 33, and a coil spring 39 connects the tip of the L-shaped plate 38 and the tip of the main arm 34 a constituting the second arm 34. . Due to the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 39 that tends to contract, an urging force in the direction of pulling the main arm 34a toward the L-shaped plate 38 acts on the main arm 34a. Therefore, when the force for urging the second operating roller 37 toward the distal end side of the second arm 34 does not work, the main arm 34a of the second arm 34 is moved to the L-shaped plate 38 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the claw piece 34b linked to the tip of the main arm 34a rotates around the connecting pin 34c, and the claw portion 34d takes a reference posture in contact with the claw portion 33b of the first arm 33.

  When the second operating roller 37 is pushed toward the front end side from the reference posture state, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the connecting arm 36 rotates around the rotation shaft 33a, and the main arm 34 a moves against the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 39, and the claw piece 34 b rotates around the connecting pin 34 c so that the claw portion 34 d is separated from the claw portion 33 b of the first arm 33. .

  4B and 4C, when the biasing force on the distal end side with respect to the second operating roller 37 is released, the main arm 34a of the second arm 34 is L-shaped by the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 39. It is drawn toward the plate 38 side, rotates around the rotation shaft 33a, and returns to the reference posture shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4C shows a state in which the first operating roller 35 and the second operating roller 37 are both energized, but energizing one or adjusting the energizing amount. Thus, the first arm 33 and the second arm 34 take appropriate postures. Further, the urging force for the first operating roller 35 and the second operating roller 37 is performed by an urging guide plate or other urging means provided at an appropriate position along the conveying path of the conveying device 13.

  The clamp 21 includes a total of four operating rollers, two first operating rollers 35 and two second operating rollers 37, and the height positions of these four operating rollers are set at different positions. . As a result, different urging guide plates can be brought into contact with the four operating rollers, and the presence / absence of urging of the operating rollers can be appropriately set.

  That is, in the section from the downstream side of the discharge device 17 of the transport device 13 to the vicinity of the carry-out side of the bag making device 11, a total of four operating rollers of two first operating rollers 35 and two second operating rollers 37 are The clamp 21 is in non-contact with the urging guide plate, and the clamp 21 is in the closed state of the basic posture shown in FIG.

  In a section on the upstream side of the transfer device 13 in the vicinity of the crossing conveyor device 5, an urging guide plate that contacts the first operation roller 35 and the second operation roller 37 and urges the tip end side is arranged along the transfer path. Yes. Thereby, the clamping claw member 31 of the clamp 21 is opened, that is, the state shown in FIG. 4C in which the tips of the first arms 33 are separated from each other and the claw portions 33b and 34d of both arms 33 and 34 are separated. Become. In this state, when the section parallel to the crossing conveyor device 5 is reached, the bag body 1 and the clamp 21 move at the same speed while the bag body 1 is positioned between the pair of first arms 33 of the clamp 21. So that the operation is controlled.

  During this movement, the distance by which the first operating roller 35 is pushed toward the connection base 32 is decreased so that the opening amount of the first arm 33 is equal to or slightly wider than the lateral width of the bag body 1, and the second operating roller 37. The two claws 33b and 34d are closed using the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 39 and both ends of the bag body 1 are gripped. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, the bag body 1 is held tightly by the clamps 21 in a tensioned state, and thereafter, the bag body 1 is conveyed along with the movement of the clamps 21.

  The bag opening device 14 includes a pair of suction cups (a first suction cup 14a and a second suction cup 14b) and a drive device 14c that rotates the first suction cup 14a and the second suction cup 14b along a predetermined locus in a horizontal plane. The drive device 14c uses a servo motor as a drive source, and transmits the rotation output of the servo motor to a support member 14d disposed along the movement path of the bag body 1 through a power transmission mechanism including a cam and a link mechanism. The structure to be taken is taken. The support member 14d rotates and moves along the predetermined locus. Then, the first suction cup 14a and the second suction cup 14b are attached to the support member 14d, respectively. Thereby, the first suction cups 14a and the second suction cups 14b attached to the pair of support members 14d are approached while maintaining the state where the suction surfaces face each other, and the suction surfaces are brought to both outer surfaces of the opening of the bag body 1. It contacts and adsorb | sucks, and it leaves | separates, moving forward, following the movement of the bag body 1 in the adsorbed state. Therefore, the opening part of the bag body 1 is pulled and pulled by the first suction cup 14a and the second suction cup 14b.

  In addition, the distance between both ends of the clamp 21 of the transport device 13 is narrowed in accordance with the opening operation of the first suction cup 14a and the second suction cup 14b, so that the opening of the bag body 1 is easily opened. And since the conveyance apparatus 13 moves the clamp 21 in the state which narrowed the space | interval of the both ends of the clamp 21 in this way after passing the bag opening apparatus 14, the bag body 1 is transferred with the opening part opened. Is done. In other words, in a predetermined section after the installation position of the bag opening device 14, there is no urging guide plate that contacts the first operating roller 35 and the second operating roller 37 and urges toward the distal end side of the clamp 21. As a result, the clamp 21 is in the reference posture, and the reference posture is maintained by the action of the spring member and the coil spring 39.

  The package supply device 15 gradually tilts while moving the cup along a straight line of the transport device 13 while holding a cup to which a packaged product such as snack confectionery is supplied in a fixed amount. The cup is tilted to supply the packaged material supplied in the cup into the bag body from the opening of the bag body, and the bag body 1 is filled with a predetermined inert gas. While passing through the article supply device 15, the bag body 1 maintains a state where the upper opening is opened by the clamp 21. A sealing device 16 that seals the bag body is installed on the downstream side of the package supply device 15. The transport device 13 slightly moves the first arm 33 of the clamp 21 at a position immediately before the sealing device 16. A process of opening and closing the opening of the bag is performed.

  The packaged article supply device 15 conveys the product filling device main body 24 arranged along the region where the travel path of the chain 20 is linear, and the cup 3 to which the packaged article is supplied. A cup transport and supply device 26 that passes one by one to the product filling device main body 24 and a cup unloading device 27 that receives and transports empty cups 3 transported from the product filling device main body 24 are provided. Although not shown, an article supply device for the cup is disposed between the downstream side of the cup carry-out device 27 and the upstream side of the cup conveyance supply device 26, and a plurality of quantified quantities constituting the packaged items are arranged. Articles are fed into the cup. Thereby, the to-be-packaged product supply apparatus 15 supplies a fixed quantity of to-be-packaged object to a cup with the said article supply apparatus first. Then, the cup transport and supply device 26 transports the cups containing the articles to be packaged in a single row, and passes the cups to the product filling device main body 24 one by one from the top in time. The cup passed to the product filling device main body 24 moves along a straight line. At this time, the cup is tilted by gradually inwardly inclining from the horizontal state while the cup is transported in a state where the bottom is held by one of a plurality of circulating cup holders, and finally the cup The entire bottom is positioned above the upper opening of the cup. Therefore, the article to be packaged in the cup falls from the cup and is filled in the bag body 1. Thereafter, the cup holding portion gradually returns to the horizontal state, so that the bottom portion of the empty cup is lowered and the cup posture is restored. And the cup carrying-out apparatus 27 receives the empty cup 2 carried out from the product filling apparatus main body 24, conveys it in a single row, and conveys it to the article supply apparatus for the cup.

  The sealing device 16 that seals the upper portion of the bag body 1 to seal the bag body 1 includes a primary sealing device 22 and a secondary sealing device (cooling device) 23 that are arranged along the conveying direction of the bag body 1. Both the primary seal device 22 and the cooling device 23 include a pair of bar sealers and a drive device that revolves the bar sealers along a predetermined locus in a horizontal plane. The bar sealer is disposed so as to extend in the same direction as the carrying direction of the bag. Then, the pair of bar sealers approach each other to pinch the upper end of the bag body 1 and move in the transport direction in accordance with the transport of the bag body 1 in that state, and then the bar sealers separate from each other and the phase direction of the bag body Moves in the opposite direction to return to the original position. As a result, the upper end of the bag body is sandwiched between a pair of bar sealers for a certain period of time in the primary seal device 22 and heated and pressurized, and then the seal portion is sandwiched and cooled by the water-cooled bar sealer in the cooling device 23 and formed on the seal surface. The seal eyes are formed with the formed goza eyes. Stable sealing can be performed by cooling the sealing part.

  Further, a hole punch device, a trimming cutter device, and the like are disposed on the downstream side of the sealing device 16. The hole punching device punches the central portion sealed by the sealing device 16 to form a hole. The trimming cutter device performs a process of cutting the corners of the bag body into a curved shape. As a result, the pouch 4 is manufactured as a package in which the items to be packaged are hermetically stored.

  The carry-out line 18 is arranged on the downstream side of the linear section where the travel path seal device 16 and the like of the transport apparatus 13 are installed, and is directed to the outside of the transport apparatus 13 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the linear travel path. Arranged to extend. The carry-out line 18 includes a discharge conveyor 40 that forms a conveyance surface, a left side guide rail 41 that is disposed at a predetermined position above the discharge conveyor 40, and a right side guide rail 42. Three left side guide rails 41 are arranged vertically on the left side in the traveling direction of the discharge conveyor 40. One right side guide rail 42 is arranged on the right side in the traveling direction of the discharge conveyor 40. The right side guide rail 42 is arranged in parallel to the same height position with a predetermined distance from the uppermost left side guide rail 41.

  For example, the height position of the transport surface of the discharge conveyor 40 may be adjusted to the position of the bottom surface of the pouch 4 that is gripped and transported by the clamp 21. In this way, the pouch 4 released from the clamp 21 moves smoothly to the discharge conveyor 40 side without being dropped and supplied.

  Further, on the right side on the downstream side of the discharge conveyor 40, a carry-out path 43 extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction is provided. The carry-out path 43 is a downward inclined slope. In the present embodiment, two carry-out paths 43 are arranged along the transport direction. Then, the pouch 4 that moves on the discharge conveyor 40 slides down the carry-out path 43 with the bottom part down, and is supplied to the next step. The means for sending out the pouch 4 to the carry-out path 43 reciprocates in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction on the conveyance surface of the discharge conveyor 40 and the direction changing guide plate 44 arranged obliquely so as to block the conveyance surface of the discharge conveyor 40. And a pusher plate 45 that moves.

  The direction changing guide plate 44 and the pusher plate 45 are both installed so as to contact the lower part of the pouch 4. The direction changing guide plate 44 is disposed at a position facing the carry-out path 43 on the front side in the traveling direction of the discharge conveyor 40. Thereby, it is conveyed on the discharge conveyor 40 in an upright state. At this time, the left and right both sides in the traveling direction of the pouch 4 are guided by being sandwiched between the left side guide rail 41 and the right side guide rail 42, and move on the discharge conveyor 40 in a stable standing state. Then, the pouch 4 moves to the downstream side of the discharge conveyor 40, and when the lower part of the side surface of the pouch 4 comes into contact with the direction changing guide plate 44, the course is converted to the diagonal right. At this time, since the upper part of the pouch 4 is guided by the right side guide rail 42 and the left side guide rail 41 at the upper end, the lower part of the pouch 4 moves to the right in the traveling direction in advance. Thereby, the bottom side of the pouch 4 is led to the carry-out path 43 in advance, and slides down on the carry-out path 43.

  Further, the pusher plate 45 reciprocates so as to cross over the conveying surface of the discharge conveyor 40 by a predetermined driving device. The drive device includes a drive motor 46 and a power conversion mechanism 47 that converts the rotational output of the drive motor 46 into a reciprocating motion. The power conversion mechanism 47 is housed in the box, but may be configured using, for example, a gear and a link. Further, the locus of the pusher plate 45 that is moved by receiving the force of the power conversion mechanism 47 may be moved in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the discharge conveyor 40 in addition to the direction crossing the conveying surface described above.

  By doing so, the pusher plate 45 moves in the same direction as the discharge conveyor 40 at the timing when the pouch 4 has moved to a position facing the carry-out path 43 on the rear side in the traveling direction of the discharge conveyor 40. And the lower portion of the side surface of the pouch 4 is pushed out toward the carry-out path 43. At this time, since the upper part of the pouch 4 is guided by the right side guide rail 42 and the left side guide rail 41 at the upper end, the lower part of the pouch 4 moves to the right in the traveling direction in advance. Thereby, the bottom side of the pouch 4 is led to the carry-out path 43 in advance, and slides down on the carry-out path 43. Since the pusher plate 45 pushes the pouch 4 out of the carry-out surface while moving in the same direction as the pouch 4 moves, the impact applied to the pouch 4 is reduced and smooth push-out to the carry-out path 43 can be performed. .

  The movement path of the pusher plate 45 does not move in the direction parallel to the transport direction as described above, and may reciprocate only in the direction intersecting the transport direction. In such a case, the drive device can be easily realized by using, for example, a cylinder or the like.

  The discharge device 17 receives the pouch held and conveyed by the clamp 21 of the conveyance device 13 and guides it to the carry-out line 18 side. And in this embodiment, since the number of manufacture per unit time of a bag making filling packaging machine is increased, the conveyance speed of the conveying apparatus 13 also becomes high speed. Therefore, if only the direction change is performed by the discharge device 17 with the high moving speed of the pouch 4 in the transport device 13, the moving speed when passing to the discharge conveyor 40 also remains high. When moving at such a high speed, if the urging force is applied to the pouch 4 toward the carry-out path 43 by the pusher plate 45 and the urging force is applied to the pouch 4, the impact force applied to the pouch 4 is large. There is a risk of going on or tilting from a desired posture. In particular, if the pouch 4 is light, its influence and tendency will increase. Therefore, in order to prevent the pouch 4 from being subjected to an impact as much as possible, the discharge device 17 of the present embodiment is configured to reduce the conveyance speed while changing the conveyance direction by 90 degrees.

  Specifically, the discharge device 17 includes an endless chain 50 rotating in a horizontal plane, a plurality of push plates 51 attached to the chain 50 at a predetermined pitch, and two turn guide rails bent in an arc shape. 53. The turn guide rails 53 are arranged in parallel at the same height position with a predetermined interval. One end of the two turn guide rails 53 reaches the transport line of the transport device 13, and the other end overlaps above one end of the left side guide rail 41 and the right side guide rail 42 at the upper end of the carry-out line 18.

  Furthermore, the discharge device 17 receives the pouch 4 from the clamp 21 and reaches the discharge conveyor 40 of the next-stage carry-out line 18 (for example, the upstream arc-shaped part that is separated from the discharge conveyor 40 of the turn guide rail 53). A bottom plate 55 that receives the bottom surface of the pouch 4 is disposed below the portion. The bottom plate 55 is aligned with the position of the bottom surface of the pouch 4 held by the clamp 21 and conveyed.

  As a result, the pouch 4 detached from the clamp 21 is conveyed with the side on the rear side in the traveling direction being pushed by the push plate 51. The upper portion of the pouch 4 enters between the two turn guide rails 53, the course is changed along the curve of the turn guide rail 53, and is directly between the left side guide rail 41 and the right side guide rail 42 of the carry-out line 18. To. Along with this, the pouch 4 reaches the discharge conveyor 40 of the carry-out line 18 and advances by receiving the conveying force from the discharge conveyor 40.

  Further, the chain 50 constituting the discharge device 17 is configured by connecting a plurality of chain elements 60. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 9, in the chain element 60, a strip-shaped upper plate 61 and a lower plate 62 are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. Then, first concave notches 61a and 62a are formed on opposing surfaces of one end of the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62, respectively, and second non-opposing surfaces of the other end of the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62 are respectively second. Concave notches 61b and 62b are formed. The ends of the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62 are connected by a connecting pin 63. In addition, two rollers 64 are stacked between the other ends of the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62. The diameter of the roller 64 is longer than the lateral width of the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62. Thereby, the outer periphery of the roller 64 protrudes outside the outer periphery of the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62. Furthermore, through holes 61c and 62c penetrating vertically are provided in the second concave cutout portions 61b and 62b provided at the other ends of the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62, respectively. And while inserting the 2nd concave notch parts 61b and 62b of another chain element 60 between the upper and lower 1st concave notch parts 61a and 62a of the chain element 60 which removed the connection pin 63, through-holes 61c and 62c, The connecting pin 63 is inserted into the center hole of the roller 64. As a result, the chain elements 60 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction are linked via the connecting pin 63, and bend within a predetermined angle range with the connecting pin 63 as the rotation center.

  Furthermore, a free guide roller 65 is attached to one side surface of the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62 so as to be able to rotate. An L-shaped plate 66 is attached to the upper surface of the upper plate 61. A first pin 67 is erected at the tip of the L-shaped plate 66 so as to protrude upward. Further, a second pin 68 is erected at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the upper plate 61.

  The chain 50 is stretched between a sprocket 57 disposed on the turn guide rail 53 side and a flat guide plate 58. The outer peripheral surface of the guide plate 58 has a semicircular arc upper portion. The rotation shaft 71 of the sprocket 57 is linked to the output shaft of the drive motor 70 via the power transmission belt 72. Thereby, the rotational force of the drive motor 70 is transmitted to the sprocket 57, and the sprocket 57 rotates at a predetermined speed.

  The chain 50 rotates and revolves upon receiving a driving force from the sprocket 57. That is, as shown in FIG. 11 and the like, the chain element 60 that meshes with the sprocket 57 and moves along the outer periphery of the chain element 60 includes a free guide roller 65 attached to the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62. Touch / close to. Further, the roller 64 enters into the recess 57a formed at a predetermined angular interval on the outer peripheral surface of the sprocket 57 and matches. When the roller 64 and the recess 57a coincide with each other, the rotational force of the sprocket 57 is transmitted to the chain element 60 and thus to the chain 50. At this time, since the free guide rollers 65 provided on the chain element 60 are positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of the sprocket 57, the chain element 60 maintains a stable posture in a horizontal state, and the conveying force from the sprocket 57 is increased. Receive it with certainty.

  Further, the chain 50 moves along the outer peripheral surface of the guide plate 58. More specifically, in the chain element 60 that moves along the outer periphery of the guide plate 58, a free guide roller 65 attached to the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62 brings the guide plate 58 into contact with and close to the upper surface and the lower surface, Further, the roller 64 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the guide plate 58, so that the guide plate 58 is sandwiched from three sides, and the chain element 60 maintains the stable posture in a horizontal state, and the path is changed to the guide plate 58. 58 along the outer peripheral surface.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the guide plate 58 is linked to a cylinder 56 installed on the base plate 59. In response to the forward movement of the cylinder 56, the guide plate 58 receives a biasing force in a direction away from the sprocket 57. Therefore, an appropriate tension is applied to the chain 50, and the chain 50 moves without slack.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the chain 50 is set at a predetermined angle (45 degrees with respect to each of the conveying direction of the upstream conveying device 13 and the conveying direction of the unloading line 18 on the downstream side in the present embodiment). (Another angle may be used.) It is rotated at a displaced position. That is, the conveyance direction of the conveyance device 13 and the conveyance direction of the carry-out line 18 are orthogonal to each other, and the direction of a straight line connecting the sprocket 57 and the guide plate 58 that determines the movement locus of the chain 50 is inclined by 45 degrees with respect to each conveyance direction. I tried to face.

  On the other hand, the push plate 51 is linked to the chain elements 60 adjacent to each other through the link mechanism 75. The link mechanism 75 includes a first arm 76 and a second arm 77 that are rotatably linked. The tip of the first arm 76 is linked to a first pin 67 provided on the front chain element 60, and the tip of the second arm 77 is linked to a second pin 68 provided on the rear chain element 60. Then, the push plate 51 is connected to the second arm 77. The push plate 51 has a bifurcated tip, comes into contact with two places above and below the pouch 4 and urges forward.

  With such a configuration, while the chain element 60 is moving in the straight section of the chain 50, the distance between the first pin 67 and the second pin 68 of the front and rear chain elements 60 becomes longer, and accordingly, the first arm 76 and the second The angle formed by the two arms 77 is also widened. The first arm 76 is substantially parallel to the chain element 60, and the second arm 77 is inclined with respect to the chain element 60. Therefore, the push plate 51 connected to the second arm 77 is inclined with respect to the chain element 60 in a state viewed in a plan view. On the other hand, while the chain element 60 is moving around the sprocket 57, the distance between the first pin 67 and the second pin 68 of the front and rear chain elements 60 is shortened, and accordingly, the angle formed by the first arm 76 and the second arm 77. The second arm 77 rises with respect to the chain element 60 and takes a substantially orthogonal posture. Therefore, the push plate 51 connected to the second arm 77 is in an upright posture in an orthogonal state with respect to the chain element 60 when viewed in a plan view. As a result, when the push plate 51 moves around the sprocket 57, the push plate 51 stands in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the movement locus of the chain 50.

  Then, the push plate 51 connected to the chain element 60 that is moving along the linear portion of the chain 50 assumes a posture in which the push plate 51 gradually rises from the posture that gradually falls as it moves toward the sprocket 57 side. Further, the push plate 51 connected to the chain element 60 moving around the sprocket 57 gradually falls from an upright state perpendicular to the circumferential direction as it moves from the sprocket 57 toward the linear portion. Go.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the chain 50 rotates at a constant speed, the push plate 51 in a tilted posture is faster than the speed at which the push plate 51 standing up with respect to the chain 50 contacts and feeds the pouch 4. The speed of contacting and pushing the pouch is lower. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, for the pouch 4-1, which is discharged from the conveying device 13 on the upstream side where the conveying speed is high, the push plate 51-1 in an upright state is provided. Smooth delivery is possible by receiving. Then, as shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C, the push plate 15-1 moves along an arcuate locus along the sprocket 57 to carry the pouch 4 at a high speed and change the moving direction by 90 degrees. To do.

On the other hand, when the push plate 51 falls halfway (reference numeral 51-2 → 51-3), the conveyance speed of the pouch 4 by the push plate 51 is decelerated, and the downstream transfer speed is smoothly transferred to the carry-out line 18. Can do. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the rotation trajectory of the chain 50 is inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the carry-out line 18, the push plate 51 falls down and smoothly escapes from the discharge conveyor 40 while moderately decelerating. It can be moved to the carry-out line 18. Furthermore, the conveying pitch of the pouch 4 is shortened by the tilting of the push plate 51.
[Modification]

  In the embodiment described above, the lightweight pouch 4 is discharged, but the object to be transported may be heavy. Further, the present invention is not limited to the pouch 4 and can be applied to various articles conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side while changing the conveyance direction. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the one in which the pouch gripped by the clamp is discharged to the discharge line. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the upstream-side transport device may be, for example, a belt conveyor, a finger conveyor, or other various types. Use a good one.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the posture of the push plate is changed by the link mechanism. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various structures such as a cam can be adopted.

4 Pouch 17 Discharge device 50 Chain 51 Push plate 53 Turn guide rail 55 Bottom plate 56 Cylinder 57 Sprocket 57a Recess 58 Guide plate 59 Base plate 60 Chain element 61 Upper plate 62 Lower plate 63 Connecting pin 64 Roller 65 Free guide roller 66 L-shaped plate 67 First pin 68 Second pin 70 Drive motor 71 Rotating shaft 72 Power transmission belt 75 Link mechanism 76 First arm 77 Second arm

Claims (4)

A discharge device that carries an article conveyed from an upstream conveying device to a downstream conveying device having a conveying speed different from that of the upstream conveying device and having a low conveying speed,
A pushing member extending in the horizontal direction;
A moving device that revolves the pushing member in a horizontal plane;
With
The pushing member is configured to be connected to the moving device via a link mechanism so that an angle with respect to a moving direction of the revolution movement can be changed,
The feeding member changes the traveling direction of the article by moving along an arcuate movement trajectory,
The angle is changed, and the conveying posture of the pushing member is tilted obliquely backward in the traveling direction from an upright state standing with respect to the moving direction in a state where the arcuate movement locus is seen on the moving horizontal plane. A discharging apparatus characterized in that the conveying speed of the article is reduced by adopting a different posture . The moving device comprises an endless chain;
The pusher member is connected via the link mechanism in the chain,
The chain has an arcuate movement section and a linear movement section,
The link mechanism is configured such that when the push mechanism is positioned in the arcuate movement section, the push member is in an upright state, and when the link mechanism is located in the linear movement section, the push member is tilted. The discharging apparatus according to claim 1. The chain is configured by connecting a plurality of chain elements,
The link mechanism is connected to the chain element adjacent to the front and rear,
The discharging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the link mechanism operates to change the posture of the push member in accordance with a change in the relative position of the chain elements adjacent to each other. The transport direction of the upstream transport device and the transport direction of the downstream transport device are orthogonal,
The discharging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the discharging device is arranged such that a movement locus of the revolution movement is inclined by 45 degrees with respect to an orthogonal point of the upstream conveying device and the downstream conveying device. .

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