JP6417439B1 - Food array equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a food arranging device capable of automatically and mechanically arranging food on a tray. A first conveyor 2 that sequentially conveys food in a first direction, a second conveyor 3 that conveys food in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a plurality of foods on the second conveyor 3 And a transfer machine 4 that collectively holds and transfers to the tray 110. The second conveyor 3 includes a second conveyor belt 31, a plurality of partition walls 32 attached to the second conveyor belt 31, and a plurality of food receiving portions 34 formed between two adjacent partition walls 32. Prepare. The transfer machine 4 includes a gripper 41 that collectively grips the plurality of foods 100 received by the plurality of food receivers 34, and an operation unit that moves the gripper 41 that grips the plurality of foods 100 to the tray 110. 42. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a food arranging device for placing a large number of food items such as triangular rice balls on a tray arranged in a predetermined position.

  In recent years, food products such as triangular rice balls have been sold in a state of being packaged with a packaging member, and are carried into a store or the like in an array on a tray. With regard to such food, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that an automatic food packaging method and apparatus capable of packaging food in a hermetically sealed state and capable of safely and reliably packaging food automatically. Is disclosed.

JP 2005-29175 A

  By the way, although foodstuffs are manufactured and packaged automatically like patent document 1, the operation | work which arranges the finished foodstuffs on a tray is performed by the hand. Therefore, an operator who performs this arrangement work is required, and it takes a long time to arrange the arrangement work.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a food arranging apparatus capable of automatically and automatically arranging foods in an array on a tray.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is a food arranging device that places a large number of foods that are sequentially conveyed while placing them on a tray, and a first conveyor that sequentially conveys the foods in a first direction; A second conveyor that conveys the food in a second direction that intersects the first direction; and a transfer machine that collectively holds a plurality of food on the second conveyor and transfers the food to the tray. The second conveyor is disposed adjacent to the first conveyor so that the foods conveyed by the first conveyor are sequentially introduced, and the food introduced from the first conveyor is placed on the second conveyor A conveyor belt, a plurality of partition walls provided on the conveyor belt, a drive mechanism for intermittently moving the conveyor belt by a distance corresponding to the interval between the two adjacent partition walls, and a first sensor And second And a sensor, wherein each of the partition walls, as food receptacle capable of accommodating the food inside between the two adjacent partition walls is partitioned, in the first direction on the surface side of the conveyor belt And having a shape extending along the plurality of food receiving portions, the plurality of food receiving portions being arranged side by side along the second direction, and on the conveyor belt along the second direction at intervals capable of accommodating the one food. The transfer machine includes: a gripping unit that collectively grips the plurality of foods stored in the plurality of food receiving units in the second conveyor; and the gripping unit that grips the plurality of foods. An operation unit that moves to the tray , the first sensor detects that the food has entered the food receiving unit, and the second sensor is provided in the middle of the conveyance path of the conveyance belt. The partition Detecting that a wall has passed in front of the second sensor, and the drive mechanism moves the conveyor belt when the first sensor detects that the food has entered the food receiving portion; and When the second sensor detects that the partition wall has passed in front of the second sensor, the food belt is moved intermittently by stopping the conveyor belt. By providing the above, the above-mentioned problem is solved.

  According to this apparatus, each food sequentially conveyed from the first conveyor is received by each food receiving portion in the second conveyor so that a plurality of foods can be automatically aligned, and this aligned A plurality of foods can be automatically and mechanically placed on the tray in an array by gripping the plurality of foods at once with the gripping part and moving to the tray.

  In particular, by gripping a plurality of foods at once with the gripping portion, the number of times of moving the gripping portion can be reduced as compared with, for example, gripping one by one, and work efficiency can be improved.

Moreover, when the first sensor detects that food has entered the food receiving portion, the conveyor belt is moved, and when the second sensor detects that the partition wall has passed in front of the second sensor, the conveyor belt. by driving mechanism to move intermittently is configured conveyor belt by stopping, each food coming sequentially conveyed from the first conveyor, sure real and smoothly, is received in the food receiving unit The

  Further, in the above configuration, the second conveyor is provided at a position downstream of the first sensor in the transport direction of the transport belt and includes a third sensor that detects that the food is transported to the position. Preferably, the operation unit starts an operation of causing the gripping unit to grip the plurality of foods when the third sensor detects that the food is transported to the position.

  According to this, it is possible to reliably and smoothly grip a plurality of foods collectively with the grip portion.

  Further, in the above configuration, the second conveyor has entered the food receiving portion from the first conveyor so that the foods in the plurality of food receiving portions are aligned in a line along the second direction. It is preferable to further include a positioning member that stops the food and positions the food in the first direction.

  According to this, each foodstuff which entered into the food receiving part by the positioning member can be positioned and aligned in a line. As a result, it is possible to easily grip a plurality of foods at once with the gripping part, and it is possible to grip a plurality of foods in a state where they are aligned in a row with the gripping part, and on the tray by releasing the gripped foods, It can be placed in a state of being aligned in one row.

  Moreover, in the said structure, it is preferable that each foodstuff reception part is formed in the inclined shape which becomes gradually low as it leaves | separates from the said 1st conveyor about the said 1st direction.

  According to this, each foodstuff sequentially conveyed from the 1st conveyor can be reliably poured into the food receiving part by its own weight.

  Each food receiving part receives the food so that both side surfaces in the thickness direction of the food face the two adjacent partition walls, and the distance between the two adjacent partition walls. Is preferably approximately the same as the thickness of the food.

  According to this, the thickness direction of the food body contained in each of the plurality of food receiving portions can be aligned with the second direction. Thereby, the general arrangement | sequence with a small volume when arranging foodstuffs can be arranged.

  In addition, the food is provided with a food body made of a triangular rice ball having a predetermined thickness, and a packaging member that wraps the food body, and the gripping portion protrudes upward from the food body. It is preferable that the upper end portion of the packaging member is gripped.

  In a food body made of triangular rice balls, gripping the slope causes slipping and is difficult to grip. On the other hand, according to this structure, since a holding part hold | grips the upper end part of a packaging member, it becomes difficult to produce slip and can make it easy to hold. In addition, the food body that is easily deformed can be made less likely to be deformed. As a result, the food can be gripped regardless of the shape of the food, and the food can be securely gripped.

  The food arrangement device of the present invention can automatically arrange foods in an array on a tray.

It is a top view of the food arrangement device of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the food arrangement | sequence apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of the 1st conveyor in the food arrangement device of Drawing 1, the 2nd conveyor, and a transfer machine. It is the perspective view which expanded a part of FIG. It is an expansion perspective view of a part of the 1st conveyor. It is a top view of the principal part of the 1st conveyor in the food arrangement | sequence apparatus of FIG. 1, a 2nd conveyor, and a transfer machine. It is the perspective view which expanded the principal part of FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the 2nd conveyor from the lower part side. It is explanatory drawing when the holding part which a transfer machine has hold | grips food. It is the figure which showed the example of the other food arranged by the food arrangement apparatus. It is the perspective view which expanded and showed a part of 2nd conveyor which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is the arrow view seen from the A direction of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a food arranging apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the food arranging device 1 of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of FIG. 1, and is a perspective view of the entire first conveyor 2, second conveyor 3, and transfer machine 4 in the food arranging device 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the first conveyor 2. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the main parts of the first conveyor 2, the second conveyor 3 and the transfer machine 4. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second conveyor 3 as viewed from below. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when the gripping portion of the transfer machine 4 grips food.

  The food arranging apparatus 1 of this embodiment arranges the foods 100. The foods 100 to be arranged are, as shown in FIG. 9, packaged with a food main body 101 made of a rice ball having a triangular shape when viewed from the front, and the food main body 101. Packaging member 102.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the food arranging device 1 includes a first conveyor 2, a second conveyor 3 that sequentially receives the food 100 conveyed from the first conveyor 2, and a plurality of pieces on the second conveyor 3. And a transfer machine 4 that holds the foods 100 together and places them on the tray 110. In addition, the food arranging apparatus 1 includes a third conveyor 5 that conveys the tray 110. Although details will be described later, in this food arranging device 1, the food 100 manufactured by a separate machine is carried into the first conveyor 2, the first conveyor 2 conveys the food 100 and delivers it to the second conveyor 3, The transfer device 4 holds the food 100 conveyed by the second conveyor 3 and places the food 100 on the tray 110 conveyed by the third conveyor 3.

(First conveyor)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first conveyor 2 includes a first conveyor belt 21 on which the food 100 is placed and conveyed, and a first conveyor body 20 that holds the first conveyor belt 21 so as to be movable. I have.

  The 1st conveyor belt 21 consists of endless things, and food 100 is mounted and conveyed.

  The first conveyor body 20 includes a first belt holding part 22 that holds the first conveyor belt 21 and leg parts 23 that support the first belt holding part 22.

  The first belt holding unit 22 includes two winding wheels arranged with a distance in a predetermined first direction (X1-X2 direction), and the first conveyor belt 21 is wound around these winding wheels. It is passed as if turned. Then, when one of the two winding wheels (in this embodiment, the winding wheel on the X2 side) is driven by a motor 22a (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), the first conveyor belt 21 is The upper surface moves along the first direction (X1-X2 direction) toward the X2 side, whereby the food 100 is transported to the X2 side. In the present embodiment, the food 100 is a triangular rice ball, and is intermittently carried on the first conveyor belt 21 in a packaged state, and is carried in a posture in which the apex faces upward. In this embodiment, the 1st conveyor belt 21 is supported so that the upper surface may follow a horizontal surface.

  The first belt holding unit 22 includes a guide 24 that guides the food 100. The guide 24 includes two bar members 24a and a bar member support portion 24b that supports the bar member 24a.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the two bar members 24a are disposed on the first conveyor belt 21 in parallel with each other along the first direction (X1-X2 direction). The separation distance between the two bar members 24a is set to be slightly wider than the thickness t of the food 100, and these bar members 24a slightly increase the thickness t of the food 100 on the first conveyor belt 21. A conveyance path 21a having a wide width is formed. The food 100 is carried into the inside of these bar materials 24a, and is conveyed by the 1st conveyor 2 through the conveyance path 21a. The bar material support 24b holds the bar material 24a so that the distance between the two bar materials 24a can be adjusted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first belt holding unit 22 includes cameras 25 for photographing the food 100 in the middle of the conveyance path 21 a on both sides of the first conveyor belt 21. These cameras 25 are communicably connected to a control unit (not shown), and an image captured by the camera 25 is transmitted to the control unit.

(Second conveyor)
As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the second conveyor 3 is fixed to the endless second conveyor belt (conveying belt) 31 on which the food 100 is placed and conveyed, and to the second conveyor belt 31. A plurality of partition walls 32 attached to the second conveyor body 31 and a second conveyor main body 30 holding the second conveyor belt 31 so as to be movable are provided.

  The second conveyor main body 30 includes a second belt holding portion 33 that holds the second conveyor belt 31 and leg portions 39 that support the second belt holding portion 33.

  The second belt holding unit 33 is arranged in a second direction (Y1-Y2 direction) in which the moving direction of the second conveyor belt 31 intersects the first direction (X1-X2 direction) that is the moving direction of the first conveyor belt 21. The 2nd conveyor belt 31 is supported so that it may become. In the present embodiment, the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal.

  Specifically, the second belt holding unit 33 includes two winding wheels arranged with a distance in the second direction (Y1-Y2 direction), and the second conveyor belt is provided on these winding wheels. 31 is wound so as to be wound. One of the two winding wheels is driven by a second conveyor belt drive motor (drive mechanism) 38 (see FIG. 4), so that the upper surface of the second conveyor belt 31 is in the second direction (Y1). -Y2 direction) and moves toward the Y2 side.

  While being held by the second belt holding portion 33, the second conveyor belt 31 has one side surface (side surface on the X1 side) in the width direction (X1-X2 direction) and the end surface (X1) of the first conveyor belt 21. -X2 direction end face on the X2 side) is arranged so as to be close to each other with a slight gap. The second conveyor belt 31 has an end surface (an end surface on the Y1 side in the Y1-Y2 direction) and one side surface (an end surface on the Y1 side) in the width direction (Y1-Y2 direction) of the first conveyor belt 21. It arrange | positions so that it may become a substantially same position about a 2nd direction (Y1-Y2 direction). Therefore, the food 100 conveyed to the X2 side by the first conveyor belt 21 is pushed out to the second conveyor belt 31 side at the end surface of the first conveyor belt 21, and near the end of the second conveyor belt 31 on the Y1 side. Move to the top.

  The surface of the 2nd conveyor belt 31 is formed in the thing with a small friction coefficient so that food may slip easily. For example, the surface of the second conveyor belt 31 is subjected to Teflon (registered trademark) processing.

  Each partition wall 32 consists of a substantially rectangular plate-shaped body. Each partition wall 32 has a length direction in the width direction of the second conveyor belt 31, along the conveying direction of the first conveyor belt 21, that is, in the first direction, and outward from the surface of the second conveyor belt 31. It is attached to the 2nd conveyor belt 31 so that it may protrude. In this embodiment, each partition wall 32 is fixed to the second conveyor belt 31 so as to protrude from the surface of the second conveyor belt 31 at a substantially right angle. As shown in FIG. 6, the distance between the two adjacent partition walls 32 is substantially the same as the distance between the two bar members 24 a (the width of the transport path 21 a), and is slightly larger than the dimension in the width direction of the food 100. Is set to a value.

  A portion defined by the two adjacent partition walls 32 and the second conveyor belt 31 functions as a food receiving portion 34 that receives and stores the food 100 from the first conveyor 2, and the second conveyor belt 31. A plurality of food receiving portions 34 are formed in a line along the second direction which is the conveying direction. Each partition wall 32 and each food receiving part 34 located on the upper surface of the second conveyor belt 31 move to the Y2 side together with the second conveyor belt 31.

  Each food receiving portion 34 opens in the first direction (X1-X2 direction), and the opening portion on the first conveyor 2 side (X1 side) serves as a food entrance 341 into which the food 100 is carried from the first conveyor 2. Function. And especially the part near X2 of the 1st direction (X1-X2 direction) among the space inside each food receiving part 34 functions as the food storage part 342 which stores the food 100 which entered from the food entrance 341. FIG.

  That is, in this food arranging device 1, the food 100 pushed out by the first conveyor belt 21 is carried into a portion between the two partition walls 32, 32 on the second conveyor belt 31, The food 100 is introduced from the food entrance 341 of the food receiving unit 34 into the food storage unit 342 on the back side of the food receiving unit 34.

  The second belt holding unit 33 further includes a positioning member 7 that holds and positions the food 100 that has entered the food storage unit 342 from the food entrance 341.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the positioning member 7 is disposed at a position facing the conveyance path 21 a of the first conveyor 2 when viewed from the first direction (X1-X2 direction). In this embodiment, the positioning member 7 is composed of a plate-like body extending in the second direction (Y1-Y2 direction), and is transported from a position closer to the Y1 side than an end on the Y1 side of the transport path 21a of the first conveyor 2. It extends to the Y2 side position from the Y2 side end of the path 21a. This positioning member 7 stops the food 100 and determines the position in the first direction (X1-X2 direction) of the food 100 that has entered the food receiving portion 34. That is, the food 100 carried into the food receiving part 34 from the transport path 21a is brought into contact with the positioning member 7 to be restricted in movement in the X2 direction and thereby positioned.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second belt holding unit 33 and the second conveyor belt 31 gradually increase in height in the second direction (Y1-Y2 direction) as they move away from the first conveyor 2. It is arranged to be lower. Each food receiving portion 34 is also formed in an inclined shape that gradually decreases in height as it moves away from the first conveyor 2. Therefore, after the food 100 is pushed out from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 3 side, the food 100 smoothly moves to the back side (X2 side) of the food receiving part 34, that is, the food storage part 342 by its own weight.

  Here, since the second belt holding portion 33 (second conveyor belt 31) is arranged so as to gradually become lower as it moves away from the first conveyor 2, the conveyance path 21a of the first conveyor 2 and the second A gap is formed between the food receiving portion 34 and the food entrance 341 in the two conveyor 3.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, a connection path 40 that allows the food 100 to move more smoothly from the first conveyor belt 21 toward the second conveyor belt 31 is formed between the first conveyor belt 21 and the second conveyor belt 31. As described above, the connection path forming member 35 is provided between the terminal end surface of the first conveyor belt 21 and the side surface on the X1 side of the second conveyor belt 31, that is, the food inlet 341 of the food receiving portion 34. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the connection path forming member 35 extends from the end surface of the first conveyor belt 21 to the side surface on the X1 side of the second conveyor belt 31 and gradually decreases as the distance from the first conveyor 2 increases. Have In the example shown in FIG. 2, the connection path forming member 35 is inclined from a position slightly narrower than the upper surface of the first conveyor belt 21 toward a position slightly higher than the end face on the X1 side of the second conveyor belt 31. ing.

  Moreover, the 2nd belt holding | maintenance part 33 is provided with three sensors, 1st-3rd sensor SN1-SN3.

  The first sensor SN1 is for detecting that the food 100 has entered the food receiving section 34. The first sensor SN1 is on the extension line of the transport path 21a of the first conveyor 2 and the food receiving section. 34 is arranged on the X2 side in the first direction (X1-X2 direction). The first sensor SN1 outputs a predetermined signal when the food 100 is introduced near a predetermined position in front of the first sensor SN1, for example, a position where the food 100 is stopped by the positioning member 7.

  The second sensor SN2 detects each partition wall 32 that moves to a predetermined position in accordance with the movement of the second conveyor belt 31, and as shown in FIG. 8, in this embodiment, the second conveyor belt 31 is used. In the second direction (Y1-Y2 direction) in the vicinity of the end portion on the Y1 side. The second sensor SN2 outputs a predetermined signal when the partition wall 32 passes through a predetermined position in front of the second sensor SN2.

  The first sensor SN1 and the second sensor SN2 are communicably connected to a control unit (not shown), and the control unit is for the second conveyor belt based on signals from the first sensor SN1 and the second sensor SN2. The second conveyor belt 31 is moved intermittently by the drive motor.

  Specifically, the control unit is electrically connected to the second conveyor belt drive motor, and the first sensor SN1 is in a state where the food receiving unit 34 is moved to a position facing the transport path 21a of the first conveyor 2. When it is detected that the food 100 has entered the food receiving unit 34, it is transmitted to the control unit.

  The control unit that receives the signal from the first sensor SN1 drives the second conveyor belt drive motor to move the second conveyor belt 31. When the partition wall 32 passes in front of the second sensor SN2 as the second conveyor belt 31 moves, the second sensor SN2 detects it and transmits a signal to the control unit.

  The control unit that has received the signal from the second sensor SN2 stops the second conveyor belt drive motor to stop the movement of the second conveyor belt 31. As a result, the control unit moves the second conveyor belt 31 by the distance between the adjacent partition walls 32, that is, the width of one food receiving unit 34, and stops the movement of the second conveyor belt 31. In the stopped state, the next food receiving portion 34 is in a state of facing the transport path 21a of the first conveyor 2.

  By repeating the above procedure, the second conveyor belt 31 moves intermittently by the separation distance between the partition walls 32 while the food 100 is sequentially put into the food receiving portion 34.

  The third sensor SN3 detects that the food 100 in the food receiving unit 34 has been conveyed to a predetermined position by the second conveyor belt 31, and the third sensor SN3 is a transfer machine 4 as will be described later. Of the gripping piece 411a of the transfer machine 4 in a state where the gripping portion 41 of the transfer device 4 is in the standby position, the gripping portion 41 is disposed at a position facing the one located closest to the Y2 side in the second direction (Y1-Y2 direction). When the food 100 is moved, it is detected. Specifically, the third sensor SN3 outputs a predetermined signal when the food 100 is introduced to a predetermined position ahead at this position. The third sensor SN3 is communicably connected to the control unit, and the detected signal is transmitted to the control unit.

(Transfer machine)
The transfer machine 4 includes a grip 41 that grips food and an operation unit 42 that operates the grip 41.

  The gripping part 41 includes a plurality (eight in this embodiment) of sandwiching parts 411 arranged in a line. Each clamping part 411 is provided with a pair of gripping pieces 411 a that clamp the food 100. The width of each clamping part 411 is set slightly narrower than the width of each food receiving part 34. As shown in FIG. 9, each clamping part 411 closes a pair of gripping pieces 411 a as shown by a solid line from a state opened in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the clamping parts 411 as shown by a chain line. The upper end of the packaging member 102 is clamped. In particular, the grip portion 411a holds only the upper end of the packaging member 102.

  FIG. 1 and the like show a state in which the grip portion 41 is located at a position where the food 100 can be gripped and is in a standby position immediately before the food 100 is gripped. The portions 411 are arranged in a line along the second direction (Y1-Y2 direction) above the food storage portion 342 of the food receiving portion 34, and each of the plurality of sandwiching portions 411 is a food storage portion 342 of the food receiving portion 34. It arrange | positions so that it may become a position corresponding to the foodstuff 100 stored by this.

  The operation unit 42 includes an arm unit 421 and a support leg 422 that supports the arm unit 421.

  The arm portion 421 has a tip portion movable in a three-dimensional direction. The distal end portion of the arm portion 421 is connected to the gripping portion 41, and the arm portion 421 can move the gripped gripping portion 41 in a three-dimensional direction.

  The grip part 41 and the arm part 421 are controlled by the control part as follows. That is, the control unit detects that the food 100 has moved to the position where the third sensor SN3 is arranged, that is, the position corresponding to the grip piece 411a located closest to the Y2 side, by the third sensor SN3. When a predetermined signal is output from the sensor SN3, the food 100 is sandwiched between the sandwiching portions 411. In this embodiment, all the clamping parts 411 are moved simultaneously, and the several foodstuff 100 is clamped simultaneously by the clamping part 411 simultaneously. When the grip 41 holds the food 100, the control unit moves the arm 421 to move the food 100 to a predetermined position on the tray 110 on the third conveyor 5 described later. And a control part controls the holding part 41 so that the foodstuff 100 which the holding part 41 is holding above the tray 110 may be released. Thereafter, the control unit controls the gripping unit 41 to return to the standby position.

(3rd conveyor)
The 3rd conveyor 5 conveys the tray 110 in which the foodstuff 100 is mounted intermittently.

  In this embodiment, the third conveyor 5 moves by a predetermined amount each time a plurality of food items 100 collectively held by the holding unit 41 are placed on the tray 110.

  More specifically, a plurality of food placement areas 121 (indicated by chain lines in FIG. 1) on which the food 100 is placed are set on the tray 110 along the longitudinal direction of the tray 110. Then, when a plurality of foods 100 collectively held by the holding part 41 are placed in one food placement area 121 of the tray 110, the third conveyor 5 is linked to one food placement area 121 in conjunction therewith. Then, the next food placement area 121 is placed at a predetermined position.

(Operation of food array device)
Next, operation | movement of the food arrangement | sequence apparatus 1 of this embodiment comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. Description will be made from the state of FIG. 7 in which the second conveyor belt 31 of the second conveyor 3 stops and the transport path 21a of the first conveyor 2 and the food receiving portion 34 face each other.

  When the food 100 is transported from the X1 side to the transport path 21a of the first conveyor 2, the transported food 100 is transported to the X2 side along the first direction (X1-X2 direction) by the first conveyor belt 21. Is done. When the food 100 reaches the position of each camera 25, each camera 25 captures the food 100 and transmits an image to the control unit.

  The received control unit determines whether or not the food 100 is normal based on the image, for example, whether or not a predetermined label is attached to the front and back surfaces. In this embodiment, when it is determined that the control unit is not normal, the food 100 (the food 100 determined to be not normal) is discharged to the outside of the first conveyor belt 21.

  Then, the food 100 is pushed out from the end of the first conveyor belt 21, enters the food inlet 341 through the connection path 40, and is introduced into the food receiving portion 34. In this embodiment, as described above, the food 100 moves to the X2 side by its own weight as the food receiving portion 34 has a shape that gradually decreases in height as it moves away from the first conveyor belt 21. To do. That is, the food 100 slides down from the food entrance 341 to the food storage unit 342. Moreover, since the surface of the second conveyor belt 31 is formed to have a small friction coefficient, the food 100 smoothly slides down from the food inlet 341 by the food storage unit 342.

  When sliding down into the food receiving portion 34, the food 100 is stored in the food receiving portion 34 (food storage portion 342) in a state where the food 100 is stopped by the positioning member 7 and positioned in the first direction (X1-X2 direction). The When the food 100 enters the food receiving portion 34, the first sensor SN1 detects this, and based on the detection, the second conveyor belt drive motor is driven to move the second conveyor belt 31.

  When the partition wall 32 moves to the position of the second sensor SN2 along with the movement of the second conveyor belt 31, the second sensor SN2 detects the partition wall 32, and based on the detection, the second conveyor belt drive The motor stops and the movement of the second conveyor belt 31 stops. As a result, the second conveyor belt 31 moves by one food receiving portion 34 and the next food receiving portion 34 is aligned with the transport path 21 a of the first conveyor 2. Hereinafter, similarly, the food 100 is sequentially stored in the food storage unit 342 of each food receiving unit 34.

  Then, when the food receiving unit 34 that stores the food 100 in the food storage unit 342 reaches the position of the third sensor SN3, the third sensor SN3 detects the food 100, and based on the detection, the eight grips of the gripping unit 41 are held. Each unit 411 sandwiches the foods 100 of each of the eight food storage units 342 together and simultaneously.

  When the gripping part 41 sandwiches the food 100, the arm part 421 moves, the gripped food 100 is transported to the tray 110 on the third conveyor 5, and the gripping part 41 releases the food 100 on the tray 110. As a result, eight foods are placed in the food placement region 121 of the tray 110.

  When food is placed on the food placement area 121 of the tray 110, the third conveyor 5 stops by moving by one food placement area 121, and then the food 100 is placed. 121 is arranged at a predetermined position. In addition, the grip portion 41 that has separated the food 100 is returned to the standby position above the food receiving portion 34 of the second conveyor 3 by the arm portion 421 and waits.

(Action etc.)
According to the food arranging apparatus 1 of the present invention configured as described above, a plurality of foods 100 sequentially conveyed from the first conveyor 2 are received by each food receiving unit 34 in the second conveyor 3, whereby a plurality of foods 100 are received. The foods 100 can be in an aligned state, and a plurality of foods 100 can be easily held together by the holding part 41. Then, by moving the plurality of foods 100 gripped by the gripper 41 to the tray, the plurality of foods 100 can be automatically and mechanically placed on the tray 110 in an array.

  In addition, by gripping the plurality of foods 100 at once with the grip portion 41, for example, the number of times of moving the grip portion 41 can be reduced as compared with the case of gripping one by one, and work efficiency can be improved.

  Moreover, since the 2nd conveyor belt 31 moves intermittently for every distance between the two adjacent partition walls 32, each food 100 sequentially conveyed from the 1st conveyor 2 is surely and smoothly food. It is received by the receiving unit 34.

  The second conveyor 3 includes a first sensor SN1 that detects that the food 100 has entered the food receiving unit 34 (particularly the food storage unit 342) and each partition that moves together in accordance with the movement of the second conveyor belt 31. A second sensor SN2 for detecting that the wall 32 has come to a predetermined position, the second conveyor belt 31 is moved based on the detection of the food 100 by the first sensor SN1, and the detection of the partition wall 32 by the second sensor SN2 The second conveyor belt 31 is moved intermittently by stopping the second conveyor belt 31 based on the above. Therefore, each food 100 sequentially conveyed from the first conveyor 2 is received by the food receiving unit 34 more reliably and smoothly.

  In addition, the second conveyor 3 further includes a positioning member 7 for positioning the food 100 that has entered the food receiving portion 34 by hitting the food receiving portion 34. Can be positioned and aligned in a row. Accordingly, the gripper 41 can easily grip the plurality of foods 100 at a time, and the gripper 41 can grip the plurality of foods 100 in a state of being aligned in a single row. By separating them upward, they can be placed in a line on the tray 120.

  Further, each food receiving part 34 is formed in an inclined shape that gradually decreases in height from the food entrance 341 to the food storage part 342, that is, away from the first conveyor 2, so that the food receiving part 34 is sequentially conveyed from the first conveyor 2. Each incoming food 100 can be surely poured into the food storage part 342 located in the food receiving part 34, particularly on the back side, by its own weight.

  In addition, the second conveyor 3 includes a third sensor SN3 that detects that a plurality of foods 100 that are collectively grasped by the grasping unit 41 have come to a predetermined position, and the operation unit 42 detects the third sensor SN3. Since the operation of gripping the plurality of foods 100 by the gripper 41 is performed based on the above, the gripper 41 can grip the plurality of foods 100 reliably and smoothly.

  Moreover, since the 1st conveyor 2 conveys the foodstuff 100 so that the thickness direction of the food main body 101 may correspond to a 2nd direction (Y1-Y2 direction), the foodstuff 100 which entered each of the several food receiving part 34 is shown. The thickness direction can be aligned with the second direction (Y1-Y2 direction). Thereby, the general arrangement | sequence with a small bulk in the case of arranging the foodstuff 100 can be arranged. Therefore, the present apparatus 1 is suitable for arranging triangular rice balls.

  In addition, the grip portion 41 grips the upper end portion of the packaging member 102 of the food 100 so that it is difficult to slip and can be easily gripped, and the food main body 101 that is easily deformed can be made less likely to be deformed. . Thereby, it can hold | grip irrespective of the shape etc. of the foodstuff 100, and the foodstuff 100 can be hold | gripped reliably.

(Modification)
In the above-described embodiment, the grip portion 41 grips the packaging member 102. However, the grip portion 41 is not limited to this shape. For example, the grip portion 41 may grip a part of the food body 101. Can be changed as appropriate.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the foodstuff 100 was made into the triangular-shaped rice ball wrapped with the packaging member, not only a triangular-shaped rice ball but various foods can be arranged with this apparatus, as shown in FIG. The present invention can also be applied to a round pan 100a (shown by a broken line in FIG. 10) and a square pan 100b (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 10), and can be changed as appropriate.

  Further, the guide 24 can be omitted.

  Further, the first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 3 do not have to be arranged so that their transport directions (first direction, second direction) are orthogonal to each other, and the first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 3 are mutually connected. It suffices if the conveying directions (first direction, second direction) are close to each other and intersect with each other. Moreover, when each 1st conveyor 2 and the 2nd conveyor 3 are not orthogonal, each partition wall 32 should just be made into the shape extended along the conveyance direction (1st direction) of the 1st conveyor belt 21. As shown in FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, each partition wall 32 is fixed to the surface of the second conveyor belt 31 and protrudes from the surface of the second conveyor belt 31 at a substantially right angle. The angle formed by the surface of the two conveyor belts 31 may not be a right angle. Further, the partition wall 32 may not be directly fixed to the surface of the second conveyor belt 31. For example, it may be configured as shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of a second conveyor 203 according to another embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a second embodiment). 12 is an arrow view of the second conveyor 203 viewed from the direction A shown in FIG. In addition, in FIG. 11, the cover 270 mentioned later is shown with a chain line so that a structure may become clear, the bottom part 261 of the partition member 260 mentioned later is abbreviate | omitted, and the part located below these is shown as the continuous line.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the second embodiment, the partition wall 232 is fixed via an attachment 250 fixed to the surface of the second conveyor belt 231.

  Specifically, the second conveyor 203 has an attachment 250 that is fixed to the surface of the second conveyor belt 231 and a partition member 260 that is detachably fixed to the attachment 250.

  The attachment 250 has a shape extending in the width direction of the second conveyor belt 231. A plurality of attachments 250 are fixed to the surface of the second conveyor belt 231 at equal intervals along the moving direction (second direction). Each attachment 250 has, for example, claw portions at both end portions in the longitudinal direction, and the claw portions are fixed to the both edges of the second conveyor belt 231 by being fitted to both edges. A plurality of bolt holes 250 a arranged in the width direction of the second conveyor belt 231 are formed on the surface of the attachment 250.

  The partition member 260 is fixed to the attachment 250, and extends from the bottom 261 substantially parallel to the surface of the second conveyor belt 231, and from one edge of the bottom 261 in the moving direction (second direction) of the second conveyor belt 231. It has an upright wall portion that protrudes outward and extends in the width direction of the second conveyor belt 231 and thus along the first direction, and this upright wall portion functions as a partition wall 232. For example, the partition member 260 is formed by bending a single plate-like member.

  A plurality of through holes 261 a corresponding to the respective bolt holes 250 a of the attachment 250 are formed in the bottom portion 261 of the partition member 260. Bolts 290 are inserted into the respective through holes 261a of the partition member 260 through washers 291 and these bolts 290 are screwed into the bolt holes 250a of the attachment 250, so that the partition member 260 is fixed to the attachment 250 in a removable manner. Has been.

  One partition member 260 is fixed to each attachment 250, so that the plurality of partition members 260 are moved on the surface of the second conveyor belt 231 in the moving direction (second direction) of the second conveyor belt 231. Are arranged at equal intervals. Moreover, the some partition wall 232 is arrange | positioned at equal intervals along the moving direction (2nd direction) of the 2nd conveyor belt 231. FIG.

  In the second embodiment, a cover 270 that is detachably fixed to each partition member 260 and covers the bolt 290 from above is provided. The cover 270 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The cover 270 is formed with bolt storage portions 271 that are open on the bottom surface thereof and can receive the heads of the bolts 290 at positions corresponding to the respective bolts 290. Each cover 270 is placed on the bottom 261 of the partition member 260 in a state where the head of the bolt 290 is housed in each bolt housing portion 271 and is detachably fixed to the partition member 260. The cover 270 has an upper surface 271 that extends in parallel with the bottom 261 of the partition member 260 and the surface of the second conveyor belt 231 in a state of being fixed to the partition member 260.

  Also in the second embodiment, the food 100 is introduced and accommodated between the adjacent partition walls 232 as in the above-described embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, the food 100 is introduced not on the surface of the second conveyor belt 231 but on the upper surface 271 of the cover 270 and placed on the upper surface 271 to be conveyed.

  According to the second conveyor 203 of the second embodiment, by replacing the partition member 260, the height and width of the partition wall 232 can be easily changed, and the food 100 having different shapes can be easily handled. In addition, the thickness of the food 100 can be changed by changing the interval between the attachments 250, or in addition to the partition member 260 having a different width of the bottom portion 261 (length in the moving direction of the second conveyor belt 231). The distance between the partition walls 232 can be easily changed according to the above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Food arrangement apparatus 2 1st conveyor 3 2nd conveyor 4 Transfer machine 5 3rd conveyor 21 1st conveyor belt 31 2nd conveyor belt (conveyance belt)
32 partition wall 34 food receiving part 41 gripping part 42 operation part 100 food 120 tray 232 partition wall (second embodiment)
SN1 first sensor SN2 second sensor SN3 third sensor

Claims (6)

A food arrangement device for arranging a large number of foods that are sequentially conveyed and placing them on a tray,
A first conveyor that sequentially conveys the food in a first direction, a second conveyor that conveys the food in a second direction that intersects the first direction, and a plurality of foods on the second conveyor are collectively grasped And a transfer machine for transferring to the tray,
The second conveyor is disposed adjacent to the first conveyor so that the foods conveyed by the first conveyor are sequentially introduced, and the food introduced from the first conveyor is placed on the second conveyor A conveyor belt, a plurality of partition walls provided on the conveyor belt, a drive mechanism for intermittently moving the conveyor belt by a distance corresponding to the interval between the two adjacent partition walls, and a first sensor And a second sensor ,
Each of the partition walls has a shape extending along the first direction on the surface side of the transport belt so that a food receiving portion capable of storing the food inside is defined between two adjacent partition walls. And having the plurality of food receiving portions arranged side by side along the second direction, arranged on the transport belt along the second direction at intervals capable of accommodating the one food,
The transfer machine moves the gripping part that grips the plurality of foods contained in the plurality of food receiving parts in the second conveyor to the tray. and an operation section for,
The first sensor detects that the food has entered the food receiving part,
The second sensor is provided in the middle of the conveyance path of the conveyance belt, and detects that the partition wall has passed in front of the second sensor.
The drive mechanism moves the conveyor belt when the first sensor detects that the food has entered the food receiving part, and the partition wall passes in front of the second sensor by the second sensor. When it is detected that the food belt has been detected, the conveyor belt is moved intermittently by stopping the conveyor belt . The second conveyor includes a third sensor that is provided at a position downstream of the first sensor in the transport direction of the transport belt and detects that the food is transported to the position.
The operating unit, the food starts an operation to grasp the plurality of food to be detected that has been conveyed to the gripping unit to the position by the third sensor, it in claim 1, wherein The food arrangement apparatus of description. The second conveyor stops the food that has entered the food receiving part from the first conveyor so that the foods in the plurality of food receiving parts are aligned in a line along the second direction. food array device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising in that, characterized in that a positioning member for positioning the food for the first direction Te. Each said food receiving part is formed in the inclined shape which becomes gradually low height as it leaves | separates from the said 1st conveyor about the said 1st direction, The any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Food array equipment. Each food receiving part receives the food so that both side surfaces in the thickness direction of the food face the two adjacent partition walls,
The food array device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein a distance between the two adjacent partition walls is substantially the same as a thickness of the food. The food is provided with a food body made of a triangular rice ball having a predetermined thickness, and a packaging member for packaging the food body,
The gripping portion, the said food body projecting upward is intended to grip the upper end of the covering member, it food arrangement device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein.

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