JP6451435B2 - Cylindrical body supply apparatus and cylindrical body supply method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cylindrical body supply apparatus and a cylindrical body supply method.

  A transfer body is provided between the storage bottom of the sample container storage and the feeding storage unit, and the sample container is placed on the upper surface of the transfer body due to the inclination of the storage bottom, and the transfer body is raised so that the sample container is transferred to the feeding storage unit. A specimen container supply device for transporting to a container is conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-85270 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical body supply apparatus and a cylindrical body supply method capable of supplying a large number of cylindrical bodies stacked so that their axes are horizontal one by one while suppressing clogging.

  In order to achieve the above object, the cylindrical body supply device according to claim 1 according to the present invention has a horizontal axial direction on a bottom wall inclined toward the supply port of the cylindrical body formed in the apparatus main body. A storage portion for storing a large number of the cylindrical bodies that are oriented, and a space between the supply port by projecting and retracting from the lower portion between the lower end portion of the bottom wall and the supply port. A cut-out portion for inserting one cylindrical body into the storage portion, and when the cut-out portion is retracted from the storage portion, the one cylindrical body and the other cylindrical body protrude from the supply port toward the storage portion. And a separation unit for separating the components.

  The cylindrical body supply device according to claim 2 is the cylindrical body supply device according to claim 1, wherein an extrusion unit that pushes out the one cylindrical body separated by the separation unit from the supply port. I have.

  Further, the cylindrical body supply device according to claim 3 is the cylindrical body supply device according to claim 2, wherein when the one cylindrical body is not pushed out from the supply port by the pushing portion, the supply is performed. A blocking portion is provided to block at least a part of the mouth.

  Moreover, the cylindrical body supply apparatus of Claim 4 is a cylindrical body supply apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3, Comprising: Of the many cylindrical bodies accommodated in the said accommodating part A pressing part that presses a part of them is provided.

  Moreover, the cylindrical body supply device according to claim 5 is the cylindrical body supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of cylindrical bodies stored in the storage portion. A restricting portion is provided that contacts a part of the cylinder from above and restricts the movement of the cylindrical body toward the supply port.

  Moreover, the cylindrical body supply method of Claim 6 which concerns on this invention is the process of accommodating many cylindrical bodies in the said accommodating part in the cylindrical body supply apparatus of any one of Claims 1-5. A step of projecting and retracting the cutout portion toward the storage portion and inserting one cylindrical body between the supply port, and after the cutout portion is retracted from the storage portion side, the separation And a step of separating the one cylindrical body and the other cylindrical body by projecting a portion from the supply port toward the storage portion.

  The cylindrical body supply method according to claim 7 is the cylindrical body supply method according to claim 6, comprising a step of pushing out the one cylindrical body separated by the separation unit from the supply port. ing.

  Moreover, the cylindrical body supply method of Claim 8 is the cylindrical body supply method of Claim 6 or Claim 7, Comprising: A part of the said many cylindrical bodies accommodated in the said accommodating part is carried out. A step of pressing to eliminate clogging of the cylindrical body.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a large number of cylindrical bodies stacked so that the shafts are horizontal can be supplied one by one while suppressing clogging.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, it is possible to automatically supply a large number of cylinders stacked one by one so that the shafts are horizontal.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a large number of cylinders stacked so that the shafts are horizontal from inadvertently coming out of the cylinder supply port.

  According to invention of Claim 4, clogging of many cylindrical bodies stacked so that the axis | shaft may become horizontal can be suppressed.

  According to invention of Claim 5, it can suppress that many cylindrical bodies accumulate on the lower end part side of a bottom wall compared with the structure which is not provided with the control part.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to supply a large number of cylindrical bodies that are stacked so that the shafts are horizontal, one by one while suppressing clogging.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically supply a large number of cylinders stacked one by one so that the axes are horizontal.

  According to invention of Claim 8, clogging of many cylindrical bodies stacked so that the axis | shaft may become horizontal can be suppressed.

It is a side view which shows the whole structure of the cylindrical body supply apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the cylindrical body supply apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure by the side of the accommodating part of the cylindrical body supply apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a side view which shows the cutting process of the cylindrical body supply apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a side view which shows the clogging elimination process of the cylindrical body supply apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a side view which shows the isolation | separation process of the cylindrical body supply apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a side view which shows the opening opening process of the cylindrical body supply apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a side view which shows the extrusion process of the cylindrical body supply apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a side view which shows the opening obstruction | occlusion process of the cylindrical body supply apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a side view which shows the isolation | separation evacuation process of the cylindrical body supply apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, an arrow UP appropriately shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an upward direction of the cylindrical body supply device 10, an arrow FR is a forward direction of the cylindrical body supply device 10, and an arrow RH is a right direction of the cylindrical body supply device 10. To do. Further, the cylindrical body in the present embodiment includes a bottomed cylindrical body. Here, as an example of the cylindrical body, a bottle 80 filled with toner will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cylindrical body supply device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a device main body 12 including a frame 14 and a front wall (side wall) 16, and a device main body 12. A storage unit 20 that stores a large number of bottles 80 whose axial direction is a horizontal direction (a vertical direction and a horizontal direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction) on a bottom wall 22 described later, and is provided above the storage unit 20. And a restriction part 24 that restricts the movement of the large number of bottles 80 stored in the storage part 20 toward the front wall 16.

  The cylindrical body supply device 10 includes a cylindrical body supply port (hereinafter referred to as “supply port”) 18 formed on the lower side of the front wall 16, and the lower end ( A cutout portion 30 for inserting the bottle 80 into a space S (see FIG. 5 and the like) between the front end portion and the supply port 18 and the storage portion 20 side (in the space S). ) And a separation unit 40 that separates one bottle 80 and the other bottle 80 in the space S.

  Further, the cylindrical body supply device 10 includes a part (one or several) of a large number of bottles 80 stored in the storage unit 20 in the device main body 12 on the storage unit 20 side (rear side, which will be described later). To the upstream side), a pressing part 50 for eliminating clogging of the bottle 80, an extrusion part 60 for extruding one bottle 80 separated by the separation part 40 from the supply port 18 to the outside of the apparatus main body 12, and extrusion When the single cylindrical body 80 is not pushed out from the supply port 18 by the portion 60, a closing portion 70 that closes at least a part of the supply port 18 is provided.

(Storage section)
The storage unit 20 has a bottom wall 22 that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction toward the supply port 18 formed on the lower side of the front wall 16 of the apparatus main body 12. 22 are stored so as to be stacked on top of each other. The bottom wall 22 is formed in a flat plate shape having a width (length in the left-right direction) slightly longer than the length of the bottle 80 in the axial direction, and extends from the rear upper side to the front lower side.

  Accordingly, a large number of bottles 80 are thrown onto the bottom wall 22 from the rear side of the apparatus main body 12, and the positions in the axial direction (left-right direction) are substantially aligned by the left and right side walls (not shown) constituting the apparatus main body 12. It is supposed to be. In the following description, the rear side of the apparatus main body 12 is referred to as the upstream side in the supply direction of the bottle 80 (hereinafter referred to as “upstream side”), and the front side thereof is referred to as the downstream side in the supply direction of the bottle 80 (hereinafter referred to as “downstream side”). There is a case.

  Further, the supply port 18 is formed in such a size that the bottle 80 having a posture in which the horizontal direction is the axial direction can be taken out of the apparatus main body 12 in the posture. Specifically, the opening length of the supply port 18 in the left-right direction is slightly longer than the axial length of the bottle 80, and the opening height of the supply port 18 is slightly larger than the diameter of the bottle 80. It is formed at a height. The supply port 18 is formed below the lower end portion of the bottom wall 22 (see FIG. 1).

(Regulation Department)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the restricting portion 24 has a flat restricting plate 26 disposed on the upper side of the storage portion 20 with a larger inclination angle than the bottom wall 22 with respect to the horizontal direction. ing. The restricting plate 26 is formed to be slightly shorter than the bottom wall 22 and extends from the rear upper side toward the front lower side, and has a predetermined gap (in the vertical direction) between it and the bottom wall 22. It comes to form.

  The lower surface of the regulation plate 26 comes into contact with a part (one or several) of the many bottles 80 stored so as to be stacked on the bottom wall 22 from the front upper side, so that the front of the bottle 80 Movement to the wall 16 side (supply port 18 side) is restricted (restricted). And the posture of many bottles 80 thrown on the bottom wall 22 is correct | amended by this control board 26 so that the axial direction may turn to the left-right direction.

  In other words, if there is no restriction plate 26, the upper bottles 80 of the large number of bottles 80 stored so as to be stacked on the bottom wall 22 fall greatly downward, and the axial direction of the dropped bottles 80 is, for example, the left-right direction. May be in a crossing direction. The restricting plate 26 prevents the upper bottle 80 from greatly falling downward so that such a situation does not occur.

  Further, a flat bracket 28 is integrally formed at the upper end portion of the restricting plate 26 and at both left and right end portions, and a bolt insertion through hole 28A is formed at the upper end corner portion of the bracket 28. Yes. The bracket 28 on the lower side of the through hole 28A is formed with a long hole 28B that is curved in an arc shape toward the lower side.

  Therefore, the restriction plate 26 includes a frame 14 that constitutes the apparatus main body 12 by a bolt (not shown) in which the bracket 28 is inserted into the through hole 28A and a bolt (not shown) inserted in an appropriate position of the long hole 28B. By being fastened to a part of this, it is adjusted and fixed to a predetermined inclination angle.

(Cut out part)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cutout portion 30 is disposed on the lower side between the lower end portion of the bottom wall 22 and the supply port 18 (front wall 16), with the left-right direction being the longitudinal direction. And a pair of left and right air cylinders 36 that project and retract (move up and down) the support base 32 and the blade 34 with respect to the storage unit 20.

  More specifically, the upper surface of the support base 32 is formed in a flat shape, and the distal end portion of the cylinder rod 38 (see FIG. 4) of each air cylinder 36 disposed on the lower surface with a space in the left-right direction. Is attached. The blade 34 is formed in a flat plate shape facing in the front-rear direction, and a lower end portion thereof is integrally fixed to a rear side (upstream side) end portion of the support base 32.

  Accordingly, when the cylinder rod 38 of each air cylinder 36 is extended, the support base 32 rises to a position substantially the same as the lower end portion of the bottom wall 22, and the upper end portion of the blade 34 is the lower end of the bottom wall 22. It rises to a height located above the part (see FIG. 4). As the cylinder rod 38 of each air cylinder 36 contracts, the blade 34 and the support base 32 are lowered to a height at which the upper end of the blade 34 is located below the lower end of the bottom wall 22 (FIG. 1). reference).

  The cutout part 30 moves the support base 32 and the blade 34 up and down (projects and retreats) with respect to the storage part 20 in this way, so that the bottom wall 22 and the supply port 18 (front wall 16) are separated from each other. One bottle 80 is placed in the space S (see FIG. 5 etc.). When the cutout portion 30 protrudes with respect to the storage portion 20, one bottle 80 in the space S formed between the support base 32, the blade 34, and the front wall 16 is transferred to another upstream side. The blade 80 is separated from the bottle 80 and placed on the support base 32 so as not to be pressed in the front-rear direction.

  Note that the space S is formed between the support base 32, the blade 34, and the supply port 18 (the front wall 16 when the cutout portion 30 protrudes) in a side view shown in FIG. Each air cylinder 36 is fixed to a part of the frame 14 of the apparatus main body 12 and controlled (not shown) to operate (elevate and lower) in synchronization with each other. Further, the blade 34 is formed with a pair of left and right holes 34A (see FIG. 2 and the like) for inserting a push rod 62 described later.

(Separation part)
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the separation unit 40 is configured so that the cut-out unit 30 is retracted from the storage unit 20 (still moved downward) and the supply port 18 formed in the front wall 16 is From the upper side, a pair of left and right separation claws 42 projecting and retracting with respect to the storage unit 20 (space S), and the separation claws 42 projecting and retracting with respect to the storage unit 20 (space S) (moving in the front-rear direction) And a pair of left and right air cylinders 46.

  More specifically, each separation claw 42 is formed in a substantially “L” shape in a side view as viewed from the left-right direction, and has a flat plate-like horizontal wall 44 and a flat plate-like vertical wall 45. Yes. Each lateral wall 44 has a protruding length toward the storage unit 20 (upstream side) slightly shorter than the diameter of the bottle 80 (longer than the radius of the bottle 80 and shorter than the diameter). A bottle 80 can be placed on the upper surface. And the front-end | tip part of the cylinder rod 48 of the air cylinder 46 is attached to the front surface of each vertical wall 45, respectively.

  Therefore, when the cylinder rod 48 of each air cylinder 46 is extended, each vertical wall 45 comes close to the front surface of the front wall 16, and each horizontal wall 44 has the one bottle 80 and the bottle 80 above it. Inserted between them (see FIG. 6 etc.). When the cylinder rod 48 of each air cylinder 46 contracts, the end of each lateral wall 44 is arranged on the front side (retracted position) of the front wall 16 (see FIG. 4 and the like).

  The separating unit 40 projects the pair of left and right separating claws 42 spaced apart in the left-right direction in this manner from the upper side of the supply port 18 toward the storage unit 20 (inside the space S). The lowermost bottle 80 in the space S formed by 30 is separated from the upper bottle 80 so as not to be pressed by the upper bottle 80 from above. Each air cylinder 46 is also fixed to a part of the frame 14 of the apparatus main body 12, and is controlled by the control unit to operate in synchronization with each other.

(Pressing part)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pressing portion 50 is provided on the front wall 16 above the separating portion 40, and includes a pressing plate 52 constituting a part of the front wall 16 and the pressing plate. And an air cylinder 56 for projecting and retracting 52 with respect to the storage unit 20 (moving in the front-rear direction).

  More specifically, a rectangular (for example, square) opening 17 is formed on the upper side of the front wall 16 and in the center in the left-right direction, and the pressing plate 52 can close the opening 17. The opening 17 is formed in substantially the same size. And the front-end | tip part of the cylinder rod 58 (refer FIG. 5) of the air cylinder 56 is attached to the front surface of the press board 52. As shown in FIG.

  Therefore, when the cylinder rod 58 of the air cylinder 56 is extended, the pressing plate 52 protrudes toward the storage unit 20 side (upstream side), and a part (one or more) of the many bottles 80 stored on the bottom wall 22. (Several) are pressed toward the upstream side (see FIG. 5). When the cylinder rod 58 of the air cylinder 56 is contracted, the opening 17 is closed by the pressing plate 52 (see FIG. 3).

  The pressing unit 50 protrudes the pressing plate 52 toward the storage unit 20 in this way and presses a part (one or several) of the many bottles 80, so that the large number of bottles 80 are mainly formed. The clogging generated by supporting the front wall 16 and the bottom wall 22 in an arch shape (arc shape) is eliminated. The air cylinder 56 is also fixed to a part of the frame 14 of the apparatus main body 12, and is controlled and operated by the control unit.

(Extruded part)
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the push-out unit 60 removes the bottom bottle 80 separated by the separation unit 40 from the supply port 18 in a state where the cut-out unit 30 is retracted from the storage unit 20. A pair of left and right push rods 62 that push out of the apparatus main body 12 and a pair of left and right air cylinders 66 that move the pair of left and right push rods 62 in the front-rear direction are provided.

  More specifically, each extrusion rod 62 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape whose left-right direction is the plate thickness direction, and a front surface of the push-out rod 62 presses the outer peripheral surface of the bottle 80 placed on the support base 32. It is a pressing surface. And the front-end | tip part of the cylinder rod 68 of the air cylinder 66 is attached to the rear surface of each extrusion rod 62. As shown in FIG.

  Therefore, when the cylinder rod 68 of each air cylinder 66 is extended, each push rod 62 is inserted into the hole 34A formed in the blade 34, and the outer peripheral surface of the bottle 80 placed on the support base 32 is moved forward. The bottle 80 is pushed out from the support base 32 (space S) to the outside of the apparatus main body 12 through the supply port 18 (see FIG. 8). When the cylinder rod 68 of each air cylinder 66 is contracted, the front surface of each push rod 62 is arranged behind the blade 34 (retracted position) (see FIG. 1 and the like).

  The bottle 80 pushed out of the apparatus main body 12 from the supply port 18 by the extrusion rod 62 of the extrusion unit 60 is placed on the conveyance table 64 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the next process is performed on the conveyance table 64. It is to be transported to. The air cylinders 66 are also fixed to a part of the frame 14 of the apparatus main body 12, and are controlled by the control unit to operate in synchronization with each other.

(Blocking part)
The closing unit 70 is configured to prevent the bottle 80 from being inadvertently discharged from the supply port 18 to the outside of the apparatus body 12 when the bottle 80 is not pushed out from the supply port 18 by the extrusion rod 62 of the extrusion unit 60. A pair of left and right blocking plates 72 that partially block from the front side, and an air cylinder 76 that releases the blocking of the supply port 18 by the blocking plates 72 by moving each blocking plate 72 upward. .

  Specifically, each closing plate 72 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape in which the plate thickness direction is the front-rear direction in a state where a part of the supply port 18 is closed, and the upper end portion of each closing plate 72 is Each is attached to a pair of left and right connecting plates 73 extending in the vertical direction. And the upper end part of each connection board 73 is attached to the plate 74 extended in the left-right direction at intervals in the left-right direction. The plate 74 is also formed in a rectangular flat plate shape in which the plate thickness direction is the front-rear direction with each closing plate 72 blocking a part of the supply port 18.

  One end in the longitudinal direction of a rectangular flat plate-like bracket 75 is fixed to the left and right ends of the plate 74, and the other end in the longitudinal direction of each bracket 75 is vertically directed to a shaft 77 having the left-right direction as an axial direction. Is rotatably supported. The shaft portion 77 is attached to a part of the frame 14. The front surface of the plate 74 is also provided with a shaft portion 79 whose axial direction is the left-right direction, and the tip portion of the cylinder rod 78 of the air cylinder 76 is extended to the shaft portion 79. It is connected so that it can rotate in a state.

  Therefore, in a state where the cylinder rod 78 of the air cylinder 76 is extended, the plate 74 is rotated downward, and a part of the supply port 18 is closed by each closing plate 72. Thereby, the movement of the bottle 80 is prevented by each closing plate 72 so that the bottle 80 on the support base 32 does not inadvertently come out of the apparatus main body 12 from the supply port 18.

  When the bottle 80 is pushed out from the supply port 18, the cylinder rod 78 of the air cylinder 76 is contracted. As a result, the plate 74 rotates upward with the shaft portion 77 as the rotation center, so that each closing plate 72 rotates (moves) upward, and the blocking of the supply port 18 by each closing plate 72 is released. That is, the supply port 18 is opened, and the bottle 80 can be pushed out of the apparatus main body 12 from the supply port 18. The air cylinder 76 is also fixed to a part of the frame 14 of the apparatus main body 12, and is controlled and operated by the control unit.

(Function)
In the cylindrical body supply apparatus 10 configured as described above, its operation (cylindrical body supply method) will be described mainly with reference to FIGS.

  First, a large number of bottles 80 are put into the storage unit 20 of the apparatus main body 12. That is, a large number of bottles 80 are put on the bottom wall 22 from the rear side of the apparatus main body 12. Here, on the upper side of the storage unit 20, the regulating plate 26 is disposed at a predetermined inclination angle from the rear upper side to the front lower side.

  Therefore, when the restriction plate 26 contacts a part (one or several) of the many bottles 80 put on the bottom wall 22 from the front upper side, each bottle 80 has an axial direction. It is stored so as to be stacked on the bottom wall 22 while being corrected to face in the left-right direction (storage step).

  The movement of the large number of bottles 80 to the supply port 18 side (front wall 16 side) is restricted by the restriction plate 26. As a result, as compared with a configuration in which the restriction plate 26 is not provided, it is possible to prevent a large number of bottles 80 from being accumulated on the lower end side of the bottom wall 22 (to the extent that the support base 32 and the blade 34 cannot be raised and lowered). .

  When a large number of bottles 80 are stored up to the lower end side of the bottom wall 22, the air cylinder 36 is operated under the control of the control unit. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the cylinder rod 38 of the air cylinder 36 is extended to raise (move) the support base 32 and the blade 34 toward the storage unit 20 (cutting process). Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the cylinder rod 38 of the air cylinder 36 is contracted to lower the support base 32 and the blade 34 (bottle setting step).

  Accordingly, one bottle 80 enters the space S between the lower end portion of the bottom wall 22 and the supply port 18 (front wall 16), and the one bottle 80 is placed on the support base 32. That is, the one bottle 80 is separated by the blade 34 and placed on the support base 32 so as not to be pressed from the other bottles 80 on the upstream side. In FIG. 5, the bottle 80 is also placed on the upper side of the lowest bottle 80 in the space S.

  Next, the air cylinder 56 is operated under the control of the control unit. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the cylinder rod 58 of the air cylinder 56 is extended so that the pressing plate 52 protrudes toward the storage unit 20 (upstream side). Press the part (one or several). This eliminates clogging that occurs mainly when a large number of bottles 80 support each other in an arch shape between the front wall 16 and the bottom wall 22 (clogging elimination step).

  It should be noted that the pressing operation to the bottle 80 (clogging elimination process) by the pressing plate 52 is caused by clogging caused by a large number of bottles 80 supporting each other in an arch shape between the front wall 16 and the bottom wall 22. This is done by actuating the air cylinder 56 whether or not it is present.

  Next, the air cylinder 46 is operated under the control of the control unit. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the cylinder rod 48 of the air cylinder 46 is extended to cause the separation claw 42 to protrude from the upper side of the supply port 18 toward the storage unit 20 (in the space S). As a result, the horizontal wall 44 is inserted between the lowermost bottle 80 in the space S and the upper bottle 80, and the single bottle 80, the upper bottle 80, Are separated (separation step).

  That is, the lowermost bottle 80 in the space S formed by the cutout portion 30 is separated from the upper bottle 80 so that the upper bottle 80 is not pressed from above. In the steps so far, a part of the supply port 18 is blocked by the pair of left and right blocking plates 72, and the lowermost bottle 80 on the support base 32 (in the space S) is carelessly supplied. To the outside of the apparatus main body 12 is prevented.

  Next, the air cylinder 76 is operated under the control of the control unit. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the cylinder rod 78 of the air cylinder 76 is contracted, the closing plate 72 is moved (rotated) upward, and the supply port 18 is opened (opening opening process). As a result, the bottle 80 can be pushed out of the apparatus main body 12 from the supply port 18.

  Next, the air cylinder 66 is operated under the control of the control unit. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the cylinder rod 68 of the air cylinder 66 is extended, the push rod 62 is inserted into the hole 34 </ b> A of the blade 34, and the lowest one mounted on the support base 32. The outer peripheral surface of the bottle 80 is pressed by the extrusion rod 62 (extrusion process). Thereby, the one bottle 80 is pushed out of the apparatus main body 12 from the supply port 18.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the air cylinder 76 is operated by the control of the control unit, and the cylinder rod 78 is extended. As a result, the closing plate 72 moves (rotates) downward, and closes part of the supply port 18 again (opening closing step). And the air cylinder 66 is operated by control of a control part, and the cylinder rod 68 is shrunk. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the push rod 62 is removed from the hole 34 </ b> A of the blade 34 and disposed at the retracted position.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the air cylinder 46 is operated by the control of the control unit, and the cylinder rod 48 is contracted. Thereby, the horizontal wall 44 of the separation claw 42 is retracted from the storage portion 20 side (in the space S), and the tip end portion is disposed at the retracted position (separation retracting step). At this time, when the bottle 80 is already in the space S (in the case of illustration), the lowermost bottle 80 falls onto the support base 32 and is placed on the support base 32.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4 again, the air cylinder 36 is operated under the control of the control unit, and the above steps are repeated. As described above, a large number of bottles 80 stacked in such a manner that the axial direction is in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) are continuously sent to the next process one by one without being clogged in that posture (automatically. Supplied). Therefore, in the cylindrical body supply apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, labor saving can be achieved.

  In addition, the bottle 80 pushed out of the apparatus main body 12 is mounted on the conveyance stand 64, and is conveyed to the next process. Specifically, in the next step, the bottles 80 are arranged by being rotated 90 degrees so that their openings face upward, and the toner is filled from the openings by the toner filling device. In the next step, the bottle 80 filled with toner is attached with a cap at its opening.

  The cylindrical body supply apparatus 10 and the cylindrical body supply method according to the present embodiment have been described based on the drawings. However, the cylindrical body supply apparatus 10 and the cylindrical body supply method according to the present embodiment are limited to those illustrated. However, the design can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, the pressing unit 50 may be configured to operate only when a large number of bottles 80 are clogged due to arching between the front wall 16 and the bottom wall 22. In this case, if the sensor detects that the clogging has occurred, as described above, labor saving can be achieved.

  The operation of each part is not limited to the configuration performed by the air cylinders 36, 46, 56, 66, and 76, and may be configured to be performed by another actuator. Further, the closing plate 72 may be configured to be able to close almost the entire supply port 18. That is, the closing plate 72 only needs to be configured to be able to close at least a part of the supply port 18.

  Further, the cylindrical body is not limited to the bottle 80 filled with the toner, and an uneven shape may be formed on the outer peripheral surface as long as it can roll on the bottom wall 22. In addition, “supply” in the present embodiment includes a case where the bottle 80 is not actively pushed out from the support base 32 (in the space S). That is, the “supply” in the present embodiment includes a case where the bottle 80 is taken out from the support base 32 (in the space S) by a robot hand, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cylindrical body supply apparatus 12 Apparatus main body 18 Supply port 20 Storage part 22 Bottom wall 24 Control part 30 Cutout part 40 Separation part 50 Press part 60 Extrusion part 70 Closure part 80 Bottle (an example of a cylindrical body)
S space

Claims (8)

On the bottom wall inclined toward the supply port of the cylindrical body formed in the apparatus main body, a storage unit that stores a large number of the cylindrical bodies whose axial directions are horizontal,
A cutout part for inserting one cylindrical body between the supply port by projecting and retracting from the lower part between the lower end of the bottom wall and the supply port with respect to the storage unit;
A separation unit that protrudes from the supply port toward the storage unit when the cutout unit is retracted from the storage unit, and separates the one cylindrical body from the other cylindrical body;
A cylindrical body supply device.   The cylindrical body supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an extruding unit that pushes out the one cylindrical body separated by the separation unit from the supply port.   The cylindrical body supply apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a closing portion that closes at least a part of the supply port when the one cylindrical body is not pushed out from the supply port by the pushing portion.   The cylindrical body supply apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3 provided with the press part which presses a part of the many cylindrical bodies accommodated in the said accommodating part.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a restricting portion that comes into contact with a part of the plurality of cylindrical bodies stored in the storage portion from above and restricts the movement of the cylindrical body toward the supply port. The cylindrical body supply device according to any one of the above. Storing a large number of cylindrical bodies in the storage section in the cylindrical body supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
A step of projecting and retracting the cutout portion toward the storage portion and inserting one cylindrical body between the supply port;
A step of separating the one cylindrical body from the other cylindrical body by retracting the cutout portion from the storage portion side and then projecting the separation portion from the supply port to the storage portion side;
A cylindrical body supply method comprising:   The cylinder supply method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of extruding the one cylinder separated by the separation unit from the supply port.   The cylinder supply method according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a step of pressing a part of the plurality of cylinders stored in the storage unit to eliminate clogging of the cylinders.