JP6495204B2 - Transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport apparatus that transports a group of articles in which bar-shaped articles such as bar-shaped confectionery, for example, in a predetermined amount unit are aligned toward a processing machine such as a packaging machine.

  Various countermeasures have been proposed for adjusting the front end and the rear end of each group of articles in a transport apparatus that transports a group of articles in which stick-shaped articles such as stick-shaped confectionery are collected. For example, in Patent Document 1, the second conveyor provided above the first conveyor with respect to the first conveyor that stores and travels the group of articles in an accommodation recess attached to an endless cord such as a chain at predetermined intervals. By temporarily stopping the running, the alignment member provided on the endless cord in the second conveyor is brought into contact with the front end of the article group to adjust the front end of the article group, and the alignment member is moved by running the second conveyor. Indicates that the rear end of each group of articles is trimmed.

Japanese Patent No. 4257648

  In the above-described prior art, when the alignment member presses a part of the article end in the article group in which the rod-shaped articles are gathered at a predetermined position and aligns the front end or the rear end of the article group instantaneously, the surface friction is particularly large. In the case of an article having a high adhesive strength or an elongated article, the pressing force from the article surface or the alignment member may be dispersed in the cross direction in the longitudinal direction of the article with respect to the article, resulting in damage to the article.

  An object of this invention is to provide the conveying apparatus which can align slowly the edge part of the goods group which put together the rod-shaped goods by the predetermined amount unit, without causing damage to goods.

In order to achieve the above object, the transport apparatus of the present invention takes the following means. In the following description of the present invention, the “end portion of the article” refers to a front end portion or a rear end portion in the longitudinal direction of the article (W) alone. In addition, the “end of the article group” refers to a front end or a rear end of the article (W) that protrudes most in the conveyance direction among the plurality of articles (W) that are placed together. Further, the “alignment operation” refers to an operation for adjusting the ends of the irregular group of articles (GW).

First, the invention of the transport apparatus according to claim 1 is configured such that a group of articles (GW) in which the articles (W) are grouped in a predetermined amount unit with the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped articles (W) in the transport direction are spaced in the transport direction. A transport device that opens and is placed on the transport path (18, 36) and transports each article group (GW), and a round travel path (22) provided with a stator (21) that generates a magnetic field; A plurality of the circular traveling paths (22) are arranged, and travel around the circular traveling path (22) with the thrust obtained by the magnetic field generated by the stator (21), and the conveying paths (18, 36). ) Provided with a traveling body (34) that can travel a part of the circumferential traveling path (22) provided along the traveling road (22) independently of each other, and the plurality of traveling bodies (34) are the articles. A first traveling body (34A) that travels in pairs in association with each group (GW). A second traveling body (34B), each of the first traveling bodies (34A) travels in contact with or away from the front end of the associated article group (GW), and Each of the second traveling bodies (34B) is configured to travel in contact with or away from the rear end portion of the associated article group (GW), and the second traveling body (34B). The first traveling body (34A) that travels in a pair with the second traveling body (34B) until each travels to the end (18E, 36E) of the transport path (18, 36). The alignment operation for supporting the group of articles (GW) from the front and rear in the conveying direction is completed by setting the interval to be the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the article (W), and at the same interval as the length in the longitudinal direction of the article (W). Until it becomes, it becomes the said pair as the said goods group (GW) is conveyed. Traveling body (34A, 34B) spacing gradually narrows the, matched the front and rear ends of each of said group of articles (GW), said conveying path (18, 36), each received goods group The second traveling body (34B) has entered the transport path (18, 36), and has a placement unit (M) that travels while placing (GW) in the transport direction at intervals. Until the rear end portion of the article group (GW) is separated from the rear end portion of the article group (GW) and the alignment operation of the rear end portion of the article group (GW) is completed after entering the conveyance path (18, 36). It is comprised so that it may move at a faster speed than the said articles | goods group (GW) conveyed by this mounting part (M).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the article group (GW) of rod-like articles (W) collected in a predetermined amount unit is spaced along the conveyance direction so as to be along a part of the circuit travel path (22). A plurality of traveling bodies (34) each of which can travel independently on the circular traveling path (22) when the articles (GW) are transported by being placed on the transport paths (18, 36) provided. ), The front end portion and the rear end portion of the article group (GW) are aligned by the first traveling body (34A) and the second traveling body (34B) which are associated with each article group (GW) and travel in pairs. Operation is performed.

  For details of the alignment operation of each article group (GW), the second traveling body (34B) that travels ahead of the article group (GW) associated with the conveyance path (18, 36) travels and at least the conveyance path ( 18 and 36) until the end (18E and 36E) is reached, the distance between the pair of traveling bodies (34A and 34B) is made the same as the length in the longitudinal direction of the article (W), and the alignment operation is completed. The distance between the pair of traveling bodies (34A, 34B) is gradually reduced as the article group (GW) is conveyed until the same interval as the length of the article (W) is reached. The front end and the rear end of each of (GW) are aligned. As a result, the front end portion and the rear end portion of the article group (GW) are gradually aligned until the article group (GW) reaches at least the terminal end (18E, 36E) of the conveyance path. Can be prevented. Further, when the aligned article group (GW) is packaged by, for example, the horizontal bag making and filling machine (24), the occurrence of biting of the article (W) by the horizontal sealing means (32) is suppressed. be able to.

  Next, in the invention of the transport apparatus according to claim 2 that is dependent on claim 1, the transport path (18, 36) is configured to place the received article groups (GW) at intervals in the transport direction. The second traveling body (34B) is separated from the rear end portion of the article group (GW) when it enters the transport path (18, 36). In the period from entering the conveyance path (18, 36) to completing the alignment operation of the rear end portion of the article group (GW), the conveyance unit (M) conveys the conveyance unit (M). It is comprised so that it may move at a faster speed than the said goods group (GW).

Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the transport path (18, 36) is in a state of being separated from the rear end portion of the article group (GW) placed on the traveling placement portion (M). ) Is faster than the article group (GW) conveyed by the placing part (M) until the alignment operation of the rear end part of the article group (GW) is completed. Move at a speed and gradually perform an alignment operation. Thereby, in the article group (GW) in which the second traveling body (34B) protrudes rearward in the transport direction when the placement unit (M) travels in the transport direction with the article group (GW) placed thereon. The rear end portion of some articles (W) can be aligned while being gradually pushed with a small force.

Next, spaced invention of the transport apparatus according to claim 2 belonging accordance with claim 1, from said first traveling body (34A), said front end of said group of articles (GW) when entering the transport path And between the entry into the conveyance path (18, 36) and the completion of the alignment operation of the front end portion of the article group (GW), the conveyance unit (M) conveys the conveyance unit (M). It is configured to move at a slower speed than the group of articles (GW).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first traveling body that has entered the conveyance path so as to be separated from the front end portion of the article group (GW) placed on the traveling placement section (M). (34A) moves at a slower speed than the article group (GW) conveyed by the placing section (M) and completes alignment until the alignment operation of the front end of the article group (GW) is completed. Operation is performed. As a result, the placement unit (M) places the article group (GW) and travels in the transport direction (HS), so that the first traveling body (34A) projects forward in the transport direction (GW). ), The front ends of some articles (W) can be aligned while being gradually pushed with a small force.

Next, the invention of the transport device according to claim 3 dependent on claim 1 or claim 2 is characterized in that the two traveling bodies (34A, 34B) that gradually narrow as the article group (GW) is transported. When the interval is set to a preset interval, the first traveling body (34A) that is in contact with the front end portion of a part of articles (W) in the article group (GW) is repeatedly traveled in the transport direction. The pressing force of the first traveling body (34A) in contact with a part of the articles (W) in the article group (GW) is momentarily reduced to the part of the articles (W). The front end portion of a part of the articles (W) in the article group (GW) is pushed toward the second traveling body side (34B).

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first traveling body (34A) is instantaneously repeatedly moved in the transport direction while traveling, so that the first traveling body (34A) intersects the transport direction. By reducing the force that presses the front end of a part of the article (W) in the article group (GW), that is, the force that causes the part of the article (W) to be deformed, the part is increased. The front end of the part of the articles (W) can be pushed in such a state that the longitudinal direction of the articles (W) is changed to face the transport direction.

Next, in the invention of the transfer device according to claim 4 that depends on claim 1 or claim 2 , the interval between the two traveling bodies that becomes gradually narrower as the article group (GW) is transferred is preset. When the interval is set, the second traveling body (34B) that is in contact with the rear end portion of a part of the articles in the article group (GW) is repeatedly moved in the transport direction while traveling and instantaneously The article is increased after reducing the pressing force against the part of the article (W) by the second traveling body (34B) in contact with the part of the article (W) in the article group (GW). The rear end portions of some articles (W) in the group (GW) are pushed toward the first traveling body (34A) side.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the second traveling body (34B) is instantaneously repeatedly moved in the transport direction while traveling, so that the second traveling body (34B) intersects the transport direction. By reducing the force that presses the rear end of a part of the articles (W) in the article group (GW), that is, the force that causes the part of the articles (W) to deform, The rear end portion of the part of the article (W) can be pushed in with the longitudinal direction of the article (W) of the part being changed to face the transport direction.

Next, the invention of the transport apparatus according to claim 5 when dependent from claim 1 to any of claims 4, the mounting section (M) are each conveyance direction spaced apart at regular intervals And the length in the conveyance direction is shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction of the article (W), and the traveling body (34) enters the transportation path (36) from above and travels ( 34) is configured to extend downward from the mounting portion (M).

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the length in the transport direction of the placing portion (M) of the article (W) that is provided at a predetermined interval in the transport direction is the length in the longitudinal direction of the article (W). It is shorter than the length. And as for the traveling body (34) arrange | positioned in the front-back position of the goods (W) and the mounting part (M), the front-end | tip part (34S) is below the mounting part (M), ie, the goods group (GW). ) Extending downward from the lowermost position. Thereby, even if it is a traveling body (34), for example, the goods group (GW) which consists of a very thin stick-shaped article, a traveling body (34) is certainly contacted to the front end or rear end of each article (W) in an article group. And the group of articles (GW) can be reliably aligned.

In the invention of the transport apparatus according to claim 6 that is dependent on the above-described claim 5 , the placement section (M) is constructed with respect to a pair of endless cords (36) that travel around in the transport direction. And a plurality of bars (38) provided apart from each other in the transport direction, appear between the front and rear bars (38) and appear on the transport path, and the placement section (M) A support body (40) that supports both the left and right sides intersecting the transport direction of the group of articles (GW) placed on the first traveling body (34A). It is configured to enter the transport path and move to the front of the group of articles (GW) at a timing at which contact with a part of the articles (W) protruding in the direction can be avoided.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the support (40) is provided on both the left and right sides of the article group (GW) that is placed and transported on the placement portion (M) including the plurality of bars (38). The first traveling body (34A) passes between the front and rear bars (38), appears on the transport path, and supports each article group (GW) during transport. It enters the conveyance path at a timing at which contact with a part of the articles (W) protruding in the conveyance direction can be avoided, and moves to the front of the group of articles (GW). Thereby, the front end portion of the article group (GW) can be aligned without causing the article group (GW) to drop or be displaced in the width direction.

Next, in the invention of the transfer device according to claim 7 that depends on any one of claims 1 to 6 , the end of the transfer path (18, 36) (18E, 36E) is a horizontal bag making. A filling machine (24) is connected, and the first traveling body (34A) and the second traveling body (34B) are adapted to match the continuous packaging timing set by the horizontal bag making and filling machine (24). It is configured to travel and sequentially send the group of articles (GW) to the horizontal bag making and filling machine (24).

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the group of articles (GW) can be packaged at the continuous packaging timing set in the horizontal bag making and filling machine (24).

Next, in the invention of the transfer device according to claim 8 that is dependent on claim 7 , the pair of traveling bodies (34A, 34B) are received at irregular intervals in the transfer path (18). After aligning the article group (GW), a plurality of article groups (GW) in which the article group (GW) is set at the same interval as the constant article group (GW) conveyance interval set in the horizontal bag making and filling machine. ) Are supported while being supported by a storage section (42) provided on the downstream side in the conveyance path (18).

According to the invention according to the eighth aspect , the storage unit (42) supplies the article group (GW) supplied to the conveyance path at irregular intervals with the interval between the articles in the horizontal bag making and filling machine (24). Since the group (GW) is stored at the same conveyance interval, the horizontal bag making and filling machine (24) can continuously wrap at a set timing without generating an empty bag. Further, in the storage unit (42), the article groups (GW) are aligned at a constant interval and sequentially sent toward the horizontal bag making and filling machine (24), so that a magnetic field is generated when the goods are sent. The pattern can be a pattern common to each article group (GW), and the control responsiveness of the control unit in the transport apparatus can be secured stably.

  According to the above-described present invention, it is possible to provide a transport device that can slowly align the ends of an article group in which rod-like articles are gathered in a predetermined unit without causing damage to the articles.

1 is a schematic view of a transport device according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the alignment operation | movement of the articles | goods group by the 1st traveling body and the 2nd traveling body in the some conveyance process in 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the conveying apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction which shows the state by which the articles | goods group in 2nd Embodiment was mounted in the mounting part. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement process of the support body arrange | positioned at the conveying apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the process in which the goods group by the 1st traveling body and the 2nd traveling body in 2nd Embodiment performs alignment operation | movement. It is a figure which shows another example which prevents disorder of the attitude | position of an article group at the time of an article group being sent to a horizontal bag making and filling machine from a bar conveyor.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a transport device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the front-back direction in this embodiment is the conveyance direction HS of the article group GW by the conveyance device, and the conveyance downstream side is the front. Moreover, the left-right direction points out the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction HS, and the up-down direction points out the vertical direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction HS.

[First Embodiment]
First, the first embodiment will be described. A first embodiment is shown in FIG. This 1st Embodiment is a case of the form which receives an article group in a conveyance apparatus at irregular intervals.

  First, a schematic configuration will be described with reference to FIG. On the upstream side in the transport direction HS of the transport device, a quantitative supply / conveyance device 14 as a quantitative carry-out device and a belt conveyor 16 are provided below the quantitative supply / conveyance device 14. Whenever the predetermined amount of the rod-shaped article W sent from the article manufacturing apparatus (not shown) at an indefinite interval is stored in the internal storage space, the fixed amount supply / conveyance device 14 opens the bottom portion of the shutter member. An article group GW composed of a predetermined amount of articles W is dropped and placed on the belt conveyor 16. Then, the article group GW placed on the belt conveyor 16 is sent to the transport device at a constant speed.

  The conveying device includes two belt conveyors, an upstream belt conveyor 19 and a downstream belt conveyor 20, each of which includes a belt on which a conveyance surface runs, an overhead conveyor 23, and a control unit (not shown) above them. It is prepared for. The upstream belt conveyor 19 receives the article group GW sent from the fixed amount supply / conveyance device 14, and the downstream belt conveyor 20 sends it out onto the film F being formed in the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 as a packaging machine.

  The horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 forms a strip-like film F drawn from an original roll 26 as a film supply source into a cylindrical shape by polymerizing both end edges of the film F with a film forming means 28. And in the shaping | molding, while supplying the articles | goods group GW to the film F in the shaping | molding for every predetermined interval, while performing the vertical seal | sticker to the superposition | polymerization part of the film F superposed | polymerized along the film feed direction by the vertical sealing means 30 The package P is obtained by performing horizontal sealing along the left-right direction intersecting the film feeding direction by the horizontal sealing means 32. The packaging machine has a control unit (not shown) for controlling commands relating to packaging operations such as film feeding, vertical sealing, horizontal sealing, and the like per unit time set in advance by the control unit. Each operation timing is determined according to the number of packaging processes.

  The horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 according to the present embodiment is a so-called back seal type apparatus that forms both the edges of the film F so that the overlapping portion is positioned above the cylindrical film.

  The conveyor 23 is a control unit (a control unit) in the conveying device along an annular traveling rail formed by connecting a pair of curved traveling rails to both ends of a pair of linear traveling rails arranged to be opposed to each other vertically. An electromagnetic coil 21 (see FIG. 2) serving as a stator that generates a magnetic field based on a command by a not-shown circuit is provided to form a circular traveling path 22 and a permanent magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generated in the stator. The principle of a linear motor is used in which each traveling body 34 as a mover provided with a magnet generates a propulsive force, whereby each traveling body 34 is controlled to circulate and travel independently in one direction on the circuit travel path 22. It was a conveyor.

  The control unit (not shown) in the transport device includes information obtained by means (not shown) for detecting the position of each traveling body 34 disposed along the circular traveling path 22 and article detection information by the article detection means 35. And based on the information on the feed amount of the article group (GW) obtained by the encoder (not shown) attached to the upstream belt conveyor 19 and the information on the packaging operation obtained from the control unit of the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24, In order for each traveling body 34 to travel independently, command information related to movement such as a moving amount and a moving speed is generated for each traveling body 34, and drive commands regarding current supply to the electromagnetic coil 21 at various positions are performed. It has become. The information related to the packaging operation mentioned here includes the number of packages per unit time and the length of one packaging bag, such as the length of the film being formed, obtained from the registration information registered in advance by the operator in the control unit of the packaging machine. Information on the conveyance interval of the article group GW, the conveyance speed, the timing for supplying the article group GW to the packaging machine, the operation information of the packaging machine, and the like are included.

  The upstream belt conveyor 19 conveys the group of articles GW sent from the belt conveyor 16 to the downstream belt conveyor 20 while aligning with the conveyor 23 while conveying the article group GW at a constant speed higher than the conveying speed of the belt conveyor 16. The downstream belt conveyor 20 is a conveyor that is driven and driven at a constant speed slightly higher than the conveying speed of the upstream belt conveyor 19, and in cooperation with the conveyor 23, the aligned article group GW is connected to the downstream side thereof. The film F fed at a constant speed by the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 is sent out at a constant conveyance (supply) interval corresponding to the number of packages per unit time set in the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 in advance. As shown in FIG. 1, the downstream belt conveyor 20 is arranged so that the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 can package the articles GW from the belt conveyor 16 at an indefinite interval, so that the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 can package with the number of packages per unit time. The article group GW corresponding to the predetermined packaging can be stored on the transport surface 20A. In the first embodiment, the transport device includes transport surfaces 18A and 20A serving as a placement portion M on which the article group GW is placed on the upstream belt conveyor 19 and the downstream belt conveyor 20, and a space above the placement portion M. A conveyance path 18 is formed.

  The traveling body 34 includes a large number of first traveling bodies 34A and second traveling bodies 34B arranged in pairs. The first traveling body 34A is disposed in front of the article group GW in the conveying direction, and the second traveling body 34B is disposed in the rear in the conveying direction.

  Each traveling body 34 is an article group obtained by an article detection means 35 disposed near the entrance of the upstream belt conveyor 19 (left side position in FIG. 1) and an encoder (not shown) attached to the upstream belt conveyor 19. In response to a command from the control unit in the transport device 10 based on information on the GW feed amount, each travels independently and enters the transport path 18.

  Specifically, two traveling bodies 34A and 34B are associated with one article group GW detected by the article detection means 35, and the upstream belt conveyor 19 is associated with the article group GW. The first traveling body 34A enters the transport path 18 and travels between the article groups GW that are transported in advance, and the second travel is performed between the article group GW and the one rear article group GW. When the traveling bodies 34A and 34B enter the transportation path, the first traveling body 34A is separated forward from the front end portion of the associated article group GW. The second traveling body 34B travels away from the rear end of the article group GW rearward. That is, when the first traveling body 34A and the second traveling body 34B enter the conveyance path, they enter as being separated from the front end portion and the rear end portion of the article group GW. The front end portion of the article group refers to the front end portion of the article W that protrudes most forward in the transport direction among the gathered articles W, and the rear end portion of the article group is the opposite side. The rear end portion of the article W that protrudes most.

  The first traveling body 34A travels on the upstream belt conveyor 19 at a constant speed slightly slower than the speed at which the article group GW is conveyed until the following alignment operation by the first traveling body 34A is completed, and gradually the article group GW After the distance from the front end portion is shortened and a part of the article group GW comes into contact with a part of the article W whose front end protrudes forward, the front end part of the projecting article W is gradually moved together with the article group GW in the transport direction. Into the interior side of the article group GW. That is, the alignment operation by the first traveling body 34A with respect to the front end portion of the article group GW is performed.

  The second traveling body 34B travels on the upstream belt conveyor 19 at a constant speed slightly higher than the speed at which the article group GW is conveyed until the following alignment operation by the second traveling body 34B is completed, and gradually the article group GW After the distance from the rear end portion is shortened and in contact with a part of the article W whose end portion protrudes rearward in the article group GW, the rear end portion of the protruding article W is moved together with the article group GW in the transport direction. Gradually, it is pushed into the interior side of the article group GW. That is, the alignment operation by the second traveling body 34B with respect to the rear end portion of the article group GW is performed. In the present embodiment, the difference of the traveling speed of the first traveling body 34A relative to the conveying speed of the article group GW by the upstream belt conveyor 19 until the alignment operation of the article group GW is completed on the upstream belt conveyor 19. The absolute value and the absolute value of the difference between the traveling speeds of the second traveling body 34B with respect to the transport speed are set to be the same.

  The detailed process of the alignment operation for the front end portion of the article group GW by the first traveling body 34A and the alignment operation for the rear end portion of the article group GW by the second traveling body 34B is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows the alignment operation status at the transport positions (a) to (d) of the article group GW in the upstream belt conveyor 19. The positions (a) and (d) are also shown in FIG. The conveyance position of the article group GW here is an intermediate position between the front end portion and the rear end portion of the article group GW known by the article detection means 35. The length from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the article group GW is gradually narrowed to K1 at the position (a), K2 at the position (b), K3 at the position (c), and K4 at the position (d). Thus, the alignment of the article group GW is completed at K4. That is, as the distance between the first traveling body 34A and the second traveling body 34B that make a pair that aligns the article group GW advances from the upstream (a) position in the transport direction HS in the (d) position direction, K1> The alignment operation is performed by gradually narrowing K2> K3> K4.

  When the article group GW arrives at the transport positions (b), (c), and (d), the first traveling body 34A that has traveled at a constant speed loosens the pressing force against the front end of the article group GW. The second traveling body 34B is instantaneously decelerated in order to loosen the pressing force against the rear end of the article group GW after instantaneously accelerating and separating from the front end of the article group GW. Then, after leaving backward from the rear end of the article group GW, the vehicle is accelerated instantaneously. By this instantaneous operation, the distance between the first traveling body 34A and the second traveling body 34B is K2 ′ at the (b) position, K3 ′ at the (c) position, and K4 ′ at the (d) position. It should be noted that the interval between the positions (b) and (c) that are narrowed after expanding to K2 ′ and K3 ′ is slightly shorter than K2 and K3. This is because the article group GW moves forward by the conveyor 19 while the distance between the traveling bodies 34A and 34B is instantaneously changed. As described above, for the operation of repeatedly changing the relative position of the first traveling body 34A or the second traveling body 34B with respect to the front end portion or the rear end portion of the article group GW, (b), (c), (d) After the article group GW arrives at the position, it is repeated three times in succession. In the present embodiment, the repeated variation is performed three times, but the number of repeated variations is not limited. The repeated variation is not limited to changing the moving speeds of the first and second traveling bodies 34A and 34B, but includes a method of vibrating both traveling bodies 34A and 34B in the traveling direction.

  When the distance between the traveling bodies 34A and 34B that gradually narrows as the article group GW is conveyed is set to a predetermined distance (the distance at the positions (b), (c), and (d)). The first traveling body 34A that is in contact with the front end portion of a part of the articles W in the article group GW and the second traveling body 34B that is in contact with the rear end part of the article W are traveling in the transport direction while traveling. Contrary to change (repetitive movement), the pressing force against the part of the articles by the traveling bodies 34 that are instantaneously in contact with the part of the articles W in the article group GW is reduced, and then conveyed by increasing it. The front end portion (or the rear end portion) of a part of the articles W protruding in the direction is pushed toward the other traveling body as a pair by the first traveling body 34A (or the second traveling body 34B).

  The pair of traveling bodies 34A and 34B that have completed the alignment operation at the position (d) of the upstream belt conveyor 19 travel while continuously supporting the article W, and on the film F of the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24. The downstream belt conveyor 20 that constitutes a part of the transport path 18 so that the interval with the preceding article group GW is the same as the above-described constant interval, as if the constant interval of the article group GW placed thereon is taken over. After the vehicle travels along the same line as the film feed speed in synchronism with the film feed in the filling machine 24 so as to match the continuous packaging timing set by the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 so as to maintain the interval. Moving. Accordingly, the downstream belt conveyor 20 is supported by the pair of traveling bodies 34A and 34B at the same conveyance interval as the conveyance interval of the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 in which the front and rear intervals between the article groups GW are arranged on the downstream side. The storage unit 42 stores a plurality of article groups GW.

  When the article group GW is sent to the film F by the traveling of the belts of the pair of traveling bodies 34A and 34B and the belt conveyor 20, the storage section is mainly obtained by traveling the belt and pushing the second traveling body 34B. When the article group GW at the most downstream position among the article groups GW placed at 42 is sent onto the film F, the remaining articles placed in the storage unit 42 at the position of the article group GW at the most downstream position. Control is performed so that the traveling bodies 34A and 34B travel so as to shift the entire remaining article group GW placed in the storage unit 42 so that the article group GW located at the most downstream position in the group GW is located. . When the second traveling body 34B sends out the article group GW, the traveling body travels on a curved traveling rail from a linear traveling rail on the circuit traveling path 22. When the traveling position of the second traveling body 34B shifts to a curved traveling rail, the speed of the conveying direction component at the traveling speed of the tip of the second traveling body 34B is compared to when moving in a straight line. Speed up. For this reason, there is a possibility that the posture of the article group GW may be disturbed by contacting the rear end of the article group GW with which the tip of the second traveling body 34B is associated and pushing a part of the article group GW forward in the conveying direction. is there.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, the second traveling body 34B temporarily travels until the article group GW moves to a distance at which the tip of the second traveling body 34B does not reach the film F after the article group GW is transferred to the film F. To stop. As a result, a gap is formed between the article group GW sent to the film F and the second traveling body 34B so as not to come into contact with the second traveling body 34B due to the turning movement. For this reason, it can avoid that the attitude | position of the articles | goods group GW sent to the film F is disturb | confused by the 2nd traveling body 34B. Such movement control of the second traveling body 34B can be performed by the configuration in which each traveling body 34 is controlled independently.

  In the first embodiment, the front and rear ends of the article group GW moving by the belt conveyors 19 and 20 are unevenly aligned by the first traveling body 34A and the second traveling body 34B. Further, it is possible to prevent the article W from being damaged due to a sudden pressing force applied to a part of the articles W, or to prevent the article W from being rubbed or the like and damaging the surface of the article W. .

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is shown in FIGS. This 2nd Embodiment is a case of the form which receives an article group in a conveyance apparatus by a fixed space | interval. In the second embodiment, components that are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the article group GW can be stably supplied to the transport device by the fixed amount transport device 14 provided with a plurality of hopper members 15. In the present embodiment, rod-shaped articles W fed from an article manufacturing apparatus (not shown) at irregular intervals are stored in the uppermost stage of a multi-stage hopper member 15. Each time a predetermined amount is stored, the hopper member 15 is moved to the lower hopper member 15, and the article group GW having a predetermined amount is sequentially stored from the lowermost hopper member 15. Then, the lowermost hopper member 15 is periodically opened and closed, and the article group GW is supplied to the bar conveyor 80 of the transfer device at regular intervals. The hopper member 15 of the quantitative supply / conveyance device 14 in this embodiment has a two-stage configuration.

  The transport apparatus of the second embodiment includes a bar conveyor 80, an overhead conveyor 23 on the top thereof, and a control unit (not shown). A horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 is disposed at the rear end position of the bar conveyor 80, and the article group GW is sent from the bar conveyor 80 onto the film F being molded in the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24.

  The bar conveyor 80 circulates and drives the endless cords 37 (see FIG. 4) respectively disposed on a pair of chain guides 39 provided in parallel to each other along the transport direction so that both endless cords 37 A mounting portion M on which the article group GW is mounted is formed by a plurality of bars 38 that are installed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, each placement unit M on which each article group GW of the bar conveyor 80 is placed is composed of a plurality of bars 38 that are separated from each other in the transport direction. Since no bar 38 is installed between M, a certain interval is opened in the transport direction. The length of the placement portion M in the transport direction HS is shorter than the length of a single article W. The interval at which the placement unit M is provided is an interval corresponding to the supply interval of the article group GW placed on the film F in the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24. Each article group GW received in each placement unit M is conveyed at a constant speed that is the same as the conveyance speed of the film F in the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 without adjusting the interval between the article groups GW. Is sent out. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the article detection means 35 in the first embodiment is not necessary, and the first traveling body 34A and the second traveling body 34B are attached to the bar conveyor 80 by the control unit in the transport device. The traveling is independently controlled based on the information regarding the feed amount obtained from the encoder and the setting information regarding the packaging operation received from the control unit of the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24.

  It travels in association with the article group GW in which the front end part and the rear end part that are placed on the placement part M and are conveyed are uneven, and is ahead of the article group GW with which the first traveling body 34A is associated. The second traveling body 34B enters the conveyance path 36 so as to be separated from the article group GW in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the leading end portion 34S of the traveling body 34 of the first traveling body 34A and the second traveling body 34B protrudes to a position below the placement portion M of the conveyance path 36 of the article group GW. . Further, both the left and right sides in the transport direction of the article group GW are respectively supported by the support body 40 and the movement of the article W in the left and right direction is restricted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the support body 40 is formed of a rod-like member, and is connected via a rotation member 44 that is rotatably fitted to the bar 38, and a first connection portion 46 and a second connection portion 48. In this arrangement, the rotating member 44 is offset in the left-right direction perpendicular to the transport direction. Further, the support 40 is in an arrangement relationship that is offset with respect to the rotation member 44 also in the transport direction. Below the left and right rotating members 44, the guide members 50 are arranged along the conveying direction, more specifically, from the position 36 S where the article group GW is dropped and placed on the bar conveyor 80. It is arranged over the range up to the bar conveyor 80 as the end portion, and the support 40 rises when the second connecting portion 48 comes into contact with the guide member 50 at the position 36S, and the second connection portion 48 is in the vicinity of the delivery position. When the engagement between the connecting portion 48 and the support body 40 is released, the support body 40 falls down. In the present embodiment, the article group GW placed on one placement part M is supported by a total of four support bodies 40 at two places on each of the left and right sides, and each support body 40 is filled with a horizontal bag. Until the article group GW is sent to the machine 24, the side of the article group GW is arranged to be supported.

  FIG. 6 shows the alignment operation process of the article group GW by the first traveling body 34A and the second traveling body 34B in the process of conveying the article group GW by the bar conveyor 36, and the repetitive movement state of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the article group GW. Indicates. The matching operation of the second embodiment is basically the same as the matching operation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, as the transport position of the article group GW advances to (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f), the article group GW is moved. The interval L between the paired first traveling body 34A and second traveling body 34B is also gradually narrowed in the order of L1-> L2-> L3-> L4-> L5-> L6, and the front end portion of the article group GW Then, the uneven alignment of the rear end portion is performed, and the alignment is completed at the position (f).

  Similarly to the case of the first embodiment, when the interval between the two traveling bodies 34A and 34B, which gradually decreases as the article group GW is conveyed, is set to a preset interval in accordance with the alignment operation described above. In the conveying direction while traveling the first traveling body 34A that is in contact with the front end portion of some articles in the article group GW and the second traveling body 34B that is in contact with the rear end portion of some articles W. After repeatedly moving a plurality of times, the pressing force against the part of the article by each traveling body 34 that is instantaneously in contact with the part of the article W in the article group GW is reduced, and then increased to protrude in the conveying direction. The front end portion (or the rear end portion) of some of the articles W is pushed by the first traveling body 34A (or the second traveling body 34B) toward the other traveling body as a pair.

  In addition, the conveyance path 36 downstream from the position (F) in FIG. 3 includes a storage unit 42 in which a plurality of article groups GW whose ends are aligned continue at the conveyance interval of the article group GW in the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24. Has been.

  The article group GW aligned in the conveying process of the bar conveyor 80 as described above is sent from the bar conveyor 80 to the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24 and packaged by the film F. When the article group GW is sent from the bar conveyor 80 to the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24, when the second traveling body 34B moves along the curved traveling rail at the rear end of the circuit traveling path 22, Also in the case of this second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the tip of the second traveling body 34B contacts the rear end of the article group GW and pushes a part of the article group GW in the transport direction, thereby There is a risk of disturbing the posture of the GW. For this reason, also in the case of this 2nd Embodiment, the control similar to the case of 1st Embodiment is performed to the 2nd traveling body 34B, and disorder of the attitude | position of the articles | goods group GW is prevented.

  FIG. 7 shows another example of preventing the posture of the article group GW from being disturbed when the article group GW is sent from the bar conveyor 80 to the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24. In another configuration, the traveling body 34 includes a base portion 90 and an article support portion 88, and the article support portion 88 is coupled and connected to the base portion 90 so as to be movable forward and backward. A roller 86 is installed on the side of the article support portion 88 so as to move integrally with the article support portion 88. A guide rail 84 for guiding the roller 86 is provided in the vicinity of the connection point from the linear traveling rail to the curved traveling rail of the circular traveling path 22 through which the article group GW is sent to the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24. Yes. The guide shape of the guide rail 84 is a direction away from the article group GW as the traveling body 34 is conveyed. Accordingly, when the article group GW is sent to the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24, the traveling body 34 is in a position state away from the article group GW, so that the posture of the article group GW is not disturbed.

  In the second embodiment, the conveyance interval of the article group GW by the bar conveyor 80 is the same as the conveyance interval of the article group GW in the horizontal bag making and filling machine 24, and is a relatively narrow interval. The first traveling body 34A is associated with the one preceding article group GW and brought closer to the one preceding second traveling body 34B as much as possible, together with the one preceding second traveling body 34B, to the transport path 36. As a result of the entry, the first traveling body 34A smoothly enters the first traveling body 34A without coming into contact with the front end upper portions of the article group GW and the upstanding support body 40.

  Similarly to the first embodiment described above, the second embodiment described above is gradually aligned by the first traveling body 34A and the second traveling body 34B with the front end portion and the rear end portion where the front and rear ends of the article group GW are uneven. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the article W from being damaged due to a sudden pressing force applied to a part of the articles W, or to prevent the article W from being rubbed or the like and damaging the surface of the article W. be able to.

  And according to 2nd Embodiment, it has the following effects. Since the traveling body 34 of the second embodiment is disposed beyond the lower end of the article group GW placed on the placement part M of the bar conveyor 36, it reliably contacts the front end and the rear end part of the article group GW. Thus, the alignment operation of the article group GW can be reliably performed.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various other forms. Examples thereof are listed below.
-Although the bar conveyor was shown in 2nd Embodiment, if a conveyance surface is spaced apart in the conveyance direction, a belt type conveyor may be sufficient. Moreover, a caterpillar type may be used.
The first conveyor is replaced with a transport bed, the group of articles placed on the transport bed is pushed by the second traveling body, the first traveling body travels at a slower speed than the second traveling body, and the first traveling body And the second traveling body may be gradually narrowed so that both ends of the article group are aligned.
-As for the circulating traveling path of the traveling body, a so-called overhead system in which the traveling body circulates vertically above the conveyance path is adopted, but a structure in which the traveling body circulates in a horizontal direction or the like may be used.
-As a linear motor, a configuration in which each moving body travels linearly by obtaining a thrust by a magnetic field generated in the stator, such as a moving body provided with an electromagnetic coil instead of a magnet is used as a traveling body. It may be.
As the processing machine connected to the downstream side of the conveyance path of the conveyance device, a boxing device such as a car toner may be used.
-The bar-shaped article is not limited to confectionery but may be dry noodles such as somen. Also, it is not limited to food items. For example, a straw or the like may be used.
-When the distance between the first traveling body and the second traveling body that are paired becomes the set interval, the number of times that both traveling bodies or one of the traveling bodies are repeatedly moved may be plural. The number of times is not specified. The repetitive movement of the traveling body when the set interval is reached includes a mode in which the traveling body is repeatedly moved based on traveling position information, time information, and the like of the traveling body.
-The location in the conveyance path where the traveling body is repeatedly moved may be one location or a plurality of locations.
・ For the horizontal bag making and filling machine, the film is formed into a cylindrical shape so that the overlapping part formed by polymerizing both edge portions of the belt-like film is located above, and the article group is directly applied from the transport device onto the film being formed. Although the example which sends out was shown, it cannot be overemphasized that an article group is sent to a supply conveyor about the horizontal bag making and filling machine which forms a film cylindrically so that a superposition part may be located below.
The timing at which the front end portion and the rear end portion of the article group GW are repeatedly changed may be simultaneous or different.

10: Transport device 18: Transport path 21: Electromagnetic coil (stator)
22: Circulating traveling path 24: Horizontal bag making and filling machine 34: Traveling body (movable element)
34A: 1st traveling body 34B: 2nd traveling body 38: Bar 40: Support body 42: Storage part W: Article GW: Article group M: Placement part

Claims (8)

A conveying device that conveys each article group by placing the article group in which the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped article is directed in the conveying direction and placing the article grouped in a predetermined amount unit on the conveying path with an interval in the conveying direction,
An orbital road provided with a stator for generating a magnetic field;
A plurality of the circular traveling paths are arranged on the circular traveling path. The thrust obtained by the magnetic field generated by the stator travels around the circular traveling path and is arranged along the conveying path. Each has a traveling body capable of traveling independently of each other,
The plurality of traveling bodies are:
A first traveling body and a second traveling body traveling in pairs in association with each article group;
Each of the first traveling bodies travels in contact with or away from the front end of the associated article group, and each of the second traveling bodies travels at the rear end of the associated article group. Configured to run against or apart from the part,
The distance between the second traveling body and the first traveling body that travels in a pair with the second traveling body before each of the second traveling bodies travels and reaches the end of the conveyance path is the length in the longitudinal direction of the article. In the same manner, the alignment operation for supporting the group of articles from the front and back in the conveying direction is completed, and both the pairs that are paired as the group of articles is conveyed until the same interval as the length in the longitudinal direction of the article is reached. By gradually narrowing the distance between the traveling bodies, the front end portion and the rear end portion of each of the article groups are aligned ,
The transport path has a placement section that travels while placing each received article group at an interval in the transport direction,
The second traveling body is separated from the rear end portion of the article group when entering the conveyance path, and the alignment operation of the rear end portion of the article group is completed after entering the conveyance path. In the meantime, it is configured to move at a speed higher than that of the group of articles conveyed by the placement unit. It is a conveying apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising:
The first traveling body is separated from the front end portion of the article group when entering the conveyance path, and until the alignment operation of the front end portion of the article group is completed after entering the conveyance path. A conveying apparatus configured to move at a slower speed than the group of articles conveyed by the placement unit. It is a conveying apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2, Comprising:
The first traveling that is in contact with a front end portion of a part of the articles in the article group when the interval between the two traveling bodies that gradually narrows as the article group is conveyed is set to a preset interval. The body is repeatedly moved in the transport direction while traveling, and the pressing force against the part of the article by the first traveling body that is instantaneously in contact with the part of the article in the article group is reduced and then increased. A conveying device configured to push the front end portion of a part of the articles in the article group toward the second traveling body . It is a conveying apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2 , Comprising:
The second abutting against a rear end portion of a part of the articles in the article group when the interval between the two traveling bodies that gradually narrows as the article group is conveyed is set to a preset interval . The traveling body is repeatedly moved in the transport direction while traveling, and the pressing force against the part of the article by the second traveling body that is instantaneously in contact with the part of the article in the article group is reduced and then increased. to the conveying device the rear end of the portion of the article adapted to push towards the first traveling body side of the article group. A conveying apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4,
The placement units are provided at regular intervals in the transport direction, and the length in the transport direction is shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction of the article. A conveying device configured to enter the upper end of the traveling body and extend downward from the mounting portion . It is a conveyance apparatus of Claim 5 , Comprising:
The mounting portion is constructed of a plurality of bars that are installed on a pair of endless cords that circulate in the transport direction and are spaced apart from each other in the transport direction. It includes a support that supports the left and right sides that intersect the transport direction of the article group that appears between the transport passages and appears on the transport path.
The first traveling body is configured to enter the transport path and move to the front of the group of articles at a timing at which contact with the support and a part of the articles protruding in the transport direction can be avoided. Conveying device. A conveying apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6,
A horizontal bag making and filling machine is connected to the end of the conveyance path, and the first traveling body and the second traveling body travel so as to match the continuous packaging timing set by the horizontal bag making and filling machine. A conveying device configured to sequentially feed the group of articles toward the horizontal bag making and filling machine . It is a conveying apparatus of Claim 7 , Comprising:
The pair of traveling bodies aligns the group of articles received at irregular intervals on the conveyance path, and then sets the group of articles in a certain group of articles set in the horizontal bag making and filling machine. A conveying apparatus configured to travel while supporting each of a plurality of article groups having the same interval as the conveying interval by a storage section provided on the downstream side of the conveying path .

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