JP6990407B2 - Supply device and article storage device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a supply device and an article accommodating device for supplying articles to a downstream process.

Conventionally, there has been known a device in which a plurality of shutters are provided at the top and bottom in the vertical direction and a predetermined number of articles are collected by adjusting the opening / closing timing of the shutters (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1 has a first shutter for accumulating 1 to 3 packaging bags supplied from above, a second shutter for accumulating up to a preset number, and a belt conveyor, and has an even number. In the case of integration, two integration devices are dropped from the first shutter onto the belt conveyor, and in the case of odd-numbered integration, one or three final integrations of the first shutter are dropped onto the belt conveyor. ..

As described above, the stacking device is often provided with a transport means (belt conveyor in the case of Patent Document 1) for transporting the collected articles to the downstream process.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-75445

However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the second shutter that supplies the article directly above the transport means is fixed to the frame and cannot be moved. In such a configuration, especially when the articles are stacked in the vertical direction, it is essential to take measures to prevent the articles from collapsing or disturbing the posture when supplying the accumulated articles to the belt conveyor.

In this case, it is common to use intermittent drive to stop the belt conveyor directly under the second shutter, but there is a problem that the processing speed of the entire device cannot be improved by using the transport means for intermittent operation. ..

Further, in the integration device described in Patent Document 1, if the belt conveyor is configured to operate continuously, it is very difficult to reliably supply the integrated articles in a predetermined area of the belt conveyor. This problem is the same even when a bucket conveyor is used instead of the belt conveyor.

Further, when the article group XA2 stacked in the bucket of the bucket conveyor is housed in a box opened on the side by an annular pusher device provided with a plurality of pushing members, the bucket conveyor operates continuously (operation). ) Need to be done. This is because when the bucket conveyor is operated intermittently, the pusher device is synchronized with the bucket conveyor, so that the stacked articles collapse (the article group XA2 is displaced in the W2 direction).

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a supply device that collects articles and supplies them to a downstream process (for example, a transport means), the downstream transport means is reliably stable even if the downstream transport means is continuously operated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a supply device and an article storage device capable of supplying the accumulated articles.

The present invention is a supply device that receives an article supplied from an upstream process by a transport means via a delivery means and transports the article to the downstream process, and the transport means is at least partially below the delivery means. It is a bucket conveyor having a plurality of buckets that continuously travel, and the delivery means can be reciprocated in the transfer direction of the transfer means, and the article can be stored in the transfer means by a shutter at the bottom. In the first case, the article is fixedly arranged below the delivery means and above the bucket conveyor, has a mounting means capable of holding the article, and has a large number of the articles accommodated in the delivery means. In the second case where the shutter is opened to transfer the article into the bucket while the delivery means is moved in synchronization with the bucket, and the number of the articles accommodated in the delivery means is small. Releases the shutter with the delivery means stopped, delivers the article to the above-mentioned mounting means, and then pushes out the article on the mounting means by a part of the moving bucket to push the article out of the bucket. It is a supply device characterized by being transferred to the inside .

Further, the present invention comprises the above-mentioned supply device , the above-mentioned transport means, and a box transport means which is arranged in parallel with the said transport means and continuously transports a box whose side is open, and is provided by the above-mentioned supply device. The article accommodating device is characterized in that a plurality of the stacked articles housed in the transport means are pushed out sideways and supplied into the box transported by the box transport means.

According to the present invention, in a supply device that collects articles and supplies them to a downstream process (for example, a transport means), it is possible to reliably and stably supply the collected articles even if the downstream transport means is in continuous operation. It is possible to provide a supply device and an article accommodating device that can be used.

It is a top view which shows the outline of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the outline of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the outline of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the outline of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the outline of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the outline of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the outline of the operation of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the outline of the operation of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the outline of the operation of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the outline of the operation of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the outline of the operation of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the outline of the operation of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is (A) front view and (B) side view which shows the outline of the operation of the supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) front view, (B) perspective view, (C) perspective view seen from the downstream side of the transport means 13, (D) (C) from the A direction showing the outline of the supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view as seen, and (E) a top view seen from the upstream side of the transport means 13. It is a figure which shows the other embodiment of this invention. ) It is a frontal schematic diagram.

<Overall configuration>
Hereinafter, the supply device 10 and the article storage device 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top view showing an outline of a processing line (article accommodating device 30) including the supply device 10 of the present embodiment. In this drawing and each of the following drawings, some configurations will be omitted as appropriate to simplify the drawings. Further, in this figure and each of the following figures, the size, shape, thickness, arrangement (position) of the members, etc. are appropriately exaggerated. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the supply device 10, and is a side view showing a part of FIG. 1 extracted. 3A and 3B are schematic views showing the supply device 10, FIG. 3A is an overall top view, and FIGS. 3B and 3D are top views and views of the upper hopper 11. (C) and FIG. (E) are top views of the lower hopper 12. Further, FIG. 4 is a top view of the upper hopper 11 and the lower hopper 12.

With reference to FIG. 1, the supply device 10 of the present embodiment is a means for receiving a single or a plurality of articles XA1 supplied from an upstream process, integrating them, and delivering them downstream, and the upper delivery means 11 and the lower delivery means 11. It has means 12. Hereinafter, in the present specification, the "upper delivery means 11" is referred to as an "upper hopper 11", and the "lower delivery means 12" is referred to as a "lower hopper 12".

The upper hopper 11 accepts a single or a plurality of articles XA1 supplied from the upstream process, integrates them, and delivers them to the lower hopper 12.

The lower hopper 12 is arranged below the upper hopper 11 and supplies the article XA1 (or the integrated article group XA2) discharged from the upper hopper 12 to the downstream transport means 13.

At least the upstream side (left side of FIGS. 1 and 2) of the transport means 13 is arranged below the lower hopper 12. The lower hopper 12 is configured to move together with the transport means 13 in synchronization with the movement of the transport means 13 so that the article XA1 can be supplied to the transport means 13.

Each part of the supply device 10 is collectively controlled by the control unit. That is, each part of the supply device 10 operates under the control of the control unit, and the operation status thereof is managed by the control unit. The control unit controls and adjusts the operation of each part of the supply device 10 based on the data acquired by various sensors.

The control unit is composed of a CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like, and executes various controls. The CPU is a so-called central processing unit, and various programs are executed to realize various functions. The RAM is used as a work area for the CPU. The ROM stores the basic OS and programs executed by the CPU.

Further, the article accommodating device (for example, a boxing device) 30 of the present embodiment is an accommodating body (box YA) which is arranged in parallel with the above-mentioned supply device 10, the transport means 13, and the transport means 13 and has an open side. The box transporting means 305 is provided with a box transporting means 305 that continuously transports the articles XA1 (or the stacked article group XA2) accommodated in the transporting means 13 by the supply device 10. It is supplied into the box YA1 being transported.

<Supply device>
Hereinafter, the supply device 10 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In this example, the upstream process of the upper hopper 11 is, for example, a belt conveyor 20 (see FIG. 1) that conveys the article XA1. The belt conveyor 20 further conveys the articles XA1 supplied from the upstream process one by one from the upstream to the downstream (from the upper side to the lower side in FIG. 1) at intervals in the front-rear direction. For convenience of explanation, as definitions of various directions in the belt conveyor 20, the direction in which the article XA1 moves from upstream to downstream (movement in the horizontal direction HR) is defined as the transport direction T1, and the direction orthogonal to the transport direction T1 in the horizontal plane is defined as the transport direction T1. It is set to W1 in the transport width direction.

In this example, the article XA1 is a package of a four-sided seal having a sheet-like (flat plate-like) outer shape (for example, a package of a patch or a sheet-like article).

The upper hopper 11 is arranged at the downstream end of the belt conveyor 20 and receives the article XA1 to be conveyed. The upper hopper 11 is configured in a box shape, for example, and can receive and hold a single article XA1. Further, the upper hopper 11 can sequentially receive a single article XA1 and hold it as an article group XA2 in which a plurality of articles XA1 are sequentially laminated (omitted) in the vertical direction VT. When the article XA1 is in the form of a sheet, the article group XA2 is integrated so that, for example, its plane is (omitted) vertically overlapped vertically (see FIG. 2).

The upper hopper 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the upper surface above the vertical VT in FIG. 1 and a part of one side surface facing the downstream end of the belt conveyor 20 are open. That is, the upper hopper 11 has a side surface portion 11A, a receiving portion 11B, and a bottom surface portion 11C. The side surface portions 11A are provided on the front (downstream) side of the article XA1 transported on the belt conveyor 20 on the front (downstream) side of the transport direction T1 and on both sides of the transport width direction W1, and are provided on the rear (upstream) side of the transport direction T1, that is, The downstream end side of the belt conveyor 20 is opened to form a receiving portion 11B. The article XA1 conveyed on the belt conveyor 20 is extruded by the open receiving portion 11B and held by the upper hopper 11.

The bottom surface portion 11C of the upper hopper 11 is changed to an open state and a closed state by the upper shutter mechanism 110 (see FIG. 3A). The upper shutter mechanism 110 includes an upper shutter 111 and a shutter driving means 112 for opening and closing the upper shutter 111. The upper shutter 111 is horizontally moved or rotated by the shutter driving means 112, and is in an open state and a closed state. The upper hopper 11 can receive the article XA1 or the article group XA2 from the belt conveyor 20 in the closed state of the upper shutter 111 and hold (support) the article XA1 or the article group XA2, and in the open state, to a position where it does not interfere with the article XA1 or the article group XA2. Move (save). When the upper hopper 11 integrates a predetermined number of articles XA1, the upper shutter 111 is closed, and a predetermined number of articles XA1 supplied from the upstream process (belt conveyor 20) (for example, three or five). , 8 sheets, etc.) are stacked and held in sequence, and when a predetermined number is reached, the upper shutter 111 is opened.

When the upper shutter 111 is opened, the article XA1 or the article group XA2 naturally falls (falls downward in the vertical direction VT) and is delivered to the lower hopper 12 below the upper hopper 11 (see FIG. 2).

In the following description, as the unit of the article XA1 held by the upper hopper 11, the article group XA2 in which a plurality of articles XA1 are integrated will be described as an example, but a single article XA1 may be used.

Further, the upper hopper 11 is fixed at the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the supply device 10 is in operation, but when the power is cut off, for example, the upper delivery means (upper hopper ) moving means 16 (see FIG. 15). For example, it is configured to be manually movable in the horizontal direction (this will be described in detail later).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower hopper 12 is arranged below the upper hopper 11 in the vertical direction VT, and receives the article XA1 discharged from the upper hopper 11 and supplies the article XA1 to the downstream transport means 13. It is a means. Further, the lower hopper 12 can be located at least directly below the upper hopper 11.

The lower hopper 12 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the upper surface above the vertical VT in FIG. 1 is open. That is, the lower hopper 12 has a side surface portion 12A, a receiving portion 12B, and a bottom surface portion 12C. The side surface portions 12A are provided on all four sides surrounding the article group XA2, and the upper surface of the vertical VT that can be opened becomes a receiving portion 12B that receives the article group XA2 that has naturally fallen from the upper hopper 11.

The bottom surface portion 12C of the lower hopper 12 is changed to an open state and a closed state by the lower shutter mechanism 120 (see FIG. 3A). The lower shutter mechanism 120 includes a lower shutter 121 and a shutter driving means 122 for opening and closing the lower shutter. The lower shutter 121 is moved horizontally or rocked by the shutter driving means 122, and is in an open state and a closed state. The lower hopper 12 can receive and hold (support) the article group XA2 supplied from the upper hopper 11 in the closed state, and moves (retracts) to a position that does not interfere with the article group XA2 in the open state.

Further, the lower hopper 12 can be moved (omitted) in the horizontal direction HR by the lower delivery means (lower hopper ) moving means 17 while the supply device 10 is in operation. The lower hopper 12 moves in synchronization with the movement (running) of the transport means 13 for at least a part of the period, and opens the lower shutter 121 above the transport means 13 at a predetermined timing. When the lower shutter 121 is in the open state, the article group XA2 naturally falls (falls downward in the vertical direction VT) and is supplied to the transport means 13 below the lower hopper 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper hopper moving means 16 includes a guide rail 161 attached to a machine frame (not shown) and a slider 163, and the upper shutter mechanism 110 is attached to the slider 163 moving on the guide rail 161. Has been done.

The lower hopper moving means 17 is a linear acting actuator (see FIG. 1), and the lower shutter mechanism 120 is connected to the lower hopper moving means 17.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport means 13 is, for example, a continuously traveling bucket conveyor, and at least the upstream side (left side of FIGS. 1 and 2) is arranged below the vertical VT of the lower hopper 12. .. As definitions of various directions in the transport means 13, the direction in which the article group XA2 moves from upstream to downstream (horizontal direction HR) is defined as the transport direction T2, and the direction orthogonal to the transport direction T2 in the horizontal plane is defined as the transport width direction W2. The direction orthogonal to both the transport direction T2 and the transport width direction W2 is defined as the transport height direction H2.

The transport means (bucket conveyor) 13 of the present embodiment is, for example, a pair of an endless belt (or an endless chain or an annular chain) 134 as a transport path and a pair attached to the endless belt 134 and arranged before and after the transport direction T2. It has a plurality of sets of partition members 130 (front partition member 131 and rear partition member 132). The front partition member 131 is a partition member on the downstream side of the article group XA2 to be conveyed, and the rear partition member 132 is a partition member on the upstream side of the article group XA2 to be conveyed. The bucket conveyor 13 receives the article group XA2 with the area partitioned by the pair of partition members 130 as a bucket.

Specifically, the bucket conveyor 13 includes a central control unit (not shown), a servomotor (not shown) that generates power under the control of the control unit, and a drive sprocket rotated by the servomotor. It is provided with 133A, a driven sprocket 133B interlocked with the driving sprocket 133A, and two endless belts 134 that are hooked on the sprocket 133A and 133B and run, and the front partition member 131 and the rear partition member 132 are endless belts 134. It is attached to.

The mounting positions of the front partition member 131 and the rear partition member 132 can be moved to each other by, for example, a differential gear, and the distance between the two can be easily adjusted. Therefore, even if the size (width along the transport direction) of the article group XA2 is changed, it can be transported without exchanging them.

The two endless belts 134 are arranged in parallel in parallel with the transport direction T2, one endless belt 134 is attached with the front partition member 131, and the other endless belt 134 is attached with the rear partition member 132. ing.

The bucket conveyor 13 intermittently moves the front partition member 131 and the rear partition member 132 (bucket 130) on which the article group XA2 is placed along the transport direction T2, and moves from the upstream side (left side in FIG. 2) to the downstream side. The article group XA2 is conveyed to (the right side in FIG. 2).

The lower hopper 12 moves along the transport direction T2 of the bucket conveyor 13 in synchronization with the movement of the bucket conveyor 13. More specifically, the lower hopper 12 is configured to be reciprocating between the start point and the end point of the movement in the transport direction T2 and the opposite direction. The starting point of movement of the lower hopper 12 is the receiving position P1 of the article group XA2, and is directly below the vertical VT of the upper hopper 11 (the nearest and upstream hopper when there are three or more hoppers). Further, the end point of the movement of the lower hopper 12 is a position forward (downstream side) in the transport direction T2 from the delivery position P2 or the delivery position P2 of the article group XA2. The delivery position P2 is a predetermined position in the middle of the transport direction T2 of the bucket conveyor 13.

The lower hopper 12 temporarily stops (stands by) at the receiving position P1 and receives the article group XA2 supplied from the upper hopper 11 with the lower shutter 121 closed. After that, the movement is started along the transport direction T2, and while moving in the transport direction T2 at least in synchronization with the movement of the bucket conveyor 13 at the delivery position P2, the lower shutter 121 is opened and the article group XA2 is naturally dropped. It is supplied to the bucket 130 of the bucket conveyor 13.

Further, in the supply device 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the article group XA2 (article XA1) is placed below the lower hopper 12 (immediately below the receiving position P1) and above the transport means (bucket conveyor) 13. The means 15 is provided.

The mounting means 15 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view of the supply device 10 and the bucket 130 as viewed from the downstream side of the bucket conveyor 13 in the transport direction T2.

The mounting means 15 is a shelf-like body in which a part of the bottom thereof is open, and is fixed to a base (not shown) of the supply device 10 so as to be immovable. Specifically, the mounting means 15 has substantially L-shaped plates arranged on both sides of the bucket conveyor 13 in the transport width direction W2 when viewed from the front of the bucket conveyor 13 in the transport direction T2. Both plates are separated from each other by a predetermined distance in the transport width direction W2, and an open portion 15O having an open width of 15 W is created near the center of the bottom of the mounting means 15.

Here, the front partition member 131 and the rear partition member 132 of the bucket conveyor 13 have different shapes. As shown in FIG. 3A, the width 131W of the front partition member 131 is larger than the length of the article group XA2 on the bucket conveyor 13 in the transport width direction W2, and the height 131H is the transport surface of the bucket conveyor 13. It is a substantially rectangular plate-like body lower than the height H'from R to the bottom surface of the mounting means 15.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, the rear partition member 132 is provided with a projecting portion 132B near the center of a substantially rectangular base portion 132A similar to the front partition member 131, and the front surface as seen from the transport direction T2. It is a plate-like body having a substantially convex shape in view.

The width (longest portion width) 132WA of the base portion 132A is larger than the length of the article group XA2 on the bucket conveyor 13 in the transport width direction W2 (equivalent to the width 131W of the front partition member 131), and the width of the protruding portion 132B (shortest). The portion width) 132WB is smaller than the opening width 15W of the opening portion 15O of the mounting means 15.

Further, the height (shortest portion height) 132HA of the base portion 132A is lower than the height H'from the transport surface R of the bucket conveyor 13 to the bottom surface of the mounting means 15 (equivalent to the height 131H of the front partition member 131). ), The height of the protruding portion 132B from the transport surface R (height of the longest portion) 132HB is higher than the height H'to the bottom surface of the mounting means 15. That is, the bucket 130 of the bucket conveyor 13 moves below the mounting means 15, but in this case, the front partition member 131 passes below the vertical VT of the mounting means 15 (FIG. (A)). In the rear partition member 132, the base portion 132A passes below the vertical VT of the mounting means 15, and the protruding portion 132B passes through the open portion 15O of the mounting means 15 (FIG. (B)). It is configured to be movable so as not to interfere with the placing means 15.

Further, in the protruding portion 132B, the amount of protrusion 132HC (the amount of protrusion in the transport height direction H2) from the open portion 15O of the mounting means 15 is the total thickness D (transport) of the article group XA2 mounted on the mounting means 15. It is configured to be higher than the total thickness of H2 in the height direction).

Here, the lower hopper 12 of the present embodiment does not move in synchronization with the bucket conveyor 13, for example, when the number of articles XA1 constituting the article group XA2 is small (for example, one or two). It is also possible to mount the article group XA2 (or the article XA1) on the mounting means 15 with the lower shutter 121 open while the upper hopper 11 is stopped below.

When the article group XA2 (or the article XA1) is mounted on the loading means 15, the article group in which the protruding portion 132B of the rear partition member 132 is mounted on the loading means 15 as the bucket conveyor 13 travels. It abuts on the side (upstream side end) of XA2 (article XA1). Then, when the rear partition member 132 continues to move in the transport direction T2, the article group XA2 is pushed out in the transport direction T2 by the protrusion 132B and falls from the mounting means 15. The rear partition member 132 guides the article group XA2 from the rear and transfers the article group XA2 into the bucket 130 (on the transport surface R) so as to be sandwiched between the rear partition member 132 and the front partition member 131.

As an example, the supply device 10 of the present embodiment will be described with the case where it has an upper hopper 11 and a lower hopper 12 arranged in two upper and lower stages in the vertical direction as an example, but the number of hoppers (number of stages) May be 3 (3 steps) or more, that is, another delivery means ( hopper ) may be arranged between the upper hopper 11 and the lower hopper 12.

As described above, the supply device 10 of the present embodiment can be used as a supply means of the article accommodating device. That is, although not shown, an annular pusher device (not shown) provided with a plurality of pushing members is provided downstream of the supply device 10 (downstream of the bucket conveyor 13) of the present embodiment, and the bucket 130 is provided by the pusher device. It is possible to construct an article accommodating device (box packing device) for extruding and accommodating the article group XA2 in the article group XA2 into an accommodating body (for example, a box) opened on the side.

The upper shutter 111 of the upper hopper 11 and the lower shutter 121 of the lower hopper 12 will be further described with reference to FIG. 3 again.

The bottom surface portion 11C of the upper hopper 11 is configured to be openable and closable by the upper shutter mechanism 110, and the bottom surface portion 12C of the lower hopper 12 is configured to be openable and closable by the lower shutter mechanism 120.

The upper shutter mechanism 110 has an upper shutter 111 and a shutter driving means 112, and the lower shutter mechanism 120 has a lower shutter 121 and a shutter driving means 122.

The upper shutter 111 of the upper hopper 11 is configured to be openable and closable by, for example, sliding in the horizontal direction HR. The upper shutter 111 is provided on both sides of the bucket conveyor 13 in the front-rear direction in the transport direction T2, and slides back and forth along the transport direction T2, for example.

The lower shutter 121 of the lower hopper 12 is configured to be openable and closable by moving, for example, in the horizontal direction HR. The lower shutter 121 is provided on both sides of the bucket conveyor 13 in the transport direction T2 (moving direction of the lower hopper 12) in the front-rear direction, and slides back and forth along the transport direction T2. The upper shutter 111 and the lower shutter 121 are connected to the shutter driving means 112 and 122 having a link mechanism as shown in FIG. 3A, respectively, and these closed states (each shutter 111 and 121 are the most respectively). The position of the article XA1 (in a state of being close to each other) is appropriately adjusted according to the shape of the article XA1 (to a position where the article XA1 does not fall).

The servomotors that drive the upper shutter mechanism 110 and the shutter driving means 112 and 122 of the lower shutter mechanism 120 are arranged so as to face each other. Further, when opening and closing the shutter, the amount of movement (advance / retreat) of the shutters 111 and 121 can be changed according to the article XA1.

In this example, the upper shutter 111 opens and closes along the transport direction T2 of the bucket conveyor 13, but may be configured to open and close along the transport width direction W2.

Further, although the lower shutter 121 opens and closes along the transport direction T2, it may be configured to open and close along the transport width direction W2. However, by configuring the lower shutter 121 to open and close along the transport direction T2 as shown in the figure, the shutter driving means 112 and 122 (link mechanism) shown in the figure (A) are minimized. Since it can be suppressed to the size of the above, it is preferable to the configuration of opening and closing along the transport width direction W2.

<Article storage device>
The article accommodating device (for example, the boxing device) 30 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 1 again.

For example, a pusher device 300 is provided on one side (lower in FIG. 1) along the transport direction T2 of the bucket conveyor 13, and on the other side (upper in FIG. 1) along the transport direction T2 of the bucket conveyor 13. Is provided with an accommodating body (box) transporting means 305 substantially in parallel with the bucket conveyor 13.

The pusher device 300 has, for example, a plurality of pushers 301. The pushers 301 are provided so as to be movable back and forth along a pair of guide pestle 302s arranged in the transport width direction W2, and each guide pestle 302 is transported by a pair of endless chains 304 traveling along the transport direction T2. It has become like. The endless chain 304 is hung on sprockets (not shown) arranged before and after the transport direction T2, and is hung in the vertical plane in parallel with the transport direction T2.

A cam follower 308 is provided in each pusher 301, a cam 303 on which the cam follower 308 rolls is provided in the machine frame F, and the pusher 301 is moved forward and backward by the cam 303 and the cam follower 308 to push out the article group XA2. It is configured as follows.

The pusher 301 is arranged at the same interval as the partition member 130 (transported article group XA2) on the bucket conveyor 13, and the cam 303 gradually approaches the bucket conveyor 13 from the upstream side to the downstream side. It is arranged so as to be tilted in the top view.

As a result, in the pusher device 300, the tip of the pusher 301 moves from one side (lower in FIG. 1) to the other side (upper in FIG. 1) of the bucket conveyor 13 in the transport width direction W2 as the endless chain 304 advances. Move like.

Further, the sprocket (not shown) on which the endless chain 304 is hung and the sprocket (not shown) on which the belt 305B constituting the transport surface of the box transport means 305 is hung are fixed to the same rotation shaft (not shown). ..

The box transporting means 305 has a plurality of storage units (for example, buckets) 305A, and stores the box (for example, sack box) YA1 in each storage unit 305A and transports the box (for example, a sack box) YA1 in the transport direction T2. The box transport means 305 travels at the same speed as the traveling speed of the bucket conveyor 13, and the accommodating portion 305A (box YA1) moves at the same speed as the article group XA2 accommodated in the bucket conveyor 13.

A carton stocker 307 and a boxing device 309 are arranged on the upstream side of the box transport means 305. Since these configurations are known, the description thereof will be omitted, but the carton stocker 307 holds the box YA1 in a folded state. These boxes YA1 are taken out one by one, unboxed by the boxing device 309 in the middle of transport, and housed in the storage portion 305A of the box transport means 305 with the sides (for example, the lower part of FIG. 1) open. ..

The pusher device 300, the bucket conveyor 13, and the box transport means 305 travel in synchronization with each other. For example, the pusher 301 of the pusher device 300 is located at the most retracted position on the most upstream side, and is located on one side side (opposite side of the box transport means 305) of the bucket conveyor 13. Then, as the pusher 301 advances to the downstream side, it advances so as to cross the bucket conveyor 13 in the transport width direction W2, pushes the article group XA2 on the bucket conveyor 13 in the transport width direction W2, and from above the bucket conveyor 13. Move. The pusher 301 is located at the most advanced position on the downstream side, and is located on the other side side of the bucket conveyor 13 inside (or near) the box YA1 transported by the box transport means 305.

The pusher device 300 continuously pushes the article group XA2 transported on the bucket conveyor 13 in the transport width direction W2 orthogonal to the transport direction T2, and the box YA1 transported by the box transport means 305 is opened. The article group XA2 is housed in a predetermined position in the box YA1 by pushing in from the side (lower side in FIG. 1). After that, the pusher 301 returns to the upstream side while retreating, and transfers the next article group XA2.

<Operation of supply device and article storage device>
The operation of the supply device 10 and the article storage device 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10.

<When the article group is composed of a large number of articles>
First, a case where the supply device 10 supplies the article group XA2 composed of a large number of articles XA1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. In this example, the number is, for example, 3 or more, and here, a case where 5 pieces of the article XA1 having a sheet-like outer shape are integrated will be described. 6 is a front view of the main parts of the supply device 10, the belt conveyor 20 and the bucket conveyor 13 shown in FIG. 1 from the transport direction T2 on the downstream side of the bucket conveyor 13, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are side views. Is.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the belt conveyor 20 conveys the articles XA1 supplied from the upstream process one by one (one) at intervals in the front-rear direction. Article XA1 is discharged (extruded) toward the upper hopper 11 at the downstream end of the belt conveyor 20.

The upper hopper 11 closes the upper shutter 111 and receives the article XA1 discharged from the belt conveyor 20 via the receiving portion 11B. The article XA1 is placed and held on the upper shutter 111 of the upper hopper 11.

The upper hopper 11 keeps the upper shutter 111 closed until the number of articles XA1 to be held reaches a predetermined number (5 in this case). Articles XA1 are sequentially supplied from the belt conveyor 20, and sheet-shaped articles XA1 are accumulated in the accommodating portion of the upper hopper 11 so that their surfaces are vertically overlapped with each other in the substantially vertical direction (FIG. 6A). , FIG. 7 (A)).

When a predetermined number (5 sheets) of articles XA1 are accumulated, the upper hopper 11 opens the upper shutter 111. When the upper shutter 111 is opened, the article group XA2 naturally falls (falls downward in the vertical direction VT) and is delivered to the lower hopper 12 waiting at the receiving position P1 below the upper hopper 11 (FIG. 6 (B), FIG. 7 (B). The upper hopper 11 then closes the upper shutter 111 and accepts (prepares) the next article XA1.

The lower hopper 12 closes the lower shutter 121 to receive and hold (support) the article group XA2 supplied from the upper hopper 11 (FIGS. 6B and 7B). When a predetermined number (5 pieces) of articles XA1 (one set of articles XA2) are received, the lower hopper 12 moves horizontally (along the transport direction T2) toward the delivery position P2 (FIG. 7 (C)). ).

The mounting means 15 is fixed below the receiving position P1 of the lower hopper 12, but the mounting means 15 is not used when the number of articles XA1 constituting the article group XA2 is large. In the traveling bucket conveyor 13, the front partition member 131 passes below the vertical VT of the mounting means 15, and the rear partition member 132 has the base portion 132A passing below the vertical VT of the mounting means 15, and the protruding portion. 132B passes through the open portion 15O of the mounting means 15 (FIGS. 6 (B) and 7 (C)).

The lower hopper 12 moves in synchronization with the bucket conveyor 13 traveling below it (FIGS. 7 (C) and 8 (A)), and at least in the delivery position P2 (and before and after in the vicinity thereof) in the vertical direction of the bucket 130. It moves in time so that it is located above the VT, and opens the lower shutter 121.

When the lower shutter 121 is in the open state, the article group XA2 naturally falls (falls downward in the vertical direction VT), and the article group XA2 is supplied to the traveling bucket 130 (between the pair of front partition members 131 and the rear partition member 132). (FIG. 6 (C), FIG. 8 (B)).

When the lower hopper 12 delivers the article group XA2 to the bucket conveyor 13, it closes the lower shutter 121, moves to the receiving position P1, and accepts (prepares) the next article group XA2 (FIG. 8 (C)). ).

The article group XA2 (or article XA1) conveyed by the bucket conveyor 13 is accommodated in a side-opened container (for example, a box) YA1 by an annular pusher device 300 including a plurality of pushing members 301.

Specifically, the article storage device (boxing device) 30 takes out one container (for example, a sack box) YA1 in a folded state from the carton stocker 307, and unboxes it by the boxing device 309 during transportation. It is accommodated in the accommodating portion 305A of the box transport means 305 in a state where the side (for example, the lower part of FIG. 1) is open. The pusher device 300 moves the article group XA2 (or article XA1) conveyed by the bucket conveyor 13 while continuously operating from one side (for example, the lower part of FIG. 1) to the other side (box transport means 305 direction). The article group XA2 (or article XA1) is housed in the sack box YA1.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in the supply device 10, the hopper (lower hopper 12 in this example) moves in synchronization with the bucket conveyor 13, and the accumulated article group XA2 is reliably transferred to the partition member (bucket) of the bucket conveyor 13. It is housed in 130. Further, by continuously operating the transport means 13, the box transport device 305, and the pusher device 300 in synchronization with each other, the article group XA2 transported on the bucket conveyor 13 is pushed out by the pusher 301 while being held by the partition member 130. Then, the article group XA2 is pushed and supplied into the box YA1 having an open side. With such a configuration, even the stacked article group XA2 can be reliably packed in a box without collapsing, and the processing speed can be increased.

<When the article group consists of a small number of articles (including a single item)>
Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, in the case where the supply device 10 supplies the article group XA2 composed of a small number (for example, two or less) articles XA1, here, a single XA1 is supplied to one bucket 130. An example of supplying the above will be described.

9 is a front view of the main parts of the supply device 10, the belt conveyor 20 and the bucket conveyor 13 shown in FIG. 1 from the transport direction T2 on the downstream side of the bucket conveyor 13, and FIG. 10 is a side view.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the belt conveyor 20 conveys the articles XA1 supplied from the upstream process one by one (one) at intervals in the front-rear direction. Article XA1 is discharged (extruded) toward the upper hopper 11 at the downstream end of the belt conveyor 20.

The upper hopper 11 closes the upper shutter 111 and receives the article XA1 discharged from the belt conveyor 20 via the receiving portion 11A. The article XA1 is placed and held on the upper shutter 111 of the upper hopper 11 (FIG. 9A).

The upper hopper 11 opens the upper shutter 111 before the next article XA1 is supplied from the belt conveyor 20, and supplies the next article XA1 to the lower hopper 12 waiting at the receiving position P1 (FIGS. 9B and 10A). )). The upper hopper 11 then closes the upper shutter 111 and accepts (prepares) the next article XA1 (FIG. 10B).

The lower hopper 12 closes the lower shutter 121 to receive and hold (support) the article XA1 supplied from the upper hopper 11 (FIGS. 9 (B) and 10 (B)), and then the lower hopper 12 The lower shutter 121 is opened without moving from the receiving position P1 (while stopped at the receiving position P1). As a result, the article XA1 naturally falls (falls downward in the vertical direction VT) and is placed on the mounting means 15 directly below the lower hopper 12 (FIGS. 9 (C) and 10 (C)). The lower hopper-12 then closes the lower shutter 121 and accepts (prepares for) the next article XA1.

In the traveling bucket conveyor 13, the front partition member 131 passes below the vertical VT of the mounting means 15, and the rear partition member 132 has the base portion 132A passing below the vertical VT of the mounting means 15, and the protruding portion. The 132B passes through the open portion 15O of the mounting means 15.

At this time, the protruding portion 132B abuts on the side (upstream side end portion) of the article XA1 placed on the mounting means 15 (FIG. 10 (C)). Then, when the rear partition member 132 continues to move in the transport direction T2, the article XA1 is extruded in the transport direction T2 by the protrusion 132B and falls from the mounting means 15 (FIGS. 9 (D) and 10 (D)). The rear partition member 132 guides these articles XA1 from the rear and transfers the article XA1 into the bucket 130 (on the transport surface) so as to be sandwiched between the rear partition member 132 and the front partition member 131 (FIG. 10 (E)). ).

For example, when the article XA1 to be supplied is singular, the lower hopper 12 always keeps the lower shutter 121 open at the receiving position P1 and directly passes the article XA1 discharged from the upper hopper 11 (passing through the lower hopper 12). , May be placed on the mounting means 15.

However, since the article XA1 mounted on the mounting means 15 is extruded at the timing of traveling of the bucket conveyor 13, it is better to use the lower hopper 12 in order to match the timing with the traveling of the bucket 130. By using the lower hopper 12, it becomes easy to adjust the supply timing such that the article XA1 is received with the lower shutter 121 closed, the lower shutter 121 is opened at a desired timing, and the article XA1 is mounted on the mounting means 15. ..

Further, when the distance (head) for allowing the article XA1 to fall naturally is large, the article XA1 cannot be stably delivered to the downstream process, and the article XA1 may be accommodated diagonally in the bucket 130, for example.

By using the lower shutter 121 as in the present embodiment, the upper shutter 111 to the mounting means 15 can be dropped in two steps. That is, since the distance (head) for one free fall can be reduced, it can be stably handed over to the downstream process.

The article group XA2 conveyed by the bucket conveyor 13 is extruded downstream of the article group XA2 by a pusher device 300 or the like provided with a plurality of pusher members (pushers) 301, and is housed in an accommodating body (for example, a box) YA1 having an open side. To.

Since the operation of the article accommodating device 30 is the same as the above-mentioned <when the article group XA2 is composed of a large number of articles>, the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the lower hopper 12 is configured to supply the article group XA2 to the bucket 130 while synchronizing with the bucket conveyor 13. As a result, even when the bucket conveyor 13 continuously travels the bucket 130, it is possible to supply the article group XA2 reliably accumulated in the bucket 130 without disturbing the posture, and the supply speed can be improved. ..

In addition, a mounting means 15 is provided between the lower hopper 12 and the bucket conveyor 13, and the article group XA2 of the lower hopper 12 is temporarily mounted on the mounting means 15, and the rear partition member 132 of the bucket conveyor 13 is temporarily placed. The article group XA2 of the mounting means 15 is extruded and supplied to the bucket 130.

When the number of articles XA1 constituting the article group XA2 is small, that is, when the number of articles XA1 held (accumulated) by the upper hopper 11 is small, the time until a predetermined number of articles XA1 is accumulated (the upper shutter 111). The bucket conveyor 13 can be operated at a high speed as compared with the case where the opening / closing cycle) is short and the number of accumulations is large.

However, in the case where the lower hopper 12 moves in synchronization with the bucket conveyor 13, when the number of articles XA1 constituting the article group XA2 becomes small, the upper hopper 11 is upper until the lower hopper 12 returns to the receiving position P1. There is a possibility that the shutter 111 must wait for opening (waiting time occurs), and the bucket conveyor 13 may not be able to be speeded up (speeding up according to the upper hopper 11). In such a case, the movement of the lower hopper 12 can be omitted by mounting the article group XA2 on the mounting means 15, so that the waiting time of the upper hopper 11 can be minimized and the processing speed is increased. be able to.

Further, the number of articles XA1 to be accumulated can be switched to a plurality of patterns (for example, 3 sheets, 5 sheets, 8 sheets, etc.) at the timing of opening / closing the upper shutter 111 of the upper hopper 11 and the lower shutter 121 of the lower hopper 12. ..

Further, when the number of articles XA1 to be accumulated is large or small (when the mounting means 15 is used or not), the operation of the lower hopper 12 is switched (whether or not to move along the transport direction T2). It can be dealt with by switching), and the replacement of parts and the adjustment work related to the replacement become unnecessary, and it can be easily and universally applied to the change in the number of integrated parts.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the bucket conveyor 13. The bucket conveyor 13 may be configured so that at least one of the front partition member 131 and the rear partition member 132 can move along the transport direction T2 while traveling (during transport of the article group XA2). That is, the bucket 130 may be a movable bucket in which the distance G between the buckets (a pair of partition members) 130 can be displaced during traveling.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the bucket conveyor 13 includes, for example, a base 135 provided with a rail (not shown) and a plurality of movers slidably mounted on the rail, for example, by driving a linear motor. (Not shown), the front partition member 131 and the rear partition member 132 standing upright on the movable element in the vertical direction VT (standing up from the transport surface R of the bucket conveyor 13) may be attached. .. The pair of front partition members 131 and rear partition members 132 arranged so that their surfaces face each other form a bucket (movable bucket) 130 in which the distance G between them is variable. In this way, the base 135 is provided with a plurality of sets of buckets 130.

Then, the bucket 130 makes it possible to accept the article group XA2 at least at the delivery position P2 (so that the rear partition member 132 separates from the front partition member 131 at a predetermined interval), and the article group XA2 moves to the transport surface R. One partition member is moved toward the other partition member at the timing of falling to.

In this case, the rear partition member 132 of the bucket conveyor 13 moves slightly rearward from the rear (upstream side) end of the supplied article group XA2, and moves forward at the timing when the article group XA2 falls on the transport surface R. It is preferable to sandwich the article group XA2 with the front partition member 131.

That is, after the article group XA2 is accommodated (falls on the transport surface R), at least one partition member of the front partition member 131 or the rear partition member 132 is moved in the transport direction T2 to reduce the interval G and reduce the interval G in the bucket 130. The length of the accommodation portion in the transport direction T2 is set to be approximately the length of the transport direction T2 of the article group XA2. Specifically, the rear partition member 132 may be moved at a speed higher than that of the front partition member 131, the front partition member 131 may be moved at a speed slower than that of the rear partition member 132, or both.

When the article group XA2 falls on the transport surface R, the article group XA2 (a part of the article XA1) can be reliably accommodated in the bucket 130 by providing a slight margin in the area where the article group XA2 is to be dropped. After falling on the transport surface R, the posture of the article group XA2 can be prevented from being disturbed, so that the article XA1 can be prevented from falling off or losing its posture.

In the supply device 10 of the present embodiment described above, the movement of the lower hopper 12 and the movement of the transport means (bucket conveyor) 13 are not limited to the horizontal direction, but may be in a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

Further, in the bucket (pair of partition members) 130 of the bucket conveyor 13, the front partition member 131 may not be movable during traveling (during transportation), or may not be movable during traveling (during transportation). However, when the shape of the article XA1 changes, it may be possible to manually move (adjust) the article XA1 according to the article XA1.

Further, the transport means (bucket conveyor) 13 may operate intermittently in the case of a single article XA1. In this case, the lower hopper 12 does not move in the transport direction T2, and the article is dropped between the rear partition members 132 of the adjacent bucket 130 depending on the timing of opening and closing of the lower shutter 121.

Further, the transporting means 13 is not limited to the bucket conveyor, and various transporting means such as a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, and a plate conveyor can be applied.

Further, the article XA1 is not limited to the one having a sheet-like outer shape, and may be a stick-shaped article such as a writing tool (pencil), a cigarette or a stick-shaped confectionery. In the case of a rod-shaped article, the longitudinal direction extends in the transport direction T2 or the transport width direction W2 of the transport means 13, and the (omitted) diameter direction of the rod-shaped article is integrated in a row in the transport height direction H2. Alternatively, the rod-shaped articles may be integrated so that the (omitted) diameter direction is aligned with the transport direction T2 or the transport width direction W2. Further, the article group XA2 may be configured to be integrated without being aligned.

Further, as the article accommodating device, a robot may be provided downstream of the bucket conveyor 13, and the article group XA2 (or article XA1) conveyed by the robot may be taken out and accommodated in, for example, a box.

Further, the housing of the article storage device is not limited to the box body, but may be a bag body.

Further, the article accommodating device as a downstream process of the transport means 13 may be a transport device or a supply device in addition to various packaging devices such as a pillow wrapping machine, a deep squeeze wrapping machine, a stretch wrapping machine, and a shrink wrapping machine. ..

<Other Examples>
Other embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 12-14.

FIG. 12 is a front view seen from the transport direction T2 on the downstream side of the bucket conveyor 13. As shown in the figure, the belt conveyor 20 located on the upstream side of the upper hopper 11 and supplying the article XA1 to the upper hopper 11 is configured to be adjustable (movable) in the vertical direction, and constitutes the article group XA2. The belt conveyor 20 may be adjusted in the vertical direction according to the number of articles XA1. For example, in the example of the figure, when the number of articles XA1 constituting the article group XA2 is large, the position of the transport surface of the belt conveyor 20 is moved upward (accumulated in the upper hopper 11) as compared with the case where the article XA1 is small. It is moved above the position of the last article XA1 to be made). Further, when the number of articles XA1 is large, the position of the transport surface of the belt conveyor 20 may be sequentially raised each time the articles XA1 are supplied to the upper hopper 11.

Further, in this case, as a modification of the shutters 111 and 112, the shutters 111 and 121 always have one of the shutters 111 or 121 retracted at all times, or the shutters of either the hopper 11 or 12 are used. By not attaching the 111 or 121, one of the shutters 111 or 121 may not be used.

13 and 14 are still other examples when the number of articles XA1 constituting the article group XA2 is small. 13 (A) is a front view seen from the transport direction T2 on the downstream side of the bucket conveyor 13, and FIG. 13 (B) is a side view. 14A and 14B are views showing the delivery means ( hopper ) 51 of this example, FIG. 14A is a front view seen from the transport direction T2 on the downstream side of the bucket conveyor 13, and FIG. 14B is the upper shutter 151. A perspective view, the figure (C) is a perspective view of the hopper 51 seen from the downstream side of the transport means 13, the figure (D) is an arrow view of A in the figure (C), and the figure (E) is the transport means 13. It is a top view seen from the upstream side of.

In this example, one hopper 51 may be used. Further, a separate mounting means 15 is not provided below the hopper 51, and a mounting means (another hopper) 65 is provided (integrally) in the hopper 51. The hopper 51 is mounted at the mounting position of the lower hopper 12 instead of the upper hopper 11 and the lower hopper 12.

As shown in FIG. 14, the hopper 51 is provided with a slit (long hole) 53 for the upper shutter 151 on the front and rear side surfaces in the transport direction T2, and a notch 55 is provided below the slit 53.

The upper shutter 151 has a long arm (height in the transport height direction H is high). By doing so, the receiving position of the article XA1 by the upper shutter 151 can be lowered.

Further, the lower shutter 152 is opened and closed by advancing and retreating from the notch 55 configured to pass the protruding portion 132B of the rear partition member 132 of the bucket 130.

Also in this case, the belt conveyor 20 on the upstream side of the hopper 51 and supplying the article XA1 to the hopper 51 is configured to be vertically movable, and the height of the transport surface thereof can be adjusted. In this example, the number of articles XA1 constituting the article group XA2 is small, and the position of the transport surface of the belt conveyor 20 is moved downward (accumulated in the hopper 51 (last) as compared with the case where the number of articles XA1 is large. ) Moved above the position of article XA1).

Further, another belt conveyor 21 is provided upstream of the belt conveyor 20. The other belt conveyor 21 is configured to be swingable with the upstream side as a fulcrum, and the height of the transport surface on the downstream side of the other belt conveyor 21 is adjustable. The receiving position of the article XA1 from the belt conveyor 20 of the hopper 51 is set below the receiving position of the upper hopper 11. Therefore, as compared with the case where the upper hopper 11 and the lower hopper 12 are used for integration, the transport surface at the downstream end of the belt conveyor 20 and the belt conveyor 21 is lowered. At this time, the heights of the transport surface at the upstream end of the belt conveyor 20 and the transport surface at the downstream end of the downwardly inclined belt conveyor 21 are matched.

In the case of the supply device 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the like, when the lower hopper 12 is moved in the transport direction T2 to accommodate the article group XA2 in the bucket 130, the mounting means 15 must be evaded (the lower hopper 12 is). The article group XA2 cannot be supplied to the bucket 130 (without passing through the mounting means 15).

On the other hand, by providing the mounting means 65 on the hopper 51 as shown in FIG. 13, the mounting means 15 as shown in FIG. 1 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the article XA1 can be supplied without being restricted by the supply position in the transport direction T2.

Further, it is possible to reduce the distance (head) between the upper shutter 151 and the lower shutter 152, whereby the article group XA2 (or the article XA1) can be stably conveyed (dropped) without disturbing the posture. Can be done.

Instead of accommodating the article group XA2 (or article XA1) in the bucket 130 of the bucket conveyor 13, for example, the article group XA2 is conveyed in a box, a container, a tray, or the like having an open top, which is conveyed by a conveying means such as the bucket conveyor 13. It may be accommodated.

Further, in the case of the bucket conveyor 13 driven by a linear motor, the distance between the front partition member 131 and the rear partition member 132 of the bucket 130 before receiving the article group XA2 (or article XA1) is the transport of the article group XA2 (or article XA1). Set wider (larger) than the length of direction T2. After receiving the article group XA2 (or article XA1), the distance between the front partition member 131 and the rear partition member 132 is narrowed (reduced) to match the pitch of the push member of the annular pusher device and synchronize with the push member. And transport.

<Other embodiments>
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the supply device 10 of the present embodiment, the upper hopper 11 and the lower hopper 12 are positioned at each other during mold change (replacement of parts (side surfaces) that change according to the size and shape of the article XA1), adjustment, inspection, and the like. Is configured to be relatively mobile.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the mode of movement of the upper hopper 11, in which FIGS. (A) to (D) are a top schematic view, and FIGS. Is.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the lower hopper 12 that moves in synchronization with the transport means 13 becomes immovable when the power supply is cut off. In such a case, if the upper hopper 11 and the lower hopper 12 are arranged above and below the vertical VT, it becomes very difficult to change the shape of the lower hopper 12 (including adjustment and inspection, the same applies hereinafter).

Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, the upper hopper 11 is configured to be relatively movable with respect to the lower hopper 12. The upper hopper 11 is supported by, for example, the upper hopper moving means 16 so as to be slidably movable in the horizontal direction HR (for example, the transport direction T2 (for example, the downstream direction) of the transport means 13), and is fixed by a lock during normal operation. It is configured to be immovable by such means (Fig. (A)).

Then, if the lock is released at the time of mold change, the lock can be manually (for example, manually (by operating a handle or the like) to slide and move in the horizontal direction HR (for example, the transport direction T2 (for example, the downstream direction) of the transport means 13) (for example). The figure (B). As a result, the lower hopper 12 (the part to be changed (part replacement / adjustment / inspection part) of the lower hopper 12 can be exposed, and the lower hopper 12 can be easily changed.

If the lower hopper 12 is exposed to such an extent that the mold can be changed, it is configured to overlap a part of the lower hopper 12 in the state after the upper hopper 11 is moved as shown in FIG. In this case, the space of the device can be saved.

Further, the moving direction of the upper hopper 11 at the time of changing the mold is not limited to the horizontal HR movement, but may be (omitted) a vertical direction or an oblique direction (obliquely upward, diagonally downward), or the transport means 13. The movement may be in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction T2 (for example, the transport direction T1 (downstream or upstream direction) of the belt conveyor 20. Further, the movement is not limited to the slide movement along the transport directions T1 and T2, but the rotation in the horizontal direction HR. It may be a motion (FIG. (D)), a swing (jump-up) movement in the vertical direction VT (FIG. (E)), or an ascending motion (FIG. (F)).

In the case of a configuration in which the upper hopper 11 slides in the transport direction T2, the upper hopper 11 may be configured to move in the downstream direction. By doing so, the captain on the upstream side of the supply device 10 can be shortened, and space can be saved.

Further, the movement of the upper hopper 11 is not limited to that, and the lower hopper 12 may move relative to the upper hopper 11 or both may move to each other at the time of remodeling.

Further, the movement of the upper hopper 11 (and / or the lower hopper 12) at the time of mold change is not limited to manual movement, and the position may be automatically moved by a driving means such as a cylinder or a motor.

In addition, the configuration of the other embodiment shown in FIG. 15 is configured so that the positions of the upper hopper 11 and the lower hopper 12 can be relatively moved to each other so that the lower hopper 12 can be easily exposed at the time of mold change. You just have to. That is, the present invention is not limited to the supply device 10 of the embodiment (FIG. 1 and the like) described above, and may be applied to, for example, a conventional supply device in which the lower hopper 12 does not move in synchronization with the transport means 13. Further, the transport means (bucket conveyor) 13 may be operated intermittently, and the downstream process of the lower hopper 12 is not limited to the transport means 13, and for example, another hopper may be arranged.

Further, the supply device 10 may be provided with a mold change mode. The "mold change mode" is a mode in which the upper hopper 11 and the lower hopper 12 do not interfere with each other when the lower hopper 12 is replaced, cleaned, etc., and the lower hopper 12 is stopped at a position where it can be easily attached and detached. .. In the mold change mode, the linear actuator is driven to automatically move the lower hopper 12 to a predetermined position in the transport direction T2 where the lower hopper 12 is exposed and stop.

As described above, in the supply device 10 of the present invention, the article XA1 supplied from the upstream process is partitioned by the first hopper (lower hopper 12, in FIG. 13, the upper shutter 151 and the lower shutter 152 in the hopper 51). It is a supply device 10 that is received by the transport means 13 and transported to the downstream process via the space), and is the first hopper (lower hopper 12, in FIG. 13, the upper shutter 151 and the lower shutter 152 in the hopper 51). The partitioned space) can be reciprocated in the transport direction of the transport means 13, and the article XA1 is stored in the hopper by the bottom shutters (lower shutter 121, upper shutter 151, lower shutter 152). The mounting means 15 and 65 are arranged below the first hopper (lower hopper 12, the space partitioned by the upper shutter 151 and the lower shutter 152 in the hopper 51 in FIG. 13). It is a characteristic supply device.

Further, the shutter 121 may be opened in synchronization with the transport means 13 to discharge the article XA1 in the hopper.

Further, a second hopper (upper hopper 11, a space above the upper shutter 151 in the hopper 51 in FIG. 13) is arranged at a fixed position above the first hopper (lower hopper 12), and the second hopper is located. (The upper hopper 11, the space above the upper shutter 151 in the hopper 51 in FIG. 13)) is such that the article XA1 can be stored in the hopper by the bottom shutter (upper shutter 151 in FIG. 13). May be.

Further, the mounting means 15 may be arranged below the first hopper (lower hopper 12), and the article XA1 in the mounting means 15 may be pushed out in the horizontal direction and discharged.

Further, a second hopper (upper hopper 11) is arranged at a fixed position above the first hopper (lower hopper 12), and the second hopper (upper hopper 11) places the article XA1 in the hopper by a shutter at the bottom. A mounting means 15 is arranged below the first hopper (lower hopper 12), and the article XA1 in the mounting means 15 is horizontally extruded and discharged. It may be.

Further , the mounting means 65 may be provided integrally with the first hopper (in FIG. 13, a space partitioned by the upper shutter 151 and the lower shutter 152 in the hopper 51).

Further, the transporting means 13 is provided with a partitioning means (rear partitioning member 132) that stands up from the transporting surface and can come into contact with the side of the article XA1 in the mounting means 15, and the partitioning means that moves in the transporting direction. (Rear partition member 132) may be configured so that the article XA1 can be pushed out from the previously described placing means 15 and transferred onto the transport surface.

Further, the transport means 13 may be a conveyor that continuously travels.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

10 Supply device 11 Upper hopper 12 Lower hopper 13 Transport means (bucket conveyor)
13 Bucket conveyor 15 Mounting means 17 Lower hopper moving means 20 Belt conveyor 110 Upper shutter mechanism 120 Lower shutter mechanism 111 Upper shutter 112 Shutter driving means 120 Shutter mechanism 121 Lower shutter 122 Shutter driving means 130 Partition member (bucket)
131 Front partition member 132 Rear partition member XA1 Article XA2 Article group

Claims (6)

It is a supply device that receives goods supplied from the upstream process by the transport means via the delivery means and transports them to the downstream process.
The transport means is a bucket conveyor having a plurality of buckets, at least in part of which continuously travel below the delivery means.
The delivery means can be reciprocated in the transport direction of the transport means, and the article can be stored in the delivery means by a shutter at the bottom.
It has a mounting means that is fixedly arranged below the delivery means and above the bucket conveyor and can hold the article.
In the first case where the number of the articles accommodated in the delivery means is large, the shutter is released and the articles are transferred into the bucket while the delivery means is moved in synchronization with the bucket. death,
In the second case where the number of the articles accommodated in the delivery means is small, the shutter is released with the delivery means stopped, the articles are delivered to the above-mentioned placement means, and then the article is moved. The article on the mounting means is pushed out by a part of the bucket and transferred into the bucket.
A supply device characterized by that. In the first case, the article is directly transferred into the bucket without being delivered to the above-mentioned storage means.
The supply device according to claim 1. Each of the buckets is an area partitioned by a front partition member and a rear partition member arranged in front of and behind the transport direction of the article.
The previously described means has an open portion and has an open portion.
In the second case, when a part of the rear partition member passes through the opening portion provided in the above-mentioned mounting means, the article on the mounting means is pushed out in the horizontal direction.
The supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply device is characterized by the above. The rear partition member stands up from the transport surface, is configured to be able to abut on the side of the article placed on the above-mentioned placement means, and pushes the article by a part of the rear partition member moving in the transport direction. Take it out and transfer it on the transport surface ,
The supply device according to claim 3, wherein the supply device is characterized by the above. Having another delivery means located in place above the delivery means ,
The other delivery means is configured so that the article supplied from the upstream process can be stored in the other delivery means by the shutter at the bottom.
The supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the supply device is characterized by the above. The supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
With the above-mentioned transport means
A box transporting means, which is arranged in parallel with the transporting means and continuously transports a box opened on the side, is provided.
The supply device pushes out a plurality of the stacked articles housed in the transport means to the side and supplies them into the box transported by the box transport means.
An article storage device characterized by this.

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