JP7060940B2 - Goods unloading and / or loading equipment, goods unloading equipment, and goods transport system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an article unloading and / or loading device, an article unloading device, and an article transporting system, and can also be used as an article unloading device, and automatically puts an article transported on a transport line into a storage box. Or, can be used in a system to automatically move goods between transport lines, from an incoming line, which is a transport line for goods, to, for example, an outgoing line used for shipping, etc., to take out goods and / or The present invention relates to a loading device, an article unloading device, and an article transport system.

Conventionally, a physical distribution system is known in which a warehouse for storing articles and containers for accommodating articles (hereinafter referred to as articles, etc.) is used to store, store, and appropriately deliver the articles.

For example, various kinds of goods are stored in a warehouse, and at the request of the customer, the goods are taken out based on the specified order, and collectively stored (loaded) in a container (box) for shipping. .. At the time of shipping, it is necessary to take out the goods stored in the warehouse and transfer the goods to the shipping line via the transport line. The movement of goods between these lines was basically done manually (workers).

On the other hand, as a device for paying out the contents of the bucket, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a bucket reversing machine for paying out from a bucket containing an empty cardboard box after the product is taken out.

Further, as a sorting and sorting device, a sorting device for tilting and sorting a tray on which fruits and vegetables to be transported is tilted is described in Patent Document 2, and a device for tilting a trolley of a transport path and sorting into a collection container via a chute. Is disclosed in Patent Document 3.

Further, Patent Document 4 proposes an article loading device that temporarily receives an article by a shutter and slowly loads the article into a container for opening and closing the shutter.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-150943 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-158645 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-148405 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-285569

In general, there are various types of goods to be moved such as transfer from the storage box containing the goods, and the manual sorting work is complicated and labor-intensive. Instead of this, as seen in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, it is conceivable to tilt and move the tray itself as a device for taking out articles from the tray or the like, but the tray or the like is directly tilted and becomes independent. The chute is prepared and moved, and a mechanism such as fall prevention is required depending on the object to be stored, which complicates the equipment. Further, when the article is put into the storage container, it is put in by using the inclination, so that the article is not treated as a buffer and is not considered for stacking and accommodating.

Further, as seen in Patent Document 1, even if an empty cardboard box is used to invert the bucket and take out the contents, there is no problem in inversion, but it is not limited to fruits and vegetables, but is damaged in general-handed daily necessities, packaging products, and the like. And damage (scratches) may occur.

Further, as seen in Patent Document 4, it has been proposed to use a shutter when loading an article into a container, but the article is received directly from the transport means, and the article is received from the container or the like. Not only is it not considered to be taken out, it is limited to the scope of application, and it may be damaged or damaged (scratched) depending on the article to be handled.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention can automatically take out the article contained in the container (storage box) without damage or damage, and automatically put it in the container (storage box). The purpose is to provide an article unloading and / or loading device, an article unloading device, and an article transporting system capable of, and also, for example, automatically ejecting articles from a container (tray, etc.) transported on a transport line. Article removal and / or loading device, article removal that can be applied when taking out or transferring the goods taken out from the incoming line between the two transport lines to the storage box on the outgoing line (for example, shipping line) side. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus as well as an article transport system.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an article taking-out and / or loading device for taking out an article contained in a first container and transferring it to a predetermined position, wherein the article taking-out and / or loading device is a device. , A lid for holding the first container and / or the article placed on the mounting portion, and a swivel mechanism for swiveling the previously described resting portion and the lid with the first container and / or the article. The lid portion is provided with an opening / closing mechanism, and when the lid is swiveled by the swivel mechanism and comes to the predetermined position, the opening / closing mechanism is opened to take out and / or put in the article. It provides the device.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the swivel mechanism rotates the previously described placing portion and the lid portion independently.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a second container for accommodating the article is provided at the predetermined position, and the article is put into the second container.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the second container is provided with an inner box that can be moved up and down, and the article is put into the second container after the vertical position of the inner box is adjusted.

Further, in the present invention, the first container to be taken out is provided with a holding portion for fixing and holding the first container in the above-mentioned placing portion, and when the first container to be taken out is present, the holding portion is provided. It is characterized by holding.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the above-mentioned placing portion forms a part of a transport path for transporting the first container containing the article.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a part of a transport path for transporting the article and / or the second container is provided at a predetermined position for taking out and transferring the article.

Further, in the present invention, the above-mentioned placing portion constitutes a part of the transport path for transporting the article in the first container and / or the first container, and the article contained in the first container is contained in the first container. The predetermined position to be transferred to a predetermined position to be taken out constitutes a part of a second transport path different from the transport path.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined position constituting a part of the second transport path is provided with a mechanism for moving up and down according to the loading position of the article.

Further, the present invention is arranged at a predetermined position between a first transport line for transporting articles contained in a first container and a second transport line for transporting a second container containing articles. The article taking-out and / or loading device, which constitutes a part of the first transport line and is placed in the first container, a mounting section on which the article is placed, or the above-mentioned mounting section. A holding portion for holding the first container and / or the article, a lid portion provided with an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the above-mentioned resting portion or the holding portion, and the above-mentioned resting portion and the lid portion are the first container. And / or a swivel mechanism that swivels with the article, and when the previously described container and the lid swiveled by the swivel mechanism come to the predetermined position, the opening / closing mechanism is opened to take out and / or load the article. Provided is an article unloading and / or loading device characterized by comprising a unloading / loading section that enables. That is, the article taking-out and / or loading device arranged at a predetermined position between the first transport line and the second transport line is placed in a mounting portion constituting a part of the first transport line. The lid portion includes a lid portion for holding the first container and / or the article, and a swivel mechanism for swiveling the above-mentioned placing portion and the lid portion together with the first container and / or the article. Is provided with an opening / closing mechanism, and when the swivel mechanism is swiveled to reach the predetermined position, the opening / closing mechanism is opened and the article is taken out and / or loaded.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the swivel mechanism rotates the previously described placing portion and the lid portion independently.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the second container is provided with an inner box that can be moved up and down, and the article is put into the second container after the vertical position of the inner box is adjusted.

Further, in the present invention, the above-mentioned placing portion is provided with a holding portion for fixing and holding the first container, and when the first container to be taken out is present, the holding portion holds the first container. It is a feature.

The present invention also moves the article between a first transport line for transporting the article contained in the first container and a second transport line for transporting the second container containing the article. An article taking-out device provided at a predetermined position of the first transport line in the system, which constitutes a part of the first transport line and is a mounting portion on which the first container or the article is placed. , A holding portion for holding the first container and / or the article placed in the above-mentioned placement portion, and a lid portion having an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the above-mentioned placement portion or the above-mentioned holding portion, and the front description placement portion. And the opening / closing mechanism is opened when the swivel mechanism that swivels the lid portion together with the first container and / or the article, and the previously described placing portion and the lid portion swiveled by the swivel mechanism come to the predetermined position. Taking out that makes it possible to take out an article An article taking-out device is provided, which is provided with an taking-out portion that allows the article to be placed at a predetermined position on the second transport line.

Further, in the present invention, the above-mentioned placing portion is provided with a holding portion for fixing and holding the first container, and when the first container to be taken out is transported, the holding portion is the first container. It is characterized by holding.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the swivel mechanism rotates the previously described placing portion and the lid portion independently.

Further, in the present invention, the first transport line for transporting the articles stored in the container, the second transport line for transporting the storage box for storing the articles, the first transport line and the second transport line. In a system provided with a moving line provided between a transport line, an article is moved between the first transport line and the moving line or between the moving line and the second transport line. The article taking-out device used in the above, which constitutes a part of the first transport line and is placed in the first container or the mounting section on which the article is placed, and the first described section. A container and / or a holding portion for holding the article, a lid portion provided with an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the previously described placing portion or the holding portion, and the previously described placing portion and the lid portion are used as the first container and / or the above-mentioned first container. Alternatively, the swivel mechanism that swivels with the article, and the opening / closing mechanism that opens the opening / closing mechanism when the previously described container and the lid swiveled by the swivel mechanism come to the predetermined position to take out the article. Provided is an article taking-out device characterized by having a taking-out part which enables it to be placed in a predetermined position of a transport line of the above.

The present invention is also realized as an article transport system characterized in that a plurality of the article take-out devices are provided in the first transport line.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, corresponding to the article taking-out device, a plurality of moving lines for transporting and moving articles are further provided between the first transport line and the second transport line. do.

According to the present invention, the conveyed article can be automatically put into a container (storage box or the like). Further, according to the present invention, since the article can be automatically put into a container (storage box or the like), the movement of the article between the transport lines can be automated, and the efficiency of the system can be improved. In addition, parallel processing, sorting processing, and the like can be performed without human intervention. Further, by acquiring the article information (shape, weight, size, height, etc.) of the transported article in advance, it is possible to take buffer into consideration when putting the article into the storage box or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to automate operations such as selecting and transferring articles between transport lines for transporting articles, or remounting and grouping articles on an order-by-order basis. Further, by providing a plurality of moving lines in this transport line, it is possible to move the articles at a plurality of places in parallel at the same time, and the efficiency can be improved. In addition to parallel processing, a plurality of articles can be automatically stored in one container (box) or the like, so that efficiency can be further improved.

It is a block diagram of the article taking-out and / or putting-in apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example which arranged the article taking-out and / or loading device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention between the transport lines, and explains the state which held the container which contained the article from the entry line. An example is shown in which an article taking-out and / or loading device according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged between transport lines, and a container containing articles and articles is being moved from the incoming transport line to the outgoing transport line side. It is a figure explaining the state. An example in which an article taking-out and / or loading device according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged between transport lines is shown, and a state in which a container containing an article and an article is being swiveled to the exit side transport line side is explained. Yes, FIG. 2B shows a state in which the state is further swiveled from the state shown in the figure. The figure which shows the example which arranged the article taking-out and / or loading apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention between transport lines, and explains the state which swirled and moved the container which accommodated an article and an article to the transport line side of the exit side. Is. An example is shown in which an article taking-out and / or loading device according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged between transport lines, and the container on which the article is loaded is returned to the incoming transport line side in parallel with the processing of the outgoing side. It is a figure explaining the state of the process of putting an article into the storage box on the transport line side. An example in which an article taking-out and / or loading device according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged between transport lines is shown, and the article is supported in parallel with the process of returning the container on which the article was loaded to the inlet side transport line side. It is a figure explaining the state of the process of returning the lid part which had been done. An example is shown in which an article taking-out and / or loading device according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged between transport lines, and a lid portion that opens an empty container on the transport line on the entry side and supports the article. It is a figure which shows the state in the return processing of. It is a figure which shows the example which arranged the article take-out and / or the loading device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention between transport lines, and explains the state which the next article take-out process on the transport line side of the entry side. It is a figure which concerns on the article taking-out and / or loading device of this invention, and explains the loading operation at the time of loading an article into a predetermined storage box. It is a diagram relating to the article taking-out and / or loading device of the present invention, explaining the loading operation when loading the article into a predetermined storage box, and explaining the process of moving the inner box in the storage box upward. .. The present invention relates to an article taking-out and / or loading device, and describes a loading operation when the article is loaded into a predetermined storage box, and is a diagram for explaining a state in which the article is loaded into the storage box. The present invention relates to the article taking-out and / or loading device, and describes the loading operation when the article is loaded into a predetermined storage box, and describes the process of closing the lid portion of the shutter configuration after loading the article into the storage box. It is a figure to do. It is a diagram relating to the article taking-out and / or loading device of the present invention, explaining the loading operation when loading the article into a predetermined storage box, and explaining the process of loading the second article into the storage box. .. It relates to the article taking-out and / or loading device of this invention, it explains the loading operation when the article is put into a predetermined storage box, and is the figure explaining the state which put the second article into a storage box. .. It relates to the article taking-out and / or loading device of the present invention, and describes the loading operation when loading an article into a predetermined storage box, and is a lid portion of a shutter configuration after loading a second article into the storage box. It is a figure explaining the state which closed. It is a figure explaining an example which uses the article taking-out and / or loading device of this invention as an article taking-out device which takes out an article contained in a container to a mounting table or a transport table. It is a block diagram which | It is a figure explaining another example of the line structure used as the input / output transfer line of this invention. It relates to an automatic moving system in which the article taking-out and / or loading device of the present invention is applied between transport lines as an article taking-out device, and in the automatic moving system shown in FIG. 5A, an article corresponds to a moving line provided at a plurality of places. It is a figure which shows the configuration example which provided a plurality of extraction devices. It is a figure explaining the transfer (movement) between the transport lines of the article taken out from a warehouse as an example explaining the background of this invention.

First, as an example of the background of the present invention, transfer (movement) between transport lines of goods will be described with reference to FIG. 7 in relation to an input line and an output line (for example, a shipping line). FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating transfer (movement) between transport lines of goods taken out from the warehouse.

In FIG. 7, 70 shows an example of a warehouse used in a distribution system or the like, 71 shows a warehousing / delivery line for goods and the like, and 72 shows a transport line connected to the warehousing / delivery line. Reference numeral 73 denotes a transport line connected to the warehousing / delivery line, for example, a transport line as an entry line for taking out articles in order units. Reference numeral 74 is a transport line as an output line (shipping line) for charging a predetermined article from the input line 73 into a container (box) or the like. Here, the arrow lines a and b indicate the transport directions of the input line 73 and the output line 74.

Workers and the like are placed between the input line 73 and the output line 74, and the articles stored in the container (also referred to as a container or tray) 75 moving on the transport line 73 are taken out and moved on the output line 74. It is transferred to the incoming container (container, shipping box, etc.) 76. That is, according to a predetermined order (for example, an instruction sheet for each delivery destination of the goods), the worker manually transfers the goods from the input line to the exit line between the lines. Unless otherwise specified, the transfer line and the like are used in the same meaning even if they are referred to as transfer devices (the same applies hereinafter).

The present invention is an article taking-out and / or putting device for automatically taking out an article contained in a container moving on a transport line and putting it into a container (storage box) on another transport line without human intervention. This is a focus, and it can be applied not only between the transport lines but also as a device for taking out articles. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the article as used in the present invention is not limited to a specific article, but may be an article that is generally used and treated as a simple substance, and is hereinafter referred to as an article or an article, unless otherwise specified. Should not be construed as limited to.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an article taking-out and / or putting-in device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the basic configuration of the article taking-out and / or loading device 11 is a mounting table (transport table) 113 for holding a container (tray, box-shaped body, etc.) 12, and an article housed in the container 12 and / or the container. It is composed of a lid portion 111 having a shutter mechanism (also referred to as an opening / closing mechanism or a slide mechanism) that covers and holds the lid portion 111 from above, and a support portion 115 that rotatably supports the mounting table (transport table) 113 and the lid portion 111. In the illustrated example, the container 12 on the mounting table (transport table) 113 is covered with the lid portion 111 of the shutter mechanism from above. Further, the mounting table (transport table) 113 may be a simple mounting table, and as shown in FIG. 1, a series of transport paths are formed between the transport line 14 and the transport line 15 shown by the broken line. It may be a transport stand as a transport path provided in one section. Therefore, the mounting table may be simply a storage table or a transport table made of a conveyor or the like, and is not limited to the usage form as a table on which a container for taking out articles or the like is placed. It will be described as (conveyor) 113. In addition, the mounting table (transport table) is also collectively referred to as a mounting unit.

The mounting table (transport table) 113 is rotatably attached to the support portion 115. A holding portion 114 for fixing and holding a container containing an article is provided on the opposite side surface of the mounting table (transport table) 113, and when the container containing the article to be taken out is placed, the holding portion rotates and holds. do.

The lid portion 111 having a shutter mechanism includes an opening / closing support portion 112 that can be opened / closed on both sides, and the opening / closing support portion 112 is attached to the support portion 115 so as to be swivelable by a swivel shaft 116. Further, the swivel shaft 116 is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the support portion 115, and the open / close support portion 112 is adjustable in the vertical direction. That is, in the illustrated example, the interval in which the lid portion 111 covers the container 113 from above can be adjusted and driven, and the height can be adjusted when the lid portion 111 is put into the storage box or the like, as will be described later.

Hereinafter, the operation of the article taking-out and / or article loading device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2H. It should be noted that, regarding the reference numerals in the drawings, the same reference numerals as those in the drawings described above with reference to FIG. 1 indicate the same objects.

FIG. 2A shows an example in which an article taking-out and / or loading device according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged between transport lines, and shows a state in which a container containing articles is held from a transport line on the entry side.

In FIG. 2A, two rows of transport lines are arranged to form transport paths in the directions indicated by arrow lines a and b. In the illustrated example, the processing of taking out / loading the article is performed between the two rows of transport lines. The transport line on the side from which the article is taken out is arranged so that the article take-out and / or loading device 11 of the present invention forms a series of transport paths between the transport line 14 and the transport line 15. The container 12 containing the article 13 is transported on the transport line 14 as shown by the arrow line a. When the container 12 to be taken out of the article 13 comes on the mounting table (transport table) 113 of the article taking-out and / or loading device 11, the holding portions 114 fixedly hold the container 12 from both sides, and the lid portion 111 of the shutter mechanism. Covers and holds the container and the article 13 in the container from above.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a state of an article taking-out and / or loading device in which an article and a container containing an article are being moved from the inlet-side transport line to the exit-side transport line side.

In FIG. 2B, the container held by the article taking-out and / or loading device 11 shown in FIG. 2A and the article 13 housed in the container 12 are centered on the swivel axis of the support portion 115 together with the mounting table (transport table) 113. It is swiveled and moved. The storage box 17 is transported on the transport line 16 on the exit side in the direction indicated by the arrow line b, and the article 13 is loaded and stored in the predetermined storage box 17. The storage box 17 contains an inner box 171 that can be moved up and down inside. A drive mechanism for moving and driving the inner box 171 of the storage box 17 up and down is provided at a portion serving as a mounting table (transport table) 161 of the transport line 16 on the exit side where the article taking-out and / or loading device 11 is located. The drive is controlled according to the number of items 13 in the storage box 17 and the loading status. The details of the movement of the inner box 171 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3A and others.

FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the article taking-out and / or loading device is in the process of turning the container containing the article and the article toward the transport line side on the exit side, and is a state in which the container is further swiveled from the state shown in FIG. 2B. Is shown.

In FIG. 2C, the container 12 and the article 13 are in the process of turning while being held between the mounting table (transport table) of the article taking-out and / or loading device 11 and the lid portion 111.

FIG. 2D is a diagram illustrating a state in which an article unloading and / or loading device swivels an article and a container containing the article to the top of a storage box on a transport line on the exit side.

In FIG. 2D, the article 13 (not shown) in the container 12 of the mounting table (transporting table) 113 swiveling above the mounting table (transporting table) 161 at the position where the articles of the transport line 16 are loaded is a shutter. It is in a state of being mounted on the lid portion 111 of the mechanism.

In FIG. 2E, the article taking-out and / or loading device between the transport lines loads the article into the storage box of the transport line on the exit side in parallel with the process of returning the container on which the article was loaded to the transport line on the inlet side. It is a figure explaining the operation of the process to perform.

In FIG. 2E, the shutter mechanism of the lid 111 of the article taking-out and / or loading device 11 is opened, and in parallel with the processing step of loading the article 13 into the storage box 17 on the transport line 16 side, the loading table (transport table) 113 and The container 12 is turned back to the transfer line side on the entry side and returned to its original position. That is, it is possible to enter the preparatory step of taking out the next article in parallel with the process of loading the article 13.

FIG. 2F is a diagram illustrating a process of returning the lid portion supporting the article in parallel with the process of returning the container on which the article was loaded to the entry line side.

In FIG. 2F, the mounting table (transport table) 113 and the container 12 of the article taking-out and / or loading device 11 are swiveled toward the original transport line side, and after the article 13 is loaded into the storage box 17, the lid portion The shutter mechanism of 111 is closed and swiveled in the reverse direction to move to the original transport line side. In the illustrated example, one article 13 is stored in the inner box 171 of the storage box 17, and then the second article 13 can be stacked and accommodated.

FIG. 2G is a diagram showing a state in which the empty container is opened on the transport line on the entry side and the lid portion that supports the article is being returned.

In FIG. 2G, the article taking-out and / or loading device 11 carries out the empty container 13 to the incoming transport line 15 side and receives the container 12 containing the next article conveyed from the transport line 14. It becomes a state. On the other hand, on the transport line 16 side, when the next article is additionally stored in the storage box 17 in which the article 13 is stored, the storage box 17 is kept on standby, and when the additional storage is not performed, the storage box 17 is carried out and the next storage box is carried out. It is in a state of accepting the transportation of 17.

FIG. 2H is a diagram showing a state in which the article taking-out and / or the article-taking device takes out the next article in the transport line on the entry side.

In FIG. 2H, when the container 12 containing the article 13 to be taken out is conveyed to the mounting table (transport table) 113 of the article taking-out and / or loading device 11, the container 12 is fixed as described above. The lid 111, which is held by the holding portion 114 and has a shutter mechanism, is driven so as to cover and hold the container 12 and the article 13 (not shown) from above, and proceeds to the next step of taking out / loading the article.

3A to 3G show a lid portion having a shutter mechanism in the article taking-out and / or loading device of the present invention, a predetermined storage box for loading articles, and a mounting table (transport table) on which the storage box is placed. It is partially illustrated and is a diagram illustrating a closing operation. It should be noted that, regarding the reference numerals in the drawings, the same reference numerals as those in the drawings described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and others indicate the same objects.

First, with reference to FIG. 3A, a configuration for loading an article into a predetermined storage box by the article taking-out and / or loading device of the present invention will be described.

In FIG. 3A, the mounting table (transport table) 161 on which the storage box 17 is placed shows a part of the transport path of the transport line 16 on the exit side described above in FIG. 2A and others, and the article can be taken out and / or. Alternatively, it is placed at the place where the article of the loading device is loaded. Although the mounting table (transport table) 161 is configured as a transport path by a conveyor or the like, the transport direction thereof is not limited. Further, when it is used as a mounting stand as a storage stand for articles as a loading portion of an article taking-out and / or loading device, it may be simply used as a mounting stand.

The storage box 17 transported and arranged on the mounting table (transport table) 161 is provided with an inner box 171 that can be moved up and down. In the illustrated example, a vertical drive mechanism 31 having four vertical members (for example, pole-shaped members) 311 is provided on the lower side of the mounting table (transport table) 161. The upper and lower members 311 may be guided up and down from the gap of the transport portion of the mounting table (transport table) 161. For example, when a roller conveyor type is used as a transport path, it may be derived from between rollers, and when a belt conveyor type is used, it may be derived from between belts. Alternatively, a notch portion may be provided as appropriate. The upper and lower members 311 are derived from the lower part of the mounting table (transport table) 161 and the position of the inner box 161 can be adjusted by pushing up / lowering the bottom plate of the inner box 171 via the cutout portion of the bottom plate of the storage box 17. I have to. When there is an article 13 to be loaded, the lid portion 111 of the shutter mechanism rotates as described in FIG. 2E and others, and the arrangement is as shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining a loading operation when loading an article into a predetermined storage box, and is a diagram illustrating a process of moving the inner box in the storage box upward.

In FIG. 3B, when the article 13 is loaded with the storage box 17 empty, the distance between the bottom surface of the storage box 17 and the article 13 held by the lid 111, that is, the head is large. At this time, the upper and lower members 311 of the inner box 171 are pushed up by the vertical drive mechanism 31 and moved to a predetermined place. When the predetermined position is reached, the shutter of the lid portion 111 is opened to both sides by the opening / closing support portion 112 of the shutter mechanism.

FIG. 3C is a diagram for explaining a loading operation of loading an article into a predetermined storage box, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which the article is loaded into the storage box.

In FIG. 3C, the lid portion 111 of the shutter mechanism is opened by the opening / closing support portion 112, and the article 13 is put into the inner box 171 of the storage box 17.

FIG. 3D is a diagram for explaining a loading operation of loading an article into a predetermined storage box, and is a diagram illustrating a process of closing a lid portion of a shutter configuration after loading the article into the storage box.

In FIG. 3D, after the article 13 is put into the storage box 17, the shutter of the lid portion 111 is closed by the opening / closing support portion 112. Further, after the article 13 is put into the inner box 171 of the storage box 17, for example, the vertical drive mechanism 31 at the lower part of the mounting table (transport table) 161 pushes up the article 13 from the lower part of the inner box 171 by detecting its weight. The member 311 is moved downward. The downward movement amount may be a movement amount determined by a predetermined size or weight of the loaded article 13, and is based on the detection result such as weight measurement provided on the mounting table (transport table) 161. It will be the specified amount of movement. The control of the downward movement amount may also be defined by the size and weight of the article 13 to be continuously loaded. When there is no article 13 to be continuously loaded, the upper and lower members 311 are lowered so that the inner box 171 is accommodated in the bottom of the storage box 17 so as to be substantially released. Instead of detecting the size and weight of the article, a technique based on image recognition may be used.

FIG. 3E is a diagram for explaining a loading operation of loading an article into a predetermined storage box, and is a diagram illustrating a process of loading a second article into the storage box.

In FIG. 3E, with the article 13 stored in the inner box 171 of the storage box 17 as described with reference to FIG. 3D, the upper and lower members 311 move the inner box 171 by a predetermined amount. On the other hand, as described in FIG. 2E and others above, the lid 111 of the shutter mechanism turns to take out the next article 13, and is ready to be continuously put into the storage box 17. Subsequently, the shutter of the lid portion 111 is opened to both sides by the opening / closing support portion 112 of the shutter mechanism.

FIG. 3F is a diagram for explaining a loading operation when loading an article into a predetermined storage box, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which a second article is loaded into the storage box.

In FIG. 3F, the lid portion 111 of the shutter mechanism is opened by the opening / closing support portion 112, and the articles 13 are loaded onto the articles 13 in the inner box 171 of the storage box 17 and stacked. After that, the upper and lower members 311 are lowered by the vertical drive mechanism 31 at the lower part of the mounting table (transport table) 161 and the inner box 171 is lowered until the bottom abuts on the bottom plate of the storage box 17.

FIG. 3G is a diagram for explaining a loading operation of loading an article into a predetermined storage box, and is a diagram illustrating a state in which the lid of the shutter mechanism is closed after the second article is loaded into the storage box.

In FIG. 3G, after the second article 13 is loaded following the previously loaded article 13, the lid 111 of the shutter mechanism is closed by the opening / closing support 112. On the other hand, the inner box 171 that has been pushed up is lowered to the bottom of the storage box 17 and integrated as the storage box 17.

As described above, the articles taking-out and / or loading device loading operations described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3G indicate that the articles are loaded into the storage box, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. It may be used as an article taking-out device by placing it directly on a mounting table (transport table) or the like. Further, the adjustment of the mounting position of the article may be made to move up and down as a whole on the lid side of the shutter mechanism. For example, the swivel shaft 116 provided on the support portion 115 to which the open / close support portion 112 of the shutter mechanism is rotatably attached may be operated with the vertical movable control on.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the article taking-out and / or loading device of the present invention is used as an article taking-out device for taking out an article contained in a container to a mounting table or a transport table. It should be noted that the reference numerals in the drawings which are the same as the reference numerals shown in FIG. 1 indicate the same objects.

In FIG. 4, the basic configuration of the article unloading device (article unloading and / or loading device) 11 is the same as that of the device described with reference to FIG. The table) 113, the lid 111 having a shutter mechanism for covering, holding and transferring the container 12 and the article 13 (not shown) from above the container 12, and the lid 111 and the mounting table (transport table) 113 can be swiveled. It is composed of a support portion 115 for supporting. The article take-out device 11 is arranged between the transfer line 14 and the transfer line 15, and the transfer line 14, the mounting table (transport table) 113, and the transfer line 15 are formed as a series of transfer paths. The article take-out device 11 takes out the article 13 contained in the container 12 transported on the transport path, places it on another transport line 18, and transfers it.

In the transport line 18, a mounting table (transport table) 181 is provided as a transport path formed on the article take-out device 11 side. The mounting table (transport table) 181 is mounted on a support table 182 having an expansion / contraction mechanism 183, and the mounting surface can be adjusted up and down when an article is placed. That is, the height of the mounting surface of the first article and the mounting surface of the second article can be adjusted. The expansion / contraction mechanism 183 may be appropriately selected and used from various expansion / contraction mechanisms such as a bellows mechanism, a gear coupling, and a cylinder.

Thus, the article taking-out device 11 holds the container 12 conveyed from the transport line 14 and the articles contained in the container 12 by the mounting table (transport table) 113 and the lid portion 111 having a shutter mechanism from above. Then, the article can be swiveled and moved by the swivel shaft 116 of the support portion 115 to take out and transport the article to the second transport line 18.

FIG. 5A is a configuration diagram of an entire automatic moving system in which the article taking-out and / or article taking-in device of the present invention is applied between transport lines as an article taking-out device, as viewed from diagonally above.

In FIG. 5A, a series of entry-side lines are formed by using the transport line 14, the transport line 15, and the mounting table (transport table) of the article taking-out device 11 represented by the alternate long and short dash-dotted line circle as a transport path. Further, a transport line 16 is arranged as an exit side line, and a transport line 18 is provided as a moving line between the entry side line and the exit side line. The automatic movement system is composed of the entry side line, the exit side line, and the movement line between them. The directions indicated by the arrow lines a, b, and c in parallel with each line in the figure indicate the transport direction.

When the predetermined container 12 transported on the entry side line comes to the position of the transport table (mounting table) of the article taking-out device 11, the lid portion is the container 12 from above the transport table (mounting table) of the article taking-out device 11. And / or the article 13 in the container is covered and swiveled together with the transport table (mounting table). As described above, the article is taken out onto the transport line (moving line) 18. The taken-out article 13 is stored in the storage box 17 which is conveyed on the exit line 16 side via the transport line (moving line) 18. The goods can be stored in the storage box of the delivery line from the transport line 18 directly to the storage box 17 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line circle 19. It may be placed in a place and used.

Although the lines arranged in a straight line are shown in the figure, the line form is not limited to these straight lines, and an example using an example of using a rotary line form such as a circle is used. It is shown in FIG. 5B.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating another example of the line configuration used as the input / output transfer line of the present invention in a plan view. In FIG. 5B, the difference from FIG. 5A is that a circular rotation type is used as the transport line.

In FIG. 5B, the basic configuration is configured by arranging an input side transfer line (input line) a11, an exit side transfer line (exit line) b1, and a movement line c12 between the lines. In the illustrated example, a circular rotary table (turntable) is used as the output line b1, the rotary table is divided into predetermined sections, and a container and / or an article is placed and moved on the rotary table. Further, an article taking-out device (not shown) is arranged between the incoming line a11 and the moving line c12, and an article loading device (not shown) is arranged between the moving line c12 and the outgoing line b1. In addition, instead of the moving line c12, it may be arranged as an article taking-out and / or loading device c12. The arrow lines aa, arrow line cc, and arrow line bb in the figure indicate the transport direction of the transport line. Similar to the previous embodiment, the container a10 containing the article a13 transported on the entry line aa is transferred to the moving line c12 at the article take-out position a12, and the storage box at the loading position b12 of the exit line b1. The article a13 is put into the (container) b10. In the illustrated example, the incoming line a11 is a linear transport line and the outgoing line b1 is a rotary type transport line, but these line forms may be reversed. That is, the input line a11 may be a rotary type and the output line b1 may be a linear transfer line. Further, both the input line a11 and the output line b1 may have a system configuration in which the rotation type is used.

Further, in FIG. 5B, the article or the like may be transported from the direction indicated by the arrow line aaa, and may be variously deformed with respect to the transport direction, the article removal position, the article loading position, and the like.

As described above, the transport line (in line, exit line, moving line, etc.) is not limited to the one in which the line form is arranged in a straight line, but the meandering line form, the circular shape, or the like. It may be applied to the rotation type line form. Further, the line is not limited to the line arranged in a plane, and may be arranged in a three-dimensional shape. That is, the line may form a movement route for carrying in, carrying out, moving, and the like. The same applies to the following.

FIG. 6 relates to an automatic moving system in which the article taking-out and / or loading device of the present invention is applied between transport lines as an article taking-out device, and in the automatic moving system shown in FIG. 5A, moving lines provided at a plurality of locations . It is a figure which shows the configuration example which provided a plurality of article take-out devices corresponding to.

6; The article 13 which is arranged as the device 11b and the article taking-out device 11c and is housed in the container 12 which is conveyed on the conveying line 14 is appropriately taken out.

Each of the article taking-out devices 11a, 11b, and 11c is provided with a moving line 18a, a moving line 18b, and a moving line 18c for transporting articles to the transport line 16 on the exit side, respectively. At each of the moving lines 18a, 18b, and 18c, the taken-out article is conveyed and moved in the directions of the arrow line c1, the arrow line c2, and the arrow line c3. Each of the transported articles is loaded into the storage box 17 at a predetermined position on the transport line 16 side corresponding to each of the moving lines 18a, 18b, 18c. At the insertion point into each storage box 17, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line circles 19a, 19b, 19c in the figure, the movement lines 18a, 18b, 18c may be directly inserted into each storage box 17. , Another type of article loading device may be arranged and used at the locations of the circles 19a, 19b, and 19c of the alternate long and short dash line.

Thus, it can be constructed as an automatic moving system capable of appropriately taking out and moving articles from the incoming transport line to the outgoing transport line and putting them in a predetermined storage box.

It should be noted that the plurality of article take-out devices and moving lines may be operated simultaneously in parallel, may be operated synchronously, or may be operated asynchronously.

In addition, as the transport line described above, the first line in which the container or the like containing the article is conveyed, this is the entry line or the entry side line, and the storage box or the like for taking out and storing the article from the container or the like. A second line to which another storage container (container) is transported, which may be an exit line, an exit line, a shipping line, etc., or a moving line may be a second line, and is limited to these terms themselves. It is not something that will be done.

Further, a moving line may be provided between the entry / exit lines, and an article taking-out device and / or an article loading device may be directly connected between the entry / exit lines without providing a moving line.

Further, the movement of the article between the entry / exit lines may be one in which one article is stored in a storage box or the like, or one in which a plurality of articles are stored in one storage box or the like.

Further, the movement of articles between the entry / exit lines may be performed in parallel at a plurality of locations, or may be used when a plurality of articles are stored in one storage box or the like.

As described above, the transport lines (in line, exit line, moving line, etc.) are not limited to those in which the line form is linearly arranged, but the meandering line form, circular shape, etc. It may be applied to the line form of the rotation type of. Further, the line is not limited to the line arranged in a plane, and may be arranged in a three-dimensional shape. That is, the line may form a movement route for carrying in, carrying out, moving, and the like.

Further, the article loading device may be one that moves up and down according to the presence / absence of the article in the storage box in response to the loading of the article. Further, as the article loading device, an article may be received once and loaded into a container (box) or the like by a rotation mechanism.

In each of the embodiments described with reference to the above drawings, the opening / closing plate used for the shutter mechanism in which the lid portion of the article taking-out and / or loading device is opened / closed is not limited to the illustrated example, and various examples such as a single plate-shaped shutter are used. It may be a deformed one. Further, a mechanism for moving up and down when loading an article may be provided on the article taking-out and / or loading device side, and a vertical movement mechanism on the storage box side for moving up and down according to the presence or absence of an article in the storage box. It may be a collaborative one.

Further, in the transport line (input line, output line, moving line), article extraction device, article loading device, etc., drive control, timing control, etc. of each device and each device are performed by a control device (not shown). Therefore, it is possible to centrally adjust the timing such as standby and restart of related equipment when moving the goods and the like in and out of the incoming and outgoing lines.

It should be noted that the term is not limited to the input line, the exit line, the moving line, etc. described in each of the above embodiments, and a transport device for transporting articles, etc., simply referred to as a transport path, a line, etc. may be used. For example, a rotating mechanism such as a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor can be used, or in some cases, an inclined plate or the like may be used.

Further, the container for accommodating articles is a storage container, a storage box, a tray, a container (box), a folding container, etc., and may be simply referred to as a box or a container, but if it is a container applicable to the present invention. , Not limited to its name. In the above description, the entrance side is used separately from the container and the exit side is used separately from the storage box, etc., but the present invention is not limited to this, and is simply paraphrased as the first container and the second container. You may.

Each of the embodiments described above is exemplified for the understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and is defined by the description of the scope of claims. Further, as long as it does not deviate from the technical idea of the present invention, the structure equivalent to the configuration described in the claims is also included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

According to the article taking-out and / or loading device of the present invention, the conveyed article can be automatically put into a container or the like without being damaged or damaged, and the work of collecting the articles on an order-by-order basis can also be automated. Therefore, it can be applied to distribution systems such as distribution centers and storage warehouses to have a great economic effect.

11 ... Article taking-out and / or loading device 111 ... Lid part 112 ... Opening / closing support part 113 ... Mounting table (transport table)
114 ... Holding part 115 ... Support part 116 ... Swinging shaft 12 ... Container 13 ... Article 14, a11 ... Conveying line (entry line)
15, c12 ... Conveyance line 16, b1 ... Conveyance line (outgoing line)
161 ... Mounting stand (transporting stand)
17 ... Storage box 171 ... Inner box 18 ... Transport line (moving line)
181 ... Mounting stand (transporting stand)
182 ... Support base 183 ... Telescopic mechanism 31 ... Vertical drive mechanism 311 ... Vertical member

Claims (19)

An article removal and / or loading device that takes out the article contained in the first container and transfers it to a predetermined position.
A mounting portion on which the first container or the article is placed, and functions as a transport table for forming a transport path for transporting the first container and / or the article in the first container. Placement part and
The first container placed in the above-mentioned storage portion and / or a holding portion for holding the article, and an opening / closing mechanism are provided to cover the first container or the article housed in the first container. The lid to hold and
A swivel mechanism that swivels the above-mentioned placing portion and the lid portion together with the first container and / or the article.
An article unloading and / or loading device comprising a unloading / loading mechanism that opens the opening / closing mechanism when swiveled by the swivel mechanism and reaches the predetermined position to unload and / or load the article. The article taking-out and / or loading device according to claim 1, wherein the swivel mechanism rotates the previously described placing portion and the lid portion independently. A second container for accommodating articles is provided at the predetermined position.
The article removal and / or loading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the article is charged into the second container. The second container is provided with an inner box that can be moved up and down.
The article removal and / or loading device according to claim 3, wherein the article is loaded into the second container after the vertical position of the inner box is adjusted. The first container to be taken out is provided with a holding portion for fixing and holding the first container in the above-mentioned placing portion, and the holding portion holds the first container to be taken out. The article taking-out and / or putting-in device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the above-mentioned place portion forms a part of a transport path for transporting the first container containing the article. Extraction and / or loading device. One of claims 1 to 6, wherein a part of a transport path for transporting the article and / or the second container is provided at a predetermined position for taking out and transferring the article. The article extraction and / or loading device according to paragraph 1. Claim 1 is characterized in that the predetermined position for taking out an article contained in the first container and transferring it to a predetermined position constitutes a part of a second transport path different from the transport path. The article taking-out and / or putting-in device according to any one of claims 7. The article unloading and / or loading device according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined position constituting a part of the second transport path is provided with a vertical moving mechanism that moves up and down according to the loading position of the article. .. Article take-out and / or placed in place between a first transport line for transporting articles contained in a first container and a second transport line for transporting a second container containing articles. It ’s a loading device,
A mounting portion that constitutes a part of the first transport line and on which the first container or the article is placed , and transports the first container and / or the article in the first container. The first container is provided with a mounting portion that functions as a transport table for forming a transport path, a holding portion that holds the first container and / or the article placed on the above-mentioned mounting portion, and an opening / closing mechanism. And a lid that covers and holds the article contained in the container or the first container.
A swivel mechanism that swivels the above-mentioned placing portion and the lid portion together with the first container and / or the article.
Provided are a previously described placement portion swiveled by the swivel mechanism and a take-out / loading portion that opens the opening / closing mechanism when the lid portion comes to the predetermined position to allow the article to be taken out and / or put in. An article retrieval and / or loading device comprising. The article taking-out and / or loading device according to claim 10, wherein the swivel mechanism rotates the above-mentioned placing portion and the lid portion independently. The second container is provided with an inner box that can be moved up and down.
The article unloading and / or loading device according to claim 10, wherein the article is loaded into the second container after the vertical position of the inner box is adjusted. 10. A claim 10. The article taking-out and / or putting-in device according to any one of claims 12. The first in a system for moving the article between a first transport line for transporting the article contained in the first container and a second transport line for transporting the second container containing the article. It is an article take-out device provided at a predetermined position on the transport line of
A mounting portion that constitutes a part of the first transport line and on which the first container or the article is placed , and transports the first container and / or the article in the first container. The first container is provided with a mounting section that functions as a transport table for forming a transport path, a holding section that holds the first container and / or the article placed on the above-mentioned mounting section, and an opening / closing mechanism. And a lid that covers and holds the article contained in the container or the first container.
A swivel mechanism that swivels the above-mentioned placing portion and the lid portion together with the first container and / or the article.
When the previously described placing portion and the lid portion swiveled by the turning mechanism come to the predetermined position, the opening / closing mechanism is opened and the article is taken out and placed at a predetermined position on the second transport line. An article unloading device, characterized in that it is provided with a unloading unit that enables it. The above-mentioned placing portion is provided with a holding portion for fixing and holding the first container, and the holding portion holds the first container when the first container to be taken out is conveyed. The article taking-out device according to claim 14. The article taking-out device according to claim 14, wherein the swivel mechanism rotates the previously described placing portion and the lid portion independently. Between the first transport line for transporting the articles stored in the container, the second transport line for transporting the storage box for storing the articles, and the first transport line and the second transport line. An article unloading device used to move an article between the first transport line and the moving line or between the moving line and the second transport line in a system provided with a moving line. And
A mounting portion that constitutes a part of the first transport line and on which the first container or the article is placed , and transports the first container and / or the article in the first container. The first container is provided with a mounting portion that functions as a transport table for forming a transport path, a holding portion that holds the first container and / or the article placed on the above-mentioned mounting portion, and an opening / closing mechanism. And a lid that covers and holds the article contained in the container or the first container.
A swivel mechanism that swivels the above-mentioned placing portion and the lid portion together with the first container and / or the article.
When the previously described placing portion and the lid portion swiveled by the turning mechanism come to the predetermined position, the opening / closing mechanism is opened and the article is taken out and placed at a predetermined position on the second transport line. An article unloading device, characterized in that it is provided with a unloading unit that enables it. The article transport system according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein a plurality of the article take-out devices are provided in the first transport line. 18. The aspect of claim 18, wherein a plurality of moving lines for transporting and moving articles are further provided between the first transport line and the second transport line in response to the article take-out device. Goods transport system.

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