JP7333065B2 - Accumulator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to integrated devices.

Conventionally, there is known a stacking device that supplies a plurality of articles to one storage means (cardboard box, etc.) (see Patent Document 1, for example). According to this device, the shape of the cardboard box, which is the storage means, matches the shape of the articles (group of aligned articles) to some extent, and the article itself has a three-dimensional shape. , the posture of the articles in the cardboard box is maintained in an aligned state.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, a configuration is also known in which a plurality of articles XA1 are supplied to one storage means 500 by gravity falling from a conveying means 501 or the like.

Japanese Patent No. 6348322

However, in the case of a configuration in which a plurality of articles XA1 each having a small or thin (flat) shape are supplied to one storage means 500 as shown in FIG. Furthermore, if the article XA1 has an unstable outer shape and is allowed to fall naturally from a predetermined supply position, there is a problem that the supply (accumulation) to the storage means 500 cannot be performed reliably.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, there is only one supply position to the storage means 500 (for example, the drop position of the article XA1 from the conveying means 501), so the supplied articles XA1 are piled up, for example. , etc., may be locally concentrated and overflow from the storage means 500 . Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7B, the outer shape of the article XA1 may result in an irregular lamination state. In particular, when the article XA1 is a deep-drawn package using different types of packaging films, the difference in shrinkage rate causes warping, which is remarkable.

As described above, if the storage state of the article AX1 in the storage means 500 is uneven, the gripping (holding) of the article XA1 may be incomplete when the next step is to be performed, and the delivery of the article XA1 may fail. , the article XA1 may be damaged, making it difficult to deliver the article XA1 reliably and safely.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide an integrated device capable of uniformly accommodating the

The present invention is a stacking device for stacking a plurality of articles, comprising: storage means arranged at a downstream end of supply means for the articles and capable of storing a plurality of the articles supplied from the supply means; a guide surface disposed at an angle with respect to the bottom surface of the means and capable of coming into contact with at least a portion of the article supplied to the containing means; driving means for moving the guide surface relative to the bottom surface of the containing means while maintaining a predetermined angle so as to change the receiving height of the article in the means; and the guide surface is retracted from the bottom surface after the article is supported by the guide surface and the bottom surface during movement of the article.

According to the present invention, even when a plurality of articles are accumulated (especially by natural fall), it is possible to prevent local concentration of the accumulated articles and to store the articles uniformly. An integrated device can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the schematic diagram which shows the (A) collection|stacking / boxing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (B) The top view of a package, (C) The side view of a package. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a stacking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, (A) a side view seen from the conveying width direction, (B) a top view, (C) a side view showing article guide means, and (D) articles. It is a side view showing the vicinity of the guide means, (E) is a side view showing the vicinity of the article guide means. It is a side view which shows operation|movement of the integrated device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows operation|movement of the integrated device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the other example of the integrated device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the other example of the integrated device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the other example of the integrated device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view showing a conventional technique.

<Accumulation/boxing system/overall configuration>
An integrated device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The stacking device 100 is included in a part of the stacking/boxing system 10 that stacks a predetermined number of articles (packages in this case) XA1 to form an article group XA3 and accommodates each article group XA3 in a box. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the stacking/boxing system 10, FIG. 1A is a side view showing an example of the overall configuration, and FIG. A plan view and FIG. 1(C) are side views showing an example of the article XA1. In this figure and subsequent figures, some configurations are omitted as appropriate to simplify the drawings. In this drawing and subsequent drawings, the sizes, shapes, thicknesses, and the like of the members are appropriately exaggerated.

Referring to FIG. 1(A), the stacking/boxing system 10 stacks, for example, a predetermined first number (for example, 5) of articles XA1 individually transported from an upstream process to form a small article group XA2. a second stacking means 200 that further stacks a predetermined plurality of sets (for example, 10 sets) of the small item group XA2 stacked by the first stacking means 100 to form a large item group XA3; It has a boxing device 300 or the like that puts (collectively) each article group XA3 into a box (not shown here). Here, the first stacking means 100 is the stacking device of this embodiment.

1(B) and 1(C), the article (packaging body) XA1 accommodates, for example, a single article to be accommodated (here, a catheter) 20 so as to be sandwiched between a mount 21 and a resin film 22. It's a blister pack. The outer shape of the article XA1 is a rectangle in which the long side LL is significantly longer than the short side SL in plan view (for example, the long side LL is five times or more the short side SL). Both the mount 21 and the resin film 22 are flexible and thin materials, and the maximum height of the article XA1 is approximately the same as the height of the article 20 to be accommodated (the diameter of the catheter (for example, 0.3 mm to 20 mm)). It is a substantially flat package.

Referring to FIG. 1A again, the articles XA1 are conveyed by the first conveying means (for example, belt conveyor) 101 after being individually subjected to visual inspection and the like.

The first stacking means (stacking device of this embodiment) 100 has, for example, a second transport means 102 arranged at the downstream end of the first transport means 101 and an article guide means 120 . The first conveying means 101 is a supplying means for supplying the articles XA1 to the stacking device 100 of this embodiment. The second conveying means 102 is, for example, a bucket conveyor that intermittently moves the containing means (bucket) 103 . The stacking device 100 temporarily stops the bucket 103 in the receiving area, receives, for example, a plurality of (eg, five) articles XA1 naturally falling from the supply means (first conveying means) 101, and after stacking them in the bucket 103, Convey downstream.

The second stacking means 200 is arranged downstream of the stacking device 100 and has a transfer means 201 and a storage means 250 for the articles XA1. The transfer means 201 has, for example, a robot arm (not shown) and a hand 202 attached to the tip thereof, and is configured to be arbitrarily movable within a three-dimensional space. The transfer means 201 collectively holds a plurality of articles XA1 (small article group XA2) in the bucket 103 of the first stacking means 100 and transfers them to the storage means 250 . The storage means 250 receives a plurality of (a plurality of sets, for example, 10) of the small article groups XA2 in the bucket 103 and organizes them into a large article group XA3. The storage means 250 is configured to be able to discharge a plurality of stored articles XA1 (large article group XA3) at predetermined timings and positions. That is, when the number of articles XA1 reaches a predetermined number (eg, 50), the storage means 250 moves a plurality of articles XA1 (large article group XA3) to the third conveying means 260 (eg, bucket conveyor) arranged below the storage means 250. ). The third conveying means 260 is, for example, a bucket conveyor that intermittently moves a plurality of buckets 261 .

The boxing device 300 is arranged downstream of the third conveying means 260, receives a plurality of articles (large article group XA3) in the bucket 261 collectively, and stores them collectively in a box (not shown here).

Each part of the stacking/packing system 10 (stacking device (first stacking means) 100, second stacking means 200, and boxing device 300) is centrally controlled by a control unit (not shown). That is, each part of the stacking/packing system 10 operates under the control of the control unit, and the operating conditions are managed by the control unit. The control unit is composed of a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and executes various controls. The CPU is a so-called central processing unit, and executes various programs to realize various functions. RAM is used as a work area for the CPU. The ROM stores the basic OS and programs executed by the CPU.

<Integration device>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the stacking device (first stacking means) 100 according to this embodiment. Here, in the following description (drawings after FIG. 2) of the stacking apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, for convenience, the movement direction of the article XA1 by the second conveying means (for example, bucket conveyor) 102 is referred to as a conveying direction T. A direction perpendicular to the direction T is called a conveying height direction H, and a direction perpendicular to both the conveying direction T and the conveying height direction H is called a conveying width direction W. In this example, the transport direction T and the transport width direction W are horizontal to the floor surface, and the transport height direction H is vertical. FIG. 2A is a side view of the stacking device 100 viewed from the transport width direction W, and FIG. 1C to 1E are side views for explaining the article guide means 120, FIG. 3(E) is a diagram showing the article guide means 120 and the accommodation means 103. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the stacking device 100 of this embodiment has a second conveying means 102 having a containing means 103 and an article guiding means 120 .

The supply means (first conveying means) 101 here is, for example, a belt conveyor for individually conveying the articles XA1 from upstream. The belt conveyor includes a driving sprocket 104a, a driven sprocket 104b, a motor (not shown) that serves as a power source for the driving sprocket 104a, and both sprockets 104a and 104b. It has a belt 110 that is stretched and runs in the conveying direction T, and conveys the articles XA1 individually at predetermined intervals.

The second conveying means 102 is provided below the downstream end of the first conveying means 101 . The second conveying means 102 is, for example, a bucket conveyor, and includes a driving sprocket 105a, a driven sprocket 105b, and a motor (not shown) that serves as a power source for the driving sprocket 105a. ), a chain 111 that runs intermittently in the conveying direction T while being stretched over both sprockets 105a and 105b, and a plurality of storage means (buckets) 103 that are attached to the chain 111 at equal intervals. there is Each bucket 103 can accommodate (accumulate) a plurality of (for example, at least five) articles XA1.

More specifically, the first conveying means 101 continuously travels, and the article XA1 that reaches the downstream end along with the movement of the belt 110 naturally falls. That is, the article XA1 is transferred to the second conveying means 102 at this position of natural fall, and this is the receiving area P1 in the second conveying means 102 . Each bucket (accommodating means) 103 of the second conveying means 102 temporarily stops at the receiving area P1 to receive the article XA1 supplied from the first conveying means 101 (which naturally falls). Here, the receiving area P1 in this embodiment is, for example, an area on the upstream side within the bucket 103 (on the upstream side of the central position of the bottom surface 103b in the transport direction T).

After receiving a predetermined number (five in this example) of articles XA1, the bucket 103 resumes movement. Further, the second conveying means 102 has a transfer area P2 for the article XA1 to be transferred to the next process at its downstream end. In the delivery area P2, a plurality of articles XA1 are collectively taken out from the bucket 103 by the transfer means 201 of the second stacking means 200 downstream.

The article guide means 120 are arranged on both outer sides of the storage means 103 in the transport width direction W, as shown in FIG. The article guide means 120 has at least a guide surface 121 and a drive means 122 for the guide surface 121, and guides the article XA1 in the storage means 103. FIG. More specifically, the housing means 103 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and as shown in FIG. When viewed from the side ((A) in FIG. 1) with two side portions in the hand direction opened, it is configured in a substantially U-shape. In addition, the length L1 in the longitudinal direction (transportation width direction W) of the storage unit 103 is shorter than the length L2 of the article XA1 in the longitudinal direction (transportation width direction W). For this reason, the article XA1 in the storage means 103 is stored in a state in which both ends in the transport width direction W thereof are exposed from both sides in the transport width direction W of the storage means 103 . The article guide means 120 are arranged so as to sandwich the storage means 103 in the transport width direction W, and guide both end portions of the article XA1 exposed from the storage means 103 from obliquely downward in this example.

FIG. 1C is a side view showing the article guide means 120 extracted. The two article guide means 120 have the same configuration. The article guide means 120 has a drive means 122 , a base 123 fixed to the drive means 122 , and a guide surface 121 connected to the drive means 122 and configured to be relatively movable with respect to the base 123 . The guide surface 121 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view (top view) ((B) in the same figure). The driving means 122 is, for example, an air cylinder, and moves the guide surface 121 toward or away from the base 123 .

The article guide means 120 is arranged so that the guide surfaces 121 are inclined with respect to the bottom surface 103b of the storage means 103 on both sides of the storage means 103 in the transport width direction W in this example. More specifically, the substantially rectangular guide surface 121 is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is along the transport direction T, and is lower on the downstream side in the transport direction T and higher on the upstream side (horizontal plane (transport direction T and transport direction T). It is arranged to be inclined (as an inclined surface) so as to form a predetermined angle with respect to the surface formed in the width direction W).

As a result, the drive means 122 moves (advances and retreats) the guide surface 121 relative to the accommodation means 103, as shown in FIGS. 4D shows a state in which the guide surface 121 has advanced most (separated from the base 123). , and exists above the bottom surface 103b of the housing means 103 in the vertical direction. That is, when the articles XA1 are stored in the storage means 103, both ends in the transport width direction W are in contact with the guide surfaces 121, and are supported obliquely from below with respect to the bottom surface 103b of the storage means 103. It is tilted and floats. That is, the guide surface 121 serves as a temporary bottom surface. The position where the guide surface 121 is most advanced is called the advanced position.

4E shows a state in which the guide surface 121 is most retracted (closest to the base 123), and at this time the guide surface 121 is retracted to a position that does not exist above the bottom surface 103b of the housing means 103 in the vertical direction. do. That is, when the articles XA1 are stored in the storage means 103, they do not come into contact with the guide surface 121, and the guide surface 121 does not function as a bottom surface. A position where the guide surface 121 is most retracted is called a retracted position.

In this embodiment, the movement of the guide surface 121 guides the storage position (accumulated state) of the articles XA1 in the storage means 103 . The operation of the integrated device 100 will be described below.

<Operation of integrated device>
The operation of the integrated device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a side view showing the main configuration of the integrated device 100 in the receiving area P1. Here, as an example, a case in which five articles XA1 are received in one storage unit 103 and stacked (stacked) in two stages within the storage unit 103 is illustrated. Specifically, the articles XA1 are stacked so that there are three on the first stage and two on the second stage. The numbers in the articles XA1 indicate the order in which the articles are supplied from the first conveying means 101 to the containing means 103. As shown in FIG.

4A shows a state in which the first article XA1 is supplied from the first conveying means 101. FIG. The article XA1 is supplied to an area on the upstream side of the storage means 103 (the same applies hereinafter). At this timing (before or during the supply of the first article XA1), the drive means 122 (not shown in this drawing) of the article guide means 120 moves to the retracted position (indicated by the dashed line) below the accommodation means 103. ) is moved relative to the receiving means 103 . The guide surface 121 moves toward the advanced position (indicated by solid lines). At the advanced position, the highest portion in the conveying height direction H of the guide surface 121 functioning as the bottom surface is located at a height h1 from the bottom surface 103b.

4B shows a state in which the first article XA1 is supported by the inclined guide surface 121 and slides downward (downstream in the conveying direction T) of the inclination. The guide surfaces 121 are in contact with and support both ends of the article XA1 in the width direction W of conveyance.

(C) of the figure shows the timing at which the second article XA1 is supplied. The second conveying means 102 waits in the receiving area P1 until a predetermined number (here, five) of articles XA1 are received. The guide surface 121 continues to stay at the advanced position.

(D) of the figure shows the timing at which the third article XA1 is supplied. The second conveying means 102 waits in the receiving area P1 until a predetermined number (here, five) of articles XA1 are received. The guide surface 121 continues to remain in the extended position and supports the second and third articles XA1.

In this manner, the inclined guide surface 121 enables the three articles XA1 to be aligned and accommodated in the first stage.

(E) of the figure shows the timing at which the fourth article XA1, which is the second stage, is supplied. The article guide means 120 performs a return operation to move the guide surface 121 toward the retracted position at the timing of accommodating the article XA1 on the second stage. In the return operation, the guide surface 121 is positioned at a return position intermediate between the retracted position and the advanced position (see FIG. 1A). At the return position, the highest portion in the conveying height direction H of the guide surface 121 functioning as the bottom surface is located at a height h2 (<h1) from the bottom surface 103b.

However, a portion of the guide surface 121 still exists vertically above the bottom surface 103b of the storage means 103, and the fourth article XA1 is also inclined downward (downstream in the transport direction T) by the guide surface 121. It slides down ((F) in the same figure).

(G) in the figure shows the timing at which the fifth article XA1 is supplied. The fifth article XA1 is also accumulated in the second stage. At this timing, the article guide means 120 moves to the retracted position. As a result, the support of the plurality of (first to fourth) articles XA1 is released, and the four articles XA1 are placed in the storage means 103. FIG. Then, the storage means 103 receives the final (fifth) article XA1 in the receiving area P1. In this way, five articles XA1 are stacked in two stages as shown in FIG. Note that the guide surface 121 does not have to move to the retracted position even when the fifth article XA1 is received. In this case, it may be at the same position as the return position at the time of receiving the fourth article XA1, or it may be retreated therefrom.

In this manner, by moving the guide surface 121, the two articles XA1 can be aligned and accommodated in the second stage. That is, the movement of the guide surface 121 can guide the storage position (accumulated state) of the articles XA1 in the storage means 103 .

The drive means 122 may move the guide surface 121 relative to the storage means 103 when the first article XA1 is supplied. It may be configured to move after the

The guide surface 121 may be configured to stop at the return position ((E) in the same figure), or may be configured to move continuously without stopping (including, for example, a configuration in which the speed is lower than that of the advance operation). may be Even if it is not stopped, the guide surface 121 is located at (passes through) the return position.

Although an example in which five articles XA1 are stored and accumulated is shown here, the number of articles XA1 is not limited to this example. However, it is desirable that the article guide means 120 divides the articles XA1 to be accommodated substantially equally and guides them in a stacked state. Accordingly, the guide surface 121 is appropriately operated according to the size and number of articles XA1 to be accommodated in one accommodation means 103 and the size of the accommodation means 103 (bottom surface 103b). For example, when the articles XA1 are stacked in three or more stages, a plurality of positions (return positions) of the guide surface 121 when returning from the advanced position to the retracted position are provided (multiple stages).

A specific description will be given with reference to FIG. This figure is a side view corresponding to FIG. 3 when, for example, nine articles XA1 are stacked in three stages in the storage means 103. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4A, while the first to third articles XA1 are being supplied, the driving means 122 moves the guide surface 121 to the advanced position (height h1 of the highest part of the guide surface 121). move.

As shown in FIG. 4B, while the fourth to sixth articles XA1 are being supplied, the drive means 122 moves the guide surface 121 to the first return position. At the first return position, the highest portion in the conveying height direction H of the guide surface 121 functioning as the bottom surface is located at a height h2 (<h1) from the bottom surface 103b.

As shown in FIG. 4C, while the seventh and eighth articles XA1 are being supplied, the drive means 122 moves the guide surface 121 to the second return position. At the second return position, the highest portion in the conveying height direction H of the guide surface 121 functioning as the bottom surface is located at a height h3 (<h2) from the bottom surface 103b.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, when supplying the ninth article XA1, the drive means 122 moves the guide surface 121 to the retracted position. In this example as well, the guide surface 121 does not have to move to the retracted position when the ninth article XA1 is received. In this case, it may be at the same position as the second return position, or at a position where the highest portion of the guide surface 121 is lower than the second return position.

Further, the drive means 122 may be configured to move the guide surface 121 relative to the storage means 103 while the article XA1 is being supplied (during supply). In other words, the guide surface 121 may be configured to always move relative to the housing means 103 without stopping (including when the speed is reduced) in any state shown in FIG. In other words, the article XA1 may be received while moving to the advanced position or the retracted position.

For example, the first article XA1 may be received at a position where the height of the highest part of the guide surface 121 is lower than the advanced position, and may be gradually advanced to reach the advanced position when the third article XA1 is received. good.

Alternatively, the height of the highest portion of the guide surface 121 may be arbitrarily changed between the advanced position and the retracted position by detecting the stacking state with, for example, a sensor. The movement of the guide surface 121 guides the storage position (accumulated state) of the articles XA1 in the storage means 103 .

A modification of the article guide means 120 will be described with reference to FIG. All of these figures are side views showing the main configuration of the article guide means 120. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the article guide means 120 may be configured to include a support portion 125 and a guide surface 121 fixed thereto. The support portion 125 extends, for example, in parallel (horizontally) with the bottom surface 103b of the housing means 103 along the transport direction T, and the guide surface 121 and the support portion 125 are supported so as to form an angle α of a predetermined size. It is fixed to the tip of the portion 125 . The driving means 122 moves the supporting portion 125 back and forth in the transport direction T. As shown in FIG. As a result, the guide surface 121 advances and retreats with respect to the storage means 103 along the conveying direction T between the retracted position shown in FIG. 1A and the advanced position shown in FIG. Then, the height of the highest portion of the guide surface 121 varies. The movement of the guide surface 121 guides the storage position (accumulated state) of the articles XA1 in the storage means 103 .

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, the article guide means 120 includes, for example, a rotating shaft 126 extending in the conveying width direction W and a guide surface 121 rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 126. may be provided. The guide surface 121 is supported by a rotating shaft 126 at its downstream end in the transport direction T, for example. A drive means (not shown) is provided below the guide surface 121, for example, and moves the support portion 125 along the transport height direction H. As shown in FIG. The support portion 125 abuts on the upstream side of the guide surface 121 in the transport direction T or the like, and is configured to be able to push out the guide surface 121 . The guide surface 121 is located below the bottom surface 103b of the housing means 103 when it is not pushed out by the driving means. 103b, and a part thereof is higher in the conveying height direction H than the bottom surface 103b. As a result, the guide surface 121 moves relative to the accommodation means 103 between the retracted position shown in FIG. 1C and the advanced position shown in FIG. 1D. Between the retracted position and the advanced position, the angle β formed by the bottom surface 103b and the guide surface 121 varies according to the amount of extrusion by the driving means, and the height of the highest part of the guide surface 121 varies. The movement of the guide surface 121 guides the storage position (accumulated state) of the articles XA1 in the storage means 103 . At the advanced position, the angle (tilt angle) β formed by (the surface parallel to) the bottom surface 103b of the housing means 103 and the guide surface 121 becomes the maximum angle.

It should be noted that the guide surface 121 rotates around the rotation shaft 126 and inclines with respect to the bottom surface 103b of the housing means 103 without using the support portion 125 shown in FIGS. A part thereof may be higher in the transport height direction H than the bottom surface 103b.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the main configuration of the article guide means 120 in which the guide surface 121 is erected vertically. Thus, the guide surface 121 may be a surface substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 103b of the housing means 103. As shown in FIG. In this case, the driving means (not shown) moves the guide surface 121 back and forth in the transport direction T. As shown in FIG. As a result, the guide surface 121 is moved with respect to the housing means 103 between the retracted position on the upstream side of the housing means 103 shown in FIG. Move relatively. An example of the integration operation in this configuration will be described below.

4A shows a state in which the first article XA1 is supplied from the first conveying means 101. FIG. The article XA1 is supplied to an area on the upstream side of the storage means 103 (the same applies hereinafter). At this timing, the drive means (not shown in this figure) moves the guide surface 121 to the retracted position on the upstream side of the accommodation means 103 .

(B) of the figure shows the timing at which the second article XA1 is supplied. The drive means maintains the guide surface 121 at the retracted position until it receives, for example, the second article XA1. The second item XA1 is stacked on top of the first item XA1. Then, when the second article XA1 is received, the guide surface 121 is moved to the advanced position as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4D shows a state in which the guide surface 121 has moved to the advanced position. The guide surface 121 temporarily functions as the side surface on the upstream side, and the two articles XA1 stacked in two stages are moved to the downstream area in the storage means 103 by the movement of the guide surface 121 . After that, the drive means moves the guide surface 121 to the retracted position as shown in FIG.

After that, as shown in FIG. 12(F) to FIG. 11(I), the third to fifth articles XA1 are sequentially accommodated and accumulated in the upstream region of the accommodation means 103. FIG. In this way, the article guide means 120 guides the accommodation position (accumulated state) of the articles XA1 in the accommodation means 103 by moving the guide surface 121 .

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the main configuration of the article guide means 120 in which the guide surface 121 is provided horizontally. As such, the guide surface 121 may be a surface that is substantially parallel (horizontal) to the bottom surface 103b of the housing means 103 . In this case, the driving means (not shown) moves the guide surface 121 up and down in the conveying height direction H. As shown in FIG. As a result, the guide surface 121 moves relative to the housing means 103 between the retracted position below the housing means 103 shown in FIG. to move relative to each other. An example of the integration operation in this configuration will be described below.

4A shows a state in which a predetermined number (for example, 5) of articles XA1 are supplied from the first conveying means 101 with the guide surface 121 at the retracted position. The articles XA1 are supplied to the upstream area of the storage means 103 and accumulated in an irregular and unstable state.

FIG. 4B shows a state in which the driving means has moved the guide surface 121 to the advanced position. The five articles XA1 are supported by the guide surface 121 and floated above the bottom surface 103b of the storage means 103. As shown in FIG. In this state, the driving means slightly moves (vibrates) the guide surface 121 up and down in the conveying height direction H. As shown in FIG. By this vibration, the five articles XA1 are leveled and settled in a substantially constant state.

After that, the drive means moves the guide surface 121 to the retracted position as shown in FIG. As described above, in this example, after a predetermined number of articles XA1 are stored in the storage means 103, the guide surface 121 is advanced and retracted to impart vibration to the plurality of articles XA1 and level them to uniformize the stacking state.

In this embodiment, the article XA1 is long and has a substantially flat shape, but the shape of the article XA1 is not limited to this. It may be in the form of particles or the like.

In addition, the articles XA1 supplied to the stacking device 100 are not limited to being naturally dropped from the upstream first conveying means 101, but may be held by a holding means or the like and supplied from the upper part of the opened storage means 103. may

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist and technical idea of the present invention.

That is, in the above embodiments, the position, size, length, shape, material, direction, etc. of each component can be changed as appropriate.

10 system 20 article to be accommodated 21 mount 22 resin film 100 stacking device (first stacking means)
101 First transport means 102 Second transport means 103 Storage means (bucket)
103b bottom surface 103s side surface 110 belt 111 chain 120 article guide means 121 guide surface 122 drive means 123 base 125 support portion 126 rotating shaft 200 second accumulation means 201 transfer means 202 hand 250 storage means 251 bottom 260 third transport means 261 Bucket 300 Device 500 Storage means 501 Conveying means XA1 Article XA2 Small article group XA3 Large article group

Claims (6)

A stacking device for stacking a plurality of articles,
a storage means arranged at a downstream end of the supply means for the goods and capable of storing a plurality of the goods supplied from the supply means;
a guide surface disposed at an angle with respect to the bottom surface of the storage means and capable of coming into contact with at least a portion of the article supplied to the storage means;
The guide surface is maintained at a predetermined angle with respect to the bottom surface of the containing means so that the receiving height of the goods in the containing means changes while the goods are being supplied to the containing means. and a driving means for relatively moving,
After the article is supported by the guide surface and the bottom surface during movement of the guide surface, the guide surface is retracted from the bottom surface,
An integrated device characterized by: The guide surface is arranged laterally outside the accommodation means,
2. The integrated device according to claim 1, wherein: The housing means is open at a pair of side portions,
the guide surface abuts on a portion of the article exposed from the side portion;
3. The integrated device according to claim 1, wherein: guiding the accommodation position of the article in the accommodation means by movement of the guide surface;
4. The integrated device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: stacking the articles in the storage means by movement of the guide surface;
5. The integrated device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: supplying the article to the storage means by gravity falling from the supply means;
6. The integrated device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that:

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