JP7403283B2 - Product feeding device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a product supply device, and in particular, it forms a product row by stopping a plurality of products transported on a transport line, and during this stopping, the product row is separated from the transport line by a separate product located above the transport line. This invention relates to a product supply device that supplies products to a conveyor line.

Patent Document 1 discloses that a plurality of products transported on a transport line are stopped to form a product row, and during this stopping, the product row is supplied from the transport line to a packaging line located above the transport line. , has disclosed a product feeding device for an integrated packaging machine that wraps a product line with a packaging material during the process of supplying the product line. This product supply device is equipped with a lifting platform that can be raised and lowered between a lower level position and an upper level position, and after receiving a row of products from a conveyance line at the lower level position, rises to.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-236434

In the above-mentioned product supply device, a plurality of products are stopped on the conveyance line to form a product line during the raising and lowering process of the lifting platform, so that a waiting time for conveyance of the product line occurs on the conveyance line. In order to further increase the transport speed of products in the product supply device, it is required to shorten such transport waiting time as much as possible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a product supply device that can shorten the waiting time for product transportation and increase the product transportation speed.

In order to achieve the above object, the product supply device of the present invention forms a product row by stopping a plurality of products transported in the transport direction on a first transport line, and during this stopping, the product row is A product supply device that supplies a product from a first conveyance line to a second conveyance line located above the first conveyance line, and is movable up and down between a lower level position and an upper level position, and is capable of moving up and down between a lower level position and an upper level position, an elevating platform that ascends to an upper level position after receiving a row of products from a first conveyance line at a standby position in the direction; an elevating unit that raises and lowers the elevating platform between a lower level position and an upper level position; An advance/retreat unit moves the platform forward or backward between a standby position and a forward position in the conveyance direction, and an advance/retreat unit moves the platform to the forward position in the process of lowering the platform from an upper level position to a lower level position. The lifting platform extends toward the first conveyance line and has a stopper that stops a plurality of products conveyed in the conveyance direction on the first conveyance line to form a product row. .

According to the product supply device of the present invention, it is possible to shorten the waiting time for transporting the product and increase the transport speed of the product.

1 is a schematic diagram of an integrated packaging machine incorporating a product supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the product supply device viewed from the side of the conveyance line and the packaging line. It is a perspective view showing the drive unit of the elevating table. It is a control system block diagram of a product supply apparatus. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the lifting platform at the lower level position receives a product row from the conveyance line. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the lifting platform rises to the upper level position from the state of FIG. 5 and the movable holder at the relay level position receives a product row from the lifting platform. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the elevator platform has lowered obliquely forward from the state shown in FIG. 6 and the movable holder has risen and reached the supply level position. From the state shown in Fig. 7, the pusher moves from the standby position to the extrusion position, thereby pushing out the product row of the movable holder onto the packaging line, and at the same time, the movable holder returns to the relay level position, and the lifting platform is positioned at the lower level position and the forward position. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the pusher returns to the standby position and the elevator platform returns to the standby position from the state shown in FIG. 8. FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A product supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an integrated packaging machine 1 incorporating a product supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The stacking and packaging machine 1 includes a transport line (first transport line) 2 for products A, and a packaging line (second transport line) 4 for product rows B located above the transport line 2. The conveyance line 2 and the packaging line 4 extend in the same conveyance direction, and conveyance therein is performed by a conveyor or the like.

A supply line 6 for packaging film F is arranged above the packaging line 4. The supply line 6 includes a pair of film rolls 8 and 10, and a synthetic resin packaging film F as a packaging material is pulled out from one of the film rolls 8. In this case, the other film roll 10 becomes a standby roll. The packaging film F pulled out from the film roll 8 is guided between a feed roller 12 and a pinch roller 14 via a large number of guide rollers, and is fed out downward by the rotation of the feed roller 12, intersecting the conveying direction. The feeding surface of the packaging film F is formed. Note that the feed roller 12 is rotated in the feeding direction by, for example, a servo motor (not shown).

A cutter unit 16 is arranged downstream of the feed roller 12. This cutter unit 16 cuts the leading end portion of the packaging film F into packaging film sheets S of each predetermined length. Thereafter, the packaging film sheet S is moved to a predetermined position while being attracted to a suction belt (not shown) or the like.

The product supply device of this embodiment is arranged between the terminal end of the conveyance line 2 and the starting end of the packaging line 4. The product supply device stops a plurality of products A conveyed in the conveyance direction It is raised to a later-described supply level position P4, which is substantially the same level as the conveying surface, and is supplied to the packaging line 4. The stacking and packaging machine 1 wraps the product rows with packaging materials during the process of supplying the product rows.

Hereinafter, the direction (for example, horizontal direction) along the transport direction of the product A on the transport line 2 and the packaging line 4 will be referred to as the transport direction ). In addition, a direction (for example, a vertical direction) along the feeding surface of the packaging film F that intersects with the transport direction X will be described as a lifting direction Y.

At the supply level position P4, the product row B is pushed toward the packaging line 4 by a pusher 22, which will be described later. The product row B is supplied onto the packaging line 4 with the packaging film sheet S folded at a certain interval, and a cylinder seal is performed to connect both ends of the packaging film sheet S at the body folding position. . Thereafter, in the process of conveying the product row B on the packaging line 4, the side folding, upper flap folding, lower flap folding, and side sealing of the packaging film sheet S are performed in sequence, thereby forming the integrated packaged products C. can get. The obtained accumulated packaged products C are discharged from the packaging line 4 through a discharge chute (not shown).

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the product supply device viewed from the side of the conveyance line 2 and packaging line 4. The product supply device includes a lifting table 18, a movable holder 20, a pusher 22, and the like. The elevating table 18 can be moved up and down along the elevating direction Y between the lower level position P1 and the upper level position P2, as shown by the solid line arrow, by the operation of the elevating unit 28, which will be described later. After receiving the product line B conveyed on the conveyance line 2 at a standby position P5 in the conveyance direction X at the lower level position P1, the lifting table 18 ascends to the upper level position P2. In addition, the movement of the elevating platform 18 in conjunction with the operation of the advancing/retracting unit 30 described later will be described in detail later.

The lifting platform 18 is located between the end of the conveyance line 2 and the beginning of the packaging line 4, and the lower level position P1 is positioned at substantially the same level as the conveyance surface of the conveyance line 2. The upper level position P2 is located below the packaging line 4 and above the lower level position P1. A stopper 18a extends from the lifting platform 18 toward the conveyance line 2.

The stopper 18a is, for example, in the shape of a plate extending in the lifting direction Y, and in the process of lifting the lifting platform 18 from the lower level position P1 to the upper level position P2, the stopper 18a dams up the flow of the product A conveyed on the conveying line 2 and stops the conveyance. A stagnant state of product row B is formed on line 2. This prevents the product row B from falling from the end of the conveyance line 2 even if the conveyance line 2 remains in operation while the lifting table 18 is ascending and descending.

The movable holder 20 can be moved up and down between the relay level position P3 and the supply level position P4, as shown by the dashed-dotted line arrow, by operating an unillustrated lifting unit. Then, the movable holder 20 receives and holds the product row B on the lifting platform 18 that has risen to the upper level position P2 at the relay level position P3, and then moves up to the supply level position P4 to deliver the product row B to the packaging line 4. Hand over. The relay level position P3 is located at substantially the same level as the upper level position P2, and the supply level position P4 is located at substantially the same level as the conveying surface of the packaging line 4.

In addition, the movable holder 20 is comprised from a pair of rail member installed along the conveyance line 2 and the packaging line 4. Although not shown, the rail member has a holding latch structure that can accept and temporarily hold the product row B only from below, and by receiving the product row B twice from the lifting platform 18, the product row B can be stacked in two stages. and then rises.

On the other hand, the pusher 22 moves forward from the supply level position P4 and the standby position P7 in the transport direction Product row B is pushed out and transferred to packaging line 4.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the drive unit 24 that drives the elevator platform 18. The drive unit 24 is fixed to the stacking packaging machine 1 at a support plate 26 . Although FIG. 3 omits illustration of parts other than essential parts from the viewpoint of explanation, each of the components of the drive unit 24, which will be described later, is supported by the support plate 26 so as to be able to operate independently.

The drive unit 24 constitutes a part of the product supply device, and includes an elevating unit 28 and an advancing/retracting unit 30. The elevating unit 28 includes an elevating motor 32 that is a servo motor, a drive belt 34 that is stretched across the elevating direction Y between one pulley 33a and the other pulley 33b connected to the drive shaft of the elevating motor 32, It is composed of an elevating slider 36 extending in the transport direction X, an elevating rail 38 extending in the elevating direction Y, and the like.

The elevating slider 36 has a drive connecting portion 40 and an elevating guide portion 42, and the drive connecting portion 40 holds a portion of the drive belt 34. The elevating guide section 42 is attached to the elevating rail 38 so as to be movable up and down. When the driving force of the lift motor 32 is transmitted to the drive belt 34 via its drive shaft and pulley 33a in order, the movement of the drive belt 34 is transmitted to the lift slider 36 via the drive connection part 40, and the lift slider 36 is It is raised and lowered along the raising and lowering rail 38 in the raising and lowering guide part 42.

A platform support portion 18b extends downward in the lifting direction Y from the lifting table 18. A support rail section 44 is provided along the vertical direction Y of the platform support section 18b, and an elevator section 44 is provided at the lower end of the platform support section 18b to connect the platform support section 18b and the elevation slider 36 so as to be movable in the transport direction X. A forward/backward connecting portion 46 is provided.

The elevating/retreating connecting portion 46 includes a guide portion 46a having a U-shaped cross section provided on the elevating slider 36, a holder 46b connected to the platform support portion 18b, and a U-shaped portion of the guide portion 46a provided on the holder 46b. It is provided with a roller 46c that can move forward and backward along the conveying direction X while being guided by the roller 46c, and transmits the vertical movement of the vertical slider 36 to the platform support section 18b. As the elevating slider 36 moves up and down along the elevating rail 38, the elevating platform 18 moves between the lower level position P1 and the upper level position P2 shown in FIG. It is lifted and lowered along the lifting direction Y.

The forward/backward unit 30 includes a forward/backward motor 48 which is a servo motor, and a drive belt 50 which is extended in the transport direction X between one pulley 49a and the other pulley 49b connected to the drive shaft of the forward/backward motor 48. , a reciprocating slider 52 extending in the conveying direction X, a reciprocating rail 54 extending in the conveying direction X, and the like.

The advancing/retracting slider 52 has a drive connecting portion 56 at one end and an elevation guide portion 58 at the other end. The elevating guide portion 58 supports the support rail 44 in a vertically movable manner while transmitting the movement of the advance/retreat slider 52 to the support rail 44 . Further, the forward/backward slider 52 is supported by the support plate 26 via a connecting portion 60, a forward/backward guide portion 62, and a forward/backward rail 54 so as to be freely forward or backward.

The drive connection portion 56 holds a portion of the drive belt 50. When the driving force of the forward/backward motor 48 is transmitted to the drive belt 50 via its drive shaft and pulley 49a in this order, the movement of the drive belt 50 is transmitted to the forward/backward slider 52 via the drive connection part 56, and the forward/backward slider 52 is It advances and retreats along the advance and retreat rails 54 in the advance and retreat guide portion 62. As a result, the elevating table 18 is moved forward or backward along the conveyance direction X between the standby position P5 and the forward position P6 via the elevating guide section 58 and, in turn, the support rail section 44.

That is, the elevating table 18 is connected to the elevating slider 36 via the elevating/retracting connection part 46, and is supported by the elevating/retracting slider 52 via the elevating guide part 58 so as to be freely movable up and down. Thereby, the elevating table 18 can be moved up and down while being advanced and retreated as the advance/retreat slider 52 and the elevating slider 36 move, and the elevating table 18 can be moved diagonally downward or diagonally upward with respect to the elevating direction Y.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the control system of the product supply device. The product supply device includes a control unit 64 that controls the entire device. are electrically connected.

Further, the control unit 64 includes a setting input unit 66 for inputting various setting values of the product supply device and the integrated packaging machine 1, and a line unit 68 for controlling the conveyance line 2 and the packaging line 4. It is connected. The control unit 64 controls each of the above-mentioned units based on various setting values inputted in the setting input unit 66, and also reflects the output values of sensors, etc. appropriately provided in each of the above-mentioned units in the control. , performs overall optimal control of the product supply equipment.

The product supply control of this embodiment performed by the control unit 64 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the lifting platform 18 is positioned at a lower level position P1 in the lifting direction Y and at a standby position P5 in the conveying direction X. A product row B consisting of products A is received. The movable holder 20 has already received and held the product row B in the previous stage and is waiting at the relay level position P3. Further, the pusher 22 is on standby at a standby position P7.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the elevating table 18 is raised from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the upper level position P2 in the direction shown by the solid line arrow by operating the elevating unit 28. Then, the movable holder 20 at the relay level position P3 receives the product row B from the lifting platform 18. Thereby, the movable holder 20 holds the two-tiered product row B. The stopper 18a of the lifting table 18 is brought into contact with the front end of the product row B conveyed by the conveyance line 2 while the lift table 18 is raised from the lower level position P1 until it is positioned at the upper level position P2. As a result, the product A is stopped and waited at the stop position P9 of the conveyance line 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the lifting platform 18 that has delivered the product row B to the movable holder 20 is moved from the state shown in FIG. begins to descend. As the lifting table 18 descends diagonally downward and forward, the stopper 18a is separated from the front end of the product row B in the transport direction X, and a separation distance L1 is formed between the front end of the product row B and the stopper 18a.

By adjusting the conveyance speed of the conveyance line 2 and the descending speed of the lifting table 18 in advance in the control unit 64, the separation distance L1 is set smaller than the height H of the product A conveyed on the conveyance line 2. There is. As a result, even if the product A at the front end of the product row B being transported on the transport line 2 is pushed out and tilted, the stopper 18a always prevents the product A from falling. At the same time, by continuing to operate the transport line 2, the product row B is further advanced in the transport direction X from the stop position P9. On the other hand, the movable holder 20 rises from the relay level position P3 in the direction indicated by the broken line arrow and reaches the supply level position P4 by operating its elevating unit.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the pusher 22 moves forward in the direction indicated by the dashed-dotted line arrow by operating its advancing/retracting unit and is positioned at the extrusion position P8. Push it out onto the conveying surface of step 4. The movable holder 20, which has delivered the product row B to the packaging line 4, is lowered in the direction indicated by the broken line arrow and returned to the relay level position P3 by operating its elevating unit.

On the other hand, the lifting platform 18 continues to descend diagonally downward and forward as shown by the solid line arrow by operating the lifting unit 28 and the advance/retreat unit 30, and reaches the lower level position P1 and the standby position in the transport direction X. It is positioned at forward position P6, which is further advanced than P5. As the lifting table 18 further descends diagonally downward and forward, the stopper 18a is further separated from the front end of the product row B in the transport direction X, and a separation distance L2 is formed between the front end of the product row B and the stopper 18a. Ru.

However, since the separation distance L2 is still smaller than the height H of the product A conveyed on the conveyance line 2, the product A is prevented from falling over by the stopper 18a. At the same time, by continuing to operate the conveyance line 2, the product row B is positioned further forward on the conveyance line 2 than in the state shown in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the elevating table 18 is moved backward in the conveyance direction X as shown by the solid line arrow by operating the advance/retreat unit 30, and is positioned from the forward position P6 to the standby position P5. During this time, the transport line 2 continues to be operated, so that the product row B is further advanced in the transport direction X from the state shown in FIG.

At this time, the front end of the product row B is positioned at the forward position P10, and is positioned forward by a forward distance L3 from the stop position P9 when the product row B is waiting at the stopper 18a (the state shown in FIG. 6). It will be done. On the other hand, the pusher 22 returns from the push-out position P8 to the standby position P7 due to the operation of its advance/retreat unit.

As described above, in the product supply device of this embodiment, in the process of lowering the lifting table 18 from the upper level position P2 to the lower level position P1 by the lifting unit 28, the lifting table 18 is moved to the forward position P6 by the advance/retreat unit 30. The control unit 64 executes the control to As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, when the lifting platform 18 receives the product row B on the conveyance line 2 at the next timing, the front end of the product row B is moved forward by a distance L3 from the stop position P9 shown in FIG. You can move forward and position yourself.

Therefore, the time it takes for the product row B to be completely placed on the lifting platform 18 from the transport line 2 can be shortened by the time equivalent to the forward distance L3, and as a result, the waiting time for transporting the product row B on the transport line 2 can be reduced. The overall length can be shortened, and the transport speed of the product A in the product supply device can be relatively increased.

Further, the control unit 64 lowers the lifting platform 18 diagonally forward and downward from the upper level position P2 to the forward position P6 of the lower level position P1 using the lifting unit 28 and the advancing/retracting unit 30, and then moves it to the standby position P5 using the advancing/retracting unit 30. move it. This shortens the waiting time until the product row B is completely moved to the lifting table 18 and can be lifted, compared to waiting until the product row B is fully placed on the lifting table 18 at the forward position P6. can do. Therefore, the waiting time for transporting the product row B in the transport line 2 can be further shortened as a whole, and the transport speed of the product A in the product supply device can be further increased.

Further, the standby position P5 is located directly below the upper level position P2 in the lifting direction Y of the lifting platform 18. Thereby, the distance to the upper level position P2 reached by the lifting table 18 can be minimized compared to the case where the lifting table 18 waits at the forward position P6 until the lifting table 18 next starts rising. Therefore, the waiting time for transporting the product row B in the transport line 2 can be further shortened as a whole, and the transport speed of the product A in the product supply device can be further increased.

Further, in the process of the lifting table 18 rising from the lower level position P1 to the upper level position P2, the stopper 18a comes into contact with the front end of the product row B in the conveying direction X on the conveying line 2. On the other hand, in the process of the elevator platform 18 descending from the upper level position P2 to the lower level position P1, the stopper 18a is separated from the front end in the conveying direction X of the product row B on the conveying line 2 by a distance L (for example, L1 in FIG. 8 L2).

By ensuring the separation distance L, the stopper 18a does not prevent the conveyance of the products A and, in turn, the product rows B in the conveyance line 2 during the process of the elevator platform 18 descending from the upper level position P2 to the lower level position P1. Thereby, in the conveyance line 2, the product row B can be advanced as much as possible, and conveyance can be performed as fast as possible. Therefore, the waiting time for transporting the product row B in the transport line 2 can be further shortened as a whole, and the transport speed of the product A in the product supply device can be further increased.

Further, since the separation distance L is smaller than the height H of the product A, even if the product A is pushed out and tilted during transportation, the stopper 18a can prevent the product A from falling over. . Thereby, it is possible to further increase the transport speed of the product A in the product supply device while ensuring the reliability of the product supply device.

Further, the forward/backward movement unit 30 is provided with a drive belt 50, a forward/backward slider 52, a forward/backward rail 54, etc. as an adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the separation distance L, and such adjustment mechanism is controlled by the movement motor 48 based on a command from the control unit 64. Controlled by More specifically, since the forward/backward motor 48 is a servo motor, the separation distance L can be changed as appropriate by setting the motor rotation speed at which the forward/backward unit 30 operates in the setting input unit 66.

Therefore, by adjusting the separation distance L according to the size, shape, etc. of products A and product row B to be transported by the product supply device, and the transport speed required for product row B, it is possible to supply various products A. It is possible to achieve a highly versatile product feeding device while further increasing the transport speed of the product A in the device.

This concludes the description of one embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, although different from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, both a process in which the platform 18 ascends from the lower level position P1 to the upper level position P2 and a process in which the platform 18 descends from the upper level position P2 to the lower level position P1. In this case, the stopper 18a may be brought into contact with the front end of the product row B in the conveyance line 2.

Such adjustment is possible by adjusting the transport speed of the transport line 2 by the line unit 68 and the moving speed of the lifting platform 18 by the drive unit 24. As a result, even when the lifting platform 18 descends from the upper level position P2 to the forward position P6 of the lower level position P1, the stopper 18a comes into contact with the front end of the product row B in the conveyance line 2, so the stopper It is possible to more reliably prevent the product A transported on the transport line 2 by 18a from falling over. Therefore, it is possible to further increase the transport speed of the product A in the product supply device while further ensuring the reliability of the product supply device.

Further, the product supply device of the present embodiment stacks the product rows B in two stages, holds them with the movable holder 20, and supplies them to the packaging line 4; however, the present invention is not limited to this. B may be stacked in one level or in multiple levels in the previous process, and the supply level position P4 may be set as the upper level position P1, and the lifting table 18 may directly rise to the supply level position P4 to supply the product row B.

Furthermore, a front end stopper (not shown) may be provided at the front end of the product row B of the transport line 2 at the standby position P5 in the transport direction X. In this case, the front end stopper and the lifting platform 18 need to be shaped so that they do not interfere with each other on the same horizontal plane.
Further, the product supply device of this embodiment is not limited to the stacking packaging machine 1, but can also be used for various product supply applications.

2 Transport line (first transport line)
4 Packaging line (second transport line)
18 Elevating platform 18a Stopper 28 Elevating unit 30 Advance/retract unit 48 Advance/retract motor (motor)
50 Drive belt (adjustment mechanism)
52 Advance/retreat slider (adjustment mechanism)
54 Advance/retreat rail (adjustment mechanism)
64 Control unit P1 Lower level position P2 Upper level position P5 Standby position P6 Forward position
A product
B Product row
H Product height
L Separation distance
X Conveying direction
Y Lifting direction

Claims (3)

A plurality of products transported in the transport direction are stopped on a first transport line to form a product row, and during this stopping, the product row is positioned above the first transport line from the first transport line. A product supply device that supplies a second conveyance line,
The device is capable of moving up and down between a lower level position and an upper level position, and after receiving the product row from the first conveyance line at a standby position in the conveyance direction at the lower level position, rises to the upper level position. A lifting platform that
a lifting unit that raises and lowers the lifting platform between the lower level position and the upper level position;
an advancing/retracting unit that advances or retreats the elevating platform between the standby position and the forward position in the transport direction;
In the process of lowering the elevating table from the upper level position to the lower level position by the elevating unit, a control unit that moves the elevating table to the forward position by the advance/retreat unit ,
The elevating table extends toward the first conveyance line, and has a stopper that stops the plurality of products conveyed in the conveyance direction on the first conveyance line to form the product row. Device. The stopper contacts the front end of the product row in the transport direction in the first transport line in the process of raising the lifting platform from the lower level position to the upper level position, and the stopper The product according to claim 1, wherein in the process of descending to a lower level position, the product is separated from the front end in the transport direction of the product row on the first transport line by a distance smaller than the height of the product. Feeding device. The advance/retreat unit is
an adjustment mechanism that can adjust the separation distance;
The product supply device according to claim 2, further comprising a motor that controls the adjustment mechanism based on a command from the control unit.

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