JPH03232612A - Single line type conveying method and device for article to be handled - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent bottle from being damaged and bottle lines from being disarranged by dividing a single line type conveying device for beer bottles into upper stream side conveyers and down stream side conveyers and constituting the conveying device in such a way that if the bottles on the down stream side conveyers contact with each other. the speed of the upper side conveyers is reduced and if the bottles are separated from each other, the speed is accelerated. CONSTITUTION:A conveying device 4 comprises down stream side conveyers 4a and 4b connected to each other and upper stream side conveyers 4c and 4d connected to each other. The down stream side conveyers 4a and 4b are driven at a fixed and the same speed as the speed of beer bottles 1, and the upper stream side conveyers 4c and 4c are driven at a variable speed. Sensors A to C are provided to the down stream side conveyers 4a and 4b in the conveyer running direction to detect the running state of the bottles 1, and the result from the detection is inputted in a control section 8. If the sensors detect that the bottles 1 stand in a line too near to each other, the control section 8 reduce the speed of the upper side conveyers 4c and 4d, and if the bottles 1 are separated from each other, the control section 8 accelerates the speed of the conveyers 4c and 4d to keep the space between bottles constant. This constitution can prevent bottle damage and bottle line disorder form happening.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention stably transports objects to be processed, such as beer bottles, from a coating device to a labeler, or from an empty bottle inspection device to a filling device in a single line. The present invention relates to a conveying method capable of carrying out this invention and a conveyor device using the method.

[Conventional technology]

In order to operate a processing device such as a filling device at a constant speed, it is necessary to supply the processing device with an amount of material to be processed that is equal to or greater than the processing capacity of the processing device.

For example, when empty bottles are sent in a single line from an inspection device to a filling device, the spacing between the bottles may become irregular due to damaged bottles being removed, etc. The items must be packed to a certain size and sent without any defects.

Conventionally, in order to prevent such a shortage, bottles are supplied by a conveyor in an amount that exceeds the processing capacity of a filling device or the like, and the bottles are accumulated on the conveyor.

In that case, when a predetermined amount of bottles accumulate on the conveyor, it is necessary to slow down the feeding speed. Conventionally, the traveling speed is reduced by detecting the state in which some of the bottles traveling in a single line protrude sideways. It's late.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, according to the conventional traveling speed control, a large pressure is always applied to the bottle, and this pressure causes the bottle to constantly come into contact with the guide of the conveyor. For this reason, the bottle is prone to scratches.

Further, according to the method of detecting the state in which bottles protrude sideways from the row, there is a problem in that the response speed for detecting the state is slow, and the timing for correcting the disturbance in row expansion is delayed accordingly. There is also the problem that the movement of the bottle increases during repair, which causes new disturbances such as the bottle falling over.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first invention divides the conveyor that conveys the workpieces in a single line to the processing apparatus into an upstream side and a downstream side, and the downstream conveyor, 'J' When objects come into contact with each other in the forward and backward directions, the speed of the upstream conveyor is reduced, and when adjacent objects are separated from each other at a predetermined point on the downstream conveyor, the speed of the upstream conveyor is increased. The second invention is a conveyor device that conveys objects to be processed in a single line to a processing device,
A downstream conveyor that is driven at a constant speed that is the same as the traveling speed of the objects to be processed in the processing device, an upstream conveyor that is driven at a variable speed, and at least a row of objects to be processed that is required for the operation of the processing device. a lower sensor for detecting the traveling state of the object to be processed, which is placed at a location that is located a length up the downstream conveyor; and a lower sensor that is located at a location that is located a predetermined distance up the downstream conveyor from the position of the lower sensor. The upper sensor detects the running state of the objects to be processed and the running speed of the upstream conveyor is set to a constant speed higher than that of the downstream conveyor, and both the upper and lower sensors detect the running state of the objects to be processed. When contact is detected, changing the running speed of the upstream conveyor to a speed slower than the running speed of the downstream conveyor,
The apparatus includes at least an upstream conveyor control section that changes the running speed of the upstream conveyor to the constant speed or higher when the lower sensor detects separation between adjacent workpieces.

[Effect]

In the first aspect of the present invention, the objects to be processed are conveyed toward the processing apparatus while alternately repeating an action of coming into contact with each other and moving away from each other in the forward and backward directions of the conveyor on the downstream side. Therefore, the objects to be processed are supplied to the processing apparatus at a speed commensurate with the processing capacity of the processing apparatus, without protruding from the line.

In the second aspect of the invention, the downstream conveyor runs at a constant speed that is the same as the traveling speed of the objects to be processed within the processing apparatus, and the upstream conveyor runs at a variable speed.

The upstream conveyor control section controls the running speed of the upstream conveyor by detecting the running state of the objects on the downstream conveyor using the lower sensor and the upper sensor.

That is, the control unit sets the running speed of the upstream conveyor to a constant speed faster than that of the downstream conveyor,
When both the upper and lower sensors detect contact between adjacent workpieces, the running speed of the upstream conveyor is changed to a speed slower than that of the downstream conveyor, and at least the lower sensor detects the distance between the adjacent workpieces. When this is detected, the running speed of the upstream conveyor is changed to above the constant speed.

As a result, the object to be processed advances toward the processing device in a single file without creating alternately dense and dense states between the upper and lower sensors on the downstream conhair.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a single-row conveyance method for objects to be processed and a conveyor apparatus using the method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The object to be processed is a beer bottle 1 in this case.

As shown in FIG. 1, a coating device 2, which is a first processing device, is installed on the left side, and a labeler 3, which is a second processing device, is installed on the right side. A conveyor device 4 is provided for conveying a large number of heel bottles 1 in a single line from one device 2 to the other device 3.

The coating device 2 is for coating and forming a protective film on the surface of the beer bottles 1 that are traveling, and the labeler 3 is a device that attaches a label to the surface of the beer bottles 1 that are continuously flowing. This is the device. The present invention can also be applied to the case where the beer bottle 1 is moved between an empty bottle inspection machine and a filling machine.

The conveyor device 4 is a downstream conveyor 4 that is driven at a constant speed that is the same as the traveling speed of the beer bottle 1 within the labeler 3.
a, 4b, and upstream conveyors 4c, 4 driven at variable speeds.
d, each of which has two conveyors connected to each other.

Reference numerals 5a and 5b indicate prime movers for driving the downstream conveyors 4a and 4b, respectively, and the prime mover 5a.

5b is controlled by the control section 6 to a constant speed (V). Further, reference numerals 5c and 5d indicate prime movers for driving the upstream conveyors 4c and 4d, respectively, and the prime movers 5c and 5d are driven by a control section 8 at variable speeds as described later.

The conveyor device 4 conveys a large number of beer bottles 1 in a single line from a coating device 2, which is a first processing device, to a labeler 3, which is a second processing device, while the speed is controlled by the control units 6 and 8. I will do it.

Three sensors A, B, and C are arranged along the running direction of the downstream conveyors 4a and 4b.

These sensors A, B, and C are for detecting the running state of the beer bottle 1, and the one indicated by the symbol A is the one that detects the running state of the beer bottle 1.
The upper sensor is located at the upper end of the flow, the lower sensor is located at the lower end of the flow, and the confirmation sensor is located at the lower end of the flow.

The sensor B is connected to the downstream conveyors 4a, 4b by at least the length l of the row of beer bottles 1 required for the operation of the labeler.
It is placed in the place that traced back to the previous year.

In addition, this lower sensor B is a light emitting/receiving device, and as shown in FIG. 2, it is arranged at a height h1 above the downstream conveyor 4b so that the emitted light passes through contact areas of adjacent beer bottles 1. has been done.

The upper sensor A is disposed at a position a predetermined distance back from the position of the lower sensor B on the downstream conveyor 4b. This predetermined distance is, for example, 1 m.

This upper sensor A is also a light emitter/receiver, and is arranged at the same height as the lower sensor B.

The upper sensor A and the lower sensor B generate a signal when a gap e of a predetermined size occurs between the beer bottles 1, 1..., and indicates whether the beer bottles 1, 1... are in a tightly packed state. Or it detects whether it is in a sparse state.

The confirmation sensor C is a light emitting/receiving device for confirming whether or not the beer bottles 1.1... are flowing on the conveyor device 4, and the height h2 above the downstream conveyor 4a as shown in FIG. It is located in

The signal from the confirmation sensor C is combined with the operation signal of the labeler 3, and is used to confirm whether or not the beer bottle 1 is flowing when the labeler 3 and the like are in operation.

The upstream conveyor control section 8 is a computer in this case, and is configured to control the speed of the upstream conveyors 4c, 4d in the procedure shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. That is, the traveling speed of the upstream conveyors 4b and 4c is set to a constant speed α·■ which is faster than the speed ■ of the downstream conveyors 4a and 4b, and the upper and lower sensors A and B or the adjacent beer bottles 1.1 are When contact is detected, the running speed α・■ of the upstream conveyor 4c, 4d is changed to the downstream conveyor 4.
When the running speed of conveyors a and 4b is changed to a speed slower than ■, and at least the lower sensor B detects a separation of 1.1 spaces between adjacent beer bottles, the running speed of upstream conveyors 4c and 4d is changed to the constant speed α·V. The above is set to change.

Next, the operation of the conveyor device 4 will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upstream conhair control section 8
The running speeds of the upstream conveyors 4c and 4d are set to a constant speed α.■ which is faster than the speed ■ of the downstream conveyors 4a and 4b (step 1). α is 1.02 to 1.03.

As a result, the beer bottles 1 continuously flow into the labeler 3 in a single row at a speed commensurate with the processing capacity of the labeler 3. However, if the beer bottles are constantly fed at speeds α and ■, excessive force will be applied to the heel bottle 1, so in order to avoid this, adjacent beer bottles 1, 1... When they come into contact before and after the traveling direction, the traveling speed of the upstream conhairs 4c and 4d is reduced,
When adjacent beer bottles 1.1... are separated from each other at a predetermined location on the downstream conveyors 4a, 4b, the beer bottles 1.1... are moved to a labeler while repeating the operation of increasing the running speed of the upstream conveyors 4c, 4d. 3.

That is, it is detected whether the beer bottles 1, 1, . . . are in contact with each other in the traveling direction on the downstream conveyor 4b sandwiched between sensors A and B (step 2). When both sensors A and B simultaneously detect the contact state, it is assumed that the beer bottles 1, 1, . . . are in a full state, and the first stage of the upstream conveyors 4c, 4d is decelerated (step 3). The resulting upstream conveyor 4c.

The traveling speed of 4d is α·■×0°94.

Beer bottles 1, 1, . . . flowing from upstream conveyors 4c, 4d to downstream conveyors 4a, 4b due to deceleration in the first stage.
decreases, and as a result, a predetermined amount of gap e is created between beer bottles 1,
1, the lower sensor B detects this, and in step 4), the speed of the upstream conveyors 4c and 4d is increased to increase the speed of the upstream conveyors 4c and 4d.

The traveling speed of 4c returns to the original speed α・■ (Step 5)
.

By repeating the steps 1 to 5 above, the row of beer bottles 1 is connected to the sensor A.

The downstream conveyor 4a repeats the spacing between 8 and 8.

It flows into the labeler 3 from 4b.

In step 2, if the beer bottles 1, 1, . . . are not full, an operation to further increase the speed as shown in FIG. 5 is performed. That is, after waiting for 18 hours to pass (step 21), the upstream conveyor 4c is moved.

4d, the speed of the first stage is increased (step 22). The speed at this time is α·VXl,03. Then, after increasing the speed of the first stage T, wait for the waiting time to elapse (step 23), and if the sensors A and B do not detect fullness even after the waiting time has elapsed, further increase the speed of the second stage (step 23). Step 24). The speed at this time is α·v×1.06.

In addition, in step 4, even if the speed is reduced, the beer bottle 1
．． If the gap e does not appear between 1 and 1, the operation for further deceleration as shown in FIG. 6 is performed. That is, wait for T2 time to elapse after the first stage deceleration (step 41). If sensor B still does not detect the gap e, second stage deceleration is performed (step 42). The speed at this time is α・VXo, 90
It is. When it is determined that the sensor B does not detect the gap e even after 13 hours have elapsed after the second stage deceleration (step 43, 44), the third stage deceleration is further performed (step 4).
5). The speed at this time is α·v×0.87.

Note that the number of speed increasing and decelerating stages shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be increased or decreased as necessary.

In this way, the beer bottles 1, 1, . . . are supplied in a single line from the coating device 2, which is the first processing device, to the labeler 3, which is the second processing device, while the traveling speed is appropriately adjusted. becomes.

In addition, when the labeler 3 is operating, the confirmation sensor C detects the beer bottle 1.
．． 1... is not detected, the control section 8 determines that an abnormality has occurred and generates a signal to stop the labeler 3 and the like. In that case, the conveyor device 4 is stopped when the confirmation sensor C detects an abnormality and the sensors A and B detect contact between the beer bottles 1 and 1. As a result, when the labeler 3 etc. restarts, beer bottles 1, 1...
It is possible to secure a pool of water.

Furthermore, although beer bottles were used as objects to be processed in the embodiments, the present invention can also be applied to the transportation of other containers or objects such as fruit.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the first invention divides the conveyor that conveys the objects to be processed in a single line to the processing device into an upstream side and a downstream side, and at a predetermined location of the downstream conveyor, adjacent objects to be processed are separated from each other in the traveling direction. When contact occurs before or after the conveyor, the running speed of the upstream conveyor is reduced, and when adjacent workpieces separate at a predetermined location on the downstream conveyor, the running speed of the upstream side is increased while repeating the operation to convey the workpiece to the processing device. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the objects to be processed from protruding from the rows and to transport the objects to be processed without disrupting the rows. Therefore, it is possible to avoid constantly applying a large pressure to the object to be processed, thereby preventing damage to the object to be processed. In addition, since the conveyor speed is reduced at the time when the objects to be processed come into contact with each other in the forward and backward directions, the response becomes faster and proper conveyance can be performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the objects to be processed are queued to the processing device at a speed commensurate with the processing capacity of the processing device while creating a non-condensed state in the flow of the objects to be processed in the conveyor portion between the two sensors. It can be supplied without breaking down. Therefore, it prevents large pressure from always being applied to the objects to be processed, reduces the contact pressure between the objects to be processed and the contact pressure between the objects to be processed and the guide of the conveyor, and prevents scratches etc. from occurring on the objects to be processed. It can be prevented. It is also possible to reduce impact noise.

In addition, instead of using the conventional method of detecting the state in which objects to be processed protrude sideways from the row and reducing the conveyor speed, the method detects the state in which objects to be processed are in contact with each other in the running direction and reduces the conveyor speed. Since this method uses a method of lowering the number of objects, the response speed of condition detection is fast, and the timing for repairing line disturbances can be accelerated accordingly.In addition, the movement of the object to be processed for repair can be reduced to prevent objects from falling over, etc. This has the effect of preventing new disturbances from occurring.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the conveyor device, and FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining the arrangement of the upper sensor and the lower sensor. A) is a side view shown together with the beer bottle, FIG. 3B is a plan view, and FIG.
) is a side view shown with the beer bottle, the same figure (B) is a plan view,
Figures 4 to 6 are flowcharts showing the operating procedure of the upstream conveyor control section, Figure 4 is a flowchart of the basic procedure, Figure 5 is a flowchart for multistage speed increase, and Figure 6 is a flowchart for multistage speed increase. It is a flowchart when decelerating. 1... Beer bottle, 2... Coating device, 3...
・Labeler 4... Conveyor device, 4a, 4b...
Downstream conveyor, 4c, 4d... Upstream conveyor, 5
a. 5b, 5c, 5d... Prime mover, 8... Upstream conveyor control section, A... Upper sensor, B... Lower sensor, C...
・Confirmation sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A conveyor that conveys objects to be processed in a single line to a processing device is divided into an upstream side and a downstream side, and adjacent objects to be processed come into contact with each other at a predetermined point in the direction of movement of the downstream conveyor. Then, the running speed of the upstream conveyor is reduced, and when adjacent processed objects are separated from each other at a predetermined location of the downstream conveyor, the processing objects are conveyed to the processing device while repeating the operation of increasing the running speed of the upstream side. A single-row transport method for objects to be processed. 2. In a conveyor device that conveys objects to be processed in a single line to a processing device, a downstream conveyor is driven at a constant speed at the same speed as the traveling speed of objects to be processed in the processing device, and an upstream conveyor is driven at a variable speed. a side conveyor, a lower sensor for detecting the traveling state of the object to be processed, which is disposed at a position extending back the downstream conveyor by at least the length of the row of objects to be processed required for operation of the processing apparatus; and the lower sensor. an upper sensor for detecting the running state of the object to be processed, which is disposed at a location a predetermined distance back up the downstream conveyor from the position; and an upper sensor configured to set the running speed of the upstream conveyor at a constant speed faster than that of the downstream conveyor When the upper and lower sensors detect contact between adjacent workpieces, the running speed of the upstream conveyor is changed to a speed slower than that of the downstream conveyor, and at least the lower sensor A conveyor apparatus comprising: an upstream conveyor control section that changes the running speed of the upstream conveyor to the constant speed or more when detecting separation between adjacent objects to be processed.