JPH05319565A - Grouping device of articles - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To insert a finger between products in an assured manner, and promptly cope with change in the number of grouping of the products or in the length of a products line. CONSTITUTION:A finger is supported so that it can be rotated and moved by a rotational mechanism at a predetermined angle, and the finger can be inserted vertically into a gap between articles (a) at the time of grouping. The finger can be inserted between the articles (a) in an assured manner even when the gap between the articles (a) is narrow or even when the timing of inserting into the articles is somewhat deviated. The articles (a) thus grouped are fed fast by a flight bar 6, and are carried out. The driving system of a chain 3A for circulating and moving the finger comprises two individual chain driving systems 2A and 2B that are changeable in speed, and when the number of grouping of the articles (a) or the length of an articles line is changed, the interval of the fingers is changed by driving the chain driving system appropriately at a higher speed or lower speed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article grouping apparatus for feeding articles (for example, products) continuously fed on a conveyor by grouping a predetermined number of articles by a plurality of fingers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 shows a conventional article grouping device.
13 to FIG. 13, the grouping device is
As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the sprockets 2 ', 2'
And a chain drive system consisting of an endless chain 3'suspended between the sprockets 2 ', a plurality of fingers 4'fixed to the chain 3'in an upright state, and an endless track 5'.
It is composed of a plurality of flight bars 6'which circulate and move above.

When cylindrical articles a ', such as cans and bottles, are continuously sent in a predetermined number of rows on the conveyer 1', the fingers 4'are inserted from below into the articles a'and a '. Then, the articles a ′ are grouped into a predetermined number between the fingers 4 ′ and 4 ′. In this case, since the moving speed of the fingers 4'is slower than the moving speed of the conveyor 1 ', the article a'progresses in a braked state by the fingers 4', and the fingers 4'become the chain 3 '. '
When it reaches the downstream side end portion in the conveyance direction, it rotates downward and the article a ′ is released from the fingers 4 ′.

In this state, the article a'is fast-forwarded by the flight bar 6 ', sent to the filling conveyor 7', and then carried out to the next step by the filling conveyor 7 '. .. Note that 25 'in FIG. 9 is an article guide that divides the article a'on the transport conveyor 1'into X rows (three rows in the figure), and FIG. 9 shows the article a by the article guide 25' and the fingers 4 '. 'Is grouped into 3 columns × 3 rows. Further, 8'in FIG. 10 is a bar for supporting the article a'on the filling conveyor 7'from the front and rear.

In FIGS. 13A to 13D, an article a'is shown by three pairs of fingers 4'a, 4'b and 4'c (X row × 3).
It is an explanatory view of the operation in the case of grouping into (row). Figure 1
3 (a) shows that the finger 4'b is about to be inserted between the article a'and the article a'from below, and FIG. 13 (b) shows the fingers 4'a and 4'b. FIG. 13 shows that grouping of a'is completed.
FIG. 13C shows that the leading finger 4′a has started to rotate downward at the downstream end of the chain 3 ′ in the transport direction to release the article a ′, and FIG. (3 lines)
The row of the articles a ′ grouped in FIG. 8 is shown when the fast-forwarding is started by the flight bar 6 ′.

After that, the finger 4'c is inserted from below between the succeeding article a'and the article a ', and these articles a'are grouped by the fingers 4'b and 4'c. .. Then, in the same manner, the subsequent articles a ′ are grouped one after another.

[0007]

10 to 13 described above.
The conventional article grouping device shown in (1) has the following problems. That is, FIG. 11 shows that the fingers 4'fixed to the chain 3'in an upright state are fed at a predetermined speed while rotating from below to above the upstream end of the chain 3'in the transport direction. It is shown that it is inserted between the articles a. Further, FIG. 12 shows insertion tamming at that time.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the finger 4'begins to be inserted between the preceding article a (see the solid line) and the following article a (see the broken line) (see the broken line). Then, while the preceding article a moves from the solid line position to the chain double-dashed line position and the trailing article a moves from the broken line position to the solid line position, the insertion of the finger 4 ′ (see the broken line) between the article a is completed. Therefore (see the solid line) Therefore, when the diameter of the article a is small and the gap between the articles a is narrow, the finger 4 ′ collides with the article a ′ if the insertion timing of the fingers 4 ′ between the articles a is slightly shifted. As a result, the grouping will not be performed smoothly. Further, since the fingers 4'are fixed to the chain 3 ', the size of the article a', that is, the length L of the article row shown in FIG. 9 is changed from, for example, 3 columns × 3 rows to 3 columns × 4 rows. In this case, there is a problem that size change corresponding to this cannot be performed.

The present invention is proposed in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a finger even if the gap between the articles is narrow or the timing of inserting the fingers between the articles is slightly different. Can be reliably inserted between articles. Another object of the present invention is to provide an article grouping device that can immediately respond to changes in the number of grouped articles or the length of article rows.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of fingers and a flight bar for grouping articles which are continuously fed on a conveyor and feeding the articles. In a grouping device for articles to be sent, each of the fingers is rotatably supported at a predetermined angular position by an overturning mechanism, and the chain drive system for circulatingly moving the fingers is provided as two independent chain drive systems capable of shifting. ing.

[0011]

As described above, the article grouping device of the present invention rotatably supports each finger by the overturning mechanism to the predetermined angular position, and at the time of grouping, the fingers can be inserted vertically into the gap between the articles, Even if the gap between the articles is narrow or the timing of inserting the fingers between the articles is slightly shifted, the fingers are reliably inserted between the articles.
The grouped articles are fast-forwarded by the flight bar and carried out. In addition, the chain drive system that circulates each finger is made into two independent chain drive systems that can change the speed. When the number of grouped articles or the length of the article row changes, each chain drive system can be operated at high speed or low speed as appropriate. By driving, the finger spacing is changed to immediately respond to changes in the number of groupings of articles or the length of article rows.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the article grouping device of the present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in FIGS. Figure 1
1 is a conveyor, 2A and 2B are a plurality of sprockets, 3A and 3B are a plurality of chains suspended between these sprockets 2A and 2B, 4A ₁ , 4A ₂ , 4A ₃ , 4
A _4, and _{4B 1, 4B 2, 4B 3} , 4B 4 a plurality of fingers devices installed on the chain 3A, 3B, 5
Is an endless track, 6 is a plurality of flight bars circulatingly moving on the same endless track 5, 7 is a filling bucket conveyor, and 8 is a plurality of bars attached to the same filling bucket conveyor 7.

[0013] The chain 3A, 3B of the drive system and the finger device 4A ₁ to 4A ₄ and 4B ₁ ~4B ₄ are each independently two series, i.e., divided into A groups and B groups. The group A includes a variable speed motor (for example, AC servo motor) 9A, a drive shaft 13A, and a pair of drive sprockets 2 driven by the drive shaft 13A.
A, 2A and 2A ', 2A' and a pair of chains 3A, 3A suspended between the drive sprockets 2A, 2A
And a finger device installation connecting plate 11A that is installed between the chains 3A and 3A.

The same applies to the B group, which includes a variable speed motor (for example, AC servo motor) 9B and a drive shaft 13B.
Each pair of drive sprockets 2B, 2B and 2B ', 2B' driven by the same drive shaft 13B, and a pair of chains 3 suspended between the drive sprockets 2B, 2B.
B and 3B, and a finger device installation connecting plate 11B that is installed between the chains 3B and 3B.

Starting the variable speed motors 9A and 9B,
Drives the chains 3A, 3A and 3B, 3B, and the connecting plate 1
Finger devices 4A _{1 to} 4A ₄ and 4 on 1A and 11B
The B ₁ ~4B ₄ moving at any speed. 10 and 1
Reference numeral 0'denotes a bearing that rotatably supports the drive shafts 13A and 13B. 3 to 5 show finger devices 4A _{1 to} 4A ₄
And 4B _{1 to} 4B ₄ are shown. These fingers apparatus 4A ₁ to 4A ₄ and 4B ₁ ~4B _4, the connecting plate 11A, are placed on a 11B.

The finger devices 4A _{1 to} 4A ₄ and 4B _{1 to} 4B ₄ are connected to the rotary table 17, the shafts 15 provided at both ends of the rotary table 17, and the rotary table 17 via the coaxial shaft 15. A bearing 14 that rotatably supports the upper part, and a turntable 1
7, an operation bar 16 projecting parallel to the shaft 15, a cam follower 16a attached to the tip of the operation bar 16, an operation bar 18 rotatably attached to the connecting plate 11 via a pin 19, and the same operation. A cam follower 18a attached to the tip of the bar 18 and one end of which is wound around a shaft 15 and the other end of which is fixed to the connecting plate 11 so that the rotary table 17 is always moved in a predetermined direction via the coaxial shaft 15. 5, a spring 20 for urging the operation bar 18 in the predetermined direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) is interposed between the bearing 14 and the operation bar 18. It is composed of and.

3 and 4, 22 is a stopper for restricting the counterclockwise rotation of the operation bar 18, 23 and 24 are engaged with the cam followers 18a and 16a, respectively, to rotate the operation bar 18, and Rotating table 17 via operation bar 16
Is a cam for rotating the finger 12 to tilt or rotate the finger 12. These cams 23 and 24 are installed at positions where the fingers 12 on the movement loci of the chains 3A and 3B should be inclined or rotated.

The rotary table 17 is always biased in the predetermined direction (clockwise in FIG. 5) by the spring 20 as described above, but its rotation is restricted by the rear end portion of the operation bar 18. Explaining the relationship between the two with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, an inclined surface b is formed at one location on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table 17. An inclined surface b ′ is also formed at the rear end of the operation bar 18. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the cam follower 1
The operation bar 18 before the 8a is engaged with the cam 23 is at the solid line position, and at this time, the surface a of the rotary table 17 is engaged with the lower surface a ′ of the operation bar 18 as shown in FIG. The rotation of 17 in a predetermined direction (clockwise in FIG. 5) is restricted, and the fingers 12 on the turntable 17 are upright with respect to the connecting plate 11.

When the cam follower 18a comes into contact with the cam 23 and the operation bar 18 rotates to the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line, the surface a and the surface a'are separated from each other, the rotary base 17 is rotated, and the rotary base 1 is rotated.
When the inclined surface b of 7 is engaged with the upper surface c ′ of the operation bar 18,
The rotation of the rotary table 17 is blocked, and as shown in FIG. 5, the fingers 12 on the rotary table 17 are inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the connecting plate 11 and are held at that angle.

When the operation bar 18 further rotates, the surface c of the turntable 17 comes into contact with the surface c ′ of the operation bar 18 so that the fingers 12 on the turntable 17 are attached to the upper surface of the connecting plate 11. It becomes parallel to and is held in that state. These states are shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b).
6 (a), the fingers 12 are connected to the connecting plate 11 in FIG. 6 (a).
6 (b) shows an upright state, that is, a case of θ = 90 °, FIG. 6 (b) shows a case of θ = inclined by a predetermined angle, and FIG. 6 (c) shows a case of θ = 0 °. ing.

Further, when the fingers 12 are raised from the state of being parallel to the upper surface of the connecting plate 11 as shown in FIG. 6 (c) to the state of FIG. 6 (b) or the state of FIG. 6 (a). Alternatively, when raising from the state of FIG. 6B to the state of FIG. 6A, the cam follower 16a of the operation bar 16 shown in FIG. That is, cam follower 1
When 6a moves in the direction of the broken arrow and comes into contact with the cam 24, the operation bar 16, the turntable 17 and the finger 12 rotate clockwise around the shaft 15 and the finger 12 stands up.

When the rotary table 17 rotates clockwise around the shaft 15, the operation bar 18 is temporarily pushed back counterclockwise around the pin 19. When the surface (b) and the surface (c ′) come into contact with each other with a small gap as shown in FIG. 6B, the spring 20 constantly urges them in a predetermined direction (clockwise in FIG. 5). The operating bar 18 is inserted between the rotary table 17 and the connecting plate 11, and the finger 1
2 is held at the position of θ = predetermined angle.

Similarly, when the rotary base 17 is rotated by the cam 24 and the surfaces a and a'contact each other, the fingers 12 are completely erected in the state of θ = 90 ° as shown in FIG. 6 (a).
Next, the operation of the article grouping device will be described with reference to FIGS. The finger device 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
A _{1 to} 4A ₄ and 4B _{1 to} 4B ₄ are connecting plates 11A, 1
They are installed alternately in the chain drive systems of the A group and the B group via 1B. Further, the cam 24 is installed at the X position and the Z position, and the cam 23 is installed at the Y position.

At the Z position, the finger 12 of the finger device 4B ₄ whose finger inclination angle is held at a predetermined angle is vertically inserted into the article row conveyed by the conveyor 1 to move the preceding finger. Device 4A
₁ is grouped with a predetermined number of the articles a, and at the X position where the grouping is completed, the fingers 12 are erected in an upright state to proceed, and at the same time, the preceding finger device 4A ₁ reaching the Y position is 12 is laid parallel to the transport direction.

Then, the article a is fast-forwarded by the flight bar 6 and fed onto the bucket conveyor 7. The fingers 12 laid down parallel to the transport direction are raised to a predetermined angle at the Z position, and then repeat the above operation. By performing this operation for each group and for each finger device, the articles a are continuously grouped and sent out.

When the cam 24 is engaged with the cam follower 16a of the operation bar 16 and the fingers 12 are erected, the relationship between the two is shown in FIG. 8 in which the tip end m of the inclined surface of the cam 24 contacts the cam follower 16a. The height h of the cam 24 may be determined so that when the cam 24 advances in the direction of the arrow and the contact reaches the upper end point n of the inclined surface of the cam 24, the finger 12 rotates by θ ₂ and stands upright.

On the other hand, the chain 3A shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 circulates circularly at the position of the sprocket 2A, so that the fingers 12 that move upright with respect to the chain 3A at θ _{1 as} shown in FIG. If the angle is not changed, it will be inserted while gradually moving forward as shown by the broken line. Therefore, a cam 24 having a height h (see FIG. 8) for rotating the finger 12 by θ ₂ between the contact points X ₁ and X ₂ with the cam follower 16a is installed along the chain 3A so that the finger 12 is always upright. Hold the state and perform grouping.

Next, a case of changing the number of groupings, for example, changing the column of the article a from 3 rows to 4 rows in FIG. 1 will be described. At this time, the variable speed motor 9A is started at a low speed (or the variable speed motor 9B is started at a high speed),
The relative distance L between the finger device 4A ₁ to be inserted and the preceding finger device finger device 4B ₁ is increased.

On the contrary, when the column of the article a is changed from 4 rows to 3 rows, contrary to the above, the variable speed motor 9A
Is started at high speed (or the variable speed motor 9B is started at low speed) to reduce the relative distance L between the finger device 4A ₁ to be inserted and the preceding finger device finger device 4B ₁ . Even if the size (diameter) of the article a changes,
Variable speed motors 9A or 9B for each group as above
Is appropriately started at high speed and low speed, and is operated so as to maintain the relative distance L corresponding to the article size. At that time, the cam 2 at the Y position
3 may be moved according to the relative distance L.

[0030]

As described above, the article grouping device of the present invention rotatably supports each finger by the tumbling mechanism so that the fingers can be inserted vertically into the gap between the articles during grouping. Thus, the fingers can be reliably inserted between the articles even when the gap between the articles is narrow and the insertion timing of the fingers between the articles is slightly deviated. In addition, the chain drive system that circulates each finger is made into two independent chain drive systems that can change the speed. When the number of grouped articles or the length of the article row changes, each chain drive system can be operated at high speed or low speed as appropriate. By driving, the finger interval can be changed, and the change in the number of grouped articles or the length of the article row can be immediately dealt with.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of an article grouping device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the grouping device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a falling mechanism of the grouping device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the falling mechanism.

5 is a vertical cross-sectional side view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the operation of the falling mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view showing a finger insertion state at the time of grouping.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of the operation of the cam and fingers of the grouping device.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a grouping state of a conventional article grouping device.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the grouping device.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of the action of fingers of the grouping device.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of the action of fingers of the grouping device.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the operation of the entire grouping device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conveyor 3A Chain 3B 〃 6 Flight bar 12 Finger 14-24 Inversion mechanism 2A, 2A ', 9A, 13A One chain drive system 2B, 2B', 9B, 13B The other chain drive system a Article

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An article grouping device for feeding a plurality of articles, which are continuously fed on a conveyor, by grouping a predetermined number of articles by a plurality of fingers and a flight bar and feeding the articles. An article grouping device, characterized in that the chain drive system, which is rotatably supported at an angular position and circulates the respective fingers, is made up of two independent chain drive systems capable of shifting.