JPH0632452A - Storing method for articles - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the desired quantity of articles to be stored even when each article to be stored is different in height by putting articles in order in response to the height of each article at reference intervals or at integral multiple intervals of the reference one, and thereby piling the articles put in order over articles moving down below for storing them. CONSTITUTION:Articles G rested in the first branch line of an article storing and arranging means 7000, and articles G rested in the second branch line of the means are taken out by a desired quantity into a main line so as to be continuously put in order at reference intervals or at integral multiple intervals of the reference one by stage in response to the height of each article G preceeding ahead. The articles G put in order by stage are made up at both a make-up conveyor 9020 and a stopper 9030, into an aggregate in which the articles G in the plural number of rows are charged into one article arranging container C composed of a plural number of rows. The articles G are so devised as to be charged and stored in such a way that they are piled up over the articles G which are charged in each article arranging container C moving down below by means of an article charging means 8000.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of stacking a plurality of types of articles by stacking them and, in particular, arranging the articles at a reference interval or an integer multiple thereof in accordance with the height of the articles. However, the present invention relates to a method of accumulating articles to be stacked on articles moving downward.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique relating to a method of collecting articles, there is known one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-191123.

The conventional technique described in the above publication will be described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-191123.
A method and apparatus is described for arranging articles such as product packing and arranging the articles to be fed one by one or in a lump in a feed direction.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques have the following problems.

That is, the method and apparatus for arranging articles described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-191123 discloses that articles are loaded at intervals according to the height of the articles before the articles are accumulated in a container. Since this is not done, desired articles cannot be accumulated in the container if the height of the articles is not constant.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to stack articles by stacking them at intervals depending on the height of the articles prior to stacking and stacking the articles on moving articles. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of accumulating desired articles even when the thickness is not constant.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of stacking articles in which a plurality of types of articles are stacked and accumulated, and articles are continuously loaded at a reference interval or an integer multiple thereof depending on the height of the articles. The above object is achieved by providing a method for accumulating articles, which is characterized by stacking and accumulating aligned and packed articles on an article that is moving downward.

[0008]

According to the method of accumulating articles of the present invention, the articles to be accumulated are arranged by arranging the articles at intervals according to the height of the articles before stacking and accumulating the articles on the article moving downward. Even if the height is not constant, desired articles can be accumulated.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The method of collecting articles according to the present invention will be described below together with an example of article arranging equipment suitable for carrying out the method.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of equipment for arranging articles. In this drawing, reference numeral (1000) shows the upper outer flaps on the left and right side surfaces of a box body such as a corrugated cardboard box separated from the inner flaps. A box unpacking device, (2000) is a box unpacking device that separates the lower outer flaps of the left and right side surfaces of the box from the inner flap, and (3000) is an upper outer flap and a lower outer flap. Is a pusher for changing the conveying direction of the box body peeled from the inner flap, so that the upper outer flap and the lower outer flap, which are peeled and are in a free state, are not locked to the inner flap again.
Further, (4000) is a flap opening device that opens the upper outer flap and the lower outer flap of one (front side in the traveling direction) of the pair of side surface portions separated from the inner flap,
(5000) is an article take-out device for taking out the article (G) stored in the box body by pushing it horizontally with a pusher, and (6000) is an article supply apparatus in which a swing conveyor is mounted on a traveling carriage. Yes, the first tributary line (7001) in which the articles (G) taken out from the box by the article take-out device (5000) are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages of the article storage / loading device (7000).
It is designed to be supplied to A). Also, (7000)
Is a plurality of types that are pre-sorted and supplied in the order of a first tributary line (7001A) including a gravity roller conveyor (7001) on which articles (G) are placed by type (type) and the type (type) to be taken out. In the article storage and arranging device provided with a flow shelf (7004) in which a second tributary line (7001B) composed of a gravity roller conveyor (7001) on which the article (G) of FIG. Yes, goods (G) stored in the fluidized shelf (7004)
Is moved from the entrance side to the exit side by its own weight, and is taken out by the article take-out device (7003) to a plurality of mainstream lines (7002) provided corresponding to the respective gravity roller conveyors (7001), For each stage of the main stream line (7002), the succeeding articles (G) are continuously aligned at a reference interval or an interval of an integral multiple thereof according to the height of the preceding article (G),
The separation conveyor (9006), etc., and the inclined conveyor (9
010). Further, (8000) is an article input device for loading the articles (G) that have been continuously sorted by the article storage and sorting apparatus (7000) into the sorting container (C), and the article supply conveyor (8002) And a container transport conveyor (8001), and an article supply conveyor (8
002), the articles (G) knitted into an aggregate composed of a plurality of rows by a stopper (9030) described later are loaded in a direction substantially parallel to the front wall (C1) of the load-sort container (C). Has been done. Also, (9001), (90
04) and (9005) are roller conveyors and (9005)
2) and (9003) are stoppers, and (9007) is a disassembling device for disassembling a plurality of products (G) taken out from the box body by the product taking-out device (5000). Further, (9010) is a plurality of rows of inclined conveyors that convey articles (G) at intervals in each row, and (9020) is a knitting conveyor arranged downstream of the inclined conveyor (9010), Multiple rows of articles (G)
Endless round belt (9211)
It has a side guide (9021). Further, (9030) is a stopper, which is an article supply conveyor (8
002) and is arranged downstream of the knitting conveyor (9020) so that a plurality of rows of articles (G) conveyed on the knitting conveyor (9020) can be stopped. . Thus, the article take-out device (500
0), the article (G) is taken out from the box in which a plurality of articles (G) of the same type are stored, and the taken-out article (G) of the same type is stored in the article storage / loading device (700).
0) is placed on a plurality of first tributary lines (7001A) located in the same row of the flow shelf (7004), and the product sorting device (7000B) (not shown) preliminarily sets the order of the varieties to be taken out. Articles (G) of a plurality of types that have been sorted are placed on the second tributary line (7001B) by a conveyor (7000C) not shown, and the articles (G) placed on the first tributary line (7001A). And the articles (G) placed on the second tributary line (7001B) are taken out to the main stream lines (7002) in desired quantities and continuously loaded at a standard interval or an integer multiple of each step. The articles (G) that have been aligned and packed in stages are passed through a separating conveyor (9006) and the like and each inclined conveyor (90).
10) The articles (G), which are continuously conveyed at intervals of each interval, reach the knitting conveyor (9020), and are to be the heads in each row of the plurality of rows, and the previous group. An assembly in which a plurality of rows of articles (G) are formed in a plurality of rows and are loaded into one load-arranging container (C) by separating the article (G) to be the last in each row by a stopper (9030). After knitting into articles, by the article input device (8000), the articles (G) are loaded and accumulated so as to be stacked on the articles (G) loaded in the downwardly arranging container (C). Yes.

To explain each part in the above embodiment, FIG. 2 shows the number of rows of the gravity roller conveyor (7001) constituting the first tributary line (7001A) and the second tributary line (7001B) and the main line (7002). )
Arrangement of goods is as shown in FIG.
3 is a perspective view of an article storage / loading apparatus (7000) substantially the same as the article storage / loading apparatus (7000) shown in FIG. 1, but FIG. 3 is a gravity roller conveyor (70) shown in FIG.
(011) is an enlarged perspective view of the front end portion of (011), and (7001) is a gravity roller conveyor with the front end side inclined downward, and is a plurality of rows (10 rows in FIG. 1, FIG. 2) in the direction along the main stream line (7002). 5 columns in FIG. 2, 2 in FIG.
(6 rows), 5 shelves arranged vertically (7004)
Are formed, and the article take-out device (70) is provided at the tip of each gravity roller conveyor (7001).
03) is provided. Further, (7002) is a mainstream line (loading conveyor) arranged so as to connect the article take-out devices (7003) in the same stage, and is provided in five stages in the vertical direction.

Thus, the gravity roller conveyor (70
No. 01) is a pair of rail frames (7012) provided with a plurality of rollers (7011) arranged in an inclined manner, and an article supply device (6000) or conveyor (7000C) is mounted on a gravity roller conveyor (7001). The article (G) supplied by is self-propelled on the roller (7011) by its own weight, is stored (storage), and is then taken out to the mainstream line (7002) by the article taking-out device (7003). is there.

Further, the mainstream line (7002) has a speed of about 67 m / min which is arranged so as to connect the article take-out device (7003) provided at the tip of the gravity roller conveyor (7001) arranged in parallel. Belt conveyor (Fig. 2
In the embodiment shown in (1), five stages are provided in the vertical direction so as to be substantially orthogonal to the gravity roller conveyor (7001). A pulse encoder (7023) (not shown) is attached to the mainstream line (7002).

The article take-out device (7003) is
With the shaft (7033) as a fulcrum, the air cylinder (703
2) The stopper (7
031) and a chute (7034) arranged on the downstream side of the stopper (7031).
032) when the rod is in the protruding state, the stopper (7
The upper end of the front wall of 031) projects from the upper surface of the roller (7011), and the front wall of the stopper (7031) locks the self-propelled article (G). is there. When an article take-out command is issued, the upper end of the front wall of the stopper (7031) is moved to the roller (70) by operating the air cylinder (7032).
The article (G) at the tip, which is lowered from the upper surface of 11) and is locked by the front wall of the stopper (7031), is taken out. then,
The upper end of the rear wall of the stopper (7031) has a roller (701
Since it is higher than the upper surface of 1), the succeeding article (G)
Is locked by the rear wall of the stopper (7031) and placed on the gravity roller conveyor (7001) (G)
Only one can be taken out to the mainstream line (7002). Further, the chute (7034) for carrying out the articles (G) taken out one by one by the stopper (7031) to the mainstream line (7002) is composed of a pair of rail frames (7341) provided with a plurality of rollers. The chute (7034) rail frame (734
1) is arranged at a steeper slope than the rail frame (7012) of the gravity roller conveyor (7001).

Hereinafter, a first tributary line (7001A) and a second tributary line (700) comprising the gravity roller conveyor (7001) of the article storage / loading device (7000).
1B), the method of taking out and aligning the articles (G) placed on the flow shelf (7004), that is, the gravity roller conveyor (7001) shown in FIG. 4 is along the main line (7002). A description will be given based on another embodiment in which a total of 130 pieces, that is, 26 rows in the direction and 5 rows in the vertical direction are arranged. Note that (1a), (1b), ..., (1z) are gravity roller conveyors (7) arranged in the first stage from the bottom.
The main stream line (700
2), the most downstream side is (1a) and the most upstream side is (1z)
And (1a), (1b), ..., (1y) are the first
Is used as the tributary line (7001A) and (1z) is used as the second tributary line (7001B). Also, (2a), (2b), ..., (2
z) is a branch code indicating each of the gravity roller conveyors (7001) arranged in the second stage from the bottom, and 3 from the bottom.
Gravity roller conveyors (7001) arranged in the 5th to 5th steps are also shown, and the gravity roller conveyors (2z), (3
z), (4z) and (5z) are the second tributary line (700
1B).

Thus, each first tributary line (7
001A) is provided with a plurality of articles (G) supplied by the article supply device (6000) for each product type, and placed on the first tributary line (7) of all the stages located in the same row.
Articles (G) of the same type are placed on 001A). That is, the first tributary lines (1a), (2a), (3
a), (4a) and (5a) are articles of a type (Ga)
Is the first tributary line (1b), (2b), (3b),
In (4b) and (5b), the goods (Gb) of b type, and the other first tributary lines (7001A) are similarly processed, and the first tributary lines (1y), (2y), (3y), (4
Items of y type (Gy) are placed in y) and (5y). In addition, the second tributary line (1z), (2z),
In (3z), (4z), and (5z), a plurality of product types (Gz) with low load alignment request frequency are taken out to the main line (7002) by the article load sorting device (7000B) not shown. It is supplied and placed in order. still,
It goes without saying that the z-type articles (Gz) mean a plurality of types of articles (G).

A method of arranging the articles (G) placed on the gravity roller conveyor (7001) in units of the load arranging containers (C) will be explained. As shown in FIG. Articles of the same type, for example, articles with a height of 50 mm (Ga) are stacked in four stages in a row, and articles of a plurality of types, for example, articles with a height of 50 mm (Gd) and articles with a height of 90 mm (Gu) are arranged in the second row. ) And an article (Ge) having a height of 50 mm are stacked, an article of the same type in the third row, for example, an article (Gb) having a height of 50 mm is stacked in four stages, and an article of the same type in the fourth row, for example, a height. Is 50 mm (G
c) is stacked in four stages, and a plurality of types of articles are stacked in the fifth row, for example, an article (Gf) having a height of 50 mm, an article (Gv) having a height of 40 mm, and an article (Gw) having a height of 100 mm. First, the first tributary line (1a), (2
d), (3b), (4c), and (5f), each article take-out device (7003) provided at the tip of each article (G) is connected to each main line (7).
002), and a total of 5 articles (G) are taken out. Further, similarly, the taking out of each article (G) is repeated for each stage, and the main stream line (7
(002) Four articles (Ga) are continuously loaded at a reference interval described later, and the second main stream line (70) from the bottom.
02), as shown in FIG. 11, the article (Gd), the article (Gu) at a reference interval, and the article (Ge) at a distance twice the reference interval are continuously aligned, and Four articles (Gb) are continuously loaded on the third main line (7002) at a standard interval, and four articles (Gc) are placed on the fourth main line (7002) from the bottom. Loads are continuously lined up at standard intervals and the main line (700
2) The articles (Gf), (Gv), and (Gw) are continuously loaded on the top of each other at a reference interval. In addition, (Gx) indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 11 is a virtual article, which means that a space is provided. Then, the 18 articles (G) that have been sorted out are continuously conveyed at intervals for each inclined conveyor (9010) through the separation conveyor (9006) and the like and reach the knitting conveyor (9020). Then, after being knitted by a stopper (9030) into a group consisting of five rows, the articles are loaded into the load arranging container (C) by the article loading device (8000).

Further, only articles (G) of different types having a height of 50 mm, for example, articles (Ga), (Gf), (Gk), and (Gp) in the order of the first row of the packing container (C) are arranged in this order. , In the order of articles (Gb), (Gg), (Gl), (Gq) in the second row, and articles (Gc), (Gh), (Gm) in the third row,
In the order of (Gr), the articles (Gd), (Gi),
In the order of (Gn) and (Gs), the article (Ge) in the fifth row,
The case of stacking in the order of (Gj), (Go), and (Gt) will be described. First, the article (Ga) is placed at the head of the first main stream line (7002) from the bottom, and the second main stream line (7002) from the bottom. The article (Gb) is at the beginning of the 7002) and the article (Gb) is at the beginning of the main stream line (7002) at the third stage from the bottom.
c), the article (Gd) is at the head of the fourth main flow line (7002) from the bottom, and the fifth main flow line (700) from the bottom.
Each article (G) has its first tributary line (1a), (2) so that the articles (Ge) are lined up at the beginning of (2).
b), (3c), (4d) and (5e). Next, the article (Gf) is placed in the first main line (7002) from the bottom, and the article (Gf) is placed in the second main line (7002) from the bottom.
2) is the article (Gg), the third main line (7002) from the bottom is the article (Gh), the fourth main line (7002) is the article (Gi) from the bottom In the fifth main line (7002), the articles (Gj) are continuously loaded at the second position on the main line (7002) with a reference interval. Is the first tributary line (1f), (2g), (3
h), (4i), and (5j). Next, in the first main line (7002) from the bottom, goods (Gk)
However, the article (Gl) is in the second main stream line from the bottom (7002), the article (Gm) is in the third main stream line from the bottom (7002), and the fourth main stream line from the bottom (7002).
2) is the article (Gn), and the fifth main line (7002) from the bottom is the article (Go) continuously at the third position on each main line (7002) with a reference interval. Each article (G) has a first tributary line (1k), (2l), (3m), (4n), so as to be loaded.
It is taken out from (5o). Next, the article (Gp) is in the first main line (7002) from the bottom, the article (Gq) is in the second main line (7002) from the bottom, and the main line (third) from the bottom (7002). 7002) has an article (Gr)
On the fourth main line (7002) from the bottom, there are articles (G
s) is on the main stream line (7002) at the fifth stage from the bottom, and the article (Gt) is 4 on each main stream line (7002).
Each article (G) has a first tributary line (1) so as to be continuously loaded in the second position at a reference interval.
p), (2q), (3r), (4s), (5t). That is, the first main line (700
2) includes articles (Ga), (Gf), (Gk), (Gp)
In the order of, the articles (Gb), (Gg), (Gl), and (Gq) are arranged in the order of the second main stream from the bottom (7002), and in the order of the third main stream from the bottom (7002). In the order of the articles (Gc), (Gh), (Gm), and (Gr), the article (G
In the order of d), (Gi), (Gn), and (Gs), the article (Ge),
(Gj), (Go), and (Gt) are sequentially loaded in the order of reference intervals, and the 20 loaded articles (G) are inclined through the separating conveyor (9006) and the like. Each conveyor (9010) is continuously conveyed at intervals and reaches the knitting conveyor (9020), and after being knitted into a set of five rows by the stopper (9030), it is knitted by the article feeding device (8000). It is thrown into the packing container (C).

Next, for example, articles (Ga), (Gg),
When the articles (G) having a height of 50 mm in the order of (Gr) and (Gr) are loaded on the first main stream line (7002) from the bottom, the respective first tributary lines (700)
1A) or the article (G) placed on the second tributary line (7001B),
It will be explained whether it is taken out in 2).

First main line (7002) from the bottom
In addition, the length of the article (G) with a height of 50 mm (300 m
500 mm, which is obtained by adding a certain margin space of 200 mm to m)
Virtual space is set, and the above-mentioned four articles (G) are taken out one by one into each virtual space, and each of them is 500 mm.
When there is a load alignment command to continuously convey the main line (7002), the pulse encoder (7023) attached to the main line (7002) causes the main line (7
Since one pulse is generated for each 1 mm movement of (002), by counting this pulse with a pulse counter (not shown), the first tributary line (1
, (1b), ..., (1y) and the position of the second tributary line (1z) are corrected, the respective articles (G) are placed on the main stream line (7002) at the reference interval. Are emptied and taken out in a predetermined order and continuously loaded.

That is, the main stream line (700
A first tributary line (1a) arranged in parallel along 2),
(1b), ..., (1y) and the second tributary line (1
z) is 400 mm, for example, the distance between the most upstream (26th) second tributary line (1z) and the most downstream (first) first tributary line (1a). Is 40
0 mm x (26-1) = 10000 mm, which is the final end of the first main stream line (7002) from the bottom, that is, the article (Ga) that should first reach the separation conveyor (9006).
Is placed on the first tributary line (1a), the article (Ga) is delayed by 10,000 pulses from the start of the packing operation.
Should be taken out from the first tributary line (1a). That is, the position correction value of the first tributary line (1a) or the article (Ga) is 10,000 pulses after the start of the load alignment, and the article (Ga) from the first tributary line (1a) is 10,000 pulses after the start of the load alignment. ) To the main line (700
An article take-out command is given to the article take-out device (7003) provided at the tip of the first tributary line (1a) so as to take out to the item (2). The final end, that is, the article (Ga) that should first reach the separation conveyor (9006) is conveyed at the top of the main line (7002), and therefore the take-out timing based on the conveyance order is 0 pulse.

After the article (Ga), the mainstream line (700
The article (Gg) to reach the final end of 2) is taken out from the first tributary line (1g),
2) Loads are continuously aligned in the virtual space on the upstream side by 500 mm (with a reference interval) from the virtual space of the preceding article (Ga) set above. That is, the distance between the uppermost second tributary line (1z) and the seventh first tributary line (1g) is 400 mm × (26-7) = 7600 mm, and the first tributary line (1 g) or The position correction value of the article (Gg) is 7600 pulses. Further, since the conveyance interval with the article (Ga) which reaches the final end first is 500 mm, 500 pulses are added to 7600 pulses to obtain 81.
After the 00th pulse, the article (G
An article take-out command is given to the article take-out device (7003) provided at the tip of the first tributary line (1g) so as to take out g) to the main stream line (7002).

After the article (Gg), the mainstream line (700
The article (Gr) to reach the final end of 2) is taken out from the first tributary line (1r), and the main line (700).
2) The articles are continuously aligned in the virtual space on the upstream side by 500 mm (with a reference interval) from the virtual space of the preceding article (Gg) set above. That is, the most upstream second tributary line (1z) and the eighteenth first tributary line (1r)
And the distance is 400 mm x (26-18) = 3200 mm
And the first tributary line (1r) or article (Gr)
The position correction value of is 3,200 pulses. Further, the conveyance interval with the article (Ga) that reaches the final end first is 500 mm.
Since +500 mm = 1000 mm, it is the first after 4200 pulses obtained by adding 1000 pulses to 3200 pulses.
The article take-out command is the first instruction to take out article (Gr) from the tributary line (1r) of the main stream line (7002).
Is provided to the article take-out device (7003) provided at the tip of the tributary line (1r).

After the above-mentioned article (Gr), the article (Gr) of the same type reaches the final end of the mainstream line (7002),
The article (Gr) is also taken out from the first tributary line (1r), and is set (with a reference interval) from the virtual space of the preceding article (Gr) set on the main stream line (7002).
Items are continuously aligned in the virtual space on the upstream side by 00 mm. That is, since the conveyance interval with the article (Ga) that reaches the final end first is 1000 mm + 500 mm = 1500 mm, 1500 pulses are added to 3200 pulses to obtain 4
An article take-out device (7003) provided with an article take-out command at the tip of the first tributary line (1r) so as to take out the article (Gr) from the first tributary line (1r) to the main stream line (7002) after 700 pulses. ) Is given to.

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the height is 5
0 mm article (Gd), height 90 mm article (G
u) and the article (Ge) having a height of 50 mm in this order when the articles (G) are loaded to the second main stream line (7002) from the bottom, the respective first tributary lines (700)
1A) or the article (G) placed on the second tributary line (7001B),
It will be explained whether it is taken out in 2). It should be noted that (Gx) is a virtual article, and the actual article (G) means that nothing is packed and it is a space.

Second main line (7002) from the bottom
Is set to a virtual space of 500 mm obtained by adding a fixed margin space of 200 mm to the length dimension (300 mm) of the article (G), and one of the three articles (G) is set in each virtual space.
According to the height of the preceding article (G), there is a load alignment command to continuously convey subsequent articles (G) with a reference interval of 500 mm or an integer multiple thereof depending on the height of the preceding article (G). , The first tributary line (2a), (2
b), ..., (2y) and the second tributary line (2z) are corrected in position, the respective articles (G) are on the main stream line (7002) at a reference interval or an integral multiple thereof. The items are taken out in a predetermined order at intervals of, and continuously loaded.

That is, the main stream line (700
A first tributary line (2a) arranged in parallel along 2),
(2b), ..., (2y) and the second tributary line (2
z) is 400 mm, for example, the distance between the uppermost stream (26th) second tributary line (2z) and the fourth first tributary line (2d) is 400 mm ×
(26-4) = 8800 mm, and the last end of the second main stream line (7002) from the bottom, that is, the article (Gd) that should first reach the separation conveyor (9006) is the first tributary line (2d). The article (Gd) may be taken out from the first tributary line (2d) with a delay of 8800 pulses from the start of the load alignment. That is, the first tributary line (2d) is 8800 pulses after the start of the packing.
Alternatively, it is a position correction value of the article (Gd), and the article take-out command is the first tributary so that the article (Gd) is taken out from the first tributary line (2d) to the main stream line (7002) 8800 pulses after the start of the load alignment. It is given to the article take-out device (7003) provided at the tip of the line (2d). The final end, that is, the article (Gd) that should first reach the separation conveyor (9006) is the main line (7002).
Since the sheet is conveyed at the beginning, the extraction timing based on the conveying order is set to 0 pulse.

After the article (Gd), the main line (700
The article (Gu) to reach the final end of 2) is taken out from the first tributary line (2u), and then the main line (700).
2) The goods are continuously aligned in the virtual space on the upstream side by 500 mm (with a reference interval) from the virtual space of the preceding article (Gd) set above. That is, the uppermost second tributary line (2z) and the 21st first tributary line (2u)
And the distance is 400 mm x (26-21) = 2000 mm
And the first tributary line (2u) or article (Gu)
The position correction value of is 2000 pulses. In addition, the conveyance interval with the article (Gd) that reaches the final end first is 500 mm.
Therefore, the article take-out command is the first tributary line (2u) so as to take out the article (Gu) from the first tributary line (2u) to the main stream line (7002) after 2500 pulses obtained by adding 500 pulses to 2000 pulses. Is provided to the article take-out device (7003) provided at the tip of the.

After the article (Gu), the mainstream line (700
The article (Ge) to reach the final end of 2) is taken out from the first tributary line (2e), and the main line (700).
2) Loads are continuously aligned in the virtual space on the upstream side by 1000 mm (spaced twice the reference spacing) from the virtual space of the preceding article (Gu) set above. That is, the distance between the uppermost second tributary line (2z) and the fifth first tributary line (2e) is 400 mm × (26−5) = 8.
It is 400 mm, and the position correction value of the first tributary line (2e) or the article (Ge) is 8400 pulses. Further, since the conveyance interval with the article (Gd) that reaches the final end first is 500 mm + 1000 mm = 1500 mm, 1500 pulses are added to 8400 pulses 990.
After 0 pulse, the article (G
An article take-out command is given to the article take-out device (7003) provided at the tip of the first tributary line (2e) so as to take out e) to the main stream line (7002).
In FIG. 11, between the virtual space in which the articles (Gu) are sorted and the virtual space in which the articles (Ge) are sorted, the virtual space in which the virtual articles (Gx) are sorted, that is, the actual The article (G) is set in a virtual space in which nothing is packed (becomes a space).

When the articles (G) are lined up on the main line (7002) from the third stage to the fifth stage from the bottom, the position correction value and the conveyance interval are calculated in the same manner to determine the predetermined values. At the timing, from the first tributary line (7001A) and the second tributary line (7001B) to the main line (7
002) is controlled to take out the article (G).

Thus, each mainstream line (700
2) The articles (G) that have been continuously packed at a reference interval or an interval that is an integer multiple of the reference interval are provided on the inclined conveyor (901).
0) to the main line (70)
02) downstream, a separating (belt) conveyor (9006) at a speed of about 96 m / min, a left 9 at a speed of about 42 m / min.
A 0 ° roller curve conveyor, a linear belt conveyor with a speed of approximately 42 m / min, a right 90 ° roller curve conveyor with a speed of approximately 42 m / min, and a linear belt conveyor with a speed of approximately 42 m / min are provided. In the main line, the article (G) to be the head in each row of the aggregate consisting of a plurality of rows reaches the final end of the inclined conveyor (9010), that is, the upstream end of the knitting conveyor (9020) almost at the same time. Set the speed of the conveyor provided downstream of (7002) so that it shifts for each row, or set the main line (7002)
It is preferable to correct the take-out timing from the gravity roller conveyor (7001) every time.

In FIG. 5, the knitting conveyor (9020) is different from that shown in FIG. 1, but the other points are the inclined conveyor (9010), knitting conveyor (9020),
FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view substantially the same as a stopper (9030) and the like,
The inclined conveyor (9010) is a belt conveyor having a speed of about 42 m / min, and is arranged in five rows corresponding to the mainstream line (7002), and the inclination angles of the conveyors are different.
The knitting conveyor (9020) is an inclined conveyor (90
10) is a belt conveyer arranged at the downstream side at a speed of about 45 m / min, and has a belt width corresponding to 5 rows of inclined conveyers (9010), and a plurality of rows of articles (G) are squeezed. Pair of rotating endless round belts (9211) for
The side guide (9021) is made up of, and the interval between the pair of endless round belts (9211) is narrowed on the downstream side so that the article (G) can be kept close. Further, the stopper (9030) is arranged on the upstream side of the article supply conveyor (8002) of the article inputting device (8000) described later and about 67 m / min which is arranged on the downstream side of the knitting conveyor (9020). A rocking roller conveyor of speed, which is configured to rock by a downstream end as a fulcrum by an air cylinder (not shown), and is conveyed on the knitting conveyor (9020) at the upstream end of the rocking roller conveyor (9030). The plurality of rows of articles (G) are configured to be stopped. Further, (9022) is a (laser) photoelectric switch for detecting passage of an article (G) continuously conveyed at a reference interval or an integer multiple thereof for each column, and corresponds to each column. Knitting conveyor (90
Five are provided above the upstream end of 20).

Then, each inclined conveyor (901
0) are continuously conveyed at intervals of a reference interval or an integral multiple thereof, and are further continuously conveyed on the knitting conveyor (9020) at intervals of a reference interval or an integral multiple thereof for each row. The article (G) to be the head in each row of the aggregate consisting of a plurality of rows and the article (G) to be the last in each row of the preceding aggregate are oscillating roller conveyors (9030) After separating by ascending the upstream end of the rocking roller conveyor (9
By descending the upstream end of (030), a plurality of rows of articles (G) are formed into a plurality of rows and knitted into an aggregate to be loaded into one load sorting container (C).

In the following, the article (G) having a height of 50 mm is conveyed to each knitting conveyor (9010) with a reference interval of approximately 0.5 seconds, reaches the knitting conveyor (9020), and from the 5th row. It is knitted into an aggregate of 30 articles (G), and as shown in FIG. 6, 6 rows x in the packing container (C).
A description will be given based on an embodiment in which a 5-row array is used. The articles (G) that have reached the knitting conveyor (9020) further move on the knitting conveyor (9020) by about 0.5 for each row.
The articles (G), which are conveyed at intervals of a second and are placed five by five in the width direction, are side guides (9021) formed of endless round belts (9211) that rotate in the same direction as the knitting conveyor (9020). ), It is conveyed toward the swing roller conveyor (9030). The photoelectric switch (9022) provided at the upstream end of the knitting conveyor (9020) so as to correspond to each inclined conveyor (9010) detects that articles (G) in the corresponding row pass one after another. The operation is continued (in FIG. 7, only the operation of the photoelectric switch (9022) corresponding to one tilt conveyor (9010) is shown).
Further, when the articles (Gu) having a height of 90 mm are included in the articles to be loaded into the load arranging container (C), the article (G) subsequent to the articles (Gu) is set to the reference interval. Of 2
It is designed to be conveyed at double intervals, that is, at intervals of about 1.0 second.

Five photoelectric switches (902) provided so as to correspond to the respective tilt conveyors (9010)
When any one of 2) detects the passage of the article (G) that reaches the knitting conveyor (9020) at the head, the interrupt mask is turned on and the swing roller conveyor (with a delay of a predetermined time (T1) ( 9030) has its upstream end raised,
After a certain time (T2), the rocking roller conveyor (9
030) has its upstream end lowered, and the article (G) that reaches the knitting conveyor (9020) at the top in each row is the rocking roller conveyor (9030).
Of the article supply conveyor (8002) to be described later in a state in which the leading articles (G) in each row are aligned in a horizontal row by temporarily stopping at the upstream end portion where the ) To be knitted into an aggregate consisting of a plurality of rows.
In the present embodiment, T1 indicates that the article (G) moves from the position of the photoelectric switch (9022) to the swing roller conveyor (903).
Since the time required to reach the upstream end of (0) is 0.1 seconds less, and T2 is 0.3 seconds,
Arrival time of an article (G) that first arrives at the knitting conveyor (9020) at the beginning and an article (G) that reaches the knitting conveyor (9020) at the beginning in another row, caused by slipping of the separation conveyor (9006) If the deviation is within 0.2 seconds, the first article (G) in each row
Can be aligned horizontally.

Thus, the leading article (G) forming the next aggregate reaches the knitting conveyor (9020) in the calculation that the leading article (G) constituting the previous assembly is It is 3 seconds (0.5-second pitch x 6 pieces) after reaching the knitting conveyor (9020), so 2.8 0.2 seconds before that.
After a second (at this time, the photoelectric switch (9022) detects the sixth article (G)), the interrupt mask is turned off, and the first article (G) forming the next aggregate is moved to the knitting conveyor ( Wait until it reaches 9020). After the interrupt mask is turned off, each tilt conveyor (901
0) corresponding to any one of the five photoelectric switches (9022) provided to the knitting conveyor (902).
When the passage of the article (G) that reaches 0) at the beginning is detected,
The interrupt mask is turned on again, and a certain time (T
1) The upstream end of the oscillating roller conveyor (9030) is raised with a delay, and further, the upstream end of the oscillating roller conveyor (9030) is lowered with a delay of a predetermined time (T2), so that a plurality of rows of articles ( G) is knitted into an aggregate consisting of a plurality of rows. That is, the upstream side of the article (G) which reaches the knitting conveyor (9020) at the head after the interruption mask is turned off is controlled to be the next aggregate.

Further, after the interrupt mask is turned on, there is a delay of a predetermined time (T3), and an article inputting device (80
The container forced transfer device (8012) of No. 00) is instantaneously driven at a high speed from the stopped state and immediately switched to a low speed. Incidentally, in T3, after the leading article (G) forming the next assembly reaches the knitting conveyor (9020), all the articles (G) forming the previous assembly are placed in the load-sort container (C). It is the time until the input is completed.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the article loading device (8000) shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the operation of the article loading device (8000) shown in FIG.
1) is a container transfer conveyor configured to transfer (load) containers (C) in a tilting direction (substantially vertical) and including an endless rotary body with pawls that is driven at two transfer speeds. Forced container transfer device in which six claws (8122) are attached to a pair of container transfer chutes (8011) arranged and a pair of endless rotating bodies (8121) arranged between the pair of container transfer chutes (8011). (8012), a pair of container regulation guides (8013) arranged above the pair of container transfer chutes (8011), a transmission (8014) (not shown) including an inverter, and the like, and the transmission (8014) allows endless movement. The rotating body (8121) is configured so that it can be shifted to two preset conveying speeds. In addition, (80
Reference numeral 02) is an article supply conveyor configured to load the article (G) in a direction substantially parallel to the front wall (C1) of the container (C) conveyed by the container conveyance conveyor (8001). The inclined belt conveyor is provided so that the article (G) discharged from (8002) can be loaded by gravity in a direction substantially parallel to the front wall (C1) of the container (C). Further, (8003) is a container carry-in conveyor composed of a belt conveyor, and (8004) is a container carry-out conveyor composed of a belt conveyor. Thus, each inclined conveyor (9010) is continuously conveyed at a reference interval or an integer multiple thereof, and further on the knitting conveyor (9020) for each row, the reference interval or an integer multiple thereof. An article (G) to be the head in each row of a plurality of rows which are continuously conveyed at intervals, and an article (G) to be the last in each row of the preceding row. The rocking roller conveyor (90
30) After separating by ascending the upstream end of
By descending the upstream end of the rocking roller conveyor (9030), a plurality of rows of articles (G) are knitted into an aggregate which is made up of a plurality of rows and is put into one container (C), and the knitted articles ( G) is loaded and accumulated so as to be stacked on the article (G) loaded in the container (C) moving downward at a stacking speed substantially equal to the moving speed of the container (C), and After temporarily suspending the container (C) in which the article (G) is loaded and the next container (C), the next container (C) is moved at a speed higher than the moving speed of the container (C) in loading the article, The article (G) is moved to a position where it can be loaded.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, an article (G) having a height of 50 mm, which is placed on the article supply conveyor (8002) with a reference interval of about 0.5 seconds and five rows each in the width direction, is It moves in the container (C) direction by the article supply conveyor (8002). On the other hand, the container (C) is a container carry-in conveyor (80
03) sequentially supplies to the container transfer chute (8011), slides on the container transfer chute (8011), and is supplied to the container forced transfer device (8012). Incidentally, FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the article (G) knitted in 4 rows × 5 columns is put into the container (C). Further, the container (C) moves from the container transfer chute (8011) to the container forced transfer device (801).
2) (see FIG. 9A), the container forced transfer device (8012) is driven at a low speed.

The container (C) transferred to the container forced transfer device (8012) was transferred at a low speed in conjunction with the transfer of the container (C) into which the article (G) was being loaded, as described later. Then, the article (G) is moved to the position where the article (G) is loaded by temporarily stopping the operation and further conveying it at a high speed, and then repeating the low speed conveyance, the temporary stop, and the high speed conveyance again.

When the container (C) is moved to the article loading start position, the carrying speed of the container forced transfer device (8012) is switched from the high speed to the low speed, and the article supply conveyor (80
02) the articles (G) continuously supplied by 5 are placed so as to be stacked on top of the articles (G) placed in the container (C) which is moving at a low speed by 5 pieces each time, and the articles (G) introduced ( G) is accumulated in the container (C). Incidentally, the container forced transfer device (801) when the article (G) is loaded into the container (C)
The conveying speed of 2), that is, the moving speed of the container (C), is the stacking speed of the articles (G) to be charged, which is 5 in this embodiment.
0 mm / 0.5 second = 6 m / minute (90 mm / 1.0 second = 5.4 m / minute in the article (Gu)) or slightly faster, for example, 6 to 7 m / minute, When the succeeding article (G) is loaded into the container (C), the upper surfaces of the already stacked articles (G) are moved below the upper surface of the article supply conveyor (8002), so that various heights are different. The articles (G) can be smoothly stacked according to the height of the preceding article (G). However, the container forced transfer device (8012) is stopped when the fourth-stage article (G) is loaded into the container (C). That is, when the container (C) arrives at the position where the final article (G) is loaded, the claw (81) attached to the endless rotating body (8121) by the detector arranged at a predetermined position.
22) is detected, the forced container transporting device (8012) is temporarily stopped, and the process waits until the final article (G) is completely loaded (see FIG. 9B).

When the final article (G) is loaded into the container (C), the container forced transfer device (8012) is driven at a high speed, and the next set is continuously supplied by the article supply conveyor (8002). After the container (C) is transported to a position (see FIG. 9C) at which the article (G) forming the body can be loaded slightly above the front wall (C1) of the next container (C),
The transport speed of the container forced transport device (8012) is switched from the high speed to the low speed, and the article (G) is sequentially loaded into the next container (C) as described above. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the shifting state of the transport speed of the container forced transfer device (8012). When the final article (G) is loaded into the container (C), the container forced transfer device (8012) is shown. Is driven from a stopped state at a high speed momentarily and can be immediately switched to a low speed.

The container (C) charged with the article (G) is released from the container forced transfer device (8012), and slides again on the container transfer chute (8011) (see FIG. 9 (d)).
It is sent to the next step through the container unloading conveyor (8004) (see FIG. 9E). When the container (C) is changed from the inclined state to the horizontal state, the 20 articles (G) put in the container (C) are aligned from the stacked state to the standing state.

That is, after a plurality of rows of articles (G) that are continuously supplied are knitted into an aggregate consisting of a plurality of rows, they are put into a container (C) which is moving downward at a low speed. Therefore, the container (C) is at a certain distance (the container forced transfer device (80
12) every time the claws (8122) attached to the endless rotary body (8121) move, that is, every time a predetermined number of articles (G) are loaded into the container (C), stop and sudden acceleration are performed. With only one operation, the leading article (G) to be placed in the next container (C) extremely moves the rear wall of the previous container (C) and the front wall (C1) of the next container (C). It jumps over in a short time and is put into the next container (C).

The method of accumulating articles according to the present invention has been described above together with the example of the article assembling equipment suitable for carrying out the method.
The method of collecting the articles of the present invention is not limited to these. For example, the articles (G) to be loaded in the plurality of load arranging containers (C) may be continuously loaded.

In addition, a plurality of first tributary lines (700
The article (G) of the same type may not be placed on 1A), and the article (G) of the same type may be placed only on one first tributary line (7001A).

Further, the plane size of the article (G) may be different for each type.

[0048]

As described above, the method for accumulating articles according to the present invention is such that the articles are aligned at intervals according to the height of the articles before the articles are stacked and accumulated on the articles moving downward. , Even if the height of the collected articles is not constant,
The desired articles can be collected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an article arranging facility.

FIG. 2 is different in the number of rows of gravity roller conveyors and the arrangement of main lines from the article storage and arranging apparatus shown in FIG.
The other points are perspective views of the article storage / loading apparatus substantially the same as the article storage / loading apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a front end portion of the gravity roller conveyor shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a fluidized shelf formed by arranging a total of 130 gravity gravity roller conveyors in 26 rows in the direction along the main stream line and in five stages in the vertical direction.

5 is an enlarged perspective view of the knitting conveyor which is different from that shown in FIG. 1, but is otherwise substantially the same as the inclined conveyor, knitting conveyor, stopper and the like shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of operations of the inclined conveyor, the knitting conveyor, the stopper and the like shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a time chart of operations of the inclined conveyor, the knitting conveyor, the stopper and the like shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the article input device shown in FIG.

9 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the article input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a shift state of the transport speed of the container forced transport device.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of articles lined up on the mainstream line.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of articles accumulated in a load arranging container.

[Explanation of symbols]

 C (Assortment) Container G Article

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An article stacking method for stacking and stacking a plurality of types of articles, wherein articles are continuously loaded at a reference interval or an integer multiple thereof depending on the height of the articles, and the loaded articles are stacked. And a method of accumulating articles by stacking and accumulating them on an article that is moving downward.