JPH0640538A - Tray feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To mechanically feed trays to a conveying means and save the manhour by providing a quantitative moving means moving mobile pedestals mounted with trays toward the conveying means by a specified quantity. CONSTITUTION:A tray feeding device 12 is arranged astride a conveyor 11, and mobile pedestals 14H, 14H... are arranged on the outer periphery side of a chain 14G wound across sprockets 14C, 14F. A claw section 15H capable of being coupled with or separated from each mobile pedestal 14H is provided at the tip of a lift cylinder 15B near the chain 14G of each tray support mechanism 14 to constitute a feed mechanism 15. A tray 3 is mounted on each mobile pedestal 14H, each lift cylinder 15B is extended while each claw section 15H is coupled with each mobile pedestal 14H, the tray 3 is moved downward via each mobile pedestal 14H and the chain 14G, and the tray 3 can be automatically mounted on the conveyor 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tray feeding device suitable for sequentially feeding shallow trays made of, for example, plastic to a conveyor or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an artificially-grown wood used for artificially cultivating mushrooms such as shiitake mushrooms, as shown in FIG. 11, is obtained by filling a packaging bag 2 with wood sawdust 1 such as vertebrae and chestnuts. The opening side of the packaging bag 2 is closed. And the sawdust 1
Is produced by heat sterilization (retort sterilization) in this state and then inoculating fungi such as shiitake mushrooms to spread hyphae.

Further, during this heat sterilization, for example, nine trays each are placed on the tray 3 formed on the shallow bottom as shown in FIG. 12, and in this state, they are put into a heat sterilizer (not shown). It has become.

Here, the tray 3 is composed of a rectangular bottom 3A and an edge 3B projecting upward from the outer peripheral side of the bottom 3A, and is made of, for example, a flexible plastic material. There is. Further, the bottom portion 3A is formed in a rough mesh shape so as to prevent water and the like from remaining in the tray 3.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, when the sawdust 1 filled in the packaging bag 2 is heat sterilized by the heat sterilizer, the tray 3 is manually operated.
Are arranged one by one so that the sawdust 1 filled in the packaging bag 2 can be placed on the tray 3, which requires a large number of workers, resulting in a large labor cost and a large production cost. There is a problem that it will increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tray supply device which mechanizes the supply of the tray to the conveying means and saves manpower.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the structure adopted by the present invention is located on the upstream side of the conveying means for sequentially conveying the tray from one side to the other side and is directed upward. And a connecting member that is rotatably wound between the upper end side and the lower end side of the frame and that is arranged in parallel to be spaced apart left and right. , Tray supporting means for supporting the tray between the pedestals arranged in line on each of the connecting members, and the tray supporting means provided in the vicinity of the tray supporting means located in the upper and lower intermediate portions of the frame, respectively. The fixed quantity moving means moves a predetermined amount toward the carrying means.

The tray supporting means is rotatably provided at the upper end side of the frame, and has a pair of upper rotating bodies which are arranged in parallel to be spaced apart from each other on the left and right sides, and the upper rotating bodies. A pair of lower rotating bodies that are located below the body and are rotatably provided on the lower end side of the frame, and are arranged in parallel at a distance from each other on the left and right sides; A pair of connecting members each wound around the upper rotating body, and a plurality of connecting members arranged in a row in the circumferential direction of each connecting member at a predetermined interval, and protruding outward from the outer peripheral side of each connecting member. The tray may be configured to support the left and right sides of the tray at positions facing each other.

Further, the fixed amount moving means is provided with a pair of up-and-down cylinders provided in an upward and downward direction along the connecting members, and a tip portion of each of the up-and-down cylinders, and a claw portion is provided on each of the pedestals. It is preferably composed of an engagement cylinder that engages and disengages.

[0010]

With the above construction, each tray supported between the pedestals of the tray support means is moved by the fixed amount moving means together with each pedestal toward the carrying means by a predetermined amount. As a result, the tray located on the lowermost end side is placed on the transport means and is transported to the other side by the transport means.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 by taking a case where a tray supply device is used in a charging line for charging sawdust 1 as artificial wood into a heat sterilizer. To do. In this embodiment, the same components as those of the prior art shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a conveyer conveyor as a conveying means which constitutes a charging line together with a tray supplying device 12 and a wood-charging device 17, which will be described later, and the conveyer conveyor 11 includes a plurality of conveyors as shown in FIG. A frame 11A formed by welding a steel material so as to extend from one side to the other side, and bearing portions located at both ends of the frame 11A and spaced apart in the left and right directions, respectively. 1
1B and 11B (only two are shown), a rotary shaft 11C whose both ends are rotatably supported by the bearing portions 11B, and an intermediate portion of the rotary shaft 11C, which are axially separated from each other. A pair of sprockets 11D, 11D as rotating bodies
And a pair of chains 11E and 11E as a connecting member wound around each sprocket 11D on one end side and each sprocket (not shown) on the other end side, and a predetermined interval in the rotation direction of each chain 11E. A plurality of L-shaped hooks 11F, 11F, ..., which are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other and are provided so as to project outward from the outer periphery of each chain 11E, are roughly configured. Further, the rotary shaft 11C is connected to a drive motor (neither is shown) via a chain or the like, whereby the transport conveyor 11 rotationally drives each chain 11E via each sprocket 11D or the like, The tray 3 placed on each chain 11E is sequentially moved in the direction of arrow A and conveyed to a heat sterilizer (not shown) provided on the downstream side.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a tray supply device provided on the upstream side (one end side) of the transfer conveyor 11 in the transfer direction. The tray supply device 11 is, as shown in FIG. 14, a feeding mechanism 15, and a stopper mechanism 16.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a main body frame as a frame arranged so as to straddle the conveyer 11. The main body frame 13 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape which extends upward by fixing a plurality of steel materials by welding or the like. ing.
Also, on the left and right sides of the body frame 13,
A mounting bracket 13 which is located at an intermediate portion in the downward direction and to which each lifting cylinder 15B of the feeding mechanism 15 described later is mounted
A, 13A and a stopper bracket 13B located near the lower side of each of the mounting brackets 13A and to which each stopper cylinder 16B of a stopper mechanism 16 described later is mounted.
And are respectively provided symmetrically.

Reference numerals 14 and 14 denote a pair of tray supporting mechanisms as tray supporting means provided on both the left and right sides of the main body frame 13 so as to extend upward and downward. Are two sets of bearing portions 14A, 14A, ..., which are located on the upper end side of the main body frame 13 and are spaced apart in the left and right directions, and both end portions are the bearing portions 14A.
The rotatably supported rotating shafts 14B and 14B, the upper sprocket wheels 14C and 14C as upper rotating bodies attached to the axially intermediate portions of the rotating shafts 14B, and the lower end side of the body frame 13. And two sets of bearing portions 14D, 14D, ..., which are spaced apart in the left and right directions, and a rotary shaft 14 whose both ends are rotatably supported by the bearing portions 14D.
E and 14E, and lower sprockets 14F, which serve as lower rotating bodies attached to the axially intermediate portions of the respective rotating shafts 14E,
14F, and each of the lower sprocket 14F and the chains 14G and 14G as a connecting member wound around the upper sprocket 14C. In addition, on the outer peripheral side of each chain 14G, as a pedestal having an L-shaped cross section which is arranged in a row at a predetermined interval in the rotation direction of each chain 14G and extends along the transport direction of the transport conveyor 11. Moving pedestal 14H, 1
.. are fixed, and the movable pedestals 14H support both ends of the bottom portion 3A of the tray 3 at positions (inside each chain 14G) facing each other.

Reference numerals 15 and 15 denote feed mechanisms as a pair of fixed-quantity moving means provided at the upper and lower intermediate portions of the body frame 13 and provided on both left and right sides.
4, the lifting cylinder 15B is mounted on the mounting bracket 13A of the main body frame 13 so that the rod 15A faces upward, and the lifting cylinder 15B.
Attached to the tip of the rod 15A of the tray support mechanism 14
Base plate 15D having a rectangular through hole 15C penetrating toward the chain 14G side, and the base plate 15
The engaging cylinder 15F mounted on the D so that the rod 15E faces outward in the left and right directions, the tip side extends toward the chain 14G through the through hole 15C, and the base side faces upward. It is roughly configured by a substantially L-shaped engaging portion 15G that is bent and connected to the rod 15E, and the chain 1 of the tray support mechanism 14 is provided at the tip of the engaging portion 15G.
Two claw portions 15H, 15H are formed integrally so as to integrally engage the moving portion 14H with the engaging portion 15G while avoiding 4G.

Reference numerals 16 and 16 denote a pair of stopper mechanisms provided on the lower side of each feed mechanism 15, and each stopper mechanism 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a stopper cylinder 16B arranged on the stopper bracket 13B of the body frame 13 so that the rod 16A faces inward, and the stopper cylinder 16B.
The L-shaped stopper portion 16C is attached to the tip of the rod 16A of B, and each stopper mechanism 16 extends the rod 16A of the stopper cylinder 16B so that the tray support mechanism 14 is supported by the stopper portion 16C.
Hold one of the moving pedestals 14H from above,
The moving bases 14H are prevented from moving in the arrow B direction and the arrow C direction together with the chain 14G due to the weight of the trays 3.

Above, each feed mechanism 15 and stopper mechanism 16
With the above-mentioned configuration, the position shift due to the play and extension of the chain 14G of the tray support mechanism 14 does not occur,
Accurate constant pitch movement of each tray 3 is possible.

Next, the operation of the tray supply device 12 thus constructed will be described.

First, in the tray supply device 12, as shown in FIG. 5, the moving base 14H of the tray supporting mechanism 14 is held from above by the stopper portion 16C of the stopper mechanism 16, and the engaging portion 15G of the feeding mechanism 15 is moved. A plurality of trays 3, 3, ... Are placed on the movable pedestals 14H located between the chains 14G and facing each other in a standby state in which the lift cylinders 15B are contracted while being separated from 14H.

When an electric signal is transmitted from the control unit (not shown) to the tray supply device 12 in the standby state as described above, the tray supply device 12 is
First, the engagement cylinder 15F of each feed mechanism 15 is contracted to move the engagement portion 15G toward the chain 14G of the tray support mechanism 14, and each claw portion 15H thereof is moved as indicated by the chain double-dashed line in the figure. It is arranged on the lower end side of the pedestal 14H. And
When the engagement cylinder 15F has been contracted, the stopper cylinder 16B of the stopper mechanism 16 is contracted, and the stopper portion 1
The restraint of the moving pedestal 14H by 6C is released. Next, in this state, ascending / descending cylinder 15B is extended as shown in FIG. 6, and each movable pedestal 14H is moved in the arrow C direction via engaging portion 15G. As a result, each tray 3 placed on each moving pedestal 14H moves downward by a predetermined amount by the movement of each moving pedestal 14H in the direction of arrow C, and the tray 3 located on the lower end side is placed on the conveyor 11. It is placed and conveyed in the direction of arrow A.

When each movable pedestal 14H is moved by a predetermined amount in this manner, the tray supply device 12 extends the stopper cylinder 16B and extends the movable pedestal 14H by the stopper portion 16C, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure. Hold from the upper side, extend the engagement cylinder 15F and move the engagement part 15H to the moving base 14H.
Then, the lifting cylinder 15B is reduced to the standby state described above. Then, the tray supply device 12 receives the electric signal from the control unit,
Each feed mechanism 15 is made to perform the same operation as described above.

On the other hand, reference numeral 17 designates a persimmon feeding device which is located on the downstream side of the tray feeding device 12 and is provided in the middle of the conveyer conveyor 11, and which constitutes the feeding line together with the above-mentioned conveyer conveyor 11 and the tray feeding device 12, The wood-feeding device 1
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG.
It is roughly composed of 8, a supply conveyor 19 and a moving mechanism 20.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a charging mechanism which constitutes the main body of the tree-loading device 17, and the charging mechanism 18 is a base frame 18A formed of a plurality of steel materials so as to straddle the conveyor 11 as shown in FIG. And the base frame 18
A pair of open / close plates 18B located at the center of the upper end side of A and capable of opening and closing along the transport direction of the transport conveyor 11.
18B, a pair of open / close cylinders 18C and 18C fixed to the base frame 18A to open and close each open / close plate 18B, and a frame 11A of the transport conveyor 11 located below each open / close plate 18B. The lifting cylinder 18D fixedly attached and the rod 18 of the lifting cylinder 18D
E The tray 3 attached to the tip of the conveyor 3 is conveyed by the conveyor 11 to the chains 1 of the conveyor 11.
1E and a cross-shaped lifting plate 18F that moves up and down between the opening and closing plates 18B.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a supply conveyor arranged on the upstream side in a sawdust filling device (not shown) and on the downstream side on the right side of the base frame 18A of the charging mechanism 18. The supply conveyor 19 is the sawdust filling device. By packing bag 2
The sawdust 1 with which the inside is filled is conveyed toward the wood throwing device 17. Further, the supply conveyor 19 is provided with an end plate 19A located on the downstream end side thereof, and the end plate 19A is brought into contact with the sawdust 1 sequentially conveyed by the supply conveyor 19 to thereby A moving plate 20 of a moving mechanism 20 which will be described later with the sawdust 1.
C is to be positioned forward.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a moving mechanism that constitutes the wood-barrel feeding device 17 together with the feeding mechanism 18 and the supply conveyor 19 described above.
On the center line of the moving cylinder 20A provided on the downstream side of the supply conveyor 19 and on the tip of the rod 20B of the moving cylinder 20A, the sawdust 1 carried by the supply conveyor 19 is transferred to each three pieces. Opening plate 18
A moving plate 20C that moves above B is generally configured, and a stop mechanism 21 is provided on the upstream end side of the moving plate 20C.

Here, the stopping mechanism 21 is the moving mechanism 2
The stop cylinder 21A is located upstream of 0 and is attached to the supply conveyor 19, and the stop portion 21C is provided at the tip of the rod 21B of the stop cylinder 21A. The stopping mechanism 21 is the moving mechanism 2
By stopping the sawdust 1 conveyed by the supply conveyor 19 at the time of operation of 0 at the stop portion 21C,
It is intended to prevent the sawdust 1 conveyed by the supply conveyor 19 from being caught when the sawdust 1 is moved by the moving mechanism 20.

Next, the operation of the wood-cutting device 17 constructed as described above will be described.

First, the packaging bag 2 is supplied by the supply conveyor 19.
When sawdust 1 filled in is conveyed, the sawdust 1
Is the end plate 19A on the downstream end side of the supply conveyor 19.
The sawdust 1 conveyed later comes into contact with the stopped sawdust 1 and stops. And FIG.
As shown in FIG.
When three, ... Are lined up, an electric signal is transmitted from the control unit, the stop cylinder 21A of the stop mechanism 21 extends, and the stop portion 21C shuts off the supply conveyor 19. Next, in this state, the moving mechanism 20 extends the moving cylinder 20A, presses and moves the three pieces of sawdust 1 on the supply conveyor 19 with the moving plate 20C, and as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The loading mechanism 18 is placed on each open / close plate 18B. Then, the moving mechanism 20 repeats this operation and places nine pieces of sawdust 1, 1, ... On each opening / closing plate 18B as shown in FIG.

Next, sawdust 1, 1, is placed on each opening / closing plate 18B.
When 9 pieces are placed, the lifting cylinder 1 of the charging mechanism 18
8D extends and the tray 3 on the conveyor 11 is raised by the elevating plate 18F and is arranged near the lower surface side of each opening / closing plate 18B. Then, in this state, each opening / closing plate 18B is opened by each opening / closing cylinder 18C. As a result, the nine pieces of sawdust 1, which were placed on each of the opening / closing plates 18B,
As shown in FIG. 9, 1, 1, ... After being dropped from the respective opening / closing plates 18B and stored in the tray 3, the elevating cylinder 18D is contracted so that they are conveyed through the tray 3 as shown in FIG. The transfer conveyor 1 is placed on the conveyor 11.
1 is conveyed to the heat sterilizer.

The charging line according to this embodiment has the above-mentioned structure, and its operation will be described below.

First, the worker puts the tray supply device 12 in a standby state, and in this state, places a large number of trays 3 on each moving pedestal 14H of each tray support mechanism 14. Then, by operating the loading line, each feeding mechanism 15 of the tray supply device 12 is operated to sequentially place the tray 3 on the transport conveyor 11. As a result, the transport conveyor 11
Transports the tray 3 toward the tree-loading device 17, and stops at the loading position by the loading mechanism 18. In addition, at this time, the sawdust 1 filled in the packaging bag 2 carried by the supply conveyor 19 is sequentially moved by the moving mechanism 20 in the tree-feeding device 17. Then, the moving mechanism 20
When the movement of each sawdust 1 by the
Is stored in the tray 3 by the loading mechanism 18, is transported by the transport conveyor 11 together with the tray 3, and is loaded into the heat sterilizer.

Thus, according to this embodiment, by first placing a plurality of trays 3 on the tray supply device 12, the tray supply device 12 automatically loads the trays 3 via the conveyer conveyor 11. It can be supplied to the wood-carrying device 17, and the sawdust 1 can be stored on the tray 3 by the wood-carrying device 17, and can be put into the heat sterilization device in this state. Therefore, labor saving can be achieved and the production cost can be significantly reduced.

In the tray supply device 12, the engaging portion 15G of each feeding mechanism 15 is directly engaged with each moving pedestal 14H of the tray supporting mechanism 14 so that the tray 3 on each moving pedestal 14H is moved. Therefore, the chain 1 with a motor etc.
Each tray 3 can be accurately moved by a constant pitch without causing a positional deviation due to play or extension unlike when the 4G is driven.

In the above embodiment, the upper sprocket 14 is used as the upper and lower rotating bodies of the tray supporting means.
C, the lower sprocket 14F is used, and the case where the chain 14G is used as the connecting member has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a V pulley, a toothed pulley, or the like may be used as the rotating body. Alternatively, a V belt, a toothed belt or the like may be used as the connecting member.

Further, in the above embodiment, the tray feeding device 1
2 has been described as an example of the case where the sawdust 1 filled in the packaging bag 2 is used in a loading line for loading the heat sterilization device, but instead of this, for example, the tray supply device 12 is used to store bacteria such as shiitake mushrooms. You may use it for the input line which inputs the sawdust 1 after inoculation into a culture chamber.

Further, in the above embodiment, each feeding mechanism 1
5. The stopper mechanism 16 has been described as being provided on the upper end side of each tray support mechanism 14, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the feed mechanism 15 and the stopper mechanism 16 may be provided on the lower end side of each tray support mechanism 14. Provided in each of the feeding mechanisms 15
The engaging portion 15G may be engaged with the moving pedestal 14H on which the lowermost tray 3 is placed to move.
In this case, positional deviation due to play and elongation of the chain 14G can be eliminated, and more accurate constant pitch movement can be performed.

[0038]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the tray is formed on the upstream side of the conveying means for sequentially conveying the tray from one side to the other side and is formed so as to extend upward. The frame is rotatably wound between an upper end side and a lower end side of the frame, and has connecting members arranged left and right in parallel and arranged in parallel with each other. Tray supporting means for supporting the tray between the pedestals, and upper and lower intermediate portions of the frame in the vicinity of the tray supporting means, respectively. Each pedestal is moved toward the conveying means by a predetermined amount. Since the fixed amount moving means for moving is configured, by operating each of the fixed amount moving means, the tray supported between the pedestals via the connecting member of each of the tray supporting means is transferred onto the conveying means. Can be automatically supplied to The supply of Ray and automation can be achieved labor saving, it is possible to reduce the production cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a tray supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a tray supply device is arranged on a loading line.

3 is a front view of the tray supply device in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a feeding mechanism, a stopper mechanism, etc.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in the direction of the arrow.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged external view showing a standby state of a feed mechanism and a stopper mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an external view of the same position as FIG. 5 showing a state where the tray is moved by the feeding mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an enlarged tree-inserting device in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the same position as FIG. 7, showing a state in which sawdust filled in a packaging bag conveyed by a supply conveyor is moved onto each opening / closing plate.

9 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows IX-IX in FIG. 8 showing a state in which each sawdust is dropped from above each opening / closing plate into the tray.

10 is a cross-sectional view of the same position as FIG. 9 showing a state in which each sawdust on the tray is placed on the conveyor.

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view showing a state in which sawdust is filled in the packaging bag and closed.

FIG. 12 is an external perspective view showing a tray on which sawdust filled in a packaging bag is placed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Tray 11 Conveyor (conveying means) 12 Tray feeder 13 Body frame (frame) 14 Tray supporting mechanism (tray supporting means) 14C Upper sprocket (upper rotating body) 14F Lower sprocket (lower rotating body) 14G Chain (connection) Member) 14H Moving base (pedestal) 15 Feed mechanism (quantitative moving means) 15B Lifting cylinder 15F Engaging cylinder 15H Claw

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A frame, which is located on the upstream side of a transport means for sequentially transporting a tray from one side to the other side, and is formed so as to extend upward, and an upper end side and a lower end side of the frame. A tray support that is rotatably wound between and has a connecting member that is arranged left and right in parallel and is arranged in parallel, and that supports the tray between the pedestals that are lined up in each connecting member. And a fixed amount moving means which is provided in the middle of the upper and lower directions of the frame and near each tray supporting means and moves each pedestal by a predetermined amount toward the carrying means. Tray feeder. 2. The tray supporting means is rotatably provided at an upper end side of the frame, and is provided with a pair of upper rotating bodies which are arranged in parallel to be spaced apart from each other on the left and right sides, and each upper rotating body. A pair of lower rotating bodies that are located below the body and are rotatably provided on the lower end side of the frame, and are arranged in parallel at a distance from each other on the left and right sides; A pair of connecting members each wound around the upper rotating body, and a plurality of connecting members arranged in a row in the circumferential direction of each connecting member at a predetermined interval, and protruding outward from the outer peripheral side of each connecting member. The tray supply device according to claim 1, wherein the tray supply device comprises a pedestal configured to support both left and right sides of the tray at positions facing each other. 3. The fixed amount moving means is provided on a pair of lift cylinders provided in an upper and lower direction along the respective connecting members, and is provided at a tip of each lift cylinder, and a claw portion is provided on each pedestal. The tray supply device according to claim 1, wherein the tray supply device comprises an engagement cylinder that engages and disengages.