JPH0761410A - Boxing machine for conical material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To receive a conical material which is being transferred in an irregular position, thereby automating the boxing work of the conical material. CONSTITUTION:A boxing machine of conical material comprises chute feeders 10 into which conical materials, i.e., corns, are fed, first rope conveyors 14 for transferring the corns in an upright position, operating in conjunction with the chute feeders 10, and splitting devices 18 for splitting corns from the conveyors 14 into two second rope conveyors 16. Further there are provided corn feed devices 26 for feeding the corns being transferred from the conveyors 16, five corns at a time, to corresponding loading heads 28 and a head drive device 30 which turns the corns attracted to the heads 28, five corns at a time, to the opposite direction by operating the heads 28 so that the direction of the corns in each stage is opposite to that of the corns in adjacent stages, whereby the corns are stacked in a box.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cone-shaped boxing machine suitable for boxing a predetermined number of cone-shaped ice creams.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Cone-shaped ice creams are packed in a box in a state of being stacked in a plurality of stages. Here, as shown in FIG. The boxes adjacent to each other in the upper and lower directions have the opposite directions to minimize the box capacity.

Since ice cream is extremely cold,
Manual boxing work is not easy, and therefore automation of boxing work is desired. For example, JP-A-59-
Japanese Patent Publication No. 115202 discloses an example of a boxing machine for cone-shaped ice cream. In the boxing machine of the above-mentioned publication, a means for arranging cone-shaped ice creams in a recumbent posture in an alternating reverse direction on an aligning conveyor, or a predetermined number of ice creams are adsorbed and taken out from the aligning conveyors, and this one set Is disclosed for sequentially packaging the ice creams of the above.

[0004]

The known cartoning machine conveys the ice cream to the alignment conveyor through the rope conveyor, but the ice cream obtained from the previous step does not have a uniform posture. Therefore, manpower is required to supply the ice cream to the rope conveyor.

Further, since the ice cream on the aligning conveyor is in a recumbent posture, it is easy to roll on the aligning conveyor, and the axes of the adjacent ice creams are not always parallel to each other. Therefore, it is difficult to stably adsorb one set of ice cream from the alignment conveyor. Further, since the individual ice creams easily roll on the aligning conveyor, the conveying speed of the aligning conveyor cannot be increased, and it is not possible to cope with the high speed packing of the box.

The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to completely automate the boxing work of cones such as cone-shaped ice cream and other products, and to stabilize them. Another object of the present invention is to provide a conical box packing machine that can be operated at high speed.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A conical box packing machine according to the present invention has a chute that tapers downward, and a chute that vertically ejects a cone that has been inserted from the upper end, and a chute that extends from the lower end of this chute. A first rope conveyor that has a pair of endless ropes, and hangs and conveys a cone between these ropes, and when the cone moves from the chute to the first rope conveyor, the cone moves downward. Aligning means for arranging in an upright posture, and receiving and sending a predetermined number of cones conveyed from the first rope conveyor side, and filling these cones above the box conveyance line and in the direction of this conveyance line. A pair of feeding means arranged side by side in the standing position in the preparation position, and a predetermined number of cones arranged in the vicinity of each filling preparation position and gathered together A pair of filling heads for receiving and holding these cones releasably and the respective filling heads are rotated in opposite directions so that a predetermined number of cones held by the respective filling heads are reversed from the standing posture. Head driving means for changing the orientation to a horizontal posture and thereafter lowering each filling head toward the box on the transfer line.

Preferably, the conical conveying means for connecting the first rope conveyor and the pair of feeding means comprises a pair of first and second vertically extending parts extending from the vicinity of the end of the first rope conveyor toward the pair of feeding means. A two-rope conveyor and a connection path between the first rope conveyor and the second rope conveyor on the upper side are configured, and by opening and closing this connection path, the cone supplied from the first rope conveyor has its standing posture. And a distribution means for distributing and supplying the pair of upper and lower second rope conveyors.

[0009]

According to the above-mentioned cartoning machine, the cone which is thrown in from the upper end of the chute in an irregular posture becomes vertical during the process of descending the chute, and thereafter, the first rope is moved from the lower end of the chute. When it is transferred to the conveyor, it is aligned in a downward standing posture and then conveyed in one row by the first rope conveyor.

After this, the cones conveyed from the first rope conveyor side are respectively sent to the filling preparation position by a predetermined number by a pair of sending means. A predetermined number of cones in the filling preparation position are collectively received by each filling head in a standing posture, and thereafter, the filling heads are rotated in opposite directions by the head driving means,
The cones held by the respective filling heads are changed from the standing posture to the horizontal postures which are opposite to each other. After this, as each filling head is lowered towards the lower box, the filling head releases the holding of the cones and fills them into the box.

When the above-mentioned conveying means is provided between the first rope conveyor and the pair of feeding means,
The cone conveyed on the rope conveyor is distributed to the pair of upper and lower second rope conveyors by the distributing means.
After this, the cones are conveyed on each second rope conveyor towards the corresponding feeding means.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 2, a cone-shaped ice cream cartoning machine is schematically shown. The cartoning machine is composed of a plurality of devices. First, a brief description will be given of the overall structure, and then the structures of the respective devices will be described in detail. Overall Configuration As shown in FIG. 2, the cone-shaped ice cream cartoning machine is roughly divided into an alignment conveyor section 2, a distribution conveyor section 4, and a relay conveyor section 6.
And a filling section 8.

The alignment conveyor section 2 is provided with a pair of vibrating chute feeders 10, and the upper ends of the chute feeders 10 are connected to a belt conveyor 12, respectively. The lower end of each chute feeder 10 is connected to the first rope conveyor 14, respectively.
A rope conveyor 14 is connected to the distribution conveyor section 4.

The distribution conveyor section 4 is provided with a pair of second rope conveyors 16 which are vertically separated for each first rope conveyor 14, and the first rope conveyors 14 corresponding to the respective second rope conveyors 16 of each pair. Sorting devices 18 are respectively arranged between and. Therefore, as apparent from the above description, the distribution conveyor section 4 has a total of four lines of the second rope conveyors 16, which are connected to the relay conveyor section 6, respectively.

The relay conveyor section 6 is a climb conveyor corresponding to each of the second rope conveyors 16 of the sorting conveyor section 4, that is, a total of four lines of the climb conveyors 22 and extends downward from each of the climb conveyors 22 to fill the filling section. 8 has a pool conveyor 24 connected to it. The filling section 8 is a cone feeding device 2 provided at the end of each pool conveyor 24.
6 and a total of four filling heads 28 forming a pair with each cone feeding device 26, and a head driving device 30 for operating these filling heads 28. In FIG. 2, the filling head 28 is simply indicated by an arrow.

The cone-shaped ice cream obtained in the previous step (hereinafter, simply referred to as a cone unless otherwise required) is supplied to the belt conveyors 12, and the belt conveyors 12 cause the alignment conveyor section 2 to move.
Be transported to. Here, as is clear from FIG. 2, the cone C on each belt conveyor 12 is conveyed in an irregular lying position.

Cone C on these belt conveyors 12
Are respectively fed to the corresponding chute feeders 10 of the alignment conveyor section 2 and are supplied to the first rope conveyor 14 via these chute feeders 10. When the cone C slides down the chute feeder 10, the posture of the cone C becomes vertical, and thereafter, the cone C sequentially transfers from the lower end of the chute feeder 10 to the corresponding first rope conveyor 14. At this time, each cone C
As shown in FIG. 2, the tips of the cones C are aligned in an upright posture, and thus the cones C are thereafter moved in a row while maintaining the upright posture by the traveling of the first rope conveyor 14. And is conveyed toward the sorting section 4.

The sorting section 4, that is, the cone C which has reached the end of each first rope conveyor 14, is assigned to the sorting device 1.
According to the switching state of No. 8, the second rope conveyor 16 of the pair of upper and lower second rope conveyors 16 is transferred to one of the second rope conveyors 16 to be sorted, and then the second rope conveyor 16 is conveyed while traveling while maintaining its standing posture. To be done. Therefore, the flow of the cones C conveyed in one row by each first rope conveyor 14 is thereafter branched into two streams by the pair of second rope conveyors 16.

The cone C that has reached the end of the second rope conveyor 16 transfers to the corresponding climb conveyor 22 of the relay conveyor section 6, and these climb conveyors 2
2. The climb conveyors 2 are conveyed while rising by 2
Transfer from 2 to the corresponding pool conveyor 24. These pool conveyors 24 convey the received cone C toward the filling section 8 while lowering it.

Cone feeding device 2 of filling section 8
6 is 5 cones C from the pool conveyor 24
Are collectively supplied to the corresponding filling heads 28, and each filling head 28 receives and holds five cones C. After this,
Each filling head 28 is swung by the head driving device 30 to change the posture of the five received cones C from the standing posture to the horizontal posture as shown in FIG. Here, the adjacent filling heads 28 are swung in opposite directions, and as a result, the five cones C of the adjacent filling heads 28 have their horizontal postures opposite to each other.

After this, each filling head 28 descends toward the box B located below it, releasing the holding of the five cones C. Therefore, the five cones C are collectively filled in the box B from each filling head 28. Here, on the transfer line BL, the box B is intermittently transferred in conjunction with the cone filling operation of the above-described filling head 28, and one box B corresponds to each filling head 28 as shown in FIG. It can be positioned immediately below. Therefore, one cone B is filled with five cones C from each filling head 28, stacked, and finally a total of 20 cones C are packed. Further, as is clear from FIG. 3, the cones C of each stage have the same orientation, but the cones C vertically adjacent to each other have opposite orientations.

After that, the box B packed with 20 cones C is supplied to a lid closing device (not shown) through the transfer line BL, and this lid closing device closes the lid of the box B and adheres the lid. It is sealed with tape. The above is a general description of the entire boxing machine, but the following sections will be described in detail.

Alignment Conveyor Section 2 Referring to FIG. 4, a chute feeder 10 in combination with one belt conveyor 12 is shown. The chute feeder 10 has its upper end positioned at the end of the belt conveyor 12 and extends downward. The belt conveyor 12 is provided with a pair of guide plates 32, and these guide plates 32 are used as the belt conveyor 1.
The cone C conveyed on the upper part 2 is prevented from falling off the belt conveyor 12.

The chute feeder 10 is composed of a wide-angle V-shaped bottom wall 34 and a pair of side walls 36 extending along both sides of the bottom wall 34. The width of the bottom wall 34 tapers downward. It is in a state. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper edge of the bottom wall 34 has a width substantially equal to the distance between the guide plates 32 of the belt conveyor 12, but the width gradually decreases downward ( (See FIG. 6), and the width of the lower end edge thereof is slightly wider than the diameter of the cone C as shown in FIG. 7.

On one side wall 36 of the chute feeder 10, a pair of plate-shaped deflection guides 38, 4 are provided.
0 is attached to these deflection guides 38, 40.
Are vertically spaced apart from each other in the central region of the side wall 36 as viewed in the longitudinal direction. The deflection guides 38 and 40 are
From the side wall 36 toward the center of the bottom wall 34 of the chute feeder 10, they extend parallel to each other and obliquely downward, and their intervals are set sufficiently longer than the length of the cone C.

At the lower end of the chute feeder 10, that is, the bottom wall 34 thereof, a sector groove 42 is formed which expands downward. The sector groove 42 has a V-shaped cross section, and the groove depth thereof gradually increases toward the lower end edge of the bottom wall 34. Further, the lower end portions of both side walls 36 of the chute feeder 10 have triangular bent pieces 36 bent outward.
The lower end of the chute feeder 10 is in a wide open state.

The chute feeder 10 described above is attached to the vibrating frame 44.
4 is supported by a pair of slanting bases 50 via a plurality of rubber springs 46. A vibrator 53 is attached to the vibrating frame 44.
Causes the chute feeder 10 to vibrate up and down via the vibrating frame 44 as indicated by arrow F in FIG. The vibration that is about to be transmitted from the vibrating frame 44 to the base 48 side is absorbed by each rubber spring 46,
Vibration is not transmitted to the base 48.

A vertical rope conveyor 54 extends from the lower end of the chute feeder 10, and the vertical rope conveyor 54 constitutes a part of the first rope conveyor 14 described above. The vertical rope conveyor 54 is composed of two endless ropes 56, and each of the ropes 56 is vertically wound around a pair of pulleys 58 and 60. Therefore, in this case, the pulleys 58 and 60 are rotatably supported in a vertically oriented state.

One pulley of each rope 56, that is, the pulley 58 on the side of the chute feeder 10 is located immediately below the lower end of the chute feeder 10 as is apparent from FIG. It is attached to a common pulley shaft 62 as shown in FIG. The other pulleys 60 are independently rotatably supported via their own pulley shafts, and the pulleys 60 are open.

Further, although it is not clear from FIG. 4, the pulley 60 is located at a higher level position than the pulley 58, so that the vertical rope conveyor 54 is inclined so as to rise toward the end side thereof. ing. As shown in FIG. 8, a toothed pulley 64 is attached to one end of the pulley shaft 62.
A toothed belt 70 is wound around the electric motor 66 side, that is, the toothed pulley 68 attached to the output shaft of the electric motor 66. Therefore, when the electric motor 66 is driven, the driving force is applied to the toothed pulley 68 and the toothed belt 70.
And transmitted to the pulley shaft 62 via the toothed pulley 64, and each pulley 58 is rotated at a constant speed in the same direction. As a result, the upper portion of each rope 56, that is, the forward path portion thereof, travels at a constant speed in the direction indicated by arrow E in FIG.

Here, the traveling speed of each rope 58 is V1,
That is, if the exit speed of the cone C at the lower end of the chute feeder 10 is V0, these traveling speed V1 and exit speed V
0 has the relationship shown in the following equation. V1> V0 Each rope 56 extends in parallel from the lower end of the chute feeder 10, and a conveying path for the cone C is formed between the ropes 56, that is, between the forward path side portions. The distance between the transport passages is set according to the size of the cone C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the center of gravity G of the cone C is near the diameter D smaller than the maximum diameter of the cone C. If present, the spacing of the ropes 56, i.e. the transport passages, is also set equal to the diameter D.

Next, the functions of the chute feeder 10 and the vertical rope conveyor 54 described above will be described. First, the cone C, which is conveyed on the belt conveyor 12 in an irregular recumbent posture, has the shoot feeder 1 from the end thereof.
It is thrown in 0. In addition to the shape of the inserted cone C, the bottom wall 34 of the chute feeder 10 has a wide-angle V-shape, and therefore the cone C is vertically oriented at the center of the bottom wall 34 as shown in FIG. It will be collected in a posture. That is, even if the cone C is thrown sideways from the belt conveyor 12, the cone C rolls freely on the bottom wall 34 of the chute feeder 10, becomes vertically oriented, and is collected in the center of the bottom wall 34.

Therefore, the corn C is added to the shoot feeder 10.
, The cones C1 and C2 will slide down on the bottom wall 34 of the chute feeder 10 as shown in FIG. 10, but the cones C1 and C2 will overlap. Is the deflection guides 38 and 4 described above.
It is canceled by the action of 0. That is, when the overlapping cones C1 and C2 slide down, one of the cones C1 first comes into contact with the upper deflection guide 38 to reduce the slide-down speed, and at the same time, the deflection direction of the deflection guide 3 decreases.
By 8, it is swung to the cone C2 side. Therefore, since the cone C1 pushes the cone C2 laterally, the cone C2 slides down by temporarily climbing up the inclined surface on one side of the bottom wall 34 as indicated by the solid arrow K in FIG. As a result, the cone C2 precedes the cone C1 as shown by the broken line in FIG. 10, and the single row of the cone C is realized.

Even if the single row of the cone C is not sufficient, the cones C1 and C2 are subjected to the single row processing again by the lower deflection guide 40, so that the cone C2 is made to have a larger size than the cone C1. Further ahead, the cones C will be sufficiently single-rowed by the time the cones C reach the lower end of the chute feeder 10. Furthermore, the shoot feeder 10
Since the vibrations are applied as described above, even if the plurality of cones C are caught in the chute feeder 10, the catches are eliminated by the vibration, and the single row can be smoothly performed. .

When the single-row-processed cone C reaches the lower end of the chute feeder 10, if the tip of the cone C is at the top, the cone C is fed from the lower end of the chute feeder 10 to the vertical rope conveyor 54. Each rope 56
These ropes 56 jump out from the tip toward
It is accepted in the meantime. That is, the distance between the ropes 56 is
As mentioned above, since it is smaller than the maximum diameter of the cone C,
The cone C jumping from the tip between the ropes 56 is securely held between the ropes 56.

Further, since the interval between the ropes 56 is almost equal to the diameter D where the center of gravity G of the cone C exists, the cone C is hung near the center of gravity G and is suspended between the ropes 56. It becomes a state. That is, the cone C between the ropes 56 oscillates due to its own weight and takes a standing posture with its tip facing downward, and while maintaining this standing posture, the traveling path of each rope 56 causes the cone C to move along the transport passage. Will be transported.

As shown in FIG. 9, the traveling of each rope 56 used to convey the cone C, that is, the forward path side portion thereof is guided by the guide 72. As a result, the cone C is reliably sandwiched between the ropes 56 and conveyed. On the other hand, when the cone C reaches the lower end of the chute feeder 10, the cone C
11, the cone C pops out from the chute feeder 10 onto each rope 56 of the vertical rope conveyor 54 so that the end surface side of the cone C rides up as shown in FIG. As the ropes 56 travel, they are conveyed while being dragged.

At this time, since the above-mentioned sector groove 42 is formed at the lower end of the chute feeder 10, the cone C is dragged as each rope 56 travels.
The cone C has its tip pointed by the sector groove 42 due to its own weight.
While intruding into, it rotates downward as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Therefore, even in this case, the cone C
As soon as it jumps out of the chute feeder 10, it is sandwiched between the ropes 56 in the vicinity of its center of gravity G. As a result, the cone C takes an upright posture with its tip facing downward at an early stage, and each rope 56 travels. As a result, the paper is transported through the transport passage.

Further, when the cone C is transferred from the chute feeder 10 to the vertical rope conveyor 54, the traveling speed V1 of each rope 56 is faster than the exit speed V0 of the cone C from the lower end of the chute feeder 10, The cone C transferred onto each rope 56 is accelerated by the traveling of each rope 56 and can be quickly separated from the chute feeder 10. Therefore, the cone C protruding from the chute feeder 10 and the subsequent cone C on the chute feeder 10 side do not interfere with each other at the lower end of the chute feeder 10, that is, at the exit thereof, and the cone C is blocked at the exit. It can be surely prevented.

Here, the ice cream C is manufactured by filling a conical container with cream dough and then sealing the opening of the container, and the sealing portion is a Y seal CY as shown in FIG. It is called. This Y seal CY
Has a substantially Y shape, but is not constant. Therefore, as described above, if the bent pieces 36a are formed at the lower ends of the both side walls 36 of the chute feeder 10 and the exit of the chute feeder 10 is wide, the ice cream C will be discharged from the exit of the chute feeder 10. When jumping out, the Y-seal CY does not get caught on the side wall 36.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15,
The vertical rope conveyor 54 described above is sequentially connected to the horizontal rope conveyors 74 and 76. These horizontal rope conveyors 74 and 76 are similar to the vertical rope conveyor 54 in principle, however, unlike the vertical rope conveyor 54, these horizontal rope conveyors 74 and 76 are different from the vertical rope conveyor 54. 78 to pulley 8
It is configured to be horizontally wound between 0 and 82, and between the forward path side portions of the ropes 78, a conveying path of the cone C which is continuous with the conveying path of the vertical rope conveyor 54 is sequentially formed.

More specifically, the horizontal rope conveyor 74 extends horizontally directly above the end of the vertical rope conveyor 54, and the horizontal rope conveyor 76 is the horizontal rope conveyor 74.
It extends horizontally just below the end of the. Further, in the horizontal rope conveyors 74 and 76, as shown in FIG. 14, a driving force is applied to the pulley shaft of the upstream pulley 80, and each rope conveyor 74 and 76 is the same as the vertical rope conveyor 54. Driven in the direction of.

Therefore, the cone C conveyed by the vertical rope conveyor 54 in the upright posture is successively transferred to the horizontal rope conveyors 74 and 76, and the conveyance is continued. As described above, in the case of this embodiment, the above-mentioned first rope conveyor 14 is the vertical rope conveyor 5
4 and the horizontal rope conveyors 74 and 76, however, if the conveyance distance of the cone C by the vertical rope conveyor 54 can be sufficiently secured, the horizontal rope conveyors 74 and 76 can be omitted.

Further, instead of the vertical rope conveyor 54,
It is also possible to use the rope conveyor 84 shown in FIG. 16, and this rope conveyor 84 is one in which the pulley 60 of the vertical rope conveyor 54 is horizontal. Further, as is clear from FIG. 14, since the vertical rope conveyor 54 is inclined so that the end thereof rises, the level of the conveying path of the cone C is lowered due to the passage of the chute conveyor 10 described above. Also, the level of the transport path can be restored.

The chute conveyor 10 and the first rope conveyor 14 forming a pair with the other belt conveyor 12
Is the same as the chute conveyor and the first rope conveyor described above, and the illustration and description thereof are omitted. Sorting Conveyor Section 4 Referring again to FIGS. 14 and 15, the sorting conveyor section 4 forming a pair with the first rope conveyor 14 on one side.
A part of is shown.

As is apparent from FIG. 14, the distribution conveyor section 4 is located on the first rope conveyor 14 side, that is,
A main rope conveyor 86 is provided at a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction from the end of the horizontal rope conveyor 76 and extends at the same level as the horizontal rope conveyor 76, and a branch rope conveyor 87 extending below the main rope conveyor 86. The rope conveyors 86 and 87 are the second ones described above.
Each rope conveyor is configured.

The branch rope conveyor 87 is a first branch rope conveyor 88 extending obliquely downward from just below the end of the horizontal rope conveyor 76 to beyond the start end of the main rope conveyor 86.
And a second branch rope conveyor 89 extending obliquely upward from just below the end of the first branch rope conveyor 88. As apparent from FIG. 15, the second branch rope conveyor 89 is laterally offset with respect to the main rope conveyor 86.

Since the main rope conveyor 86 and the first and second branch rope conveyors 88 and 89 have the same structure as the above-mentioned horizontal rope conveyors 74 and 76, the members having the same function are also used here. The same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted. As is clear from FIG.
The main rope conveyor 86 forms a conveyance path located coaxially with the conveyance path of the horizontal rope conveyor 76.

The above-mentioned distribution device 18 is arranged above the horizontal rope conveyor 76 and the main rope conveyor 86, and the details of the distribution device 18 are shown in FIG. The distribution device 18 includes a fixed plate 92 connected to the main frame 90 side of the boxing machine. The fixed plate 92 is a horizontal rope conveyor 76.
From above to above the main rope conveyor 86.

A movable plate 94 is arranged on the side of the fixed plate 92, and the movable plate 94 is supported so as to be movable in a direction in which it comes in contact with and separates from the fixed plate 92. The fixed plate 92 includes a pair of pulley shafts 98.
Are rotatably supported, and these pulley shafts 98 extend below the fixed plate 92. Pulleys 100 are attached to the lower ends of the pulley shafts 98, and the endless rope 1 is provided between the pulleys 100.
02 is hung around.

On the other hand, the movable plate 94 also rotatably supports a pair of pulley shafts 104, and these pulley shafts 104 extend downward of the movable plate 94. A pulley 106 is attached to the lower end of the pulley shaft 104, and an endless rope 108 is wound around these pulleys 106. As is clear from FIG. 14, the fixed plate 92 side rope 102 and the movable plate 94 side rope 108 are connected to each other by the connection rope conveyor 110 that enables connection between the horizontal rope conveyor 76 and the main rope conveyor 86 described above. I am configuring.

Of the pulley shafts 98 and 104 of the fixed plate 92 and the movable plate 94, the horizontal rope conveyor 76
One of the pulley shafts 98 and 104 located on the side projects upward from the fixed plate 92 and the movable plate 94, and toothed pulleys 112 and 114 are attached to the projecting ends thereof, respectively. A pulley shaft 116 is rotatably supported on the fixed plate 92 between the pair of pulley shafts 98. The pulley shaft 116 projects upward from the fixed plate 92, and a toothed pulley 118 is also attached to the projecting end thereof.

On the other hand, an electric motor 122 is attached to the main frame 90 via a bracket 120, and a drive pulley 124 having teeth is attached to the output shaft of the electric motor 122. An endless toothed belt 126 is wound around the drive pulley 124 and the toothed pulleys 114, 112, 118 described above.
26 has teeth on both sides. In this case,
The toothed pulley 118 applies a predetermined tension to the toothed belt 126.

Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the drive pulley 124 is arranged on an extension of a line L connecting the centers of the toothed pulleys 114 and 112. When the electric motor 122 is driven, the toothed belt 126 travels in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 17 due to the rotation of the drive pulley 124, so that the toothed pulleys 114 and 112 have the same rotational speed and are opposite to each other. To be rotated.

Here, the traveling speeds of the horizontal rope conveyor 76, the connection rope conveyor 110, the main rope conveyor 86, the first branch rope conveyor 88, and the second branch rope conveyor 89 are V3, V4, V5, V6, and V7, respectively. Then, these relationships are set as follows. V4>V5> V3 V5 = V6 = V7 As is clear from the above equation, the traveling speed V4 of the connecting rope conveyor 110 is higher than the traveling speed V3 of the horizontal rope conveyor 88 and the traveling speed V5 of the main rope conveyor 86 before and after the connection rope conveyor 110. The high speed allows the cone C to pass the connecting rope conveyor 110 quickly.

An air cylinder 128 is arranged on the side of the movable plate 94 as viewed in the traveling direction of the connecting rope conveyor 110, and the air cylinder 128 is fixed to the main frame 90 side. Air cylinder 128
Is connected to the movable plate 94, and the air cylinder 128 is connected to the movable plate 94.
It has a pair of guide rods 132 for guiding the movement of the.

Piston rod 13 of air cylinder 128
0 expands and contracts in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 17, that is, in the moving direction of the movable plate 94, whereby the connecting rope conveyor 11
With 0, the rope 108 on the movable plate 94 side can be brought into contact with and separated from the rope 102 on the fixed plate 92 side. The air cylinder 128 is connected to the controller 134 via a solenoid valve (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a photoelectric tube type sensor 135 is arranged at the end portion of the horizontal rope conveyor 76 described above, that is, at the entrance side of the connection rope conveyor 110. This photoelectric tube type sensor 1
Reference numeral 35 includes a light projector 136 and a light receiver 137 which are arranged to face each other with the horizontal rope conveyor 76 interposed therebetween, and the light receiver 137 is electrically connected to the controller 134.

Further, a photoelectric tube type sensor 140 is also arranged at the starting end of the main rope conveyor 86, and this photoelectric tube type sensor 140 also sandwiches the conveying path of the main rope conveyor 86 and opposes the projector 141 and the light receiver. 142
The light receiver 142 is electrically connected to the controller 134. Therefore, the photoelectric tube type sensor has 13
5 outputs an ON / OFF signal indicating the passage of the cone C to the controller 134 each time the cone C passes the end of the horizontal rope conveyor 76, and the photoelectric tube sensor 140
Outputs to the controller 134 an ON / OFF signal indicating the passage of the cone C each time the cone C passes the starting end of the main rope conveyor 86.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned sorting conveyor section 4 will be described. First, the movable plate 94 of the connecting rope conveyor 110 is moving to the fixed plate 92 side, and at this time, the connecting rope conveyor 110 is moved.
Is connected to the upstream horizontal rope conveyor 76 and the downstream main rope conveyor 86, that is, in a closed state.

In this case, the cone C conveyed from the horizontal rope conveyor 76 side is the cone C shown in FIG.
As is clear from L, it is transferred to the main rope conveyor 86 via the connection rope conveyor 110, and thereafter, as the main rope conveyor 86 travels, it is conveyed. In such a state, the horizontal rope conveyor 76
When a predetermined number of cones C passing through the end portion of No. 1 reaches the predetermined number, the controller 134 causes the air cylinder 128 to contract based on the on / off signal from the phototube sensor 135. As a result, in the connection rope conveyor 110, the movable plate 94, that is, the rope 1 on the side of the movable plate 94.
08 is moved in a direction away from the rope 102 on the fixed plate 92 side, and the rope 108 is moved from the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line to the position indicated by the solid line as shown in FIG. That is, the connection rope conveyor 110 is switched from the closed state to the open state.

When the connecting rope conveyor 110 is in an open state, the connecting rope conveyor 110 can no longer receive and convey the cone C conveyed from the horizontal rope conveyor 76. The cone C carried out from the terminal end of is dropped by its own weight and is received by the branch rope conveyor 87, that is, the first branch rope conveyor 88 as shown by the cone CL in FIGS. 14 and 19, and thereafter, the first cone The branch rope conveyor 88 transfers to and is transferred to the second branch rope conveyor 89.

In this state, when the number of cones C passing through the end portion of the horizontal rope conveyor 76 reaches a predetermined number, the controller 134 causes the photoelectric tube type sensor 13 to operate.
On the basis of the on / off signal from 5, the air cylinder 128 is extended to close the connecting rope conveyor 110. After that, the connecting rope conveyor 110 transfers the cone C from the horizontal rope conveyor 76 to the main rope conveyor 8 as described above.
Hand over to 6.

Therefore, the cone C conveyed from the horizontal rope conveyor 76 is opened and closed by the sorting device 18, that is, the connecting rope conveyor 110 to open and close the main rope conveyor 8.
6 or the branch rope conveyor 87. Since the distribution of the cone C described above is performed without stopping the transportation of the cone C on the side of the horizontal rope conveyor 76, not only the working efficiency of the distribution is significantly improved but also the cone C on the horizontal rope conveyor 76 is improved.
The continuous flow of C is smoothly branched on the main rope conveyor 86 and the branch rope conveyor 88, and the continuous flow of the cone C can be obtained also on these rope conveyors 86 and 88.

Further, in the case of this embodiment, since the photoelectric tube type sensor 140 is also arranged at the starting end portion of the main rope conveyor 86, the controller 134 makes the photoelectric tube type sensor 1
Based on the on / off signal from 40, the main rope conveyor 8
The number of cones C flowing into 6 is counted, and the opening / closing timing of the connecting rope conveyor 110 can be varied based on the counting result, and as a result, the cones C flowing into the main rope conveyor 86 and the branch rope conveyor 88 are evenly distributed. To do.

That is, when the connecting rope conveyor 110 is in the closed state, the controller 134 controls the number of cones C that have flowed in based on the ON / OFF signal from the phototube sensor 135 and the cone C based on the ON / OFF signal from the phototube sensor 140. When the number of outflows and the number of outflows do not match, the number of cones C supplied to the main rope conveyor 86 and the branch rope conveyor 87 is made uniform so that the next time the connecting rope conveyor 110 is operated. Correct the opening / closing timing.

Further, in the case of this embodiment, the pair of ropes 102 and 108 of the connecting rope conveyor 110 are driven by a common drive system, so that the configuration of the drive system can be simplified. Moreover, the toothed belt 1 of the drive system
Drive pulleys 124, 114, 112 around which 26 is wound
18 are arranged on the same line as is apparent from FIG. 18, therefore, even if the connection rope conveyor 110 is opened and closed, that is, the toothed pulley 1 on the movable plate 94 side thereof.
Even if 14 repeatedly moves toward and away from the toothed pulley 112 on the fixed plate 92 side, the tension of the toothed belt 126 does not change, and the durability of the toothed belt 126 can be improved.

Needless to say, the pair of second rope conveyors 16, that is, the main rope conveyor and the branch rope conveyor, respectively extend from the end of the other first rope conveyor 14 with the distribution device 18. Yes. Relay Conveyor Section 6 Referring to FIG. 20, a connection area between the end portions of the main rope conveyor 86 and the branch rope conveyor 87 described above and the relay conveyor section 6 is shown.

The relay conveyor section 6 is a climb conveyor 22 which is connected to the ends of the main rope conveyor 86 and the second branch rope conveyor 89 each having two lines on the distribution conveyor section 4 side, that is, a total of four lines of rope conveyor. 146 is provided. Figure 2
Although only one line of the rope climbing conveyor 146 is shown in FIG.
6 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, and each rope conveyor 86, 8 corresponding to each climb rope conveyor 146.
The relationship with the end of 9 is clear from FIG.

Each climb rope conveyor 146 is composed of an inclined portion and a horizontal portion, and the inclined portion is constructed by vertically winding a pair of ropes 79 like the vertical rope conveyor 54 described above. The pair of ropes 79 in the horizontal portion have their outward path portions extending horizontally. That is, the pulley 147 located at the end of the climb rope conveyor 146 is horizontally arranged, and a pair of upper and lower guide pulleys 149 are arranged in the middle of the rope 79.

The cone C reaching the end of each rope conveyor 86, 89 on the distribution conveyor section 4 side is transferred to the corresponding climb rope conveyor 146 and conveyed, whereby the cone C rises as shown in FIG. While being transported. Each climb rope conveyor 146
A corresponding pool conveyor 24 extends from the end of each of the above, and a buffer unit 150 is provided between them. The buffer unit 150 includes a bracket 152 suspended from the main frame 90 and a pair of rollers 1 rotatably supported by the bracket 152.
As shown in FIG. 22, the rollers 154 are arranged so as to incline downward and widen between the lower ends thereof. The pair of rollers 154 is driven by a motor (not shown), and
It is designed to rotate outwards relative to each other as indicated by the middle arrow.

The cone C carried out from the end of each climb rope conveyor 146 has a corresponding cushion unit 150.
Is temporarily received between the pair of rollers 154, slides on the rollers 154, and then falls onto the pool conveyor 24 from between the rollers 154. That is, the pair of rollers 154 of the buffer unit 150 once receives the cone C jumping out from the end of the climb rope conveyor 146 and reduces the falling speed thereof, and at the same time, the cone C directly drops from the climb rope conveyor 146 to the pool conveyor 24. It has a function to avoid the impact and reduce the impact of the fall.

Unlike the above-mentioned conveyors, the pool conveyor 24 is composed of a pair of parallel shafts 156 as apparent from FIG.
56 extends obliquely towards the lower filling section 8,
It is rotatably supported. The distance between the parallel shafts 156 is the same as the distance between the ropes of the rope conveyors, which allows the climb rope conveyor 146 to move.
The cone C falling from the end of the parallel shaft 156 through the buffer unit 150 is received between the parallel shafts 156 from the tip end side thereof, and based on the inclination of the parallel shafts 156, while maintaining the standing posture on the parallel shafts 156, It slides down due to its own weight.

As shown in FIG. 20, toothed pulleys 158 are attached to the upper end of the parallel shaft 156. The toothed pulleys 158 and the electric motor 160 are attached.
A toothed belt 163 is wound around the toothed pulley 162 of the output shaft of the. The electric motor 160 is fixed to the main frame 90. Therefore, when the electric motor 160 is driven, the electric motor 160 runs the toothed belt 163 and rotates the pair of parallel shafts 156 in opposite directions via the toothed pulley 158. The shaft 156 is rotated toward the outside as shown by the arrow in FIG.

When the parallel shafts 156 are rotated in this manner, the cone C sandwiched between the parallel shafts 156 can smoothly slide down on the parallel shafts 156. In other words, even when the front and rear cones C are caught on the parallel shaft 156, the cones C receive a force such that they can be lifted from the parallel shaft 156, and the catch is quickly eliminated. .

As is clear from the above description, the pool conveyor 24 is provided with a total of four lines, and the terminal end of the pool conveyor 24 of each line enters the above-mentioned filling section 8. Filling Section 8 FIG. 24 schematically shows a cone feeder 26 in combination with a one-line pool conveyor 24, a filling head 28 and a head drive assembly 164 for driving the filling head 28, as well as their peripheries. There is.

The cone feeding device 26 is constructed by utilizing the end region of the pool conveyor 24.
4 is provided with a downstream stopper 166 located at the terminal end of No. 4. The downstream stopper 166 is obtained by bending a rod, and its proximal end is attached to the actuator 168. This actuator 168 is a downstream stopper 16
6 is reciprocated in a direction intersecting with the pool conveyor 24, and in the state shown in the drawing, the downstream stopper 166 has its upper end positioned directly above the pool conveyor 24 and blocks the flow of the cone C by the pool conveyor 24. The state, that is, the state in which the transport passage of the pool conveyor 24 is closed.

On the other hand, on the upstream side of the pool conveyor 24,
An upstream stopper 170 that forms a pair with the downstream stopper 166 is located above the pool conveyor 24.
The upstream stopper 170 comprises a pair of stopper claws 172, and these stopper claws 172 are connected to the pool conveyor 24.
Toward the bottom, and its lower end has an arc shape. On the other hand, the upper end of the stopper claw 172 is connected to a drive box 174 containing an actuator (not shown), and the drive box 174 opens and closes the pair of stopper claws 172 by the operation of the actuator. That is, as shown by the solid line and the broken line in FIG. 25, the pair of stopper claws 172 rotate in opposite directions in the directions intersecting with the transport passage of the pool conveyor 24 to move this transport passage. Open and close. The drive box 174 is attached to a mounting plate 176, and the mounting plate 176 is fixed to the main frame 90.

Downstream stopper 166 and upstream stopper 170
A rodless cylinder 178 is disposed above the pool conveyor 24 between and. The rodless cylinder 178 extends along the pool conveyor 24, and its slider table 180 has a pusher 182.
Is attached. The pusher 182 has a structure similar to that of the upstream stopper 170 described above, and includes a pair of pusher claws 184 corresponding to the stopper claws and a drive box 186 to which the upper ends of the pusher claws 184 are attached. 186 is supported by the slider table 180.

Further, a cone sensor 188 is arranged on the upstream side of the upstream stopper 170, and the cone sensor 188 detects the cone C flowing through the upstream stopper 170 by the pool conveyor 24. Furthermore,
The cone feeding device 26 includes a cone holder 190 at the end of the pool conveyor 24. The cone holder 190 includes a holder shaft 192 that is rotatably supported.
And a holder rod 194. The holder shaft 192 and the holder rod 194 have the same interval as the parallel shaft 156 of the pool conveyor 24, and extend from the corresponding parallel shaft 156 in parallel with each other and horizontally. .

A pulley 196 is attached to one end of a holder shaft 192 located on the opposite side of the pool conveyor 24. The pulley 196 and the electric motor 198 are attached.
A belt 202 is wound around the output pulley 200 on the side. Therefore, the holder shaft 192 is rotated by the driving of the electric motor 198, and the rotation direction and the rotation speed thereof are the same as the rotation direction and the rotation speed of the parallel shaft 156 on the corresponding side.

On the other hand, an arm 204 extends upward from the holder rod 194, and the upper end of the arm 204 is bent and connected to a holder cylinder 208, which is an air cylinder, via a link 206. When the holder cylinder 208 is extended, the holder rod 19
4 is rotated upward through its arm 204,
As a result, the cone holder 190 is opened.

Although not shown, it goes without saying that the rodless cylinder 178, the electric motor 198 and the air cylinder 208 are supported on the main frame 90 side. A stopper plate 191 is arranged between the holder shaft 192 and the holder rod 194, and the stopper plate 191 is arranged on one end side of the holder shaft 192.

The above-mentioned downstream stopper 166, upstream stopper 170, rodless cylinder 178, pusher 18
2, the cone sensor 188, the electric motor 198, and the holder cylinder 208 are electrically connected to a controller 210 as shown in FIG. 26. The controller 210 receives a sensor signal from the cone sensor 188, Controls the operation of each stopper, pusher, and rodless cylinder.

Specifically, first, the downstream stopper 166,
The upstream stoppers 170 are both closed, while the pusher 182 is open. At this time, the pusher 182 is positioned on the upstream stopper 170 side. In this state, the upright position cone C flowing from the upper end side on the pulley conveyor 24 is blocked by the upstream stopper 170 as shown in FIG. Corn C stays in a row.

After that, when the controller 210 opens the upstream stopper 170, the cone C staying upstream of the upstream stopper 170 sequentially passes through the upstream stopper 170 and the pusher 182 and flows on the pool conveyor 24.
Then, the flow is blocked by the downstream stopper 166. The cone C passing through the upstream stopper 170 is
The cone sensor 18 is detected by the cone sensor 188.
Each time 8 detects the passage of the cone C, the sensor signal is supplied to the controller 210. Controller 210
Counts the number of cones C that have passed through the upstream stopper 170 based on the sensor signal from the cone sensor 188. When the number of cones C reaches 5, the upstream stopper 170
Close. As a result, as shown in FIG. 28, five cones C are separated and taken out from the large number of cones C retained upstream of the upstream stopper 170, and these five cones C are located upstream of the downstream stopper 166. Retained.

Thereafter, the controller 210 opens the downstream stopper 166, closes the pusher 182, and operates the rodless cylinder 178 to move the slider table 180 and the pusher 182 toward the cone holder 190. . As a result, the pusher 182 has five cones C as shown in FIG.
Are pushed from the pool conveyor 24 into the cone holder 190 until they come in contact with the stopper plate 191, and these cones C are attached to the holder shaft 1 of the cone holder 190.
It is sandwiched between 92 and the holder rod 194 while maintaining the standing posture. When the five cones C are fed into the cone holder 190, the holder shaft 192 thereof is rotated, but the rotation is stopped after the feeding of the cones is completed.

At the same time as the pusher 182 is moved toward the cone holder 190 in the closed state, that is, the feeding of the cone C to the cone holder 190 is started, the upstream stopper 170 is opened and a new 5 One cone C passes through the upstream stopper 170, and the downstream stopper 1
Head to 66. Immediately after the feeding of the cone C into the cone holder 190 is completed, the downstream stopper 166 is closed, the next five cones C are similarly held upstream of the downstream stopper 166, and the pusher 182 is in the feeding position. It is opened and returns to the position shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 and waits in the open state.

By the way, the number of cones C fed into the cone holder 190 must be accurate, and for that purpose, the cone sensor 188 must surely detect the passage of the cone C. Sensor 188
Are detailed in FIGS. 30 to 32, and the details of the cone sensor 188 will be described below.

The cone sensor 188 has a mounting plate 212, which is arranged along the pool conveyor 24 and fixed to the main frame 90 side. A rod 214 is projected from one end of the mounting plate 212, one end of a guide plate 216 made of synthetic resin is attached to the rod 214, and the guide plate 216 extends parallel to the mounting plate 212.

A pair of plate pieces 218 are attached to both side surfaces of the guide plate 216 at the other end side, and these plate pieces 218 extend downward, that is, toward the attachment plate 212. The lower end of the pair of plate pieces 218 has a horizontal plate 22.
The horizontal plates 220 are connected by the guide plate 2
It is parallel to 16. A light projector 224 is attached from the other end surface of the guide plate 216 via a bracket 222, and the light projector 224 faces downward. On the other hand, a light receiver 228 formed of a photoelectric tube is attached to the horizontal plate 220 via a bracket 226, and the light receiver 228 faces the light projector 224.

A coil spring 230 is wound around the rod 214 in a compressed state, and one end of the coil spring 230 extends from the rod 214 toward the other end of the guide plate 216. Formed as the detected wire 232. Detection wire 2
The rod 32 extends in parallel and linearly with the pool conveyor 24 in a state of being in contact with the lower surface of the guide plate 216 until it passes through the horizontal plate 220 from the rod 214.
The portion that has passed through is curved and extended toward the pool conveyor 24 and reaches directly above the pool conveyor 24, and its tip is formed as a spherical contactor 234. The contactor 234 is positioned immediately downstream of the upstream stopper 170 described above when the detection wire 232 is in the free state (see FIG. 24).

A shield piece 236 is provided in the middle of the detection wire 232.
Is attached to the receiver 22.
8 is projected horizontally. When the detection wire 232 is in the free state, the shield piece 236 is positioned on the pool conveyor 24 side so as to open between the light receiver 228 and the light projector 224. When the flow of the cone C is blocked by the upstream stopper 170, the contact 234 of the detection wire 232 is, as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, more than the cone CT that is in contact with the upstream stopper 170. It is located downstream. Note that FIG. 31 and FIG.
The upstream stopper 170 is not shown.

In this state, when the upstream stopper 170 is opened and the cone CT begins to flow through the upstream stopper 170, the cone C as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.
The conical surface of T abuts the contact 234 of the detection wire 232, and pushes the contact 234 to flow. Therefore,
The contactor 234 of the detection wire 232 makes the pool conveyor 24 follow the conical surface of the cone CT, that is, the arc of the conical surface.
It is reciprocally displaced laterally.

As a result, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 32, the detection wire 232 is elastically displaced toward the above-mentioned light receiver 228 so as to rotate about the rod 214.
When the elastic displacement reaches the maximum, the detection wire 232
The shield piece 236 of the light source 224 penetrates between the light receiver 228 and the light projector 224 to block the light incident from the light projector 224 to the light receiver 228. Output to. After that, when the detection wire 232 returns to the original position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 32 due to the elastic return force, the blocking piece 236.
Opens between the light receiver 228 and the light projector 224, at which point the cone sensor 188 sends an off signal to the controller 21.
Output to 0.

Therefore, each time the cone C passes through the upstream stopper 170, the detecting wire 232 is similarly elastically displaced laterally, and the cone sensor 188 causes the controller 210 to move.
An on / off signal is output to. According to the cone sensor 188 described above, when the cone C passes, the detection wire 232 elastically displaces following the circular arc shape of the conical surface, and due to this elastic displacement, the light receiving device thereof passes through the shield plate 236. Since the 228 and the projector 224 are opened and closed, even if the plurality of cones C flow in a state of being in close contact with each other, the cone sensor 188 surely outputs an on / off signal for each passage of each cone C, and accordingly, The controller 210 can accurately count the number of cones C passing through the cone sensor 188 based on the ON / OFF signal from the cone sensor 188.

Referring again to FIG. 24, the cone holder 1
The above-described filling head 28 is disposed on the holder shaft 192 side of 90, and the filling head 28 is positioned slightly below the holder shaft 192. The filling head 28 has a transport line B for the box B below the filling head 28.
A direction orthogonal to L, that is, the holder shaft 19
2 is provided with a head main body 238 extending along the line 2. The surface of the head main body 238 on the holder shaft 192 side is
Five suction pads 240 are attached. These suction pads 240 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the head body 238, that is, along the holder shaft 192.

As shown in FIG. 33, each suction pad 240 has an elliptical dish shape, and is attached to the head main body 238 with its major axis oriented vertically. The outer peripheral edge portion of the suction pad 240 has a small wall thickness, and is easily elastically deformed so that it can be brought into close contact with the conical surface of the cone C. Further, a suction hole 242 is opened at the center of the bottom of the suction pad 240, and the suction hole 242 is connected to a flexible air hose 244 shown in FIG. 24 through an internal passage (not shown) of the head body 238. . The air hose 244 can be connected to the negative pressure source 248 or the air pressure source 250 via the switching valve unit 246. That is, the switching valve unit 246 contains a pair of electromagnetic switching valves, and the suction pressure or the blow pressure can be supplied to the suction holes 242 of each suction pad 240 by the switching operation of these electromagnetic switching valves. The air hose 244 is open to the atmosphere when both the pair of electromagnetic switching valves are in the rest position.

The filling head 28 is connected to the head driving assembly 164 described above, and the head driving assembly 164 is located on the side of the filling head 28, that is, on the side opposite to the cone holder 190. The movable plate 252 is provided. A suction cylinder 254, which is an air cylinder, is attached to one surface of the head movable plate 252 as shown by a broken line in FIG. 24, and a piston rod 255 of the suction cylinder 254 penetrates the head movable plate 252 and is filled. It extends toward the head 28 and is connected to the head body 238 of this filling head 28.

Further, the head movable plate 252 is supported by a filling cylinder 256 composed of an air cylinder. The filling cylinder 256 is arranged along the transport line BL of the box B, and its piston rod 258 has a head movable plate 25.
It is connected to 2. Further, the filling cylinder 256 has a pair of guide rods 262 in its cylinder holder 260, and one end of these guide rods 262 is connected to the head movable plate 252, and the head movable plate 252 is connected.
I support you.

Cylinder holder 26 of filling cylinder 256
A support shaft 264 orthogonal to the transport line BL of the box B projects from 0, and the support shaft 264 is connected to the output shaft of the rotary cylinder 268 via a pair of bearings 266. The rotary cylinder 268 is fixed to the main frame side. Therefore, the rotary cylinder 268 supports the head movable plate 252 via the filling cylinder 256, and further the head movable plate 252 and the suction cylinder 254 through the filling head. Supports 28.

When the rotary cylinder 268 is driven,
The filling cylinder 256 rotates about its support shaft 264 toward the transport line BL of the lower box B, and as a result,
The filling head 28 pivots about the axis of the support shaft 264. Further, in this embodiment, the filling section 8
Is equipped with a back plate 270 on the side of the holder rod 194 of the cone holder 190.
8 is arranged below the holder rod 194. The bracket 2 is attached to the lower end of the back plate 270.
A rotating shaft 274 is attached via 72, and the rotating shaft 274 is rotatably supported by a bearing 276, and is further connected via a link 278 to a back plate cylinder 280 which is an air cylinder. This back plate cylinder 28
With 0, the back plate 270 can be rotated by the expansion and contraction of the piston rod.

A contact pad 282 is attached to the back plate 270 on the surface facing the filling head 28. The abutment pad 282 consists of a corrugated plate extending along the holder rod 194 of the cone holder 190 such that the individual troughs of the wave oppose the suction pad 240 of the filling head 28 so that it is above the back plate 270. It is arranged.

Each of the switching valve unit 246, the adsorption cylinder 254, the filling cylinder 256, the rotary cylinder 268 and the back plate cylinder 280 described above is electrically connected to the controller 210 as shown in FIG. The operation is controlled by 210. Although not shown, the cone feeding device 26, the filling head 28, and the head drive assembly 16 described above are also provided to the pool conveyors 24 of the other three lines.
4, etc., but here the adjacent filling heads 28 are adapted to swivel in opposite directions, as described above.

Next, the filling operation of the filling section 8 described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 34 to 38.
34 and 35 show the cone holder 190, that is, the state where five cones C have been fed to the filling preparation position, that is, the state shown in FIG. 29. At this time, the back plate 270 is rotating in the direction away from the cone holder 190, and the holder shaft 1 of the cone holder 190 is rotated.
92 is in a state where its rotation is stopped.

When the controller 210 extends the back plate cylinder 280 from this state, the back plate 270 is rotated toward the cone holder 190, and the contact pad 282 is positioned directly below the holder rod 194 of the cone holder 190. To be Simultaneously with the rotation of the back plate 270, the controller 210 extends the suction cylinder 254, switches the switching valve unit 246, and supplies suction pressure to each suction pad 240 of the filling head 28. As a result, the filling head 28 moves toward the cone holder 190, and each suction pad 240 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the corresponding cone C of the cone holder 190 to suck the cone C from the side.

At this time, the corrugated contact pad 282 of the back plate 270 is applied to each cone C from the side opposite to the filling head 28 as shown in FIG. Even if the suction pad 240 is pressed against C, the cone C does not swing. Therefore, each suction pad 240 of the filling head 28 can reliably suck the cone C.

After that, the controller 210 extends the holder cylinder 208 to rotate the holder rod 194 of the cone holder 190 upward, and contracts the back plate cylinder 280 to draw the back plate 270. Three
Rotate to the original position shown in 4. Even if the cone holder 190 is opened by the rotation of the holder rod 194, the five cones C are still attached to the corresponding suction pads 240 of the filling head 28.
These cones C will not fall off because they are adsorbed on.

After this, the controller 210 drives the rotary cylinder 268 to rotate the filling cylinder 256 downward by 90 ° about its support shaft 264. Therefore, the filling head 28 pivots downward around the support shaft 264 together with the five adsorbed cones C. At this time, the holder rod 194 and the back plate 270 of the cone holder 190 are retracted to the outside of the turning region of the cone C indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG.

When the filling head 28 pivots downward, the five cones C are changed from the standing posture to the horizontal posture as shown in FIG. 37.
Below the box 8, a box B is prepared. After that, when the controller 210 extends the filling cylinder 256, the filling head 28 is lowered to the predetermined position with respect to the box B together with the five cones C that have been sucked. At this point of time, the controller 210 switches the switching valve unit 246 to operate, stops the supply of the suction pressure to the filling head 28, that is, each suction pad 240, and simultaneously supplies the blow pressure to these suction pads 240. Therefore, the five cones C adsorbed to each suction pad 240 are surely dropped into the box B from the suction pad 240 by receiving the blow pressure, and are filled in the box B.

After that, the above operation is repeated in reverse,
The filling head 28 and the holder rod 194 of the cone holder 190 return to their original position, ie the position shown in FIG. When the cone holder 190 is closed, the cone C can be held in the cone holder 190. Therefore, after that, the downstream stopper 166 is immediately opened, and five cones C are newly added in the cone holder 190 in the same manner. Sent in.

The box B filled with the cone C is intermittently conveyed along the conveyance line BL to the next filling stage, that is, below the filling head 28 cooperating with the cone holder 190 on the side of the next pool conveyor 24. And is supplied with 5 cones C from its filling head 28. In this case, the filling head 28 of the next filling stage is swiveled in the opposite direction, as shown in FIG. 38, which causes the filling head 28 on the five cones C already filled in the box B. The next 5 cones C are stacked in the opposite direction and filled.

In the next filling stage, in order to realize the turning of the filling head 28 in the opposite direction, the shaft 192 and the rod 194 of the cone holder 190 are made symmetrical as viewed in the direction of the transport line of the box B. The filling head 28 side and the back plate 270 may be arranged in the opposite direction accordingly. Further, regarding the rear filling stage, the extension stroke of the filling cylinder 256 is set shorter than the extension stroke of the front filling cylinder 256, so that when the cone C is released from the filling head 28, the cone is released. The falling distance of C can be shortened and the impact on the cone can be reduced.

As is clear from the above description, when the box B successively passes through each filling stage, the box B is filled with five cones C from the filling head 28 in the reverse order, After that, the box B is supplied to the lid closing device as described above through the transport line BL, and the lid closing device closes the lid and seals it with the adhesive tape.

According to the filling section 8 described above, the cone feeding device 26 can reliably and forcibly feed the five cones C into the cone holder 190,
Moreover, each suction pad 240 of the filling head 28 is
The cone C can be surely adsorbed by cooperating with the contact pad 282 of the back plate 270. Therefore, in each filling stage, the five cones C can be accurately and stably filled in the box B, and the filling posture of the cones C in each step in the box B is also neat.

As a result, the box B that has passed through the filling section 8 is reliably packed with the specified number of cones. Therefore, in the subsequent shipping inspection, that is, in the weight checker, the number of cones is insufficient or excessive. Will never occur. Further, since the cones are regularly packed in the box B, even if the lid is closed by the lid closing device via the adhesive tape after that, the lid does not swell.
Such bulging of the lid causes a collapse of the load when a large number of boxes B are stacked and conveyed on a pallet at the time of shipping.

Further, in each filling stage, when the filling head 28 is performing the cone filling operation for the box B, five cones can be newly fed into the cone holder 190, so that the box B can be fed. The corn filling cycle can be shortened and the packing capacity can be greatly improved. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but various modifications can be made. For example, in one embodiment the relay conveyor section 6 is the climb rope conveyor 14
6 is provided, but if the space for installing the cartoning machine can be widened vertically, the climb rope conveyor 14
6 can be omitted.

Further, in the embodiment, the controller 134 of the sorting conveyor section 4 and the controller 210 of the filling section 8 are separately provided, but these controllers 134 and 210 can be integrated into one controller. Further, it goes without saying that the boxing machine of the present invention can be applied to cone-shaped ice cream and various conical products regardless of the presence or absence of the Y-seal.

[0119]

As described above, according to the conical box packing machine of the present invention, the posture of the cone conveyed in an irregular posture is aligned with the standing posture, and the standing posture is maintained. Since the cones are transported, the subsequent cones can be easily transported and handled, and a series of boxing operations in which a predetermined number of cones are alternately reversed and boxed can be completely automated without manual labor. This full automation allows a defined number of cones to be packed accurately and orderly in the box, and its packing capacity can be significantly improved. Furthermore,
Since the cones to be conveyed in the standing posture are divided into upper and lower parts to be conveyed, the cones can be respectively supplied from the first rope conveyor side to the pair of feeding means without providing two systems on the first rope conveyor side, This has the effect of reducing the size of the entire cartoning machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a packed state of ice cream.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an entire ice cream cartoning machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing intermittent transportation of boxes on a transportation line.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an alignment conveyor section of a cartoning machine.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the top of the chute feeder of the alignment conveyor section.

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an intermediate portion of a chute feeder.

FIG. 7 is a cross section of the lower end of the chute feeder.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a starting end of a vertical rope conveyor extending from a lower end of a chute feeder.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a vertical rope conveyor.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the action of the chute feeder.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a cone transfers from a chute feeder to a vertical rope conveyor.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of ice cream.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the ice cream.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a connection region between an alignment conveyor section and a distribution conveyor section.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the connection region.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a modification of the vertical rope conveyor.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a distribution device arranged in the connection area.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing how the toothed belt of the sorting device is wound.

FIG. 19 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a connection rope conveyor of the distribution device.

FIG. 20 is a side view showing the distribution conveyor section to the relay conveyor section.

FIG. 21 is a rear view showing the climb rope conveyor.

FIG. 22 is a front view showing the upper part of the pool conveyor.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a part of a pool conveyor.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a portion of a filling section including a cone feeder.

FIG. 25 is a view showing an upstream stopper of the cone feeding device.

FIG. 26 is a control block diagram of a filling section.

FIG. 27 is a view showing an operating state of the cone feeding device.

FIG. 28 is a view showing the next operation state of the cone feeding device from the state of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a view showing the next operation state of the cone feeding device from the state of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing a cone sensor of the cone feeding device.

FIG. 31 is a front view of a cone sensor.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an operation of the cone sensor.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing a suction pad.

FIG. 34 is a view showing the periphery of a cone holder of the cone feeding device.

FIG. 35 is a plan view of the periphery of a cone holder.

FIG. 36 is a view showing a state where the cone of the cone holder is sucked by the filling head.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing the swiveling movement of the filling head.

FIG. 38 shows the swiveling movement of the filling head in the opposite direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Chute Feeder 14 First Rope Conveyor 16 Second Rope Conveyor 18 Sorting Device 22 Crime Rope Conveyor 24 Pool Conveyor 26 Cone Feeding Device 28 Filling Head 30 Head Drive Device B Box BL Conveying Line

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mito Ikeda 1-9-5 Oji, Kita-ku, Tokyo Kanto Plant Service Co., Ltd. Tokyo Main Store (72) Inventor Mikio Otsuki 2-Shimosueyoshi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 1-1 Morinaga Confectionery Co., Ltd. Tsurumi Plant (72) Inventor Yukinori Aizawa 50 Imaiue-cho, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Incorporated Company Tokyo Engineering Ring Headquarters (72) Inventor Masao Kataoka 1-17 Yokogawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo −7 Japan Tobacco Inc. Tokyo Plant (72) Inventor Etsuo Shimomura 1-17-7 Yokogawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Tokyo Tobacco Inc. Tokyo Plant

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A chute that tapers downward and sequentially discharges a cone inserted from the upper end in a vertical direction, and a pair of endless ropes extending from the lower end of the chute, and a cone between the ropes. A first rope conveyor that holds and conveys a body in a suspended state; and an aligning unit that aligns the cone in a downward standing posture when the cone moves from the chute toward the first rope conveyor; A predetermined number of cones conveyed from the rope conveyor side are received and sent, and these cones are arranged side by side in a standing posture at a filling preparation position above the conveyance line of the box and spaced in the direction of this conveyance line. A pair of feeding means and a predetermined number of cones arranged in the vicinity of each filling preparatory position at the filling preparatory position are collectively received, and these cones are released. The pair of filling heads that are held in the same position and the respective filling heads are rotated in the opposite directions to change the predetermined number of cones held in the respective filling heads from the standing posture to the horizontal postures that are opposite to each other. After that, the conical box packing machine is provided with head driving means for lowering each filling head toward the box on the transfer line. 2. A conical conveying means for connecting between the first rope conveyor and the pair of feeding means is further provided, and the conveying means is configured to feed the pair of feeding means from a vicinity of an end of the first rope conveyor. A pair of second rope conveyors that are vertically separated and extends toward the means, and a connection path between the first rope conveyor and the second rope conveyor on the upper side is configured, and the connection path is opened and closed to form the first The conical box packing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a distribution unit that distributes and supplies the cone supplied from the rope conveyor to the pair of upper and lower second rope conveyors while maintaining its standing posture.