JPH08133477A - Tote box stacking equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To secure the stable stacked condition of a tote box of low rigidity by controlling the movement of a lifter means based on the positional adjustment data obtained by an operating means to realize the attachment/detachment to the tote box. CONSTITUTION: A frame body with a carrying roller being pierced at the lower part is provided with a positioning means which is fitted in a vertically mobile manner, a lifter means and a box size detecting means 5. The detected output of a box height detecting means 6 and a box size detecting means 5 provided on the positioning means 3 and the lifter means 4 is transmitted to an operating means 8, and the positional adjustment data and the stacked number of the tote box carried in based on the data which are preliminarily stored in a memory 7 are operated. A control means 9 positions the tote box by the positioning means 3 based on the obtained positional adjustment data, and the driving control is made so that the previously carried tote box is lifted by the lifter means 4, and stacked on the subsequently carried box, and then, carried out from the equipment by a carrying means 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a returnable box stacking device suitable for a returnable box having a low rigidity, such as a returnable box used for storing mechanical parts or products, or for carrying in and out.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Mechanical parts, products, etc. are packed in a returnable box and stored or carried in and out. At this time, the returnable boxes are stacked in order to save the storage space or improve the efficiency of carrying in and out.

Conventionally, for example, FIG. 1 is used for stacking the returnable boxes.
The stacking apparatus 100 shown in 2 is used.

This stacking apparatus 100 is composed of a frame body 1
01, a support rod 102 provided on the frame body 101 so as to be movable up and down, a chuck arm 103 provided on the support rod 102 so as to be movable in the lateral direction, and a return box 10.
4 and a conveyor 105, which conveys 4
Carrying boxes 104a, 104b that are transported back and forth by 5
Is stopped and positioned by a stopper 106. After the carrying box 104a that has been fed is positioned, both sides thereof are clamped and lifted by the chuck arms 103, and the waiting box 104b that has been fed further stands by above. The returnable box 104b sent after is positioned by the stopper 106 and then stopped at that position. After that, the supporting rod 102 is lowered to stack the previously sent returnable box 104a on the backwardly sent returnable box 104b.

After stacking in this way, the chuck arms 103 are unpinched and the support arms 102 are moved upward to retract the chuck arms 103 upward, and the stopper 1
The stopper function of 06 is released, and the returnable boxes stacked are sent to the subsequent process by the conveyor 105.

[0006]

However, the stacking apparatus 100 can be preferably implemented when the returnable boxes 104a and 104b are high-rigidity returnable boxes such as plastic containers, but are made of plastic. In the case of a low-rigidity returnable box formed of a liner and a core in a corrugated cardboard, most of the cases deform the outer circumference of the box and deviate in the reference dimension. There is a possibility that a situation may occur in which the boxes and the post-conveyance box cannot be stacked because of a positional shift.

Therefore, stacking work of low-rigidity returnable boxes is
It will be done manually without using an automatic stacker, sometimes unloading work up to a height of 2 meters or more 50 to 60 times a day, which is a harsh work for workers, and a low rigidity The development of a stacking device for boxes has been a challenge for many years.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stacking apparatus for a returnable box that enables stacking of a low-rigidity returnable box.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is a frame for transporting the returnable boxes in sequence and a frame which is vertically long and has the transport means penetrating the lower part thereof. A main body, a positioning means attached to the frame main body so as to be movable up and down, and a positioning means for adjusting the position of the carrying box carried in the frame main body on the conveying means, and a positioning means for positioning the main body on the frame main body above the positioning means And a lifter means for holding the carrying box conveyed in the frame body and moving it up and down independently of the means, and a box size of the carrying box carried in the frame body. Box size detecting means for detecting, box height detecting means for detecting the height of the returnable box carried into the frame body, box size and box obtained by the box size detecting means and box height detecting means High And the position adjustment data of the returnable box loaded into the frame main body from the prestored box size and box height per unit returnable box, and calculation means for calculating the number of tiers, and based on the position adjustment data. The positioning means is used to position each of the returnable boxes carried forward and backward into the frame main body, and the forwarded returnable box is lifted by the lifter means after the positioning and is also forwarded and positioned. After stacking the returnable boxes that have been forwarded on the returnable box held by the positioning means at the position, the positioning means and the lifter means are moved up and retracted, and then the returnable boxes stacked by the transporting means are moved. It is characterized by comprising a control means for driving and controlling the positioning means, the lifter means, and the carrying means so as to be carried out from the frame main body. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stacking device for a returnable box according to the first aspect, which stores in advance the sum of the number of stacked stages of the front feed and rear feed boxes determined by the computing means. Compared with a specified number of stages, the sum of the number of overlapped stages, when the number exceeds the specified number of stages, a work stop signal, when it is within the specified number of stages, a work continuation signal, respectively, the number-of-stages determination unit for outputting to the control means. It is characterized by having.

A third aspect of the present invention is the stacking device for a returnable box according to the first or second aspect, wherein the difference in box height at a plurality of positions of the post-feeding box determined by the box height detection means. And comparing the pre-stored box height tolerance, if the box height difference exceeds the tolerance, a work stop signal, if it is within the tolerance, a work continuation signal, It is characterized in that each of them is provided with a post-conveyance box inclination judging section for outputting to the control means.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the stacking device for a returnable box according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the positioning means has a rectangular opening which is sufficiently larger than the size of the returnable box. A lower frame member which has four corners and is guided and supported by the frame body to move up and down, and a position determined by the computing means at a position corresponding to each corner of the opening of the lower frame member. It is characterized in that it comprises a positioning member movably provided so as to push a corner portion of the return box located in the opening, the movement amount of which is controlled based on the adjustment data.

The invention as set forth in claim 5 is the stacking device for a returnable box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lifter means has a rectangular opening which is sufficiently larger than the size of the returnable box. The upper frame member which has four corners and is guided and supported by the frame main body to move up and down, and a portion corresponding to each central portion of two opposite sides of the upper frame member, which are obtained by the calculating means. And a chuck member that is controlled to move based on the position adjustment data and moves asymptotically and away from each other so as to engage with and disengage from the engaging portion of the return box located in the opening.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the stacking device for a returnable box according to the fourth aspect, wherein the positioning member is formed in an L shape so that an inner surface of the positioning member faces a corner portion of the return box. A movable board provided so as to be movable so as to asymptotically move away from the corner portion of the carrying box, and a pusher attached to the inner side surface of the moving board with elasticity in the direction of pushing the carrying box. It is characterized by consisting of.

The invention according to claim 7 is the stacking device for a returnable box according to claim 5, wherein the lifter means is provided at a position corresponding to each corner of the opening of the upper frame member. It is characterized in that an auxiliary support member is provided, which is controlled in movement amount based on the position adjustment data obtained by the means, and moves so as to come into contact with each corner portion of the return box in which the chuck member is engaged.

The invention according to claim 8 is the stacking device for a returnable box according to claim 6, wherein the pusher has a tapered surface at the upper portion thereof, which is lowered toward the contact surface side to the returnable box. It is characterized by being.

Further, the invention according to claim 9 is the stacking device for a returnable box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the box height detecting means is provided in each of the lifter means and the positioning means. It is characterized in that it comprises an upper sensor and a lower sensor provided.

[0018]

The stacking device for the returnable boxes according to the first to ninth aspects has the above-mentioned structure and therefore has the following effects.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the positioning means and the lifter means are attached to the frame body so as to move up and down independently of each other, the front feed box is lifted by the lifter means. In this state, the post-conveyance box can be positioned by the positioning means.

Further, according to the first aspect of the invention, the positioning means positions each of the returnable boxes carried in the frame body before and after the positioning means based on the position adjustment data obtained by the computing means. , The front and rear feed boxes are positioned based on the same position adjustment data, and the upper and lower positions of the front feed box lifted by the lifter means and the rear feed box on the transfer means are accurately determined. Can be positioned.

Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the front feed-through box lifted up by the lifter means is positioned and then held in the position by the positioning means, it is stacked on the feed-through box. In addition to being able to accurately hold the post-conveyance box at the position where it was positioned, even if the box outer circumference of the post-conveyance box is deformed, it is corrected by holding it by the positioning means before the post-conduction box is deformed. Can be maintained in a normal state, and thus a stable stacking state can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a step number determination unit is provided, and when the sum of the number of stacked steps of the forward feed and backward feed boxes exceeds a pre-stored specified step number, the step stacking operation is stopped and specified. If it is within the number of stages, we have done stacking work, so
The number of stacked stages can be controlled within a specified number.

The invention according to claim 3 is provided with a post-conveyance box inclination judging section, and compares the difference between the box heights at a plurality of positions of the post-conveyance box with a pre-stored box height tolerance. If the difference in box height exceeds the allowable difference, it is judged that it is tilted and the stacking work is stopped.If it is within the allowable difference, it is judged that it is not tilted and the stacking work is continued. Since it is set, it can be stacked in a stable state without tilting of the returnable boxes.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the movement amount is controlled based on the position adjustment data obtained by the calculation means, and the movement is made so as to push the corner portion of the return box located in the opening of the lower frame member. Since the positioning means is configured with the positioning member provided, the amount of movement of the positioning member is limited to the necessary minimum, and the corner portion, which has a relatively high rigidity in the passing box, is pushed by the positioning member to allow the passing box to move. The positioning can be performed, and thus the deformation of the returnable box at the time of positioning can be suppressed as much as possible.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the amount of movement is controlled based on the position adjustment data obtained by the calculation means, and the chuck members move asymptotically and away from each other so as to engage and disengage from the engaging portion of the return box. Since the lifter means is configured to have the lifter means, the movement amount of the chuck member is controlled to a necessary minimum based on the same position adjustment data as that at the time of positioning. Can be engaged without changing.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the positioning member is configured to have the pusher that is elastically attached in the direction of pushing the returnable box, the positioning member with respect to the corner portion of the returnable box at the time of positioning. The pushing force of is pushed by the pusher to some extent, and the deformation of the returnable box can be suppressed.

According to the invention of claim 7, since the auxiliary support member is provided so as to move so as to come into contact with each corner portion of the carrying box with which the chuck member is engaged, the carrying box lifted by the lifter means by the auxiliary support member. It is possible to stabilize the returnable box by contacting the respective corner portions of.

Further, in the invention according to the eighth aspect, since the taper surface is formed on the upper side of the pusher on the side of the contact surface to the return box, the post-return box is held during stacking. The tapered surface of the pusher of the positioning means can be used as a guide to guide the front feed box to the rear feed box.

Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the upper sensor and the lower sensor are provided in the lifter means and the positioning means, respectively, as the box height detecting means, the forward and backward movements are performed by the upward and downward movements of the lifter means and the positioning means, respectively. It is possible to detect the height of the returnable container and the post-returnable container.

[0030]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a basic block diagram of a stacking apparatus for returnable boxes as a first embodiment.

That is, the stacking device was carried into the device, and the transporting device 1 for transporting the returnable boxes, the positioning device 3 and the lifter device 4 which were independently mounted so as to be movable up and down. A box size detecting means 5 and a box height detecting means 6 for respectively detecting the box size and the box height of the returnable box, and carrying into the apparatus based on the detection outputs of the box size detecting means 5 and the box height detecting means 6. Computation means 8 for computing the position adjustment data and the number of overlapping steps of the returnable box, and this computation means 8
Based on the result of the above calculation, each of the returnable boxes that have been loaded into the apparatus before and after are positioned, and the transporting means 1, the positioning means 3, so that the forward transporting boxes are stacked on the rearward transporting boxes. And a control means 9 for driving and controlling the lifter means 4.

At this time, the calculating means 8 calculates the box size and the box height obtained by the box size detecting means 5 and the box height detecting means 6, and the box size and the box height per unit return box stored in the memory 7 in advance. From the above, the position adjustment data and the number of stacking stages of the returnable boxes loaded into the respective devices are calculated.

Further, the control means 9 positions each of the returnable boxes which have been carried into the apparatus by the positioning means 3 based on the position adjustment data obtained by the arithmetic means 8,
After the positioning, the lifting boxes are lifted by the lifter means 4 after positioning, and the positioning means 3 and the lifter means 4 are moved up after being stacked on the packing boxes held by the positioning means 3 at the positioning position after being fed back. The transport means 1, the positioning means 3, and the lifter means 4 are drive-controlled so that the returnable boxes stacked by the transport means 1 are carried out from the apparatus.

2 to 5 show specific examples thereof.

The stacking device 50 for the returnable boxes is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a feeding roller 51 provided for each destination.
And the delivery station 52 provided for each destination, and is provided on the carrying roller 1 as a carrying means for communicating with each other. The returnable boxes that are transported back and forth in the stacking device 50 are stacked and transported to each shipping station 52.

In the stacking apparatus 50, the stacking work is controlled by the personal computer 53 incorporating the memory 7, the calculating means 8 and the control means 9 described above. The personal computer 53 is connected to the stacking device 50 via a control box 54 which receives and converts the detection signals of the box size detecting means 5 and the box height detecting means 6 provided in the stacking device 50 and sends them to the personal computer 53. In addition, it is connected to the transport roller 1 through a control box 55 that controls the input / output of the transport roller 1.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 56 indicates a shipping station 52 for the purpose of a returnable box conveyed by the conveying rollers.
The drawing arm 57 is for drawing in, and the reference numeral 57 is an arrow indicating the carrying direction of the returnable box.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the stacking device 50 is framed into a vertically long cubic shape by a plurality of columns 2a, and the frame main body 2 is formed with the conveying roller 1 at the bottom thereof.
And a positioning means 3 attached to the frame body 2 so as to be movable up and down, and a lifter means 4 attached to the frame body 2 so as to be movable up and down independently of the positioning means 3 above the positioning means 3. A box size sensor 5 as a box size detecting means attached to the lower part of the frame body 2, an upper sensor 61 and a lower sensor 62 as a box height detecting means 6 provided in the lifter means 4 and the positioning means 3, respectively. It is composed of and.

The positioning means 3 is framed with a rectangular opening 30 which is sufficiently larger than the size of the return box A, and its four corners 31a are guided and supported by the guide rods 2b of the frame body 2 to move up and down. The member 31 and the lower frame member 31
The opening 3 is provided at a position corresponding to each corner of the opening 30 of
The positioning member 32 is provided so as to be movable so as to push the corner portion of the return box A located inside 0. The upper and lower moving mechanisms of the lower frame member 31 include a ball screw 58 whose upper and lower ends are rotatably supported by the frame body 2.
And the ball screw 5 connected to the lower end of the ball screw 58.
It is composed of a motor 59 for rotating 8 and a nut portion 31b formed integrally with the lower frame member 31 and screwed into the ball screw 58.

Further, the positioning member 32 is formed in an L-shape and is provided so as to face the corner portion of the passing box A while passing through the inner surface thereof, and to be movable so as to asymptotically move away from the corner portion of the passing box A. The movable board 33 is composed of a movable board 33 and a pusher 34 which is attached to the inner surface of the movable board 33 with elasticity in the direction of pushing the return box A.

The mechanism for moving the positioning member 32 includes a guide rod 35 and a ball screw 36, which are provided on the rear surfaces of the opposite sides of the lower frame member 31 so as to be parallel to each other, and the guide rod 35 is inserted therethrough. Bracket 3 having a hole 37b and a nut portion 37c screwed into the ball screw 36
7a at both ends, and a pair of movable plates 37 provided so as to face the other facing sides of the lower frame member 31, respectively, and a pair of ball screws 36 in an opposing relationship are connected via bevel gears 38a. A pair of drive rods 38, a motor 39 for driving the drive rods 38, a guide rod 25 and a ball screw 26 provided on the back surfaces of the pair of movable plates 37 so as to be parallel to each other, and the ball screw And a motor 27 (see FIG. 4) for driving 26 through a drive rod (not shown). Then, the positioning member 32 attaches the guide rod insertion hole 33b and the nut portion 33c of the bracket 33a integrally provided on the movable substrate 33 to the guide rod 25, respectively.
Also, the ball screw 26 is inserted and screwed to be attached. At this time, the ball screw 26 connects the ball screws 26a and 26b whose winding directions are parallel to each other to the connecting member 26.
It is configured by connecting with c.

In this moving mechanism, the pair of movable plates 37 pass by the rotation of the ball screw 36 by the drive of the motor 39, and asymptotically (a arrow in FIG. 5) or separated (a arrow in FIG. 5) along the transport direction 57 of the box A. B)) and the rotation of the ball screw 26 driven by the motor 27 causes a pair of positioning members 32 facing each other in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction 57 of the return box A to be asymptotic to each other (C in FIG. 5). By moving the arrow) or separating (d arrow in FIG. 5), the four positioning members 32 pass through the four corner portions of the box A at the same time or operate so as to release the pushing force. The movement of the positioning member 32 at this time is performed by the personal computer 53.
It is controlled based on the position adjustment data obtained by the calculating means 8 therein.

The pusher 34 is attached to the movable substrate 33 so as to contact the corner portion of the box A when the positioning member 32 pushes the corner portion of the box A. It is elastically held by a spring (not shown) partially housed in a spring case 33d (see FIG. 4) provided in the. The pusher 34 preferably has an upper portion formed with a tapered surface 34a (see FIG. 4) which is lowered on the side of the contact surface to the box A. This taper surface 34a has a function of guiding the upper-level container to the lower-level container when stacking, and facilitates stacking work.

The lifter means 4 has a rectangular opening 40 which is sufficiently larger than the size of the return box A, and is framed to form the four corners 4.
1a corresponds to the upper frame member 41 which is guided and supported by the guide rod 2b of the frame main body 2 and moves up and down, and the central portions of the two sides of the upper frame member 41 which face each other in the transport direction 57 of the return box A. The chuck member 42 that moves toward and away from each other along the transport direction 57 is provided in the part. The vertical movement mechanism of the lifter means 4 uses a ball screw (not shown) separate from the ball screw 58 for positioning means 3.
With the same structure as the vertical movement mechanism, the vertical movement mechanism can be moved independently of the positioning means 3. The lifter means 4 is preferably provided with an auxiliary support member 43 that moves so as to come into contact with each corner of the return box A at a position corresponding to a corner of the opening 40 of the upper frame member 41.

The chuck member 42 has a lower end engaging portion 42a and is bent in a substantially L-shape as a whole, and is parallel to the opposing sides of the upper frame member 41 facing each other in the transport direction 57 of the container box A. And the upper end is fixed to the central portion of each of the pair of movable plates 44 provided so as to asymptotically move away from each other along the transport direction 57, and the lower end engaging portion 42a is attached to the inside of the opening 40. Has been.

Further, the auxiliary support member 43 is the bracket 4
3b is provided with two supporting rods 43a, 43a which abut on the corner portion of the returnable box A from the outside, and are arranged at both ends of the pair of movable plates 44 in the longitudinal direction of the movable plate 44. It is provided so that it can be moved along.

The pair of movable plates 44 are driven by guiding both side portions of each movable plate 44 by ball screws 45 and guide rods 46 provided on the back sides of the other two opposite sides of the upper frame member 41, respectively. They are mounted so as to move asymptotically or away from each other.

The auxiliary support member 43 is attached so as to be guided and driven by a ball screw 47 and a guide rod 48 provided on the back side of each movable plate 44. Ball screw 4 at this time
7 is a ball screw 47 in which the winding directions of the screws are opposite to each other.
a and 47b are connected by a connecting member 47c. Therefore, the pair of auxiliary support members 43 located on both sides of each movable plate 44 are moved along the lengthwise direction of the movable plate 44 by the rotation of the ball screw 47. They are mounted so as to move asymptotically and away from each other.

The movement of the chuck member 42 and the movement of the auxiliary support member 43 accompanying the movement of the movable plate 44 are
Arithmetic means 8 incorporated in the personal computer 53
It is controlled based on the position adjustment data obtained by.

A plurality of box size sensors 5 are provided at appropriate intervals in the carrying direction 57 of the return box A on the sensor setting members 16 provided on both sides of the carrying roller 1 at the bottom of the frame body 2. It is provided (see FIG. 3). The box size sensor 5 is loaded into the frame main body 2 by the transport roller 1 before and after, and the front end of the front feed box A and the rear end of the rear feed box B when the front end is stopped by the stopper 14. Is measured to detect the box size. The calculation means 8 of the personal computer 53 can obtain the position adjustment data based on the box size detection signal and the box size per unit return box stored in the memory 7 in advance.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper sensor 61 and the lower sensor 62 as the box height detecting means 6 are respectively the tip of the lower end engaging portion 42a of the chuck member 42 and the movable substrate 33 of the positioning member 32. It is provided at the lower end. The upper sensor 61 and the lower sensor 62 measure the box heights of the front feed box A and the rear feed box B carried into the frame body 2 by moving the lifter means 4 and the positioning means 3 up and down, respectively. be able to. The computing means 8 of the personal computer 53 uses the measurement signals of the upper sensor 61 and the lower sensor 62 and the box height per unit return box previously stored in the memory 7 to determine whether the forward and backward return boxes A and B are present. The number of layers can be calculated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the returnable box A (B) has a box body 70 formed in a corrugated box shape with a plastic liner and a core, and a periphery of an opening portion of the box body 70 is reinforced. The belt-like reinforcing member 71 and the engaging hole 72 formed in the opposing side wall facing each other in the length direction of the box body 70 are roughly configured. At this time, in particular, the corner portion 71a of the strip-shaped reinforcing member 71 is thick and is formed so as to project upward by this thickness, whereby the receiving portion 71b during stacking is formed.
Are formed. Returning box A formed in this way
In (B), the box body 70 has lower rigidity than a plastic container.

FIG. 7 shows a basic block diagram of a stacking device for a returnable box as a second embodiment.

The stacking device of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the fact that it has a stage number judging section 11.

That is, this stacking device is provided with the calculating means 8
When the sum of the number of stacked stages of the front and rear feed boxes A and B obtained in step S1 is compared with the specified number of stages stored in advance in the memory 10, and the sum of the number of stacked stages exceeds the specified number of stages, work is performed. When the stop signal is within the specified number of steps, a work continuation signal is output to the control means 9, respectively. From the height of the box measured by the upper sensor 61 by the upper and lower movements of the lifter means 4,
The number of stacking stages of the post-conveyance box B is obtained from the box height measured by the lower sensor 62 by the upper and lower movements of the positioning means 3.

FIG. 8 shows a basic block diagram of a stacking device for returnable boxes as a third embodiment.

The stacking apparatus of the third embodiment is the same as the second embodiment except for the difference that it has a post-conveyance box inclination judging section 13.

That is, in this stacking device, the box height differences at a plurality of positions of the post-feeding box B determined by the box height detection means 6 and the box height tolerance difference stored in the memory 12 in advance. When the box height difference exceeds the allowable difference, a work stop signal is output to the control means 9, and a work continuing signal is output to the control means 9 when the box height difference is within the allowable difference.
Equipped with 3. As shown in FIG. 9, the difference in box heights at a plurality of positions of the post-conveyance box B is the lower sensor 6 provided on each of the four positioning members 32 by the upward and downward movements of the positioning means 3.
2, the box heights at a plurality of positions of the post-feeding box B are measured, and as shown in FIG. 9, it is determined as the difference ΔH between the highest box height H ₁ and the lowest box height H ₂ of this box height. .

Next, the operation of the stacking apparatus for the returnable boxes of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10 and the operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

First, at the time of start, the positioning means 3 and the lifter means 4 are in a standby state above the frame main body 2 and there is no passing box inside the frame main body 2.

In step S1, the stopper 14 of the conveying roller 1 is turned on and the stopper 15 of the feeding roller 51 is turned on.
The front feed box A is loaded into the frame body 2 by driving the loading roller 51 and the transport roller 1 while setting the FF (see FIG. 3). At this time, the number of stacking stages of the front delivery box A is five. The stopper 15 is turned on after the front delivery box A is loaded.
After that, the rear delivery box B is stopped.

In step S2, the front feed box A is stopped by the front end portion of its lower end hitting the stopper 14, and it is confirmed that the frame body 2 is carried in (see FIG. 3). After that, the stopper 14 is turned off.

In step S3, the box size sensor 5 measures the box size of the pre-conveyance box A carried into the frame body 2. This measurement signal is input to the calculating means 8, and the calculating means 8 calculates the position adjustment data of the front feed box A.

In step S4, the positioning means 3 and the lifter means 4, which were standing by at the upper position, descend (see FIG. 11).
(See (a)).

During this descending process, the upper sensor 61 provided on the lifter means 4 measures the box height of the pre-feed box A (step S5). This measurement signal is input to the calculating means 8, and the calculating means 8 calculates the number of stacked stages (5 stages) of the pre-feeding box A.

In step S6, the lowered positioning means 3 positions the pre-feeding box A on the transport roller 1. For this positioning, as shown in FIG. 11A, the four corner portions 71a of the strip-shaped reinforcing member 71 of the lowermost carrying box of the front sending container A are replaced by the four positioning members 32 of the positioning means 3. This is done by pressing. The movement amount of the positioning member 32 at this time is controlled based on the movement amount obtained by the control means 9 by the output of the position adjustment data obtained in step S3.

In step S7, the lifter means 4 which has descended
The upper sensor 61 confirms the position of the feed-through box A. This confirmation is performed by using one of the pair of upper sensors 61 provided on the pair of chuck members 42 as a light emitting portion and the other as a light receiving portion, and checking the light transmitted through the engaging hole 72 (see FIG. 6) of the return box A. To do.

In step S8, the lifter means 4 which has descended
A pair of chuck members 42 asymptotically move, the lower end engaging portion 42a thereof engages with the lowermost engaging hole 72 of the front feed box A, and as shown in FIG. Lift A. The amount of movement of the lower end engaging portion 42a when the lower end engaging portion 42a is engaged with the engaging hole 72 is controlled based on the amount of movement obtained by the control means 9 by outputting the position adjustment data obtained in step S3. The lifting of the pre-conveyance box A is also performed by the upward movement of the lifter means 4 controlled by the control means 9. At this time, the positioning means 3 is controlled by the control means 9 to return to the specified position and move upward together with the lifter means 4 (step S9). Further, the auxiliary support member 43 provided in the lifter means 4 comes into contact with the corner portion of the lowermost transportable box A of the front transportable box A lifted by the lifter means to prevent the lifted forward transportable box A from swinging. It prevents it and stabilizes the lifted state. The movement of the auxiliary support member 43 at this time is controlled based on the position adjustment data obtained in step S3.

Next, in step S10, the transport roller 1
The stopper 14 is turned on, the stopper 15 of the feeding roller 51 is turned off, and the feeding roller 51 and the conveying roller 1 are driven to feed the post-conveyance box B into the frame body 2 (see FIG. 3). At this time, the number of stacking stages of the post-conveyance box B is within 6 stages. The stopper 15 after the post-conveyance box B has been put in is turned on to stop the pre-conveyance box to be stacked next time.

In step S11, the front end portion of the lower end of the rear delivery box B abuts against the stopper 14 and stops, and it is confirmed that the rear delivery box B has been carried into the frame body 2.

In step S12, the above-mentioned step S
In the same manner as 3, the box size sensor 5 measures the box size of the rear-feeding box B, and the calculating means 8 calculates the position adjustment data of the rear-feeding box B.

In step S13, the positioning means 3 waiting at the upper position is lowered. At this time, the lifter means 4
Maintains the state in which the front feed box A is lifted as shown in FIG. 11 (c). In this descending process, the positioning means 3
The lower sensor 62 provided in the box measures the height of the post-delivery box B (step S14). This measurement signal is input to the calculating means 8, and the calculating means 8 calculates the number of stacking stages (within 6 stages) of the post-delivery box B.

In step S15, the stage number determination unit 11 determines whether or not the sum of the number of stacked stages of the front and rear delivery boxes A and B obtained in steps S5 and S14 is within a prescribed number of stages. If the sum of the number of stacked layers exceeds the specified number of stacked layers (NO)
Outputs a work stop signal to the control means 9 and outputs a work continuation signal to the control means 9 when the number of steps is within the specified number (YES). The control means 9 stops the subsequent stacking work by the work stop signal (step S24), and continues the subsequent stacking work by the work continuation signal. In the case of this embodiment, for example, the specified number of stages is 1
When the number of stacks is set to 0, the sum of the stacking stages (the number of stages in the front-passing box A is 5 + the number of stages in the rear-passing box B is 5) becomes 10 and the subsequent stacking work can be continued. .

In step S16, the post-conveyance box inclination determination unit 1
In step S14, it is determined whether or not the box height difference ΔH at a plurality of positions in the post-delivery box B is within the box height tolerance. After this, the box inclination determination unit 13 determines the box height difference ΔH.
However, if it exceeds the box height tolerance (NO), a work stop signal is output to the control means 9, and if it is within the box height tolerance (YES), a work continuation signal is output to the control means 9. The control means 9
Subsequent stacking work is stopped by the work stop signal (step S24), and subsequent stacking work is continued by the work continuation signal.

As described above, in steps S15 and S16, if any one of the number-of-stages determination unit 11 and the rear-feeding-box inclination determination unit 13 determines NO, the subsequent stacking work is stopped.

In step S17, the lowered positioning means 3 positions the rear delivery box B on the transport roller 1. This positioning is performed by pushing the corner portion 71a of the lowermost carrying box of the post-feeding carrying box B with the positioning member 32, as in step S6 described above. The movement amount of the positioning member 32 at this time is controlled based on the movement amount obtained by the control means 9 by the output of the position adjustment data obtained in step S12.

In step S18, the positioning means 3 moves up to the upper end of the post-conveyance box B, and the four corners 71a of the reconciliation box located at the uppermost stage are moved to the four positioning members 3
Hold at 2 at the same time. The holding by the positioning member 32 is held at a position where the pressing member 34 is passed through and brought into contact with the corner portion 71a of the box. Pusher 3 at this time
4 is an upper taper surface 34 of the upper surface 34 as shown in FIG.
The a is positioned so as to project upward from the upper end of the post-conveyance box B and face inward, and abuts on the corner portion of the commutation box.

In step S19, the front delivery box A that has been lifted upward is lowered and stacked on the rear delivery box B held by the positioning member 32. During this stacking, the tapered surface 34a of the pusher 34 guides the front feed box A onto the rear feed box B, so that the stacking can be facilitated and accurate.

In step S20, stacking of the front feed box A on the rear feed box B is confirmed by controlling the lowering of the front feed box A. After confirming this stacking, the chuck member 42
1 is released from both the front feeding box A and the positioning member 32 held in the rear feeding box B (step S21), and the lifter means 4 and the positioning means 3 are moved upward to move the holding means 4 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1 (e), it is retracted upward (step S2
2). After that, the transport rollers 1 are driven to carry out the stacking box from the frame body 2 and carry it to the desired shipping station 52 (see FIG. 2) (step S23). The driving of the transport roller 1, the positioning unit 3, and the lifter unit 4 at this time is controlled by the control unit 9.

In this way, the pre-conveyance box A can be stacked on the post-conveyance box B, and by repeating this stacking operation thereafter, the commutation boxes can be successively stacked.

As described above, in the stacking apparatus for the returnable boxes of the first to third embodiments, the pre-feeding box A lifted by the lifter means 4 is positioned and then held by the positioning means 3 and then fed. Since the stacking is performed on the returnable box B, the post-feeding box B can be accurately held at the positioned position at the time of stacking and the outer circumference of the post-feeding box B is deformed. In this case, the post-conveyance box B can be maintained in a normal state before being deformed by being held by the positioning means 3 and can be applied to a low-rigidity return box to obtain a stable stacking state. it can.

Further, these stacking devices are composed of the calculating means 8
The moving box A positioned in the opening 30 of the lower frame member 31 is controlled in the amount of movement based on the position adjustment data obtained in
Since the positioning means 3 has the positioning member 32 that is movably provided so as to push the corner portion (or B), the moving amount of the positioning member 32 is limited to the necessary minimum, and the positioning of the returnable box. Even in the inside, the corner portion having a relatively high rigidity can be pushed by the positioning member 32 to position the moving box A (or B), whereby the deformation of the moving box at the time of positioning can be suppressed as much as possible, and the low rigidity can be achieved. It can be suitably implemented in a returnable box.

Further, these stacking devices are composed of the calculating means 8
The lifter means 4 is configured to have the chuck member 42 which is asymptotically moved toward and away from each other so as to be engaged with and disengaged from the engaging portion 72 of the returnable box A, the amount of movement of which is controlled based on the position adjustment data obtained in the above. Therefore, the movement amount of the chuck member 42 is controlled to a necessary minimum based on the same position adjustment data as that at the time of positioning, whereby the chuck member 42 can be operated without changing its position with respect to the returnable box A after positioning. Therefore, it can be suitably applied to a low-rigidity returnable box.

Moreover, these stacking devices are
Since the positioning member 32 is configured by including the pusher 34 that is elastically attached in the direction of pressing (or B), the positioning member 32 with respect to the corner portion of the return box A (or B) at the time of positioning. The pushing force is somewhat relieved by the pusher 34 and the deformation of the returnable box can be suppressed, which is suitable for a low-rigidity returnable box.

In particular, the returnable box stacking apparatus of the third embodiment is provided with the number-of-steps determination section 11 and the post-conveyance box inclination determination section 13 to obtain a more stable stacked state.

[0087]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the positioning means and the lifter means are attached to the frame body so as to move up and down independently of each other, the front feed box is lifted by the lifter means. The post-conveyance box can be positioned by means of the positioning means, and the positioning means can position each of the returnable boxes carried forward and backward in the frame body based on the position adjustment data obtained by the computing means. Therefore, the front and rear feed boxes are positioned based on the same position adjustment data, and the upper and lower relations of the front feed box lifted by the lifter means and the rear feed box on the transfer means are compared. The position can be accurately positioned, and the front feed box that is lifted by the lifter means is held in that position by the positioning means after being positioned and then stacked on the feed box. Therefore, it is possible to accurately hold the post-conveyance boxes at the positioned position during stacking, and even if the box outer circumference of the post-conveyance boxes is deformed, it is corrected by the holding by the positioning means and post-conveyed. By being able to maintain the returnable box in a normal state before deformation, it is possible to provide a stacking device for a returnable box that can be applied to a low-rigidity returnable box to obtain a stable stacked state.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the step number determination unit is provided so that the step stacking operation is stopped when the specified step number is exceeded, and the step stacking operation is performed when the specified step number is not reached. The number of stacking stages can be controlled within a prescribed number of stages, and as a result, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to provide a stacking device for a returnable box in which a more stable stacked state can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the post-conveyance box inclination judging section is provided, and when it is judged that the post-conveyance box is tilted, the stacking work is stopped and the post-conveyance box is tilted. If it is judged that there is no stacking work, we will continue the stacking work.
To provide a stacking device for a returnable box which can be stacked in a stable state without inclination of the returnable box, and as a result, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, a more stable stacked state can be obtained. You can

According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, the positioning member whose movement amount is controlled on the basis of the position adjustment data obtained by the computing means is used to pass through the corner portion having relatively high rigidity in the returnable box. Since the positioning is performed as described above, it is possible to provide a stacking device for a returnable box that suppresses the deformation of the returnable box at the time of positioning and obtains a more stable stacking state.

According to the invention of claim 5, the movement amount is controlled based on the position adjustment data obtained by the calculating means,
Since the lifter means is configured to have the chuck members that asymptotically move away from each other so as to be engaged with and disengaged from the engaging portion of the returnable box, the returnable box can be moved by accurately moving the chuck member with respect to the returnable box after positioning. It is possible to provide a stacking device for a returnable box that can be engaged and disengaged with respect to the engaging portion, and as a result, a more stable stacking state can be obtained without changing the position of the returnable box after positioning.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the positioning member is constituted by the pusher which is elastically attached in the direction of pushing the returnable box, the positioning member is configured with respect to the corner portion of the returnable box at the time of positioning. The pushing force of the positioning member is somewhat relaxed by the pusher, and the deformation of the returnable box can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to provide a returnable box stacking device that can be suitably implemented for a low-rigidity returnable box.

According to the invention described in claim 7, since the auxiliary support member is provided so as to move so as to come into contact with each corner portion of the returnable box with which the chuck member is engaged, the auxiliary support member is lifted by the lifter means. It is possible to provide a stacking device for a returnable box that can be brought into contact with each corner of the returnable box to stabilize the returnable box, and as a result, a more stable stacked state can be obtained.

Further, according to the invention as defined in claim 8, since the taper surface is formed on the upper side of the pusher on the side of the contact surface for contacting the carton box, the post-conveyor box for stacking at the time of stacking. The taper surface of the pusher of the positioning means for holding the guide box can be used as a guide to guide the front feed box to the rear feed box, and as a result, a more stable stacking state can be obtained. A loading device can be provided.

Further, according to the ninth aspect of the invention, since the upper sensor and the lower sensor are provided in the lifter means and the positioning means as the box height detecting means, respectively, by the upper and lower movements of the lifter means and the positioning means, respectively. It is possible to detect the heights of the front feeding box and the rear feeding box, and as a result, it is possible to provide a stacking apparatus for the feeding boxes that can obtain a more stable stacked state without tilting within the specified number of stages. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic block diagram of a stacking device for returnable boxes as a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram showing a layout example of the stacking apparatus for the returnable boxes in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the main parts of the stacking device for the returnable boxes in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of the stacking device for the returnable boxes in FIG. 1.

5 is a plan view of the lower frame member of the positioning means of the stacking device for the returnable boxes in FIG. 1 drawn in imaginary lines.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a returnable box.

FIG. 7 is a basic block diagram of a stacking device for returnable boxes as a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a basic block diagram of a stacking device for returnable boxes as a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an operation for determining the inclination of the rear delivery box.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the stacking device for the returnable boxes as the third embodiment.

11 (a) to 11 (e) are schematic diagrams for explaining the operation sequence shown in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an operation of a conventional stacking device for a returnable box.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conveying Roller (Conveying Means) 2 Frame Main Body 3 Positioning Means 4 Lifter Means 5 Box Size Sensor (Box Size Detecting Means) 6 Box Height Detecting Means 7, 10, 12 Memory 8 Computing Means 9 Control Means 11 Stage Number Judging Section 13 Rear Infeed box inclination determination unit 30, 40 Rectangular opening 31 Lower frame member 32 Positioning member 33 Moving board 34 Pusher 34a Tapered surface 41 Upper frame member 42 Chuck member 43 Auxiliary support member 50 Stacking device 61 of upper case box Upper sensor 62 Lower sensor 72 Engagement hole (engagement part of returnable box) A Front returnable box B Rear returnable box

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A transporting means for sequentially transporting a returnable box, a frame main body which is vertically long and has the transporting means penetrating the lower part thereof, and a frame main body attached to the frame main body so as to be movable up and down. Positioning means for adjusting the position of the carrying box that has been carried in on the carrying means, and the frame body is mounted on the frame body so as to be able to move up and down independently of the positioning means, and to be carried into the frame body. Of the carrying box carried in the frame body, lifter means for holding the carried carrying box and moving it up and down, box size detecting means for detecting the box size of the carrying box carried in the frame body, The box height detecting means for detecting the height, the box size and the box height obtained by the box size detecting means and the box height detecting means, and the box size and the box height per unit returnable box stored in advance. Arrangement means for calculating the position adjustment data and the number of stacking stages of the returnable boxes carried in the frame body respectively, and the positioning means for carrying in the front and rear parts into the frame body based on the position adjustment data. The respective returnable boxes that have been moved are positioned, and the forward-moved returnable boxes are lifted by the lifter means after the positioning, and they are also forwarded and forward-moved to the position where they have been positioned by the positioning means. After stacking the returnable boxes, the positioning means and the lifter means are moved up and retracted, and then the positioning means, the lifter means, and the positioning means so that the transportable boxes stacked by the transport means are carried out from the frame body. An apparatus for stacking returnable boxes, comprising: a control unit that drives and controls a transfer unit. 2. The stacking device for a returnable box according to claim 1, wherein the sum of the number of stacked steps of the forward feed and rearward feed boxes determined by the computing means is compared with a pre-stored prescribed number of steps. And a step number determination unit that outputs a work stop signal when the sum of the number of stacked steps exceeds the specified number of steps, and a work continuation signal when the sum is within the specified number of steps, to the control means. A stacking device for returnable boxes. 3. The returnable box stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the difference between the heights of the plurality of post-conveyance boxes found by the box height detection means is stored in advance. Comparing the box height tolerance, the box height difference, if the difference exceeds the work stop signal, if within the tolerance work continuation signal,
A returnable box stacking device, characterized in that it comprises a post-conveyance box inclination judging section for outputting to the control means. 4. The stacking device for a returnable box according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means has a rectangular opening that is sufficiently larger than the size of the returnable box. The four corners are guided and supported by the frame body above,
The lower frame member that moves downwards, and the passage that is located in the opening at a position corresponding to each corner of the opening of the lower frame member, the amount of movement of which is controlled based on the position adjustment data obtained by the calculation means. A stacking apparatus for a returnable box, comprising a positioning member movably provided so as to push a corner portion of the box. 5. The stacking device for a returnable box according to claim 1, wherein the lifter means has a rectangular opening that is sufficiently larger than the size of the returnable box. The four corners are guided and supported by the frame body above,
The moving amount of the upper frame member moving downward is controlled in the opening corresponding to the central portions of the two opposite sides of the upper frame member based on the position adjustment data obtained by the calculation means. A stacking device for a returnable box, comprising: a chuck member that asymptotically moves toward and away from each other so as to engage with and disengage from an engaging portion of the returnable box. 6. The returnable box stacking device according to claim 4, wherein the positioning member is formed in an L-shape and has an inner surface thereof facing a corner portion of the returnable box and a corner portion of the returnable box. A moving board provided so as to be asymptotic to and away from the moving board; and a pusher elastically attached to the inner surface of the moving board in the direction of pushing the return box. Stacking device for returnable boxes. 7. The returnable box stacking device according to claim 5, wherein the lifter means is located at a position corresponding to each corner of the opening of the upper frame member, and the position adjustment is obtained by the computing means. A stacking device for a returnable box, comprising an auxiliary support member that is controlled to move based on data and moves so as to come into contact with each corner of the returnable box with which the chuck member is engaged. 8. The stacking device for a returnable box according to claim 6, wherein the pusher has a tapered surface formed on an upper portion thereof so as to be lowered on a contact surface side to the returnable box. A stacking device for returnable boxes. 9. The stacking device for the returnable boxes according to claim 1, wherein the box height detecting means is provided with an upper sensor and a lower sensor provided in the lifter means and the positioning means, respectively. A stacking device for returnable boxes, which is characterized in that