JPH09309615A - Item transporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized device and improve a productivity by a method wherein a plurality of transported items can be received in one transporting device. SOLUTION: A first bucket 29 is transported by a first driving motor through a first transporting mechanism 17, a second bucket 30 is transported by a second driving motor through a second transporting mechanism and at the same time eight items 2 are received continuously within the buckets 29, 30 in a transporting direction. In the case that an item 2 is fed into the second bucket 30 placed at a receiving position D, for example, the second bucket 30 is transported in a direction indicated by an arrow B of a reversing direction every time the item 2 is received. With such an arrangement as above, the first bucket 29 can be stopped at the taking-out position for about 3.5 seconds in which seven items 2 are received in the second bucket 30 and further eight items 2 can be received in the buckets 29, 30, the number of buckets can be reduced and its configuration can be simplified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article transfer apparatus for transferring, for example, a conveyed object continuously received at a receiving position toward an unloading position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an article conveying apparatus for conveying a conveyed article having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, a column, or the like includes a driving roller, a driven roller disposed in parallel with the driving roller, and a driven roller driven by the driving roller. A conveyor belt wound around rollers, a plurality of buckets continuously attached to the outer peripheral surface of the conveyor belt in the circumferential direction, and driving the driving roller to separate each bucket by one bucket And a drive motor that intermittently conveys in the circling direction.

When the conveyed article is conveyed by the conveyer apparatus in a sideways posture, the article conveying apparatus thus configured tilts toward the conveyor apparatus at the receiving position while intermittently rotating each bucket. The transported objects in the sideways posture are received in the opened bucket, and the transported items received in the bucket are sequentially transported toward the unloading position. As a result, the bucket is opened upward at the take-out position, and at this take-out position, the conveyed product is inverted to the upright posture, so that the conveyed product can be easily taken out of the bucket.

However, in such a conventional technique, the conveyed articles are continuously conveyed by, for example, 0.5 second intervals by the conveyor device.
It must be removed within 5 seconds. For this reason, it is extremely difficult to grasp and take out the conveyed object with an automatic machine such as a robot hand, etc. In addition, it is necessary to prolong the residence time of the conveyed material at the take-out position, and there is a problem that the productivity is reduced by using an automatic machine such as a robot hand.

Therefore, as an article conveying apparatus which solves such a problem, for example, an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-285654 (hereinafter referred to as another conventional technique) is known.

[0006] Another prior art article transport apparatus is as follows.
A first circuit that circulates between a receiving position and an unloading position of a conveyed object;
A transport mechanism, and the first transport mechanism are disposed in parallel,
A second orbit that circulates between a receiving position and an unloading position of a conveyed object;
And a first bucket group consisting of a plurality of buckets continuously arranged in a circumferential direction of the first transport mechanism, and a position of the first bucket group is different in the circumferential direction. A second bucket group consisting of a plurality of buckets continuously arranged in a circumferential direction of the second transport mechanism; and a first bucket group when the first bucket group is at a receiving position and an unloading position. Is transported at a low speed, and when moving between the receiving position and the unloading position and between the unloading position and the receiving position, the first transport mechanism is driven so as to transport the first bucket group at a high speed. And the second bucket group is transported at a low speed when the second bucket group is at the receiving position and the unloading position,
A second driving mechanism for driving the second transport mechanism so as to transport the second bucket group at a high speed when moving between the receiving position and the unloading position and between the unloading position and the receiving position. Have been.

[0007] In the article transport apparatus configured as described above, for example, in a state where the first bucket group is disposed at the position for receiving the transported article, the first bucket group is moved to the first bucket group via the first transport mechanism. The transport mechanism is driven at a low speed by the drive mechanism, and the transported goods are sequentially received in each bucket of the first bucket group. Further, at the time of receiving the transported object, the second bucket group that has previously received the transported object is transported at a high speed to the transported product take-out position by the second drive mechanism via the second transport mechanism. The conveyed material is taken out from each bucket of the second bucket group while being conveyed at a low speed at the take-out position. Then, when the receiving of the transported goods of the first bucket group at the receiving position proceeds and the last bucket receives the transported goods, the second bucket group at the unloading position is transported at a high speed by the second drive mechanism, Move to a position following the first bucket group at the receiving position.

[0008] With this configuration, the conveyed article can be received at the first bucket of the second bucket group following the last bucket of the first bucket group. The other bucket groups can stay at the take-out position until the conveyed goods are received.

[0009]

However, in the above-described other prior art article transport apparatus, each of the buckets of the first bucket group and the second bucket group receives one transported article. However, there is a problem that a large number of buckets are required, and an increase in the number of buckets increases the size of the entire apparatus.

In addition, when one conveyed object is received in each bucket, the conveyed objects are separated from each other via each bucket. Therefore, each conveyed object is taken out from the bucket at a take-out position and a predetermined number is collected. Thereafter, the user must re-grasp and pack in a small box, which complicates the device configuration and work procedure, and causes a problem of an increase in cost and a decrease in productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus and improve productivity by making it possible to receive a plurality of objects in one carrier. It is an object of the present invention to provide an article conveying device that can be used.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article transporting apparatus which circulates between a receiving position and an unloading position of a transported article by a first drive mechanism. A first transport mechanism, a second transport mechanism which is arranged in parallel with the first transport mechanism, and which circulates between a receiving position and a unloading position of the transported article by a second drive mechanism; A first transport tool attached to the second transport mechanism for receiving the transported article, and a second transport tool mounted to the second transport mechanism at different positions in the circumferential direction from the first transport tool for receiving the transported article. And a transport tool.

The feature of the configuration adopted by the invention of claim 1 is that the first drive mechanism is configured to receive the first transport whenever the first transport tool is in the receiving position, each time the first transport mechanism sequentially receives the transported product. The tool is conveyed in the reverse direction, and when it is in the take-out position, the first carrying tool is temporarily stopped or is conveyed at a low speed in the forward direction, and between the receiving position and the taking-out position and from the taking-out position to the receiving position. When moving between, the first transport tool is configured to be transported in the forward direction at a high speed, and the second drive mechanism is configured to sequentially receive the transported object when the second transport tool is in the receiving position. The second transport tool is transported in the reverse direction, and when the second transport tool is in the take-out position, the second transport tool is temporarily stopped or is transported at a low speed in the forward direction, and between the receiving position and the take-out position and from the take-out position. Between positions When moving is to have a configuration in which conveyed in the forward direction at a high speed a second conveyance member.

[0014] With this configuration, for example, in a state where the first transporter is located at the position for receiving the transported object, the first transporter is driven by the first drive mechanism via the first transport mechanism. Therefore, a plurality of articles can be sequentially received in the first carrier in a stacked manner. Further, at the time of receiving the transported object, the second transport tool that has previously received the predetermined number of transported objects is transported at a high speed to the removal position of the transported object by the second drive mechanism via the second transport mechanism. At this take-out position, it is possible to take out the respective conveyed objects collectively from the second conveying tool while being temporarily stopped or conveyed at a low speed. Furthermore, by accepting a plurality of articles in one carrier, it is not necessary to prepare a carrier for each article, thereby reducing the number of the carriers and, for example, the number of articles to be accepted by the carrier. Is set to the number of small boxes to be packed in a post-process, so that a predetermined number of articles can be easily packed in the small boxes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article conveying apparatus, wherein a first driving mechanism circulates between a receiving position and a taking-out position of a conveyed article by a first driving mechanism, and a first conveying mechanism in parallel with the first conveying mechanism. And a second transport mechanism that is disposed around the first transport mechanism and that circulates between the receiving position and the unloading position of the transported object by the second drive mechanism, and the second transport mechanism that is attached to the first transport mechanism and that rotates around the first transport mechanism. A first bucket group composed of a plurality of buckets continuous in a direction, and the first bucket group is attached to the second transport mechanism at different positions in the circumferential direction, and is rotated by the second transport mechanism. And a second bucket group including a plurality of buckets continuous in the direction.

The feature of the configuration adopted by the invention of claim 2 is that the first drive mechanism moves the first bucket group in order every one bucket when the first bucket group is in the receiving position. Direction and the operation of conveying the first bucket group in the opposite direction every time the conveyed articles are sequentially received, and when the pickup position is set, the first bucket group is temporarily stopped or is moved at a low speed. The second drive mechanism is configured to convey the first bucket group at a high speed in the forward direction when the first bucket group is conveyed in the direction from the receiving position to the taking-out position and from the receiving position to the receiving position.
When the second bucket group is in the receiving position, the operation of transporting the second bucket group in the forward direction for each bucket and the operation of transporting the second bucket group in the reverse direction for each successive receipt of the transported object The second bucket group is temporarily stopped or conveyed in the forward direction at a low speed when in the take-out position, and moved between the receiving position and the taking-out position and between the taking-out position and the receiving position. Occasionally, the second bucket group is configured to be conveyed at high speed in the forward direction.

With this configuration, for example, in a state where the first bucket group is arranged at the position for receiving the conveyed object, the first bucket group is first conveyed by one bucket in the forward direction. To accept the transported goods in the first bucket. The first bucket group is configured to stack a predetermined number of articles in each bucket by repeating transport in the reverse direction each time articles are sequentially received in the bucket and transport in the forward direction for each bucket. Can be accepted. Further, at the time of receiving this conveyed product, the second bucket group, which has previously received a predetermined number of conveyed products in the respective buckets, moves to the take-out position of the conveyed product at a high speed by the second drive mechanism via the second conveying mechanism. In the state of being temporarily stopped or being conveyed at a low speed, the respective conveyed objects can be collectively taken out from the second bucket group. In addition, the bucket group consists of multiple buckets,
By receiving a plurality of conveyed items in one bucket, a large number of conveyed items can be conveyed and the number of buckets can be reduced. By setting the number to a predetermined number, it is possible to easily pack a predetermined number of conveyed articles in the small box.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a detector for detecting a conveyed object conveyed to the receiving position is provided, and the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism are based on a detection signal of the detector. The first transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism are intermittently driven in opposite directions.

With this configuration, when the detector detects that the conveyed object has been conveyed to the receiving position, the first driving mechanism and the second conveying mechanism make the first
Since the second transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism are intermittently driven in the forward direction or the reverse direction, it is possible to sequentially receive the transported objects transported in the first transport tool and the second transport tool. .

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an article conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described, for example, in an upright posture in which eight thin rectangular parallelepiped (plate-like) products as conveyed articles conveyed in a sideways posture are received. The case where the sheet is reversed and conveyed to the take-out position will be described as an example, and will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, FIGS. 1 to 11 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a conveyor device for sequentially transporting a rectangular parallelepiped product 2 to be conveyed, and the upstream side of the conveyor device 1 is connected to a packaging device (not shown), and the downstream side is described later. Extending to the receiving position D of the product 2 of the article transport device 11 to be used. Here, the conveyor device 1 sequentially conveys the products 2, 2,... At a constant speed and at an interval.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a product detection sensor as a detector provided in the conveyor device 1. The product detection sensor 3 is attached to the side of the conveyor device 1, and includes, for example, a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion (neither is shown). ) Is configured as a reflection type non-contact sensor having And the product detection sensor 3 is
The conveyor 2 detects the products 2 successively conveyed, and outputs a detection signal to a control unit (not shown).

Reference numeral 4 denotes a robot device for taking out the product 2 from the article transfer device 11, and the robot device 4 is provided with a take-out position E of the product 2 of the article transfer device 11 and a small box as shown in FIG. Position of packed product 2 (none shown)
And a robot hand 4A operating between them. Then, the robot device 4 takes out each product 2 transported to the takeout position E by the article transport device 11 and packs it in a small box.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an article conveying device according to the present embodiment, which is located on the downstream side of the conveyor device 1 and is provided on the base 12. The article conveying device 11 includes a first drive motor 13 and a first drive motor 13 which will be described later. Second drive motor 15, first transport mechanism 17,
The second transport mechanism 23, the first bucket 29, and the second bucket 30 are roughly configured.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a first drive motor which forms a first drive mechanism and is fixed on a base 12 via a bracket 14 on the right side (close to the conveyor device 1) in the drawing. The drive motor 13 is configured as, for example, a direct drive motor, and has a stepped rod-shaped rotary shaft 13 at the center thereof.
A is provided so as to project.

The first drive motor 13 moves the chain 21 of the first transport mechanism 17 in the forward direction by a control signal output from the control unit based on a detection signal from the product detection sensor 3. It moves around in the direction A or the direction indicated by the arrow B which is the opposite direction.
When the first bucket 29 is at the receiving position D, the first bucket 29 is continuously intermittently fed in the direction of arrow B,
The first bucket 29 is temporarily stopped when it is at the unloading position E, and the first bucket 29 is moved from the receiving position D to the unloading position E and from the unloading position E to the receiving position D.
When the bucket 29 moves, it is continuously conveyed at a high speed.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a second drive motor which is located on the left side of the figure in parallel with the first drive motor 13 and forms a second drive mechanism fixed on the base 12 via a bracket 16. The second drive motor 15 is configured as, for example, a direct drive motor, and has a stepped rod-shaped rotary shaft 1 at the center thereof.
5A is provided to protrude.

Then, similarly to the first drive motor 13, the second drive motor 15 is controlled by a control signal output from the control unit based on a detection signal from the product detection sensor 3, and is supplied to the second transport mechanism 23. Of the chain 27 in the forward direction indicated by the arrow A or the reverse direction indicated by the arrow B. For example, when the second bucket 30 is at the receiving position D, the second bucket 30 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow. The second bucket 30 is intermittently fed continuously in the direction B, and temporarily stopped at the take-out position E.
When moving the second bucket 30 between the receiving position D and the unloading position E and between the unloading position E and the receiving position D, the second bucket 30 is continuously conveyed at a high speed.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a rotating shaft 13 of the first drive motor 13.
A shows a first transport mechanism provided between the first transport mechanism 17A and the rotary shaft 15A of the second drive motor 15;
A drive sprocket 18 fixed to the tip end of the rotation shaft 13A of the first drive motor 13;
And a chain 21 wound around the driving sprocket 18 and the driven sprocket 20. The driven sprocket 20 is rotatably mounted on the distal end side of the rotating shaft 15A via a bearing 19, and the chain 21 is wound around the driven sprocket 18 and the driven sprocket 20. , A first bucket 29 is connected via a connecting tool 22 as shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a second transfer mechanism provided in parallel with the first transfer mechanism 17 and provided between the rotation shaft 13A of the first drive motor 13 and the rotation shaft 15A of the second drive motor 15. The second transport mechanism 23 includes a drive sprocket 24 fixed to an intermediate portion of a rotation shaft 15A of the second drive motor 15 and a rotation shaft 13A of the first drive motor 13.
A driven sprocket 26 is rotatably attached to the intermediate portion via a bearing 25, and a chain 27 is wound around the driving sprocket 24 and the driven sprocket 26. As shown in FIG. 4, the second bucket 30 is connected via the connecting tool 28.

29 is a chain 21 of the first transfer mechanism 17.
1 shows a first bucket constituting a first carrier attached to the first bucket 29. The first bucket 29 is formed in a bottomed box shape extending in a circumferential direction to receive eight products 2, and is formed in a circumferential outer side. To the chain 21 so that it opens toward
2 are connected.

Further, 30 is a second bucket which is provided at a position different from the first bucket 29 in the circumferential direction and which is attached to the chain 27 of the second transport mechanism 23 and constitutes a second transport tool. The second bucket 30 is shown to have eight products 2
Is formed in the shape of a box with a bottom extending in the circumferential direction so as to receive the chain 27, and the chain 27 is opened so as to open outward in the circumferential direction.
Are connected to each other via a connector 28.

On the other hand, reference numeral 31 denotes a support provided substantially at the center of the base 12, and the support 31 has a support 31A extending upward from the upper surface of the base 12 and an upper end of the support 31A. And a fixed bucket support plate 31B,
Both ends of the bucket support plate 31B are
It curves downward along a zero orbit. And
The support base 31 supports the buckets 29 and 30 arranged at the take-out position E of the product 2 at a predetermined height position by a bucket support plate 31B.

The article conveying apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment has the above-described structure, and next, the product 2 conveyed from the conveyor apparatus 1 in the lying position and received at the receiving position D is inverted to the upright posture and taken out. The operation of placing the product at the position E and packing the product in the small box by the robot device 4 will be described.

First, when the product 2 is conveyed by the conveyor device 1 in a sideways posture, the article conveying device 11 places the product 2 in, for example, a second bucket 30 at a receiving position D as shown in FIG. Are sequentially accepted. When the products 2 are received in the second bucket 30, the first bucket 29 receiving the eight products 2 is continuously transported at a high speed to the unloading position E by the first drive motor 13 or the like. .

When receiving the first product 2 in the second bucket 30 at the time of receiving the product 2, the center line C1 of the second bucket 30 is moved from the conveyor device 1 as shown in FIG. Line O1-suitable for receiving the product 2 of
Place on O1. Next, when receiving the second product 2 in the second bucket 30, the product detection sensor 3 recognizes that the second product 2 has been conveyed by the conveyor device 1. By rotating the rotation shaft 13A of the first drive motor 13 in the reverse direction, as shown in FIG.
The second bucket 30 is transported in the direction indicated by arrow B, which is the opposite direction, and the center line C1 of the second bucket 30 is set to the line O1-
Return from O1 by angle α1. As a result, the second product 2 positioned above the product 2 previously received in the second bucket 30 is received.

When the third product 2 is received in the second bucket 30, as shown in FIG. 7, the second bucket 30 is further conveyed in the direction of the arrow B, and the second bucket 30 is conveyed. Of the center line C1 of the bucket 30 from the line O1 -O1
The third product 2 is received on the second product 2 in the second bucket 30 by being returned by the angle α2 which is about twice as large as the third product 2. Further, 4
When accepting the second product 2, as shown in FIG.
The second bucket 30 is further conveyed in the direction of arrow B, and the center line C1 of the second bucket 30 is returned from the line O1 -O1 by an angle α3 which is about three times the angle α1, thereby obtaining the second bucket 30. The fourth product 2 is received on the third product 2 in the bucket 30.

Then, by repeating this operation, seven products 2 are received in the second bucket 30, and an eighth product 2 is received in the second bucket 30, as shown in FIG. , The second bucket 30 is further conveyed in the direction of arrow B, and the center line C1 of the second bucket 30 is set to the line O1-O.
By returning the angle α1 from the angle α7, which is about seven times the angle α1, from the first bucket 30 in the second bucket 30 as shown in FIG.
The eighth product 2 is received on the second product 2.

Here, when receiving the eighth product 2 in the second bucket 30, the first drive motor 1 is almost simultaneously transferred with the second bucket 30 in the direction indicated by the arrow B.
The rotating shaft 13A of No. 3 is continuously rotated at a high speed, and the first bucket 29 stopped at the take-out position E is conveyed at a high speed in the arrow A direction together with the chain 21 of the first conveying mechanism 17, as shown in FIG. As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 10, the first bucket 29 is arranged at a position continuous with the second bucket 30. As a result, when the eighth product 2 is received in the second bucket 30, the first bucket 29 is conveyed to the receiving position D following the second bucket 30, so that the first bucket 29 is transferred to the receiving position D.
2 supplied from the conveyor device 1 to the bucket 29 of
Can be accepted.

At the receiving position D, the second bucket 30
When the eight products 2 are received, the rotary shaft 15A of the second drive motor 15 is continuously rotated at a high speed, and the second bucket 30 is moved together with the chain 27 of the second transport mechanism 23 in the direction of arrow A. The product 2 is conveyed at a high speed, and stopped at the take-out position E of the product 2. At this time, the second bucket 30 is
Each product 2 stored in the second bucket 30 is disposed at the take-out position E in a state where it is inverted to the upright posture.

Here, products are continuously supplied to the article transporting device 11 from the conveyor device 1 at, for example, 0.5 second intervals. One product 2 is received. Therefore, the second bucket 30 arranged at the take-out position E is
Until the operation of receiving the eighth product 2 in the first bucket 29 arranged at the receiving position D is started, that is, the first bucket 29,
While the seven products 2 are received in the bucket 29, the product 2 can be stopped (resided) at the unloading position E,
The second bucket 30 can be stopped at the unloading position E for about 3.5 seconds for seven sheets of 0.5 seconds.

Then, when the second bucket 30 stops at the take-out position E, the robot hand 4A of the robot apparatus 4 takes the upright posture in the second bucket 30 during the stop time of about 3.5 seconds. Eight products are taken out and packed in a small box (neither is shown) arranged at the packing position.

The second bucket 30 from which the product 2 has been taken out is moved in the direction of arrow A so as to follow the first bucket 29 disposed at the receiving position D, similarly to the first bucket 29 described above. Conveyed continuously at high speed.

Therefore, for example, while the seven products 2 are being received in the first bucket 29 arranged at the receiving position D, the second bucket 30 stops at the take-out position E, and the eighth product 2 When the first bucket 29 is moved to receive the second bucket 30, the second bucket 30 at the take-out position E is continuously transported to a position following the first bucket 29 at a high speed. When the time required to receive one product is 0.5 seconds, while the seven products 2 are being received in the first bucket 29, that is, about 3.5 seconds for seven 0.5 seconds. Bucket 29, 30 at unloading position E
Stop (reside).

As a result, the buckets 29 and 29 are moved by the robot hand 4A of the robot apparatus 4 during the period of about 3.5 seconds.
Each product 2 in the holder 30 can be grasped and taken out and packed in a small box.

It should be noted that one of the above operation modes is the driving mode.
When the movements of the data and the transport mechanism are illustrated, the processing is as shown in FIG.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the buckets 29 and 30 arranged at the receiving position D for the product 2 are conveyed by a predetermined angle in the direction indicated by the arrow B, which is the opposite direction.
Since eight products 2 can be received in the buckets 29 and 30, the number of buckets 29 and 30 can be reduced, and the configuration of the article transport device 11 can be simplified and downsized. .

By receiving a plurality of products 2 in one bucket 29, 30, for example,
Since the number of products 2 to be received in the box 30 can be set according to the number of small boxes to be packed in the subsequent process, each product taken out at the unloading position E can be directly packed into a small box, and the box packing operation can be performed. , The productivity can be improved and the production equipment can be simplified.

Further, a product detection sensor 3 is provided beside the conveyor device 1, and when the product detection sensor 3 detects that the product 2 has been conveyed, the drive motor 1
Since the buckets 29 and 30 are transported by the conveyors 3 and 15, even if the transport interval of the products 2 by the conveyor device 1 is slightly shifted, the products 2 can be reliably received in the buckets 29 and 30. As a result, it is possible to prevent a fall accident of the product 2 and to improve the productivity and reliability.

On the other hand, the drive motors 13 and 15 are constituted by direct drive motors, and their rotary shafts 13A and 15A are provided.
Drive sprockets 18, 24, driven sprocket 2
Since the shafts 0 and 26 are directly attached, the rotating shaft for supporting the sprocket can be omitted, and the configuration can be simplified, and the size and cost can be reduced.

Next, FIGS. 12 to 16 show a second embodiment of the present invention.
This embodiment is characterized in that five buckets are continuously provided in the transport direction and a plurality of products are sequentially received in each bucket. In this embodiment, the same components as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes an article conveying apparatus according to the present embodiment, and reference numeral 42 denotes a first bucket group attached to the chain 21 of the first conveying mechanism 17.
2 is composed of, for example, five buckets 42A, 42B, 42C, 42D, 42E connected to the chain 21 via the connecting tools 22 so as to be continuous in the circumferential direction of the chain 21, and the buckets 42A, 42B , 42C, 42
D and 42E are formed in a box shape with a bottom so as to receive, for example, five thin rectangular parallelepiped products 2.

43 is a chain 27 of the second transport mechanism 23.
2 shows a second bucket group attached to the chain 27. The second bucket group 43 is, for example, five buckets connected to the chain 27 via respective connecting members 28 so as to be continuous in the winding direction of the chain 27. 43A, 43B, 43C, 43D,
43E, the buckets 43A, 43B, 43
C, 43D, and 43E are formed in a box shape with a bottom so as to receive, for example, five thin rectangular parallelepiped products 2.

Next, the transport control of the first bucket group 42 and the second bucket group 43, which is a characteristic part of this embodiment, will be described.

First, the buckets 43A, 43B, 43C, 43D, 4 of the second bucket group 43 at the receiving position D
3E, the first product 2 is placed in the bucket 43B, for example.
When receiving the bucket 43, as shown in FIG.
The center line C2 of B is located on a line O2-O2 suitable for receiving the product 2 from the conveyor device 1. Next, when receiving the second product 2 in the bucket 42B, the second
By rotating the rotation shaft 15A of the driving motor 15 in the reverse direction, the second bucket group 43 is transported in the direction indicated by the arrow B in the opposite direction as shown in FIG.
Is returned from the line O2 -O2 by an angle α1. Thereby, the second product 2 located on the product 2 previously received in the bucket 43B can be received.

When the fifth product 2 is received in the bucket 43B as described above, as shown in FIG.
The second bucket group 43 is conveyed by one bucket in the direction of arrow A, which is the forward direction, and the center line C2 of the bucket 43C is
Place on 2-O2.

Then, the buckets 43C, 43D, 43E
When the fifth product 2 is received in the bucket 43E, the second bucket group 43 is indicated by an arrow B.
Almost at the same time when the first bucket group 42 is stopped at the take-out position E, the first bucket group 42 is transported at a high speed in the direction indicated by the arrow A, as shown in FIG.
The second bucket 42A is arranged at a position that is continuous with the bucket 43E of the second bucket group 43. Thereby, the product 2 is added to the first bucket group 42 following the second bucket group 43.
Can be accepted.

Thus, in the present embodiment having the above-described structure, substantially the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Can be transported to the take-out position E, the transport capacity can be increased, and the productivity can be improved.

In the first embodiment, one first bucket 29 is provided on the chain 21 of the first transport mechanism 17 and one second bucket 30 is provided on the chain 27 of the second transport mechanism 23. Although the case where the number is provided is described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the length of the chain 21 is set to 2 as in the article transporting device 51 according to the modification shown in FIG.
Two first buckets 29 are provided at a position where the first bucket 29 is divided, and the second bucket 3 is provided at a position where the length of the chain 27 is divided into two.
Two 0s may be provided.

Also in the second embodiment, the bucket groups 42 and 43 may be provided at a plurality of locations on the chains 21 and 27.

In each of the above embodiments, a rectangular parallelepiped product 2 is exemplified as a conveyed object. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to conveyed objects having other shapes such as a columnar body and a deformed columnar body. May be.

Further, in the second embodiment, the first bucket group 42 and the second bucket group 43 are described as being constituted by five buckets, but instead, four or less buckets, or A bucket group may be configured by six or more buckets.

In the first embodiment, the first and second
Although the buckets 29 and 30 are temporarily stopped at the take-out position E by the drive motors 13 and 15 of the first embodiment, the take-out position E by the first and second drive motors 13 and 15 is described.
The buckets 29 and 30 may be transported by continuous low-speed feeding, continuous intermittent feeding, or the like, or may be transported at such a low speed that the robot device 4 can follow.

Further, in the first embodiment, a case where eight products 2 are received in the buckets 29 and 30 will be exemplified.
In the second embodiment, buckets 42A, 42B,.
A, 43B,... Exemplifies a case in which five products 2 are received in the present embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The number may be four or less, six, seven or nine or more.

In each of the above embodiments, the first transport mechanism 17 is driven by the driving sprocket 18, the driven sprocket 20,
The second transport mechanism 23 includes a driving sprocket 24, a driven sprocket 26, a chain 2 and the like.
7 has been described as an example. Alternatively, the transport mechanism may be composed of a timing pulley, a timing belt, or the like.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, a box-shaped bucket 29, 30, 42A, 42B,
, 43A, 43B, ... are illustrated, but a carrier having another shape such as a receiving frame having a U-shaped cross section may be used, and may be appropriately set according to the shape of the carried object.

In each of the above embodiments, the buckets 29, 30, 42A, 42B,...
Although the case where 3B,... Are transported in the vertical direction has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transport tool may be transported in the horizontal direction.

Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the product 2 supplied in the sideways posture is inverted to the upright posture and conveyed to the take-out position E. However, for example, the product 2 supplied in the upright posture is placed in the sideways posture. The product may be inverted and conveyed to the take-out position E, or the product supplied in the sideways-up position may be inverted and rotated so as to rotate, for example, at an angle of 90 degrees, 180 degrees or the like. It may be used for transporting to E.

[0070]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, for example, when the first carrier is arranged at the receiving position of the object, the first carrier is the first carrier. By transporting in the opposite direction by the first drive mechanism through the mechanism, it is possible to sequentially receive a plurality of articles to be stacked in the first article, so that a plurality of articles can be accommodated in one article. It is possible to receive a conveyed object, reduce the number of conveying tools, and simplify the configuration of the entire apparatus. In addition, by receiving a plurality of articles in one carrier, for example, by setting the number of articles to be accepted in the carrier to the number of small boxes to be packed in a subsequent process, a predetermined number of articles can be transferred. It can be easily packed together in a small box,
It is possible to reduce the cost and improve the productivity by simplifying the device configuration and the work procedure.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, for example, in a state where the first bucket group is arranged at the position for receiving the conveyed object,
First, the first bucket group is transported by one bucket in the forward direction. At this position, the first bucket group receives a transported object in the first bucket group. Next, the first bucket group is sequentially transported into the bucket. When a predetermined number of conveyed goods are received in the bucket and the operation of conveying one bucket in the forward direction is repeated, a predetermined number of conveyed goods can be received in each bucket in a stacked manner. Accordingly, a large number of articles can be conveyed, and productivity can be improved without increasing the size of the entire apparatus. In addition, by receiving a plurality of articles in one bucket, for example, by setting the number of articles to be received in the bucket to the number of small boxes to be packed in a subsequent process, a predetermined number of articles are collectively collected. It can be easily packed in a small box, which simplifies the device configuration and work procedure, thereby reducing costs and improving productivity.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when it is detected by the detector that the sheet has been transported to the receiving position,
Since the first drive mechanism and the second transport mechanism can intermittently drive the first transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism in the forward direction or the reverse direction, the first transport tool and the second transport tool. It is possible to surely receive the conveyed goods, prevent accidents of the conveyed goods from falling, and improve productivity and reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken front view showing an article conveying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the article transport device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part shown in the direction of arrows III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part as viewed from the direction of arrows IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of a partially broken view showing a state where a second bucket is arranged at a receiving position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of a partially broken view showing a state where a first product is received in a second bucket, as viewed from the same position as in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part of a partially broken view showing a state where a second product is received in a second bucket, viewed from the same position as in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of a partially broken view showing a state where a third product is received in a second bucket, as viewed from the same position as in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a main part of a partially broken view showing a state where a seventh product is received in a second bucket, as viewed from the same position as in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the article transport device, showing a state where an eighth product is received in the second bucket, as viewed from the same position as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing operations of a driving motor, a transport mechanism, and the like.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway front view showing an article conveying apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows an example in which the first bucket in the second bucket group has one
It is a principal part enlarged view with a part broken which shows the state which received the 2nd product.

FIG. 14 shows a case where 2 is included in the second bucket of the second bucket group.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a principal part with a part broken away from the same position as in FIG. 13 showing a state in which a second product is received.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a main part of a partially broken view from the same position as in FIG. 13, showing a state where the third bucket of the second bucket group is arranged at a product receiving position.

FIG. 16: 5 in the third bucket of the second bucket group
FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a main part of a partially broken view showing a state in which the second product is received, as viewed from the same position as in FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway front view showing an article transport device according to a modification of the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyor apparatus 2 Product (transported object) 3 Product detection sensor (detector) 4 Robot apparatus (automatic machine) 4A Robot hand 11, 41, 51 Article transport apparatus 13 1st drive motor (1st drive mechanism) 15th 2 drive motor (second drive mechanism) 17 1st transport mechanism 23 2nd transport mechanism 29 1st bucket (1st transport tool) 30 2nd bucket (2nd transport tool) 42 1st Bucket group 42A to 42E, 43A to 43E bucket 43 Second bucket group A Forward direction B Reverse direction D Receiving position E Extracting position

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first transport mechanism that circulates between a receiving position and an unloading position of a transported object by a first driving mechanism, and a second driving mechanism that is disposed in parallel with the first transport mechanism. A second transport mechanism that circulates between a receiving position and an unloading position of the transported object by a mechanism, and is attached to the first transport mechanism,
Article comprising a first transport tool for receiving a transported article, and a second transport tool that is attached to the second transport mechanism at a position different from the first transport tool in the circumferential direction and receives the transported article In the transport device, the first drive mechanism transports the first transport tool in the reverse direction every time the first transport tool is in the receiving position and sequentially receives the transported object, and when the first transport tool is in the take-out position, First
Of the first transport tool at a high speed when the transport tool is temporarily stopped or is transported at a low speed in the forward direction and is moved between the receiving position and the take-out position and between the take-out position and the receiving position. The second drive mechanism conveys the second conveying tool in the opposite direction every time the second conveying tool is sequentially received when the second conveying tool is in the receiving position, and when the second conveying mechanism is in the take-out position, The second
When the transporting device is temporarily stopped or is transported at a low speed in the forward direction, and is moved between the receiving position and the take-out position and between the take-out position and the receiving position, the second transport device is moved at a high speed in the forward direction. An article transporting device, which is configured to transport. 2. A first drive mechanism, which circulates between a receiving position and an unloading position of a conveyed object by a first drive mechanism, and a second drive mechanism disposed in parallel with the first transfer mechanism. A second transport mechanism that circulates between a receiving position and an unloading position of the transported object by a mechanism, and is attached to the first transport mechanism,
A first bucket group composed of a plurality of buckets continuous in the orbiting direction of the first transport mechanism, and a first bucket group attached to the second transport mechanism at different positions in the orbiting direction; In the article transporting device including a second bucket group including a plurality of buckets that are continuous in the orbiting direction of the second transport mechanism, the first drive mechanism is configured such that when the first bucket group is at the receiving position. The operation of transporting the first bucket group in the forward direction for each one bucket and the operation of transporting the first bucket group in the reverse direction every time the transported objects are sequentially received are repeated.
When in the take-out position, the first bucket group is temporarily stopped or conveyed at a low speed in the forward direction, and when moving between the receiving position and the take-out position and between the take-out position and the take-in position, the first bucket group is moved. And a second driving mechanism for moving the second bucket group in the forward direction every one bucket when the second bucket group is in the receiving position. The second item is received each time a conveyed item is sequentially received.
The operation of transporting the second bucket group in the reverse direction is repeated, and when the second bucket group is in the take-out position, the second bucket group is temporarily stopped or is forwarded at a low speed, and between the receiving position and the take-out position and the take-out position is taken out. An article transporting device, wherein the second bucket group is configured to be transported in a forward direction at high speed when moving from the position to the receiving position. 3. A detector for detecting a conveyed object conveyed to the receiving position is provided, and the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism are configured to detect the first object based on a detection signal of the detector. The article transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism are intermittently driven in opposite directions.