JPS60262723A - Apparatus for converting number of container rows - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the conversion of the number of container rows by providing a container holding mechanism having two or three types of transfer patterns to transfer a group container on one conveyer onto the other conveyer between two parallel conveyers having the transfer directions opposite to each other. CONSTITUTION:A second conveyer 4 spaced parallel to a first conveyer 1 for transferring a group container 2A of containers 2 grouped in 4 rows and 4 columns is disposed to have the transfer direction opposite to that of the first conveyer. Between both conveyers 1, 4 is arranged a circulating drive mechanism 3 for transferring the group container 2A to the second conveyer 4. On said mechanism 3 is provided a container holding mechanism 7 having a set of different 2 or 3 types of transfer patterns and provided with a head 6 having a grip 5 for holding the grouped container 2. Thus, the group container 2A is moved to the conditions 2B, 2C of preparing for conversion of the respective number of rows so that these continers are converted to 2 rows and delivered by an unit 8 for moving the container obliquely.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a device for converting the number of rows of containers such as bottles and cans. The present invention relates to a container row number conversion device that converts the number of rows.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as a container row number conversion device, containers conveyed in an arrangement of, for example, three columns and four rows are held by a container holding mechanism having a holder and transferred to another conveyor 4-. At this time, while holding the containers and during the transfer, reduce the number of container rows to 3.
・There is a known conversion method in which the number of rows is changed from one row to two rows and then transferred to another conveyor (Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-41714,
(See Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-42528). Since these techniques complete row number conversion and transfer using only one container holding mechanism, they not only have a complicated configuration of the container holding mechanism, but also have the disadvantage that the manufacturing cost of the device is high. was there.

As a technique for solving the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present applicant previously proposed a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 18391.1/1983. According to the previously proposed technology, when a container is held by a container holding mechanism and transferred to another conveyor, the entire held container is moved horizontally by a predetermined pitch alternately in the transport direction and transferred onto the conveyor. After loading, the preset container row is moved to a position by using an engaging member such as a forward or stopper provided on the conveyor to make the conveyance speed faster or slower than other rows. On the downstream side of the conveyor, the number of rows is converted from, for example, three rows to two rows using a guide conveyor or the like.

However, there are various shapes of containers; for example, in a container where the shoulder of the container is wider than the bottom, engaging members such as the above-mentioned feeder and stopper may be used. When increasing or decreasing the transport speed of a container, there is a risk that the container may fall over and be damaged, and there is also a problem in that noise is generated due to collisions of the containers. Furthermore, since the conveyor is provided with an engaging member, the structure of the apparatus becomes complicated.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and the number of rows of containers can be easily converted by combining a container holding mechanism with a simple mechanism. Moreover, it is a technical problem to prevent containers from falling over and being damaged, to prevent the occurrence of noise due to collisions of containers, and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the device.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The container row number converting device of the present invention for solving the above technical problem includes: (A) a first conveyor that continuously conveys grouped containers; a second conveyor that moves in parallel and in the opposite direction to the first conveyor and has a number of rows that is one or more than the number of rows of the first conveyor and continuously conveys grouped containers; C) a third conveyor that is located on an extension line of the second conveyor and that continuously conveys containers grouped in a number of rows smaller than the number of rows of the second conveyor in the same direction; and (D) the first conveyor. and a second conveyor in the same direction as the moving direction of both conveyors to move some or all of the containers when transferring a group of containers on one conveyor to the other conveyor. a container holding mechanism having two or more types of movement patterns; and (E) a container holding mechanism provided at the boundary between the second conveyor and the third conveyor to move at least some of the containers in the group in a diagonal direction on the downstream side of container conveyance. The present invention is characterized by comprising a container diagonal moving device that moves the group containers to reduce or increase the number of rows of group containers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a container row number conversion device showing one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

The container row number converting device according to the present invention reduces the number of container rows by one row (for example, from 3 rows to 2 rows, 4 rows + 3 rows, etc.) by using a container holding mechanism that has two or more different movement patterns.

), or increase by one column (for example, 2 columns → 3 columns, 3 columns)
Column → 4th column etc. ), and is suitable for cases where the container holding mechanism is used to reduce or increase the arrangement of containers between a main container row formed by a container row other than the container row to be reduced or increased, and a main container row on the front and/or rear side of the main container row. The containers are separated into rows of inserted containers that can be inserted into the same row to form a ready state for converting the number of rows with different container arrangements, and the containers are moved onto other conveyors by using a combination of two or more container holding mechanisms. The number of rows of containers can be converted to the desired number of rows by a container diagonal moving device located downstream of the conveyor.

Hereinafter, in this embodiment, as a first example, a case in which the number of columns is decreased from three columns to two columns will be explained first, and then a case in which the number of columns is increased from two columns to three columns will be explained. Furthermore, the second
As an example, a case where the number of columns is decreased from 4 to 3 will be explained, and then a case where the number of columns is increased from 3 to 4 will be explained.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing an example of a container holding mechanism used in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing an example of a container holding mechanism used in the second embodiment,
FIG. 6 is a side view of the same.

In the figure, 1 is a first conveyor, and containers 2 are conveyed continuously or intermittently as group containers 2A grouped in a fixed arrangement (in this embodiment, 3 columns and 4 rows). 3 is a circulation drive mechanism (not shown) that is provided between the first conveyor 1 and the second conveyor 4 and transfers the group containers 2A on the first conveyor 1 to the second conveyor 4; Circulate counterclockwise. As the circulation drive mechanism 3, for example, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-18 by the same applicant
The rotary cycle moving mechanism described in Japanese Patent No. 3911 and the circulation drive mechanism described in Japanese Patent Application No. 58-95815 also filed by the present applicant can be employed.

The circulation drive mechanism 3 includes a container holding mechanism 7, which is provided with a head 6 having a grip 5 that holds at least the grouped containers 2. There are more than one set.

The mechanism of the grip 5 may be a means for holding the container 2 from the outside, or a means for supporting the container 2 from the inside.

The container holding mechanism 7 enables positional movement of some or all of the held containers 2 in the column direction and the row direction, and the first and second helads 8A and 2 which form the main container row X and the inserted container row Y It has a head 6B and a third head 8C.

When the group containers 2A on the first conveyor 1 are transferred onto the second conveyor 4 by the container holding mechanism 7, the group containers 2A are moved by the container diagonal moving device 8 located downstream of the second conveyor 4. The container 2 is moved to the column number conversion preparation states 2B and 2C, which have an arrangement that can be converted to a desired number of columns. That is, the column number conversion preparation letter 82B is as follows:
Entire group container 2A (first, second, and third ends 8
A, 8B, and 8G) in the transport direction, move them half a pitch (172 containers 2) to the right in the row direction, and
Divide the head 8G at appropriate locations, move each of them in the row direction, and position them so that they can be inserted into the front and rear parts of the main container row X consisting of the first head 6A and the second head 8B. A container row Y is formed. In the column number conversion preparation state 2G, the entire group container 28 (first, second, and third
In the transport direction, move the heads 6A, 6B, and 6C half a pitch (1/2 container 2) to the left in the column direction, divide the first head 6A at appropriate locations, and move each of them in the row direction. Then, the second head 8B and the third head 8C
Insertion container rows Y are formed such that they can be inserted into the front and rear portions of the main container row X, respectively.

For example, the following mechanism is adopted as the mechanism of the container holding mechanism 7 that forms the column number conversion preparation state 2B. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, movement in the column direction is achieved by forming a guide portion 9 in the column direction on the main body of the container holding mechanism 7, and moving the container holding mechanism 7 in the column direction. and third heads 8A, 8B and 6G are configured to be slidable on the guide section 9 via the support section 10, and the first, second and third heads 6A, 6B and 6
C is configured to be extendable and retractable by a piston rod 11 attached to the container holding mechanism 7 via a fitting or the like. On the other hand, movement in the row direction is achieved by forming a guide portion 12 in the row direction on the main body of the container holding mechanism 7, and making the third head 6C slidable on the guide portion 12 via the support portion 13.13. Piston rod 14.1 attached to the mold holding mechanism 7 body
4, it is configured to be expandable and retractable. By the above mechanism, the container 2
can be moved from the group container 2A state to the row number conversion preparation state 2B, or vice versa. The mechanism for forming the column number conversion preparation state 82C or the opposite state is configured by oriented the container holding mechanism 7 having the above-mentioned mechanism in the opposite direction to the container holding mechanism 7 for forming the column number conversion preparation state 2B. This can be obtained by arranging the

15 is a third conveyor located on an extension line of the second conveyor 4;
The containers 2 in the inserted container row Y, which have been moved to each row number conversion*i state 2B, 2C by the container holding mechanism 7 and transferred onto the second conveyor 4, are transferred to the second conveyor 4. The container diagonal moving device 8 provided at the boundary between the main container row Convert and transport. In addition, the second conveyor 4 and the third conveyor
The conveyors 15 may be formed by each conveyor or by the central two rows of the second conveyor 4 and the third conveyor 15.
It may be formed continuously in one piece.

Incidentally, the container diagonal moving device M8 may be, for example, a guide conveyor described in Japanese Patent Application No. 58-22676 filed by the present applicant, etc., but other kite plates, etc., may have the same effect as described in item 1. Anything is fine.

1 describes the case where the number of container rows is reduced from three rows to two rows, but increasing the number of container rows from two rows to three rows can also be easily done as follows. That is, this is the case where the flow direction of the container is opposite to the above and the row number conversion preparation states 2B and 2C are formed by the container diagonal moving device S. Specifically, it is as follows. 1st to 3rd conveyor 1.4
．． The conveyance direction of 15 and the drive direction of the circulation drive mechanism 3 are opposite to those in the case where the number of rows is reduced, and the containers 2 conveyed to the left on the third conveyor 15 are transported by a block sorting mechanism (not shown), etc. The group containers 2E and 2F are alternately conveyed in two rows by the grouping device, and some of the containers 2 are moved to row number conversion preparation states 92B and 2C by the container diagonal moving device 8 and transferred to the second conveyor. 4. As the container diagonal moving device 8 in this case, it is possible to employ, for example, the conversion mechanism described in Japanese Patent Application No. 58-226764 filed by the present applicant. The container 2 on the second conveyor 4 is held in a state in which the head 6 of the container holding mechanism 7 is moved so as to be able to hold the containers 2 in the row number conversion preparation states 2B and 2C, and the circulation drive mechanism 1st by 3
Transferred to conveyor 1. At this time, the container holding mechanism 7 moves the head 6 from the row number conversion preparation states 7 @ 2B and 2C to the state of group containers 2A, and in that state transfers the containers 2 onto the first conveyor 1 and arranges the containers 2 in a row. Complete number conversion. As described above, conversion is performed to increase the number of container rows from two to three.

Next, as a second example, column number conversion will be described when decreasing from 4 columns to 3 columns and when increasing from 3 columns to 4 columns. In this case as well, the conversion by the container first moving device 8 provided at the boundary between the second conveyor 4 and the third conveyor 15 is performed by the same means as in the above embodiment, so the explanation thereof will be omitted. Preparation letter for row number conversion from group container 2A of container 2 in mechanism 7! The means of position movement to @2B, 2C, and 2D and vice versa will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 4, group containers 2A (for example, 4 columns and 4 rows) are conveyed on the first conveyor 1''2.
Row number conversion preparation state 2B to be transferred onto the second conveyor 4,
2C and 2D are achieved by three types of container holding mechanisms 7 having different movement patterns. That is, similar to the second embodiment, the container holding mechanism 7 enables positional movement of some or all of the containers 2 held in the column direction and/or the row direction, and the main container row X and the inserted container row It is composed of a first head 6A, a second head 6B, a third head 6c, and a fourth head 8D forming a Y. The container holding mechanism 7
The formation of column number conversion preparation states 2B, 2C, and 2D is performed as follows. First, in the row number conversion preparation state 2B, the position of the fourth head 6D of the group container 2A is left unchanged, and the other first head 6D is changed to the first head 6D of the group container 2A. 2nd and 3rd heads BA, 6B and 8
C in the transport direction, one pitch to the right in the row direction (container 2
The first head 8A is divided into appropriate locations, each is moved in the row direction, and positioned so that it can be inserted into the front and rear parts of the main container row X. A container row X and an inserted container row Y are arranged. Column number conversion preparation state 2
C, the third head 6C is divided and moved in the row direction without moving the positions of the first, second, and fourth rads 6A, 6B, and 8D, and the front side of the main container row Insertion container rows Y are arranged so as to be insertable in the rear portion. The column number conversion preparation state 2D is the first and second herad 6A and 6B.
without moving the position of the third and fourth heads 6G and 6.
D one pitch to the left in the row direction in the conveyance direction (container 2
(by one tree) and divide the fourth RAD 8D, and arrange the insertion container row Y so that it can be inserted into the front and rear parts of the main container row X.

The mechanism of the container holding mechanism 7 that forms the column number conversion preparation state 2B as described above is configured as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for example. That is, movement in the column direction is performed by the container holding mechanism 7.
A guide portion 9 is formed in the main body in the column direction, and a first guide portion 6A,
The second head 6B and the third head 8C are configured to be movable, and the first head 8A and the second head 6 are connected to a support portion 1O on which both the first head 6A and the second head 6B can slide.
Along with B, the third head 6C also forms a slidable support part 10 to enable the guide part 9 to slide, and each of the support parts 10 and 10' is attached to the main body of the container holding mechanism 7 via a fixture or the like. each piston rod 11 and 11
It is configured to be expandable and retractable. On the other hand, for movement in the row direction, a guide portion 12 is formed in the main body of the container holding mechanism 7 in the row direction, and each of the first head 6A and the second head 6B is supported so that the guide portion 12 can be slid. Section 13.1
3, and is configured to be extendable and retractable by respective piston rods 14 and 14 attached to the main body of the container holding mechanism 7. This mechanism allows the container 2 to be moved from the group container 2A state to the row number conversion preparation state 2B, or vice versa. The mechanism for forming the column number conversion preparation states 2C and 2D, or their respective inverse states, makes the container holding mechanism 7 having the above mechanism contradictory to the container holding mechanism 7 that forms the column number conversion preparation state 828. Just place it in the direction that it is facing.

As described above, the containers 2 arranged in the row number conversion preparation states 2B, 2C, and 2D are converted into group containers 2E, 2F, and 2G by the container diagonal moving device 8 in the same way as in the first embodiment.
The number of columns is converted from 4 columns to 2 columns.

The conversion from 2 columns to 4 columns is performed in the same manner as the conversion of the increasing number of columns in the first embodiment, and will be briefly explained as follows. The first to third conveyors 1.4 and '15 convey the containers 2 in a state in which the flow is opposite to that described above and the circulation drive mechanism 3 is driven in the opposite direction. In this state, the third conveyor 1
The containers 2 grouped into group containers 2E, 2F, and 2G on the second conveyor 4 are moved by the container diagonal moving device 8 to row number conversion preparation states 2B, 2C, and 2D, respectively.
The container holding mechanism 7 sets it in the row number conversion preparation state 2.
The circulation drive mechanism 3 holds the container 2 with B, 2C and 211.
The containers are transported onto the first conveyor 1 and transferred in the form of group containers 2A to convert from 3 rows to 4 rows.

In this embodiment, the insertion container row Y is divided at appropriate locations in the row, each is moved in the row direction, and positioned so that it can be inserted into the front and rear portions of the main container row X. Although a conversion preparation state is formed, the division location is arbitrary. Alternatively, the insertion container row Y may be moved as it is in the row direction without being divided, and positioned in a state where it can be inserted into the front or rear side of the main container row X. In that case, main container row
Either one of the main container row X and the insertion container row Y may be moved, or both the main container row X and the insertion container row Y may be moved.

As described above, the container row number conversion device of the present invention converts the number of rows through the row number conversion preparation state in which the containers 2 are separated into the main container row X and the inserted container row Y. In the insertion container row Y, two or three or more container holding mechanisms 7 are used as a set to position the containers in an arrangement such that the containers are sequentially inserted into each row of the main container row X. Therefore, in addition to the above embodiment, when five or more container rows are decreased or increased by one, a main container row X and an insertion container row Y are formed as in the above embodiment, and each of the main container rows The number of rows can be converted by configuring container holding mechanisms 7 having different movement patterns for arranging the container rows Y so that they can be sequentially inserted into the rows.

[Operation of the Invention] The present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, and its operation will be described as follows in the case of the embodiment in which the number of columns is reduced. That is,
The containers 2 carried onto the first conveyor 1 are transferred to the second conveyor 1 by a circulation drive mechanism 3 equipped with two types (three types in the second embodiment) of container holding mechanisms 7 having different movement patterns.
When transferred upward, the containers 2 held by the container holding mechanism 7 at position A on the first conveyor 1 are transferred to the ends 6A, 6B, 8G (8A, 6B, 6C1EID) of the container holding mechanism 7.
), the column number conversion preparation states 2B, 2G (2B, 2C12
D) and transferred to position B on the second conveyor 4, and the transferred containers 2 are inserted into each of the main container rows X by the container diagonal moving device M8. Third
It is conveyed to the conveyor 15 and converted into one fewer row. After completing the transfer, the container holding mechanism 7 returns to the state before container holding (a state in which it can hold the containers 2 on the first conveyor 1), and the circulation drive mechanism 3 moves the containers 2 on the first conveyor 1 and the second conveyor 4. Repeat the same operations as above.

In the case of conversion to increase the number of columns by one column, the above operation is performed in reverse.

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention has the structure and operation described in 1., it is possible to solve the technical problems of the present invention described above, and the present invention has two or more types of movement patterns for converting the number of rows of containers. By using the container holding mechanism, this can be easily carried out without causing the container to fall or break, or cause noise, etc., and it is also possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing costs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing an example of a container holding mechanism used in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing an example of a container holding mechanism used in the second embodiment,
FIG. 6 is a side view of the same. In the figure, 1 is the first conveyor, 2 is the container, 2B, 2G
, 21] is a preparation state for row number conversion, 3 is a circulation drive mechanism, 4 is a second conveyor, 6 (6A, 6B, 6C160) is a hand, 7 is a container holding mechanism, and 8 is a container diagonal moving device. Patent applicant: Miyake Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Agent: Nobuaki Sakaguchi, patent attorney (and one other person)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) (A) A first conveyor that continuously conveys grouped containers; (B) A first conveyor that moves parallel to and in the opposite direction to the first conveyor, and that has one or two more rows than the first conveyor. (C) a second conveyor that continuously conveys grouped containers having a number of rows greater than or equal to or more; (f)) a third conveyor that continuously conveys the containers grouped in the first conveyor and the second conveyor;
2 types or 2 or 2 types, which move part or all of the containers when transferring the group containers on one conveyor to the other conveyor by circulating between the conveyors in the same direction as the moving direction of both conveyors; a container holding mechanism having three or more types of moving patterns; A container row number converting device comprising a container diagonal moving device that reduces or increases the number of rows of group containers. (2) In the case where the number of rows of grouped containers is reduced by one, the container holding mechanism has a head provided with a grip for holding the grouped containers;
The container holding mechanism includes a head that moves some or all of the grouped containers in the column direction in the transport direction to form a main container row, and a head that moves in the row direction and holds the front side and the main container row of the grouped containers. and/or a head that is positioned in a state where it can be inserted into the rear part and forms a row of inserted containers, and a combination of two or more types of container holding mechanisms is used to transfer the container onto the second conveyor and to convert the number of rows. The third step is to prepare and prepare.
When conveying to the conveyor, the container diagonal moving device moves the inserted container row to the front and/or rear side of the main container row to change the number of rows. Container row number conversion device.