JPWO2019004198A1 - Transfer device and egg packaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (Pa, Pb) having a plurality of egg loci is provided with a plurality of eggs (E) arranged in the longitudinal direction and a plurality of eggs (E) in the lateral direction. It is a transfer device for transferring from inside to the box (C) to be housed, and is provided with a plurality of head parts (8, 9), a main body part (42), and a control part (43). Each of the plurality of heads is provided with a holding mechanism (81, 91) for lifting the contained object from the stacking place. The main body portion is detachably provided with a head portion corresponding to an object to be contained among the plurality of head portions. The control unit is provided within the operating range of the main body unit, and controls to access a storage location for storing a plurality of head units and replace the head units.

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a transfer device and an egg boxing system, and more particularly, to a transfer device for packing eggs, each containing a predetermined number of eggs in a packaging container, and a boxing system to which the transfer device is applied. Regarding

  As a transfer device of this type, a device for storing packed eggs in a cardboard box or a container for transportation is known (for example, Patent Document 1). This transfer device includes a holding mechanism that is lifted from above by a plurality of suction members that can be sucked by the lid of the egg pack. Further, as another method, there is also known one provided with a holding mechanism that supports the egg pack from both sides and from below by a gripping member capable of gripping both ends.

  Egg packs come in various sizes and shapes. Specifically, for example, there are egg packs that can store 10 eggs, 6 eggs, and the like, and the number of eggs that can be stored is different. Also, there are egg packs in which different sizes of eggs can be accommodated, such as one that can accommodate L-sized eggs and one that can accommodate S-sized eggs in the pack. This egg pack has a different hole pitch. Further, there are egg packs having different lid outer shapes, such as a "flat pack" having a flat top surface of the lid and a "regular pack" having unevenness along the shape of the egg formed on the top surface of the lid. In this way, there are various types of egg packs. However, at present, there is no holding mechanism that can handle all of these.

  In addition to eggs packed in egg packs, eggs sorted by a sorting device are often packed in trays without a lid. It is also practiced to store eggs packed in such trays in a cardboard box or container for transportation. In this case, the transfer device for egg packs as described above cannot be used as it is.

JP, 2005-196522, A

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems relating to the holding mechanism, and one object thereof is a transfer device capable of easily switching the holding mechanism in accordance with the form of an object to be housed in a box. Another object is to provide a packaging system to which such a transfer device is applied.

  The transfer device according to the present invention is a container having a plurality of egg loci, in which a plurality of eggs are arranged in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, respectively, to be stored, from a predetermined stacking place into a box to be stored. A transfer device for transfer, which includes a plurality of head units, a main body unit, and a control unit. Each of the plurality of heads is provided with a holding mechanism for lifting the contained object from the stacking place. The main body portion is detachably provided with a head portion corresponding to an object to be contained among a plurality of head portions. The control unit is provided within the operating range of the main body unit, and controls to access a storage location for storing a plurality of head units and replace the head units.

  The plurality of heads are used as a contained object when the container is provided with a lid that covers the upper part of the egg. It is preferable that the object includes another head part for holding another contained object, which is used when the container does not have a lid for covering the egg above.

  In one head portion, the holding mechanism has a plurality of adsorption members that adsorb the lid of the container, in the other head portion, the holding mechanism has a plurality of adsorption members that adsorb eggs, the other head portion, It is preferable to have a gripping member that grips both ends of the container.

  The collection place is preferably a place where movement of the container in the transport direction of the container is restricted.

  An egg boxing system according to the present invention is an egg boxing system including the above-described transfer device, and includes a transport section and a filling section. The transport unit transports a plurality of types of containers toward the transfer device. The filling section puts the selected eggs in a container on the conveying section.

  Here, the "filling section" means, for example, a discharging section for discharging the sorted eggs toward the container on the transport section, and also the eggs that are sorted and placed on the container on the transport section. It may be a transfer unit for transferring to a container.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a transfer device and an egg boxing system in which a holding mechanism can be easily switched according to the form of an object to be contained in a box.

It is a top view showing the outline of the egg sorting packaging device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing an outline of a transfer device. In the same embodiment, it is a front view showing a transfer device. In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing a transfer device. In the same embodiment, it is a schematic diagram showing replacement of the head portion of the transfer device. In the same embodiment, it is a front view showing a transfer device. In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing a transfer device.

<First embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the transfer device according to the present invention is applied to a boxing system will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

The boxing system according to the present embodiment mainly includes the transport unit 6 and the transfer device 4.
The transport unit 6 is a conveyor for transporting the containers Pa and Pb, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, 6 and 7. Eggs E selected according to the attributes (eg, size) of the eggs are discharged downward by a predetermined discharging unit 1, and the conveying unit 6 conveys containers Pa and Pb for accommodating the eggs E. .

  The discharging part 1 is an example of the filling part of the present invention, and discharges the sorted eggs E toward the containers Pa and Pb. Specifically, the discharging unit 1 transfers the eggs E temporarily held by an egg holding unit (not shown) called a bucket or fingers to a plurality of types of containers Pa and Pb carried by the carrying unit 6. To change.

  The container Pa is a container provided with a lid Pc, and is, for example, a plastic egg pack. The container Pb is a container without a lid, and is, for example, a paper mold tray. That is, the transport unit 6 is capable of transporting a plurality of types of containers Pa and Pb having different outer shapes. The boxing system of the present embodiment further includes a container switching unit 7, and the container switching unit 7 switches the types of the containers Pa and Pb.

  The container switching unit 7 switches the types of the containers Pa and Pb transported by the transport unit 6. The container switching unit 7 of the boxing system according to the present embodiment includes a container supply unit 71 for the container Pa with a lid provided on the upstream side of the transport unit 6, and a container for the container Pb provided adjacent to the container supply unit 71. A control device that sends an operation or stop signal to the supply unit 72 is mainly configured.

  A collection place 3 is set on the downstream side of the transport unit 6. The stacking place 3 is a place where movement of the containers Pa and Pb in the carrying direction of the carrying unit 6 is restricted. Specifically, the containers Pa and Pb that are successively transported are regulated by a stopper 61 provided on the transport unit 6. The transfer unit 4 is also provided in the transport unit 6.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the transfer device 4 has a function of packing the objects P1 and P2 in a box C such as a cardboard box or a synthetic resin container for facilitating transportation or management. The containers Pa and Pb are transferred from the stacking place 3 into the box C to be stored. Specifically, the transfer device 4 receives from the predetermined collection place 3 the objects P1 and P2 in which a plurality of eggs E are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions in containers Pa and Pb having a plurality of egg loci Ps, respectively. It has a function of being transferred into the box C to be mounted, and is mainly composed of a head unit 8 as one head unit, a head unit 9 as another head unit, a main body unit 42, and a control unit 43. ing. In the present embodiment, a conventional articulated robot (for example, a 6-axis vertical articulated robot) in which the heads 8 and 9 operate arbitrarily is used as the transfer device 4, but the heads are used for the X, Y, and Z axes. Various things such as a robot or a device in which the parts 8 and 9 can move arbitrarily can be adopted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the head portions 8 and 9 are provided with holding mechanisms 81 and 91 for lifting the contained objects P1 and P2 from the stacking place 3. In the present embodiment, the head portions 8 and 9 can be replaced with the main body portion 42, and at least two types of head portions 8 and 9 are prepared. In the present embodiment, the head part 8 in which the container Pa is compatible with the to-be-accommodated object P1 provided with the lid Pc covering the upper part of the egg E and the to-be-accommodated object P2 in which the container Pb does not have the lid part covering the upper part of the egg E are provided. There are at least two types of head units 9 that can be used.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the head unit 8 of the first type includes a plurality of suction members 82 that the holding mechanism 81 can suck onto the lid Pc of the container Pa. The suction member 82 is a plurality of suction pads arranged at positions corresponding to the lid Pc of the container Pa and arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. Each suction member 82 is connected to a vacuum mechanism (not shown) so that the lid Pc of the container Pa can be sucked.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the second type head unit 9 includes a plurality of suction members 92 that the holding mechanism 91 can suck onto the egg E and a gripping member 93 that can grip both ends of the container Pb. There is. The suction member 92 is a plurality of suction pads arranged in a position corresponding to the egg seat Ps of the container Pb and arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. Each adsorption member 92 is connected to a vacuum mechanism (not shown) so that the egg E can be adsorbed. The gripping member 93 is an arm-shaped member that is controlled to move between a holding posture (G) that supports and holds the container Pb from the side surface side and the lower surface side and a releasing posture (O) that releases this holding state. Is. The gripping member 93 is arranged outside each suction member 92.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the head portions 8 and 9 are detachably provided on the main body portion 42. The attachment / detachment operation of the head portions 8 and 9 with respect to the main body portion 42 can be performed unmanned by a coupling means well known in the art, which is given a mounting or releasing signal via the control portion 43.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 43 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an internal memory, an input / output interface, an AD conversion unit, or other dedicated or general-purpose computer. The function as the control unit 43 is exerted by the cooperation of the CPU and other peripheral devices in accordance with the program stored in the internal memory. In the present embodiment, the control unit 43 controls to access the storage location 5 that stores a plurality of different head units 8 and 9 provided within the operating range of the main body unit 42 and replace the head units 8 and 9. . In other words, the control unit 43 serves as a head switching mechanism that switches the types of the head units 8 and 9 in response to the switching of the types of the containers Pa and Pb (or the objects P1 and P2) transported by the transport unit 6. Fulfill the function of.

  Next, an example of the operation of the box packaging system will be described. First, the eggs E sorted by the egg sorting and packaging apparatus 10 are discharged from the discharge section 1 toward the container Pa on the transport section 6 to make a packed object P1. For example, in the transport unit 6, the container switching unit 7 functions to control the container supply units 71 and 72 so that the container Pa is transported on the transport unit 6, and has 10 egg seats Ps. Two eggs E are arranged in the vertical direction in the container Pa with a lid and five eggs E are arranged in the horizontal direction, and the contained object P1 with the lid Pc closed is made. In this way, after the eggs E are stored in the container Pa by a predetermined number, the contained objects P1 are collected in the stacking place 3.

  When the articles P1 contained in one container Pa are packed in a box, the control unit 43 causes the main body unit 42 to access the storage location 5 and corresponds to one container Pa from the multiple head unit groups 80. The head portion 8 is selected and attached. With a predetermined number of containers Pa transported to the stacking place 3, the head portion 8 of the transfer device 4 is located above the article P1 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The control unit 43 controls the transfer device 4 so that the suction member 82 is evacuated. Then, while keeping the vacuumed state, the box C is lifted from the collecting place 3 and placed on the carrier device 50 provided adjacent to the collecting place 3 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Be brought in. Then, after the suction state of the suction member 82 is released in the box C, the head unit 8 moves to the outside of the box C. Repeat the above work.

  Next, in the same transport unit 6 as described above, the egg E is packaged using the container Pb having an outer shape different from that of the container Pa. That is, the eggs E sorted by the egg sorting / packaging apparatus 10 are discharged from the discharging section 1 toward the container Pb on the conveying section 6 to make tray-packed contained objects P2. For example, in the transport unit 6, the container switching unit 7 functions to control the container supply units 71 and 72 so that the container Pb is transported on the transport unit 6, and has 30 egg seats Ps. In the container Pb, five eggs E are arranged in the vertical direction and six eggs E are arranged in the horizontal direction, so that the contained object P2 in an open state is made. In this way, after the eggs E are stored in the container Pb in a predetermined number, the contained objects P2 are collected in the stacking place 3.

  When packing the contained objects P2 accommodated in another container Pb, the control unit 43 causes the main body unit 42 to access a predetermined position of the storage location 5 and is currently attached as shown in FIG. The existing head portion 8 is removed and is supported by the cradle 51 of the storage location 5. After that, the control unit 43 selects the head unit 9 corresponding to another container Pb from the large number of head unit groups 80 and mounts it.

  Then, in a state where the container Pb is transported to the stacking place 3, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the head portion 9 of the transfer device 4 is located above the contained object P2. The control unit 43 controls the transfer device 4 so that the suction member 92 is evacuated. Further, the gripping member 93 is moved from the release posture (O) to the holding posture (G). Then, while the suction member 92 holds the egg E while the vacuumed state is maintained, and the gripping member 93 holds the container Pb, the suction member 92 is lifted from the collection place 3, and as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. It is carried into a box C placed on a carrier device 50 provided adjacent to the collecting place 3. After that, the gripping member 93 is moved from the holding posture (G) to the releasing posture (O) in the box C to release the suction state of the suction member 92, and then the head unit 9 is moved to the outside of the box C. Repeat the above work.

  When the objects to be accommodated contained in another container (not shown) are to be boxed, the transfer device 4 may be operated in accordance with the above description.

<Effects of First Embodiment>
The transfer device 4 according to the present embodiment is configured such that a plurality of eggs E are arranged in the containers Pa and Pb having a plurality of egg loci Ps in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, respectively, and the objects P1 and P2 are stored in a predetermined manner. The transfer device 4 transfers from the stacking place 3 into the box C to be housed. The transfer device 4 includes head portions 8 and 9 provided with holding mechanisms 81 and 91 for lifting the contained objects P1 and P2 from the stacking place 3, and a main body portion to which the head portions 8 and 9 are detachably provided. 42, and a control unit 43 that is provided within the operating range of the main body unit 42 and that controls to access the storage location 5 that stores a plurality of different head units 8 and 9 and replace the head units 8 and 9 with each other. .

  In the transfer device 4 as described above, the holding mechanisms 81 and 91 can be easily switched in a short time according to the forms of the articles P1 and P2 to be stored in the box C.

  As a head portion, a head portion 8 that can accommodate a container P having a lid Pc that covers the upper portion of the egg E and a container portion Pb that does not have a lid that covers the upper portion of the egg E can be accommodated. Since there are at least two types of heads 9 that can be accommodated, it is possible to correspond to a plurality of modes of the contained objects P1 and P2 peculiar to the egg E.

  Further, as the head portion, the head portion 8 including the plurality of suction members 82 that the holding mechanism 81 can suck onto the lid Pc of the container Pa, the plurality of suction members 92 that the holding mechanism 91 can suck onto the egg E, and the container Pb. There are at least two types, namely, the head portion 9 provided with the gripping member 93 capable of gripping both ends of the. Therefore, the holding mechanisms 81 and 91 can be selected according to the state of the contained objects P1 and P2 in which the fragile eggs E are arranged, and the eggs E can be boxed without being damaged.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the transfer device 4 is provided on the downstream side of the egg sorting and packaging device 10. Therefore, the transfer device 4, the transfer unit 6 that can transfer a plurality of types of containers Pa and Pb to the transfer device 4, and the type of the containers Pa and Pb that are transferred by the transfer unit 6 are switched. It can be applied to an egg boxing system including a container switching unit 7 and a discharging unit 1 for discharging the sorted eggs E toward the containers Pa and Pb on the transport unit 6. In such an egg boxing system, it is possible to easily cope with the switching of the containers Pa and Pb on the upstream side of the transfer device 4, that is, in the egg sorting and packaging device 10. Moreover, a plurality of types of objects P1 and P2 can be boxed by using one transfer device 4 and one box transfer device 50, and an egg selection space or a packaging space with many space restrictions. Can be effectively used.

  Further, the stacking place 3 is a place where movement of the containers Pa and Pb in the transport direction of the transport unit 6 is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to easily align the holding mechanisms 81 and 91 (in particular, the suction members 82 and 92) with the objects P1 and P2 having different outer shapes. Therefore, the contained objects P1 and P2 in which the fragile egg E called the egg E is arrange | positioned can be hold | maintained reliably, and it becomes possible to improve work efficiency.

<Second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment in which the transfer device according to the present invention is applied to a boxing system will be described focusing on parts different from the first embodiment.

  The boxing system according to the present embodiment mainly includes a transport unit and a transfer device. Moreover, the boxing system further includes a container switching unit.

  In the present embodiment, the transport unit transports containers of the same type having different sizes or shapes (eg, an egg pack containing 10 pieces and an egg pack containing 6 pieces). The container switching unit switches the types of containers of the same type that are transported by the transport unit. In this embodiment, the container switching unit is provided for the first container supply unit for 10 egg packs provided on the upstream side of the transport unit and for the 6 egg packs provided adjacent thereto. It is mainly configured by a control device that sends an operation or stop signal to the second container supply unit.

  The transfer device mainly includes a head portion, a main body portion, and a control portion. The head portion can be replaced with the main body portion, and at least two types of head portions are prepared. In the present embodiment, the head part is capable of accommodating an object to be contained in a container with a lid having a size or shape (for example, for an egg pack of 10 pieces) and the container. There are at least two types: a head portion that can accommodate an object to be contained in a container with a lid having a different size or shape (for example, for a pack of 6 eggs). Each head unit includes a plurality of suction members that the holding mechanism can suck onto the container lid. This suction member is a plurality of suction pads arranged in a position corresponding to the lid of the container and arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. Each suction member is connected to a vacuum mechanism so that the lid of the container can be sucked.

  Next, an example of the operation of the box packaging system will be described. First, the eggs sorted by the egg sorting and packaging apparatus are discharged from the discharging section toward one container on the transport section to make a packed contained object. For example, in the transporting section, the container switching section functions to control each container supply section so that one container is transported on the transporting section, and then the eggs are placed in a container with a lid having 10 egg loci. Two pieces are arranged in the vertical direction and five pieces are arranged in the horizontal direction to form the housed object with the lid closed. In this way, after a predetermined number of eggs are stored in one container, the containers are collected at the collection place.

  When packing the items to be contained in one container, the control unit accesses the main body unit to the storage location and selects the head unit corresponding to one container from a large number of head unit groups. The mounted head part is mounted. The head portion of the transfer device is located above the objects to be accommodated in a state where a predetermined number of containers are transported to the stacking place. The control unit controls the transfer device so that the suction member is evacuated. Then, while keeping the vacuumed state, it is lifted from the collecting place and is carried into the box placed on the conveying device provided adjacent to the collecting place. After that, after the suction state of the suction member is released in the box, the head unit moves out of the box. Repeat the above work.

  Next, when packing the objects to be contained in another container, the control unit causes the main body unit to access a predetermined position of the storage location, removes the currently installed head unit, and stores the storage location. Support the cradle. Then, the control unit selects a head unit corresponding to another container from a large number of head units, and the selected head unit is mounted. After that, the transfer operation according to one container may be performed.

  With the boxing system as shown in the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment or an effect similar thereto can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
The container is not limited in size or shape as long as it has a plurality of egg loci, and various types such as tray-shaped and pack-shaped can be changed. Further, it may be made of paper or plastic. The number of egg loci in the container is not limited to 10, 6 or 30 described above. Even if the number of egg loci is the same, if the distance between adjacent egg loci (hole pitch) is different, it may be regarded as another type of container.

  The box is not limited as long as it can accommodate an object containing eggs, and various modifications such as a cardboard box and a container for transportation can be made.

  The head portion is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and the holding mechanism can be changed in various ways. Further, the head unit may be of a type that does not include a suction member.

  Even if there are multiple types of heads that can be used for the same type of containers having different sizes or shapes (for example, an egg tray containing 30 pieces and an egg tray containing 40 pieces for 10 kg cardboard). Good. In other words, the head part can accommodate an object to be contained in a container without a lid having one size or shape (for example, for an egg tray containing 30 pieces) and another head part that is different from this container. It is conceivable that there are at least two types: a head portion that can accommodate an object to be contained in a container without a lid having a size or shape (for example, for an egg tray containing 40 eggs).

  The transfer device according to the present invention can be used in combination with various egg sorting and packaging devices other than those shown. For example, use it together with a transfer unit to store the sorted eggs in a temporary storage container for temporary storage and then refill them into a distribution container (a container with a lid or a container without a lid). It may be one that is done. That is, as a modified example of the egg packaging system, a transfer device, a transfer section for transferring a plurality of types of containers toward the transfer apparatus, and a container on the transfer section for the eggs that have been sorted and placed on the container. A preferable example is one including a transfer section (an example of the “filling section” of the present invention) for transferring the sheet toward the sheet. In this case, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, it is possible to obtain the effect that it is possible to easily cope with the switching of the distribution container placed on the upstream side of the transfer device, that is, on the transport unit. The "container" for temporary storage is not limited to a dedicated product, and may be a container such as a so-called American tray that can be used for distribution.

  The transfer device of the present invention is limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it is controlled so as to be replaced with an appropriate head part in accordance with the switching of the container in the egg sorting and packaging device located on the upstream side. Without changing, various changes can be made.

  The container switching unit is not limited as long as it is a mechanism for switching the type of container to be transported by the transport unit, and a different container supply unit is provided in the transport unit for each type of container. In addition to manually or automatically switching whether to supply the container from the container, a plurality of kinds of containers may be supplied from a single container supply unit.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is shown not by the scope described above but by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and range equivalent to the claims.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a transfer device for packing a predetermined number of eggs in a packaging container such as an egg pack or a tray into a box and a boxing system using the transfer device.

3 accumulation place, 4 transfer device, 42 main body part, 43 control part, 5 storage place, 6, transfer part, 7 container switching part, 8, 9 head part, 50 transfer device, 81, 91 holding mechanism, 82, 92 Adsorption member, 93 gripping member, Pa, Pb container, Pc lid, Ps egg seat, P1, P2 contained object, C box, E egg.

Claims (5)

A transfer device for transferring an object to be housed, in which a plurality of eggs are arranged in each of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction in a container having a plurality of egg loci, into a box to be housed from a predetermined collecting place, ,
A plurality of head portions each provided with a holding mechanism for lifting the contained object from the collecting place,
A main body part detachably provided with a head part corresponding to the contained object from among the plurality of head parts,
A transfer device, which is provided within an operating range of the main body unit, and has a control unit that controls a storage location for storing a plurality of the head units so as to replace the head units. The plurality of head portions,
As the contained object, the container is used in the case of one contained object having a lid for covering the upper part of the egg, and one head part for holding the one contained object,
As the contained object, including the other head portion for holding the other contained object, which is used in the case of the other contained object in which the container does not include a lid that covers the upper part of the egg, 1. The transfer device described in 1. In the one head portion, the holding mechanism has a plurality of suction members that suction the lid of the container,
In the other head portion, the holding mechanism has another plurality of adsorption members that adsorb the eggs,
The transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the other head portion has a holding member that holds both end portions of the container.   The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the stacking place is a place where movement of the container with respect to a transport direction of the container is restricted. An egg packaging system comprising the transfer device according to claim 1.
A transport unit that transports a plurality of types of containers toward the transfer device,
An egg boxing system comprising: a filling unit that puts the sorted eggs into the container on the transport unit.

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