WO2021172009A1

WO2021172009A1 - Transport device and transport method

Info

Publication number: WO2021172009A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/004864
Authority: WO
Inventors: 長山　弘之
Original assignee: 三菱重工機械システム株式会社
Priority date: 2020-02-27
Filing date: 2021-02-10
Publication date: 2021-09-02
Also published as: JP2021134041A; TWI787738B; TW202132187A; KR20220106828A; JP2023179698A

Abstract

The present invention realizes a transport device and a transport method through a simple structure, the device and method making it possible to transfer products such as containers from an upstream conveyor to a downstream conveyor so as to be adequately dispersed in the width direction while avoiding overturning of the products and action of excessive force on the products.　A transport device comprising a first conveyor, and a supply unit that supplies products lined up in a plurality of rows to the first conveyor while the products are moved in a third direction that is inclined relative to a first direction and a second direction. The supply unit includes an alignment guide that guides the products lined up in the plurality of rows in the third direction. The alignment guide is formed linearly or substantially linearly spanning at least two ends in a plan view, and the plurality of rows of products are guided by the same alignment guide.

Description

Transport device and transport method

This disclosure relates to a device and a method for transporting an article such as a container.

A line for manufacturing beverage products in containers is, for example, a storage conveyor (accumulation conveyor) capable of storing a large number of containers between an upstream device for filling a container with a product liquid and a downstream device such as an inspection device. It has.

The width of the storage conveyor is sufficiently wider than the width of the supply conveyor that supplies the container to the storage conveyor. The containers are transferred from the supply conveyor to the storage conveyor orthogonal to the supply conveyor, and a large number of containers are stored in a state where the containers are dispersed over the entire width direction of the storage conveyor. Then, it is possible to cope with the capacity difference between the upstream device and the downstream device, and even if one of the upstream device and the downstream device is stopped, the other can be continuously operated.

As shown in Patent Document 1, in order to disperse and supply the containers to the storage conveyor in the width direction, there is known a pressing guide that presses the containers transported in a dense state by the supply conveyor toward the downstream side.
Alternatively, as shown in Patent Document 2, a plurality of partition guides for partitioning a container into a plurality of rows are known. The containers in each row aligned by these partition guides are guided to points on the downstream conveyor that are separated in the width direction.

The transport device described in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1 includes a supply conveyor (4) on which a guide (20A) and a pressing guide (20B) are installed, and a first conveyor (18A) orthogonal to the supply conveyor (4). ), A second conveyor (18B), a third conveyor (8), and a storage conveyor (10), which are sequentially connected in series with the first conveyor (18A).

The pressing guide (20B) has a weir curved in a convex direction with respect to the container group so as to prevent and retain a part of the container group conveyed in a predetermined direction by the supply conveyor (4). There is. A similar pressing guide is also described in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 3.

When the container is transferred from the supply conveyor to the downstream conveyor, the number of rows of the container increases. The speed of the storage conveyor when storing the containers is set lower than the speed of the supply conveyor because of the relationship between the number of rows of containers and the transport speed under a predetermined capacity. When the dense container is pressed by the pressing guide, the container spreads on the supply conveyor and is pushed out to the storage conveyor.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-069744 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-202913 Jikkenhei 4-037122

It is desired to avoid excessive pressure acting on the container on the supply conveyor due to the pressing of the dense container to which the predetermined line pressure is applied by the pressing guide.
Further, since the arrangement of the containers tends to be biased due to the convex weir of the pressing guide, the container is easily pushed by another container, for example, in the gap on the back side of the weir and falls easily.

In Patent Document 1, the speed of the most upstream supply conveyor (4) among the supply conveyor (4), the first to third conveyors (18A, 18B, 8) and the storage conveyor (10) is faster. More specifically, among the parallel-connected conveyors (4A, 4B) constituting the supply conveyor (4), the speed of the conveyor (4B) for transferring the container to the first conveyor (18A) is the fastest. That is, when transferring from the supply conveyor (4) to the first conveyor (18A), a relatively large line pressure is applied to the container, and the pressing guide (20B) is used to put the line pressure on the supply conveyor (4). The container is expanded and pushed out to the first conveyor (18A). According to the configuration of Patent Document 1, since the resistance of the pressing guide (20B) to the moving container is large, it is difficult to prevent the thin-walled container from being deformed by the pressure.

On the other hand, according to the configuration of Patent Document 2 using the partition guide, the pressure applied to the container can be suppressed by partitioning the container into a plurality of rows. However, since it is necessary to distribute the containers into multiple rows upstream of the partition guides, a container distribution mechanism is required, and the structure that supports each of the multiple partition guides on the conveyor makes a single guide a conveyor. The equipment cost increases because it is more complicated than the case of supporting it.

Based on the above, the present disclosure allows the articles to be transferred in a state of being sufficiently dispersed in the width direction from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor while avoiding excessive pressure acting on the articles such as containers and overturning of the articles. The purpose is to realize a simple transport device and transport method with a simple structure.

The transport device according to the present disclosure has a plurality of rows of a first conveyor that transports articles in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a boundary along the first direction with respect to the upstream side of the first conveyor. It is provided with a supply unit for supplying articles to the first conveyor while moving the articles arranged in the same direction in the first direction and the third direction inclined with respect to the second direction.
The supply unit includes an alignment guide that guides articles arranged in a plurality of rows in a third direction.
The alignment guide is formed in a straight line or a substantially linear shape over at least both ends in a plan view, and a plurality of rows of articles are guided by the same alignment guide.

In the transport method according to the present disclosure, articles lined up in a plurality of rows are arranged in a plurality of rows in the first direction and the second direction toward the upstream side of the first conveyor that transports the articles in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first step of moving the article in the inclined third direction and the transfer of the article from the supply section for moving the article in the third direction to the first conveyor across the boundary between the supply section and the first conveyor along the first direction. It includes a second step of mounting.
In the first step, the articles are arranged in a plurality of rows along the third direction by the same alignment guide formed linearly or substantially linearly between at least both ends in a plan view, and in the second step, the articles are arranged in a plurality of rows along the third direction. Due to the positional relationship between the articles arranged in a plurality of rows along the third direction and the boundary, the articles distributed on the boundary with a gap in the first direction are transferred to the first conveyor.

According to the transport device and transport method of the present disclosure, the use of the pressing guide or the partition guide prevents the article from being subjected to excessive pressure or falling due to the uneven arrangement of the articles. The article can be spread in the first direction based on the arrangement of the article in the triangular region formed by the alignment guide with respect to the boundary. By doing so, the articles can be transferred to the downstream conveyor in a state of being sufficiently dispersed in the width direction while reducing the line pressure.

In addition, since it is sufficient to install a single alignment guide having a straight and simple shape as a guide for changing the arrangement direction of the articles in a plurality of rows, the structure is simpler than when a pressing guide or a plurality of partition guides are used. It becomes.

It is a top view which shows the transport device which concerns on embodiment of this disclosure, and the container group which is a transport target. The illustrated container layout is just an example. It is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. Illustration of some containers in FIG. 1 is omitted. It is a top view which shows the modification of the alignment guide. (A) to (c) are schematic views for geometrically explaining the angle of inclination of the alignment guide and the basic course of the container. (A) is a schematic diagram showing the basic course of the container. (B) is a schematic diagram showing an example of the course of the container. It is a top view for demonstrating the position adjustment of the alignment guide. It is a schematic diagram which shows how the position of the course of a container changes by adjusting the position of the alignment guide. (A) to (d) are schematic views showing a modification of the alignment guide. It is a top view which shows the other modification of the alignment guide.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[Overall configuration of transport device]
The transport device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is transferred to a storage upstream conveyor 13 corresponding to an upstream portion of a storage conveyor device 3 capable of storing a container 2 that has been processed by a device such as sterilization or filling (not shown), and a storage upstream conveyor 13. It includes a supply unit 11 for supplying the container 2 and an intermediate conveyor 12. The entire illustration of the storage conveyor device 3 is omitted.
The container 2 is, for example, a can or a bottle, and is conveyed by the conveyor 1 in an upright state on a conveyor. The shape of the container 2 is not limited. The shape of the cross section of the container 2 is not limited to a circular shape, and may be, for example, a rectangular shape.

The supply unit 11 includes a supply conveyor 110 that conveys the container 2 in the first direction D1 and an alignment guide 22 that guides the containers 2 arranged on the supply conveyor 110 toward the intermediate conveyor 12.
The intermediate conveyor 12 and the storage upstream conveyor 13 convey the container 2 in the second direction D2, which is orthogonal to the first direction D1 in the plan view of the transfer device 1.
In the plan view of the transport device 1, the direction inclined with respect to both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 is referred to as a third direction D3. The supply conveyor 110 supplies the container 2 to the intermediate conveyor 12 while moving the container 2 in the third direction D3.

The container 2 conveyed to the alignment guide 22 in the first direction D1 in a plurality of rows (p rows) by the supply unit 11 is transferred to the intermediate conveyor 12 in a state where the alignment direction is changed to the third direction D3 by the alignment guide 22. It is loaded, and by further transferring from the intermediate conveyor 12 to the storage upstream conveyor 13, it is stored on the storage upstream conveyor 13 in a dense state in r rows.

[Supply section]
The supply conveyor 110 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is arranged parallel to the first direction D1 and conveys the container 2 in the first direction D1.
As the supply conveyor 110, a known conveyor device such as a chain conveyor or a belt conveyor can be used. The same applies to the intermediate conveyor 12 and the storage upstream conveyor 13.
The supply conveyor 110 may be composed of a plurality of conveyors connected in series.

Although detailed illustration is omitted, the supply conveyor 110 of the present embodiment includes a chain 110A arranged parallel to the first direction D1, a sprocket with which the chain 110A engages, a motor for driving the chain, and the like. Corresponds to a chain conveyor. The intermediate conveyor 12 and the storage upstream conveyor 13 of this embodiment also correspond to the chain conveyor.
The chain 110A of the supply conveyor 110 forms a boundary B1 along the first direction D1 with respect to the upstream side of the chain 12A of the intermediate conveyor 12.

In each of the

conveyors

110, 12, and 13, the chain is driven by a motor at a predetermined speed. In the present specification, the speed of the conveyor (conveying speed) corresponds to the speed at which the chain is driven.

A predetermined line pressure is applied to the container group on the supply conveyor 110 as needed. Line pressure refers to the pressure at which the containers 2 are pushed against each other in the transport direction.

The container group on the supply conveyor 110 may not or may not be provided with line pressure.

The supply conveyor 110 is provided with

upstream guide portions

211 and 212 parallel to the first direction D1 and an alignment guide 22 connected to the downstream side of the upstream guide portion 211.
The

upstream guide portions

211 and 212 guide the container group arranged on the supply conveyor 110 to the first direction D1 from both sides of the second direction D2.
Of the

upstream guide portions

211 and 212, one of the guide portions 211 far from the boundary B1 in the second direction D2 is smoothly continuous with the start point 22A of the alignment guide 22.
The other upstream guide portion 212 extends substantially along the first direction D1 to a position on the boundary B1 corresponding to the start point 22A of the alignment guide 22.

The alignment guide 22 is formed linearly in a plan view of the transport device 1. Strictly speaking, the alignment guide 22 is formed linearly along at least both ends (22A, 22B) along the third direction D3. The alignment guide 22 is not formed with a portion protruding from the container 2.
The portion corresponding to the start point 22A of the alignment guide 22 may be curved so as to be smoothly connected to the upstream guide portion 211. Similarly, the portion corresponding to the end point 22B of the alignment guide 22 may be curved so as to be smoothly connected to the downstream guide portion (231).

The alignment guide 22 is inclined with respect to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 so that the end point 22B located on the downstream side is closer to the boundary B1 than the start point 22A located on the upstream side. The end point 22B is located at or near the boundary B1. The alignment guide 22 has an angle θ ₁ (acute angle) with respect to the boundary B1. θ ₁ is less than 90 °, for example 10 to 30 °.

A triangular region R2 (hereinafter, triangular region R2) is formed between the alignment guide 22 and the boundary B1 on the supply conveyor 110. The container group arranged in the region R1 between the

upstream guide portions

211 and 212 is guided by the alignment guide 22 and changes the arrangement direction from the first direction D1 to the third direction D3 while sliding on the supply conveyor 110. Then, it is arranged in the triangular region R2.

No partition is arranged in any of the areas R1 and R2 to partition the plurality of rows of the container 2 from each other. A plurality of rows of containers are guided by the same alignment guide 22, and are arranged in a substantially triangular shape as a whole, following the shape of the triangular region R2.

Even if the containers 2 are not densely packed in the region R1 between the

upstream guide portions

211 and 12 and there is a gap between the containers 2, the containers 2 are gathered in a dense state by the action of the alignment guide 22. , Can be arranged in a substantially triangular shape.
In the regions R1 between the

upstream guide portions

211 and 212, the containers 2 may or may not be densely packed in a staggered or irregular manner. For example, due to disturbance or the like, the containers 2 may be, for example, 1 to 1 to It is also permissible that there are several voids in the container group (see FIG. 8).

The alignment guide 22 is the alignment guide 22-1 shown in FIG. 7A or the alignment guide 22-2 shown in FIG. 7B to the extent that the action of aligning a plurality of rows of containers in a substantially triangular shape can be obtained. As shown in the case where the start point 22A and the end point 22B are bent, or as in the alignment guide 22-3 shown in FIG. 7 (c) or the alignment guide 22-4 shown in FIG. 7 (d), the start point 22A and the end point 22B It may be curved between them. Such alignment guides are formed in a substantially linear shape.

Further, FIG. 8 shows an alignment guide 22-5 according to a modified example. The alignment guide 22-5 is provided with a linear alignment action unit 22D for aligning the container 2 on the side adjacent to the boundary B1. Like this alignment guide 22-5, on the side adjacent to the boundary B1, the alignment action unit 22D for aligning the containers 2 immediately before the boundary B1 and on the boundary B1 is arranged on the boundary B1 in the first direction D1. The region 22E on the upstream side of the alignment action portion 22D may be bent with respect to the alignment action portion 22D as long as it is provided over the range of, and the alignment action portion 22D and the region 22E as a whole are non-linear. May be good.
It can be said that only the region of the alignment action unit 22D corresponds to the alignment guide. In that case, the alignment action unit 22D as the alignment guide is connected to the upstream guide unit 211 via the guide region 22E.

In any of the present embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and the modified examples shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and the like, in the triangular region R2, the containers 2 form a plurality of rows along the alignment guide 22. Line up in 3 directions D3. Since the movement direction of the container 2 is bent with respect to the first direction D1 by the alignment guide 22, and the containers 2 are arranged along the third direction D3, the rows of the containers 2 along the third direction D3 (in FIG. 2). The boundary B1 is inclined with respect to (A1 etc. shown). Due to the positional relationship between the container row such as A1 and the boundary B1, the pitch L2 of the container row in the first direction D1 at the boundary B1 is larger than the pitch L1 of the container row in the regions R1 and R2. Therefore, the containers 2 are distributed and transferred from the supply conveyor 11 to the intermediate conveyor 12 beyond the boundary B1 with a gap in the first direction D1.
_{Here, the smaller the angle θ 1} formed by the alignment guide 22 with respect to the boundary B1, the wider the container 2 can be distributed in the first direction D1.

With reference to FIG. 4A, the basic course of the container 2 transferred from the supply unit 11 to the intermediate conveyor 12 (first conveyor) will be described.
In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the position and angle of the alignment guide 22 are set so that the plane center of the container 2 is located on the boundary B1 for each row of the container 2 on the supply unit 11. In addition, the containers 2 are densely staggered immediately before and above the boundary B1.
It is not necessary that all the containers 2 on the supply unit 11 are arranged in a staggered pattern. For example, the containers 2 immediately before the boundary B1 and on the boundary B1 having a dot-shaped pattern in FIG. 4A are provided. It is enough if they are arranged in a staggered pattern. Further, even if the plane center of the container 2 deviates from the boundary B1, the behavior of the container 2 described below is approximated.

In the above example, FIG. 5 (a) shows the basic course of the container 2 with a dashed line. The alternate long and short dash line shows the locus of the center of the plane of the container 2. As shown in FIG. 5A, the rows of the container 2 are arranged at equal intervals in both the supply unit 11 and the intermediate conveyor 12. If the pitch P1 on the supply unit 11 is equal, the pitch P2 on the intermediate conveyor 12 is also equal.
In fact, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), by the friction between the inertia and the intermediate conveyor 12 and the container 2 of the container 2 to move at a velocity v ₀ in the third direction D3, the container 2 beyond the boundaries B1, It may follow the course β as shown by the alternate long and short dash line. This course β is shifted in the first direction D1 by the amount indicated by the arrow with respect to the basic course α indicated by the alternate long and short dash line.
The amount of the course β exceeding the course α in the first direction D1 and the trajectory of the course β turning from the third direction D3 to the second direction D2 are the velocity v ₀ and the intermediate conveyor 12 and the container 2. It is determined by the frictional force, and further varies due to individual differences in the frictional force of the container 2 and disturbance.
When the frictional force between the container 2 and the intermediate conveyor 12 is larger than the standard frictional force between the container 2 and the chain conveyor, the plane center of the container 2 is before reaching the boundary B1. When a part of the bottom of the container 2 crosses the boundary B1, the course of the container 2 may be turned toward the second direction D2 (see FIG. 6B).

The course of each container 2 in the intermediate conveyor 12 may vary in the first direction D1 due to individual differences and disturbances. Further, when the variation of friction or the disturbance affects the transfer timing of each container 2, the container 2 does not temporarily line up in the second direction D2 at equal intervals in the flow of the container 2, and the container 2 may come into close contact with the second direction D2.

As shown in FIG. 4A, if the containers 2 are densely arranged in a staggered pattern immediately before the boundary B1 between the supply unit 11 and the intermediate conveyor 12, and the plane center of the container 2 passes over the boundary B1. _{The angle θ 1} of the alignment guide 22 can be expressed by the following equation (1).

R: Pitch of container 2 adjacent to each other in a staggered pattern (equal to the diameter of container 2)
L: Distance set between rows of containers 2 transferred from the supply unit 11 to the intermediate conveyor 12

As shown in FIG. 4A, two right triangles T1 and T2 that can share the side t are set. For convenience of drawing, these triangles T1 and T2 are shown separately.
FIG. 4B shows the relationship between the diameter R of the container 2 and the side t of the triangle T1 based on the staggered arrangement of the container 2.
t = Rcos30 ° (2)
FIG. 4C shows the relationship between the distance L between columns and the side t of the triangle T2.
t = Lsinθ ₁ (3)

From (2) and (3), since Rcos30 ° = Lsinθ ₁ , the above equation (1) is derived.

It is not necessary that all the containers 2 shown in FIG. 4A are arranged in a staggered pattern. For example, the containers 2 in the vicinity of the boundary B1 having a dot-shaped pattern may be arranged in a staggered pattern. Even it is out of position of the container 2 from the strict staggered arrangement, if the container 2 with each other is almost close contact, since the container 2 is disposed substantially staggered, the theta ₁ in that case formula ( Approximate to 1).

[Intermediate conveyor]
As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate conveyor 12 (first conveyor) conveys the container 2 transferred from the supply unit 11 in the second direction D2 and transfers it to the storage upstream conveyor 13.
The containers 2 introduced from the triangular region R2 beyond the boundary B1 into the intermediate conveyor 12 are distributed in the width direction (first direction D1) on the intermediate conveyor 12.
The intermediate conveyor 12 is provided with a width sufficient for arranging the containers 2 distributed in the first direction D1. The intermediate conveyor 12 of the present embodiment is given the same width as the storage upstream conveyor 13, but this is not the case.
The intermediate conveyor 12 may be composed of a plurality of conveyors connected in series.

On the intermediate conveyor 12, when the container 2 is transferred to the storage upstream conveyor 13, the distribution range of the container 2 is further expanded in the width direction, and the container 2 is stored in the storage upstream conveyor 13 in r rows. An unarranged void in the container 2 that is movable in the first direction D1 is left.

Assuming that the speed at which the container 2 moves in the third direction D3 by the supply conveyor 110 and the alignment guide 22 is v ₀ and the speed of the first conveyor 12 is v ₁ , those speeds are set to be, _{for example, v 0} <v _1. can do.
When v ₀ <v ₁ , the moving speed of the container 2 increases with the transfer from the supply unit 11 to the intermediate conveyor 12, so that the gap G1 (FIG. 1) in the second direction D2 is between the containers 2. Given. Since the gap G1 exists, the container 2 is not pressurized in the second direction D2.
When the intermediate conveyor 12 is composed of a plurality of conveyors, the speed of each conveyor can be set so that the moving speed of the container 2 gradually changes in order to prevent the container 2 from tipping over due to a change in the transport speed.

The velocity v ₀ corresponds to the moving velocity of the container 2 in the region R1 in the first direction D1 when the containers 2 are densely packed in the region R1. Further, if there is no slip between the container 2 and the chain 110A in the region R1, v ₀ also corresponds to the drive speed of the chain 110A of the supply conveyor 110. When there is a gap between the containers 2 in the region R1, v ₀ is slower than the moving speed of the container 2 in the first direction D1 in the region R1.

1 and 2 show an example in which the number of rows of the container 2 does not change before and after the transfer from the supply conveyor 11 to the intermediate conveyor 12 because _{v 0} <v ₁ _{, but v 0} , v _It is not limited to this depending on the relationship of 1.
The relationship between the speeds of the supply unit 11 and the intermediate conveyor 12 may be _{v 0} ≧ v _1. When the supply unit 11 and the intermediate conveyor 12 have the same speed, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the containers 2 are connected in close proximity to the second direction D2 in the intermediate conveyor 12. Further, when the speed v ₁ of the intermediate conveyor 12 is slower than the speed v ₀ of the supply unit 11, by the container 2 come into contact with each other in the intermediate conveyor 12, an intermediate for the column number of the container 2 in the supply unit 11 The number of rows of containers 2 on the conveyor 12 increases.
The relationship between the speeds of the supply unit 11 and the intermediate conveyor 12 can be switched between _{v 0} ≧ v ₁ and v ₀ <v _{1 if necessary.}

The container 2 is retained when the relative velocity v ₀ velocity v ₁ is slower spread in the first direction D1, whereby the number of columns of the container 2 on the intermediate conveyor 12 is also allowed to increase. However, the room (void) for expanding the distribution range of the container 2 in the width direction is lost from the intermediate conveyor 12 due to the transfer to the storage upstream conveyor 13 driven by _{v 2} which is slower than _{v 1.} in no limit can be set to be low speed v ₁ of the intermediate conveyor 12.

Intermediate guide portions

231 and 232 are installed on both sides of the intermediate conveyor 12 in the width direction. In order to prevent the container 2 from jumping out of the conveyor due to a collision between the containers 2, the alignment guide 22 and the intermediate guide portion 231 are continuous, and the upstream guide portion 212 and the intermediate guide portion 232 are continuous. Preferred, but not limited to. Further, in order to prevent the container 2 from being bitten or damaged, it is preferable that the guide portion is continuous in a smooth shape.

The

intermediate guide portions

231 and 232 can be formed into an appropriate shape.
According to the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate guide portion 231 has a portion 231A extending downstream from the end point 22B of the alignment guide 22 along the boundary B1 in the transport direction of the supply conveyor 110, and a portion 231A. It has a portion 231B that bends and extends along the second direction D2.
Further, the intermediate guide portion 232 includes a portion 232A inclined with respect to the boundary B1 from the end point 212B of the upstream guide portion 212, and a portion 232B extending along the second direction D2.

The upstream guide unit 211, the alignment guide 22, the intermediate guide unit 231 and the guide unit 241 of the storage conveyor device 3 are continuous in this order. These guide

portions

211, 22, 231, 241 can be configured from a single member or appropriately divided into two or more members.
On the other hand, the upstream guide unit 212, the intermediate guide unit 232, and the guide unit 242 of the storage conveyor device 3 are continuous in this order. These guide

portions

212, 232, and 242 can also be configured from a single member or appropriately divided into two or more members.

[Storage upstream conveyor]
The storage upstream conveyor 13 (second conveyor) corresponds to the upstream portion of the storage conveyor device 3 as described above.
The storage upstream conveyor 13 is connected in series with the intermediate conveyor 12 and stores the container 2 in a dense state. A transfer plate (not shown) is arranged at the boundary B2 between the intermediate conveyor 12 and the storage upstream conveyor 13 as needed.

The containers 2 arranged in the first direction D1 in the p-row in the region R1 on the supply conveyor 110 pass through the triangular region R2 and the intermediate conveyor 12, and are in the second direction in the r-row more than the p-row on the storage upstream conveyor 13. Line up on D2. The storage upstream conveyor 13 is provided with a width sufficient for arranging the dense r-row containers 2.

Assuming that the speed of the intermediate conveyor 12 is v ₁ and the speed of the storage upstream conveyor 13 is v ₂ , then v ₁ > v ₂ . That is, the container 2 slows down as it is transferred from the intermediate conveyor 12 to the storage upstream conveyor 13. Based on v ₁ > v ₂ , the number of rows of the container 2 increases from the relationship between the number of rows of the container 2 and the transport speed under a predetermined transport capacity. In addition, v _2, the container 2 is set so as to be stored in the compact state in the reservoir upstream conveyor 13.
Therefore, with the transfer to the storage upstream conveyor 13, the distribution range of the container 2 expands in the first direction D1, and the containers 2 are distributed in a dense state over almost the entire width direction on the storage upstream conveyor 13.

In order to prevent the container 2 from tipping over due to a speed change during transfer to the storage upstream conveyor 13, the speed of each conveyor is set so that the moving speed of the container 2 gradually changes using a plurality of conveyors connected in series. can do.

[Storage conveyor device]
The storage conveyor device 3 is composed of a plurality of conveyors connected in series such as a storage upstream conveyor 13 and a storage downstream conveyor 14, and is configured to be capable of storing while transporting a large number of containers 2. An appropriate speed is given to each of the plurality of conveyors constituting the storage conveyor device 3. In addition, another conveyor constituting the storage conveyor device 3 may be interposed between the storage upstream conveyor 13 and the storage downstream conveyor 14.

By storing a large number of containers 2 in the storage conveyor device 3, the capacity difference between the upstream and downstream of the production line can be absorbed, and production can be continued even if a part of the production line is stopped. Having such an accumulating function, the storage conveyor device 3 is referred to as an accumulating conveyor. The storage conveyor device 3 is provided with an appropriate width and length so as to secure a required storage amount according to the capacities of the upstream device and the downstream device.

The storage conveyor device 3 receives and stores the container 2 from the upstream in a steady state in which both the upstream device and the downstream device are operating, and discharges the required amount of the container 2 to the downstream.
In order to uniformly store the containers 2 on the storage conveyor device 3 as evenly as possible, it is preferable that the containers 2 are dispersed over the entire width direction (first direction D1) of the storage conveyor device 3.

[Action and effect of transport device]
As shown in FIG. 1, the container 2 sent from the upstream device such as filling and sterilization to the supply conveyor 110 via a transfer mechanism (not shown) has the containers 2 arranged in the p-row directed toward the upstream side of the intermediate conveyor 12. The first step S1 to move in the direction D3, the second step S2 to transfer the container 2 from the supply unit 11 to the intermediate conveyor 12 beyond the boundary B1, and the boundary B2 from the intermediate conveyor 12 to the storage upstream conveyor 13. Through the third step S3 for transferring the container 2 beyond, the container 2 is stored on the storage upstream conveyor 13 in a state of being distributed over the entire width direction (first direction D1).

In the first step S1, the movement direction of the container group is bent with respect to the first direction D1 by the alignment guide 22, so that the containers 2 are arranged in a plurality of rows along the third direction D3 in the triangular region R2. Then, the pitch of the first direction D1 of the container row is expanded to L2 on the boundary B1 inclined with respect to the third direction D3, so that each container 2 crosses the boundary B1 and extends in the width direction to the intermediate conveyor 12. It is transferred in a state of being evenly distributed in (second step S2).

For example, unlike the case where an uneven pressing guide is used as in Patent Document 1, the container 2 can be aligned in the third direction D3 by the linearly formed alignment guide 22, so that the container can be aligned in the triangular region R2. It is difficult to form a large void that leads to the fall of 2. Even if a relatively large void is present in the container group in the upstream region R1, in many cases, the void is replaced by the container 2 when the container group is aligned with the triangular region R2.
However, it is also permissible that the void is present in the container group arranged in the triangular region R2. Even if the container 2 does not exist in a part of the boundary B1, the container 2 is transferred from the supply unit 11 beyond the boundary B1 to the intermediate conveyor 12 in a dispersed state in the width direction.

As each container 2 is transferred to the intermediate conveyor 12, the subsequent container 2 is replenished to the triangular region R2. Therefore, while maintaining a constant arrangement of the containers 2 in the triangular region R2, the containers 2 can be stably supplied from the triangular region R2 to the intermediate conveyor 12 in a constant supply amount.

If the velocity v ₁ of the velocity v ₀ and the intermediate conveyor 12 of the supply conveyor 110 is different from the moving speed of the container 2 with the transfer from the feed conveyor 110 to the intermediate conveyor 12 is changed so as to follow the v _1. For example, if v ₀ <v ₁ , the acceleration of the container 2 provides a gap G1 in the second direction D2 between the containers 2.

In the third step S3, the container 2 is transferred from the intermediate conveyor 12 to the storage upstream conveyor 13 which is slower than the intermediate conveyor 12 and stores the container 2 in a dense state. Then, while decelerating, the container 2 expands in the width direction at the end of the dense container group, and the number of rows increases, so that the r-row containers 2 are stored on the storage upstream conveyor 13.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the containers 2 are also densely packed in the downstream portion 12B of the intermediate conveyor 12, but this is not the case. The end of the dense container group may be on the storage upstream conveyor 13.

Further, the container 2 is conveyed from the storage upstream conveyor 13 to a downstream device such as an inspection device or a boxing device via a downstream conveyor such as a storage downstream conveyor 14 provided in the storage conveyor device 3. The distribution state of the container 2 in each conveyor of the storage conveyor device 3 including the storage upstream conveyor 13 and the storage downstream conveyor 14 varies depending on the operating status of each processing device on the production line.

According to the transfer method including the transfer device 1 and steps S1 to S3 of the present embodiment, the container 2 is moved from the upstream supply unit 11 to the storage conveyor device 3 via the intermediate conveyor 12 in the width direction (first direction D1). Can be supplied in a sufficiently distributed state.
That is, by using a single alignment guide 22 for transfer from the supply unit 11 to the intermediate conveyor 12, the container is arranged based on the geometrical relationship between the container 2 arranged along the alignment guide 22 and the boundary B1. The distribution range of 2 is expanded, and then the distribution range is further expanded as the number of rows of the container 2 increases based on the speed difference between _{v 1} and v _{2 between the intermediate conveyor 12 and the storage upstream conveyor 13.} As a result, the containers 2 can be uniformly distributed over the entire width direction of the storage conveyor device 3 without being biased in the width direction, and the containers 2 can be efficiently stored in the storage conveyor device 3.

As a typical example for distributing the container 2 in the width direction from a certain conveyor to an orthogonal conveyor, the container 2 is pressurized by using a pressing guide under line pressure, so that the container 2 is distributed in the width direction of the storage conveyor device 3. The containers 2 may be distributed, or the containers 2 may be distributed in each row in advance, and the containers 2 may be distributed in the width direction of the storage conveyor device 3 by guiding the containers 2 for each row by a plurality of partition guides.
In contrast to the above typical example, according to the present embodiment, the container 2 is overturned due to excessive pressure acting on the container 2 due to the use of the pressing guide or the partition guide, or due to the uneven arrangement of the container 2 around the guide. When transferring from the supply unit 11 to the intermediate conveyor 12, the container 2 is expanded in the first direction D1 even under the condition that no line pressure is applied, and the container 2 is further transferred from the intermediate conveyor 12 to the storage upstream conveyor 13. At times, the container 2 can be expanded in the first direction D1. According to this embodiment, the line pressure can be reduced as compared with the case where the container 2 is expanded in the first direction D1 at once by using the pressing guide.

Since the alignment guide 22 is formed in a linear or substantially linear shape without a weir protruding toward the container 2, the resistance given to the moving container 2 is small. Therefore, even if the container 2 is thin, it is possible to prevent the container 2 from being deformed, and it is possible to cope with the increase in capacity due to the increase in the transport speed.
Moreover, since the alignment guide 22 has a linear or substantially linear and simple shape, it is easy to process, and further, it is sufficient to install a single alignment guide 22 as a guide for changing the arrangement direction of the container 2. , The support structure of the alignment guide 22 is simple. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the transport device 1 can be reduced as compared with the case where a pressing guide or a plurality of partition guides are used.

From the above, it is possible to realize the transfer device 1 and the transfer method capable of smoothly distributing the container group in a wide range in the first direction D1 by the low line pressure while having a simple structure.

[Modification example]
As shown in FIG. 3, an _{alignment guide 22-6 forming an angle θ 2} with respect to the boundary B1 can also be adopted. Since θ ₂ is _{larger than θ 1} (FIG. 2), the distribution range of the container 2 whose arrangement direction is changed by the alignment guide 22-6 in the first direction D1 is narrower than that when the alignment guide 22 is used. Therefore, the alignment guides 22-6 are suitable for storing the container 2 in the storage conveyor device 3 with a smaller number of rows than r.

As shown in FIG. 6A, for example, the alternate long and short dash line from the position where the alignment guide 22 is shown by the solid line with respect to the

intermediate guide portions

231 and 232 so that the rows of the containers 2 are evenly located between the

intermediate guide portions

231 and 232. Alternatively, it can be moved in the first direction D1 to the position indicated by the broken line.
FIG. 6B shows the course of the container 2 when the alignment guide 22 is moved in the direction of the arrow along the first direction D1 by a chain double-dashed line. The position of the alignment guide 22 may be adjusted while checking the deviation and variation of the course of the container 2. At that time, the position of the alignment guide 22 may be adjusted so that the entire container 2 distributed on the intermediate conveyor 12 is aligned with the center of the

intermediate guide portions

231 and 232, or one of the

intermediate guide portions

231 and 232 is intentionally adjusted. The position of the alignment guide 22 may be adjusted so that the container 2 is close to one side.

[Additional Notes]
The transport device and the transport method described above are grasped as follows.
(1) The transfer device 1 has a first conveyor 12 that conveys the article (2) in the second direction D2 that is orthogonal to the first direction D1 and a first direction D1 with respect to the upstream side of the first conveyor 12. Supply of articles (2) to the first conveyor 12 while forming a boundary B1 along the line and moving articles (2) arranged in a plurality of rows in a third direction D3 inclined with respect to the first direction and the second direction. A unit 11 is provided.
The supply unit 11 includes an alignment guide 22 that guides articles (2) arranged in a plurality of rows in the third direction D3. The alignment guide 22 is formed linearly or substantially linearly between at least both

end portions

22A and 22B in a plan view, and a plurality of rows of articles (2) are guided by the same alignment guide 22.
(2) The transport device 1 includes a second conveyor 13 which is connected in series with the first conveyor 12 and stores the articles (2) in a dense state. Assuming that the speed of the first conveyor 12 is v ₁ and the speed of the second conveyor 13 is v ₂ , then v ₁ > v ₂ .
(3) Assuming that the speed at which the article (2) moves in the third direction D3 by the supply unit 11 is v ₀ and the speed of the first conveyor 12 is v ₁ , then v ₀ <v ₁ .
(4) Assuming that the speed at which the article (2) moves in the third direction D3 by the supply unit 11 is v ₀ and the speed of the first conveyor 12 is v ₁ , then v ₀ ≧ v ₁ .
The configurations (3) and (4) above can be selectively adopted, or the configurations (3) and (4) can be switched.
(5) The supply unit 11 includes a supply conveyor 110 that conveys the article (2) in the first direction D1 and an alignment guide 22 that guides the articles (2) lined up on the supply conveyor 110 in the third direction D3. ..
(6) In the transport method, the articles (2) arranged in a plurality of rows are first arranged toward the upstream side of the first conveyor 12 that conveys the articles (2) in the second direction D2 orthogonal to the first direction D1. The first step S1 for moving the article (2) in the third direction D3 inclined with respect to the direction D1 and the second direction D2, and the supply unit 11 for moving the article (2) in the third direction D3 to the first conveyor 12. A second step S2 for transferring the article (2) beyond the boundary B1 along the first direction D1 of the 11 and the first conveyor 12 is provided.
In the first step S1, a plurality of articles (2) are arranged in a plurality of rows along the third direction D3 by the same alignment guide 22 formed linearly or substantially linearly between at least both

end portions

22A and 22B in a plan view. Are arranged in.
In the second step S2, due to the positional relationship between the articles (2) arranged in a plurality of rows along the third direction D3 and the boundary B1, the articles (2) were distributed on the boundary B1 with a gap G1 in the first direction D1. The article (2) is transferred to the first conveyor 12.
(7) In the transport method, the article (2) is transferred from the first conveyor 12 to the second conveyor 13 which is connected in series with the first conveyor 12 and stores the article (2) in a dense state. The third step S3 is provided. In the third step S3, assuming that the speed of the first conveyor 12 is v ₁ and the speed of the second conveyor 13 is v ₂ , the distribution range of the article (2) becomes the first due to the increase in the number of rows based on _{v 1} > v _2. Expand in direction D1.
(8) Assuming that the speed at which the article (2) moves in the third direction D3 by the supply unit 11 is v ₀ and the speed of the first conveyor 12 is v ₁ , it is on the first conveyor 12 based on _{v 0} <v _1. In addition, the article (2) is distributed in a state where there is a gap G1 in the second direction D2.

In addition to the above, it is possible to select the configuration described in the above embodiment or change it to another configuration as appropriate.
The transport device and transport method of the present disclosure can be applied to containers for beverages, foods, and pharmaceuticals, and can also be widely applied to articles other than containers.

1 Conveyor 2 Container (article)
3 Storage conveyor device 11 Supply unit 12 Intermediate conveyor (first conveyor)
12A chain 13 storage upstream conveyor (second conveyor)
14 Storage downstream conveyor 22,22-1 to 22-6 Alignment guide

22A Start point

22B End point 110 Supply conveyor 110A Chain 211,212 Upstream guide part 212B End point 231,232

Intermediate guide part

231A,

231B Part

232A, 232B Part 241,242 guide Part A1 Row B1, B2 Boundary D1 First direction D2 Second direction D3 Third direction G1 Gap L1, L2 Pitch R1 Area R2 Triangular area S1 First step S2 Second step S3 Third step v ₀ , v ₁ , v ₂ Velocity θ ₁ , θ ₂ Angle

Claims

A first conveyor that conveys articles in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction,
A boundary is formed along the first direction with respect to the upstream side of the first conveyor, and the articles arranged in a plurality of rows are moved in the first direction and the third direction inclined with respect to the second direction. A supply unit for supplying the article to the first conveyor is provided.
The supply unit includes an alignment guide that guides the articles arranged in the plurality of rows in the third direction.
The alignment guide is a transport device that is formed in a linear or substantially linear shape between at least both ends in a plan view, and the plurality of rows of the articles are guided by the same alignment guide.
A second conveyor, which is connected in series with the first conveyor and stores the articles in a dense state, is provided.
Assuming that the speed of the first conveyor is v 1 and the speed of the second conveyor is v 2 , then v 1 > v 2 .
The transport device according to claim 1.
Assuming that the speed at which the article moves in the third direction by the supply unit is v 0 and the speed of the first conveyor is v 1 , then v 0 <v 1 .
The transport device according to claim 1 or 2.
Assuming that the speed at which the article moves in the third direction by the supply unit is v 0 and the speed of the first conveyor is v 1 , then v 0 ≧ v 1 .
The transport device according to claim 1 or 2.
The supply unit
A supply conveyor that conveys the article in the first direction,
Includes the alignment guide, which guides the articles lined up on the supply conveyor in the third direction.
The transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
A third direction in which the articles arranged in a plurality of rows are inclined with respect to the first direction and the second direction toward the upstream side of the first conveyor that conveys the articles in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first step to move to
A second step of transferring the article from the supply unit that moves the article in the third direction to the first conveyor beyond the boundary between the supply unit and the first conveyor along the first direction. ,
With
In the first step,
The articles are arranged in a plurality of rows along the third direction by the same alignment guide formed linearly or substantially linearly between at least both ends in a plan view.
In the second step,
From the positional relationship between the articles arranged in a plurality of rows along the third direction and the boundary, the articles distributed on the boundary with a gap in the first direction are transferred to the first conveyor. Will be posted,
Transport method.
A third step of transferring the article from the first conveyor to a second conveyor which is connected in series with the first conveyor and stores the article in a dense state is provided.
In the third step,
Assuming that the speed of the first conveyor is v 1 and the speed of the second conveyor is v 2 , the distribution range of the articles expands in the first direction due to the increase in the number of rows based on v 1 > v 2.
The transport method according to claim 6.
Wherein the rate at which the article in the third direction by the supply portion moves v 0, if the speed of the first conveyor and v 1, v 0 based on <v 1,
The article is distributed on the first conveyor with a gap in the second direction.
The transport method according to claim 6 or 7.