WO2022264801A1

WO2022264801A1 - Transport device

Info

Publication number: WO2022264801A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/022114
Authority: WO
Inventors: 隆秋本庄; 元春本郷
Original assignee: オリオン機械工業株式会社
Priority date: 2021-06-16
Filing date: 2022-05-31
Publication date: 2022-12-22
Also published as: JP2022191736A; JP7231899B2

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a transport device capable of shortening the transport time of objects to be transported and transporting the plurality of objects to be transported without gaps therebetween. [Solution] A transport device 1 comprises: an elevating platform 3B (3A) that is disposed on the extension line of a transport path 2 in the transport direction of toilet paper rolls TP, receives a predetermined number of toilet paper rolls TP from the transport path 2, and is raised or lowered from near the downstream end of the transport path 2 in the transport direction, along a direction that is inclined downstream in the transport direction with respect to the vertical direction; and a separation member 4 that extends from the upstream end of the elevating platform 3B (3A) in the transport direction and faces the front-most toilet paper roll TP on the transport path 2 when the elevating platform 3B (3A) is raised or lowered. Thus, the time required to transport the toilet paper rolls TP can be shortened, and the plurality of toilet paper rolls TP can be transported without gaps therebetween.

Description

Conveyor

The present invention relates to a conveying device for conveying a predetermined number of objects to be conveyed, such as toilet paper.

Generally, roll papers such as toilet paper and kitchen paper are put together and put into a packaging bag and sold. In this bagging method, first, a plurality of roll papers are transported on a conveyor while being in contact with each other with their axial directions aligned. That is, the plurality of roll papers conveyed on the conveyor are conveyed without gaps between the following roll papers. Subsequently, a plurality of roll papers from the conveyor are transferred onto an elevator provided at the downstream end of the conveyor. Subsequently, when a plurality of roll papers are transferred, the lifting table advances slightly in the transport direction and then rises.

At this time, when a plurality of roll papers have been transferred to the elevator table, the elevator table advances slightly in the conveying direction. You can completely break contact. As a result, when the platform is raised, the ends of the roll paper in the conveying direction rub against each other and become rough. It is possible to suppress behavior such as standing up of the positioned roll paper due to a force in the rotational direction due to contact with the roll paper transferred onto the lift table. After that, finally, the plurality of roll papers on the raised platform are conveyed to appropriate positions by another conveying means.

In addition, Patent Document 1 describes a transfer conveying apparatus as a conventional technique for the above-described conveying apparatus. The operation of this transfer conveying device will be described below. A large number of articles are arranged on the carrier table. At this time, the end of the conveying table is arranged at a position close to the lifting table, and a certain number of articles are transferred onto the lifting table by the pushing pusher located at the other end of the conveying table.

Immediately after this, the conveying table retreats, and the contact between each article transferred onto the elevator table and the article positioned in the front row on the conveying table is completely cut off, and each article on the elevator table is removed. The elevator is lifted up smoothly. That is, each article remaining on the conveying table retreats together with the conveying table, so that it is completely separated from the article transferred onto the elevator table, and even if the elevator table is raised, the articles rub against each other and fall apart. The article can be reliably separated and transferred from the first conveying machine to the second conveying machine without disturbing the transfer mode by losing the posture.

JP-A-5-330644

In the above-described conventional technology including the transfer conveying device described in Patent Document 1, immediately after a predetermined number of articles (roll paper) are transferred onto the elevator table, the conveyor table is retracted or the elevator table is moved. By moving it forward, the contact between the article transferred onto the platform and the article positioned in the front row of the transport table is completely cut off. It was restrained from breaking down and disturbing the transport form.

However, in the above-described prior art, when conveying an article, it is necessary to perform a two-step operation of retracting the conveying table or advancing the hoisting table and raising the hoisting table, which is useless for conveying the article. It took a lot of time and needed to be improved. In some cases, roll paper is conveyed in a plurality of rows (for example, three rows) in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction on the conveyor. It was also necessary to transport

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveying apparatus capable of shortening the time required for conveying objects to be conveyed and conveying a plurality of objects without gaps. do.

As a means for solving the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 provides a multiplicity of objects to be conveyed that are conveyed on a conveying path without any gaps between them. A conveying device for conveying a predetermined number of conveyed objects, the conveying device being arranged on an extension line of the conveying path in the conveying direction of the conveyed objects, receiving a predetermined number of conveyed objects from the conveying path, and conveying the conveyed objects to the conveying path. an elevator that ascends and descends along a direction inclined downstream in the conveying direction with respect to the vertical direction from near the downstream end in the conveying direction of the conveying path; and a separating member movable to a position.

In the first aspect of the invention, when a plurality of objects to be conveyed are transferred from the conveying path to the elevator table, the elevator table is inclined downstream in the conveying direction from the vicinity of the conveying direction downstream end of the conveying path with respect to the vertical direction. When the platform moves up and down, the transported object positioned in the front row on the transport path and the transported object positioned in the last row transferred onto the platform contact each other. Therefore, even if the platform is lifted up and down, it is possible to prevent the end surfaces of the transported object from rubbing against each other in the transporting direction, destroying the posture of the transported object and disturbing the transportation mode. Moreover, in the invention of claim 1, since the separation member is provided that can move to a position facing the conveyed object in the front row on the conveying path when the platform is lifted and lowered, the separation member allows the lift platform to be lifted and lowered. , the contact between the transported object positioned in the frontmost row on the transport path and the transported object positioned in the last row on the platform can be completely blocked. As a result, the object to be transported can be transported in a single-step operation instead of the conventional two-step operation, and the transport time can be shortened.

The invention recited in claim 2 is the invention recited in claim 1, wherein the elevator platform supports a plurality of objects to be transported on the elevator platform from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport path. A pair of support members configured to move forward and backward toward the transported object is provided.

In the second aspect of the invention, particularly when the objects to be conveyed are conveyed in a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction on the conveying path, the pair of support members allows the plurality of objects transferred onto the elevator platform to be conveyed. Since the objects to be conveyed can be supported from the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, the objects to be conveyed arranged in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction can be aligned without gaps. In addition, when a plurality of objects to be transported are transferred onto the lifting platform side by side along the transport direction, the pair of support members aligns the multiple objects without unevenness in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction. can be made

The invention recited in claim 3 is the invention recited in

claim

1 or 2, wherein a stopper member for receiving the transported object transferred from the conveying path onto the elevator table can appear and disappear on the elevator table. It is characterized by being provided in

In the third aspect of the present invention, the elevator platform is provided with a stopper member that receives the objects to be transferred onto the elevator platform so that it can retract and retract. be able to. Moreover, when a plurality of objects to be transferred are transferred onto the lifting platform side by side along the transfer direction, the plurality of objects to be transferred can be supported without gaps between the objects.

The invention recited in claim 4 is the invention recited in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the separation member extends from an upstream end of the board in the transport direction along the same direction as the direction in which the board is lifted. It is characterized by

In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the separation member minimizes contact with the conveying direction end surface of the conveyed object positioned in the foremost row of the conveying path when the lifting platform is raised and lowered, and the conveyed object is positioned in the forefront of the conveying path. Movement along the transport direction of the transported object can be restricted.

The invention recited in claim 5 is the invention recited in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a conveying posture of each of the objects to be conveyed on the conveying path is maintained from above at the conveying direction downstream end of the conveying path. It is characterized in that a regulating member is provided for the purpose.

In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the regulating member can maintain a normal conveying posture with respect to a plurality of conveyed objects at the downstream end of the conveying path in the conveying direction. As a result, a plurality of objects to be transferred can be transferred from the transfer path onto the elevator platform in a normal posture. In addition, even if a small rotational force is applied to the transported object positioned in the front row of the transport path from the transported object transferred onto the elevator platform, the regulating member prevents the transported object from being positioned in the front row. It is possible to suppress the behavior of the transported object, such as standing up.

The invention recited in claim 6 is characterized in that, in the invention recited in any one of claims 1 to 5, the transported object is roll paper.

The invention of claim 6 is optimal when transporting roll paper as the object to be transported.

With the conveying device according to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the conveying time of the objects to be conveyed, and to convey a plurality of objects to be conveyed without gaps.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conveying device according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of upper and lower lifts employed in the conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the upstream side in the conveying direction. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of upper and lower hoists employed in the conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the downstream side in the conveying direction. FIG. 4 is a side view from the support plate side of the installation main body in the pair of upper and lower lifts employed in the conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view of the conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram for explaining the action of the pair of upper and lower hoisting pedestals. FIG. 6 is a side view of the conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram for explaining the action of the pair of upper and lower hoisting pedestals. FIG. 7 is a side view of the conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram for explaining the action of the pair of upper and lower hoisting pedestals.

A conveying device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the transport apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention transports a predetermined number of transported objects through the transport path 2 from a large number of transported objects that are transported without gaps on the transport path 2 . This is adopted when the product is divided into individual parts and conveyed and packed in a packaging bag (not shown). The conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment is adopted for conveying a toilet paper roll TP as an object to be conveyed, and is most suitable for conveying roll paper including kitchen towels. This is effective when a large number of objects to be conveyed are conveyed by a predetermined number, and the objects to be conveyed are not particularly limited. In addition, the conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that, from a large number of toilet paper rolls TP conveyed on the conveying path 2 without gaps, for example, three rows along the axial direction, three rows along the radial direction, and upper and lower rows. A total of 18 toilet paper rolls TP arranged in two rows along the direction are transported into the packaging bag as one group.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a pair of upper and lower conveying

paths

2, 2 for conveying a large number of toilet paper rolls TP, and toilet paper rolls on the conveying

paths

2, 2. A predetermined number of toilet paper rolls TP, TP are received from the

transport paths

2, 2, and transported at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction from near the downstream end of the

transport paths

2, 2 in the transport direction. A pair of upper and

lower elevators

3B, 3A that ascends and descends in a direction inclined downstream in the direction, and a pair of

elevators

3B, 3A extending from the upstream end of the

elevators

3B, 3A in the conveying direction, and on the conveying

paths

2, 2 when the

elevators

3B, 3A are ascending and descending. Separating

members

4, 4 movable to positions facing the toilet paper rolls TP, TP in the front row, and provided on the

elevators

3B, 3A, transporting the plurality of toilet paper rolls TP on the

elevators

3B, 3A. A pair of

support members

5, 5 configured to be freely advanced and retracted toward the toilet paper roll TP so as to support the toilet paper roll TP from a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the path 2, and provided on the

elevators

3B, 3A, which can be lifted from the conveying path 2. A

retractable stopper member

6, 6 for receiving a plurality of toilet paper rolls TP transferred on the

platforms

3B, 3A, and a pair of upper and

lower transport paths

2, 2 provided at the downstream end in the transport direction, each toilet paper roll and regulating

members

7, 7 for maintaining the transport posture of the TP.

With reference to FIG. 1, a pair of upper and

lower transport paths

2, 2 are provided. The pair of upper and lower conveying

paths

2, 2 are installed at predetermined installation locations by an installation frame or the like (not shown). The transport path 2 includes a conveyor 10 that transports the toilet paper roll TP, a partition plate 11 that divides the conveyor 10 into a plurality of transport lanes 15 along the width direction, and a pair of rails arranged at both ends of the conveyor 10 in the width direction.

Guide plates

12, 12 are provided. The longitudinal direction of the conveyor 10 is the conveying direction of the toilet paper roll TP. It should be noted that the transport direction referred to below corresponds to the transport direction of the toilet paper roll TP on the transport path 2 .

In this embodiment, the partition plates 11 are provided at two locations, and the transport lanes 15 are provided in three rows along the width direction of the conveyor 10 . On the transport lane 15, a large number of toilet paper rolls TP are placed adjacent to each other in the transport direction, and the axial end surfaces of the toilet paper rolls TP are brought into contact with each other, and the outer peripheral surface of each toilet paper roll TP is placed on the conveyor 10. They are arranged so that they are in contact with each other. The axial direction of each toilet paper roll TP matches the transport direction of each toilet paper roll TP. Referring also to FIG. 5 , plate-shaped restricting members 7 extending along the transport direction are arranged at the transport direction downstream end portions of the transport lanes 15 of the transport path 2 .

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the regulating member 7 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view with the longitudinal direction along the conveying direction. The regulating member 7 is arranged above the upper end of each toilet paper roll TP on the transport lane 15 with a slight gap. The regulating member 7 is arranged above about three toilet paper rolls TP. The regulating member 7 has a width substantially the same as the width of the transport lane 15 . Curved portions 17 that curve upward are formed at both ends of the restriction member 7 in the longitudinal direction.

The regulating member 7 is provided to maintain the transport posture of each toilet paper roll TP on the transport lane 15 . In short, the regulating member 7 is provided to suppress positional deviation of the upper end of each toilet paper roll TP on the transport lane 15 . In other words, the regulating member 7 is provided particularly to suppress the rising of the toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row of the transport lane 15 . Then, when the conveyor 10 is driven, the plurality of toilet paper rolls TP on each transport lane 15 are transported while the following toilet paper rolls TP are in contact with each other in the axial direction.

Lifting tables 3B, 3A ( initial position) is placed. A pair of upper and

lower lifts

3B, 3A are provided corresponding to the pair of upper and

lower transport paths

2, 2. As shown in FIG. The pair of upper and

lower lifts

3B and 3A are installed at the above-described predetermined installation location by the installation main body 20. As shown in FIG. The installation body 20 includes a base body 22 arranged on the floor surface of the installation location of the pair of upper and

lower lifts

3B and 3A, and a support plate erected from one end side of the base body 22 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. 23 and.

First, the configuration of the lower platform 3A will be described. 2 and 3, the lifting table 3A is, for example, a base that supports the toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along the axial direction and three rows along the radial direction from below. member 25, and a pair of support members 5 arranged on both ends of the base member 25 in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and supporting each toilet paper roll TP on the base member 25 from the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; 5, a stopper member 6 configured to be retractable from the base member 25 in order to receive each toilet paper roll TP transferred from the conveying path 2 onto the base member 25; A separation member 4 is provided that faces each toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row in each transport lane 15 of the transport path 2 when the platform 3A is lifted and lowered.

The separation member 4, the pair of

support members

5, 5, the stopper member 6, and the base member 25 are unitized by a large number of connecting

members

28, 28 as the lower elevating table 3A. The base member 25 is formed in a plate shape. The base member 25 extends horizontally. The base member 25 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. An insertion hole 30 through which the stopper member 6 is inserted is formed at the downstream end of the base member 25 in the conveying direction. The insertion hole 30 is formed in an elongated shape along the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The support member 5 extends along the transport direction. The support member 5 is plate-shaped and curved to have an arcuate cross section.

Cylinders

32, 32 are connected to the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of

support members

5, 5, respectively.

Then, the pair of

support members

5, 5 are moved toward and away from each other by driving the

respective cylinders

32, 32. In other words, the pair of

support members

5, 5 are driven by the

respective cylinders

32, 32 to advance and retreat toward the outer peripheral surfaces of the toilet paper rolls TP, which are transferred onto the base member 25 and arranged along the axial direction. Be free. As a result, the inner peripheral surface of the support member 5 can contact and press the outer peripheral surface of the entire toilet paper roll TP arranged along the axial direction on the base member 25 . In this embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the support member 5 can contact and press the outer peripheral surface of the entire toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows on the base member 25 along the axial direction.

The stopper member 6 is formed in a plate shape. The stopper member 6 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front. A cylinder 33 is connected to the lower end of the stopper member 6 . The stopper member 6 is inserted through the insertion hole 30 of the base member 25 . By driving the cylinder 33 , the stopper member 6 can be retracted upward from the insertion hole 30 of the base member 25 . In the present embodiment, the stopper member 6 can receive the entire toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along the radial direction, which are transferred onto the base member 25 from the respective transport lanes 15 of the transport path 2 .

4 and 5, the separation member 4 is inclined from the upstream end of the base member 25 in the conveying direction to the upstream side in the conveying direction at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction, which is the same as the ascending/descending direction of the platform 3A. It is installed vertically. The lifting direction of the lifting table 3A will be described in detail later. The separation member 4 is formed in a thin plate shape. Also referring to FIG. 2, the separation member 4 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front. A lower end portion of the separating member 4 is bent toward the downstream side in the conveying direction. The separation member 4 extends from the upstream end of the base member 25 in the transport direction to a position facing each toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row of each transport lane 15 of the lower transport path 2 when the lift table 3A is raised. It moves. In other words, when the platform 3A starts to rise, the separating members 4 are arranged in three rows in the radial direction, each toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row of each transport lane 15 of the lower transport path 2, that is, three rows arranged in the radial direction. When the platform 3A stops at the uppermost position (see FIG. 6), the toilet paper rolls TP positioned in the front row of the transport lanes 15 of the lower transport path 2 It faces the whole (see FIG. 7).

2 and 3, the lift table 3A is connected to a pair of

slider bodies

38, 38 via a large number of connecting

members

28, 28, respectively. The slider main body 38 is arranged outside the lifting platform 3A in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction and slightly upstream in the transport direction. The slider body 38 includes a plate-like slider base member 40 connected to the platform 3A, and a pair of slider rails 41, 41 provided on the outer surface of the slider base member 40. As shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 4, the slider base member 40 is vertically installed from the slightly upstream side of the platform 3A in the conveying direction at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction. The slider base member 40 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the side. Slider rails 41 , 41 are spaced apart from each other on the outer surface of the slider base member 40 . That is, the slider base member 40 and the slider rails 41, 41 (slider main body 38) extend upward at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction toward the downstream side in the conveying direction.

2 and 3, a pair of

guide bodies

43, 43 forming a pair with the slider body 38 are arranged outside the pair of

slider bodies

38, 38 along the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. be. The guide body 43 includes a plate-like guide base member 45 erected from the base body 22 of the installation body 20 and a pair of

guide rails

46 , 46 provided on the inner surface of the guide base member 45 . Referring to FIG. 4, the guide base member 45 extends upward from the base body 22 of the installation body 20 at an angle of inclination α with respect to the vertical direction toward the downstream side in the conveying direction. The guide base member 45 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the side. The guide rails 46, 46 are spaced apart from each other. That is, the guide base member 45 and the pair of guide rails 46, 46 (guide main body 43), like the slider base member 40 and the respective slider rails 41, 41 (slider main bodies), are inclined upward with respect to the vertical direction. It extends at an angle α to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

A pair of slider rails 41, 41 of the slider body 38 extending from the platform 3A are fitted into a pair of

guide rails

46, 46 of the guide body 43 extending from the base body 22 of the installation body 20, thereby lifting the platform 3A. is supported along the pair of

guide rails

46, 46 of the guide body 43 so as to be vertically movable. In short, the lower elevator platform 3A is positioned downstream in the conveying direction at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction from near the downstream end in the conveying direction of the lower conveying path 2 (conveyor 10), that is, from a position close to the downstream end in the conveying direction. It is supported so as to be able to move up and down along the direction of inclination.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the lower platform 3A is connected to the drive belt 50 via a large number of connecting

members

28,28. A pair of upper and lower drive pulleys 52 and driven pulleys 53 are rotatably supported on the outer surface of the support plate 23 of the installation body 20 . A drive belt 50 is wound around a pair of upper and lower drive pulleys 52 and driven pulleys 53 . A straight line L connecting the radial center of the driving pulley 52 and the radial center of the driven pulley 53 extends upward from the driving pulley 52 at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction toward the downstream side in the conveying direction.

The drive pulley 52 is rotatably supported under the support plate 23 . The servo motor 56 is arranged below and inside the support plate 23 . A rotating shaft (not shown) of the servo motor 56 is connected to the drive pulley 52 . The lower elevator platform 3A maintains the state of extending in the horizontal direction as a whole, and is transported along the lower transport path 2 (conveyor 10) as the drive belt 50 is driven by the servomotor 56 to move. From a position close to the downstream end in the direction, it moves up and down along a direction inclined downstream in the conveying direction at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction. The inclination angle α may be appropriately set within a range of 5° to 15°, and in this embodiment, the inclination angle α is set to about 8°.

Next, the configuration of the upper platform 3B will be described, but mainly the configuration that is different from the configuration of the lower platform 3A will be described. It should be noted that, among the constituent members constituting the upper elevating table 3B, those having the same functions as the respective constituent members constituting the lower elevating table 3A are referred to as the respective constituent members constituting the lower elevating table 3A. are assigned the same reference numerals as those attached to .

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the upper elevator platform 3B, instead of the base member 25 corresponding to the lower elevator platform 3A, toilet paper rolls TP are arranged in three rows along the axial direction. and a wide divided base member 60 and a narrow divided base member 61 which are divided into two along the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and supported from below in a state of being arranged in three rows along the radial direction. . A gap is generated between the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61 along the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

The wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61 extend horizontally. The wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61 are each formed in a rectangular shape in plan view. The cylinder 34 is connected to a connecting portion erected from the outer end portion of the wide divided base member 60 in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. On the other hand, the cylinder 35 is also connected to a connecting portion erected from the outer end of the narrow divided base member 61 in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. By driving the

cylinders

34 and 35, the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61 move toward and away from each other along the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction.

In the upper elevating table 3B, an upper base member 64 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is provided between the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61 so as to sandwich and support a large number of toilet paper rolls TP. be done. The upper base member 64 extends horizontally. The upper base member 64 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view. An insertion hole (not shown) through which the stopper member 6 is inserted is formed on the downstream side of the upper base member 64 in the conveying direction. A cylinder 33 is connected to the upper end of the stopper member 6 . The stopper member 6 is inserted through the insertion hole of the upper base member 64 .

By driving the cylinder 33 , the stopper member 6 can be retracted downward from the insertion hole of the upper base member 64 . Referring to FIG. 4, in the upper elevator table 3B, the separating member 4 is inclined from the upstream end of the upper base member 64 in the conveying direction to the upper elevator table 3B in the same elevation direction as the upper elevator table 3B. It extends upward at an angle α and is inclined upstream in the conveying direction. The upper end portion of the separating member 4 is bent toward the downstream side in the conveying direction. The separation member 4, the pair of

support members

5, 5, the stopper member 6, the wide divided base member 60, the narrow divided base member 61, and the upper base member 64 are connected by a number of connecting

members

28, 28 as the upper elevating platform 3B. unitized.

Further, referring to FIG. 4, the guide base member 45 of the guide main body 43 corresponding to the upper lift table 3B is inclined downstream in the conveying direction from the installation frame or the like (not shown) at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction. and installed vertically. The upper end of the support plate 23 of the installation main body 20 is appropriately connected to the installation frame or the like. The slider base member 40 of the slide body 38 connected to the upper platform 3B is inclined upward in the transport direction at an angle α with respect to the vertical direction from slightly upstream in the transport direction of the platform 3B. extend. A drive pulley 52 corresponding to the upper lift table 3B is rotatably supported above the support plate 23 .

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the servomotor 56 corresponding to the upper lifting platform 3B is arranged above and inside the support plate 23 . A rotary shaft of the servo motor 56 is connected to the drive pulley 52 . Referring to FIG. 4, a straight line L connecting the radial center of the driving pulley 52 and the radial center of the driven pulley 53 corresponding to the upper lifting platform 3B extends downward from the driving pulley 52 in the vertical direction. to the downstream side in the conveying direction. Similarly to the lower elevating table 3A, the upper elevating table 3B also maintains a state in which the entirety extends in the horizontal direction. From a position close to the downstream end of path 2 (conveyor 10) in the conveying direction, it ascends and descends along a direction inclined downstream in the conveying direction at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction.

Also, referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 to 7, a pusher member 68 is arranged between the pair of upper and lower conveying

paths

2,2. The upper base member 64 of the upper elevating table 3B and the base member of the lower elevating table 3A are in a state in which the pair of upper and lower elevating tables 3B and 3A are maximally close to each other on the extension line of the pusher member 68 in the conveying direction. 25. The pusher member 68 includes a shaft portion 70 extending along the conveying direction, and a block-shaped pusher portion 71 integrally connected to the axial tip portion of the shaft portion 70 . The pusher member 68 is driven by a servomotor (not shown) to move forward and backward along the conveying direction. A packaging bag support 75 is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction of the pair of upper and

lower lifts

3B and 3A.

The packaging bag support 75 includes a rotating plate-like portion 76 having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front and extending along a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and projecting from both sides in the longitudinal direction of the rotating plate-like portion 76 toward the downstream side in the conveying direction. A pair of

cylindrical support portions

77, 77 are provided. The rotary plate-like portion 76 is arranged in a state of standing on the downstream side in the transport direction from the pair of upper and

lower lifts

3B and 3A.

Openings

79 , 79 are provided through the rotating plate-like portion 76 on both sides in the longitudinal direction thereof. The rotating plate-like portion 76 is supported by an installation frame or the like (not shown) so as to be rotatable around its longitudinal central portion. The rotating plate-shaped portion 76 is driven by a servomotor (not shown) to repeat half-rotation in the forward and reverse directions about the central portion in the longitudinal direction.

Cylindrical support portions

77 , 77 protrude downstream in the conveying direction from positions of

openings

79 , 79 of the rotary plate portion 76 . The packaging bag is sucked and supported by the tubular support portion 77 so that the open end of the packaging bag covers the downstream opening of the tubular support portion 77 .

1 and 7, when the rotary plate portion 76 rotates halfway and stops, one of the cylindrical support portions 77 is positioned so that the pair of upper and

lower lifts

3B and 3A are in maximum proximity. It is positioned downstream in the transport direction between the upper base member 64 of the upper elevator platform 3B and the base member 25 of the lower elevator platform 3A. Then, immediately after the pair of upper and

lower lifting platforms

3B and 3A approach each other while supporting a plurality of toilet paper rolls TP, the pusher member 68 advances, and the pusher portion 71 of the pusher member 68 moves the pair of upper and lower lifts. A plurality of toilet paper rolls supported between the

elevators

3B and 3A are pushed out into the cylindrical support portion 77 of the packaging bag support 75. As shown in FIG. By passing the plurality of toilet paper rolls TP through the cylindrical support portion 77 of the packaging bag support 75 by the pusher member 68, the plurality of toilet paper rolls TP can be packaged in the packaging bag. A sealing device (not shown) is arranged downstream of the packaging bag support 75 in the conveying direction to fold and seal the open end of the packaging bag in which a plurality of toilet paper rolls TP are packaged in a gusset shape.

A driving device (not shown) for driving the conveyor 10,

servo motors

56, 56 for driving the pair of upper and

lower elevators

3B, 3A, and a pair of

support members

5, 5 corresponding to the

respective elevators

3B, 3A. The

cylinders

32, 32, the

cylinders

33, 33 for driving the

stopper members

6, 6 corresponding to the

respective elevators

3B, 3A, the wide split base member 60, the narrow split base member 61 corresponding to the upper elevator 3B are driven. A servomotor (not shown) for driving the

cylinders

34 and 35 and the pusher member 68 and a servomotor (not shown) for driving the packaging bag support 75 are electrically connected to a control device (not shown). Although not shown, the conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment also includes a photoelectric sensor for detecting the movement of a large number of constituent members such as the pair of upper and

lower lifts

3B and 3A, the movement of the toilet paper roll TP, and the like. A large number of detection sensors such as sensors are arranged. When the detection signals from these detection sensors are input to the control device, the control device detects the above-described

cylinders

32, 33, 34, 35 and each cylinder based on the detection signals from the plurality of detection sensors. It controls driving of the

servo motors

56, 56, and the like.

Next, the operation of the conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described mainly based on FIGS. 5 to 7 and also with appropriate reference to other drawings.
First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 , a large number of toilet paper rolls TP are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor 10 on each transport lane 15 of the pair of upper and

lower transport paths

2 , 2 . At this time, the axial end surfaces of the toilet paper rolls TP arranged along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor 10 are in contact with each other. Then, when the

conveyors

10, 10 of the pair of upper and

lower transport paths

2, 2 are driven, a large number of toilet paper rolls TP, TP on the

respective transport lanes

15, 15 corresponding to the pair of upper and

lower transport paths

2, 2 move vertically. It is transported toward the pair of

elevators

3B and 3A.

Next, the pair of upper and

lower elevators

3B, 3A are located on the extension line of the pair of upper and

lower transport paths

2, 2 in the transport direction and close to the downstream end of the pair of upper and

lower transport paths

2, 2 in the transport direction. It is in the state stopped in the initial state (initial position). At this time, the wide-width divided base member 60 and the narrow-width divided base member 61 stand by in the state of being closest to each other with a gap therebetween on the upper elevator table 3B. In addition, on the upper lift table 3B, the stopper member 6 protrudes downward from the insertion hole of the upper base member 64 and stands by. On the other hand, on the lower lift table 3A as well, the stopper member 6 protrudes upward from the insertion hole 30 of the base member 25 and stands by.

Next, by driving the upper conveyor 10, from each transport lane 15 of the upper transport path 2, between the upper base member 64 of the upper platform 3B and the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61. , a total of nine toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along the axial direction and three rows along the radial direction are transported and stopped by the stopper member 6 . On the other hand, at the same time, by driving the lower conveyor 10, three rows along the axial direction and the radial direction from each transport lane 15 of the lower transport path 2 onto the base member 25 of the lower elevator 3A. A total of nine toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along are conveyed and stopped by the stopper member 6 .

At this time, since the regulating

members

7, 7 are provided at the downstream ends of the pair of upper and

lower transport paths

2, 2 in the transport direction, the plurality of toilet paper rolls TP on each of the transport paths 2 are normally removed from the transport path 2. It can be transferred onto the base member 25 (the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61) of the

elevators

3B and 3A in such a posture. Moreover, the toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along the axial direction can be supported without a gap by the

stopper members

6, 6 corresponding to the pair of upper and

lower lifts

3B, 3A. In the initial positions of the pair of upper and

lower elevators

3B, 3A, the corresponding

separation members

4, 4 are arranged at positions facing the toilet paper rolls TP, TP positioned in the front row of the

transport paths

2, 2. not

Next, the driving of the

conveyors

10, 10 of the pair of upper and

lower transport paths

2, 2 is stopped. Subsequently, in the pair of upper and

lower elevators

3B, 3A, the pair of

support members

5, 5 corresponding to the

respective elevators

3B, 3A are driven by the

respective cylinders

32, 32 to move toward each other, The entire toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along the direction are pressed along the width direction (the radial direction of the toilet paper rolls TP). As a result, the toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along the radial direction can be supported without gaps between them, and the toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along the axial direction can be supported in the conveying direction. It is possible to align without unevenness along the surface.

Next, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper lift table 3B is driven by a corresponding servomotor 56 to move toilet paper rolls arranged in three rows in the axial direction and three rows in the radial direction. From a position (initial position shown in FIG. 5) close to the downstream end of the upper conveying path 2 (conveyor 10) in the conveying direction, while supporting all nine TPs and maintaining a state in which all of them extend in the horizontal direction, It descends to the maximum extent along the direction inclined downstream in the conveying direction at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction. At this time, the plurality of toilet paper rolls TP in the last row transferred onto the platform 3B do not come into contact with the toilet paper rolls TP positioned in the front row of the upper transport path 2, and the plurality of toilet paper rolls TP on the platform 3B do not come into contact with each other. of toilet paper roll TP is conveyed along its lifting direction. In addition, the separation member 4 provided on the upper lift table 3B also descends so as to face each toilet paper roll TP in the front row on the upper transport path 2 (each transport lane 15). In addition, when the upper platform 3B is lowered to the maximum, the separation member 4 faces the frontmost toilet paper rolls TP on the upper transport path 2 (each transport lane 15).

When the upper platform 3B is lowered by the separation member 4, the toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row of the upper transport path 2 and the toilet paper roll TP in the last row transferred onto the upper platform 3B are separated. Contact with the roll TP can be completely cut off. In addition, since the separation member 4 extends at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction that coincides with the lowering direction of the upper platform 3B, the separation member 4 causes the upper transport path 2 to move downward when the upper platform 3B is lowered. It is possible to restrict the movement of the toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row of the upper transfer path 2 along the transfer direction while minimizing the contact with the transfer direction end face of the toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row. .

On the other hand, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower elevator table 3A is driven by a corresponding servomotor 56 to provide toilet paper rolls arranged in three rows along the axial direction and three rows along the radial direction. From a position (initial position shown in FIG. 5) close to the downstream end of the lower conveying path 2 (conveyor 10) in the conveying direction, while supporting all nine TPs and maintaining a state in which all of them extend in the horizontal direction. , along the direction inclined downstream in the conveying direction at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction. At this time, the plurality of toilet paper rolls TP in the last row transferred onto the platform 3A do not come into contact with the toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row of the lower transport path 2. A plurality of toilet paper rolls TP are transported along the vertical direction. In addition, the separation member 4 provided on the lower platform 3A also rises so as to face the frontmost toilet paper roll TP on the lower transport path 2 (each transport lane 15). When the lower platform 3A rises to the maximum, the separation member 4 faces the frontmost toilet paper rolls TP on the lower transport path 2 (each transport lane 15).

When the lower platform 3A is lifted by the separation member 4, the toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row of the lower transport path 2 and the last row transferred onto the lower platform 3A are separated by the separation member 4. contact with the toilet paper roll TP can be completely blocked. In addition, since the separation member 4 extends at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction that coincides with the upward direction of the lower platform 3A, the separation member 4 allows the lower transport platform 3A to move upward when the lower platform 3A is raised. While minimizing contact with the end surface of the toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row of the path 2 in the transfer direction, the movement of the toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row of the lower transfer path 2 along the transfer direction is restricted. can do.

Thereafter, when the pair of upper and lower elevating tables 3B and 3A are moved close to each other and moved up and down to the maximum, a plurality of toilet paper rolls TP (9 in total) supported by the upper elevating table 3B and the lower elevating table 3A are lifted. A plurality of toilet paper rolls TP (9 rolls in total) supported by the upper platform 3B are conveyed in the conveying direction and in the width direction (axial direction and radial direction) come into contact with each other. Subsequently, the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61 corresponding to the upper platform 3B are moved away from each other along the width direction by driving the corresponding

cylinders

34 and 35, respectively. Then, referring to FIG. 7, between the upper base member 64 of the upper elevator platform 3B and the base member 25 of the lower elevator platform 3A, there are three rows along the axial direction and three rows along the radial direction. A total of 18 toilet paper rolls TP arranged in two rows along the row and the vertical direction are supported.

Approximately at the same time, the stopper member 6 is retracted from the lower surface of the upper base member 64 by driving the cylinder 33 in the upper lift table 3B. On the other hand, the stopper member 6 is retracted from the upper surface of the base member 25 by driving the cylinder 33 also in the lower elevator table 3A. Subsequently, by driving a servomotor (not shown) to move the pusher member 68 along its axial direction, the pusher portion 71 at the tip of the pusher member 68 supports all 18 supported between the pair of upper and

lower elevators

3B and 3A. By pressing the axial end faces of the toilet paper rolls TP as a whole, all 18 toilet paper rolls TP are made to pass through the inside of the cylindrical support portion 77 of the packaging bag support 75 from between the pair of upper and

lower lifting platforms

3B and 3A. While being stored in a packaging bag (not shown), the opening end of the packaging bag is folded into a gusset and sealed by a sealing device (not shown).

Next, in the pair of upper and

lower lifts

3B and 3A, the pair of

support members

5 and 5, the

stopper members

6 and 6, the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61 are connected to the corresponding

cylinders

32, 33 and 61, respectively. 34 and 35 are driven to return to the initial position, and the pair of upper and

lower lifts

3B and 3A are returned to the initial position by driving the corresponding

servomotors

56 and 56, respectively. Subsequently, the operations described above (the operations shown in FIGS. 5 to 7) are repeated.

As described above, the conveying device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is arranged on the extension line of the conveying path 2 in the conveying direction of the toilet paper rolls TP, receives a predetermined number of toilet paper rolls TP from the conveying path 2, Elevating

bases

3B and 3A ascending and descending from near the downstream end in the conveying direction of the conveying path 2 along a direction inclined toward the downstream side in the conveying direction at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction; Separating

members

4, 4 movable to a position facing the toilet paper roll TP in the front row on 2 are provided.

Since the

elevators

3B and 3A are moved up and down from near the downstream ends of the

transport paths

2 and 2 in the conveying direction at the inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction, the

elevators

3B and 3A are inclined toward the downstream side in the conveying direction. can suppress contact between the toilet paper rolls TP, TP positioned in the front row of the

transport paths

2, 2 and the toilet paper rolls TP, TP in the rearmost row transferred onto the

lifting platforms

3B, 3A during the lifting of the As a result, it is possible to prevent the transport direction end surfaces of the toilet paper roll TP from rubbing against each other and losing their posture, thereby disturbing the transport mode.

In addition, the separating

members

4, 4 allow the toilet paper rolls TP, TP in the front row of the conveying

paths

2, 2 and the toilet paper rolls in the last row to be transferred onto the

platforms

3B, 3A during the elevation of the

platforms

3B, 3A. The contact with the paper rolls TP, TP can be completely cut off. As a result, contact between the toilet paper rolls TP, TP in the front row of the

transport paths

2, 2 and the toilet paper rolls TP, TP in the last row transferred onto the

elevators

3B, 3A is suppressed, and then the conventional , toilet paper rolls TP, TP can be transported in one step instead of in two steps, so that the transport time can be shortened.

Further, in the conveying apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the

elevators

3B and 3A support the plurality of toilet paper rolls TP and TP on the

elevators

3B and 3A from a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveying path 2. A pair of

support members

5, 5 configured to be freely advanced and retracted toward the toilet paper rolls TP, TP are provided. As a result, the gaps between the toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along the radial direction transferred onto the base members 25 (the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61) of the

elevators

3B and 3A are formed. can be supported without In addition, the toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along the axial direction, which are transferred onto the base members 25 (the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61) of the

elevators

3B and 3A, are moved in the conveying direction. can be aligned in the direction orthogonal to the .

Furthermore, in the conveying apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the base members 25 (the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61) of the

elevators

3B and 3A from the conveying

paths

2 and 2 onto the

elevators

3B and 3A. A stopper member 6 for receiving each toilet paper roll TP to be transferred is provided so as to be retractable. As a result, the toilet paper rolls TP arranged in three rows along the axial direction, which are transferred onto the base members 25 (the wide divided base member 60 and the narrow divided base member 61) of the

elevators

3B and 3A, are moved to predetermined positions. The toilet paper rolls TP, which are arranged in three rows along the axial direction, can be supported without a gap between them.

Furthermore, in the conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment, the separating

members

4, 4 extend from the conveying direction upstream ends of the

elevators

3B, 3A along the same direction as the elevation direction of the

elevators

3B, 3A. The

separation members

4, 4 minimize contact with the end faces of the toilet paper rolls TP positioned in the front row of the

transport paths

2, 2 in the transport direction when the

elevators

3B, 3A are lifted and transported. Movement along the transport direction of each toilet paper roll TP positioned in the front row of the

paths

2, 2 can be restricted.

Furthermore, in the conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment, at the downstream end portion of the conveying

paths

2, 2 in the conveying direction, a regulation for maintaining the conveying attitude of each of the toilet paper rolls TP on the conveying

paths

2, 2 from above is provided.

Members

7, 7 are provided. As a result, a plurality of toilet paper rolls TP can be transferred from the conveying

paths

2, 2 onto the

elevators

3B, 3A in a normal posture. Further, if the toilet paper rolls TP positioned in the front row of the

transport paths

2, 2 are given a small rotational force from the toilet paper rolls TP transferred onto the

elevators

3B, 3A and the separating member 4, Even so, the regulating

members

7, 7 can prevent the toilet paper rolls TP, TP positioned in the front row of the

transport paths

2, 2 from rising.

Although the conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a pair of upper and

lower elevators

3B and 3A, it may be provided with only the lower elevator 3A.

In addition, in the conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment, all 18 toilet paper rolls TP are packed in a packaging bag. 4 to 12 toilet paper rolls TP can be packed in a packaging bag.

1 Conveying device, 2 Conveying path, 3A Elevating table (lower side), 3B Elevating table (upper side), 4 Separating member, 5 Supporting member, 6 Stopper member, 7 Regulating member, TP Toilet paper roll (transported object)

Claims

A conveying device for dividing a predetermined number of conveyed objects from a conveying path and conveying a large number of conveyed objects conveyed without gaps on the conveying path,
arranged on an extension line of the transport path in the transport direction of the transported object, receives a predetermined number of transported objects from the transport path, and is downstream in the transport direction from near the downstream end of the transport path in the transport direction with respect to the vertical direction; A lift that rises and falls along the direction of inclination to the side;
a separating member that can move to a position facing the frontmost conveyed object on the conveying path when the elevator is ascending and descending;
A conveying device comprising:
The elevator has a pair of support members configured to move toward and away from the objects to be transported so as to support the objects on the elevator from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport path. 2. A transport device according to claim 1, wherein a transport device is provided.
3. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a stopper member for receiving the transported object transferred from the conveying path onto the elevator table is provided on the elevator table so that the stopper member can retract freely.
The conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the separating member extends from the upstream end of the elevator in the conveying direction along the same direction as the ascending/descending direction of the elevator.
Any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a regulating member is provided at a downstream end of the transport path in the transport direction to maintain a transport posture of each of the objects on the transport path from above. The transport device according to .
The conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the object to be conveyed is roll paper.