JP2004276984A - Automatic article integration method and automatic article integration device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic article integration method for automatically integrating a predetermined number of articles with a partition panel placed between them in packaging easily deformable soft container articles in a corrugated cardboard case, etc. <P>SOLUTION: This article automatic integration method comprises the steps of: receiving articles G to be supplied in a suitable number of lines on the outer peripheral face of an intermittently driven conveyer 2 provided inclining; supplying horizontal partition boards 7 roughly between the top half parts of the articles G supplied in a suitable number of lines on the upper part of an article receiving part; and positioning the articles G between the boards 7 by adjusting the supply of the boards 7 and controlling the conveyer 2. While keeping the inclined condition of the boards 7 and the articles G supplied between them, they are temporarily made to standby on one side of the conveyer 2, and are transferred as one to a freely movable trough-like receiving part 24 for the boards 7 to be inserted between the articles G. The receiving part 24 is shaken and inclined to the opposite side, and vertical partition boards are supplied from diagonally above to be fitted with the horizontal partition boards 7. The receiving part is returned to a vertical position and the articles G in the receiving part, the horizontal partition boards 7 and the vertical partition boards are boxed integrally. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention particularly relates to an automatic article stacking method and an automatic article stacking apparatus that are effective when stacking soft (tube) container articles filled with mayonnaise, ketchup, and the like and packing them in a cardboard case or the like. However, the present invention can be directly applied to automatic stacking of bottle-shaped articles, cylindrical articles, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a soft (tube) container article filled with mayonnaise, ketchup, or the like has no stability and is easily deformed, so that it is difficult to accumulate a predetermined number of pieces. Was assembled and charged in a corrugated cardboard case, and then the partitioning portions formed by the partition plates were manually filled, respectively.
[0003]
[Patent Document]
Japanese Patent No. 2764283 (Reference)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention automatically stacks a predetermined number of soft (tube) container articles that do not have stability and are easily deformed before packaging them in a cardboard case or the like by interposing a partition plate between the articles. It is an object to provide a method and an apparatus for doing so.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention of the method according to claim 1 is characterized in that an article receiving portion for receiving articles supplied in an appropriate number of rows in an inclined state is provided on an outer peripheral surface of an inclined intermittent drive conveyor. A horizontal partition plate is supplied above the receiving portion and at a position substantially between the upper halves of the articles supplied to the appropriate number of rows, and the intermittent drive conveyor is controlled in accordance with the supply of the horizontal partition to control the number of the appropriate number of rows. An oscillating gutter-shaped receiving portion in which an article is positioned between the horizontal partition plates, and is then kept on standby on one side of the intermittent drive conveyor while maintaining the inclined state of the horizontal partition plate and the articles supplied therebetween. The horizontal partitioning plate is inserted between the articles and the horizontal partitioning plate is inserted between the articles, and then the gutter-shaped receiving portion is swung to incline to the opposite side, and the vertical partitioning plate is supplied from the obliquely upper side on the opposite side to supply the vertical partitioning plate. Engage with the horizontal partition, then move the gutter-shaped receiving part to the vertical position Articles in 該樋 like sockets by moving the horizontal partition and vertical partition, characterized in that for conveying the packing process together.
[0006]
In the present invention, for example, a soft (tube) container article (hereinafter, simply referred to as “article”) filled with mayonnaise, ketchup, or the like is supplied in an appropriate number of rows with its bottom portion forward.
[0007]
In the present invention, the articles supplied in the appropriate number of rows are supplied to the article receiving portion on the outer peripheral surface of the intermittent drive conveyor provided at an angle. The article receiving section is provided at a right angle to the outer peripheral surface of the inclined intermittent drive conveyor, and therefore, the article receiving section itself is inclined. Therefore, the articles supplied to the inclined article receiving section are also inclined in a certain direction and stabilized.
[0008]
That is, the article is not stable, and it is difficult to place the article in an upright position at a fixed position.In the present invention, the articles supplied in the appropriate number of rows are supplied to the article receiving portions in an inclined state, respectively. After stabilizing the inclination in a certain direction, insertion, transportation, and other accumulation processes of the partition plate between the articles are performed.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveyor for supplying an appropriate number of articles, and an inclined row of articles, which is inclined upward from a lower end of the conveyor and supplied to the outer peripheral surface by the conveyor. An intermittent drive conveyor having an article receiving portion for receiving a horizontal partition plate at a position above the article receiving portion and between approximately upper halves of articles supplied in the appropriate number of rows, and A transfer device for integrally transferring the partition plate and the articles supplied therebetween to a gutter-shaped receiving portion swingably provided on one side of the intermittent drive conveyor, and completely inserting the horizontal partition plate between the articles; Insertion device, a vertical partition plate supply device provided at a swinging position to the opposite side of the gutter-shaped receiving portion, and an article in the gutter-shaped receiving portion provided at a vertical position of the gutter-shaped receiving portion, a horizontal partition. Plate and vertical dividers into a boxing process Characterized in that comprising a transfer device for.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of an automatic article stacking apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially omitted perspective view of an article supply section of the automatic article stacking apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a swinging state of a gutter-shaped receiving portion of the automatic article stacking apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a horizontal partition plate of the automatic article stacking apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a magazine part, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a partition plate.
[0011]
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a conveyor for supplying an appropriate number of rows of articles G to the automatic stacking apparatus of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the articles G are supplied in five rows, for example. In general, articles are often supplied in a row from an article manufacturing apparatus. In this case, a slide plate driven by an air jet aligning apparatus (Japanese Patent No. 2660648 or the like) or an air cylinder or the like is used. By arranging an aligning device (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-18217) adopting the above method, the number of articles conveyed on the conveyer 1 may be set to an appropriate number of rows, for example, five rows in the illustrated embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to five-row conveyance.
[0012]
In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes an intermittent drive conveyor which is provided to be inclined upward from the lower end of the conveyor 1 and has an article receiving portion 3 for receiving an appropriate number of articles G supplied by the conveyor 1 on the outer peripheral surface. Have. That is, the intermittent drive conveyor 2 is configured to have a width that accepts, for example, five rows of articles G supplied from the transport conveyor 1 as it is, and has an outer peripheral surface having the same width as the intermittent drive conveyor 2, At the same time, it has the article receiving portion 3 constituted by plate members 4 which are spaced apart so as to receive the article G with a margin. The plate members 4 are provided at right angles to the outer peripheral surface of the intermittent drive conveyor 2, respectively.
[0013]
In addition, the depth of the article receiver 3, that is, the height of the plate member 4, is set to a height at which a substantially upper half portion of the article G is exposed from its upper end. In the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes a control plate for supplying the articles G from the conveyor 1 to the article receiving section 3 of the intermittent drive conveyor 2 in a timely manner. That is, the control plate 5 supplies the articles G from the transport conveyor 1 to the article receiving section 3 of the intermittent drive conveyor 2 in accordance with the intermittent drive of the intermittent drive conveyor 2.
[0014]
Next, the horizontal partition plate supply device 6 interposed between the articles G will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the horizontal partition plate supply device 6 is provided at a position facing the transport conveyor 1 with the intermittent drive conveyor 2 interposed therebetween, and the article receiving portion 3 of the intermittent drive conveyor 2 is provided. The horizontal partition plates 7 are supplied above and between approximately upper halves of the articles G supplied in the appropriate number of rows.
[0015]
Each of the horizontal partition plates 7 is provided with a cut 7a from the center of the upper end to substantially half below. In the vertical partition plate 8 described later, a number of cuts 8a corresponding to the cuts 7a of the respective horizontal partition plates 7 are provided from the center of the lower end to a substantially upper half position, as opposed to the horizontal partition plate 7. The notch 8a and the notch 7a of the horizontal partition plate 7 are engaged with each other.
[0016]
Each of the horizontal partition plates 7 is integrally lowered, advanced, and returned by the chucking rods 9, and is located above the article receiving portions 3 of the intermittent drive conveyor 2 and substantially above the articles G supplied to the appropriate number of rows. Supplied between halves.
[0017]
First, the flow of the horizontal partition plate 7 from the magazine portion 10 of the horizontal partition plate 7 to the chucking rod 9 will be described. The magazine portion 10 of the horizontal partition plate 7 is provided at a position behind and below the horizontal partition plate supply device 6 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 5, a large number of the horizontal partition plates 7 are stacked and stored. I have. Then, one of the lowermost sheets in the magazine portion 10 is horizontally slid by a claw 12 provided on an intermittently driven endless chain 11 provided therebelow, and a clip 13 which is made to stand by at the slide point is formed. Inserted.
[0018]
The clip 13 is provided on an outer periphery of an endless chain 14 which is intermittently driven in synchronization with the endless chain 11 so as to be adapted to an appropriate number of rows of the articles G in advance. Further, the upper part of the endless chain 14 is previously formed horizontally so as to erect and support the number of horizontal partition plates 7 corresponding to an appropriate number of rows of the articles G in advance.
[0019]
Next, the upright horizontal partition plate 7 supplied to the upper portion of the endless chain 14 is supplied from the clip 13 at the upper portion of the endless chain 14 toward the intermittent drive conveyor 2, that is, the supply of the horizontal partition plate. It is moved toward the device 6 while maintaining its upright state.
[0020]
The movement is performed via a groove-shaped guide 15 provided continuously from the position of the clip 13 above the endless chain 14 toward the supply device 6 for the horizontal partition plate. That is, while being raised in the groove guide 15, the pusher 16 is reciprocated by the cylinder 17 and is moved to the horizontal partition plate supply device 6 by the pusher 16.
[0021]
In the illustrated example, the previous horizontal partition plate 7 that has been moved in the grooved guide 15 by the pusher 16 is pressed by the subsequent horizontal partition plate 7, and the previous horizontal partition plate 7 is moved to a predetermined position. It is configured to be moved. Further, the leading end of the groove-shaped guide 16 is inclined, and the inclined leading end is located at a predetermined position where the horizontal partition plate 7 moves.
[0022]
Above the front end of the predetermined position, there is provided a stopper 18 which locks the upper end of the moved horizontal partition plate 7. The stopper 18 is raised by a cylinder 19 so as to release the locked state of the horizontal partition plate 7 in a timely manner.
[0023]
Further, the chucking rod 9 for holding the rear end of the horizontal partition plate 7 locked by the stopper 18 is provided above the groove guide 15, specifically, a tip inclined portion of the groove guide 15. Is provided integrally behind and above each horizontal partition plate 7 moved to a predetermined position.
[0024]
Each of the chucking rods 9 is provided with a holding piece 20 which can be freely opened and closed at a tip thereof, and is lowered integrally with the rear of the horizontal partition plate 7 by a cylinder 21 so as to be rearward of the horizontal partition plate 7 by the holding piece 20. The horizontal partition plate 7, which is gripped at the end portion and then advanced by the cylinder 22, is positioned above the article receiving portions 3 of the intermittent drive conveyor 2 and at a position substantially between the upper halves of the articles G supplied to an appropriate number of rows. It is configured to be supplied and returned.
[0025]
In the figure, reference numeral 23 denotes a stopper with which the tip of the horizontal partition plate 7 supplied by the chucking rod 9 contacts. When the horizontal partition plate 7 is supplied by the chucking rod 9, the rear end portion of the horizontal partition plate 7 is supported only by the holding piece 20 at the distal end of the chucking rod 9, so that the distal end direction is shifted. May not be set to the home position. Therefore, it is preferable to form a V-shaped receiving portion on the stopper 23 so that even if the tip of the horizontal partition plate 7 slightly shakes, it automatically fits. However, when a V-shaped receiving portion is formed on the stopper 23, the V-shaped receiving portion hinders the lateral transfer to the gutter-shaped receiving portion 24, which will be described later. .
[0026]
Next, in synchronization with the supply of the horizontal partition plate 7, an appropriate number of articles G (in the illustrated example, 5 rows × 4 = 20 pieces) in the article receiving section 3 of the intermittent drive conveyor 2 are moved to the horizontal direction. The supply position is set between the partition plates 7. That is, in the present invention, the horizontal partition plate 7 is supplied first.
[0027]
Thereafter, the horizontal partition plate 7 and the articles G supplied therebetween are transferred integrally to a gutter-shaped receiving portion 24 provided swingably on one side of the intermittent drive conveyor 2. The gutter-shaped receiving portion 24 is inclined in advance so that the bottom portion thereof coincides with the outer peripheral surface of the intermittent drive conveyor 2, and a support rod 25 is provided at a lower portion, and a lower end of the support rod 25 is supported by a support shaft 26. Supported. That is, the gutter-shaped receiving portion 24 is configured to be swingable about the support shaft 26.
[0028]
In the illustrated example, the horizontal partition plate 7 and the articles G supplied therebetween are blocked as the transfer device 28 from the article receiving section 3 of the intermittent drive conveyor 2 to the trough-shaped receiving section 24. On both sides of the horizontal partition plate 7 and the article G, gripping plates 28a, 28a are respectively lowered by cylinders 27, 27 to grip the horizontal partition plate 7 and the product G from both sides, and to the gutter-shaped receiving portion 24. This is done by transferring them together.
[0029]
In the present invention, the articles G are stabilized while maintaining the inclined state in the same direction even in the transfer process. Notches 28b through which the plate member 4 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the intermittent drive conveyor 2 penetrates are formed in the gripping plates 28a, 28a in advance.
[0030]
Next, the horizontal partition plate 7 is completely inserted between the articles G. That is, since the plate member 4 is provided on the outer periphery of the intermittent drive conveyor 2 on the article receiving portion 3 of the intermittent drive conveyor 2, the horizontal partition plate 7 is inserted between the articles G. It is not possible. Therefore, the horizontal partition plate 7 is transferred to the gutter-shaped receiving portion 24 and completely inserted between the articles G in a state where both sides of the article G are regulated by the gripping plates 28a, 28a. The complete insertion of the horizontal partition plate 7 is performed by a pressing frame 37 which is lowered by a cylinder 36 between the gripping plates 28a, 28a.
[0031]
Thereafter, the gutter-shaped receiving portion 24 is swung to the opposite side. The swinging of the gutter-shaped receiving portion 24 to the opposite side is performed to obtain the installation space of the vertical partition plate supply device 29 and to insert the vertical partition plate 8 in a state where the article G is tilted in a certain direction and stabilized. This is because the article G is inclined in the trough-shaped receiving portion 24 to the opposite side to the previous one.
[0032]
The vertical partition plate supply device 29 draws one sheet of the vertical partition plate 8 stored in advance in a magazine part 30 provided diagonally above the swing point of the gutter-shaped receiving part 24 by suction with a suction cup 31. This is performed by engaging the cuts 8a with the cuts 7a of the respective horizontal partition plates 7 in the gutter-shaped receiving portion 24.
[0033]
To explain an example, as shown in FIG. 4, the holding member 32 also serving as a guide for pulling out the vertical partition 8 drawn out by the suction cup 31 and facing the cut 7a side of the horizontal partition 7 to advance to both sides thereof. To release the suction of the suction cup 31, and then the vertical partition plate 8 is cut into the cut 7 a of the horizontal partition plate 7 in the gutter-shaped receiving portion 24 by a cylinder or the like (not shown). What is necessary is just to make supply engagement.
[0034]
Thereafter, the gutter-shaped receiving portion 24 is returned to the vertical position. On one side of the vertical position, specifically, on the side opposite to the intermittent drive conveyor 2, a gutter-like transfer to a box packing device (not shown) having a bottom and a horizontal bottom in advance. The channel 33 is formed, and the articles G in the trough-shaped receiving portion 24, the horizontal partition plate 7, and the vertical partition are provided at both sides of the trough-shaped receiving portion 24 where the trough-shaped receiving portion 24 is returned to the vertical position. There is provided a transfer device 34 for holding the block in which the plate 8 is integrated from both sides and transferring the block to the trough-shaped transport path 33 and further to a box packing device (not shown).
[0035]
The transfer device 34 is substantially the same as the transfer device 28 for transferring the horizontal partition plate 7 and the articles G from the article receiving section 3 of the intermittent drive conveyor 2 to the trough-shaped receiving section. That is, the holding plates 34a, 34a are lowered by the cylinders 35, 35 on both sides of the horizontal partition plate 7, the vertical partition plate 8 and the article G which are blocked in the gutter-shaped receiving portion 24, and the horizontal partition plate 7, This is performed by gripping the vertical partition plate 8 and the article G from both sides and transferring the same to the trough-shaped transfer path 33 and further to the box packing device.
[0036]
In the subsequent packing, for example, the blocked horizontal partition plate 7, the vertical partition plate, and the article G are supplied to the upper surface of the bottom piece of the developed cardboard case, and the other pieces are sequentially transferred in the transporting process. A known method (Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-3201, etc.) can be arranged to fold each flap.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
According to the method and apparatus of the present invention, in particular, a predetermined number of stacks prior to packaging in a soft container article having no stability and easily deformable in a corrugated cardboard case or the like, with a partition plate interposed between the articles. Can be done automatically.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part showing an embodiment of an automatic article stacking apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the automatic article stacking apparatus according to the present invention, in which an article supply unit is partially omitted.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a horizontal partition plate supply unit, showing one embodiment of the automatic article stacking apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing an embodiment of the automatic article stacking apparatus according to the present invention, showing a swinging state of a gutter-shaped receiving portion.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a magazine section of a horizontal partition plate, showing an embodiment of the automatic article stacking apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a partition plate.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyor 2 Intermittent drive conveyor 3 Article receiving part 6 Horizontal partition plate supply device 7 Horizontal partition plate 8 Vertical partition plate 24 Gutter-shaped receiving part 29 Vertical partition plate supply device

Claims (2)

On the outer peripheral surface of the intermittent drive conveyor provided in an inclined manner, an article receiving portion for receiving the articles supplied in an appropriate number of rows in an inclined state is provided, and above the article receiving section and substantially above the articles supplied to the appropriate number of rows. A horizontal partition is supplied to each half-part position, and the intermittent drive conveyor is controlled in accordance with the supply of the horizontal partition so that the appropriate number of rows of articles are positioned between the horizontal partitions, and then the horizontal partition is provided. While maintaining the inclined state of the plate and the article supplied therebetween, the plate and the article are transferred integrally to a swingable gutter-shaped receiving portion that is on standby on one side of the intermittent drive conveyor, and the horizontal partition plate is interposed between the articles. Then, the gutter-shaped receiving part is swung to incline to the opposite side, and a vertical partition is supplied from the obliquely upper side on the opposite side to engage with the horizontal partition, and then the gutter-shaped receiving part is Is returned to the vertical position, and the articles, the horizontal partition plate and the vertical partition in the gutter-shaped receiving portion are returned. Automatic article integrated method characterized by conveying to the packing step integrally. An intermittent drive having a transport conveyor for supplying an appropriate number of articles, and an article receiving portion that is inclined upward from a lower end of the transport conveyor and receives an appropriate number of articles supplied by the transport conveyor in an inclined state on an outer peripheral surface. A conveyor, a horizontal partition plate supply device for supplying a horizontal partition plate at a position between the upper part of the articles supplied to the article receiving section and the appropriate number of rows, and the horizontal partition plate and the horizontal partition plate supplied therebetween. A transfer device that integrally transfers the articles to a gutter-shaped receiving portion that is swingably provided on one side of the intermittent drive conveyor, an insertion device that completely inserts the horizontal partition plate between the articles, and the gutter-shaped receiver. A vertical partition plate supply device provided at a swinging position to the opposite side of the portion, and an article, a horizontal partition plate, and a vertical partition plate in the gutter-shaped receiving portion provided at a vertical position of the gutter-shaped receiving portion and integrally packed in a box. And a transfer device for transferring to the process Automatic article stacking device according to claim and.

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