JP2857052B2 - Container alignment equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an aligning apparatus for sorting containers such as bottles and cans.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to save resources, sorted bottles and cans according to material, color, size and the like have been actively reused. By the way, in the sorting operation of the containers, the containers conveyed on the conveyor belt or the like are variously selected by an optical sensor or the like, but when the containers are conveyed collectively on the conveyor belt or the like. However, for other containers hidden behind the container, there is a problem that it is difficult to sort by an optical sensor or the like, and the sorting efficiency is reduced.

For this reason, as shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-296860 filed by the applicant of the present invention, a storage portion having a substantially horizontal bottom surface, a cut-out portion composed of a single triangular plate, and a slope inclined to one side. By vibrating the alignment frame, which is provided with an alignment portion having a valley formed by the inclined surface and the vertical surface extending above the lower end of the inclined surface, the containers in the storage portion are cut out and turned in the front-rear direction. The container is corrected and supplied to the sorting device in the next process while maintaining the aligned state of the containers at the valley of the alignment section.

[0004]

However, in order to perform sorting in the next step, for example, in order to perform a large amount of color sorting, two color sorting devices are arranged in parallel to perform a sorting operation, an alignment device is required immediately before each device. Since the conventional aligning device can align only one line, it is necessary to provide an independent aligning device for each color sorting device. For this reason, there is a problem that a large space is required for installing the alignment device, a wasteful space is generated, and the number of parts is increased and the device becomes expensive. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a simple and compact structure in which the containers are aligned and simultaneously supplied to a two-way sorting device in order to assist in sorting containers such as bottles and cans. It is intended to provide a device.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the container aligning apparatus of the present invention, an alignment frame for aligning and transporting containers by vibration is arranged on a gantry so as to be able to vibrate. In addition, in the container alignment device provided with vibration means for vibrating the alignment frame, the alignment frame has a storage portion having a substantially horizontal bottom surface for storing the containers, and an inclined surface inclined in the left-right direction from the top of the center. And a vertical surface extending upward from the side end portions of the two inclined surfaces, and an alignment portion for aligning the containers and the like sent out from the storage portion with the respective left and right valleys formed on the both surfaces, and a storage portion. Consists of a pair of left and right triangular plates that connect the bottom of the
And a cutout portion that approaches the valley bottom of the alignment portion while correcting it .

Further alignment apparatus containers of the present invention, the bottom surface of the reservoir is, Ru is disposed above the valley bottom of the alignment unit positions
A baffle plate that is arranged at a position lower than the center top of the alignment unit , or pushes up containers in the direction of the bottom of the alignment unit by the cutout unit in the opposite direction from the outlet of the storage unit to the entrance of the alignment unit. Is preferably arranged.

[0007]

According to the container aligning apparatus of the present invention having the above-described structure, when the aligning frame on the gantry is vibrated by the vibration means, the containers stored in the storing section are separated to the left and right by the cutout section. While being adjusted to face the front and rear direction, it is moved toward the left and right valleys of the alignment part, and then is automatically aligned by fitting into the valley part of the alignment part, while maintaining the alignment state. Are transported simultaneously to the next process.

[0008] In the alignment apparatus of containers of the present invention, the bottom of the reservoir, Rutotomoni disposed above the valley bottom of the alignment unit positions, disposed below the central top portion of the alignment unit positions
In this case, even if the containers are collectively transported, the containers are separated and supplied to the alignment section due to the step, so that the containers can be more clearly aligned at the alignment section. it can. In the container aligning apparatus of the present invention, a baffle plate is provided, which pushes up containers in a direction from the outlet of the storage section to the inlet of the alignment section, which are brought toward the valley bottom of the alignment section by the cutout section, in the opposite direction. In this case, as described above, the containers are separated and supplied to the alignment unit by the baffle plate.
In the alignment section, the containers can be more finely aligned.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing one embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a container aligning apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the alignment device of this embodiment
A gantry 1 fixed on a base B, and an alignment frame 3 suspended on the gantry 1 by a suspending means 2 so as to be freely vibrated.
And vibrating means 4 attached to the alignment frame 3 for vibrating the alignment frame 3. Note that the alignment frame 3 may have a structure mounted on a gantry.

The gantry 1 is composed of four columns 5 erected on a foundation B, a girder 6 for connecting the columns 5 in the horizontal direction, and a reinforcing member 7. The suspension means 2 includes a hook member 8 fixed to the beam member 6 of the gantry 1, a spring support member 9 suspended by the hook member 8, and a side surface of the alignment frame 3. A hook member 10 hooked to the lower end. The suspending means 2 suspends the alignment frame 3 so as to be freely vibrated by the elastic force of the spring support member 9.

A pair of vibration means 4 is provided on each of the left and right sides via brackets 11 suspended from both sides of the alignment frame 3. The alignment frame 3 includes, in order from the left side in FIG. 3, a storage unit 12 for storing containers, a cutout unit 13 for separating the containers left and right and correcting the containers to be oriented in the front-rear direction, and holding an alignment state of the containers. Alignment unit 1
A cover 15 is provided upright on a part of the outer periphery of the alignment frame 3 to prevent the containers from popping out.

The alignment frame 3 is based on a frame 16 having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and has an open front. The storage unit 1
2 is formed by a frame 16 as shown in FIGS.
7 is horizontal. As shown in FIG. 6, the alignment portion 14 is provided with a chevron member 19 having inclined surfaces 18, 18 whose cross section is lowered in the left-right direction from the top of the center on the frame body 16 as shown in FIG. Two rows of valleys 21 are formed in contact with the vertical surface 20 and parallel to the inclined surfaces 18 and 18 and the vertical surface 20. (Not shown).
The cut-out portion 13 is provided with a frame 16 as shown in FIGS.
A pair of left and right triangular plates 22, 22 abut each other, and the top of the center gradually rises so as to coincide with the top of the alignment portion 14, from the bottom surface 17 of the frame 16 to the slope 18 of the chevron member 19, 18 continuously.

The bottom surface 17 of the storage unit 12, the triangular plates 22 and 22 of the cutout unit 13, and the vertical surface 20 of the alignment unit 14
The inclined surfaces 18 are desirably formed of a material having a small friction coefficient such as nylon in order to smoothly move the containers. FIG. 7 shows another embodiment in which a bulk member 23 is provided on the frame 16 of the storage unit 12 to form a bottom surface 24 of the storage unit 12.
An integer as well as a higher position than the valley 21 the bottom of the alignment section 14
Cut the containers so that they are lower than the top of the row
It is corrected in the front-rear direction by the triangular plates 22, 22 of the extending portion 13.
At the same time, when falling down the step between the bottom 24 and the bottom of the valley 21, the dumplings can be separated and the containers can be more accurately aligned in the alignment section 14.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment in which a flat baffle plate 25 is provided at a position from the outlet of the storage unit 12 to the entrance of the alignment unit 14 (in the figure, a position between the outlet of the storage unit 12 and the cut-out unit 13). , 25 are provided opposite each other. The baffle plates 25, 25 push up the containers brought to the bottom of the valley 21 of the alignment portion 14 at the cutout portion 13 in the opposite direction to separate the dumped containers, and the container portions are aligned at the alignment portion 14. Can be more accurately aligned. The alignment frame is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, baffles may be arranged at a plurality of locations from the outlet of the storage unit to the entrance of the alignment unit. Further, a step formed by raising the bottom surface of the storage section and a baffle plate may be combined.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with the above-described structure. First, containers are supplied to the storage section 12 of the alignment frame 3 vibrated by the vibration means 4. The containers in the storage section 12 move forward by vibration and reach the cutout section 13. In the cutout section 13, the dumpling-shaped containers are
At the top of 2 and 22, it is separated to the left and right.
At 22, the containers are corrected so as to face in the front-rear direction, and are guided to the valley 21 side of the alignment portion 14 corresponding to each triangular plate 22. The containers corrected by the cut-out unit 13 are the alignment unit 1
By entering the four valleys 21, they are surely aligned and the alignment state is maintained, so that they are individually and simultaneously supplied to two processing devices in front of the alignment unit 14, for example, color sorting devices.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the storage section, the cutout section for separating and aligning the containers in two directions on the alignment frame, and the containers guided in two directions are aligned and held, respectively, in the next step. Since the aligning unit that can be simultaneously supplied individually to a plurality of processing apparatuses is continuously provided, the containers can be supplied to the next process in an aligned state, and the efficiency of the processing operation in the next process is remarkably increased. Can be increased, and the simultaneous supply to a plurality of processing devices can be performed by one unit. Therefore, the alignment device is simple, compact, and inexpensive, and can be installed in a small space. Can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an alignment device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an AA diagram of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an overall enlarged view of an alignment frame.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment in which the bottom surface of the storage section is raised.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment in which a baffle plate is provided in the storage section.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Alignment frame 4 Vibration means 12 Storage part 13 Cut-out part 14 Alignment part 17 Bottom surface 18 Inclined surface 20 Vertical surface 21 Valley 22 Triangular plate

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus for arranging containers, wherein an alignment frame for aligning and transporting containers by vibration is arranged on a gantry so as to be able to vibrate, and a vibration means for vibrating the alignment frame is provided. The alignment frame includes a storage portion having a substantially horizontal bottom surface for storing containers, an inclined surface inclined in the left-right direction from the central top, and a vertical surface extending upward from both inclined surface side ends. An alignment unit for aligning the containers sent out from the storage unit at the left and right valleys formed on the both surfaces, and a pair of right and left triangular plates connecting the bottom surface of the storage unit and each inclined surface of the alignment unit, And a cut-out section for correcting the containers sent out from the section toward the valley bottom of the alignment section while correcting the containers in the front-rear direction . Bottom of wherein reservoir is positioned higher than the root of the alignment unit positions Rutotomoni, lower than the central top portion of the alignment portion
The container aligning apparatus according to claim 1, which is arranged at a position . 3. A container according to claim 1, wherein a baffle plate is arranged so as to push up in a direction opposite to the valley bottom of the alignment portion by the cutout portion from the outlet of the storage portion to the entrance of the alignment portion. Alignment equipment.