JP6277059B2 - Container input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a container loading apparatus that is used in an article sorting apparatus that sorts articles and makes them ready for delivery, and that throws empty containers and containers containing articles into a work line.

  In factories that manufacture various products, distribution centers that distribute products, and accumulation warehouses that collect and distribute products (hereinafter referred to as “shipping centers”), you can store one or more types of items according to the delivery destination. Therefore, it is necessary to sort the necessary number of pieces so that they can be delivered. The deliverable state is a state in which, for example, necessary types and numbers of articles are packed in a delivery storage device such as a case.

  For example, a certain shipping center handles four types of articles from article A to article D. The four types of articles A to D are sorted into the necessary number and delivered to the first dealer, the second dealer, the third dealer, and the nth dealer. These first to n-th stores are delivery destinations. For example, it is necessary to deliver two articles A, three articles B, and one article C to the first store. At this time, it is necessary to sort the articles into one or a plurality of delivery containers and to deliver the delivery containers to the next stage of delivery work.

  Here, there are a plurality of types of articles handled at the shipping center. The articles delivered to the delivery destination are only some types of articles A to D, whether the articles A to D are all the same number or all the articles A to D are different numbers. There can be. That is, it is necessary to deliver all of the articles A to D to the first dealer, and it is necessary to deliver only the articles A, B, and C to the second dealer. Therefore, it is necessary to deliver only the article A and the article D, and it is necessary to deliver only the article C to the nth store.

  In addition, the articles to be delivered to the first to n-th stores have not only different types but also different numbers of types. For example, the article A needs to be delivered to all of the first dealer, the second dealer, and the third dealer, but the number of the articles A may be different from the first dealer to the third dealer.

  As described above, the sorting of the articles for delivery to the delivery destination at the shipping center needs to perform a complicated sorting of sorting a plurality of types of articles and sorting the number of each of the plurality of types of articles. For example, an article container containing a plurality of types of articles is prepared at a shipping center. On the other hand, a delivery container is prepared for sorting and packing articles to a delivery destination. The delivery container is empty in the first stage, and the empty delivery container is packed with a necessary type and number of articles and is ready for delivery.

In order to carry out such complicated sorting at a shipping center, a technique for automatically taking out and sorting a part of an article from an article container in sorting an article into a delivery container has been proposed (for example, a patent). Reference 1).
Assuming such sorting equipment and the like, a technique for introducing containers into a work line has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3).

JP 2011-178486 A JP 2008-87866 A JP-A-11-59907

  Patent Document 1 discloses an article sorting facility that sorts the types and number of articles necessary for a delivery destination from a real case in which a plurality of articles are stored for each product type into a sorting case. The article sorting facility disclosed in Patent Document 2 performs part of sorting of articles from an actual case to a sorting case by an automatic gripping device having a gripping function.

  The article sorting facility of Patent Document 1 aims to prevent a change in work time and a decrease in work efficiency by an operator by automating a part of the article sort. That is, the article sorting facility of Patent Document 1 sorts and loads the necessary types and number of articles into a sorting case to create a deliverable state. By creating this deliverable state on the work line, it is possible to realize the sorting of goods and preparation for delivery.

  Here, in the sorting facility disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to sort the articles from the article case containing the articles into the empty case which is an empty container. As an assumption of this sorting, it is necessary to put an empty case and an article case into the work line. As disclosed in Patent Document 1, the empty case is thrown from a position where the work line is located, and the article case is thrown from another position.

  The introduction of such empty cases and article cases relates to the work speed and work accuracy on the work line. For this reason, the technique of patent document 2, 3 etc. is proposed about injection | throwing-in of a container. In particular, when empty cases and article cases are charged, a plurality of stacked cases are set at the loading position in order to improve work efficiency. The plurality of stacked cases are separated one by one and put into the work line.

In Patent Document 2, the latching member 6 attached to the left and right endless chains 2 that rotate opposite to each other moves on the container B side, and the latching member 6 is protruded in the direction of the predetermined section container B to move the container B. A guide groove 8a for latching is provided, and a support member 10 that supports the lowermost stage of the stacked containers B is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in the direction of the container B. 10 and then the latching member 6 latches and lowers the lowermost container B. When the container B at a predetermined stage moves onto the support member 10, the support member 10 is moved forward to support and hold. Disclosed is a container leveling device in which a plurality of stages of containers B that have been lowered are delivered to a conveyor C.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for throwing a plurality of stacked containers into a work line while separating them.

  However, in Patent Document 2, the work line is thrown away from the top of the stacked containers. For this reason, it is necessary for the leveling device to lower the uppermost level of the plurality of stacked containers to the height of the work line to be charged. For this reason, there is a problem in that the vertical movement distance is increased, and the speed at which the container is charged into the work line is decreased.

  In addition, since the uppermost stage is lowered to the height of the work line, there is a problem that a limit is imposed on the height of the stack that can be set at the input portion at one time. In order to cope with this problem, it is necessary to make the work line high. However, if the work line is made high, there are problems that sorting work becomes difficult and maintenance of the work line becomes difficult.

  In Patent Document 3, a pair of left and right hanger arms 12 are engaged with the lowermost handle portion Bt of the stacking bucket B, lifted and held, and then the hanger arm 12 is lowered to mount the lowermost bucket B on the payout portion E. The hanger arm 12 is further lowered and the hanger arm 12 is opened by the cam mechanism of the cam member 17 and the driven roller 16. Next, by raising the cam member 17 and then raising the hanger arm 12, the hanger arm 12 is closed at the timing when it passes through the lowermost bucket B and is engaged with the second handle portion Bt from the bottom and lifted. A packet payout device for paying out the lowest bucket B is disclosed.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a technique that is different from Patent Document 2 in that it is introduced into a work line from the bottom of a plurality of stacked containers. By throwing in from the lowest stage, when the plurality of stacked packets (containers) are sent to the work line, the vertical movement distance of the stacked packets can be reduced. As a result, Patent Document 3 may be able to solve some of the problems that occur in Patent Document 2.

  However, Patent Document 3 has a problem that only packets that are stacked in the same direction can be input. In view of ease of manufacture, ease of transport, and ease of delivery, a packet often has a short side direction and a long side direction. This is because even at the delivery destination, the stocktaking work at the store becomes easy.

  In such a rectangular packet, the height of the peripheral enclosure often differs between the short side direction and the long side direction. This is because the height at which a plurality of packets are stacked can be reduced by stacking the short direction and the long direction alternately.

  For example, when packets are not used, they are stacked and stored in a warehouse or the like. In addition, it is delivered by being stacked by a truck or the like. At this time, if the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction are aligned and stacked, they are stacked at the highest point of the surrounding enclosure. As a result, the height of the stacked packets becomes high. This is not preferable because it takes up space for storage and delivery.

  As described above, the packets stored or delivered in the warehouse are stacked so that the short side direction and the long side direction are alternated.

  With the technique of Patent Document 3, only packets in a state where the short sides and the long sides are aligned and stacked can be input. For this reason, it is necessary to rearrange packets that are alternately stacked and prepared in a sorting facility or the like by human work. As a result, there is a problem that the efficiency of the sorting operation of articles using the sorting apparatus is lowered.

  In addition, the packet dispensing apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 3 lifts the stacked pallets and then dispenses the lowermost packet on the transport surface. When lifting, grasp the packet from the outside and lift it. When lifting by gripping from the outside of such a packet, there is also a problem that the packet becomes unstable due to wobbling or rotating. There is a problem that the position of the packet fluctuates, which causes a deviation in alignment and direction alignment when placing the packet on the transport surface. If there is a deviation in alignment and direction alignment, there is a problem that subsequent packet transfer is not performed smoothly.

  As described above, the packet delivery device of the prior art has caused problems such as a reduction in work efficiency, an increase in human work, and insufficient connection between input and subsequent transport.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a container loading device that can be charged into a work line in the same direction while reliably separating alternately stacked containers.

  In view of the above problems, the container charging device of the present invention is a container charging device for charging a plurality of stacked containers (hereinafter referred to as “stacked containers”) into a conveyance path of a predetermined device. In addition, the stacking container setting section for setting the stacking container and the stacking container separated from the bottom stage by the number of units, and the container stacked in the number of units (hereinafter referred to as “unit number container”) are transported. The upper part of the unit number container, the gripping part for gripping the peripheral edge of the uppermost container of the unit number container from the inside, and the lowermost container of the unit number container A separation unit that separates the container above the lowermost stage of the unit number container, a discharge unit that discharges the separated lowermost container to the conveyance path, and a container that is gripped by the gripping unit in the unit number container A rotating unit that rotates the predetermined angle, The discharge part discharges the container rotated by the rotation part to the transport path after discharging the lowest container, the container has a short direction and a long direction, and the stacked container has a short length. The hand direction and the longitudinal direction are stacked alternately.

  The container charging device of the present invention can switch a plurality of containers in which the short side direction and the long side direction are alternately stacked, switch them all in the same direction, and put them into the conveyance path. By being able to put everything in the same direction in the transport path, a delivery container that needs to be packed can receive automatic sorting of articles based on the same coordinate axis.

  In addition, the container charging device of the present invention takes out two stacked containers, puts the containers facing the transport direction into the transport path first, and intersects the transport direction while being loaded. Rotate the direction of the container facing. As a result, it is possible to successively put containers into the transport path in a state along the transport direction without requiring useless operation time.

  In addition, the two containers taken out are lifted from the bottom surface in a state of being fixed from the inside, so that the unstable state of the container does not occur. As a result, the position and the direction of the container put into the transport path are not easily displaced, and no error occurs when transported along the transport path. For example, the container may be bent or deformed due to long-term use. In this case, if gripped from the outside, gripping may be insufficient due to deflection or deformation. On the other hand, by gripping from the inside, even if there is deflection or deformation, gripping can be performed reliably. As a result, there is no error that the container charging stops, and it is possible to reduce the stopping of the line for sorting articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall view of a container charging device and its surroundings in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state from which the 1st laminated container in Embodiment 1 of this invention was moved to the laminated container installation part from the installation stand. It is explanatory drawing of the container injection | throwing-in apparatus which shows the state in which the position of the lamination container in Embodiment 1 of this invention was raised. It is explanatory drawing of the container injection | throwing-in apparatus which shows the delivery of the unit number container in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the container injection | throwing-in apparatus which shows the state in which the unit number container was set to the injection | throwing-in stage in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the unit number container in the injection | throwing-in stage in Embodiment 1 of this invention is set. It is explanatory drawing of the container charging device explaining the raise of the unit number container in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the container charging device explaining the holding | grip of the upper container in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the unit container raised in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the container injection | throwing-in apparatus which shows the state from which the lower container in Embodiment 1 of this invention was isolate | separated. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state from which the lower container in Embodiment 1 of this invention was isolate | separated. It is explanatory drawing of the container charging device explaining discharge | emission of the lower container in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the container charging device explaining rotation of the upper container in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the container charging device explaining discharge | emission of the upper stage container in Embodiment 1 of this invention.

  The container charging device according to the first aspect of the present invention is a container charging device for charging a plurality of stacked containers (hereinafter referred to as “laminated containers”) into a conveying path of a predetermined device. In this case, the stacking container setting section for setting the stacking container and the stacking container are separated into units by number from the bottom, and the containers stacked in units (hereinafter referred to as “unit containers”) are transported. A feeding part for sending out to the path side, an ascending part for raising the unit number container from below, a grip part for grasping the peripheral edge of the uppermost container of the unit number container from the inside, and a lowermost container of the unit number container A separation unit that grips and separates the container above the lowest level of the unit number container, a discharge unit that discharges the separated lower level container to the conveyance path, and a grip unit in the unit number container A rotating part for rotating the container by a predetermined angle, The discharge part discharges the container rotated by the rotation part to the transport path after discharging the lowest container, the container has a short direction and a long direction, and the stacked container has a short length. The hand direction and the longitudinal direction are stacked alternately.

  With this configuration, the container charging device can load containers with a uniform transport direction while separating the stacked containers stacked to reduce the installation height one by one.

  In the container loading device according to the second invention of the present invention, in addition to the first invention, the predetermined device is an article sorting device for sorting and packing necessary articles at a delivery destination.

  With this configuration, it is convenient for work with a predetermined apparatus that the containers are transported in the same direction.

  In the container loading device according to the third invention of the present invention, in addition to the second invention, the container is used for sorting and packing articles necessary for a delivery destination in the article sorting apparatus.

  With this configuration, the container is required to be conveyed in a state along a certain direction.

  In the container charging device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the container has a first enclosure projecting upward in the short direction and a longitudinal direction at the peripheral edge. A second enclosure projecting upward in a direction, and the first enclosure and the second enclosure have different heights.

  With this configuration, the height of the laminated container can be reduced by alternately laminating the short side direction and the long side direction.

  In the container charging device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fourth aspect, the laminated container is laminated together by alternately laminating the short side direction and the long side direction. The height is lower than

  With this configuration, the installation area of the stacked container can be reduced.

  In the container charging device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the gripping portion applies pressure to the uppermost enclosure from the inside toward the outside. By applying, the upper container is gripped.

  With this configuration, the gripper can securely grip and fix the container. Even if the container is bent or the like, the grip portion can be securely gripped and fixed.

  In the container charging device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the rising portion lifts both end portions along the transport direction of the container at the lowermost stage. Then, the unit number container is raised.

  With this configuration, when the unit number container is raised, the operation of the container by elements such as the gripping part and the rotating part is ensured.

  In the container charging device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any of the first to seventh aspects, the predetermined angle is approximately 90 degrees.

  With this configuration, the unit containers stacked alternately are aligned in a direction according to the transport direction.

  In the container charging device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any of the first to eighth aspects of the invention, the unit number is two, and the delivery part has delivered the unit number container. The lower container of the unit number container faces the transport direction to the transport path, and the upper container of the unit number container faces the crossing direction intersecting the transport path.

  With this configuration, the unit number container has both sides of the simplicity of being sent in the state from the stacked container and the correspondence by the subsequent rotation operation and the like.

  In the container charging device according to the tenth invention of the present invention, in addition to the ninth invention, the ascending part raises the upper container and the lower container, and the gripping part extends from the inside to the outside of the upper container. The upper container is gripped by applying pressure toward the bottom, and the separating unit grips and lowers the lower container by applying pressure from the outside to the inside of the lower container. Separated from the upper container.

  With this configuration, the upper container and the lower container are reliably separated and each is independently discharged.

  In the container charging device according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the tenth aspect, the lower container is separated by the separation portion and lowered to the height of the conveyance path, and the discharge portion is The lower container is discharged to the transport path.

  With this configuration, the upper container whose direction is aligned by rotation is discharged to the delivery route and optimally used in a predetermined device.

  In the container charging device according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the ninth to eleventh aspects, the rotating portion is configured so that the upper portion is aligned with the discharge portion discharging the lower case. Rotate the container.

  With this configuration, the two operations of discharging the lower container and rotating the upper container are performed in a short time in parallel.

  In the container loading device according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the twelfth aspect, the discharge section discharges the lower container and the upper container in a state along the conveyance direction to the conveyance path. To do.

  With this configuration, each of the unit number containers is put into the transport path in the direction required by the predetermined apparatus.

  In the container charging device according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, the delivery section is adapted to complete the discharge of the unit number container to the conveyance path, The next unit number container is sent out from the stacked container to the transport path side.

  With this configuration, each of the stacked containers in which a large number of containers are stacked is put in the transport path with the directions aligned while being separated one after another.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. The operation will be described according to the operation procedure of the container charging device in the first embodiment.

(Installation of containers)
FIG. 1 is an overall view of a container charging device and its surroundings according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the container charging device 1 of FIG. 1, a plurality of containers 100 stacked on an installation table 2 are installed. The container 100 may be a delivery container used in an article distribution center or a factory, or a container that stores articles. These containers need to be put into a sorting system or apparatus such as an article sorting apparatus.

  When this container is used by being put into an article sorting apparatus or the like, it is necessary to put the containers 100 one after another in order to increase efficiency. Actually, when the container 100 is used in an article sorting apparatus or the like (for example, when the type and number of articles set in the container 100 are sorted and packed), the container 100 is used alone.

  However, if the container 100 is put into the article sorting apparatus one by one, including manual work, etc. one by one in accordance with the single use, the work efficiency of the whole article sorting is lowered.

  For this reason, a plurality of stacked containers 100 are installed as a stacked container 110 in the container charging device 1. In FIG. 1, the stacked containers 110 are collectively installed on the installation table 2. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the stacked containers 110 stacked in several tens of stages may be arranged in a plurality of stages.

  Since the stacking containers 110 that are stacked highly as shown in FIG. 1 are installed on the installation table 2 in a plurality of stages, the container charging device 1 allows the large number of containers 100 to be placed one by one by appropriate means. While separating, it is discharged to a conveyance path 10 such as an article sorting apparatus.

  In addition, the stacking container 110 should just be installed in the installation stand 2 with apparatuses, such as a forklift. At this time, the plurality of containers 100 are stacked from the beginning and placed in a warehouse or a factory, and the stacked containers 110 are transported to the installation table 2 by a forklift or the like.

  By this transportation, the stacking container 110 is installed on the installation table 2 as shown in FIG.

  Here, as described above, the container charging device 1 is a unit used in various predetermined devices. Of course, it can be used as a single unit, but when it is combined with another predetermined device, the necessary container 100 is loaded into the predetermined device, whereby the operation of the system including the container loading device 1 is realized.

  In manufacturing, distribution, and sales, only the container charging device 1 may be handled alone, or may be handled in combination with a predetermined device. These may be determined according to the convenience of manufacture or purchase.

  Here, as described above, the predetermined apparatus is an example of an article sorting apparatus that sorts and packs articles necessary for a delivery destination. In the case of this example, the container 100 that is input from the container input device 1 may be a delivery container that is used to sort and pack the articles required for the delivery destination in the article sorting apparatus.

(Movement of laminated container)
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the one-layer stacking container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention has been moved from the installation table to the stacking container installation unit. FIG. 2 shows the state of the next stage of FIG.

  The installation table 2 includes a rotating roller, a conveyor belt, and the like, and moves the installed laminated container 110 to the laminated container installation unit 3. A plurality of rotating rollers are provided in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the stacking container 110, and the rotating containers rotate to move the stacking container 110 of the installation table 2 to the stacking container setting unit 3. Alternatively, the laminated container 110 is moved from the installation table 2 to the laminated container installation unit 3 by rotational movement of a rotating belt or a conveyor belt. By this movement, a stacked container 110 that is a plurality of containers 100 stacked on the stacked container installation unit 3 is set.

  According to this set state, the preparation stage in which each of the plurality of containers 100 included in the stacked container 110 is input to the transport path 10 by the container input device 1 is completed.

(Raise position of laminated container)
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the container charging device showing a state in which the position of the stacked container in Embodiment 1 of the present invention has been raised. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the container charging device 1 is viewed from the side along with FIGS. 1 and 2 and the like, and the operation state is displayed so as to be easily understood.

  FIG. 3 shows a processing state subsequent to FIG. The stacked container installation unit 3 aligns the installed stacked container 110 with the input stage 11 that separates a plurality of containers 100 that are the essence of the operation of the container input device 1 one by one and inputs them into the transport path 10. Shows the processing to be performed.

  The laminated container installation unit 3 has a function of moving up and down vertically. With this ascending / descending function, the stacking container installation unit 3 can align the stacking container 110 with the height of the charging stage 11.

  In FIG. 3, the laminated container installation part 3 is rising from the floor surface. By this rise, the stacked container 110 is adapted to the height which is the position of the charging stage 11. In particular, the lowermost container 100 of the stacked container 110 is aligned with the height of the charging stage 11.

  As described above, the lowermost container 100 of the stacked container 110 is adjusted to the height of the input stage 11, so that the sending-out unit 4 puts the containers 100 stacked in units from the lower stage side of the stacked container 110 into the input stage 11. Can be sent out.

  Here, by sending out from the lower container 100 of the stacking container 110 to the input stage 11, there is an advantage that the rising amount of the stacking container 110 in the stacking container installation unit 3 can be reduced. For example, when sending out from the lower stage of the stacking container 110 to the input stage 11, it is not necessary to make the height of the input stage 11 too high even when the stacking height of the stacked container 110 is very high. By not making it too high, the stacking container installation unit 3 only needs to raise the stacking container 110 to the charging stage 11 that is not too high so that the lower container 100 is aligned.

  On the other hand, when the height of the stacked container 110 is very high, the input stage 11 needs to be placed at a very high position when the stacked container 110 is placed in the input stage 11 from the upper stage. . Since the input stage 11 serves as a reference for the height of the work line of the subsequent article sorting apparatus or the like, it is not preferable that the input stage 11 becomes too high in this way. Of course, by continuing to rise from the bottom to the top, the rising distance of the stacked container 110 becomes too large.

  In this respect, it is appropriate that the stacked container 110 is raised so that the lower (lowermost) container 100 is aligned with the charging stage 11 as shown in FIG.

(Sending out the number of units)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the container charging device showing the feeding of the unit number container in the first embodiment of the present invention. Following the state of FIG. 3, the container loading device 1 separates the unit 100 from the lowermost stage of the stacking container 110 and stacks the containers 100 in the number of units. Send it out. A container 100 stacked in this number of units is defined as a unit number container 101.

  In the state of the unit number container 101, it is sent to the input stage 11 and separated one by one, and the direction is aligned and sent to the transport path 10. The number of the unit number containers 101 may be determined as appropriate depending on the function of the container loading device 1 and a predetermined device connected thereto. Further, the number of units may be determined as appropriate depending on the shape and structure of the container 100.

  In the embodiment and the drawings, for convenience of explanation, the number of units is assumed to be “2”. That is, the unit number container 101 is composed of two units, a container 100A (lower container 101A) which is the lowest stage in a certain stage of the stacked container 110, and an upper container 100B stacked on one of the lower containers 101A. A description will be given in a state where it is handled as 101.

  Here, the container 100 has a substantially rectangular outer shape having a short side direction and a long side direction. Since it is a substantially rectangular shape, it is not a strict rectangle, and it does not exclude that each side has a curve or a bend. Of course, since it is a container, it has depth and has a storage space by a bottom face and an enclosure. For this reason, the bottom surface of the container 100 is in a state having a short side direction and a long side direction.

  Since the container 100 has such a short direction and a long direction, the container 100 is alternately stacked in the short direction and the long direction. For this reason, in the unit number container 101 delivered by the delivery unit 4 in FIG. 4, the lower container 100A and the upper container 100B are stacked with the short side direction and the long side direction being alternated.

  The same applies to the entire laminated container 110.

  Each of the stacked containers 110 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and the like are stacked such that the containers 100 having the short side direction and the long side direction alternate with the short side direction and the long side direction. Here, the container 100 has a first enclosure projecting upward in the lateral direction and a second enclosure projecting upward in the longitudinal direction at the peripheral edge thereof. Since the first enclosure and the second enclosure are erected from the bottom surface, the container 100 has a shape having an accommodation space.

  Here, the heights of the first enclosure and the second enclosure are different. That is, the height of the container 100 is different between the short side direction and the long side direction. If the accommodation space is formed, there is no problem even if there is a difference between the height in the short direction and the height in the longitudinal direction.

  For this reason, the overall height of the stacked container 110 can be reduced by alternately stacking the short direction and the long direction of the plurality of containers 100. When the heights of the first enclosure and the second enclosure are the same, the height of the laminated container 110 is the sum of the heights of the containers 100, regardless of whether they are laminated alternately or in order. It wo n’t go down. On the other hand, the heights of the first enclosure and the second enclosure are different, and when the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction are laminated alternately, the overall height of the laminated container 110 becomes low.

  From such a stacked container 110, the delivery unit 4 separates and extracts the unit number container 101, which is a combination of the container 100A and the container 100B, from the stacked container 110. The delivery unit 4 sends out the unit container 101 taken out to the input stage 11.

(Setting the number of containers)
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the container charging device showing a state in which the unit number container is set on the charging stage according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The delivery unit 4 delivers the unit number container 101 separated from the stacked container 100 to the input stage 11.

  The input stage 11 is a work area for further separating and aligning the unit number container 101 and sending it out to the transport path 10 and has a work height. Here, two containers of a lower container 100 </ b> A and an upper container 100 </ b> B are stacked as a unit number container 101, and set to the input stage 11 by the delivery unit 4.

  By this setting, various elements of the container loading device 1 can start the work of feeding out to the conveyance path 10 with the conveyance direction aligned while separating the two stacked containers 100A and 100B at the charging stage 11.

  Here, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the unit number container is set in the charging stage in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A shows a state when the making stage 11 is viewed from above, and FIG. 6B shows a state when the making stage 11 is seen from the installation table 2.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the two containers 100 are the unit number container 101, and the unit number container 101 includes a lower container 100A and an upper container 100B. The lower container 100A is stacked horizontally and the upper container 100B is stacked vertically. Due to this alternate lamination, the unit number container 101 also has a low lamination height.

  In the loading stage 11, the container loading unit 1 realizes a function of loading the unit number container 101 into the transport path 10 with the directions aligned. For this reason, the container charging unit 1 includes a lifting unit 6, a gripping unit 5, a separating unit 9, a discharging unit 8, and a rotating unit 7 following the sending-out unit 4.

  Although details will be described in detail in each operation description, the ascending unit 6 ascends the unit number container 101 from below to above. The gripper 5 grips and grips the peripheral enclosure 100B1 of the upper container 100B (uppermost container) from the inside. The separation unit 9 separates the upper container 100B and the lower container 100A. In other words, the separation unit 9 separates the container above the lowermost stage of the unit number container 101.

  The discharge unit 8 discharges the lower container 100 </ b> A separated by the separation unit 9 to the transport path 10. By this discharge, the lower container 100A is first sent out to the transport path 10 and used in a predetermined apparatus.

  The rotating unit 7 rotates the gripped upper container 100B. In particular, here, since the upper container 100B is vertically oriented, it is rotated by about 90 degrees and changed to the landscape orientation as in the case of the container 100A. The discharge unit 8 discharges the upper container 100 </ b> B to the transport path 10 in the state of being in the horizontal direction. By this discharge, the upper container 100B is discharged in a sideways state following the lower container 100A. The discharged upper container 100B is transported from the transport path 10 following the lower container 100A and can be used in a predetermined device.

  As described above, the following operation is performed in the input stage 11.

  First, the lower container 100 </ b> A and the upper container 100 </ b> B are alternately stacked and sent to the input stage 11 by the sending unit 4. At this time, as an example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the lower container 100A is horizontally oriented and the upper container 100B is vertically oriented. Of course, the reverse is also possible.

  The unit container 101 is formed by laminating the lower container 100A and the upper container 100B. The ascending portion 6 supports the end of the lower container 100A to raise the lower container 100A upward from below. Since the upper container 100B is stacked on the lower container 100A, the upper container 100B also rises as it is as the lower container 100A rises. That is, the raising unit 6 raises the unit number container 101 by raising the lower container 100A.

  When the unit number container 101 can be raised, a mechanism member such as the gripping part 5 (or the rotating part 7) at the ascending position is in a position where it can come into contact with the upper container 100B. That is, the mechanism member such as the grip portion 5 is not lowered and handles the unit number container 101. In this case, there is a problem in that the gripping position of the gripper 5 is misaligned or the gripping is difficult. On the other hand, when the unit number container 101 is raised by the ascending part 6, the unit number container 101 can be handled without moving the mechanism members such as the gripping part 5. As a result, conventional problems in gripping by the grip portion 5 are unlikely to occur.

  In particular, when the gripping part 5 is lowered to fit the unit number container 101, the gripping part 5 which is a heavy object having a complicated structure is lowered, leading to the scale of the apparatus or complexity. It was. In addition, there were problems such as breakdowns. On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the ascending part 6 only raises the unit number container 101 with respect to the grip part 5. For this reason, it is only necessary to raise the unit container 101 which is a light object, and problems such as failure can be reduced.

  Moreover, the raising part 6 can raise the unit number container 101 by lifting both ends of the lower container 100A.

  Next, the gripper 5 grips the upper container 100B that has been lifted. By grasping the upper container 100B, the lower container 100A becomes free. Since the lower container 100A is sent to the input stage 11 in a sideways state, the lower container 100A is discharged to the transport path 10 as it is and can be used in a predetermined apparatus. For this reason, when the holding unit 5 holds and fixes the upper container 100B, the separating unit 9 separates the lower container 100A from the upper container 100B.

  By this separation, the lower container 100A is handled independently of the upper container 100B. The discharge unit 8 discharges the lower container 100 </ b> A in this independent state to the transport path 10. By this discharge, the lower container 100A is used in a predetermined device.

  The rotating unit 7 rotates the upper container 100B in accordance with or following the discharge of the lower container 100A. As described above, the gripper 5 applies pressure from the inside to the outside of the enclosure 100B1 of the upper container 100B. By this provision, the gripper 5 can grip and fix the upper container 100B. The rotating unit 7 rotates the upper container 100 </ b> B while being held by the holding unit 5. Since the upper container 100B and the lower container 100A are alternately stacked in the short side direction and the long side direction, the rotating portion 7 can be discharged sideways (same as the discharged lower container 100A) by rotating about 90 degrees. Direction).

  The discharge unit 8 discharges the upper container 100 </ b> B that has been turned sideways by the rotation to the transport path 10. The upper container 100B is subsequently used in a predetermined apparatus.

  That is, the lower container 100A is directed in the direction of conveyance to the conveyance path 10 (laterally in FIG. 6) in a state in which the delivery unit 4 delivers the unit container 101 stacked in two to the input stage 11. The upper container 100B faces the crossing direction intersecting the transporting direction to the transporting path 10. The two unit number containers 101 are separated one by one by a mechanism such as the ascending unit 6, the gripping unit 6, and the rotating unit 7, and are discharged to the transport path 10 with the discharge direction aligned.

(Rise of the number of containers)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the container charging device for explaining the rise of the unit number container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  FIG. 7 is a drawing paired with FIG. 6 and shows a state in which the delivery unit 4 is delivering the unit number container 101 to the input stage 11. In addition, the ascending section 6 raises the unit number container 101. Actually, as described above, the ascending portion 6 is raised so as to support both end portions of the lower container 100A. By this rise, the lower container 100 </ b> A and the upper container 100 </ b> B can reach the mechanism member such as the grip portion 5.

  The ascending unit 6 may be moved up and down by various pressures such as hydraulic pressure, air pressure, and elastic force to raise the unit number container 101. Of course, as described above, after the upper container 100B and the lower container 100A are separated, the ascending unit 6 lowers the lower container 100A so that it can be discharged.

(Grip the upper container)
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the container charging device for explaining the gripping of the upper container in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The unit number container 101 sent to the charging stage 11 is raised by the raising unit 6. This is as shown in FIG. The upper container 100B can reach a mechanism member such as the gripping mechanism 5 by ascending. The lower container 100 </ b> A and the upper container 100 </ b> B are alternately stacked in the short side direction and the long side direction. The lower container 100A faces the conveyance direction to the conveyance path 10 as it is. On the other hand, the upper container 100 </ b> B faces the direction intersecting the transport direction to the transport path 10. For this reason, it is necessary to rotate the upper container 100 </ b> B to match the transport direction.

  The grip 5 applies an outward pressure to the enclosure from the inside of the upper container 100B. With this pressure, the gripper 5 grips and fixes the upper container 100B. At this time, since the lower container 100A is supported by the ascending part 6, the upper container 100B is fixed by the grip part 5, and the lower container 100A is combined by support by the ascending part 6.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the unit container raised in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a drawing paired with FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the gripper 5 applies pressure from the inside to the outside of the enclosure of the upper container 100B. Actually, the arm at the end of the gripper 5 is pressed against the inside of the enclosure of the upper container 100B, and the gripper 5 can grip and fix the upper container 100B by this pressing.

  In FIG. 9, the lower container 100 </ b> A is raised by the ascending part 6, and the upper container 100 </ b> B is grasped and fixed by the grasping part 5. By configuring such a state, preparation for discharging the unit number container 101 to the transport path 10 is started.

(Separation of lower container)
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of the container charging device showing a state where the lower container in Embodiment 1 of the present invention is separated. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view illustrating a state where the lower container in Embodiment 1 of the present invention is separated. FIG. 11 shows a state at the charging stage 11 of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the upper container 100 </ b> B is held and fixed by the holding unit 5 in order to be rotated. In a state where the upper container 100B is gripped, the lower container 100A is preferably discharged to the transport path 10.

  The lower container 100A faces the transport direction of the transport path 10. For this reason, it is not necessary to be rotated by the input stage 11. The predetermined apparatus requires the containers 100 one after another. For this reason, it is preferable that the lower container 100 </ b> A is immediately discharged to the transport path 10. In order to discharge the lower container 100A, the lower container 100A is preferably separated from the upper container 100B.

  The separation unit 9 may be used as the ascending unit 6 or a combination of the ascending unit 6 and the gripping unit 5. In the separation unit 9, for example, the raising unit 6 lowers the lower container 100 </ b> A while the upper container 100 </ b> B is being held. At this time, an operation in combination with a part of the grip portion 5 may be performed.

  In this way, the separating unit 9 can automatically separate from the upper container 100B by lowering the lower container 100A. Alternatively, the separation unit 9 may be gripped and lowered by applying pressure from the outside to the inside of the lower container 100A. Even in this lowering, the lower container 100A can be separated from the upper container 100B as shown in FIGS.

  The lower container 100A is separated from the upper container 100B, but even after the separation, the bottom surface is supported by the ascending portion 6 or is supported by the surface of the input stage 11, so that the position is supported. It is in. For this reason, the lower container 100A does not fall or shift.

(Lower container discharge)
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a container charging device for explaining the discharge of the lower container in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As described in FIGS. 10 and 11, the lower container 100A is separated from the upper container 100B. In this separation, the lower container 100A is lowered to the height of the conveyance path 10 by the separation unit 9 (which may also receive the function of the ascending unit 6). The height of the transfer path 10 is the height of the input stage 11. The height of the moving surface of the input stage 11 is referred to as the height of the transport path 10.

  The lower container 100 </ b> A lowered to the height of the transport path 10 by the separation unit 9 is in a state where it can be discharged to the transport path 10.

  When this discharge is possible, the discharge unit 8 discharges the lower container 100 </ b> A to the transport path 10. The discharge may be performed by applying a forcible force, or may be performed by rotating a rotating roller on the bottom surface of the input stage 11 connected to the conveyance path 10. The discharge unit 8 itself may grasp the situation and push out the lower container 100A to discharge, or a control unit for controlling other elements such as the discharge unit 8 is provided. Based on the above, the discharge unit 8 may discharge the lower container 100A.

  In this way, the discharge unit 8 discharges the free lower container 100A to the transport path 10 during the preparation work for the rotation of the upper container 100B (that is, alignment in the transport direction). FIG. 12 shows a state where the lower container 100 </ b> A is discharged to the transport path 10.

  In the state shown in FIG. 12, the lower container 100 </ b> A is discharged to the transport path 10, and the lower container 100 </ b> A is used in a predetermined device connected to the container charging device 1. One of the multiple stacked containers 110 placed on the first installation base 2 is first put into a predetermined apparatus.

(Rotation of upper container)
As shown in FIG. 12, when the lower container 100 </ b> A is discharged to the transport path 10, the discharge unit 8 includes only the upper container 100 </ b> B in the region of the input stage 11. At this timing, the gripper 5 is gripping the upper container 100B.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the container charging device for explaining the rotation of the upper container in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an operation subsequent to FIG. 12, and shows the operation performed at the same time as or after (may overlap) the discharge of the lower container 100A of FIG.

  The gripper 5 grips the upper container 100 </ b> B by applying pressure to the enclosure of the upper container 100 </ b> B from the inside to the outside (pressing a member such as an arm). The rotating part 7 is an element connected to or combined with the grip part 5. The rotating unit 7 may be grasped as the same element as the grasping unit 5, and the grasping unit 5 and the rotating unit 7 are described as separate elements in order to clarify grasping as a function.

  The rotating unit 7 rotates the upper container 100 </ b> B in the planar direction while holding the upper container 100 </ b> B by the grip unit 5. In this rotation, since the upper container 100B is in a state substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the conveyance path 10, the rotation is performed about 90 degrees. Of course, this only depends on the intersection angle between the upper container 100B and the transport path 10, and if the intersection angle between the transport path 10 and the upper container 100B is other than 90 degrees, the rotating unit 7 The upper container 100B is rotated according to the angle.

  FIG. 13 shows a state after the rotating unit 7 rotates the upper container 100B. In the first embodiment, the horizontal direction is defined as the conveyance direction to the conveyance path 10. For this reason, the upper container 100 </ b> B that has been vertically oriented when being fed to the charging stage 11 by the delivery unit 4 is laterally oriented.

  By being in this sideways state, the upper container 100B is also in a direction in which it can be discharged with respect to the transport path 10. Of course, it will be in the state used by the predetermined apparatus connected from the conveyance path | route 10. FIG.

  Thus, while the lower container 100A of the unit number container 101 (here, two containers 100A and 100B) is being discharged, the upper container 100B is rotated in the direction along the transport direction.

(Discharge of upper container)
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a container charging device for explaining the discharge of the upper container in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 shows a processing operation subsequent to FIG.

  The upper container 100B rotated by the rotating unit 7 is a direction along the transport direction. The ascending unit 6 lowers the upper container 100 </ b> B to the height of the bottom surface of the charging stage 11, that is, the height of the conveyance path 10.

  The upper container 100 </ b> B having this height is discharged to the transport path 10 by the discharge unit 8. The discharge of the upper container 100B by the discharge unit 8 is performed by the same operation as the discharge of the lower container 100A. As a result, following the lower container 100A, the upper container 100B is also discharged to the transport path 10 and used in a predetermined apparatus.

  Thus, the discharge unit 8 can discharge any container 100 included in the unit number container 101 in a state along the transport direction of the transport path 10. As a result, it is easy to use the container 100 in various predetermined devices connected to the transport path 10. The stacked containers 110 that are a collection of a plurality of stacked containers 100 that were initially installed on the installation table 2 are separated one by one and stacked in order to reduce the height. Each of the containers 100 is separated one by one and discharged to the conveyance path 10.

  By performing this operation one after another, even when the stacking container 110 stacks many containers 100, separation and direction alignment are realized one by one in the input stage 11, and the transport path 10 is input. It becomes like this.

(Infeed the next number of units)
FIG. 14 shows a state in which the next unit number container 101B is being fed from the stacked container 110 together with the discharge of the upper container 100B to the transport path 10. The delivery unit 4 grasps that when the upper container 100B is discharged, the area of the input stage 11 becomes an empty area and the next unit number container 101B can be processed. Of course, the control unit may grasp this and control the operation.

  The delivery unit 4 takes out the next unit number container 101 </ b> B from the stacked container 110 and sends it out to the charging stage 11. In this unit number container 101B, similarly to the unit number container 101 before that, the upper container 100B and the lower container 100A are alternately stacked.

  Each of the upper container 100B and the lower container 100A that are alternately stacked is subjected to the processing as described above, separated, and aligned, and discharged to the transport path 10 one after another. If discharged, the container 100 will be used at the end of the transport path 10 one after another.

  As the lower container 100A and the upper container 100B of the unit number container 101B are sequentially discharged, the next unit number container 101C is fed into the charging stage 11. This is also subject to similar processing.

  By repeating these operations, the containers 100 of the stacked container 110 are sequentially sent out to the transport path 10. In particular, the containers 100 that have a short side and a long side and the heights of the enclosures are staggered are alternately stacked and installed on the installation table 2 in a state where the height is lowered. Can do. The containers 100 included in such stacked container 110 can be separated one by one and put into the transport path 10 in a state where they are aligned in the direction in which they are used in a predetermined apparatus.

  Such a container loading device 1 is combined with a predetermined device that needs to move the conveyance path in a state in which the direction of the container is fixed while using containers one after another such as an article sorting device. In particular, the containers 100 can be introduced one after another while satisfying the requirements of a predetermined apparatus in an automated state while reducing the installation volume of a large number of containers.

  As a result, the container charging device 1 can sequentially and accurately load the containers 100 one after another into a predetermined device that requires the containers 100 to be charged quickly and efficiently.

  The container charging device described in the embodiment is an example for explaining the gist of the present invention, and includes modifications and alterations without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container charging device 2 Installation stand 3 Laminated container installation part 4 Sending part 5 Holding part 6 Lifting part 7 Rotating part 8 Discharge part 9 Separation part 10 Transfer path 11 Input stage 100 Container 101 Unit number container 110 Laminated container

Claims (14)

A container loading device that loads a plurality of stacked containers (hereinafter referred to as “laminated containers”) into a conveyance path of a predetermined device,
A laminated container installation section for installing the laminated container;
Separating the stacked containers into units from the bottom, and sending out the containers stacked in units (hereinafter referred to as "unit containers") to the transport path;
An ascending portion for raising the unit number container from below;
A gripping part for gripping the peripheral enclosure of the container at the uppermost stage of the unit number container from the inside;
A separation unit for holding the container at the bottom of the unit number container and separating it from the container above the bottom of the unit number container;
A discharge unit for discharging the separated lowermost container to the transport path;
A rotating unit that rotates the container gripped by the gripping unit in the unit number container by a predetermined angle;
The discharge unit discharges the container rotated by the rotating unit to the transport path following discharge of the lowermost container.
The container has a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction;
The stacked container is a container loading device in which the short side direction and the long side direction are alternately stacked.   The container input device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined device is an article sorting device that sorts and packs articles necessary for a delivery destination.   The container loading device according to claim 2, wherein the container is used for sorting and packing articles necessary for a delivery destination in the article sorting apparatus. The container has a first enclosure projecting upward in the lateral direction and a second enclosure projecting upward in the longitudinal direction at the peripheral edge,
The container charging device according to claim 1, wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosure have different heights.   The container stacking device according to claim 4, wherein the stacked container has a height lower than that of the stacked container, because the short direction and the longitudinal direction are stacked alternately.   The container loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gripping part grips the upper container by applying pressure from the inner side to the outer side of the enclosure of the uppermost container.   The container raising device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ascending unit raises the unit number container by lifting both ends along the transport direction of the container at the lowermost stage.   The container charging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 90 degrees. The number of units is two;
With the delivery unit delivering the unit number container,
The lower container of the unit number container is facing the transport direction to the transport path,
The container loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the upper container of the unit number container is directed in an intersecting direction intersecting the transport path. The ascending portion raises the upper container and the lower container,
The gripping part grips the upper container by applying pressure from the inner side to the outer side of the upper container,
The container feeding device according to claim 9, wherein the separation unit separates the upper container with the lower container by applying pressure from the outside to the inside of the lower container so as to grip and lower the lower container. The lower container is separated by the separation unit and lowered to the height of the conveyance path,
The container loading device according to claim 10, wherein the discharge unit discharges the lower container to the transport path.   The container charging device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the rotating unit rotates the upper container in accordance with the discharging unit discharging the lower container.   The container discharge device according to claim 12, wherein the discharge unit discharges the lower container and the upper container in a state along a transfer direction to the transfer path.   The container according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the delivery unit sends the next unit number container from the stacked container to the transport path side in accordance with the completion of discharge of the unit number container to the transport path. Input device.