JP2018131280A - Conveying device and conveying method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveying device and a conveying method capable of sorting articles to be conveyed into the groups of articles to be conveyed while inhibiting the articles such as containers and the like from being deformed and capable of improving a conveying efficiency.SOLUTION: A conveying device 1 comprises a first conveyor 11 conveying a container 2 at a speed V1, a second conveyor 12 conveying the container 2 transferred from the first conveyor 11 at a speed V2 faster than the speed V1, a drive device 13 for changing the respective lengths of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12, a control device 15 for changing a speed change position X in which a moving speed of the container 2 is changed along a conveying direction D1 by giving a command to the drive device 13, and support parts A1, B1, A2, B2 which are inserted between the container 2 conveyed at the speed V2 and the container 2 conveyed at the speed V1 to support the container 2 conveyed at the speed V1 from a downstream side when moving back the speed change position X to a direction D2 opposite to the conveying direction D1 at a speed V3 faster than the speed V1 and the speed V2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for transporting a transported object such as a container.

The beverage production line includes a transport device that transports containers sequentially supplied to a washing / sterilizing machine, a filling machine, a capper, a packing machine, and the like.
In the transfer device, the pitch of the containers is increased by utilizing the speed difference between the upstream conveyor and the faster downstream conveyor. For example, if the containers are transported in a dense state by the upstream conveyor and the speed of the downstream conveyor is twice the speed of the upstream conveyor, the transfer from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor The containers are arranged at intervals corresponding to the dimensions of the container.

In addition, as an example of utilizing and developing the speed difference between the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor, it can move in the transport direction at the same speed as the upstream conveyor, and a part of the conveyor is overlapped on the downstream conveyor. The arrangement | positioning sheet | seat is used and dividing into the container group which consists of a predetermined number of containers (grouping) is also performed (patent document 1).
In Patent Document 1, containers are gathered from the sheet to the downstream conveyor by pulling out the sheet all at once at the timing when a predetermined number of containers are placed on the sheet from the downstream end of the upstream conveyor. It is reprinted. When the sheet is pulled out, the top container on the sheet is supported from the downstream side to prevent the container from falling.

Japanese Patent No. 5725938

  According to Patent Document 1, it is possible to sort the container group by reciprocating the sheet in the transport direction and in the opposite direction, but the container is easily deformed by friction with the sheet, and the sheet is worn. If the densely arranged containers are deformed so as to be crushed in the transport direction, the transport efficiency is reduced.

  As described above, the present invention has an object to provide a transport apparatus and a transport method capable of sorting into transported object groups while suppressing deformation of transported objects such as containers and capable of improving transport efficiency. To do.

  The transfer device of the present invention is arranged in series with a first conveyor that transfers a transfer object in a predetermined transfer direction at a first speed, and the transfer object that is arranged in series with the first conveyor is a first conveyor. The second conveyor that transports in the transport direction at a second speed faster than the speed of the first conveyor and the length of the first conveyor and the second conveyor without changing the length from the upstream end of the first conveyor to the downstream end of the second conveyor A drive device that changes the length of each machine, a control device that changes a speed change location along the transport direction by changing the moving speed of the conveyed product by giving a command to the drive device, and a speed change location opposite to the transport direction When retreating in the direction at a speed higher than the first speed and the second speed, it is inserted between the transported object transported at the second speed and the transported object transported at the first speed, Supporting unit for supporting a conveyed product conveyed at the first speed from the downstream side , Characterized in that it comprises a.

  The transport apparatus of the present invention further includes a support part moving mechanism that intermittently moves the support part between the transported object transported at the first speed and the transported object transported at the second speed. The part moving mechanism preferably includes an annular cable disposed in a region extending upward from the position of the conveyed product, and a cable driving unit that drives the cable in the circumferential direction.

  The transport method of the present invention is arranged in series with the first conveyor from the upstream end of the first conveyor that transports the transported object at a first speed in a predetermined transport direction, and the transported object is faster than the first speed. By changing the length of each of the first conveyor and the second conveyor without changing the length to the downstream end of the second conveyor that transports in the transport direction at the second speed, the moving speed of the transported object changes. A transfer step of moving the shift position backward in the direction opposite to the transfer direction and transferring the transferred object from the first conveyor to the second conveyor; and a transfer standby step of moving the shift position forward in the transfer direction; In the transfer step, the support portion is inserted between the transported object transported at the second speed and the transported object transported at the first speed while the shift point is moved backward. Support the transported object from the downstream side by the support part. And butterflies.

  In the transport method of the present invention, when the transported objects that are densely arranged in the transport direction and are transported on the first conveyor are divided into transported object groups of n units, the first transported object on the first conveyor in the transfer standby step The number of conveyed items is counted in order, and when the number n of conveyed items is counted, the process proceeds to the transfer step, and the shift position is moved backward by a distance corresponding to the difference between the first speed and the reverse speed. It is preferable.

  In the transport method of the present invention, when the transported objects that are densely arranged in the transport direction and transported on the first conveyor are divided into transported object groups of n units, transported objects that are delayed from the transported object group in the transfer standby step are When the predetermined head position is reached, it is preferable to shift to the transfer step and to reverse the shift position by a distance corresponding to the difference between the first speed and the reverse speed.

In the transport apparatus and the transport method of the present invention, the moving speed of the transported object is changed according to the speed difference between the first conveyor and the second conveyor by changing the length of each of the first conveyor and the second conveyor by the driving device. A single or a plurality of transported objects are transferred while reversing the changing speed change point. By repeating this transfer step and a transfer standby step for moving the shift position forward by the amount moved backward, the container being transferred is supported by the support part while realizing separation of the container including sorting into the container group. By doing so, the position of each container and the supply timing to the downstream can be determined reliably.
Further, according to the transport apparatus and the transport method of the present invention, the frictional resistance of the transported object is smaller than when a transfer sheet is used, so that deformation of the transported object can be suppressed and the transport efficiency can be improved.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the container conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the conveyance state of the container when not changing a speed change location in the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the procedure divided into a container group, conveying a container with the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. A count sensor is used. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that the containers arrange | positioned densely are pressed and deform | transformed. (B) has shown the case where the container is not deform | transforming. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows another procedure divided into a container group, conveying a container with the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. A head position sensor is used. It is a figure for demonstrating the method of adjusting the timing of the container in an absolute position, conveying a container with the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example provided with the drive device which expands and contracts a 1st conveyor, and the drive device which expands and contracts a 2nd conveyor. It is a figure which shows the biaxial movement mechanism as a modification of a support part movement mechanism.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The conveyance apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 conveys the container 2 (conveyed object) for drinks. The transport apparatus 1 arranges the containers 2 in a predetermined state while transporting them, and supplies them to a subsequent apparatus such as a boxing machine.
The transfer device 1 has two extendable conveyors 11 and 12 arranged in series, a drive device 13 that expands and contracts the conveyors 11 and 12, and a container 2 when being transferred from the conveyor 11 to the conveyor 12. Are provided with a rotary support device 30, a container conveyance information acquisition unit 14, and a control device 15. There is a speed difference between the conveyors 11 and 12.

The container 2 is a bottle formed of a resin material such as PET (Poly Ethylene Terephthalate), a glass material, a metal material, or the like, and is conveyed in a standing state on the conveyors 11 and 12. The containers 2 are arranged on the conveyors 11 and 12 in a predetermined number of rows. For example, if the number of rows is “3”, three containers 2 are arranged in the width direction of the conveyors 11 and 12 (in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface). The illustration of the guide members located on both sides in the width direction on the conveyors 11 and 12 and between each row of the containers 2 is omitted in FIG.
The container 2 may be a can. The form of the container 2 is not ask | required.

  The transport apparatus 1 changes the length of each of the conveyors 11 and 12 without changing the transport distance (transport path length) of the entire conveyors 11 and 12, so that the containers 2 are transferred from the conveyor 11 to the conveyor 12. One of the features is that the timing at which the moving speed of 2 is changed is controlled.

Hereinafter, the conveyor 11, 12 that is positioned relatively upstream is referred to as a first conveyor 11, and the conveyor that is positioned relatively downstream is referred to as a second conveyor 12.
The first conveyor 11 is an electric conveyor configured such that a machine length L1 that is a length in the transport direction D1 can be expanded and contracted. The first conveyor 11 includes a belt 110 arranged along the conveyance direction D1, a motor 11M that is a power source of the belt 110, a drive pulley 11A that transmits the rotational driving force of the motor 11M to the belt 110, and a belt 110 A plurality of driven pulleys 11B, 11C, and 11D that are rotated along with the movement are provided.
In addition, what is provided with a chain, a sprocket, and a motor is also employable as the conveyors 11 and 11. The power source of these conveyors 11 and 12 is not necessarily limited to a motor, and may be compressed air or the like.

  By moving the driven pulleys 11B and 11C along the conveyance direction D1 by the driving device 13, the machine length L1 can be expanded and contracted without changing the circumferential length of the belt 110. The machine length L1 is farthest from the driving pulley 11A in the direction of the transport direction D1 and is farthest from the driven pulley 11B in the direction D2 opposite to the transport direction D1 from the driven pulley 11B located at the downstream end of the first conveyor 11. This is the distance to the pulley (here, the drive pulley 11A) located at the upstream end of the first conveyor 11. The length L1 is determined by the position of the driven pulley 11B moved by the driving device 13.

The second conveyor 12 is also an electric conveyor configured such that the captain L2 can extend and contract.
The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 described above are arranged in series with the driven pulleys 11B and 12B adjacent to each other.
The first conveyor 11 conveys the containers 2 at a speed V1 (first speed), whereas the second conveyor 12 conveys the containers 2 at a speed V2 (second speed) faster than the speed V1 (V1 < V2).
The containers 2 are densely arranged on the first conveyor 11 in the transport direction D1. The containers 2 on the first conveyor 11 are conveyed by the second conveyor 12 in a state of being separated into a container group 20 composed of containers 2 having a predetermined unit number n. The containers 2 constituting the container group 20 are densely arranged in the transport direction D1.

Similar to the first conveyor 11, the second conveyor 12 also transmits to the belt 120 the belt 120 disposed along the transport direction D <b> 1, the motor 12 </ b> M that is a power source of the belt 120, and the rotational driving force of the motor 12 </ b> M. A driving pulley 12A and a plurality of driven pulleys 12B, 12C, and 12D are provided.
The driven pulleys 12B and 12C are moved along the transport direction D1 by the driving device 13, whereby the machine length L2 can be expanded and contracted without changing the circumferential length of the belt 120. The machine length L2 is farthest from the driving pulley 12A in the direction D2 opposite to the transport direction D1 and is farthest from the driven pulley 12B in the direction of the transport direction D1 from the driven pulley 12B located at the upstream end of the second conveyor 12. This is the distance to the pulley (here, the drive pulley 12A) located at the downstream end of the second conveyor 12. The length L2 is determined by the position of the driven pulley 12B moved by the driving device 13.

The drive device 13 extends and contracts the first and second conveyors 11 and 12 using the motor 13M as a power source.
The driving device 13 includes a motor 13M that outputs a rotational driving force, and a linear motion mechanism 13A such as a rack and a pinion that converts the rotational driving force by the motor 13M into a linear driving force along the transport direction D1. can do. The linear motion mechanism 13A moves the driven pulleys 11B and 11C and the driven pulleys 12B and 12C in parallel with the transport direction D1.
As the motor 13M, it is preferable to employ a servo motor capable of controlling position and speed.

The drive device 13 moves the driven pulley 11B and the driven pulley 12B integrally in the transport direction D1 or the reverse direction D2 while maintaining a gap of a predetermined size. An unillustrated transfer plate or the like is arranged at the boundary between the first and second conveyors 11 and 12 formed by the driven pulley 11B and the driven pulley 12B, and the containers 2 to be conveyed are transferred from the first conveyor 11 to the second conveyor 12. Can be transferred to.
When the driven pulleys 11B and 12B are moved in the transport direction D1, the first conveyor 11 is extended, and the second conveyor 12 is contracted accordingly. When the driven pulleys 11B and 12B are moved in the direction D2 opposite to the conveying direction D1, the first conveyor 11 is contracted, and the second conveyor 12 is extended correspondingly. That is, the length (conveyance path length) from the upstream end of the first conveyor 11 to the downstream end of the second conveyor 12 does not change, and the ratio between the machine length L1 and the machine length L2 changes.

  Instead of the driving device 13 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a first driving device 131 that extends and contracts the first conveyor 11 and a second driving device 132 that expands and contracts the second conveyor 12 may be adopted. it can. These driving devices 131 and 132 can be operated synchronously by the control device 15.

The container conveyance information acquisition unit 14 acquires container conveyance information necessary for making the pitch of the container 2 uniform and timing out.
The control device 15 gives the drive device 13 a control command G1 generated based on the container conveyance information C1 acquired by the container conveyance information acquisition unit 14.

  When transferring (transferred) from the first conveyor 11 to the second conveyor 12, the moving speed of the container 2 changes from V1 to V2 (acceleration). At the boundary between the first and second conveyors 11 and 12 or in the vicinity thereof, the moving speed of the container 2 to be conveyed changes at a position determined by the center of gravity of the container 2 or the friction between the conveyors 11 and 12 and the container 2. A shift point X at which the moving speed of the container 2 changes is indicated by a broken line in FIG. Here, as the position of the boundary between the first and second conveyors 11 and 12 moves with the position of the driven pulleys 11B and 12B moved by the driving device 13, the speed change point X is changed. When the shift position X is changed, the timing at which the containers 2 are transferred from the first conveyor 11 to the second conveyor 12 to change the speed is changed.

FIG. 2 shows the conveyance state of the container 2 when the motor 13M of the driving device 13 is stopped.
The container 2 transported to the speed change point X at the speed V1 by the first conveyor 11 is increased to a speed V2 faster than the speed V1 of the subsequent next container 2 when the speed change point X is exceeded. Therefore, the distance between the container 2 beyond the speed change point X and the subsequent container 2 increases, and the containers 2 are arranged at a wide pitch P on the second conveyor 12.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the conveyors 11 and 12 do not expand and contract, the containers 2 are all accelerated to the speed V2 at the same shift position X, so the pitch of the containers 2 on the first conveyor 11 is the container 2. If the variation is caused by the deformation or the like, the variation is reflected in the pitch P of the containers 2 on the second conveyor 12.
The pitch of the containers 2 on the first conveyor 11 is not always managed constant. Further, the deformation of the container 2 by being pushed by the containers 2 or by being pushed by the guide member also affects the pitch of the containers 2.

  Here, the pitch P given between the containers 2 on the basis of the difference between the speeds V1 and V2 of the conveyors 11 and 12 arranged in series is the shift position X after the shift of the container 2 that has reached the shift position X. Therefore, the speed of the container 2 is changed by changing the shift position X by expanding and contracting the length of the conveyors 11 and 12 as in this embodiment. Thus, the pitch of the container 2, the timing at which the container 2 reaches a predetermined position, and the like can be managed.

  Furthermore, this embodiment uses the rotary support device 30 to support the container 2 when the moving speed of the container 2 changes due to transfer from the first conveyor 11 to the second conveyor 12. As a result, it is possible to prevent the position of the container 2 from shifting or the container 2 from falling over when the moving speed of the container 2 changes, so that the position and timing of the container 2 can be controlled more reliably.

As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the rotary support device 30 includes a plurality of support portions A1, B1, A2, and B2 that support the container 2, and moving mechanisms 30A and 30B that move these support portions. It is configured. The support parts A1 and A2 are moved along a predetermined movement path R by the movement mechanism 30A, and the support parts B1 and B2 are moved along the movement path R by the movement mechanism 30B.
The movement path R is configured in an annular shape including the paths R1, R2, R3, and R4, and is disposed in a region extending upward from the position of the container 2.
While the support part (A1 or the like) is moving in the transport direction D1 along the path R1, the container 2 is supported by the support part from the downstream side.

The support part A1 extends in the width direction of the first conveyor 11 to form a bar shape, and comes into contact with the containers 2 in each row arranged in the width direction at the top of the first conveyor 11 from the downstream side. The support portions A2, B1, and B2 are similarly configured.
The support portions A1, B1, A2, and B2 are inserted repeatedly in this order between the container 2 positioned at the top on the first conveyor 11 and the container 2 positioned at the end on the second conveyor 12. The first container 2 on the first conveyor 11 is supported from the downstream side.

The control device 15 gives control commands G2 and G3 generated based on the container conveyance information C1 acquired by the container conveyance information acquisition unit 14 to the moving mechanisms 30A and 30B. The support portions A1, B1, A2, and B2 sequentially support the container 2 by alternately driving the support portions A1 and A2 by the moving mechanism 30A and driving the support portions B1 and B2 by the moving mechanism 30B. .
The operations of the support portions A1, B1, A2, and B2 by the moving mechanisms 30A and 30B and the change of the speed change point X of the container 2 by the driving device 13 are performed in synchronization as described later.

The moving mechanism 30A includes an annular cable 31A that forms the moving path R, and a cable driving unit 32A that drives the cable 31A in the circumferential direction.
The rope 31A is, for example, a pair of endless chains arranged at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1, and holds both ends of the support portion A1 and both ends of the support portion A2. The rope 31A is wound around a plurality of sprockets 301 and 302. The rope 31A is also wound around other sprockets (not shown in FIG. 1) that are appropriately arranged.
The cord 31A may be an endless belt that is wound around a pulley.

  The rope drive unit 32A is configured to include an electric motor such as a servomotor capable of controlling the rotation speed, and drives the rope 31A meshing with the sprocket 301 by outputting a rotational drive force to the sprocket 301. As a result, the support portions A1 and A2 provided on the rope 31A go around with the rope 31A.

  The moving mechanism 30B also includes an annular cable 31B and a cable driving unit 32B that drives the cable 31B in the circumferential direction. The rope 31B and the rope drive unit 32B are configured in the same manner as the rope 31A and the rope drive unit 32A of the moving mechanism 30A. The rope 31B forms a movement path R in the same manner as the rope 31A.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an example of control for dividing the containers 2 densely arranged in the transport direction D1 and transported by the first conveyor 11 into a container group 20 of unit number n will be described.
The unit number n refers to the number of containers 2 included in one container group 20 arranged in the transport direction D1, and is “4” here.
In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the count sensor 141 as the container conveyance information acquisition unit 14 is used.
The count sensor 141 detects the container 2 conveyed by the first conveyor 11 at a predetermined position p1, and repeatedly counts the unit number n.
As the count sensor 141, for example, a sensor unit that can optically detect the lid 2A of each container 2 can be used. In addition, an image sensor capable of recognizing the lid 2A can be used. The same applies to the first position sensor 142 (FIG. 5), the first sensor 14A, and the second sensor 14B (FIG. 6) described later.

First, the basic operation of the transport device 1 will be described. In order to help understanding, the container 2 is given serial numbers “1”, “2”, “3”.
The basic operation of the transport apparatus 1 is to transfer the unit number n of containers 2 to the second conveyor 12 at a time while moving the shift position X in the direction D2 opposite to the transport direction D1 at high speed. Transfer step S1 (from FIG. 3 (a) to (b)), and transfer standby step S2 (from FIG. 3 (b) to (n) for moving forward the shifting point X in the transport direction D1 in preparation for the next transfer. to a)).

  These steps S1 and S2 are performed by expanding and contracting the captains of the first and second conveyors 11 and 12 by the driving device 13 (FIG. 1).

  A specific example will be described. Counting is started from the container 1 of “1” by the count sensor 141, and as shown in FIG. 3A, when the count is increased to 4 which is the unit number n, the transfer step S1 is started. Based on the signal C1 as the container conveyance information from the count sensor 141, the control device 15 sends a control command G1 to the drive device 13 (FIG. 1). And according to control command G1, the 2nd conveyor 12 is extended to the direction of D2, and the speed change location X reverse | retreats by the speed V3 by the 1st conveyor 11 shrinking by that much. Accordingly, the unit number n of containers 2 positioned at the downstream end of the first conveyor 11 are transferred to the second conveyor 12.

In this transfer step S1, the shift position X is moved backward at a predetermined speed V3 (reverse speed) that is faster than the transport speeds V1 and V2. The speed V3 is about n times (here, 4 times) the speed V1. That is, the speed V3 is −4V1 with the speed V1 in the transport direction D1 as a positive speed.
When the speed change point X moves backward in the direction D2 at the speed V3, the containers 2 of “1” to “4” on the first conveyor 11 reach the speed change point X in the transport direction D1 at the speed V1. Since the vehicle moves forward, each container 2 moves toward the speed change point X at a speed five times the speed V1 with respect to the speed change point X, and exceeds the speed change point X.
That is, from the state shown in FIG. 3 (a), the containers 2 of “1” to “4” are transferred to the second conveyor 12 in a very short time over the speed change point X (FIG. 3). (B)).

While the speed change point X is moved backward, the container 2 is still being transported in the transport direction D1, and the transfer of the container 2 of the unit number n is completed, that is, the difference between the speed V3 (−4V1) and the speed V1. When the speed change point X moves backward by a distance ΔL3 corresponding to the length of (n−1) containers 2 (FIG. 3B), the count sensor 141 is positioned at the downstream end of the first conveyor 11. The “2” containers 2 are counted. The count sensor 141 treats the container 5 with “5” as the next top container, and starts counting up the unit number n from the container 2 with “5”.
The vehicle moves backward by the distance ΔL3, and at the timing when the container 2 of “5” is counted, the process shifts to the transfer standby step S2 in which the shift position X is advanced. At this time, the shift position X is advanced at a predetermined speed V4 substantially equal to the speed V1.

Since the 1st conveyor 11 is extended to the conveyance direction D1 when moving forward the speed change location X, the container 2 after "5" on the 1st conveyor 11 stays in the 1st conveyor 11, and is faster than these containers 2. Delayed with respect to the containers 2 of “1” to “4” conveyed at the speed V2. Accordingly, the containers 2 of “1” to “4” form a container group 20 separated from the containers 2 on and after “5” on the first conveyor 11.
Then, when the number 2 of containers 2 from the “2” container 2 to the “8” container 2 is counted, the transfer is performed again based on the signal C 1 sent from the count sensor 141 to the control device 15. The process proceeds to step S1.
Thereafter, steps S1 and S2 are repeatedly performed.

While synchronizing with the basic operation described above, the transport apparatus 1 supports the top container 2 from the downstream side by the rotary support device 30 while the container 2 of the unit number n is transferred. This will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 3A, when the container 2 of the unit number n is counted by the count sensor 141 and the shift position X is moved backward and the transfer step S1 is started, the control device 15 controls the control command G2. , G3 drives one of the moving mechanisms 30A, 30B (FIG. 1) to move the support (A1 in FIG. 3) to the front of the top container 2.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the support portion A1 is inserted between the last container 2 on the second conveyor 12 and the first container 2 marked with “1” on the first conveyor 11. Then, the container 2 of “1” is supported from the downstream side by the support portion A1. Since the container 2 is transported in the transport direction D1 while the speed change point X is retracted, the containers 2 of “1” to “4” are moved when the transfer is completed (FIG. 3B). It is moving forward from the start of loading (FIG. 3A). The moving mechanism 30A moves the support portion A1 in the transport direction D1 by the control command G2 so as to follow these containers 2.

Since the posture of the container 2 is stable even if the moving speed changes due to the transfer by being supported by the support portion A1, the container 2 falls down toward the separated container group 20, or the position is changed. It can be prevented from shifting.
As shown in FIG. 3B, when the transfer is completed and the next top container 2 (“5”) is counted by the count sensor 141, the process proceeds to the transfer step S1. At this time, the moving mechanism 30A retracts the support portion A1 from the container 2 by the control command G2, and the driving device 13 operates by the control command G1 to advance the speed change point X at the speed V4. The container group 20 is separated from the subsequent container 2 at the timing when it is released from the support part A1, and is transported toward the subsequent process.

When the transfer of the containers 2 of “1” to “4” is completed, the containers of “1” to “4” that have elapsed since the transfer to the second conveyor 12 and the transfer at the speed V2 are started. 2 is different. However, by supporting the container 1 of “1” from the downstream side by the support part A1, the containers 2 of “1” to “4” are arranged closely without leaving a gap from the position of the support part A1. be able to.
And the timing at which the conveyance of the container 2 at the speed V2 is started can be defined by adjusting the timing of retracting the support portion A1 from the container 2. As a result, the container group 20 can be supplied in accordance with the processing timing of the subsequent process.

By the way, as shown to Fig.4 (a), the container 2 arrange | positioned densely in the conveyance direction D1 is crushed in the conveyance direction D1 by being pressed by the containers 2 or by the guide member 16. May be deformed. In particular, a thin PET bottle made of resin is easily deformed.
When the container 2 is deformed in the transport direction D1, the position Y1 of the leading container 2 is the original position Y0 that should be reached when the container 2 is not deformed as shown in FIG. 4B. The transport amount of the container 2 is insufficient by the distance ΔL4 between the position Y0 and the position Y1.

  The distance ΔL4, that is, the conveyance shortage amount ΔL4, is started at an early stage when the container 2 of the unit number n is counted while the shift position X is moved forward by the transfer standby step S2, Since the container 2 is deformed, it can be eliminated or suppressed by retracting the shift position X by a short distance. The length in the transport direction D1 of the container 2 having the unit number n including the deformed container 2 is shorter than the length of the container 2 having the unit number n that is not deformed. From the timing at which the unit number n of containers 2 are counted by the count sensor 141, the conveyance shortage amount ΔL4 can be known. The shift position X is moved backward by a distance shorter than the distance ΔL3 by which the shift position X is moved backward when the container 2 is not deformed by the amount of the conveyance shortage ΔL4, and the container 2 having the unit number n in a short time. Can be transferred. In this way, as a result of changing the shift position X by the drive amount corresponding to the conveyance shortage amount ΔL4, the conveyance shortage amount can be reset.

Next, in the control example shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the head position sensor 142 as the container conveyance information acquisition unit 14 is used. Except for this point, the basic operation is the same as described above, and the top container 2 is supported by the rotary support device 30 in synchronism with the operation of changing the shift position X.
The leading position sensor 142 is the leading container on the first conveyor 11 after the container group 20 transferred to the second conveyor 12 at the leading position p2 in the transport direction D1 where the leading position sensor 142 is installed. 2 is detected.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when the “1” container 2 staying on the first conveyor 11 and being transported at a distance from the container group 20 reaches the leading position p2, the leading position sensor. 142 detects the arrival of the leading container 2 and sends a signal C1 as container conveyance information to the control device 15. Thereby, the transfer step S1 for reversing the speed change point X at the speed V3 is started. Due to the transfer step S1, the shift position X moves backward by a distance ΔL3 corresponding to the length of the (n−1) containers 2 in the transport direction D1, and the containers 2 of “1” to “4” become the second conveyor. The container 2 of “1” is supported from the downstream side by the support portion (A1 in this case) during the transfer to the position 12. When the containers 2 of “1” to “4” are collectively transferred to the second conveyor 12 (FIG. 5B), a transfer standby step S2 for advancing the shift point X at the speed V4 is started.

  In the process of the transfer standby step S2, the containers 2 after "5" staying on the first conveyor 11 are separated from the container group 20 including the containers 2 of "1" to "4" conveyed at the speed V2. . Then, if it is detected by the head position sensor 142 that the container 5 of “5” has arrived as the head container 2, the process proceeds to the transfer step S1 again.

As described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the transfer step S <b> 1 in which the container 2 of the unit number n is transferred at a time while the shift position X is moved backward, and the shift that moves the shift position X forward by the retracted amount. By repeating the loading standby step S2, the separation of the plurality of container groups 20 is realized, and the containers 2 being transferred are supported by using the rotary support device 30, so that the positions and downstream positions of the container groups 20 are reduced. The supply timing to the can be determined more reliably.
The containers 2 constituting the container group 20 are closely arranged, the pitch between the container groups 20 is constant, and each container 2 of the container group 20 is bundled by an arm in a subsequent process, for example, a boxing process. If the container group 20 is supplied in accordance with the gripping timing, the tact time for packing can be shortened because the container group 20 can be gripped instantaneously, so that the processing efficiency can be improved.

In this embodiment, the deformation of the container 2 is smaller and the conveyance efficiency is lower than when a sheet that can change the timing at which the moving speed of the container transferred from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor is changed is used. A good transfer device 1 and a transfer method are provided.
The sheet disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5725938 is passed between the downstream end of the upstream conveyor and the upstream end of the downstream conveyor, and is superimposed on the conveyance surface of the downstream conveyor. By transferring a container of unit number n from the upstream conveyor to a sheet driven at a constant speed with the upstream conveyor in the transport direction D1, and then pulling the sheet in the direction D2 opposite to the transport direction D1, the downstream The containers of n units are transferred together on the side conveyor. Therefore, as in this embodiment, the container group can be separated, but the frictional resistance between the sheet and the container when the sheet is pulled out is large. The frictional resistance of the individual containers is not uniform and is distributed in the front-rear direction of conveyance with the maximum frictional resistance of the containers located near the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor when the sheet is pulled out.

  In the transport apparatus 1 and the transport method of the present embodiment, the timing at which the container 2 shifts is changed by extending or contracting the length of the conveyors 11 and 12 that are continuously driven in the transport direction D1. The container 2 is simply transported from the first conveyor 11 to the second conveyor 12 via an unillustrated transfer plate or the like, so that the frictional resistance of the container 2 being conveyed is approximately It is only the frictional resistance with the transfer plate, and is much smaller than the frictional resistance between the sheet and the container drawn in the reverse direction D2. Frictional resistance with the transfer plate is uniformly generated in each container 2.

If the friction resistance of the container 2 to be conveyed is small, the deformation of the container 2 due to the containers 2 being pushed in the conveying direction D1 can be suppressed. Furthermore, if the deformation of the container 2 is small, the clearance between the guide member 16 and the container 2 as a relief of deformation (indicated by a double arrow in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction D1 in FIG. 4) may be small. If the clearance is small, as shown in FIG. 4A, the containers 2 that are arranged in a staggered manner in the transport direction D1 between the guide members 16 and 16 are directed toward the guide member 16 by the front and rear containers 2. Since the wedge action to be pushed in can be reduced, the deformation of the container 2 can also be suppressed from that viewpoint.
If the deformation of the container 2 is small, the above-described insufficient conveyance amount ΔL4 can also be suppressed, so that the conveyance efficiency corresponding to the number of container conveyances per unit time can be improved.

  As described above, the container group 20 is separated by using the first and second conveyors 11 and 12 that can be expanded and contracted, and the container group 20 is separated by retreating at a speed V3 that is faster than the conveying speeds V1 and V2. The containers 2 to be shifted are supported by the support portion (A1 etc.) and arranged on the second conveyor 12 so as to cooperate with each other, and the support of the containers 2 is released at a desired timing and supplied to the subsequent process, It is possible to provide a transport apparatus 1 and a transport method that can be sorted into the container group 20 while suppressing deformation of the containers 2 and that can improve transport efficiency.

  The conveying device 1 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the sorting into the container group 20, and the pitch of the individual containers 2 is made uniform, or the timing of supplying the individual containers 2 to match the processing timing of the subsequent process is adjusted. Can also be used.

  In order to stably transport the container 2 and supply it to the subsequent process, the support unit (A1) is supported while the speed V3, the speed V4, and the container 2 are supported in consideration of the unit number n, the transport resistance of the container 2, and the like. Etc.) can be determined appropriately as well as the speed at which the support portion A1 presses the container 2 and the like.

According to the transport apparatus 1 and the transport method of the present embodiment, the speeds V1 and V2 of the conveyors 11 and 12 are changed by appropriately setting the speed V3, the speed V4, the moving speed of the support portion, the regulation force, and the like. In addition, the conveyance efficiency can be improved.
According to the transport device 1 and the transport method of the present embodiment, as described above, the shortage of the transport is detected by the count sensor 141, and the variation ΔP3 in which the shift position X is moved backward by detecting the variation in pitch by the same method. By adjusting, it is possible to reset the conveyance shortage amount ΔL4 and to equalize the pitch, so there is no need to change the speeds V1 and V2. However, feedback control of the velocities V1 and V2 based on the detection result of the pitch of the container 2 and the conveyance shortage amount ΔL4 may be performed.

  When the distance at which the container 2 is supported by the support part (A1 or the like) is short, the support part is given a degree of freedom, and the container 2 can push forward the support part (for example, with the rotation of the support part). In this case, it is not necessary to move the support portion while supporting the container 2.

The timing adjustment at the absolute position can also be performed by using the transfer of the container 2 by the extendable conveyors 11 and 12 of the transfer device 1. This will be described with reference to FIG.
The transport apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a first sensor 14A and a second sensor 14B as the container transport information acquisition unit 14.
The first sensor 14 </ b> A and the second sensor 14 </ b> B are installed on the upstream side and the downstream side with the movable range Xr of the speed change point X in between.

The first sensor 14A detects that each container 2 conveyed by the first conveyor 11 has reached the first check position A, and at the timing when the container 2 has reached the first check position A, as container conveyance information. Is sent to the control device 15 (FIG. 1).
Similarly, the second sensor 14B detects that each container 2 transferred to the second conveyor 12 has reached the second check position B, and transports the container at the timing when the container 2 reaches the second check position B. A signal as information is sent to the control device 15 (FIG. 1).

In the example shown in FIG. 6, it is guaranteed that the container 2 reaches the second check position B as an absolute position at a specified timing.
Therefore, the control device 15 (FIG. 1) theoretically arrives at the first check position A and the timing at which the container 2 arrives at the first check position A by the signal from the first sensor 14A. From the difference Δt with the virtual timing, the speeds V1 and V2 of the conveyors 11 and 12, the distance between the check positions A and B, etc., so that the container 2 reaches the second check position B at the theoretical virtual timing, A ratio (S ₁ : S ₂ ) between the distance S ₁ and the distance S ₂ is calculated.
The distance S ₁ is the distance in the conveying direction D1 from the transmission point X to the first check position A.
The distance S ₂ is the distance in the conveying direction D1 from the transmission point X to the second check position B.
In the example shown in FIG. 6, in order to make the pitch P of the containers 2 transferred to the second conveyor 12 constant, the above virtual timing is regularly timed at a constant time interval on the same time axis, In addition, a clock signal that matches the timing at which the position B should be reached is used in consideration of the processing timing of the subsequent process.

In accordance with S ₁ : S ₂ calculated by the control device 15, a control command for driving a predetermined distance at a predetermined speed in the conveyance direction D 1 or the reverse direction D 2 is given to the drive device 13 (FIG. 1) to change the speed. Change location X. Then, the time until the container 2 is transferred from the first conveyor 11 to the second conveyor 12 and reaches the second check position B is changed, and the container at a predetermined timing (theoretical virtual timing) at the second check position B. 2 has reached the second check position B by the second sensor 14B. That is, the difference Δt at the first check position A is eliminated at the second check position B.
As described above, by calculating S ₁ : S ₂ for each container 2 and changing the shift position X, the pitch P of the containers 2 is made constant.

FIG. 7 shows a transport apparatus 3 according to a modification of the present invention. The transport device 3 includes a first drive device 131 that extends and contracts the first conveyor 11 and a second drive device 132 that expands and contracts the second conveyor 12.
The operation of the first drive devices 131 and 132 causes one of the first and second conveyors 11 and 12 to expand and the other to contract, thereby changing the shift position X to the transport direction D1 or the reverse direction D1. 1 is the same as the conveying apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are configured to be individually expanded and contracted, the driving speed for expanding and contracting the first conveyor 11 by the first driving device 131, and the second The drive speed at which the second conveyor 12 is expanded and contracted by the drive device 132 can be made different.
Therefore, while satisfying the condition for changing the shift position X to a required position by a predetermined timing, the driving speed by the first driving device 131 and the driving speed by the second driving device 132 are set to the first conveyor 11. It is possible to determine the speed at which the upper container 2 and the containers 2 on the second conveyor 12 are stabilized.

Instead of the rotary type moving mechanism, as shown in FIG. 8, it is also possible to move the support using a biaxial moving mechanism.
In the example shown in FIG. 8, it is comprised including the several support part A1-A3 which supports the container 2, and the biaxial drive device 40 which moves support part A1-A3.
The driving device 40 individually drives the support portions A1 to A3 along the x direction (conveying direction D1), and the drive device 40 individually drives the support portion A1 along the y direction (vertical direction) Y. The shaft drive unit 40Y is provided, and the drive units 40X and 40Y are driven and controlled in synchronization to move the support units A1 to A3 along a predetermined locus on the xy plane.

  The support portions A1 to A3 have directions and speeds determined by being driven in the x direction and the y direction by the driving device 40, and include paths including “0”, “1”, and “2” positions shown in FIG. Move around. The path along which the support parts A1 to A3 move is substantially the same as the movement path R along which the support part A1 and the like move by the movement mechanisms 30A and 30B in the embodiment (FIG. 1).

In the example shown in FIG. 8 as well, the support unit A1 and the like are intermittently provided between the container 2 transported at the speed V1 and the container 2 transported at the speed V2 by the driving device 40, as in the above embodiment. Moving.
Specifically, by moving the support portion A1 in the x direction from the position “2” to the position “0”, for example, at the speed V1, the top container 2 conveyed at the speed V1, The support portion A1 is inserted between the container 2 and the front (downstream side) container 2. Then, for example, the container 2 is supported from the front by the support portion A1 that is moved at the speed V1. Thereafter, the support portion A1 is retracted from the container 2 toward the position “1” at a speed V2, for example. Thereafter, the containers 2 are continuously conveyed by the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 while the containers 2 are intermittently supported in the order of the support portions A2, A3, A1, A2,.

In addition to the above, as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated, the configuration described in the above embodiment can be selected or changed to another configuration as appropriate.
According to the present invention, since the position and timing of the container 2 can be freely defined, even when the containers 2 having different diameters are mixed, the pitch of the containers 2 can be managed to be constant, A complicated arrangement pattern, for example, a process in which two containers 2 are arranged at a predetermined pitch and then three containers 2 are arranged at a different pitch is also possible.

The conveyed product in the present invention includes containers for beverages, foods, medicines and the like, and not only containers but also arbitrary articles.
Moreover, the conveyance apparatus and the conveyance method of this invention can be utilized for the situation which requires the pitch management and grouping of a conveyed product, without being restricted to the pre-processing of packaging.

1,3 Transport device 2 Container (Transported item)
2A Lid 11 First Conveyor 11A Drive Pulley 11B, 11C, 11D Driven Pulley 11M Motor 12 Second Conveyor 12A Drive Pulley 12B, 12C, 12D Driven Pulley 12M Motor 13 Drive 13A Direct Acting Mechanism 13M Motor 14 Container Transport Information Acquisition Unit 14A 1st sensor 14B 2nd sensor 15 Control device 16 Guide member 20 Container group (conveyance group)
30 Rotary support device 30A, 30B Movement mechanism (support part movement mechanism)
31A, 31B rope 32A, 32B rope drive unit 40 drive unit 40X X-axis drive unit 40Y Y-axis drive unit 110 belt 120 belt 131 first drive unit 132 second drive unit 141 count sensor 142 head position sensor 301, 302 sprocket A first 1 check position A1, B1, A2, B2 support part B second check position C1 signal (container conveyance information)
D1 conveying direction G1, G2, G3 control command L1, L2 PIC P pitch p1 position p2 head position R movement path R1, R2, R3, R4 path S1 transferring step S2 transfer standby step _S 1, _{S 2} distance V1 speed ( (First speed)
V2 speed (second speed)
V3 speed (reverse speed)
V4 Speed X Shift location Y0, Y1 Position ΔL3 Distance ΔL4 Insufficient transport amount

Claims (5)

A first conveyor for conveying a conveyed product at a first speed in a predetermined conveyance direction;
A second conveyor that is arranged in series with the first conveyor and that conveys the conveyed product transferred from the first conveyor in the conveying direction at a second speed higher than the first speed;
A drive device for changing the length of each of the first conveyor and the second conveyor without changing the length from the upstream end of the first conveyor to the downstream end of the second conveyor;
A control device that changes a speed change point along which the moving speed of the conveyed product changes along the conveying direction by giving a command to the driving device;
When the shift portion is moved backward in a direction opposite to the transport direction at a reverse speed faster than the first speed and the second speed, the transported object transported at the second speed and the A support unit that is inserted between the transported object transported at a first speed and supports the transported object transported at the first speed from a downstream side.
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. A support part moving mechanism that intermittently moves the support part between the transported object transported at the first speed and the transported object transported at the second speed;
The support moving mechanism is
An annular rope arranged in a region extending upward from the position of the conveyed product;
A cable drive unit for driving the cable in the circumferential direction,
The conveying apparatus according to claim 1. A second speed that is arranged in series with the first conveyor from the upstream end of the first conveyor that conveys the conveyed object at a first speed in a predetermined conveying direction, and is faster than the first speed. By changing the length of each of the first conveyor and the second conveyor without changing the length to the downstream end of the second conveyor that transports in the transport direction, the moving speed of the transported object changes. The shift part is moved backward in the direction opposite to the transfer direction at a reverse speed faster than the first speed and the second speed, and the transferred object is transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. A transfer step for loading;
A transfer standby step of advancing the shifting portion in the transport direction,
In the transfer step,
A support part is inserted between the transported object transported at the second speed and the transported object transported at the first speed while the shift portion is moved backward. To support the conveyed product from the downstream side,
The conveyance method characterized by the above-mentioned. In dividing the transported objects that are densely arranged in the transport direction and transported on the first conveyor into transported object groups of unit number n,
In the transfer standby step, the transported object is counted in order from the first transported object on the first conveyor, and if the transported object of the unit number n is counted,
Transition to the transfer step, the shift portion is moved backward by a distance corresponding to the difference between the first speed and the reverse speed,
The conveying method according to claim 3. In dividing the transported objects that are densely arranged in the transport direction and transported on the first conveyor into transported object groups of unit number n,
If the transported object that has been delayed from the transported object group has reached a predetermined head position in the transfer standby step,
Transition to the transfer step, the shift portion is moved backward by a distance corresponding to the difference between the first speed and the reverse speed,
The conveying method according to claim 3.

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