JPH07100539B2 - Article processing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a horizontal bundling device, which detects a loading height, a pallet position, etc. of articles conveyed in a unit load shape in advance, The present invention relates to an article processing method and an article processing apparatus that enable efficient use of a string cutting device, a step-down device, and the like.

(Prior Art) As a device for detecting an article, those described in JP-A-55-18202 and JP-A-61-83908 are known.
Further, as a processing device for articles loaded in a unit load form, a device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-4061 is known. Further, as a device capable of stacking articles in a unit load form and not stacking in two stages, a device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-42271 is known.

Explaining the conventional technique described in the above publication, JP-A-61-83908 discloses a cargo handling work which is divided into a cargo shape detection work of an object to be transported and an actual cargo handling work as a preceding step. Autonomous driving is described. In addition, JP-A-55-
In Japanese Patent No. 18202, a plurality of switches are arranged corresponding to an article (panel) to be conveyed, a detection signal based on ON / OFF operation of these switches is obtained, and an article is detected based on a difference between the detection signals. There is described a product type reading device configured to determine the shape, and it is described that the type of the article can be determined and the next process can be prepared according to this type.

In addition, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-4061 discloses a string cutting device that automatically cuts and collects the string that binds the outer circumference of the uppermost product in order to prevent the stacked products from falling apart. It is described that the string cutting device can be moved up and down by the lifter according to the stacking height of the articles (the binding height of the strings) and can stand by at a position (standby position) slightly lower than the height of the string. Is described.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-42271 discloses an apparatus capable of forming a two-stage stacking unit load in which a pallet and 10 panels are further stacked on an article in which 10 panels are stacked on a pallet. .

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above conventional techniques have the following problems.

That is, the package shape detection device described in JP-A-61-83908 has no description relating to the relationship between the detection process and the next process, and the product type detection device described in JP-A-55-18202. The device can discriminate the type of article and prepare for the next process according to this type, but there is no description relating to the relationship between the detection process and the next process, and no description relating to the next process, and the subsequent process is efficient. , There is no suggestion of what can be done quickly, merely a device for detecting articles is described.

Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-4061 discloses that the string cutting device moves up and down by a lifter and waits at a standby position. However, a device for determining the standby position, for example, the stacking height of articles. There is no description relating to the height detection device, and there is no suggestion that the string cutting work is performed efficiently and promptly.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-42271 discloses a device for stacking stacked articles in two stages, but a device capable of lowering the upper stage of the stacked products, or There is no description relating to the device for detecting the position of the stacked pallets on the upper stage.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to detect the loading height, pallet position, etc. of the articles loaded in a unit load shape to be conveyed in advance so that the article processing apparatus can be efficiently used. It is intended to provide a processing method and an apparatus for processing an article.

(Means for Solving Problems) The present invention relates to an article loading state detection step of detecting a loading state of articles loaded in a unit load state, and the article etc. after the article loading state detection step. The article processing step of processing the articles etc., which is equipped with an elevating device for elevating the article processing apparatus in the vertical direction in accordance with the stowed state of Based on the above, there is provided a method for treating an article, characterized in that the elevating device can raise and lower the article treating apparatus toward a desired height before the article or the like reaches the article treating step. By doing so, the above object is achieved.

Further, the present invention is, as an apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned article processing method, an article stacking height detection apparatus for detecting a stacking height of articles stacked in a unit load shape, and an outer circumference of the stacked articles. A horizontal bundling device for bundling horizontally, a conveyor for article transportation that connects the article stacking height detection device and the horizontal bundling device, and a lifting device for vertically moving the horizontal bundling device. While the article is conveyed on the conveyor, the horizontal bundling device is directed to the vicinity of the article stacking height based on the detection signal of the article stacking height detection device, and is lifted and lowered by the lifting device. An object of the present invention is to provide an article processing apparatus characterized by the above.

Still further, the present invention provides, as another apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned article processing method, an article-stacking height detecting apparatus for detecting a stacking height of articles loaded in a unit load form, A string cutting device that cuts a string that binds the outer circumference of the article in the horizontal direction, and a conveyor for transferring an article that connects the article stacking height detection device and the string cutting device are provided, and the string cutting is performed. An elevating device for elevating the device in the vertical direction is provided, and while the article is conveyed on the conveyor, the string cutting device detects the vicinity of the article stacking height based on the detection signal of the article stacking height detection apparatus. The present invention provides a processing apparatus for articles, which can be moved up and down by the lifting apparatus.

Furthermore, the present invention, as yet another device for carrying out the above-mentioned article processing method, detects the loading height of pallets loaded between articles loaded in a unit load form. Pallet stacking height detection device, pallet stacked on the article and stepping down device for unloading the article stacked on it, the pallet stacking height detection device and the step down device And a pallet holding device for holding the loaded pallets and the items loaded on the pallet and a lifting and lowering device for lowering the pallet holding device downward. The pallet holding device is directed to the vicinity of the pallet stacking height based on the detection signal of the pallet stacking height detection device while the article or the like is conveyed on the conveyor. There is provided a processing apparatus of the article being characterized in that as can be raised and lowered by the lifting device.

(Embodiment) First, the embodiment of the article processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an article processing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line XX, and FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line YY. (1) is an article stacking height detection device for detecting the stacking height of articles (5) stacked in a unit load form, and (2) is a horizontal binding for binding the outer circumference of the stacked articles in the horizontal direction. An apparatus, (3) is a conveyor for conveying articles that connects the article stacking height detection apparatus (1) and the horizontal binding apparatus (2), and (4) is an elevating unit that moves the horizontal binding apparatus (2) up and down. In the apparatus for treating articles according to the present invention, the horizontal bundling apparatus (2) is an article stacking height detection apparatus (1) while the articles (5) are conveyed on a conveyor (3).
Based on the detection signal of
The device is configured to be lifted and lowered by a lifting device (4), and is a device for efficiently and promptly bundling the outer circumferences of articles loaded in a unit load shape according to the loading height.

The respective parts in the embodiment will be described in detail. The article stacking height detection device (1) includes photo switches (11a), (11).
b), (12a), (12b), a gate-shaped frame (13), and a control unit (not shown), and a photo switch (11a),
(11b), (12a) and (12b) are attached to a desired height of the portal frame (13). Photo switch (11
a) and (11b) are for detecting the height of goods stowed,
The photo switches (12a) and (12b) are for detecting the presence of an article, and the photo switches (11a), (11b),
When (12a) and (12b) are activated, the detection signal is transmitted to the lifting device (4) via the control section.

The horizontal bundling device (2) is a device in which the string hooking arm (21) is tilted downward so as to form a horizontal bundling device. The horizontal bundling device (2) is moved up and down by the elevating device (4), and the elevating table (41) is also provided.
The upper part can be moved back and forth horizontally.

In this embodiment, a horizontal binding device for binding with a polyethylene string is shown, but a horizontal binding device for binding with a polypropylene band or a steel band may be used without any particular limitation.

Also, the conveyor (3) is an endless chain (31),
A chain conveyor in which (31) is arranged, and driving toothed wheels (32), (32) and idler toothed wheels (33), (33) which are interlockingly connected to a motor (not shown) via a transmission chain (not shown). )
The endless chain (31) hung between and,
(31), guide rails (not shown) for guiding the endless chains (31), (31), and hoods (34), (34) for supporting the guide rails. The conveyor (3) may be a roller conveyor or the like.

The lifting device (4) is provided with a lifting platform (41), a gantry (42), a pantograph section (43), and a hydraulic device (not shown). It is designed so that it can be raised and lowered.

The elevating device may be constructed by moving the piston up and down as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 49-41038.

Next, an embodiment of the method for treating an article of the present invention using the article treating apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described.

The article processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has, for example, a stacking height of articles including a pallet height of 2200 mm or less and 1100 mm or less.
It is suitable when divided into groups. That is, when articles are transported by trucks with a stackable loading height of 2200 mm or less, relatively large and light articles should be loaded on the pallet as high as possible up to 2200 mm including the pallet height. Although there was no problem such as load collapse even when attached to form a unit load, there is a problem such as load collapse when forming a unit load by stacking a relatively small and heavy article up to 2200 mm. In order to form a unit load, load articles on the pallet as high as possible up to 1100 mm including the pallet height.
When transporting goods by trucks, etc., such unit loads are stacked in two steps so that the loading height after the two steps is less than 2200 mm. One embodiment of the method for treating articles when the stacking height of articles including the height of the pallet is divided into two groups of 2200 mm or less and 1100 mm or less will be described in detail.

The articles (5) stacked on the pallet supplied to the conveyor (3) are conveyed by the conveyor (3) in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, and are conveyed by the article stacking height detection device (1). An article loading state detecting step of detecting a loading height is performed. In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned article loading state detection step is carried out during the transportation of the articles (5) stacked in a unit load, but it is carried out after the article (5) is temporarily stopped. May be. In the present embodiment, the conveyed articles (5) may be divided into those having a stacking height of more than 1100 mm (2200 mm or less) and one having a stacking height of 1100 mm or less. Therefore, the photo switches (11a), (11b) Is the loading height
It is located slightly above 1100 mm (for example, 1150 mm),
When the photo switches (11a), (11b), (12a), and (12b) are activated at the same time, they are detected as an article exceeding 1100 mm, and the photo switches (11a) and (11b) are not activated, and the photo switches (12a) and (12a) 1100mm when only 12b) activated
The following items are detected. The photo switch (12
Although a) and (12b) may be arranged at an appropriate height, they are arranged at a stacking height of 600 mm in this embodiment.

The article (5) on which the article loading state detection step is carried out is equipped with a lifting device (4) for vertically moving the horizontal binding device (2) up and down according to the loading height of the article, and the loaded article is loaded. (5)
The article processing step of horizontally bundling is carried out, but before the articles (5) stacked in the unit load form reach the article processing step, based on the detection signal from the article loading state detection step, Horizontal binding device (2) by lifting device (4)
Is moved up and down toward a desired height. That is, in the present embodiment, the lifting device (4) stands by at the standby position where the product (5) can be bound when the stacking height of the product (5) is 2200 mm or less. When 5) is detected to exceed 1100 mm, the lifting device (4) is used until the article (5) reaches the binding position and stops.
Is standing by as it is, and after the article (5) has stopped, the lifting device (4) descends at a low speed, and the stacking height (top surface) of the article (5) is detected (the horizontal binding device (2) A detector (not shown) is provided so that the desired height position is horizontally bound. After the bundling is completed, the lifting device (4) returns to the standby position and stands by when the stacking height is 2200 mm or less. When the conveyed article (5) is detected to be 1100 mm or less in the article stacking state detecting step, the lifting device (4) descends at a high speed before the article (5) reaches the bundling position, When the stacking height is less than 1100 mm, the product temporarily stops at the standby position where it can be bound, and waits until the articles reach the binding position and stop. If the articles (5) have already reached the bundling position and stopped, the elevating device (4) descends at a high speed to the standby position where the articles can be bound when the stacking height of the articles is 1100 mm or less. The descent speed is switched to the low speed and the descent is continued. As in the case where the above-mentioned article exceeds 1100 mm, the desired height position is horizontally bound, and after the binding is completed, the lifting device (4) sets the article loading height. If it is 2200 mm or less, return to the standby position and wait.

In order to further increase the processing capacity of the article, it is preferable that the article processing apparatus can be positioned at a desired height before the article (5) reaches the article processing step. After processing the articles with the article loading height of 1100mm or less, the lifting device (4) shows the article loading height of 1100mm.
You may return to the standby position and stand by in the case of the following.

Next, another embodiment of the article processing apparatus of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment of the article processing apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, a string cutting device (6) is provided in place of the horizontal binding device (2). Other than the above, the article processing apparatus is configured similarly to the article processing apparatus of FIGS. That is, an article loading height detection device (1) for detecting the loading height of articles (5) loaded in a unit load shape, an article loading height detection device (1), and a string cutting device (6). Although the conveyor (3) for conveying articles and the elevating device (4) for vertically elevating the string cutting device (6) which are connected to each other are the same as those in FIGS. 1 to 3,
A string cutting device (6) provided with a cutter (61) for cutting the string (51) that bundles the outer circumferences of the uppermost products of the products (5) stacked in a unit load in the horizontal direction. It is provided.

In this embodiment, the string cutting device using the cutter (61) is shown, but a string cutting device using hot air may be used as described in JP-A-57-204841.

The embodiment of the method for treating an article according to the present invention when the apparatus for treating an article having the above-mentioned configuration is used is the step of binding an article when the apparatus for treating an article of FIGS. 1 to 3 is used. Instead, the configuration is the same except that the string cutting step is performed.

Furthermore, another embodiment of the article processing apparatus of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing still another embodiment of the apparatus for treating articles according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is its XX arrow view, and FIG. 7 is its Y.
-Y arrow view and FIG. 8 are ZZ arrow views thereof, and in these drawings, (7) is a stack between the articles (5) and the articles (5) stacked in a unit load shape. A pallet stacking height detection device for detecting the stacking height of the mounted pallet (52), (8) is mounted on the pallet (52) stacked on the article (5) and on it An unloading device for unloading the article (5), (3) a conveyor for transporting articles, which connects the pallet stacking height detection device (7) and the unloading device (8), and (4) is loaded And a pallet holding device (81) for holding the pallet (52) and the articles (5) stacked on the pallet (52). While the pallet is being transported on the conveyor (3), the pallet holding device (81) of the step-down device (8) sets the pallet loading height. Pallets (52) stacked on the article (5) based on the detection signal of the size detection device (7)
The pallet (52) stacked on the article (5) and the article (5 stacked on the pallet (52) are configured to be lifted and lowered by a lifting device (4) toward the vicinity of the loading height of the article. ) Is a device for efficiently and promptly unloading the pallets according to the stacking height of the pallets (52).

Each part in the embodiment will be described in detail. The pallet stacking height detection device (7) includes a photo switch (71a),
, (71b), ..., A gate-shaped frame (73), and a control unit (not shown) are provided, and photo switches (71a) ,.
1b), ... Are attached to the desired height of the gate frame (73), and FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the attached state.
(71), ... are photo switches (71a), ..., (71b), ...
Is the mounting position.

The photo switches (71a), ..., (71b), ... are for detecting the pallet loading height. The photo switch (71a) that has been activated by detecting the fork insertion hole (53) of the pallet (52). ), (71b), the detection signal is transmitted to the elevating device (4) via the control section according to the mounting height.

In addition, the step-down device (8) rotates with respect to the fork insertion hole (53) of the pallet (52) and moves forward and backward with four claws (8).
2), ... and a cylinder (83) for rotating the claw (82),
A pallet holding device (81) comprising (83) and (81) for holding the pallet (52) stacked on the article (5) and the article (5) stacked on the pallet (52). The pallet holding device (81) can be moved up and down by the lifting device (4).

In this embodiment, the pallet holding device is shown in which the pawls are inserted from both sides with respect to the pallet (52), but the pallet is configured such that the fork-shaped pawls are linearly advanced and retracted from one side. It may be a holding device.

Although the conveyor (3) is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, it does not necessarily have to be a single conveyor, and a plurality of conveyors may be arranged in series.

Further, the lifting device (4) includes a drive motor (44) and a lifting chain (45) so that the pallet holding device (81) can be lifted and lowered.

Next, an embodiment of the article processing method of the present invention when the article processing apparatus having the above-described configuration is used will be described.

The article processing apparatus of the present embodiment is suitable for, for example, unloading the upper unit load when the unit loads are stacked in two stages. That is, the articles that have been stacked and transported in two stages by a truck or the like are lowered and stored in a rack or the like in each unit load unit. One embodiment of the method of treating articles when lowering the upper stage of the articles supplied in the two-stage stack state as in such a case will be described in detail.

The articles (5) stacked in two stages supplied to the conveyor (3) are conveyed by the conveyor (3) in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, and are palletized by the palletization height detector (7). An article loading state detection step of detecting the loading height is performed.

In this embodiment, since the fork insertion hole (53) of the pallet (52) on the upper stage of the conveyed article (5) may be detected, the photoswitches (71a), ..., (71)
23 sets of b), ... Are arranged at intervals of 80 mm, and the photoswitches (71a) and (71b) at the bottom are arranged from the conveyor (3) to 30
The photo switch (71a) is placed on 0mm and is suitable for detecting the pallet loading height when the height of the pallet (52) is 144mm and the height of the fork insertion hole (53) is 100mm. ,
, (71b), ... are provided.

That is, at least one article (5) is on the lower pallet.
For example, if the height of the article is set to 100 mm and the fork is inserted into the fork insertion hole (5) of the upper pallet (52).
Since 3) is located at a height of 266 to 366 mm, the pallet loading height can be detected by the photoswitches (71a) and (71b) at the bottom. Further, the uppermost photo switches (71a) and (71b) are arranged 2060 mm above the conveyor (3). Therefore, one set or two sets of photo switches (71a), (71
b) is activated.

When the loading height of the article (5) is low, the photo switches (71a) and (71b) on the upper side have the fork insertion hole (5
The photo switch (7)
1a), (71b) further photo switch (71a),
Since it is detected as the fork insertion hole (53) only when (71b) is shielded from light, no malfunction occurs even if the loading height of the article (5) is low.

The articles (5) and the like for which the article stacking state detection step has been carried out lifts and lowers the pallet holding device (81) of the unloading device (8) in the vertical direction according to the loading height of the pallets (52) ( 4) is provided, and the article processing step of unloading the unit load of the upper step stacked and stacked in two steps is performed, but the article processing step (5) or the like stacked in two steps is performed. Before reaching, the pallet holding device (81) is moved up and down toward a desired height by the lifting device (4) based on the detection signal from the article loading state detecting step. That is, in this embodiment, the lifting device (4)
Is waiting at the bottom (level of conveyor (3)),
The product rises at a high speed to slightly below the loading height of the pallet (52) detected in the article loading state detection step, waits for the article (5) to reach the loading / unloading position, and the article (5) is loaded / unloaded. After reaching the position and stopping, raise the lifting device (4) at a low speed,
When the fork insertion hole (53) of the pallet (52) is detected (the pallet holding device (81) is equipped with a detector (not shown)), the pallet is stopped at a desired height position, and the pawl ( 82) into the fork insertion hole (53). Nails (8
2) Hold the pallet (52) and further raise the elevating device (4) to separate the article (5) on the upper stage and the article (5) on the lower stage, and then move the conveyor (3). After being driven again to carry out the lower article (5) first, the conveyor (3)
And the article (5) on the upper stage is lowered by the elevating device (4) to be written on the conveyor (3), and the claw (82) is returned to complete the stage lowering. When the two sets of photo switches (71a) and (71b) are activated, they are controlled to stand by slightly below the lower photo switches (71a) and (71b).

Although the embodiment of the article processing apparatus of the present invention and the embodiment of the article and the processing method of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these and may be, for example, as follows.

(1) A TV camera may be used in place of the photo switches (71a) and (71b), and an ultrasonic sensor is provided in the horizontal portion of the gate frame (73) to detect the loading state of articles and the like. You may.

(2) The above-described embodiments and embodiments may be combined appropriately.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the method and apparatus for treating an article of the present invention are
By detecting the loading height of the articles stacked in a unit load shape to be conveyed, the pallet position, and the like in advance, it is possible to start the lifting of the article processing apparatus before the articles reach the article processing apparatus. With the effect that the waiting time for moving up and down the article processing device after the article arrives can be reduced, the article can be efficiently and quickly processed, and the control is simple, etc. It has a high industrial utility value.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an article processing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line XX, FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line YY, and FIG. Corresponding to FIG. 2 showing another embodiment of the article treating apparatus of FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing still another embodiment of the article treating apparatus of the present invention, and FIG.
X arrow view, FIG. 7 is the YY arrow view, and FIG. 8 is the Z
-Z arrow view, FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a mounting state of the photoswitch. (1): Article loading height detection device (2): Horizontal binding device (3): Conveyor (4): Lifting device (5): Article (6): String cutting device (7): Pallet loading height Detection device (8): Stacking device (81): Pallet holding device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An article loading state detecting step for detecting a loading state of articles loaded in a unit load form, and a vertical direction depending on a loading state of the articles after the article loading state detecting step. And an article processing step of processing a stacked article or the like, the article or the like being based on a detection signal from the article loading state detection step. A method for treating an article, wherein the elevating device can raise and lower the article treating apparatus toward a desired height before reaching a treatment step. 2. An article stacking height detecting device for detecting a stacking height of articles stacked in a unit load, a horizontal binding device for horizontally binding the stacked article outer circumferences, and the article. A conveyor for article conveyance that connects the stacking height detection device and the horizontal bundling device is provided, and an elevating device that elevates and lowers the horizontal bundling device is provided, and the article is conveyed on the conveyor. In the meantime, the horizontal bundling device can be moved up and down by the elevating device toward the vicinity of the article stacking height based on the detection signal of the article stacking height detection device. . 3. An article stacking height detection device for detecting a stacking height of articles stacked in a unit load, and a string for cutting a string that binds the stacked article outer circumferences in a horizontal direction. A cutting device, a conveyor for conveying articles that connects the article stacking height detection device and the string cutting device are provided, and an elevating device for vertically moving the string cutting device is provided, and the article is the conveyor. It is characterized in that the stringing device can be moved up and down by the elevating device toward the vicinity of the article stacking height based on a detection signal of the article stacking height detection device while being conveyed over. The processing equipment of the article. 4. A pallet stacking height detecting device for detecting a stacking height of a pallet stacked between articles loaded in a unit load form, and a pallet stacking height detector mounted on the article. A pallet and an unloading device for unloading the articles stacked on the pallet, and a conveyor for article transportation which connects the pallet stacking height detection device and the unloading device together with the unloading device. Is equipped with a pallet holding device for holding the loaded pallets and the items loaded on the pallet, and an elevating device for vertically moving the pallet holding device, and the items are conveyed on the conveyor. In the meantime, the pallet holding device can be moved up and down by the lifting device toward the vicinity of the pallet loading height based on the detection signal of the pallet loading height detection device. Of the processing device.